cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chronic esophageal foreign bodies in pediatric patients: a retrospective review.

Abstract Objective: Chronic esophageal foreign bodies (CEFB) are associated with a high incidence of morbidity and mortality in adults. However, the presentation, management and outcome of chronic esophageal foreign bodies in children are not well described. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of children with chronic esophageal foreign bodies admitted to the Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, between May 1990 and January 2002. A chronic esophageal foreign body was defined as a foreign body estimated to have been present for over 1 week. Results: Over the inclusion period, 522 children were admitted with esophageal foreign bodies, 41 (8%) of which were chronic. The most common foreign bodies were coins. Seventy-six percent of patients presented with a primary complaint of respiratory symptoms, with respiratory distress being the most common followed by asthmatic symptoms and cough. Twenty-two percent of patients had primarily gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea/vomiting and dysphagia. One patient was asymptomatic on presentation. A perforated esophagus was identified in 18 patients, with 17 of these being a technically perforated esophagus and one case being a classic esophageal perforation. There were no deaths or permanent morbidity in this series. Conclusions: Respiratory symptoms are more common than gastrointestinal symptoms in pediatric patients with chronic esophageal foreign bodies. Removal by rigid esophagoscopy is recommended. A small proportion of cases require open removal of the foreign body. Conservative management is appropriate for the technically perforated esophagus. A good outcome should be anticipated for the majority of cases.
Growth and chemistry of TCNQ films on nickel (111)

Abstract The adsorption and temperature stability of the strong electron acceptor, tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ), has been studied on a Ni(111) surface by thermal desorption, Auger, XPS, UPS and Raman spectroscopies. We find strong evidence for formation of negatively charged TCNQ, corresponding to TCNQ−. The onset of dehydrogenation of the adsorbed species varies with absolute coverage, starting at 460 K for submonolayer quantities of TCNQ and moving up to 500 K for the 350 K saturation-coverage film which is found to be 3 monolayers thick. The primary decomposition products are hydrogen cyanide and hydrogen (500–700 K) followed by carbon diffusion into the nickel and desorption of molecular nitrogen at 800 K.
Three-wave coupling coefficient in a drifting bi-Maxwellian plasma

A general electrostatic coupling coefficient which satisfies the Manley-Rowe relations is used to derive an explicit expression for the resonant three-wave coupling coefficient between electrostatic normal modes of a uniformly magnetized, infinite, homogeneous plasma with species described by drifting bi-Maxwellian distribution functions. The limit of this expression is taken when the phase velocities of the three waves are much larger than a species thermal speed, and also when the phase velocities are much smaller than the thermal speed. These are fluid limits and are applicable to the three-wave interaction between some low-frequency electrostatic waves, such as ion acoustic and ion cyclotron modes, in a plasma where T(e) is much greater than T(i).
Rac1 promotes intestinal epithelial restitution by increasing Ca2+ influx through interaction with phospholipase C-γ1 after wounding

Intestinal mucosal restitution occurs as a consequence of epithelial cell migration and reseals superficial wounds after injury. This rapid reepithelialization is mediated in part by a phospholipase C-γ1 (PLC-γ1)-induced Ca2+ signaling, but the exact mechanism underlying such signaling and its regulation remains elusive. The small GTP-binding protein Rac1 functions as a pivotal regulator of several signaling networks and plays an important role in regulating cell motility. The current study tests the hypothesis that Rac1 modulates intestinal epithelial cell migration after wounding by altering PLC-γ1-induced Ca2+ signaling. Inhibition of Rac1 activity by treatment with its inhibitor NSC-23766 or Rac1 silencing with small interfering RNA decreased store depletion-induced Ca2+ influx and suppressed cell migration during restitution, whereas ectopic overexpression of Rac1 increased Ca2+ influx and promoted cell migration. Rac1 physically interacted with PLC-γ1 and formed Rac1/PLC-γ1 complex in intestinal epithelial cells. PLC-γ1 silencing in cells overexpressing Rac1 prevented stimulation of store depletion-induced Ca2+ influx and cell migration after wounding. Polyamine depletion inhibited expression of both Rac1 and PLC-γ1, decreased Rac1/PLC-γ1 complex levels, reduced Ca2+ influx, and repressed cell migration. Overexpression of Rac1 alone failed to rescue Ca2+ influx after store depletion and cell migration in polyamine-deficient cells, because it did not alter PLC-γ1 levels. These results indicate that Rac1 promotes intestinal epithelial cell migration after wounding by increasing Ca2+ influx as a result of its interaction with PLC-γ1.
Universal integral controllers with variable gains

For an SISO minimum-phase nonlinear system with relative degree one or two, a universal integral controller with nonlinear proportional, integral and derivative gains is proposed. Our analysis proves regional as well as semiglobal asymptotic regulation. Simulation results show that nonlinear gains can be designed to improve overshoot and settling time.
School Counselors, Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, and Academic Achievement: Are School Counselors Promising More Than They Can Deliver?

The ASCA National Model ® (ASCA, 2003) suggests that the school counselor's primary mission is the improvement of academic achievement. This article examines the research literature regarding school counselors' efforts related to academic achievement and concludes that there is little support for the supposition that comprehensive school counseling programs improve achievement. Conversely, there is a growing body of evidence that suggests that school counselors can use strategic interventions to improve academic achievement.
A Test of Changes in Auditors' Fraud‐Related Planning Judgments since the Issuance of SAS No. 82

This study is a post‐SAS No. 82 replication of Zimbelman (1997) (hereafter Z97), which examined the effect of a separate and explicit fraud‐risk assessment as later required by SAS No. 82. Z97 found weak evidence that this requirement would impact auditors' planning judgments. However, because Z97 was conducted before SAS No. 82 was issued, that study was unable to capture the full effect of SAS No. 82 on the audit environment (e.g., related guidance and training, audit policy, and implementation experience). In this study, we compare pre‐ and post‐SAS No. 82 planning judgments and find that post‐SAS No. 82 judgments are more sensitive to fraud risk factors. Specifically, we find that post‐SAS No. 82 participants are more aware of the need to modify audit plans and are more likely to increase the extent of their audit tests in response to increased fraud risk when compared with the pre‐SAS No. 82 participants in Z97. However, we do not find evidence that auditors modify the nature of their planned tests i...
A typed interface for garbage collection

An important consideration for certified code systems is the interaction of the untrusted program with the runtime system, most notably the garbage collector. Most certified code systems that treat the garbage collector as part of the trusted computing base dispense with this issue by using a collector whose interface with the program is simple enough that it does not pose any certification challenges. However, this approach rules out the use of many sophisticated high-performance garbage collectors. We present the language LGC, whose type system is capable of expressing the interface of a modern high-performance garbage collector. We use LGC to describe the interface to one such collector, which involves a substantial amount of programming at the type constructor level of the language.
Remaining questions about clinical variola major.

After the recent summary of World Health Organization–authorized research on smallpox, several clinical issues remain. This policy review addresses whether early hemorrhagic smallpox is disseminated intravascular coagulation and speculates about the cause of the high mortality rate among pregnant women and whether ocular smallpox is partly the result of trachoma or vitamin A deficiency. The joint destruction common in children with smallpox might be prevented by antiviral drugs, but intraarticular infusion of antiviral drugs is unprecedented. Development of highly effective antiviral drugs against smallpox raises the issue of whether postexposure vaccination can be performed without interference by an antiviral drug. Clinicians should consider whether patients with smallpox should be admitted to general hospitals. Although an adequate supply of second-generation smallpox vaccine exists in the United States, its use is unclear. Finally, political and ethical forces suggest that destruction of the remaining stocks of live smallpox virus is now appropriate.
Role of topical peptides in preventing or treating aged skin

Ageing, a basic biological process seen in all living creatures, is not preventable. Surgical and topical modalities have been invented and substances were applied topically to alter the ageing process. Peptides and proteins, frequently used for this purpose, were categorized into four groups: signal peptides, enzyme-inhibitor peptides, neurotransmitter-inhibitor peptides and carrier peptides. We comprehensively review eligible studies -including controlled ex vivo or in vivo efficacy studies on any topical peptide or protein that has been administered to treat signs and symptoms of ageing.
The Eyeball Test Can the Blind Leading the Blind See Better Than the Statistician

As physicians, we strive to provide the most appropriate care for our patients and to provide them with accurate assessments of both the risks and benefits they can expect to realize. Unfortunately, as humans, we are notoriously bad at estimating risk.1,2 However, as the choices of treatments for cardiac disease expand, accurate assessment of risk becomes increasingly important. A patient with coronary artery disease may have the option of medical therapy, coronary artery bypass grafting, or percutaneous intervention. Transcatheter aortic valve replacement may soon be a viable alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement for patients with aortic valve disease. For patients to be able to make the choice that best suits their goals, they must have accurate information regarding risks and benefits. Article see p 151 In the current article, Jain et al3 compared cardiac surgeons’ assessments of mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting and valve surgery and that calculated from the Veterans Affairs Continuous Improvement in Cardiac Surgery Program (VA CICSP) risk model with actual mortality rates. The focus of the study was perioperative mortality; however, 1- and 5-year mortality rates were also considered. Although neither the statistical risk model nor surgeon estimates were perfect, the risk models performed somewhat better at all time points. Both the risk models and the surgeons’ estimates were better at estimating perioperative mortality than they were at estimating late mortality. These findings are informative and may help us to improve our estimates of procedural risk. When examining the predictive validity of a risk model (or surgeons’ estimates), 2 factors are regularly used: calibration and discrimination. Calibration measures to what degree the model assigns risk to the population, or in a population of 100 patients with an estimated mortality risk of 3%, were there 3 observed deaths? The current article …
Engineered nanomaterials: exposures, hazards, and risk prevention

Nanotechnology presents the possibility of revolutionizing many aspects of our lives. People in many settings (academic, small and large industrial, and the general public in industrialized nations) are either developing or using engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) or ENM-containing products. However, our understanding of the occupational, health and safety aspects of ENMs is still in its formative stage. A survey of the literature indicates the available information is incomplete, many of the early findings have not been independently verified, and some may have been over-interpreted. This review describes ENMs briefly, their application, the ENM workforce, the major routes of human exposure, some examples of uptake and adverse effects, what little has been reported on occupational exposure assessment, and approaches to minimize exposure and health hazards. These latter approaches include engineering controls such as fume hoods and personal protective equipment. Results showing the effectiveness - or lack thereof - of some of these controls are also included. This review is presented in the context of the Risk Assessment/Risk Management framework, as a paradigm to systematically work through issues regarding human health hazards of ENMs. Examples are discussed of current knowledge of nanoscale materials for each component of the Risk Assessment/Risk Management framework. Given the notable lack of information, current recommendations to minimize exposure and hazards are largely based on common sense, knowledge by analogy to ultrafine material toxicity, and general health and safety recommendations. This review may serve as an overview for health and safety personnel, management, and ENM workers to establish and maintain a safe work environment. Small start-up companies and research institutions with limited personnel or expertise in nanotechnology health and safety issues may find this review particularly useful.
Antigen Presentation : Discovery of the Peptide TAP

This month’s Pillars of Immunology series features four papers published in December 1990, one in Science ([1][1]) and three in Nature ([2][2], [3][3], [4][4]), that represented a seminal advance in understanding how CTL sense virus-infected cells. CTL eliminate virus-infected cells by recognizing
Metric embedding for kernel classification rules

In this paper, we consider a smoothing kernel based classification rule and propose an algorithm for optimizing the performance of the rule by learning the bandwidth of the smoothing kernel along with a data-dependent distance metric. The data-dependent distance metric is obtained by learning a function that embeds an arbitrary metric space into a Euclidean space while minimizing an upper bound on the resubstitution estimate of the error probability of the kernel classification rule. By restricting this embedding function to a reproducing kernel Hilbert space, we reduce the problem to solving a semidefinite program and show the resulting kernel classification rule to be a variation of the k-nearest neighbor rule. We compare the performance of the kernel rule (using the learned data-dependent distance metric) to state-of-the-art distance metric learning algorithms (designed for k-nearest neighbor classification) on some benchmark datasets. The results show that the proposed rule has either better or as good classification accuracy as the other metric learning algorithms.
Effect of carrier-envelope phase on bound-state atomic excitation by multi-cycle pulse

We present an experimental and theoretical study of Carrier-Envelope Phase effects on bound state atomic excitation. We investigated the influence of CEP on multiphoton transitions between the Zeeman sublevels of the ground state of 87Rb.
Hepatic Gene Expression Changes in Mice Associated with Prolonged Sublethal Microcystin Exposure

Microcystin-LR (MCLR) is an acute hepatotoxicant and suspected carcinogen. Previous chronic studies have individually described hepatic morphologic changes, or alterations in the cytoskeleton, cell signaling or redox pathways. The objective of this study was to characterize chronic effects of MCLR in wild-type mice utilizing gene array analysis, morphology, and plasma chemistries. MCLR was given daily for up to 28 days. RNA from the 28-day study was hybridized onto mouse genechip arrays. RNA from 4 hours, 24 hours, 4 days, 1 day, and 28 days for selected genes was processed for quantitative-PCR. Increases in plasma hepatic enzyme activities and decreases in total protein, albumin and glucose concentrations were identified in MCLR-treated groups at 14 and 28 days. Histologically, marked hepatokaryomegaly was identified in the 14-day MCLR group with the addition of giant cells at 28 days. Major gene transcript changes were identified in the actin organization, cell cycle, apoptotic, cellular redox, cell signaling, albumin metabolism, and glucose homeostasis pathways, and the organic anion transport polypeptide system. Using toxicogenomics, we have identified key molecular pathways involved in chronic sublethal MCLR exposure in wild-type mice, genes participating in those critical pathways and related them to cellular and morphologic alterations seen in this and other studies.
Attenuation compensation of cone beam SPECT images using maximum likelihood reconstruction

Attenuation compensation for cone beam single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging is performed by cone beam maximum likelihood reconstruction with attenuation included in the transition matrix. Since the transition matrix is too large to be stored in conventional computers, the E-M maximum likelihood estimator is implemented with a ray-tracing algorithm, efficiently recalculating each matrix element as needed. The method was applied and tested in both uniform and nonuniform density phantoms. Test projections sets were obtained from Monte Carlo simulations and experiments using a commercially available cone beam collimator. For representative regions of interest. reconstruction of a uniform sphere is accurate to within 3% throughout, in comparison to a reference image simulated and reconstructed without attenuation. High- and low-activity regions in a uniform density are reconstructed accurately, except that low-activity regions in a more active background have a small error. This error is explainable by the nonnegativity constraints of the E-M estimator and the image statistical noise. >
The effect of source credibility on consumers' perceptions of the quality of health information on the Internet

Recent use of the Internet as a source of health information has raised concerns about consumers' ability to tell 'good' information from 'bad' information. Although consumers report that they use source credibility to judge information quality, several observational studies suggest that consumers make little use of source credibility. This study examines consumer evaluations of web pages attributed to a credible source as compared to generic web pages on measures of message quality. In spring 2005, a community-wide convenience survey was distributed in a regional hub city in Ohio, USA. 519 participants were randomly assigned one of six messages discussing lung cancer prevention: three messages each attributed to a highly credible national organization and three identical messages each attributed to a generic web page. Independent sample t-tests were conducted to compare each attributed message to its counterpart attributed to a generic web page on measures of trustworthiness, truthfulness, readability, and completeness. The results demonstrated that differences in attribution to a source did not have a significant effect on consumers' evaluations of the quality of the information.Conclusions. The authors offer suggestions for national organizations to promote credibility to consumers as a heuristic for choosing better online health information through the use of media co-channels to emphasize credibility.
Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1 Stimulates Profibrotic Activities of Luteal Fibroblasts in Cows

ABSTRACT Luteolysis is characterized by angioregression, luteal cell apoptosis, and remodeling of the extracellular matrix characterized by deposition of collagen 1. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1) is a potent mediator of wound healing and fibrotic processes through stimulation of the synthesis of extracellular matrix components. We hypothesized that TGFB1 stimulates profibrotic activities of luteal fibroblasts. We examined the actions of TGFB1 on luteal fibroblast proliferation, extracellular matrix production, floating gel contraction, and chemotaxis. Fibroblasts were isolated from the bovine corpus luteum. Western blot analysis showed that luteal fibroblasts expressed collagen 1 and prolyl 4-hydroxylase but did not express markers of endothelial or steroidogenic cells. Treatment of fibroblasts with TGFB1 stimulated the phosphorylation of SMAD2 and SMAD3. [3H]thymidine incorporation studies showed that TGFB1 caused concentration-dependent reductions in DNA synthesis in luteal fibroblasts and s...
Prevalence and severity of substance use disorders and onset of psychosis in first-admission psychotic patients.

Background. Past studies have found inconsistent evidence that substance use disorders are related to earlier onset of schizophrenia or more severe symptoms. This study examines prevalence and severity of current substance use disorders and onset of psychotic illness in a multi-facility sample.Methods. Data are from the Suffolk County Mental Health Project, an epidemiological study of first admission psychosis. The SCID and instruments measuring symptomatology, personality and background characteristics were administered. Respondents were stratified into three groups: (a) no life-time substance diagnosis; (b) in remission or reporting current mild use at admission; and (c) current moderate–severe substance abuse at admission.Results. Using the SCID severity rating, 17·4% of males and 6·2% of the females had moderate or severe current substance abuse, while 41·5% of males and 68·2% of females had no lifetime substance diagnosis. In almost all cases categorized as moderate–severe, the substance diagnosis predated onset of psychosis. Females categorized as moderate–severe had an earlier age of onset of psychosis than did females in the other groups. There were only slight differences in symptom severity among the groups but more marked antisocial behaviour in the moderate–severe group. Variables discriminating the moderate–severe from non-abuse groups were BPRS thought disturbance, adult anti-social behaviour and current cigarette smoking for males and adult antisocial behaviour and child–teen antisocial behaviour for females.Conclusions. Severity of substance abuse does not appear to be a pivotal correlate of the early features of psychotic illness.
Pharmacologic, Pharmacodynamic, and Pharmacokinetic Considerations with Intravenous Ibuprofen Lysine

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a common complication in preterm infants. An intravenous (IV) cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor is the pharmacotherapy of choice. Concerns over adverse effects associated with the traditional treatment, IV indomethacin, have led to the investigation of other COX inhibitors to assist closure of PDA. IV ibuprofen lysine is a COX inhibitor that demonstrates similar efficacy to indomethacin with few adverse effects. In addition, IV ibuprofen lysine does not cause reductions in cerebral, renal, and mesenteric blood flow that can be seen with indomethacin, and thus ibuprofen therapy is not associated with reduced renal function. Ibuprofen is primarily metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C9. The immaturity of neonatal biotransformation pathways has a pronounced effect on the pharmacokinetic parameters of ibuprofen, particularly because CYP2C9 enzyme activity is known to be very low at birth and to increase rapidly over the first several days of life. Ibuprofen is highly bound to albumin, raising concern that ibuprofen may displace bilirubin and subsequently increase free bilirubin concentrations. However, the ibuprofen concentrations achieved with approved dosing with IV ibuprofen lysine are lower than those expected to result in displacement of bilirubin and related adverse effects. Factors such as gestational age and CYP2C9 polymorphism may affect ibuprofen metabolism and therefore optimal dosing, but further clinical investigation is needed in these areas. Other areas for future investigation include prolonged dosing regimens, prophylactic administration, and alternate indications. At the approved dose, IV ibuprofen lysine is a safe, effective pharmacologic agent to promote closure of PDAs in preterm infants.
Assessment of Anxiety Symptoms Using the MMPI-2, MMPI-2-RF, and MMPI-A

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory is one of the most well validated and extensively researched psychological instruments. In recent years there have been modified versions for adolescents and a restructured form with improved validation of the original eight clinical scales.“In this chapter, guidelines for optimally using this collection of measures for anxiety disorder treatment planning are provided. Special consideration is given to the use of MMPI scales within empirically supported frameworks of anxiety symptoms.”
Should Innovation Rationalize Supra-Competitive Prices? A Skeptical Speculation

A recent criticism of competition policy is that antitrust authorities shouldn't focus their concern on prices, since the welfare losses of prices are trivial compared to longer run innovation effects. At minimum, there's a problematic trade-off between so-called static price and dynamic efficiencies. On this view, if there is a credible argument supporting the idea that collusion or merger increases incentives to innovate, one should not worry about price. We entertain here the hypothesis that antitrust should not worry about innovation, just as it should not worry about effects on other markets. Antitrust takes place in the shadow of patent laws, which presumably have evolved to provide efficient innovation incentives when markets are competitive, as most are. To weaken antitrust enforcement presumes that patent law is not set correctly. A better remedy would be to adjust patent law and other tools for encouraging innovation, e.g., tax credits or prizes. To distort the application of antitrust law to fix shortcomings in patent law provides a correction only if there is a potential antitrust violation (e.g., an otherwise anticompetitive merger) to ignore. Sectors with no antitrust "events" would remain uncorrected.
Purex Process Performance Versus Solvent Exposure and Treatment

An analysis of the Savannah River Plant (SWP) operation for reactor fuel reprocessing is given. The variables in operation and two different mixer- settler installations with widely varying contactor Size and residence time of the solvent are discussed. The time covered includes two diluents; Ultrasene and Adakane. The principal of the equilibrium model of solvent is discussed. The influence of solvent quality of SRP performance and the changes with changing diluents are discussed. 34 references. (R.E.U.)
Mathematical model of steroidogenesis in rat and rabbit testes

The purpose of this study was to develop a mathematical model of testicular steroidogenesis which could not only predict steroid secretion but also could be implemented to test the validity of assumptions used in studies of testicular testosterone biosynthesis in rats and rabbits. Since the two predominant fates of testicular steroids are metabolism and secretion, we hypothesized that the data for construction of the model could be observed testicular steroid secretions and that these data could then be used to elucidate intratesticular steroid conversions. Equations based on steroid secretion by testes perfused in vitro were developed to estimate transition probabilities corresponding to steroid secretion or conversion. The model was tested by comparing the predicted steroid secretion rates with those observed for control testes perfused in vitro. In addition, the transition probabilities determined by the model were used to indicate the predominant series of reactions for converting pregnenolone to testosterone. The results presented herein confirm the capability of the model to predict steroid secretion rates and to predict preferred pathways for testosterone biosynthesis in maximally stimulated testes perfused in vitro. Moreover, the model construction required only algebra and steady-state measurements.
Interfacial Effect in Water-Infiltrated Nanoporous Media

Water infiltrated nanoporous glasses have a damping peak at about 1 H z (4.6 nm pore size) and 6 H z (8.8 nm pore size) at room temperature; their relaxation strengths are consistent with the damping mechanism in which water flows from the regions of compression to those of tension. However, the damping peaks disappear when water content is below 60% for the 4.6 urn pore size glass and 40% for the 8.8 urn pore size glass. These water contents correspond to about a 0.85 and 1.0 urn thick interfacial water layer on the internal surfaces of the nanoporous glasses. The adsorbed layer contributes only to the damping background. Finally, dependencies of relaxation time on sample thickness, bulk modulus and viscosity agree well with the predictions of the model.
Childhood socioeconomic status and cardiovascular reactivity and recovery among Black and White men: Mitigating effects of psychological resources.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate a possible physiological mechanism underlying links between low childhood socioeconomic status (SES) and poor adult health by (a) testing whether childhood SES is prospectively related to cardiovascular responses to laboratory stress in adulthood, and (b) by determining whether psychological resources buffer cardiovascular reactivity and promote better recovery from stress. METHOD Participants (n = 246; 55% Black; mean age = 32 years) were from a population-based sample of men in Pittsburgh, PA. Childhood SES was measured through the Hollingshead index (parental education and occupation) across 10 waves between the ages of 6 and 16. In adulthood, cardiovascular measures, including systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), heart rate (HR), and high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV), were taken during and following standardized laboratory psychological stressors. Participants completed measures of optimism, purpose in life, self-esteem, positive affect, and self-mastery, which were combined into a psychological resource factor. RESULTS Lower childhood SES predicted higher HR and SBP at recovery, independent of age, race, body mass index, current smoking, task demand, and current SES. Psychological resources moderated the association between childhood SES and SBP. Lower childhood SES predicted SBP recovery only among men with fewer psychological resources. CONCLUSIONS Psychological resources may buffer the relation between low childhood SES and cardiovascular recovery from stress. This buffering may improve adult health to the extent that cardiovascular recovery contributes to the risk of low childhood SES for subsequent disease. (PsycINFO Database Record
Iterative Control for Networked Heterogeneous Multi-Agent Systems With Uncertainties

This note addresses the convergence of iterative control for networked, heterogeneous, multi-agent systems, where each agent has potentially different dynamics and dissimilar uncertainties. The major contribution of this work is to quantify the acceptable modeling uncertainty for ensuring convergence of the proposed iterative approach for collaborative tracking. Convergence conditions are established for the case when inversion-based iterative control of each individual agent (designed separately, independent of the iterative controllers of the other agents) are conjoined using a network graph structure.
Paleoseismology of the Elsinore fault at Agua Tibia Mountain southern California

Abstract We investigated two trench sites to determine Holocene paleoseismicity on the flanks of Agua Tibia Mountain along the Elsinore fault, southern California. Our investigation revealed that a minimum of four earthquakes produced surface rupture on this southern reach of the Temecula segment of the fault in the past 4.5 ka. We also recognized evidence for an earthquake that predated 4.5 ka, possibly by only a short period of time. Radiocarbon and historical data constrain the timing of the most recent earthquake to between A.D. 1655 and the onset of construction of the Pala Mission complex, in about A.D. 1810. Four of the recognized events occurred between 2.7 ka and just before 4.5 ka, whereas the fifth occurred less than 340 years ago. These observations suggest that either earthquake occurrence has been irregular at this site or that the paleoseismic record at Agua Tibia Mountain is incomplete. If the latter is correct and if the record between 2.7 and 4.5 ka is complete, then our preferred interpretation suggests an average return time for surface-rupturing events of 550 to 600 years. The best estimates of event times for the three oldest dated events are 2.8, 3.25, and 4.0 ka, with another event just before 4.5 ka, indicating return intervals for this time period ranging between 450 and 750 years. Using the previously determined slip rate for the Temecula segment of the Elsinore fault of 5 mm/yr, and assuming that 550-600-year average return time is correct, the likelihood for an earthquake on the Temecula segment in the next 50 years is less than 5%.
Persistent epstein-barr virus infection mimicking juvenile chronic myelogenous leukemia: immunologic and hematologic studies.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections may induce a diverse clinical picture, ranging from the well characterized infectious mononucleosis (IM) syndrome to the rare X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome. We describe two unrelated children, a 21-mo-old white boy and a 15-mo-old black girl, who presented with the clinical and laboratory findings characteristically seen in juvenile chronic myelogenous leukemia (JCML). Results of periodic serodiagnostic tests indicated that they likely have persistent infection with EBV. Both had elevated IgG antibody to viral capsid antigen (greater than or equal to 1:320) and antibody to early antigen (1:20–1:40) that have persisted for 3 yr of more. Both patients had EBV-specific suppressor cell activity, decreased natural killer cell activity, and diminished antibody- dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity. These changes suggest an underlying defect in the immunoregulatory network controlling EBV infection. The patients have shown clinical improvement without treatment. It appears that EBV infections are capable of inducing symptoms similar to those seen in JCML. Careful evaluation for evidence of EBV infection in patients presenting with symptoms compatible with JCML seems warranted.
Calorimetric studies of the interactions of metalloenzyme active site mimetics with zinc-binding inhibitors

The binding of drugs to metalloenzymes is an intricate process that involves several interactions, including binding of the drug to the enzyme active site metal, as well as multiple interactions between the drug and the enzyme residues. In order to determine the free energy contribution of Zn2+ binding by known metalloenzyme inhibitors without the other interactions, valid active site zinc structural mimetics must be formed and binding studies need to be performed in biologically relevant conditions. The potential of each of five ligands to form a structural mimetic with Zn2+ was investigated in buffer using Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC). All five ligands formed strong 1 : 1 (ligand : Zn2+) binary complexes. The complexes were used in further ITC experiments to study their interaction with 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-HQ) and/or acetohydroxamic acid (AHA), two bidentate anionic zinc-chelating enzyme inhibitors. It was found that tetradentate ligands were not suitable for creating zinc structural mimetics for inhibitor binding in solution due to insufficient coordination sites remaining on Zn2+. A stable binary complex, [Zn(BPA)]2+, which was formed by a tridentate ligand, bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (BPA), was found to bind one AHA in buffer or a methanol : buffer mixture (60 : 40 by volume) at pH 7.25 or one 8-HQ in the methanol : buffer mixture at pH 6.80, making it an effective structural mimetic for the active site of zinc metalloenzymes. These results are consistent with the observation that metalloenzyme active site zinc ions have three residues coordinated to them, leaving one or two sites open for inhibitors to bind. Our findings indicate that Zn(BPA)X2 can be used as an active site structural mimetic for zinc metalloenzymes for estimating the free energy contribution of zinc binding to the overall inhibitor active site interactions. Such use will help aid in the rational design of inhibitors to a variety of zinc metalloenzymes.
Basic Needs, Distribution, and Growth: The Beginnings of a Framework

Publisher Summary The post-World War II era has witnessed significant transitions in many less developed countries (LDCs) toward modern economic growth. In terms of rates of growth of per capita income, average performance levels have exceeded expectations. It had been assumed that such growth would more or less automatically bring with it improvements in the quality of life of all people in LDCs. This expectation has unfortunately not been fulfilled: large numbers of people remain poor, with high rates of mortality, low life expectancy, chronic malnutrition, illness, and illiteracy. The reaction to this disappointment has been a movement in national and international planning circles to include quality-of-life indicators as explicit development goals. Under the name “Basic Needs― (BN), this approach has had strong normative overtones. This chapter provides a suggested framework for a positive, behavioristic approach to BN. Viewing BN as one part of a general economic system helps to establish boundary lines for the BN approach, identifies the relations between BN and familiar national accounting variables, and points out areas for possible policy intervention. The chapter presents the BN concept within a general economic system from both a production and an organizational point of view. It presents the alternative ways in which various types of BN goods are likely to be allotted to families.
Composition and Structure of Oyster Adhesive Reveals Heterogeneous Materials Properties in a Biological Composite

Oyster reefs help maintain coastal ecosystems by filtering water, holding silt in place, and absorbing storm surge energy. We are just beginning to understand the chemical and structural nature of the adhesive used by these animals for building such reef communities. The adhesive has a high calcium carbonate content relative to other bioadhesives, but also appreciable levels of organics, presumably for bonding. The studies presented here use X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy, X-ray photoemission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and microhardness methods to understand the composition, as well as the mechanical properties, of this biological material. Oyster adhesive appears to be a heterogeneous mixture of calcium carbonate and silica inclusions arranged randomly within a matrix that lacks any observable structure. Microindentation shows inclusions are significantly harder than their surroundings. This hard plus soft strategy has been noted in other biological materials, although not in any adhesives. These compositional and structural insights help propose a mechanism by which the animals generate their adhesive. Such an intriguing structure, along with resulting mechanical implications, may help explain how oyster reefs can thrive despite being subjected to demanding forces created by predators and the environment around them.
Disruption of endolysosomal trafficking pathways in glioma cells by methuosis-inducing indole-based chalcones

Methuosis is a form of non-apoptotic cell death involving massive vacuolization of macropinosome-derived endocytic compartments, followed by a decline in metabolic activity and loss of membrane integrity. To explore the induction of methuosis as a potential therapeutic strategy for killing cancer cells, we have developed small molecules (indole-based chalcones) that trigger this form of cell death in glioblastoma and other cancer cell lines. Here, we report that in addition to causing fusion and expansion of macropinosome compartments, the lead compound, 3-(5-methoxy-2-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)-1-(4-pyridinyl)-2-propen-1-one (MOMIPP), disrupts vesicular trafficking at the lysosomal nexus, manifested by impaired degradation of EGF and LDL receptors, defective processing of procathepsins, and accumulation of autophagosomes. In contrast, secretion of the ectodomain derived from a prototypical type-I membrane glycoprotein, β-amyloid precursor protein, is increased rather than diminished. A closely related MOMIPP analog, which causes substantial vacuolization without reducing cell viability, also impedes cathepsin processing and autophagic flux, but has more modest effects on receptor degradation. A third analog, which causes neither vacuolization nor loss of viability, has no effect on endolysosomal trafficking. The results suggest that differential cytotoxicity of structurally similar indole-based chalcones is related, at least in part, to the severity of their effects on endolysosomal trafficking pathways.
Evidence for a Lactic Streptococcal Role in Nigerian Acidic Cassava ( Manihot esculenta Crantz) Fermentations 1

The predominant acid-producing organism isolated from Nigerian cassava mixed fermentation cultures was Streptococcus faecium . Corynebacterium manihot was also abundant in the mixed cultures, but contrary to earlier reports, this organism grew slowly and lacked significant acid-producing capabilities. Cultural characteristics of S. faecium indicated that it was the primary fermentation organism in acidic cassava fermentations rather than the earlier indicated C. manihot . Diacetyl production in both milk cultures and fermented cassava was demonstrated for S. faecium . Detection of diacetyl in fermented cassava products indicated that S. faecium may also play an additional role in the flavor development of these products.
On the determination of Toxoplasma gondii virulence in mice.

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most successful pathogens on earth, capable of infecting an extremely broad range of mammals and birds and causing potentially fatal disease in humans. The house mouse (Mus musculus) has been used as the primary laboratory animal model for determining the virulence of T. gondii strains. Epidemiological evidence also suggests a potential association between virulence in mice and disease severity in human toxoplasmosis. However, many factors can affect virulence measurements, including route of infection, life stage of the parasite, number of passages of the parasite in mice or cell culture, and the mouse host line used. Variability among these factors makes it difficult to compare results between different studies in different laboratories. Here, we discuss important factors that should be considered when carrying out T. gondii murine virulence assays and propose a standardized methodology that should facilitate integration of T. gondii virulence data throughout the research community in future studies and thereby enable more efficient and effective analysis of genetic and virulence patterns for this important parasite.
A new estimate of detrital redox-sensitive metal concentrations and variability in fluxes to marine sediments

Abstract The enrichment and depletion of redox sensitive trace metals in marine sediments have been used extensively as paleoredox proxies. The trace metals in shale are comprised of both detrital (transported or particulate) and authigenic (precipitated, redox-driven) constituents, potentially complicating the use of this suite of proxies. Untangling the influence of these components is vital for the interpretation of enrichments, depletions, and isotopic signals of iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), uranium (U), and vanadium (V) observed in the rock record. Traditionally, a single crustal average is used as a cutoff for detrital input, and concentrations above or below this value are interpreted as redox derived authigenic enrichment or depletion, while authigenic isotopic signals are frequently corrected for an assumed detrital contribution. Building from an extensive study of soils across the continental United States – which upon transport will become marine sediments – and their elemental concentrations, we find large deviations from accepted crustal averages in redox-sensitive metals (Fe, Cr, U, V) compared to typical detrital tracers (Al, Ti, Sc, Th) and provide new estimates for detrital contributions to the ocean. The variability in these elemental ratios is present over large areas, comparable to the catchment-size of major rivers around the globe. This heterogeneity in detrital flux highlights the need for a reevaluation of how the detrital contribution is assessed in trace metal studies, and the use of confidence intervals rather than single average values, especially in local studies or in the case of small authigenic enrichments.
Should Employers Pay a Living Wage

This paper critiques many of the leading popular and philosophical arguments purporting to show employers have a duty to pay a living wage. Some of these arguments fail on their own terms. Some are not really about a living wage. The best of them fail to show employers per se owe a living wage; at best, they should that governments should supplement market incomes though a negative income tax or some other redistributive device.
Measuring energy usage and sustainability development in Asian nations by DEA intermediate approach

This study proposes a new use of data envelopment analysis (DEA) for assessing economic success and environmental protection, so measuring the level of sustainability. The new approach is referred to as “DEA environmental assessment,” and it can measure the performance of various entities that use inputs to produce not only desirable outputs but also undesirable outputs. DEA models are generally classified into radial or non-radial category. This study proposes a new “intermediate” approach between them. As an illustrative application, this study is interested in empirical assessment on energy usage and social sustainability of 21 Asian nations from 2008 to 2014. The energy usage, usually classified into primal (e.g., oil and coal) and secondary (i.e., electricity) categories, is essential in developing the economy, but the development simultaneously produces various pollutions (e.g., carbon emission). They have been developing their economic prosperities in a short period, but simultaneously suffering from such pollutions. All Asian nations are classified into four or five groups based upon their unified efficiency measures under natural disposability, where economic performance is the first priority and environmental performance is the second, along with managerial disposability with the opposite priority to the natural disposability. An implication found in this study is that among Asian nations, Japan and New Zealand belong to the first tier in terms of developing their social sustainability. Japan’s economy started to turn down after 2012 and faced a pitfall in recent years. Meanwhile, New Zealand has developed its economy by exporting agriculture products and is surrounded by natural beauty. Thus, the two nations are ranked as the top tier under the four types of unified efficiency measures. Beside these expected findings, this study has found that large nations such as China and India have not badly performed if we consider the size of their economies. This is a surprising result because they are large carbon emitters in the world and thereby they have been often criticized by international communities. Their problem is that the living standard of people is low because of the size of population. The empirical findings are useful in developing the energy and industrial policies of Asian nations.