cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Deconvolving Multivariate Density from Random Field

We consider the problem of estimating a continuous bounded multivariate probability density function (pdf) when the random field X i , i ∈ Z d from the density is contaminated by measurement errors. In particular, the observations Y i , i ∈ Z d are such that Y i = X i + e i , where the errors e i are a sample from a known distribution. We improve the existing results in at least two directions. First, we consider random vectors in contrast to most existing results which are only concerned with univariate random variables. Secondly, and most importantly, while all the existing results focus on the temporal cases (d = 1), we develop the results for random vectors with a certain spatial interaction. Precise asymptotic expressions and bounds on the mean-squared error are established, along with rates of both weak and strong consistencies, for random fields satisfying a variety of mixing conditions. The dependence of the convergence rates on the density of the noise field is also studied.
Pediatric Sedatives and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Challenges, Limitations, and Drugs in Development

Imaging, invasive diagnostics, and minor surgical procedures on pediatric patients outside the operating room setting have increased, and there is a need for sedatives that have been properly assessed in the pediatric population for this indication. This chapter will review the process of obtaining Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a drug or biologic for use in pediatric patients with a focus on sedation. The FDA approves products based on an independent review of evidence obtained from chemistry and manufacturing data, toxicology and pharmacology studies, and clinical trials. During the review of the marking application, the FDA must assess whether the drug is safe and effective in its proposed use(s), and whether the benefits of the drug outweigh the risks.
Effect of blood pressure and diabetes mellitus on cognitive and physical functions in older adults: A longitudinal analysis of the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly cohort

The prevalence of high blood pressure (BP) and diabetes mellitus (DM) increases with age, and the numbers of older persons with these cardiovascular risks are expected to grow as the elderly population increases in number.1,2 The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey demonstrated that, in the noninstitutionalized population aged 65 and older, the overall prevalence of hypertension and DM is between 50% and 70% and 18% and 20%, respectively.1,2 Hypertension and DM are associated with a variety of cardiovascular conditions, such as peripheral vascular disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke, and impose a heavy public health burden in older people. DM and high BP, as well as their related cerebral changes,3,4 such as stroke, lacunes, and leukoaraiosis, have been shown to affect cognition, leading to cognitive impairment or dementia.5,6 Data from the Syst-Eur trial, a randomized, controlled trial recruiting 2,418 elderly subjects without dementia at baseline, showed that active treatment of hypertension with antihypertensive medications reduced the incidence of dementia by 50% after 2 years of follow-up.7 Recent evidence suggests that executive function, the cognitive ability associated with human frontal lobes, appears to be particularly vulnerable to increased loads of cardiovascular risks.8,9 Many population-based prospective studies10–12 have examined the relation of DM or hypertension to cognitive function, usually assessed using a global cognitive measure or ascertainment of incident dementia cases without further exploration of changes in different cognitive domains. Little is known about which specific cognitive domains elevated BP or DM affect. Furthermore, the relationship between hypertension and physical function, either cross-sectional or longitudinal, has not been adequately examined. The effect of DM on physical functioning has been examined in several cross-sectional studies. Patients with DM are more likely to report disability,13 have more days of restricted activity,14 and have more physical function limitations.15,16 Unfortunately, data from longitudinal studies examining the relationship between DM and functional decline are sparse. Therefore, we hypothesize that hypertension and DM have adverse effects on cognitive, particularly executive, and physical functions. The overarching goal of this study was to elucidate the predictive role of BP, DM, and their interaction on decline in cognitive and physical performance in later life by examining data from the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) trial.
Importance of bile in regulation of intraluminal proteolytic enzyme activities in the rat

Abstract The effects of biliary diversion on pancreatic enzyme activities of intestinal contents was studied in conscious rats prepared with biliary and pancreatic fistulae. Diversion of bile from the intestine for 1 day caused an 80% decrease in trypsin and chymotrypsin activities of intestinal contents, in spite of increased (230%) pancreatic trypsin and chymotrypsin secretion. Bile diversion in fed rats caused a smaller decrease (58%) in trypsin and chymotrypsin activities of intestinal contents. Sodium taurocholate (100 μmol/hr intraduodenally) partially reversed the changes in pancreatic secretion and intestinal contents' activities of trypsin and chymotrypsin caused by bile diversion. The results indicated that bile was important in controlling the rate of disappearance of trypsin and chymotrypsin activities from the small intestine. The mechanism for this was studied by comparing the rate of disappearance of trypsin activity in vivo and in vitro. Bovine trypsin, with or without sodium taurocholate, was infused intraduodenally into conscious rats deprived of bile-pancreatic juice and the recovery of trypsin activity from the small intestine determined. Taurocholate increased recovery of trypsin from the small intestine more than threefold, but inactivation of bovine trypsin in vitro was not retarded by sodium taurocholate. The results indicate that bile in the small intestine controls the rate of disappearance of intraluminal trypsin and chymotrypsin activities, probably by inhibiting their autodigestion in vivo.
The Earth System Modeling Framework

The Earth System Modeling Framework or ESMF is open source software for building modeling components and coupling them together to form weather prediction, climate, coastal, and other applications. ESMF was motivated by the desire to exchange modeling components amongst centers and to reduce costs and effort by sharing codes.
Exchange rate models and exchange rate expectations: an empirical investigation

A non parametrictest of popular modern exchange rate models under alternative expectation specifications is presented. It is found that there is little difference in the predictive success of the alternative exchange rate models, however, there are significant differences in the performance of a model depending upon the expectations mechanism specified. Our most important finding is that the flexible price monetary model, the portfolio balance model and a hybrid model under extrapolative and adaptive expectations mechanisms provide statistically significant information about the direction of exchange rate movements. By contrast, the same models when employing static, regressive and rational expectation mechanisms do not provideany satistically significant information.
Group research and the unit of analysis problem: The use of ANOVA designs with nested factors

Abstract This article discusses ANOVA designs with nested factors as an option for addressing unit of analysis issues when conducting group research
Mutation screen of the glutamate decarboxylase-67 gene and haplotype association to unipolar depression

Abnormally low concentrations of brain gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) have been reported in unipolar depression. Almost all of the brain GABA is synthesized by glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) enzymes (GAD67 and GAD65). These enzymes, therefore, play a central role in brain GABA homeostasis. We screened all the 17 exons of the GAD67 gene for mutations using single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) or denaturing high pressure liquid chromatography (dHPLC) in a sample of 43 individuals diagnosed with major unipolar depression or other disorders with putative GABAergic dysfunction. We identified eight novel variants (five synonymous base substitutions, two insertion/deletions and one tandem repeat). Three relatively common (minor allele frequency >20%) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), located in the 5' non-coding region (exon 0), intron 8, and the 3' non-coding region (exon 16) of the gene, were genotyped in 103 European-American (EA) subjects with depression and 125 EA psychiatrically screened controls. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) and haplotype frequencies were estimated using the 3LOCUS program. Significant LD was observed between the intron 8 SNP and the exon 16 SNP and between the exon 0 SNP and the exon 16 SNP. Three common GAD67 haplotypes were observed in this population, which accounted for >90% of the possible GAD67 three-locus haplotypes. Comparison of SNP and haplotype frequencies between individuals with depression and controls revealed no differences. These results demonstrate a significant within-gene LD for GAD67 in the EA population and begin to establish a haplotype map for this gene. Furthermore, these results suggest that common genetic variation within the GAD67 gene does not play a major role in the predisposition to unipolar depression.
Two-dimensional structure of slow shocks

The two-dimensional (2-D) structure of switch-off slow magnetosonic shocks is investigated using an electromagnetic hybrid (fluid electrons, kinetic ions) code. It is shown that the basic physical processes occurring at 1-D slow shocks are also operative in 2-D. Specifically, the interaction between the upstream ions and those streaming away from the shock results in the excitation of Alfven/ions-cyclotron (AIC) waves. Depending on the plasma parameters, these waves may either stay in the upstream or convect back into the shock resulting in a non-steady shock behavior which prevents the formation of a trailing wave train. Despite this similarity, some slow shocks which are steady in 1-D are found to be non-steady in 2-D. Fourier analysis of the waves downstream of non-steady shocks identifies them as AIC, demonstrating that the waves remain on the same branch as they convect from upstream into the downstream region.
Evidence for oxazepam as an in vivo probe of UGT2B15: oxazepam clearance is reduced by UGT2B15 D85Y polymorphism but unaffected by UGT2B17 deletion

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT • UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 2B15 is a major drug glucuronidation enzyme expressed in human liver. • Oxazepam is an isoform-selective probe drug that is being used for in vitro studies of UGT2B15. • The most common UGT2B15 missense polymorphisms (D85Y and K523T) are correlated with variable oxazepam glucuronidation in human liver bank samples. • UGT2B17 is also expressed in liver and has high sequence homology and substrate specificity overlap with UGT2B15. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS • UGT2B15 D85Y polymorphism is identified as a major determinant of oxazepam disposition, accounting for as much as 34% of interindividual variability in oxazepam apparent oral clearance. • An effect of the UGT2B15 K523T or the UGT2B17 deletion polymorphisms on oxazepam disposition could not be detected. • Provides evidence supporting the use of oxazepam as an isoform-selective in vivo probe for studies of variability in UGT2B15 activity. AIMS Although in vitro studies indicate that oxazepam is an isoform-selective substrate probe for UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 2B15, the utility of this drug as an in vivo probe is uncertain. The main aim of this study was to determine whether common missense polymorphisms in the UGT2B15 gene (D85Y and K523T) are associated with altered oxazepam pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. We also determined the possible influence of a common deletion polymorphism in the gene encoding UGT2B17, which shows substantial substrate specificity overlap with UGT2B15. METHODS Thirty healthy male subjects were administered 15 mg of oxazepam by mouth followed by plasma oxazepam concentration monitoring for 36 h, and pharmacodynamic testing for 8 h. Genotypes were determined by genomic polymerase chain reaction and commercial 5′-nuclease assays. RESULTS Allele frequencies for D85Y, K523T, UGT2B17del were 47%, 23% and 19%, respectively. Median oxazepam apparent oral clearance was significantly lower in 85YY subjects (1.62 ml min−1 kg−1) compared with 85DD subjects (3.35 ml min−1 kg−1; P= 0.003, Student–Newman–Keuls test), whereas 85DY subjects were intermediate (2.34 ml min−1 kg−1; P= 0.018 vs. 85DD, P= 0.034 vs. 85YY). Regression analysis indicated that UGT2B15 D85Y genotype accounted for 34% of interindividual variability. However, neither UGT2B15 K523T nor UGT2B17del was associated with altered oxazepam disposition. Furthermore, no differences in pharmacodynamic measures, including quantitative electroencephalography, digit-symbol substitution test, self- or observer-rated visual analogue scales, could be demonstrated for any of the polymorphisms evaluated. CONCLUSIONS These results identify UGT2B15 D85Y as a major determinant of oxazepam clearance, and indicate that oxazepam may be useful as an in vivo probe for glucuronidation by UGT2B15.
Kinetics of OH reactions with furan, thiophene, and tetrahydrothiophene

The kinetics of OH reactions with furan (k1), thiophene (k2), and tetrahydrothiophene (k3), have been investigated over the temperature range 254–425 K. OH radicals were produced by flash photolysis of water vapor at λ > 165 nm and detected by timeresolved resonance fluorescence spectroscopy. The following Arrhenius expressions adequately describe the measured rate constants as a function of temperature (units are cm3 molecule−1 S−1): k1 = (1.33 ± 0.29) × 10−11 exp[(333 ± 67)/T], k2 = (3.20 ± 0.70) × 10−12 exp[(325 ± 71)/T], k3 = (1.13 ± 0.35) × 10−11 exp[(166 ± 97)/T]. The results are compared with previous investigations and their implications regarding reaction mechanisms and atmospheric residence times are discussed.
Why Not NIMBY? Reputation, Neighbourhood Organisations and Zoning Boards in a US Midwestern City:

In US municipalities, petitions for exception to the zoning code are thought to elicit 'not in my backyard' or 'nimby' responses from neighbourhood organisations concerned about potential negative externalities. This paper brings qualitative and quantitative data to bear on a theory arguing that municipal zoning boards provide incentives over time for neighbourhood organisations to come to consensus with developers. The findings suggest that neighbourhood organisations have greater success influencing zoning boards to deny zoning exception petitions after establishing reputations for coming to agreement with developers in the past. Further, neighbourhood groups that choose more oppositional strategies tend to face more noxious zoning petitions in the neighbourhood in the future.
Application of Climate Impact Metrics to Civil Tiltrotor Design

Multiple metrics are applied to the design of a large civil tiltrotor, integrating minimum cost and minimum environmental impact. The design mission is passenger transport with similar range and capacity to a regional jet. Separate aircraft designs are generated for minimum empty weight, fuel burn, and environmental impact. A metric specifically developed for the design of aircraft is employed to evaluate emissions. The designs are generated using the NDARC rotorcraft sizing code, and rotor analysis is performed with the CAMRAD II aeromechanics code. Design and mission parameters such as wing loading, disk loading, and cruise altitude are varied to minimize both cost and environmental impact metrics. This paper presents the results of these parametric sweeps as well as the final aircraft designs.
Effect of Sr89 on Fluoride Retention in the Rat.

Administration of Sr89 and fluoride together does not increase retention of either Sr 89 activity of fluoride in the whole carcass or femur of the rat. Preliminary evidence suggests, on the contrary, that presence of fluoride may decrease the amount of Sr89 retained by the rat.
Stability treatments of wave system in R n with coupling controllers via energy functional and decomposition methods

In this paper, the stabilizability conditions of a system of wave equations, coupled in parallel with distributed springs and viscous dampers, are investigated via energy perturbation and decomposition methods for different wave propagation speeds.
Immune Complex Size and Complement Regulate Cytokine Production by Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

We have previously shown that immune complexes isolated from children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis are heterogeneous in their size, composition, and proinflammatory capacities. The experiments described here were undertaken to clarify further the roles of size and composition in determining the proinflammatory effects of immune complexes. We incubated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with different soluble immune complex preparations: opsonized complexes, which were formed in the presence of serum, unopsonized complexes, which were formed in the absence of serum, and immune precipitates solubilized by complement after their formation. ELISA assays showed that immune complexes formed in the presence of complement were less efficient than unopsonized complexes in inducing IL-1β and IL-8 secretion from leukocytes. Solubilized immune precipitates showed intermediate capacity to stimulate the release of both cytokines. Complexes formed in heat-inactivated serum were as efficient as unopsonized complexes in eliciting cytokine secretion from the cells. The capacity of complement to regulate cytokine secretion from leukocytes was related, at least in part, to immune complex size. Sucrose density gradients showed unopsonized complexes and solubilized immune precipitates were larger than opsonized immune complexes. In contrast, fluid-phase binding of C4 to immune complexes, which did not appreciably change immune complex size, substantially increased IL-1β secretion from PBMC.
Evaluation of the microwave-induced plasma for multielement emission spectrometric analyses

A microwave-induced argon plasma has been evaluated as a spectro-chemical excitation source for multielement analyses of solutions. Results for 12 elements indicate that detection capabilities are typically better than 0.01 μg/ml. Analyses of food composite samples indicate that matrix effects occur but these are cancelled by the use of the internal standard method.
Imatinib mesylate therapy improves survival in patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia in the chronic phase: comparison with historic data.

BACKGROUND The International Randomized study of Interferon-alpha plus cytarabine (IFN-α plus ara-C) versus STI571 (imatinib mesylate) [IRIS trial] in patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-positive, chronic-phase chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) has not shown (to date) a survival advantage for imatinib. This was most likely because approximately 90% of patients receiving IFN-α plus ara-C changed to imatinib therapy after a median of 8 months into therapy. METHODS The authors analyzed the results with imatinib therapy in patients with newly diagnosed Ph-positive CML in chronic phase and compared their outcome with patients who received IFN-α regimens. A total of 187 patients with Ph-positive CML in early chronic phase treated with imatinib were compared with a historic group of 650 similar patients treated with IFN-α regimens from 1982 until 1997. RESULTS Patients who received imatinib were significantly older and had significantly more bone marrow basophilia and less leukocytosis. The complete cytogenetic response (Ph 0%) rates were better with imatinib (81% vs. 32%; P < 0.001), as were the survival rates (30-month estimated survival rates 98% vs. 88%; P = 0.01). A multivariate analysis of the total study group of 837 patients identified imatinib therapy to be a significant independent favorable prognostic factor for survival (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The current study is the first to indicate the survival advantage of imatinib compared with IFN-α, the previous standard of care, in patients with early chronic-phase CML. Cancer 2003;98:2636–42. © 2003 American Cancer Society.
Structure of Sickle Cell Hemoglobin Fibers Probed with UV Resonance Raman Spectroscopy

The structure of sickle cell hemoglobin (Hb S) (β6 Glu → Val) fibers was probed using UV resonance Raman (UVRR) spectroscopy. For these studies a functional analogue of Hb S, fluoromet Hb S, was us...
Initial Characterization of a Subclone of the MA-10 Mouse Leydig Tumor Cell Line*

Cloned cell lines have proven to be useful models in understanding the regulation of endocrine cells and steroid synthesis. In this study we report the isolation and characterization of a subclone of the MA-10 Leydig tumor cell line. Whereas there was no difference in basal steroid production between the clone (MA-10 LP) and the parent stock (MA-10), MA-10 LP produces very low levels of progesterone after stimulation by hCG or (Bu)2cAMP. In both cell populations, hCG stimulation resulted in the accumulation of comparable amounts of cAMP in the presence of a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, and similar levels of cAMP were measured at 30 min without inhibitor. Measurement of cholesterol side-chain cleavage activity using two separate methods demonstrated that the low steroid production in MA-10 LP could not be accounted for by a decrease in the activity of this enzyme complex. Additionally, no difference in 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity could be demonstrated between the two cell populations. Since th...
Legally speaking Quantafying the value of patent exhaustion

Should patents confer power to restrict reuses and redistributions of products embodying the whole or essential parts of inventions?
On explicit expressions of transfer function of OFDM systems in time-dispersive multipath channels

For orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) systems, the OFDM signals are typically designed such that the guard interval is long enough compared to the channel delay spread. In this case, the transfer function for each subcarrier is a Fourier transform of the channel impulse response. However, if the guard interval is shorter than the maximum channel delay, it is not true any more, and intersymbol and interchannel interferences from adjacent OFDM symbols and subchannels must be taken into account. In this paper, we re-visit the transfer function of two equivalent implementations of OFDM systems operating in multipath channels with a generalized guard interval, which could be shorter or longer than the maximum channel delay, and evaluate the impact of interferences on the link performance in terms of signal-to-interference-plus-noise-ratio.
On the design and development of a domain based integrated knowledge repository

A knowledge repository design artifact, the Constructivist Unifying Baccalaureate Epistemology (CUBE), incorporating conceptual mapping features and a semantic ontology structure was developed and evaluated. The aim is to achieve quantifiable improvement in learning outcomes by integrating course materials in a field of study. The CUBE knowledge repository was modeled as an organic structure with the ability to evolve over time by incorporating a ranking/voting feature that enables learners and instructors to add further content to the knowledge base and collectively evaluate the relative weights of conceptual threads. The goal of this research was to provide the means, models and tools that would allow learners, from their earliest studies, to develop and explore these conceptual threads that tie a discipline together. Although this paper focuses on the technological details of the design and implementation of the artifacts, it also describes the knowledge integration theoretical models used as the basis for tool design and presents the results of a qualitative and quantitative evaluation carried out to assess the effectiveness of the artifacts.
Poetics of repetition in ordinary talk: A case among Persian heritage language teachers and their students

Abstract In this research study, I show that the teachers in a Los Angeles Persian heritage language classroom used many forms of linguistic repetition as a poetic device for its affective influence on their students. By using linguistic anthropological methods, I analyzed audio and video recordings of naturally-occurring conversation involving seventeen Persian heritage language students and two heritage language teachers for the use of linguistic repetition. The analysis showed that the heritage language teachers used synonyms, similar-sounding words, reiteration, grammatical repetition, poetic rhyming, and phrases of similar length to beautify their spontaneous utterances for affective impact on their students. Additionally, the data demonstrated that both students and teachers collaborated with one another to create an aesthetic form of conversation by recycling words and structures in the utterances. These findings show that: (1) spontaneous talk in Persian is poetic, (2) Persian speakers use many forms of linguistic repetition to beautify their talk, and, (3) Persian speakers beautify their talk to influence their audience affectively.
Fluence field modulated CT on a clinical TomoTherapy radiation therapy machine

Purpose: The multi-leaf collimator (MLC) assembly present on TomoTherapy (Accuray, Madison WI) radiation therapy (RT) and mega voltage CT machines is well suited to perform fluence field modulated CT (FFMCT). In addition, there is a demand in the RT environment for FFMCT imaging techniques, specifically volume of interest (VOI) imaging. Methods: A clinical TomoTherapy machine was programmed to deliver 30% imaging dose outside predefined VOIs. Four different size ROIs were placed at varying distances from isocenter. Projections intersecting the VOI received "full dose" while those not intersecting the VOI received 30% of the dose (i.e. the incident fluence for non VOI projections was 30% of the incident fluence for projections intersecting the VOI). Additional scans without fluence field modulation were acquired at "full" and 30% dose. The noise (pixel standard deviation) was measured inside the VOI region and compared between the three scans. Results: The VOI-FFMCT technique produced an image noise 1.09, 1.05, 1.05, and 1.21 times higher than the "full dose" scan for ROI sizes of 10 cm, 13 cm, 10 cm, and 6 cm respectively within the VOI region. Conclusions: Noise levels can be almost unchanged within clinically relevant VOIs sizes for RT applications while the integral imaging dose to the patient can be decreased, and/or the image quality in RT can be dramatically increased with no change in dose relative to non-FFMCT RT imaging. The ability to shift dose away from regions unimportant for clinical evaluation in order to improve image quality or reduce imaging dose has been demonstrated. This paper demonstrates that FFMCT can be performed using the MLC on a clinical TomoTherapy machine for the first time.
A Component Analysis of the Impact of Evaluative and Objective Feedback on Performance

Despite the frequency with which performance feedback interventions are used in organizational behavior management, component analyses of such feedback are rare. It has been suggested that evaluation of performance and objective details about performance are two necessary components for performance feedback. The present study was designed to help clarify which components are required for maximal effectiveness by comparing four conditions: (a) combined evaluative and objective feedback, (b) evaluative feedback alone, (c) objective feedback alone, and (d) no feedback. A total of 105 undergraduate students were recruited to work on a simulated bank check processing task while being exposed to one of the four feedback conditions. The number of checks correctly processed served as the dependent variable. Results suggest that a combination of objective and evaluative feedback is necessary for maximal performance.
Strain-specific postnatal changes in the activity and tissue levels of protein kinase C.

Abstract The specific activity of protein kinase C from adult mouse lung and spleen was higher than in the corresponding tissues from neonatal mice. BALB c By mice had higher lung and spleen protein kinase C activities at both ages than did A J mice, and the extent of this strain difference increased with age. These activity differences reflected the tissue levels of the 80 kD form of protein kinase C, as determined by quantitative immunoblotting. These genetic and ontogenetic differences provide an interesting model with which to study the regulation of protein kinase C gene expression.
Mortality among antiretroviral-eligible patients in an urban public clinic.

BACKGROUND Advances in antiretroviral therapy (ART) over the last decade have improved clinical outcomes for people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but whether these improvements are experienced by disadvantaged urban populations is less clear. METHODS We evaluated mortality among a clinical cohort in a public safety-net HIV specialty clinic in San Francisco, California. RESULTS Among 1651 ART-eligible patients attending an urban US HIV clinic, 4-year mortality was 10.0% in 2000-2004 and 11.0% in 2005-2009. Despite universal ART availability, only 72 (42%) of 172 patients who died, compared with 69% of survivors, ever achieved an HIV viral load, 400 copies per cubic millimeter. The leading causes of death were acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (56%), violence/overdose (16%), and pulmonary disease (6%). CONCLUSIONS Disadvantaged subpopulations in the developed world can experience high mortality rates despite accessing specialty HIV clinical services with full ART availability. New strategies are needed to improve the outcomes in these populations.
Synchrotron Self-Absorption Model of the Soft Gamma-Ray Repeater 1806–20

The spectra of SGR 1806-20 measured by the ICE experiment show steep turnover below approximately 14 keV. We find that self-absorbed synchrotron emission from a cooling distribution of mildly relativistic electrons (or pairs) provides excellent fits to the spectral data. We then derive from first principles the synchrotron luminosity distance of the source modulo emission area, which is consistent with the radio and infrared distance estimates for a 10 km neutron star.
Psychosocial and behavioral correlates of seeking sex partners on the internet among HIV-positive men.

Background: The Internet is revolutionizing how people access and use information; for some people, the Internet is also redefining interpersonal relationships, including sexual relationships.Purpose: The objective of this study was to extend the understanding of HIV-positive men who use the Internet to meet sex partners.Methods: This study examined the use of the Internet for meeting sex partners among 141 sexually active HIV-positive men who completed anonymous surveys.Results: Results showed that 37% of sexually active HIV-positive men who were using the Internet had gone online to seek potential sex partners in the previous 3 months. Seeking sex partners online was associated with greater likelihood of having HIV-negative sex partners and engaging in unprotected intercourse with HIV-negative or unknown HIV status partners. Multivariate analyses showed that seeking sex partners online was associated with greater education, higher CD4 cell counts, using the Internet for sexual entertainment, and higher Sexual Compulsivity scale scores over and above demographic, health, Internet use, sexual behavior, and other psychosocial characteristics including optimism and depression.Conclusions: Results suggest a continued need for interventions targeting HIV transmission risk reduction among HIV-positive men who use the Internet to meet potential sex partners.
Restoration of a Functional Open Reading Frame by Homologous Recombination between Two Adenoviral Vectors

Abstract In this study, we examined the ability of adenoviral (Ad) vectors to undergo homologous recombination. The lacZ gene was divided between two parental, first-generation vectors such that neither encoded a functional product but both shared 494 bp in common. The open reading frame could only be restored by homologous recombination. We observed β-galactosidase activity only upon co-infection of both parental vectors and after the onset of viral DNA replication, creating a delay in expression of 24–36 hours in HeLa cells. At peak efficiency, this recombination vector system resulted in β-galactosidase activity levels 100× above background and just 18× less than a conventional, first-generation vector in HeLa cells. After recombination, the resultant progeny vector genomes containing reconstituted expression cassettes were devoid of all viral genes and contained two packaging signals. These progeny genomes were efficiently packaged, could be separated from their parental vectors based on their lighter buoyant densities in CsCl gradients, and were subsequently used as functional gene transfer vectors. This novel recombination vector system should be useful for transferring large transgenes (because the carrying capacity of two Ad vectors can be exploited) or expressing any cytotoxic or Ad replication inhibitory protein (because the parental vectors exhibit no background expression).
EFFECTS OF ROTAVIRUS ON EPITHELIAL TRANSPORT IN RABBIT SMALL INTESTINE

The present study investigated changes in small intestinal epithelial transport in rabbits infected with rotavirus. The crypt depth-villus height ratio was increased in infected ileal tissue as a result of a significant increase in crypt depth and patchy shortening of the villi. Similar villus damage was seen in the jejunum. Despite these histological changes, basal fluid absorption by both the ileum and jejunum of infected animals was unaltered. Values for basal short-circuit current and resistance were similar; however, the increase in short-circuit current evoked by prostaglandin E2 was significantly smaller in rotavirus-infected tissues than in controls. The apparentVmax for electrogenic glucose and alanine uptake by the jejunum was significantly increased following inoculation with rotavirus. Reduced responsiveness to the secretory effect of prostaglandin E2 and increased nutrient uptake may limit diarrhea that would otherwise be expected to occur as a result of the changes in mucosal architecture. This has important implications on the clinical treatment of rotavirus diarrhea, suggesting that oral rehydration therapy, which depends on the active transport of nutrients, may provide a more effective treatment than the use of cyclooxygenase inhibitors.
Isolation, fractionation and template activity of the continuously-condensed chromatin of Euglena gracilis

Abstract A technique for isolating whole chromatin from nuclei of the lower eukaryote Euglena gracilis is presented. This chromatin, which appears under the electron microscope as uniformly condensed fibers, can, nevertheless, be subfractionated into distinct heterochromatic and euchromatic fractions. The euchromatin, comprising about 14% of the total DNA of the nucleus, contains over 80 % of the total endogenous RNA polymerase activity measured. The Km for this enzyme is higher than that found for prokaryotes, but falls in the range found for other eukaryotes. Stability constants, calculated from cation-chromatin binding data, suggest that internal carboxyl groups of chromosomal proteins, at least, are involved in the condensation of Euglena chromatin. The relationship between Euglena chromatin and that of higher eukaryotes is discussed.
ConT: A contention-based time division scheme for handoff support in single-radio wireless mesh networks

Handoff delay is a key metric to evaluate the performance of wireless mesh networks (WMNs). Since data packets and handoff signaling packets are transmitted on the same backbone channel in single-channel single-radio based WMNs, the channel contentions between data and signaling packets often lead to long signaling packet queueing delay and channel access delay. Therefore, the handoff performance is largely determined by the backbone data traffic volume. However, this important issue is ignored by existing handoff solutions in multi-hop WMNs. In this paper, we consider to reduce the handoff delay in single-backbone-channel-based WMNs from a different perspective and propose a contention-based time division (ConT) scheme to shorten the channel access delay and queueing delay of handoff signaling packets over multi-hop wireless links. Simulation results show that the multi-hop handoff performance can be improved significantly without undermining the data throughput by our proposed ConT scheme.
Impact of source counter on DTN routing control under resource constraints

We study routing schemes for resource constrained Disruption Tolerant Networks (DTNs) where transmission bandwidth is scarce resource. In such a setting, a key issue is how to schedule the transmission of packets under limited bandwidth to optimize performance. Such a scheduling consists of source control (i.e., source nodes choosing a routing scheme) and the local buffer management scheme adopted by each node. Existing works typically focus on transmission buffer management, but due to theoretical and practical difficulties, only heuristics have been proposed. In this work, we explore alternative ways to improve DTN routing performance via source control. We focus on spray-and-wait counter-based routing scheme. We first show that there exists an optimal counter value to achieve minimum average network-wide packet delivery delay. Then as a first step towards understanding multi-hop multicopy DTN routing schemes, we model a two-hop multi-copy DTN routing via a continuous time Markov Chain. Our modeling analysis provides insights into the impact of counter on routing performance and further suggests the existence of optimal counter value. In this process, we derive the capacity region of DTN routing (i.e., the maximum sustainable per-node throughput), and provide an accurate analysis of the average packet delivery delay of the two-hop single copy relaying scheme. Relying on the insights gained via simulations and modeling, we propose an adaptive scheme that allow nodes to adjust their counter values to achieve minimum packet delivery delay, in a distributed and asynchronous fashion. Simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of our scheme and suggest the potential of exploring this rich area for improving DTN routing performance.
Customer engagement, buyer‐seller relationships, and social media

Purpose – The advent of the internet and in particular the interactive features of Web 2.0 in recent years have led to an explosion of interest in customer engagement. The opportunities presented by social media to help build close relationships with customers seem to have excited practitioners in a wide variety of industries worldwide. Academic scholarship on customer engagement, however, has lagged practice and its theoretical foundation is relatively underdeveloped and a better understanding of the concept is essential to develop strategies for customer engagement. This paper seeks to address some of these issues.Design/methodology/approach – The paper attempts to enhance understanding of customer engagement by examining practitioner views of customer engagement, linking it to the marketing concept, market orientation, and relationship marketing, modeling the customer engagement cycle, and developing a customer engagement matrix.Findings – The paper develops a model of the customer engagement cycle wit...
Market forces and efficient health care systems.

The “market forces” to which economists ascribe the ability to motivate improvement in quality and efficiency are largely nonexistent in U.S. health care. One thus might ask, “Could market forces be made strong enough to deliver efficient health care systems?” There is some evidence to suggest that the answer is “Yes.” This paper offers a short list of some changes that would be needed to create such a health care economy. Continued increases in costs and in the numbers of uninsured people will likely make a universal coverage model based on Medicare a politically popular choice, but such a model would not deliver efficient health care systems because it lacks sufficient incentives for consumers to choose less costly options.
Multiparticle Spectrometer Magnet (MPS)

During the last few years more and more Spectrometer Magnets were employed in high energy physics experiments. Most of these experiments detected a relatively small number of particle secondaries because the apertures of the magnets were not satisfactorily large. For this reason an attempt is being made at BNL to build a spectrometer which could accommodate experiments on more complicated types of interactions with detection of many secondaries. Obviously this spectrometer, in order to perform properly, will be large and with an acceptable magnetic field; it must have better resolution, and a wide solid angle acceptance. The basic idea is a large aperture C-magnet. High resolution digitized spark chambers, low mass proportional chambers and scintillation counter hodoscopes will be located and operated within the magnetic field volume which will be 4-ft high by 6-ft wide by 15-ft long. The main spectrometer is to be followed by a set of large digitized spark chambers, scintillation counter hodoscopes, and Cerenkov counter hodoscopes to provide improved momentum resolution and particle identification for those particles which emerge through the downstream aperture of the magnets. This magnet spark chamber combination will give the experimenter freedom to move to a new class of experiments.
Cyclic nucleotide distribution in identified layers of suprafused rabbit retinas.

Abstract To assess the effects of pharmacologic agents on metabolite levels in identified retinal layers we have devised an apparatus that allows suprafusion of everted eye cups (vitreal surface exposed) or isolated retinas (photoreceptor surface exposed), recording of electroretinograms (ERG), and rapid freezing in a configuration which permits obtaining frozen tangential sections of the retina. Samples from identified layers of the freeze-dried sections can be subsequently weighed and processed for biochemistry by Lowry methods ( Lowry and Passonneau, 1972 ), or cyclic nucleotides can be extracted from weighed samples and assayed. To test the usefulness of the apparatus, we have compared levels of guanosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cGMP) and adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cAMP), measured in defined layers of suprafused rabbit retinas, to concentrations reported for retinal layers from eyes removed from light- and dark-adapted rabbits and quickly frozen. For most layers the concentrations of cyclic nucleotides were similar in both the suprafused and whole eye preparations. In experimental applications we suprafused dark-adapted eye cups and retinas with a physiological saline whose free calcium level was sharply reduced by chelation, and observed that cGMP levels were elevated only in those retinal layers containing photoreceptor portions. Ethyleneglycol bis-(β-amino-ethyl ether)N,N′-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) (3 m m ) yielded a threefold increase in cGMP in 10 min when applied to the photoreceptor surface of isolated retinas. However, when the vitreal surfaces of everted eye cups were suprafused with calciumchelated medium for 10 min, a threefold increase in cGMP required 20 m m EGTA, 3 m m EGTA being ineffective. In another study, vitreal surfaces of eye cups or photoreceptor surfaces of retinas were suprafused with physiological saline containing 3 m m 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) in order to alter cAMP retinal levels. In both cases, eightfold increases in cAMP were measured in the inner nuclear and inner plexiform layers, while three- to fourfold increases occurred in the outer nuclear and outer plexiform layers. This agent also caused a large increase in cAMP in the pigment epithelium.
The effect of 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane charge transfer dopants on the conformation and aggregation of poly(3-hexylthiophene)

The effect of the strong electron acceptor, 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (F4-TCNQ), on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) aggregates is studied. F4-TCNQ is commonly used as a dopant for P3HT, however, relatively little is currently known about its effect on polymer conformation and packing in the presence of fullerenes. Resonance Raman and optical spectra of pristine P3HT or blends with [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) doped with F4-TCNQ up to ∼10% w/w show a loss of pristine-type P3HT aggregates with increasing dopant concentration. Complexed P3HT chains possess greater backbone planarity due to hole injection which is corroborated from density functional theory (DFT) calculations of oligothiophene surrogates and F4-TCNQ. Morphologies of doped P3HT/PCBM systems are characterized using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) with electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) detection and images reveal mixed clusters of P3HT/F4-TCNQ fibril-like domains that increase in size with dopant loading. The apparent preference of F4-TCNQ for P3HT aggregates is attributed to efficient charge separation stemming owing to the more polarizable nature of chains comprising the aggregate π-stack.
Severe influenza A virus (H1N1) infection in pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: H1N1 influenza is an emerging threat that is life threatening to pregnant women in the third trimester. Six third-trimester maternal deaths with severe H1N1 pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) have been reported in the literature. CASE: A young woman at 33 weeks of gestation was admitted for bilateral pneumonia with increasing hypoxia. Shortly after admission, she decompensated, requiring transfer to the intensive care unit. After testing confirmed H1N1, her respiratory status declined rapidly, necessitating intubation, mechanical ventilation, and emergent bedside preterm cesarean delivery. After delivery, she developed ARDS, requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation, yet she survived and has recovered. CONCLUSION: H1N1 influenza is especially dangerous to pregnant women.