cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MULTIDIMENSIONAL SLEEP HEALTH: A CONCEPTUAL OVERVIEW

Good sleep is essential to good health, and poor sleep is associated with adverse health outcomes. Both sleep disorders and sleep characteristics are associated with poor health outcomes. For example, short and long sleep duration are associated obesity and mortality. However, our sleep is characterized by more than simply its duration. Sleep quality, efficiency, timing, regularity, and daytime sleepiness are also associated with adverse health outcomes. Furthermore, each of these characteristics is simultaneously present in all individuals. This fact leads to several important questions: Can we define multidimensional sleep health conceptually and psychometrically? Is multidimensional sleep health more strongly related to health outcomes than single measures of sleep? How do we best analyze data from a multidimensional sleep health perspective? Dr. Buysse will present an overview of the sleep health construct, introduce these important questions, and provide examples supporting the validity and utility of examining multivariable sleep health in aging.
Preface to the National Lawyers Guild Review, 66-4

Introduces: 1. Obama Should Create Jobs by Executive Order by Jeanne Mirer & Marjorie Cohn; 2. Book Review: Rules of Disengagement: The Politics and Honor of Military Dissent by Paul Cox; 3. It's Much More than Skip Gates by Paul Von Blum; 4. Anatomy of a Death Penalty Defense Lawyer: Reflections on Legal Representation and Reform in Three Biographies by Andrew Novak; 5. Book Review: Philadelphia Freedom: Memoirs of a Civil Rights Lawyer by Traci Yoder; 6. The Meaning of Justice in the World Today by Louis E. Wolcher; 7. Letter in Support of Georgia Prisoners to Governor Senny Perdue by David Gespass; 8. Requiem for the Lives Lost in Iraq by David Gespass.
Hepatitis C Update and Expanding the Role of Primary Care

Primary care physicians (PCPs) are increasing their role in the fight against the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). Approximately 3.5 million Americans currently live with chronic HCV with rising incidence among young persons, especially those affected by the opioid epidemic. Online guidelines and drug interaction checkers streamline treatment and increase accessibility for both patients and providers. Although treatment with new Direct Acting Antiviral agents ensure cure rates that routinely exceed 95%, as well as cause fewer adverse effects than previously available interferon-based regimens, some states still restrict access to HCV treatment, including by mandating which providers can prescribe and treat HCV. This special communication reviews HCV treatment resources, discusses data demonstrating similar cure rates between PCPs and specialists, and argues that capacity-building among PCPs will be necessary to control the HCV epidemic.
Specialty Physician Designation in Referrals from a Vertically Integrated PCMH.

Introduction:Primary care referrals to specialty physicians once relied upon the medical skill of the specialist, the quality of past communication, and previous consultative experiences. As health...
Structural Interventions and Potential Unforeseen Limits on Access to Ventricular Tachycardia Substrates.

Percutaneous structural interventions are increasingly performed and potentially risk future access for ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT). The Parachute device (investigational device, Cardiokinetix, Inc., Menlo Park, California) was designed to reconfigure left ventricular volume and
Novel two-phase sampling designs for studying binary outcomes

In biomedical cohort studies for assessing the association between an outcome variable and a set of covariates, usually, some covariates can only be measured on a subgroup of study subjects. An important design question is-which subjects to select into the subgroup to increase statistical efficiency. When the outcome is binary, one may adopt a case-control sampling design or a balanced case-control design where cases and controls are further matched on a small number of complete discrete covariates. While the latter achieves success in estimating odds ratio (OR) parameters for the matching covariates, similar two-phase design options have not been explored for the remaining covariates, especially the incompletely collected ones. This is of great importance in studies where the covariates of interest cannot be completely collected. To this end, assuming that an external model is available to relate the outcome and complete covariates, we propose a novel sampling scheme that oversamples cases and controls with worse goodness-of-fit based on the external model and further matches them on complete covariates similarly to the balanced design. We develop a pseudolikelihood method for estimating OR parameters. Through simulation studies and explorations in a real-cohort study, we find that our design generally leads to reduced asymptotic variances of the OR estimates and the reduction for the matching covariates is comparable to that of the balanced design.
Plasma growth differentiation factors 8 and 11 levels in cats with congestive heart failure secondary to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Abstract Objectives Growth differentiation factor (GDF) 11 has been shown to reduce cardiac hypertrophy in mice. Low levels of GDF-11 are associated with cardiac hypertrophy in humans. The authors hypothesized that plasma GDF-11 level is decreased in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Given the close homology between GDF-11 and myostatin/GDF-8, GDF-8 levels were also assessed. Animals Thirty-seven client-owned cats were enrolled, including cats with normal cardiac structure (n = 16), cats with HCM or hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM; n = 14), and cats with HCM and congestive heart failure (CHF; n = 7). Methods Plasma samples were analyzed for GDF-8 and GDF-11 using liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry. Levels of GDF-8 and GDF-11 were compared between cats with normal cardiac structure, HCM or HOCM, and CHF. Results No differences in GDF-11 concentrations were found between cats with normal cardiac structure and cats with HCM/HOCM, with or without history of CHF. Decreased GDF-8 concentrations were detected in cats with CHF compared to cats with HCM/HOCM without history of CHF (p=0.031) and cats with normal cardiac structure (p=0.027). Growth differentiation factor 8 was higher in cats with HOCM compared to those with CHF (p=0.002). No statistical difference was noted in GDF-8 level as a function of age, weight, or body condition score. Conclusions Plasma GDF-11 was not different between cats with HCM/HOCM and cats with normal cardiac structure regardless of age. Plasma GDF-8 was decreased in cats with CHF compared to cats with normal cardiac structure and cats with asymptomatic HCM/HOCM, suggesting a possible role in CHF development.
The Indian Constitution and Horizontal Effect

This chapter, written for the forthcoming Oxford Handbook of the Indian Constitution, describes and analyzes the application of the Fundamental Rights provisions of the Indian Constitution to non-state actors. It begins by presenting the general framework for conceptualizing this issue within comparative constitutional law, including the distinctions between (1) direct and indirect horizontal effect and (2) strong and weak indirect effect. The main body of the chapter consists of three sections setting out and discussing the Supreme Court of India's approach to each of the main paths to horizontal effect. Part II considers the direct application of a few Fundamental Rights to non-state actors. Part III looks at the indirect regulation of non-state actors that results from the existence of positive constitutional duties on the government to protect individuals from certain actions of their fellow citizens. Part IV analyzes whether, how, and to what extent the Fundamental Rights impact private law -- especially tort and contract law -- and thereby indirectly affect the individuals who are regulated by it. The chapter concludes by arguing that, somewhat ironically, the Supreme Court's well-known expansion of the writ petition/public interest lawsuit has had the effect of limiting the reach of Fundamental Rights into the private sphere. As a public law remedy, the writ petition tends to reinforce rather than undermine the autonomy or separateness of private law, restricting the opportunities for interaction and influence. Accordingly, there are areas in which the Supreme Court has maintained more of a public-private division in the scope of constitutional rights than some other influential constitutional courts. For this reason, the indirect horizontal effect of the Fundamental Rights, at least as they relate to private law, is in practice weak rather than strong.
Do prescribers deprescribe psychotropic medication for children in foster care

Approximately one third of children in foster care in the U.S. receive psychotropic medication; however, few studies have evaluated the extent to which either the number or dosage of drugs changes ...
Towards understanding the development and characteristics of under-expanded flash boiling jets

Abstract In this research, the n-hexane jets discharged from a straight channel were studied numerically to reveal the development and characteristics of under-expanded flashing jets. Firstly, the development of flash boiling jets was investigated and compared to that of two-phase jets without phase transition. It was shown that the two-phase jets without phase transition can be under-expanded only if the flow is choked. In contrast, flash boiling jets can be under-expanded whether or not the choked conditions are verified. Secondly, the factors affecting the flashing jet behaviors were discussed. The relaxation time in phase transition, the expansion ratio, and the injection pressure have been identified as three key factors determining the jet characteristics. With high enough expansion ratio and low enough relaxation time, the expansion was so strong that the flow became transonic and shock structures similar to those of under-expanded gaseous jets appeared near the orifice exit. Finally, two types of choking have been identified for flash boiling jets, i.e., vaporization-induced choking and expansion-induced choking. The former one is mainly ascribed to the vapor formation in the orifice which reduces the local speed of sound, while the latter one is due to the expansion of under-expanded two-phase flow and the resultant flow acceleration.
Two clusters of surface-exposed amino acid residues enable high-affinity binding of retinal degeneration-3 (RD3) protein to retinal guanylyl cyclase.

Retinal degeneration-3 (RD3) protein protects photoreceptors from degeneration by preventing retinal guanylyl cyclase (RetGC) activation via calcium-sensing guanylyl cyclase–activating proteins (GCAP), and RD3 truncation causes severe congenital blindness in humans and other animals. The three-dimensional structure of RD3 has recently been established, but the molecular mechanisms of its inhibitory binding to RetGC remain unclear. Here, we report the results of probing 133 surface-exposed residues in RD3 by single substitutions and deletions to identify side chains that are critical for the inhibitory binding of RD3 to RetGC. We tested the effects of these substitutions and deletions in vitro by reconstituting purified RD3 variants with GCAP1-activated human RetGC1. Although the vast majority of the surface-exposed residues tolerated substitutions without loss of RD3's inhibitory activity, substitutions in two distinct narrow clusters located on the opposite sides of the molecule effectively suppressed RD3 binding to the cyclase. The first surface-exposed cluster included residues adjacent to Leu63 in the loop connecting helices 1 and 2. The second cluster surrounded Arg101 on a surface of helix 3. Single substitutions in those two clusters drastically, i.e. up to 245-fold, reduced the IC50 for the cyclase inhibition. Inactivation of the two binding sites completely disabled binding of RD3 to RetGC1 in living HEK293 cells. In contrast, deletion of 49 C-terminal residues did not affect the apparent affinity of RD3 for RetGC. Our findings identify the functional interface on RD3 required for its inhibitory binding to RetGC, a process essential for protecting photoreceptors from degeneration.
Using Poetry in the Undergraduate Biology Classroom

Traditional assessments in college biology classrooms, such as exams and lab reports, often have limited utility in promoting long-lasting understanding of course material and do not always engage students from all backgrounds. The inclusion of creative scientific writing assignments, especially those that require application of sophisticated course material, is an underutilized strategy in higher education. Here, we describe our use of student-generated poetry in two midlevel undergraduate biology classes. We have found that by encouraging students to write poems in response to carefully crafted prompts and having them assess the scientific accuracy of the poems, we can encourage them to identify misconceptions prior to exams, potentially resulting in deeper and longer-lasting understanding of course material. Furthermore, the inclusion of poetry empowers students who might not otherwise participate in class to contribute, resulting in a more inclusive classroom climate.
Efficacy and Adverse Effects of Self-Expandable Metal Stent Placement for Malignant Duodenal Obstruction: The Papilla of Vater as a Landmark

Purpose Self-expandable metal stents are used for malignant duodenal obstruction. Outcomes between stents placed above and below the papilla of Vater differ, and no study has investigated these differences. We evaluated the efficacy and adverse events of stent placement in these two locations and reported our experience with self-expandable metal stent placement in patients. Patients and methods We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients with unresectable metastatic cancers (n = 101), who underwent successful duodenal self-expandable metal stent placement between 2008 and 2018. Patients were divided into above and below the papilla of Vater groups. Patient demographics, technical and clinical outcomes, post-procedural morbidity, and stent patency were analyzed. Results Overall, 71 and 30 patients had intestinal obstruction above (including the papilla itself) and below the papilla of Vater and underwent successful stenting. Common bile duct obstruction was more common in the above-papilla group. Procedure time was similar between the groups, if an appropriate endoscope could facilitate stent placement in the below-papilla group. Both groups achieved symptomatic relief. Median stent patency duration was not significantly different between the groups; three patients had severe gastrointestinal bleeding due to postoperative vascular-enteric fistula. Conclusion Self-expandable metal stents can effectively relieve symptoms of duodenal obstructions located above and below the papilla of Vater. Duodenoscopes could facilitate stent placement if the obstruction is located below the papilla of Vater; if gastrointestinal bleeding occurs postoperatively, the possibility of vascular-enteric fistula formation should be considered.
Does Voter Fraud Pay? Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s $1 Million Voter Fraud Offer

On November 10, 2020, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick put out a press release stating, in relevant part, “[S]tarting today [I] will pay up to $1 million to incentivize, encourage and reward people to come forward and report voter fraud. . . . Anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest and final conviction of voter fraud will be paid a minimum of $25,000.” This concise Article analyzes whether Patrick’s statement constitutes an offer that contractually obligates him to pay in the event someone accepts by completing the requested action. Additionally, the potential existence of a campaign finance violation is considered.
Kinematic and Kinetic Analysis of a Biomechanical Model of Rat Hind Limb with Biarticular Muscles

This work presents a biomechanical model of rat hind limbs with biarticular muscles and includes kinematic and kinetic analyses. Our previous model only possessed antagonistic muscle pairs (extensor and flexor) to actuate each joint in the sagittal plane. In this model, we expanded the number of muscles in each limb from 6 to 8, including 3 biarticular muscles: BFP (biceps femoris Posterior), RF (Rectus femoris), and GA (Gastrocnemii). The knee flexor muscle was removed from the previous model. We also developed a new method to calculate the muscle parameter values, including the shape of the length-tension curve, which gives the muscle models more biomimetic response properties. In order to predict muscle stretch and the relationship between passive tension and step-phases during walking, we formulate the inverse kinematics for the limbs and muscles.
Challenges in researching the immune pathways between early life adversity and psychopathology.

Exposure to childhood adversity is a critical risk factor for the development of psychopathology. A growing field of research examines how exposure to childhood adversity is translated into biological risk for psychopathology through alterations in immune system functioning, most notably heightened levels of inflammation biomarkers. Though our knowledge about how childhood adversity can instantiate biological risk for psychopathology is growing, there remain many challenges and gaps in the field to understand how inflammation from childhood adversity contributes to psychopathology. This paper reviews research on the inflammatory outcomes arising from childhood adversity and presents four major challenges that future research must address: (a) the measurement of childhood adversity, (b) the measurement of inflammation, (c) the identification of mediators between childhood adversity and inflammation, and (d) the identification of moderators of inflammatory outcomes following childhood adversity. We discuss synergies and inconsistencies in the literature to summarize the current understanding of the association between childhood adversity, a proinflammatory phenotype, and the biological risk for psychopathology. We discuss the clinical implications of the inflammatory links between childhood adversity and psychopathology, including possibilities for intervention. Finally, this review conclude by delineates future directions for research, including issues of how best to detect, prevent, and understand these “hidden wounds” of childhood adversity.
Panoply of doping-induced reconstructions and electronic phases in Ni-doped 1T-MoS$_2$

Monolayer MoS$_2$ has promising applications in catalysis and optoelectronics, which can be enhanced and tuned by transition-metal doping. The 1T phase is metallic and also has several known distorted structures with distinct electronic properties. In this work, we use density-functional theory to investigate the effect of Ni-doping in 1T-MoS$_2$, considering adatom and substitutional sites, and find an array of distorted phases induced by Ni-doping, beyond the ones typically reported. Hollow is the most favorable adatom site, and doping in most cases is thermodynamically favored compared to undistorted 1T. Depending on concentration and site, Ni-doping induces reconstructions to ${2} \times {2}$, $\sqrt{3} \times \sqrt{3}$, ${3} \times {3}$ (in two distinct phases), and ${4} \times {4}$. These doped phases become semiconducting in most cases, and a few are also magnetic. These phases are metastable after removal of the dopant, offering a potential route to experimental synthesis of pristine distorted phases. We find that the pristine phases have distinct metallic and semiconducting electronic structures, including band gaps away from the Fermi level. Our calculations show that Ni-doping of 1T offers a systematic route to different distorted phases of 1T-MoS$_2$, both doped and pristine, with a variety of electronic properties.
Co-governance, Transregional Maritime Conventions, and Indigenous Customary Practices Among Subsistence Fishermen in Ende, Indonesia

This article presents a case study of a fishery in the port-town community of Ende, Flores, a former littoral hub located at the periphery of major commercial systems in the Indo-Pacific region. The article argues that more attention be paid to the role of transregional maritime networks, nautical conventions, and navigational practices embedded within local tenure systems to understand the apparent absence of formal control of marine and coastal resources. Through ethnographic and archival research, this study identifies the presence of indigenous institutions for fishing grounds regulation and documents the existence of broader transregional norms dictating proper fishing and navigation. Exploring the interactions between more pluralistic customary systems that exist in port-towns such as Ende and recent fishery development policies, the article discusses some of the obstacles to implementing sustainable co-management strategies. While the Indonesian central government is strongly promoting co-governance approaches for resource management, these institutional models are based on geographically narrow definitions of tradition and customary law which can lead to management failures, such as elite capture and local fishers’ disenfranchisement. In this case, policies emphasize the formation of cooperative groups without considering transregional beliefs about independence and pre-established systems of obligations. As a result, disputes among the fishermen, conflicts with local fishery officers, and the use of non-sustainable practices continue. For example, embodying predominant Southeast Asian beliefs, Endenese are known for their entrepreneurial nature and strong self-sufficiency ethos. Yet, these notions are ignored by local government agencies that view the fishermen as selfish and disorganized. In order to formulate true participatory solutions, a careful asssessment of the role played by transregional perspectives that go beyond geographically localized understandings of customary practices is needed. The article concludes with a consideration of the role played by decentralization processes, subsidies, and aid programs in entrenching poverty and inequality among local communities.
Compartmentalization of Aeration Tanks

It has been shown theoretically that an activated sludge process in which longitudinal mixing in the aeration tank is suppressed should produce a better quality effluent than one in which the contents of the aeration tank are well mixed. The results of a laboratory investigation to confirm this theoretical prediction are presented. The experimental studies were conducted using a laboratory-scale activated sludge unit. Longitudinal mixing in the aeration vessel was controlled by dividing the vessel into compartments. Tracer experiments were used to determine the level of mixing under different operating conditions. The biological experiments were conducted using samples of activated sludge and a skim milk solution as the feed medium. The results of the tracer experiments showed good correlation with the previously presented mathematical model. The results of the biological experiments showed that the mathematical model provides a reasonable prediction of sludge growth in the aeration vessel but that the predictions of effluent quality from the model are not as accurate as might be desired.
Shape, motion, and inertial parameter estimation of space objects using teams of cooperative vision sensors

Future space missions are expected to use autonomous robotic systems to carry out a growing number of tasks. These tasks may include the assembly, inspection, and maintenance of large space structures; the capture and servicing of satellites; and the redirection of space debris that threatens valuable spacecraft. Autonomous robotic systems will require substantial information about the targets with which they interact, including their motions, dynamic model parameters, and shape. However, this information is often not available a priori, and therefore must be estimated in orbit. This thesis develops a method for simultaneously estimating dynamic state, model parameters, and geometric shape of arbitrary space targets, using information gathered from range imaging sensors. The method exploits two key features of this application: (1) the dynamics of targets in space are highly deterministic and can be accurately modeled; and (2) several sensors will be available to provide information from multiple viewpoints. These features enable an estimator design that is not reliant on feature detection, model matching, optical flow, or other computation-intensive pixel-level calculations. It is therefore robust to the harsh lighting and sensing conditions found in space. Further, these features enable an estimator design that can be implemented in real-time on space-qualified hardware. The general solution approach consists of three parts that effectively decouple spatial- and time-domain estimations. The first part, referred to as kinematic data fusion, condenses detailed range images into coarse estimates of the target's high-level kinematics (position, attitude, etc.). A Kalman filter uses the high-fidelity dynamic model to refine these estimates and extract the full dynamic state and model parameters of the target. With an accurate understanding of target motions, shape estimation reduces to the stochastic mapping of a static scene. This thesis develops the estimation architecture in the context of both rigid and flexible space targets. Simulations and experiments demonstrate the potential of the approach and its feasibility in practical systems. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)
A structural model for gas-solid reactions with a moving boundary—III: A general dimensionless representation of the irreversible reaction between a porous solid and a reactant gas

Abstract A general structural model is developed for the description of non-catalytic gas-solid reactions; which allows for spherical and flat plate like pellets, made up of spherical or flat plate-like grains. The numerical solution of the dimensionless form of the governing equations results in a plot of the dimenionless time to achieve complete reaction against a gas-solid reaction modulus, which is valid for all the geometries considered. The use of this plot could be useful for the planning of experiments or for the interpretation of experimental data, in terms of structural models, without the need for digital computation. It is shown that for extreme values of the gas-solid reaction modulus, the results of the model reduce to the asymptotic solutions corresponding to the “shrinking core” and the “uniform reacting pellet” models respectively. Thus the “gas-solid reaction modulus” is helpful for the quantitative definition of the range of these asymptotic regimes, in terms of the chemical and structural parameters of the system.
Research Issues in the Intersection of Hypertext and Software Development Environments

In this paper we describe issues of mutual interest and mutual benefit to researchers at the intersection of hypertext and software development environments. On one hand, the domain of software development appears to be a natural candidate for applying hypertext. Hypertext and hypermedia capabilities may be used in the creation, manipulation, examination and evolution of software products. On the other hand, software engineering principles and practices may be used to improve the quality and productivity of hypertext-system development. In particular, software development environments may facilitate the provision of hypertext capabilities for those environments, that would have otherwise required substantial development efforts.
Phase I trial of carboplatin and infusional cyclosporin in advanced malignancy.

PURPOSETo determine the maximal-tolerated dose (MTD) of infusional cyclosporine (CSA) with fixed-dose carboplatin (CBDCA).PATIENTS AND METHODSClonogenic cytotoxicity assays were performed to assess the effect of CSA on reversal of resistance to CBDCA. The phase I study was performed in three phases. In phases 1 and 2, escalating-dose CSA (5, 7.5, 8.8, or 9.5 mg/kg/d) with fixed-dose CBDCA 300 or 250 mg/m2 were administered. Phase 3 required an initial cycle of CBDCA 250 mg/m2 alone, followed by combination therapy with CBDCA 250 mg/m2 and CSA (8.8, 9.5, or 10.0 mg/kg/d).RESULTSPreincubation of platinum-resistant A2780 human ovarian cancer cells with CSA 2 micrograms/mL significantly enhanced CBDCA cytotoxicity in clonogenic assays. Fifty-one patients received 130 courses of therapy. The phase 1 MTD was thrombocytopenia (CSA 7.5 mg/kg/d and CBDCA 300 mg/m2) attributable to the effects of CBDCA alone. The phase 2 MTD was reversible nephrotoxicity (serum creatinine elevations to 3.6 and 4.4 mg/dL) and neutro...
Self-recognition drives the preferential accumulation of promiscuous CD4+ T-cells in aged mice

T-cell recognition of self and foreign peptide antigens presented in major histocompatibility complex molecules (pMHC) is essential for life-long immunity. How the ability of the CD4+ T-cell compartment to bind self- and foreign-pMHC changes over the lifespan remains a fundamental aspect of T-cell biology that is largely unexplored. We report that, while old mice (18–22 months) contain fewer CD4+ T-cells compared with adults (8–12 weeks), those that remain have a higher intrinsic affinity for self-pMHC, as measured by CD5 expression. Old mice also have more cells that bind individual or multiple distinct foreign-pMHCs, and the fold increase in pMHC-binding populations is directly related to their CD5 levels. These data demonstrate that the CD4+ T-cell compartment preferentially accumulates promiscuous constituents with age as a consequence of higher affinity T-cell receptor interactions with self-pMHC. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.05949.001
Effects of Different Hematocrit Levels on Glucose Measurements With Handheld Meters for Point-of-Care Testing

c Objectives.—To determine the effects of low, normal, and high hematocrit levels on glucose meter measurements and to assess the clinical risks of hematocrit errors. Design.—Changes in glucose measurements between low and high hematocrit levels were calculated to determine hematocrit effects. The differences between glucose measured with meters and with a plasma glucose method (YSI 2300) also were compared. Setting.—Six handheld glucose meters were assessed in vitro at low (19.1%), normal (38.5%), and high (58.3%) hematocrit levels, and at 6 glucose concentrations ranging from 2.06 mmol/L (37.1 mg/dL) to 30.24 mmol/L (544.7 mg/dL). Results.—Most systems, regardless of the reference to which they were calibrated, demonstrated positive bias at lower hematocrit levels and negative bias at higher hematocrit levels. Low, normal, and high hematocrit levels progressively lowered Precision G and Precision QID glucose measurements. Hematocrit effects on the other systems were more dependent on the glucose concentration. Overall, Accu-Chek Comfort Curve showed the least sensitivity to hematocrit changes, except at the lowest glucose concentration. Conclusions.—We strongly recommend that clinical professionals choose glucose systems carefully and interpret glucose measurements with extreme caution when the patient’s hematocrit value changes, particularly if there is a simultaneous change in glucose level. (Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2000;124:1135‐1140)
Effects of grazing by estuarine gammaridean amphipods on the microbiota of allochthonous detritus.

Abstract Estuarine gammaridean amphipods grazing at natural population density on detrital microbiota affected the microbial community composition, biomass, and metabolic activity without affecting the physical structure of the leaves. Total microbial biomass estimated by adenosine triphosphate and lipid phosphate or observed by scanning electron microscopy was greater on grazed than on ungrazed detritus. The rates of oxygen consumption, poly-β-hydroxybutyrate synthesis, total lipid biosynthesis, and release of 14CO2 from radioactively prelabeled microbiota were higher on grazed than on ungrazed leaves, indicating stimulation of the metabolic activity of grazed detrital microbes. This was true with rates based either on the dry leaf weight or microbial biomass. Alkaline phosphatase activity was lower in the grazed system, consistent with enhanced inorganic phosphate cycling. The loss of 14C from both total lipid and poly-β-hydroxybutyrate of microorganisms prelabeled with 14C was greater from grazed than ungrazed microbes. There was a faster decrease in the 14C-glycolipid than in the 14C-neutral lipid or 14C-phospholipid fractions. Analysis of specific phospholipids showed losses of the metabolically stable [14C]glycerolphosphorylcholine derived from phosphatidylcholine and much more rapid metabolism of the bacterial lipid phosphatidylglycerol measured as [14C]glycerolphosphorylglycerol with amphipod grazing. The biochemical data supported scanning electron microscopy observations of a shift as the grazing proceeded from a bacterial/fungal community to one dominated by bacteria.
Compatibility of highly sulfated cyclodextrin with electrospray ionization at low nanoliter/minute flow rates and its application to capillary electrophoresis/electrospray ionization mass spectrometric analysis of cathinone derivatives and their optical isomers

RATIONALE Sodium salts of cyclodextrins are commonly used in capillary electrophoresis/mass spectrometry (CE/MS) analysis of illicit drugs and their optical isomers. To avoid the suppression effect of cyclodextrins under electrospray ionization (ESI), the partial filling technique (PFT) is commonly utilized, which has a limited resolution. Low-flow nano-ESI has been shown to reduce the suppression effect of the salts. To test the compatibility of low-flow ESI with a background electrolyte (BGE) containing sodium salts of cyclodextrin, sheathless narrow capillary CE/MS with flow rates of low nanoliters/minute (nL/min) was applied to the separation and detection of cathinones and their positional and optical isomers for the first time. METHODS Low-flow sheathless CE/MS using a 20-µm-i.d. capillary in conjunction with a porous tip interface was used for the separation of cathinone derivatives and their optical isomers. Highly sulfated γ-cyclodextrin (HS-γ-CD) in conjunction with (+)-18-crown-6-tetracarboxylic acid ((+)-18-C-6-TCA) was used as the BGE and an ion trap mass spectrometer operating in full scan mode was utilized. RESULTS Utilizing low flow rate (~10 nL/min) sheathless CE/MS, the use of the sodium salt of HS-γ-CD as the BGE was compared with the same solution using PFT. The relative and absolute sensitivity of detection of cathinones were about the same, indicating that under low-flow sheathless CE/MS there was no significant suppression due to the existence of HS-γ-CD in the electrospray process. However, enhanced resolution of cathinone derivatives and their positional and optical isomers was observed when the solution of HS-γ-CD was used as the BGE. The enhanced resolution was because of the presence of the HS-γ-CD in the entire capillary during the analysis. The addition of 15 mM (+)-18-C-6-TCA to the BGE containing HS-γ-CD further enhanced the resolution resulting in separation of all cathinones and their positional and optical isomers. CONCLUSIONS A novel CE/MS technique has been introduced that combines low-flow sheathless CE/MS, with HS-γ-CD and 15 mM (+)-18-C-6-TCA as the BGE for separation of cathinone derivatives as well as their positional and optical isomers. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The behavioral effects of father absence on children and their mothers

This study investigates the effects of the presence or absence of the father in the home in two samples of New York City families: a sample of 1000 Welfare AFDC families and a subsample of lower-middle income families from a random cross-section sample. The effects of natural fathers, surrogate fathers and absent fathers were examined for mothers and their children, respectively. The variables included measures derived from mothers' home interviews: 18 child behaviour factors and 13 familial factors. The results indicate that children of surrogate fathers revealed significantly more behavioural difficulties than those reported for children living with natural fathers and for children with no father in the home. The effect of father absence as well as the effect of the presence of a father surrogate in the home were found to differ within the two samples studied. While children in both samples were found to benefit from the presence of both natural parents in the home, cross-section children and mothers were more adversely affected by father absence than Welfare children. Implications of these findings are discussed with reference to the role of the poor family in sustaining intergenerational patterns of economic inequality.
Cell Migration: A Physically Integrated Molecular Process

The authors are grateful for financial support from the National Institutes of Health (grants GM23244 and GM53905), and to very helpful comments on the manuscript from Elliot Elson, Vlodya Gelfand, Paul Matsudaira, Julie Theriot, and Sally Zigmond. D. A. L. and A. F. H. would also like to thank Alan Wells, and Anna Huttenlocher and Rebecca Sandborg, respectively, for stimulating conversations on this subject, and Sean Palecek for Figure 2Figure 2. Finally, we extend our apologies to all our colleagues in the field whose work we were unable to cite formally because of imposed reference limitations.
A long history of cloud and forest migration from Lake Consuelo, Peru

Abstract The complete paleoecological history from Lake Consuelo forest yields a record of ground-level cloud formation and changes in its lower altitudinal limit over the last 46,300 cal yr BP. The timing of early lake level fluctuations prior to 37,000 cal yr BP appears sensitive to North Atlantic temperature oscillations, corresponding to Dansgaard–Oeschger interstadials 11, 10 and 8 recorded in GISP2. After the LGM, the first hint of warming is recorded in Lake Consuelo at 22,000 cal yr BP and agrees with other estimates for the region. The mid-Holocene (7400–5000 cal yr BP) was the period of highest rates of change and most significant reorganizations in the Consuelo forest. These community changes resulted from a regionally widespread dry period. Results from Lake Consuelo indicate that moisture availability, mediated through cloud cover, played the most significant role in ecological change in this system. Rates of past climate fluctuations never exceeded the forest capacity to accommodate change. Unfortunately, this might not be the case under predicted scenarios for the end of the current century.
Adenocarcinoma of the vermiform appendix presenting as a uterine tumor

Abstract A case of adenocarcinoma of the vermiform appendix manifesting itself as a uterine tumor is described. The patient presented with postmenopausal bleeding and was initially considered to have endometrial carcinoma. The appendiceal tumor was associated with a diffuse metastatic process affecting the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and peritoneal cavity. Although metastatic tumors affecting the uterus are uncommon, in cases where a uterine tumor shows an unusual histologic pattern, the possibility of a metastatic lesion should be considered and investigated.
Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome and Accessory Pathways

The heart has 4 chambers that pump blood. The 2 upper chambers are the right and left atria, and the 2 lower chambers are the right and left ventricles. The heart also has an electric system that directs the coordinated beating of these 4 chambers. A schematic drawing of the normal heart structure and electric system (red arrows) is shown in Figure 1. A normal electric impulse originates in an area of the upper right atrium called the sinus (SA) node, and an ordinary electric activity of the heart is referred to as normal sinus rhythm. In normal sinus rhythm, an electric impulse is generated by the SA node, and that electricity spreads through the right and left atria, directing these chambers to beat. On an electrocardiogram (ECG; bottom of Figure 1), the electric activity from the atria is seen as a small rounded deflection called a P wave. The same electric impulse then passes through a small area of tissue between the atria and ventricles called the atrioventricular (AV) node and then down through the ventricles. On the ECG, the electric activity from the ventricles results in a larger deflection called the R wave or QRS complex. Because the AV node is small, there is not enough electric activity to cause a deflection in the ECG. Therefore, the time spent by the electric impulse traveling through the AV node is represented on the ECG by a flat interval called the PR interval. In a normal heart, the AV node is a gatekeeper of sorts in that it is the only pathway for electricity that communicates from the upper chambers (atria) to the lower chambers (ventricles). The combination of electric impulses from the SA node to the atria, then through …
Effect of oral mineral and energy supplementation on blood mineral concentrations, energetic and inflammatory profile, and milk yield in dairy cows affected with dystocia

Abstract The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of mineral/energy supplementation of dairy cows with dystocia on blood mineral concentrations, energetic and inflammatory profiles, and milk yield. Multiparous Holstein cows with dystocia were randomly assigned into two groups, (1) treated with a mineral/energy supplement (DME, n = 18) and (2) not treated (DNT, n = 22). A group of cows with normal parturition were randomly selected and were left untreated (NNT, n = 25). Cows in DME received an oral drench of 110 g of calcium and 400 g of propionate as calcium propionate plus 110 g potassium chloride and 150 g of magnesium sulfate administered within 6 h of calving and again 3 days post-partum. Compared to cows with a normal parturition, dystocic cows had decreased plasma calcium concentrations, increased plasma haptoglobin, decreased milk yield at 1 day post-partum, and tended to have increased rectal temperatures from 1 to 12 days post-partum. Compared with cows in DNT, those in DME had decreased plasma calcium concentrations and increased plasma magnesium concentrations 2 and 3 days post-partum, and a tendency for an increase in rectal temperature from 1 to 12 days post-partum. Dystocia is detrimental to calcium homeostasis post-partum, but mineral/energy supplementation as undertaken in this study is not recommended for use in cows with dystocia.
The Effects of Household and Trip Characteristics on Trip Types: A Consumer Behavioral Approach for Segmenting the U.S. Domestic Leisure Travel Market

This study examined the effect of income, travel expenditures, and demographic, socio-cultural, and trip-related characteristics on four trip types of the U.S. households. Using data from the U.S. Consumer Expenditure Survey, it was found that households with different trip types varied in their income, demographic, and sociocultural and trip-related characteristics, and exhibited different expenditure patterns on their taking of pleasure/personal trips. The results emphasized the importance of trip type as a key measure for segmenting the U.S. travel markets.
Performance of a Stochastic Net

STOCHASTIC nets have been proposed by several authors1–3 as models of cognitive activity. So far, these have been dominated by heuristic constraints designed to show some analogy with the nervous system or merely for ease of computation. An adequate mathematical theory has, as was recognized by Uttley4, to show how such a device can learn relations.
Neurotrophin-4/5 protects hippocampal and cortical neurons against energy deprivation- and excitatory amino acid-induced injury.

Abstract Neurotrophin-4/5 (NT-4/5) is a recently discovered member of the neurotrophin family of neurotrophic factors which includes NGF, BDNF and NT-3. NT-4/5 is expressed in the brain where its function is unknown. We have found that NT-4/5 can protect cultured embryonic rat hippocampal and cortical neurons against glucose deprivation-induced injury. Significant protection was observed with NT-4/5 concentrations from 100–1000 ng/ml, with dose-response curve similar to that of BDNF. Neuronal vulnerability to glutamate toxicity was significantly reduced in cultures pretreated with NT-4/5. Moreover, neurons pretreated with NT-4/5 were more resistant to toxicity induced by calcium ionophore A23187, demonstrating that NT-4/5 increases neuronal resistance to calcium-mediated injury. These data indicate that, as with other neurotrophins, NT-4/5 may serve a neuroprotective function in the brain.
Division of the waters: changing concepts of the continental divide, 1804–1844

Abstract One of the major features of the continental geography of North America that was still misunderstood at the beginning of the nineteenth century was the drainage system between the Mississippi River and the Pacific. At the beginning of the century, Americans thought of the drainage system as symmetrical, with all major streams heading in a common source region and flowing in several directions to the Mississippi, the Arctic, the Pacific and the Gulf of California. The desired water route across the continent was based upon this view. During the first half of the nineteenth century the concept of the common source region and the water route underwent revision. Geographical information from early explorers like Lewis and Clark and Pike reinforced the older theories but gradually gave way before more accurate data acquired by the men of the Rocky Mountain fur trade. The fur trade lore was tested by John Charles Fremont in the 1840's and a new image was developed, one of a continental divide rather than a common source region. Although the idea of a commercial route across the continent still persisted after Fremont, it was viewed as a land route, crossing the Continental Divide at South Pass, rather than one by water.
The British and curriculum development in West Africa: A historical discourse

THE BRITISH AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT IN WEST AFRICA: A HISTORICAL STUDY – Only recently have African nations begun to make their way towards establishing genuinely autonomous education systems incorporating elements of indigenous culture. The present study examines the historical development of curriculum in British West Africa in its links with the educational activities of the early Christian missionaries and the imposition of British colonial rule. For over 300 years, the curriculum content was essentially European in nature. African interests and cultural practices were largely excluded, as “bookwork” was favored over “handwork”. The colonial curriculum also helped introduce a new social order to West Africa, leading to the rise of new local elites reading, writing, and speaking foreign European languages. This study explores how the idea of a “civilized” person, promoted through the colonial school curriculum, developed new local elites with different sets of values and expectations that often made them strangers in their own societies. It also describes the connection between this curriculum and the repeated failure of education-reform efforts.
PRESENTATIONS, CONJUGACY, ROOTS, AND CENTRALIZERS IN GROUPS OF PIECEWISE LINEAR HOMEOMORPHISMS OF THE REAL LINE

For an open interval (bounded or unbounded) of the real line R, we consider groups of the form PLF(S) consisting of those piecewise linear, order preserving homeomorphisms of R that have finitely m...