cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
[230-POS]: Racial and socio-economic disparities in maternal and fetal death among preeclamptic and eclamptic deliveries: An analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample

Objectives The purpose of this study is to describe the racial and socio economic disparities in maternal and fetal deaths related preeclampsia and eclampsia. Methods We obtained weighted estimates of the number of hospitalizations for deliveries complicated by preeclampsia and eclampsia using discharge diagnosis (ICD-9 codes) obtained through the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2004 to 2011. NIS is a federal database, which contains discharge data from approximately 20% of all annual US hospital admissions and can be weighted to obtain national estimates for all United States hospital admissions. The results are reported as proportion or odd ratios and 95% confidence intervals of maternal and fetal death in preeclamptic and eclamptic deliveries among different races and socio-economic classes. Results Among 33,082,540 deliveries, 708,508 (4.2%) were diagnosed with preeclampsia and eclampsia. There were 2211 maternal deaths and 138,170 of fetal deaths. Preeclampsia and eclampsia were associated with 462 (21.0%) of maternal and 10,372 (7.5%) fetal deaths. Black and Hispanic women were significantly more likely to have maternal deaths and fetal deaths compared to white women. Similarly, women with lower median household income had higher rates of maternal and fetal death compared to women with higher income, (Table 1). These associations were significant after adjusting for other factors. Conclusions This large database analysis showed significant racial and socio economic disparity in maternal and fetal mortality related to preeclampsia and eclampsia in United States. Reasons should be sought to evaluate the causes of such differences and interventions should be directed to these subgroups of women to reduce the rates of maternal and fetal deaths. Disclosures E. Mahmood: None. S. Rana: None. S.S. Shahul: None.
Proton Beam Radiotherapy and Concurrent Chemotherapy for Unresectable Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Final Results of a Phase 2 Study.

Importance Proton beam radiotherapy (PBT) has the potential to reduce toxic effects in the definitive management of locally advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but long-term prospective data are lacking. Objective To report the final (5-year) results of a prospective study evaluating concurrent chemotherapy and high-dose PBT to treat unresectable stage III NSCLC. Design, Setting, and Participants In this open-label, single-group assignment study, with median follow-up of 27.3 months for all patients and 79.6 months for survivors, 64 patients were enrolled and analyzed; inclusion criteria were unresectable IIIA/IIIB histologically confirmed NSCLC, Karnofsky performance status 70 to 100, and 6-month prediagnosis weight loss of no more than 10%. Staging used positron emission tomography and/or computed tomography. Induction chemotherapy was allowed. Interventions Concurrent chemotherapy (carboplatin-paclitaxel) and passively scattered PBT (74-Gy relative biological effectiveness) in all patients. Main Outcomes and Measures Kaplan-Meier analysis of overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), actuarial distant metastasis, and locoregional recurrence. Patterns of treatment failure were categorized as local/regional or distant. Acute and late toxic effects were prospectively assigned using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, v3.0. Results Of 64 patients (22 [34%] female; median [range] age, 70 [37-78] years; stage IIIA, 30 [47%]; IIIB, 34 [53%]), 17 (27%) were alive at last follow-up. Median OS was 26.5 months (5-year OS, 29%; 95% CI, 18%-41%). Five-year PFS was 22% (95% CI, 12%-32%); 5-year actuarial distant metastasis and locoregional recurrence were 54% (n = 36) and 28% (n = 22), respectively. Treatment failures were largely (31 [48%] patients) distant, with low rates of crude local (10 [16%]) and regional (9 [14%]) recurrences. Rates of grade 2 and 3 acute esophagitis were 18 (28%) and 5 (8%), respectively. Acute grade 2 pneumonitis occurred in 1 (2%) patient. Late toxic effects were uncommon: 1 (2%) patient developed an esophageal stricture (grade 2) and 1 (2%) grade 4 esophagitis. Late grades 2 and 3 pneumonitis occurred in 10 (16%) and 8 (12%), respectively. Two (3%) patients developed a bronchial stricture (grade 2), and 1 (2%) a grade 4 bronchial fistula. There were no acute or late grade 5 toxic effects. Conclusions and Relevance Concurrent chemotherapy and PBT to treat unresectable NSCLC afford promising clinical outcomes and rates of toxic effects compared with historical photon therapy data. Further optimization of proton therapy, particularly intensity-modulated proton therapy, is still needed.
Network-based Interpretation of Diverse High-Throughput Datasets through the Omics Integrator Software Package

High-throughput 'omic' methods reveal many aspects of cellular state and biological responses to perturbations. However, no single data type is capable of fully representing the cellular activity. Beyond the list of molecules from each data type, there is a necessity to consider multiple data jointly and reconstruct the relations between these molecules with personalized network-based approaches. We introduced the Omics Integrator software that integrates a variety of 'omic' data as input and identifies putative underlying molecular pathways. The approach applies an advanced network optimization algorithm to a network of thousands of molecular interactions to find high-confidence, interpretable subnetworks that best explain the data. Omics Integrator also provides an elegant framework to incorporate not only positive data, but also negative evidence. Incorporating negative evidence allows Omics Integrator to avoid unexpressed genes and avoid being biased toward highly-studied hub proteins, except when they are strongly implicated by the data. The tool has been applied in several examples, including data derived from Huntington's Disease and glioblastoma multiforme models, to identify novel pathways and nodes through which biological perturbations like disease cause changes in the cell.
Impairment of cerebral autoregulation in pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation associated with neuroimaging abnormalities

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a life-supporting therapy for critically ill patients with severe respiratory and/or cardiovascular failure. Cerebrovascular impairment can result in hemorrhagic and ischemic complications commonly seen in the patients supported on ECMO. We investigated the degree of cerebral autoregulation impairment during ECMO as well as whether it is predictive of neuroimaging abnormalities. Spontaneous fluctuations of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and cerebral tissue oxygen saturation ([Formula: see text]) were continuously measured during the ECMO run. The dynamic relationship between the MAP and [Formula: see text] fluctuations was assessed based on wavelet transform coherence (WTC). Neuroimaging was conducted during and/or after ECMO as standard of care, and the abnormalities were evaluated based on a scoring system that had been previously validated among ECMO patients. Of the 25 patients, 8 (32%) had normal neuroimaging, 7 (28%) had mild to moderate neuroimaging abnormalities, and the other 10 (40%) had severe neuroimaging abnormalities. The degrees of cerebral autoregulation impairment quantified based on WTC showed significant correlations with the neuroimaging scores ([Formula: see text]; [Formula: see text]). Evidence that cerebral autoregulation impairment during ECMO was related to the patients' neurological outcomes was provided.
Copper nanoparticle ensembles for selective electroreduction of CO2 to C2–C3 products

Direct conversion of carbon dioxide to multicarbon products remains as a grand challenge in electrochemical CO2 reduction. Various forms of oxidized copper have been demonstrated as electrocatalysts that still require large overpotentials. Here, we show that an ensemble of Cu nanoparticles (NPs) enables selective formation of C2-C3 products at low overpotentials. Densely packed Cu NP ensembles underwent structural transformation during electrolysis into electrocatalytically active cube-like particles intermixed with smaller nanoparticles. Ethylene, ethanol, and n-propanol are the major C2-C3 products with onset potential at -0.53 V (vs. reversible hydrogen electrode, RHE) and C2-C3 faradaic efficiency (FE) reaching 50% at only -0.75 V. Thus, the catalyst exhibits selective generation of C2-C3 hydrocarbons and oxygenates at considerably lowered overpotentials in neutral pH aqueous media. In addition, this approach suggests new opportunities in realizing multicarbon product formation from CO2, where the majority of efforts has been to use oxidized copper-based materials. Robust catalytic performance is demonstrated by 10 h of stable operation with C2-C3 current density 10 mA/cm2 (at -0.75 V), rendering it attractive for solar-to-fuel applications. Tafel analysis suggests reductive CO coupling as a rate determining step for C2 products, while n-propanol (C3) production seems to have a discrete pathway.
Understanding Reversible Molecular Binding

Abstract Reversible binding between biomolecules—for example, between a cell-sruface receptor such as the insulin receptor and its corresponding natural ligand such as insulin—is central to innumerable physiological transactions. Binding of the dye HABA to egg-white avidin is a simple, reliable, and colorful laboratory model for introducing beginning biology students to the principles underlying reversible binding. They can probe the reaction quantitatively with a spectrophotometer, and model it mathematically using only high-school algebra and a spreadsheet program such as Microsoft Excel.
Chronic nicotinamide riboside supplementation is well-tolerated and elevates NAD+ in healthy middle-aged and older adults

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) has emerged as a critical co-substrate for enzymes involved in the beneficial effects of regular calorie restriction on healthspan. As such, the use of NAD+ precursors to augment NAD+ bioavailability has been proposed as a strategy for improving cardiovascular and other physiological functions with aging in humans. Here we provide the evidence in a 2 × 6-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical trial that chronic supplementation with the NAD+ precursor vitamin, nicotinamide riboside (NR), is well tolerated and effectively stimulates NAD+ metabolism in healthy middle-aged and older adults. Our results also provide initial insight into the effects of chronic NR supplementation on physiological function in humans, and suggest that, in particular, future clinical trials should further assess the potential benefits of NR for reducing blood pressure and arterial stiffness in this group.
Predictors for adoption of local solar approval processes and impact on residential solar installations in California cities

Abstract Local governments and policies hold an important role in stimulating the growth of solar photovoltaic (PV) installations. By improving local solar permitting processes, city governments can potentially reduce the “soft” costs of solar PV installations and facilitate the deployment of solar PV systems at the local level. Drawing data from California's annual statewide planning surveys, this paper examines the determinants for the adoption of solar approval processes and the policy impact on residential solar PV installations in California cities. The results demonstrate that cities with large population size, municipal utilities, and high proportions of pro-environment, educated constituents are more likely to adopt solar approval processes. Additionally, the presence of local solar approval processes is found to increase both total capacity and the number of small-scale residential solar PV installations in a city, holding all else equal. The empirical evidence presented in this research confirms the important role of local governments in the deployment of solar PV systems.
Embodying climate change: Incorporating full body tracking in the design of an interactive rates of change greenhouse gas simulation

The ELASTIC3S project creates novel immersive simulations aimed at exploring in detail the connection between purposeful gesture and learning transfer across science content domains. This paper describes the theory and design behind the most recent addition: a dynamic, two-participant, gesture-controlled rates of change simulation addressing climate change through the lens of the greenhouse effect. Leveraging a flexible “one-shot” gesture recognition system and a 3-screen immersive simulation theater, participants work together to explore a representation of the greenhouse effect while embodying concepts of rates of change and dynamic equilibrium.
Juvenile Court and Its Systems of Juvenile Justice

The history of juvenile justice reforms in the United States and many other parts of the Western world is an uneven one (Sutton, 1988). Reforms that brought about juvenile justice are a consequence of modern-day efforts to deal with the most stubborn and defiant juveniles. Although troubled juveniles and juvenile crime have always existed, what has changed is the manner in which officials are able to deal with misbehaving juveniles. The intractable problem of what to do with the delinquent has produced solutions that go beyond the child, the family, or the community. Modern-day responses draw on ever more complex institutional responses that stretch considerably beyond the political and organizational limits of a traditional juvenile court and its system of justice.
Starvation reduces attractiveness of live bait lobsters and trap catch in the Caribbean spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) fishery in Florida

The commercial lobster fishery for spiny lobster, Panulirus argus (Latreille, 1804), in Florida predominantly uses traps baited with live, sublegal lobsters. These bait lobsters are often subjected to long periods of starvation when confined within these traps, yet the effects of this long-term confinement and starvation of bait lobsters on bait attractiveness and trap efficiency remain unknown. We used a series of chemical choice experiments to test whether lobsters avoided conspecifics that were starved for 3, 5, or 7 wks, and a field-based trap experiment to test whether trap catch was reduced when traps were baited with starved lobsters. In chemical choice experiments, focal lobsters were significantly less attracted to lobsters subjected to any length of starvation than to lobsters that were not starved. Furthermore, traps baited with starved lobsters caught 40% fewer lobsters than traps baited with healthy lobsters. Our findings suggest that the long-term confinement and starvation of lobsters used as live bait in the Florida spiny lobster fishery may indeed reduce the effectiveness of these baits, as well as diminish the catch efficiency of traps. The reduction of the confinement duration of bait lobsters should increase the attraction to conspecific bait lobsters, and thus increase lobster catch in traps baited with healthy lobsters. Efforts to sustain the health of bait lobsters should reduce bait mortality and potentially bolster future stocks.
Teacher Education for Democracy and Social Justice

Examines just how the important goals of educating for democracy can be achieved from the perspective of those working in teacher education and in P-12 schools.
Defining Relationships Between Geometry and Behavior of Bistable Composite Laminates

Bistability is exhibited by an object when it can be resting in two stable equilibrium states. Certain composite laminates exhibit bistability by having two stable curvatures of opposite sign with ...
Endoscopic Ultrasound and Staging of Esophageal Cancer

Accurate cancer staging allows the most favorable therapy and prognosis of a neoplastic process, and allows consistency when performing clinical trials for different stages of tumors. In the case of esophageal cancer, the available therapeutic options include resection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, and multimodal combination therapy. The most important para meter in determining the prognosis and optimal treatment is defining the anatomic extent of the cancer. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is the most significant recent advance in gastrointestinal endoscopy. It provides closeproximity imaging of the esophageal wall and its adjacent structures and allows for accurate identification of the layers of the gastrointestinal wall, and is, therefore, uniquely suited to the local staging of esophageal cancer. Also, EUS has become a significant tool for the assessment of locoregional lymph nodes, and in some cases, distant organ metastases adjacent to luminal structures. EUS with the addition of fine needle aspiration (FNA) allows for minimally invasive access to these sites through a transesophageal or transgastric approach. The capability of performing FNA has greatly improved the accuracy and popularity of EUS for esophageal cancer staging. This review will outline the basic principals of the EUS-FNA technique, and its role in esophageal cancer staging and restaging after chemoradiotherapy, as well as the potential role of newer modalities such as endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS).
Comparative analysis of Rapid Equilibrium Dialysis (RED) and solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) methods for In Vitro-In Vivo extrapolation of environmental chemicals.

Abstract In vitro to in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) is a critical component of the efforts to prioritize and assess environmental chemicals using high-throughput in vitro assays. The plasma unbound fraction (Fub) is a key toxicokinetic parameter in IVIVE, and is usually measured via the Rapid Equilibrium Dialysis (RED) assay widely used for pharmaceuticals. However, pharmaceuticals have a narrower range of physicochemical properties than environmental chemicals. Motivated by the observation that high LogKOW compounds appeared to have disproportionately low Fub measurements using RED, we added a protein-free control in order to verify equilibration to 100% unbound in the absence of proteins. We found that many high LogKOW non-pharmaceuticals fail to equilibrate in RED in protein-free controls, and thus had apparent values of Fub = 0 in plasma. In these cases, Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) as an alternative method provided an accurate, though more time-consuming, alternative to accurately determine Fub. We propose an updated IVIVE workflow that adds a protein-free control to the RED protocol, with the use of alternative approaches, such as SPME, in cases where compounds fail to adequately equilibrate. These refinements will provide additional confidence in the use of IVIVE as part of high-throughput screening programs of chemicals.
Network-aware multi-agent simulations of herder-farmer conflicts

We propose a network-aware multi-agent simulation approach to understanding the interlacing connections between herder-farmer communities in open property regimes. Specifically, we model herder-farmer conflicts in agent-based terms whereby individual decision-making, pastoral mobility, and symbiotic herder-farmer relations result in the emergence of a complex adaptive system in which communal resources are managed in ways that either lead to peaceful coexistence or conflict. From a theoretical perspective, we hope to further understanding of how individual decision-making and coordination produces complex adaptive systems as well as how emergent structures shape individual action. In practice, we anticipate that this study will help shed light on how herder-farmer communities can cooperate and coordinate their activity and mobility patterns to manage common pool resources in sustainable ways that mitigate violent conflict. Broadly, our work aims to contribute new insights towards multi-agent modelling of traditional small-scale societies.
Role of prefrontal cortex projections to the nucleus accumbens core in mediating the effects of ceftriaxone on cue‐induced cocaine seeking

Ceftriaxone is an antibiotic that reliably attenuates the reinstatement of cocaine seeking after extinction while preventing the nucleus accumbens (NA) core glutamate efflux that drives reinstatement. However, when rats undergo abstinence without extinction, ceftriaxone attenuates context-primed cocaine seeking but NA core glutamate efflux still increases. Here, we sought to determine if the same would occur when cocaine seeking is prompted by both context and discrete cues (cue-induced seeking) after cocaine abstinence. Male rats self-administered intravenous cocaine accompanied by drug-associated cues (light + tone) for 2 h/day for 14 days. Rats then experienced abstinence with daily handling but no extinction training for 2 weeks. Ceftriaxone (200 mg/kg IP) or vehicle was administered during the last 6 days of abstinence. During a cue-induced cocaine seeking test, microdialysis procedures were conducted. Rats were perfused at the end of the test for later Fos analysis. A separate cohort of rats was infused with the retrograde tracer cholera toxin B in the NA core and underwent the same self-administration and relapse procedures. Ceftriaxone increased baseline glutamate and attenuated both cue-induced cocaine seeking and NA core glutamate efflux during this test. Ceftriaxone reduced Fos expression in regions sending projections to the NA core (prefrontal cortex, basolateral amygdala, ventral tegmental area) and specifically reduced Fos in prelimbic cortex and not infralimbic cortex neurons projecting to the NA core. Thus, when cocaine seeking is induced by drug-associated cues, ceftriaxone is able to attenuate relapse by preventing NA core glutamate efflux, likely through reducing activity in prelimbic NA core-projecting neurons.
Loss of Cilia Does Not Slow Liver Disease Progression in Mouse Models of Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a hereditary disorder characterized by abnormal cellular proliferation, cyst fluid accumulation, extracellular matrix remodeling, and fibrosis in the kidney and liver. ADPKD accounts for approximately 5% of the prevalent adult RRT (dialysis or transplantation) population, with most cases resulting from mutations in PKD1 or PKD2 , which encodes polycystin-1 (PC1) or polycystin-2 (PC2), respectively (1). In contrast, autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is a rare and severe form of polycystic disease affecting the kidneys and biliary tract of children with an estimated incidence of 1 in 20,000 live births (2). ARPKD develops in utero and is diagnosed early in life, often prenatally. The clinical spectrum is widely variable, with approximately 20% of cases severely affected at birth, whereas the remainder are affected more as juveniles. Clinical findings in ARPKD include enlarged echogenic kidneys due to fusiform dilation of the collecting ducts and dilated bile ducts accompanied by congenital hepatic fibrosis resulting in portal hypertension (2). Mutations in PKHD1 are responsible for most typical cases of ARPKD (3,4). It encodes a heavily glycosylated approximately 450-kD single-pass transmembrane protein, fibrocystin (FPC), that localizes to the primary cilia, basal bodies, apical membrane, and exosome-like vesicles in kidney and liver epithelial cells (5⇓–7). The function of FPC is largely unknown, but it has been proposed to act as a ligand or cell surface coreceptor that undergoes Notch-like processing and plays a role in regulating mitotic spindle orientation (8⇓–10). Several rodent models for ARPKD have been reported with all but one targeting the 5′ region of the Pkhd1 gene. These models invariably exhibit biliary cysts accompanied by periportal fibrosis consistent with the human disease (5,11,12). The renal phenotype is mild in the rat model …
A novel immunochemotherapy based on targeting of cyclooxygenase and induction of immunogenic cell death

Cyclooxygenase (COX) plays a crucial role in the "inflammogenesis of cancer", which leads to tumor progression, metastasis, and immunotherapy resistance. Therefore, reducing "inflammogenesis" by COX inhibition may be a key perspective for cancer therapy. However, the role of tumor-derived COX in the actions of COX inhibitors remains incompletely understood. In this study, applying "old drug new tricks" to repurpose 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), a COX inhibitor, we examined the effect of 5-ASA, alone or in combination with doxorubicin (DOX), in several cancer cell lines with different levels of COX expression. To facilitate the evaluation of the combination effect on tumors in vivo, a new micellar carrier based on PEG-b-PNHS polymer-conjugated 5-ASA (PASA) was developed to enhance codelivery of 5-ASA and DOX. Folate was also introduced to the polymer (folate-PEG-NH2-conjugated PASA (FASA)) to further improve delivery to tumors via targeting both tumor cells and tumor macrophages. An unprecedented high DOX loading capacity of 42.28% was achieved through various mechanisms of carrier/drug interactions. FASA was highly effective in targeting to and in inhibiting the growth of both 4T1.2 and CT26 tumors in BALB/c mice. However, FASA was more effective in CT26 tumor that has a high level of COX expression. Codelivery of DOX via PASA and FASA led to a further improvement in antitumor activity. Mechanistic studies suggest that inhibition of COX in vivo led to a more active tumor immune microenvironment. Interestingly, treatment with FASA led to upregulation of PD-1 on T cells, likely due to repressing the inhibitory effect of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on PD-1 expression on T cells. Combination of FASA/DOX with anti-PD-1 antibody led to a drastic improvement in the overall antitumor activity including regression of some established tumors at a suboptimal dose of FASA/DOX. Our data suggest that FASA/DOX may represent a new and effective immunochemotherapy for various types of cancers, particularly those cancers with high levels of COX expression.
Experimental data-driven reaction network identification and uncertainty quantification of CO2-assisted ethane dehydrogenation over Ga2O3/Al2O3

Abstract We study ethane dehydrogenation's kinetics over a Ga2O3/Al2O3 catalyst in the absence and presence of CO2 and H2O. We identify the reaction network through the hypothesis of overall-reactions and reaction stoichiometry using judicious experiments by co-feeding combinations of C2H6, CO2, H2, and H2O and regeneration studies. We introduce an uncertainty quantification methodology, leveraging Bayesian inference, to assess the rate parameters' statistical confidence and trace the uncertainty sources and develop a data-driven kinetics model. The chief overall reactions include ethane dehydrogenation and hydrogenolysis, the reverse water–gas shift (RWGS), coke formation, and coke gasification. H2O retards the ethane dehydrogenation rate and increases the apparent activation energy from 52.4 to 177.3 kJ/mol. Both CO2 and H2O improve catalyst stability via the same mechanism: coke gasification. Raman characterization of the spent catalyst reveals nanocrystal graphite coke whose amount is reduced by H2O. The reaction-network identification and uncertainty quantification apply to other complex reaction systems.
Towards a More General Understanding of the Algorithmic Utility of Recurrent Connections

Lateral and recurrent connections are ubiquitous in biological neural circuits. The strong computational abilities of feedforward networks have been extensively studied; on the other hand, while certain roles for lateral and recurrent connections in specific computations have been described, a more complete understanding of the role and advantages of recurrent computations that might explain their prevalence remains an important open challenge. Previous key studies by Minsky and later by Roelfsema argued that the sequential, parallel computations for which recurrent networks are well suited can be highly effective approaches to complex computational problems. Such "tag propagation" algorithms perform repeated, local propagation of information and were introduced in the context of detecting connectedness, a task that is challenging for feedforward networks. Here, we advance the understanding of the utility of lateral and recurrent computation by first performing a large-scale empirical study of neural architectures for the computation of connectedness to explore feedforward solutions more fully and establish robustly the importance of recurrent architectures. In addition, we highlight a tradeoff between computation time and performance and demonstrate hybrid feedforward/recurrent models that perform well even in the presence of varying computational time limitations. We then generalize tag propagation architectures to multiple, interacting propagating tags and demonstrate that these are efficient computational substrates for more general computations by introducing and solving an abstracted biologically inspired decision-making task. More generally, our work clarifies and expands the set of computational tasks that can be solved efficiently by recurrent computation, yielding hypotheses for structure in population activity that may be present in such tasks.
The Pope John Paul II Institute

The Pope John Paul II Institute was founded in 2006. It is a self-governing cultural institution appointed by the Ordinary of the Warsaw Archdiocese and the Marshal of the Mazovian Voivodship. The aim of the Institute is to commemorate the person, the life and works of John Paul II. As an institution of culture it realizes its objectives through activities such as: publishing monographs and studies presenting the teachings of John Paul II, preparing educational offers for schools, in order to propagate the values taught by the Pope, conducting research on the reception of the papal teaching in Poland and abroad (especially among the Polish community), acquiring, cataloguing and developing archival materials related to John Paul II, creating a library of works by John Paul II and those related to him, organizing symposia, concerts, plays and exhibitions disseminating the teaching of John Paul II. We are open to cooperation with individuals, institutions, universities and cultural centres interested in the heritage of John Paul II. The areas of our activities:
The Redefinition of the Computer Industry

Relentless advances in technology are dramatically affecting the computer industry itself. The legacy systems and glass houses of only a decade ago are becoming transformed into interconnected networks of high-performance workstations and desktop personal computers. Ultra-high speed digital highways are basically changing the nature of telecommunication and the services it provides. This talk will explore these technology changes and the impacts they are having on the globalization of a variety of industries and, in particular, the computer industry. Implications about curricula, research, development, and technology transfer in universities will also be discussed.
Attitudinal Barriers to Analgesic Use among Patients with Substance Use Disorders.

Attitudinal barriers towards analgesic use among primary care patients with chronic pain and substance use disorders (SUDs) are not well understood. We evaluated the prevalence of moderate to significant attitudinal barriers to analgesic use among 597 primary care patients with chronic pain and current analgesic use with 3 subscales from the Barriers Questionaire II: concern about side effects, fear of addiction, and worry about reporting pain to physicians. Concern about side effects was a greater barrier for those with opioid use disorders (OUDs) and non-opioid SUDs than for those with no SUD (OR (95% CI): 2.30 (1.44–3.68), P < 0.001 and 1.64 (1.02–2.65), P = 0.041, resp.). Fear of addiction was a greater barrier for those with OUDs as compared to those with non-opioid SUDs (OR (95% CI): 2.12 (1.04–4.30), P = 0.038) and no SUD (OR (95% CI): 2.69 (1.44–5.03), P = 0.002). Conversely, participants with non-opioid SUDs reported lower levels of worry about reporting pain to physicians than those with no SUD (OR (95% CI): 0.43 (0.24–0.76), P = 0.004). Participants with OUDs reported higher levels of worry about reporting pain than those with non-opioid SUDs (OR (95% CI): 1.91 (1.01–3.60), P = 0.045). Concerns about side effects and fear of addiction can be barriers to analgesic use, moreso for people with SUDs and OUDs.
ØLAS: One library's experience

Abstract After having had an off-line acquisitions system since 1969, the University of Louisville Libraries went on-line in 1980 with Brodart's OLAS, or On-Line Acquisitions System. The switch was necessitated by an overloaded Computer Center at the University as well as by the fact that undocumented internal changes in the off-line system had rendered it non-standard. Both positive and negative aspects of the OLAS system are discussed.
Stimulus equivalence in rudimentary reading and spelling

Abstract Severely retarded boys entered this study already able to match colored patches to dictated color words and to name the colors orally. Initially they were unable to match printed color words with the colored patches or to their dictated names; neither could they name the printed words orally. Programs were designed to teach the boys to use individual anagram letters to construct the appropriate colors words when shown color patches. After learning the visual equivalences between colors and printed words, the boys demonstrated auditory reading-comprehension (matching printed words to dictated words) and oral reading (naming printed words).
The Cloud Agnostic e-Science Analysis Platform

The amount of data being generated for e-Science domains has grown exponentially in the past decade, yet the adoption of new computational techniques in these fields hasn't seen similar improvements. The presented platform can exploit the power of cloud computing while providing abstractions for scientists to create highly scalable data processing workflows.
Simulation of Si clusters via Langevin molecular dynamics with quantum forces.

The structural determination of atomic clusters remains a serious challenge. Conventional methods are hindered by the large number of degrees of freedom, and by the low symmetry. Computer experiments using an annealing strategy can overcome such hindrances. The challenge with this type of approach is to reconcile an accurate description of the potential energy surface with an appropriate configuration space sampling. This paper presents a dynamical-stochastic method to determine from first principles the structure of atomic clusters. The method is based on Langevin molecular dynamics simulations, and quantum mechanical interactions derived from ab initio pseudopotential calculations. The paper will illustrate the authors` approach by considering the structure of small silicon clusters. These clusters represent a significant hurdle for any theory of clusters. The chemical forces for the crystalline phases of silicon represent the prototypical covalent bond. However, surface, or {open_quotes}metallic-like{close_quotes}, interactions play a dominant role for small clusters. Recent chemical reactivity and cluster mobility experiments are consistent with the theoretical calculations.
Using the teniae coli as a registration tool in CT colonography

We have found greater difficulty achieving desirable sensitivities and specificities with our computer-aided detection (CAD) system on polyps sized 6-9 mm. Missed polyps in our ground truth CAD training datasets could be one possible cause. Most CT colonography (CTC) protocols require supine and prone scans therefore the number of polyps visible to a radiologist in at least one scan may increase. However, registration of a specific polyp visible in both scans can prove difficult without a uniform coordinate system. Using a teniae coli registration tool we hypothesized we could register and find a statistically significant number of 6-9 mm polyps believed to be not findable in one scan subsequently reducing error in the training data and enabling better training of our CAD system. Database queries yielded 20 polyps initially believed to be not findable in one scan. The teniae coli navigation and registration system allowed us to identify 30% (6/20) of the polyps as matches with confidence in both scans (rating 1) and 10% (2/20) of the polyps with a potential match with some uncertainty (rating 2). No convincing match was found for 60% (12/20) of polyps (rating 3). We conclude that this teniae coli registration tool is an effective means of identifying and reducing ground truth data errors in 6-9 mm polyps initially believed not findable in one scan. The use of this tool has the potential to improve the performance of a CAD system on the more difficult 6-9 mm polyps.
Xanthine oxidase activity in mouse pancreas: effects of caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis.

Abstract The development of acute pancreatitis involves a number of pathophysiological changes which result in pancreatic tissue damage. Data from several models of acute pancreatitis suggest that the in vivo conversion of the enzyme xanthine dehydrogenase to xanthine oxidase may cause tissue damage by the subsequent generation of oxygen-derived free radical products. In the present studies, acute pancreatitis was induced in mice by the administration of supramaximal secretory doses of caerulein, a cholecystokinin analogue. Pancreatic xanthine oxidase activity was observed to occur in the dehydrogenase form in both control and treated mice. Artifactual conversion to the oxidase form could be induced by exclusion of 2-mercaptoethanol and phenyl-methylsulfonyl fluoride from the buffer during tissue preparation. These data indicate that no significant conversion of xanthine dehydrogenase to oxidase is associated with this model of acute pancreatitis in mice.
A Single Sea Lamprey Attack Causes Acute Anemia and Mortality in Lake Sturgeon

Abstract The effects of sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus parasitism on hematological variables have not been quantified for lake sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens. Our study objectives were to (1) assess changes in lake sturgeon hematology immediately after a single sea lamprey attack and after a 2-week recovery period and (2) assess changes in the histological condition of major hematopoietic organs. Lake sturgeon from four size-groups (470–570, 570–650, 650–760, and 950–1,500 mm fork length) were individually subjected to a sea lamprey attack in a series of 55 experimental trials. Survival of lake sturgeon after a single sea lamprey attack was size dependent, with fish in smaller size-groups exhibiting higher direct and indirect mortality than individuals in larger size-classes. The most sensitive blood chemistry variable was hematocrit: each 1% decline in hematocrit resulted in a 5.1% increase in mortality risk. Other important variables were plasma protein level, with a 10-g/dL decline resulting in a 4.2% i...
The overshoot phenomenon in cotransport

Based on simplified equations, the overshoot curve experimentally observed with Na+-linked cotransport of neutral substrate (sugars or amino acids) has been simulated by computer. The approach is in principle similar to that of previous approaches (Weiss, S.D., McNamara, P.D. and Segal, S. (1981) J. Theor. Biol. 91, 597-608), but more general; in particular, it includes the effect of electrical membrane potential difference, and the quantitative relationship between height of peak and certain transport parameters, such as maximum rate, dissociation constant of ternary complex, electric charge of translocator, respectively. In addition, it tests two alternative models with respect to the rate-determining step: the translocation, on the one hand, and the association/dissociation of the ligands at the translocator site, on the other. The major findings are the following: (1) An overshoot can be obtained similar to that usually found experimentally, provided that maximum rate and affinity between translocator and transport of solute exceed certain minimum values. (2) The overshoot effect with Na-linked cotransport is enhanced by a negative membrane potential (inside relative to outside) and decreased by a positive potential. In the first case, the peak is higher and occurs faster. In the latter case, the peak is lower and delayed. (3) The effect of an electric potential difference on the overshoot curve does not depend appreciably on the charge of the empty translocator, except if the translocation of the latter is strongly rate-limiting. (4) To obtain an overshoot curve, it is not necessary that the translocation step be rate-limiting, contrary to what has been postulated previously (Lauger, P. (1980) J. Membrane Biol. 57, 163-178).
Inhibition of the oxidation of carbon-carbon composites by bromination

Abstract Bromination by exposure to bromine vapor at room temperature was effective for inhibiting the oxidation of carbon-carbon composites in the form of PAN-based carbon fibers impregnated with resin, which was subsequently carbonized at 1000 or 2000°C. The oxidation rate was decreased by up to 43%. In addition, electrical resistivity was decreased by up to 39%. However, the tensile modulus was decreased by 16–17% and tensile strength was decreased by 17–20%; the ductility was not affected. The increased oxidation resistance may be due to bromine adsorption or the electron transfer from graphite to bromine. The bromine resided in the matrix of the composite, particularly in pores within the matrix. Bromination was also attempted by the electrochemical method, but it resulted in negligible weight uptake in the carbon-carbon composite. Carbon-carbon composites that had been graphitized at 2700°C were damaged by bromination.
Changes of soluble interleukin-2, interleukin-2 receptor, T8 antigen, and interleukin-1 in the serum of autistic children.

Immune abnormalities in autistic children led us to study for indirect evidence of immune activation as measured by the serum analysis of soluble interleukin-2 (sIL-2), interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), T8 antigen (sT8), and interleukin-1 (sIL-1). The serum concentration of these soluble antigens was quantitated by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assays. The concentration of sIL-2 and sT8, but not of sIL-2R and sIL-1, antigens was significantly ( P
RAPID STOMATAL RESPONSE TO RED LIGHT IN Zea mays

— Gas exchange techniques were employed to study responses of stomatal conductance to pulses of red and blue light in the grass, Zea mays. Zea mays exhibited conductance increases following brief (< 1 min) pulses of either red or blue light, in contrast to other species (e.g. Commelina communis; Assmann, 1988, Plant Physiol. 87, 226–231) that exhibit consistent conductance responses only to pulses of blue light. Red light pulses of 450 μmol m−2s−1 for x min or 225 μmol m−2s−1 for 2x min were used to probe the fluence dependence of the red light response. The red light-stimulated conductance increase was constant for a given fluence, and increased with increasing total fluence. The conductance response to red light was larger in field grown plants (maximum growth irradiance ˜ 1600 μmol m-2s−l) than in plants raised in growth chambers (maximum growth irradiance ˜ 150 μmol m−2s−1).
(d, p) reactions in the continuum

$sup 65$Cu,$sup 116$Cd(d, p) reaction cross sections in the continuum regions have been measured for deuteron energies 9, 10.5, and 12 MeV. They are compared to a theoretical calculation in which the spectroscopic factors of usual (d, p) reaction calculations for nuclear states are replaced by the strength distributions for different single neutron configurations. These distributions are Gaussian curves centered at single neutron orbits with widths proportional to their excitation energies. Good agreement is found for angular distributions and incident deuteron energy dependences, although the predicted absolute cross sections are about 50% higher than the measurements. Uncertainties in the calculations are discussed. (AIP)
Theoretical Study of the Acetylene Trimerization with CpCo

A theoretical investigation of the mechanism of the CpCoL2 (L = CO, PR3, olefin) catalyzed acetylene cyclotrimerization reaction has been carried out at the ab initio and density functional theory (DFT) levels. The mechanism begins with a stepwise pair of ligand substitution reactions in which precatalyst CpCo(PH3)2 (1) is converted, via CpCo(PH3)(η2-C2H2) (2), to CpCo(η2-C2H2)2 (3) with the liberation of 11.3 kcal/mol at the B3LYP level. Oxidative coupling of the alkyne ligands in 3 to give a cobaltacyclopentadiene complex (4) is exothermic by 13.1 kcal/mol and is predicted to occur in a facile manner (ΔH⧧ = 12.8 kcal/mol). Reductive cyclization of the bidentate C4H4 ligand in 4 to generate CpCo(η4-cyclobutadiene) (8) is considerably exothermic (ΔH = −34.0 kcal/mol). However, the least motion pathway that transforms 4 directly into 8 which conserves a mirror plane is found to be symmetry forbidden, implying the presence of a large barrier. Coordination of a third acetylene to 4 results in the formation o...
AN ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT OF VENOUS RESISTANCE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF GRAVITY-FED INTRAVENOUS INFUSION SYSTEMS

Objective. Our objective was to assess the effect of venous resistance in a clinically relevant range on flow rates through intravenous (IV) cannulae.Methods. Since resistances in series are additive, the sum of the resistance of the IV cannula and the vein equates to the total resistance to flow. Using resistance data from earlier work, the total resistance for various combinations of cannula and vein size was calculated, allowing a prediction to be made of the comparative flow rates between these combinations for a given driving pressure. Next, the clinical situation was simulated by measuring flow rates through IV cannulae connected in series to a variety of infusion devices with resistances known to be within the range of clinically relevant venous resistance.Results. The effect of venous resistance was greatest on largebore cannulae, with significant reductions in flow occurring when even low levels of venous resistance were added. Throughout much of the range of venous resistances encountered clinically, total flows through two small-gauge cannulae exceeded that through a single large-gauge cannula.Conclusion. To achieve maximum benefit from a large-bore cannula, a suitably large vein must be chosen. Further, where venous access is difficult and high flow potential from an infusion system is required, two separate infusions through small cannulae may be a preferable option to a single large bore.
INHIBITION BY PUROMYCIN AND ITS REVERSAL BY PEPTIDES.

Abstract Purines and their derivatives did not reverse inhibition by puromycin of the growth of Tetrahymena pyriformis W. Certain crude materials were capable of reversing the inhibition, and their nature indicated that peptides might be active. An enzymatic digest of casein proved to be effective, as were certain dipeptides. Presence of an aromatic amino acid residue in the peptide is not required for activity. Peptides having glycine as the C-terminal residue are inactive; with glycine as the N-terminal, amino acid activity increases as the polarity of the peptide decreases. Peptides having a racemic mixture as the N-terminal group are inactive. It is suggested that puromycin interferes with the uptake of free amino acids but not that of peptides, and that intra-cellular peptides are hydrolysed by an aminopeptidase relatively specific for glycyl peptides. The free intracellular amino acids released by the peptidase are then able to exchange for free extracellular amino acids, a process presumably insensitive to puromycin.