cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular Therapeutic Strategies Targeting Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Since the discovery of the gene for Duchenne muscular dystrophy more than 20 years ago, scientists have worked to apply molecular principles for restoration of the dystrophin protein and correction of the underlying physiologic defect that predisposes muscle fibers to injury. Recent studies provide realistic hope that molecular therapies may help patients who have this disorder. At present, only corticosteroids can improve walking ability and increase quality of life for boys with this disease. The results are modest and encumbered by side effects. The authors review 3 molecular therapeutic approaches that have been introduced into the clinic: (1) gene replacement therapy, (2) mutation suppression, and (3) exon skipping.
Horses for courses: Why nor neorealist theories of foreign policy?

(1996). Horses for courses: Why nor neorealist theories of foreign policy? Security Studies: Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 7-53.
Moisture-insensitive monitoring of radon

Abstract Long-term measurements of radon for dosimetry or uranium exploration can be affected by water in or on solid detectors. The problems are documented and a simple cure presented. The air space containing the detector is protected by a permeable membrane and an appropriate desicant.
Theoretical Studies of Hydrogen Abstraction from 2-Propanol by OH Radical

Hydrogen abstraction from 2-propanol by hydroxyl radical was investigated with ab initio quantum chemical methods at the level of MP2/6-31G*, with scaling of correlation energy. Both the geometries and the energetics of reactants, products, and transition state structures change significantly when electron correlation is included in the optimization process. An exhaustive search produced 16 transition state structures for the abstraction of the three distinct hydrogens in 2-propanol. Abstraction of the α-hydrogen has two distinct transition structures with very low barriers. The calculated rate constant for Hα-abstraction is close to that predicted by collision theory. Abstraction of the β-hydrogen has 11 different transition structures that can be classified into three groups on the basis of the presence or absence of hydrogen bonding between the OH radical and the hydroxy group of 2-propanol. The calculated rate constants for the individual pathways show that the non-hydrogen-bonded pathways contribute ...
The evolution of cardiothoracic critical care.

Cardiothoracic (CT) critical care is being recognized as an emerging specialty within the frameworks of CT surgery and general critical care. The overall field of CT critical care is broadening to include not only the care of patients undergoing classic cardiac surgical operations but also the care of patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery and endovascular interventional procedures. Studies documenting important incidences of major complications and mortality after classic cardiac surgical operations, such as coronary artery bypass grafting, emphasize the importance of critical care for patients undergoing CT surgery. CT critical care has 2 goals: to facilitate a rapid recovery and to prevent or effectively treat complications. The keys are being proactive rather than reactive, anticipating major changes and complications, and intervening early to minimize the effects of such changes and complications on outcome. The mainstays are monitoring, detection, and early response.
Computer-aided characterization of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) using structural 3D, texture, and functional dynamic contrast features

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the effects of integrating nodule 3D morphological features, texture features and functional dynamic contrast-enhanced features in differentiating between benign and malignant solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs). In this study, 42 cases with solitary lung nodules were examined in this study. The dynamic CT helical scans were acquired image at five time intervals: prior to contrast injection (baseline) and then at 45, 90, 180, 300 seconds after administrating the contrast agent. The nodule boundaries were contoured by radiologists on all series. Using these boundaries, several types of nodule features were computed, including: 3D morphology and Shape Index of the nodule contrast intensity surface; Dynamic contrast related features; 3D texture features. AdaBoost was performed to select the best features. Logistic Regression Analysis (LRA) and AdaBoost were used to analyze the diagnostic accuracy of features in each feature category. The performance when integrating all feature types was also evaluated. For 42 patients, when using only six SI and 3D structural features, the accuracy of AdaBoost was 81.4%, with accuracies of AdaBoost using functional contrast related features (include 8 features) and texture features(include 18 features) were 65.1% and 69.1% respectively. After combining all types' features together, the overall accuracy was improved to over 88%. In conclusion: Combining 3D structural, textural and functional contrast features can provide a more comprehensive examination of the SPNs by coupling dynamic CT scan techniques with image processing to quantify multiple properties that relate to tumor geometry and tumor angiogenesis. This integration may assist radiologists in characterizing SPNs more accurately.
Effect of hydrocarbon tail-groups of transition metal alkoxide based amphiphilic catalysts on transesterification

In liquid/liquid/solid (L/L/S) systems pertinent to two immiscible reactant liquids mixed with a solid catalyst, the reaction efficacy depends on the mass transfer limitations at the L/L/S phase boundary. Formation of an emulsion in such a system will likely reduce the mass transfer barrier significantly. The stability of such an emulsion system depends on the hydrophilicity of the head group of the catalytic emulsifier toward the more polar liquid reactant and the hydrophobicity of the tail group toward the more nonpolar liquid reactant. This study looks at the effect of the alkyl groups with varying carbon numbers in titanium alkoxide as a catalyst that also has emulsification (amphiphilic) properties to transesterify triglycerides in alcohols. All forms of oligomeric titanium alkoxides tested were highly basic. Those with smaller alkoxide groups (lower carbon numbers) tended to be more basic than those with higher carbon numbers. The chirality did not affect the degree of basicity of the alkoxides. The maximum ester yield noticed was 64.25% (with 63.85% selectivity towards transesterification) with titanium methoxide after 3 hours of reaction. It was observed that higher the number of carbon atoms in the tail group the lower the catalytic ability of the amphiphile towards transesterification. It is expected that longer the carbon-chain in the tail group stronger the emulsification ability of the amphiphile in oil-in-alcohol systems. However, when looking at the efficacy of the amphiphile for the combined emulsification and catalytic ability, it is apparent that the length of the alkoxide group needs to be compromised.
Endoscope-assisted microsurgery of the corpus callosum

The authors describe the use of a rigid endoscope lens to enhance microsurgical visualization of the corpus callosum. Using cadaver preparations, endoscopic dissection was carried out through a narrow corridor without significant retraction of the brain. The endoscope improves the operative exposure in corpus callosotomy and other transcallosal procedure.
Wearable cardioverter-defibrillator for prevention of sudden cardiac death after infected implantable cardioverter-defibrillator removal: A cost-effectiveness evaluation.

Background Prevention of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) after removal of an infected implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is a challenging clinical dilemma. The cost-effectiveness of the wearable cardioverter-defibrillator (WCD) in this setting remains uncertain. Objective The purpose of this study was to compare the cost-effectiveness of the WCD with discharge home, discharge to a skilled nursing facility, or inpatient monitoring for the prevention of SCA after infected ICD removal. Methods A decision model was developed to compare the cost-effectiveness of use of the WCD to several different strategies for patients who undergo ICD removal. One-way and 2-way sensitivity analyses were performed to account for uncertainties. Results In the base-case analysis, the incremental cost-effectiveness of the WCD strategy was $20,300 per life-year (LY) or $26,436 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) compared to discharge home without a WCD. Discharge to a skilled nursing facility and in-hospital monitoring resulted in higher costs and worse clinical outcomes. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was as low as $15,392/QALY if the WCD successfully terminated 95% of SCA events and exceeded the $50,000/QALY willingness-to-pay threshold if the efficacy was Conclusion The WCD likely is cost-effective in protecting patients against SCA after infected ICD removal while waiting for ICD reimplantation compared to keeping patients in the hospital or discharging them home or to a skilled nursing facility.
Spt6 enhances the elongation rate of RNA polymerase II in vivo

Several eukaryotic transcription factors have been shown to modulate the elongation rate of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) on naked or chromatin-reconstituted templates in vitro. However, none of the tested factors have been shown to directly affect the elongation rate of Pol II in vivo. We performed a directed RNAi knock-down (KD) screen targeting 141 candidate transcription factors and identified multiple factors, including Spt6, that alter the induced Hsp70 transcript levels in Drosophila S2 cells. Spt6 is known to interact with both nucleosome structure and Pol II, and it has properties consistent with having a role in elongation. Here, ChIP assays of the first wave of Pol II after heat shock in S2 cells show that KD of Spt6 reduces the rate of Pol II elongation. Also, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching assays of GFP-Pol II in salivary gland cells show that this Spt6-dependent effect on elongation rate persists during steady-state-induced transcription, reducing the elongation rate from ∼1100 to 500 bp/min. Furthermore, RNAi depletion of Spt6 reveals its broad requirement during different stages of development.
Perceived correlates of illegal behavior in organizations

A survey was conducted of the perceived correlates of illegal abuses in the electronics industry. Human resource directors of thirty-one firms responded to a questionnaire which assessed their perceptions of the degree to which illegal behavior was caused by (1) deficiencies in the moral character of employees (2) the clarity of expectations and standards describing illegal behavior and (3) the presence of reinforcements and punishments contingent on these behaviors. All three variables were related to the frequency of abuses in three areas of organizational crime (e.g. administrative, labor, environment) and three areas of personal crime (theft, falsifying records kickbacks) as reported by the directors and/or indicated by archival records. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of how organizations may reduce illegal activity.
Mechanistic studies on the base-catalyzed transformation of neocarzinostatin chromophore: roles of bulged DNA.

Nucleic acid bulges have been implicated in a number of biological processes and are specific cleavage targets for the enediyne antitumor antibiotic neocarzinostatin chromophore (NCS-chrom) in a base-catalyzed, radical-mediated reaction. Studies designed to elucidate the detailed mechanism of the base-catalyzed activation of NCS-chrom and to evaluate the roles of bulged DNA in its activation are described. They show that nucleobases in the DNA bulge are not required to form an effective bulge pocket but enhance the binding of the wedge-shaped activated drug molecule. Analysis of solvent deuterium isotope effects on NCS-chrom degradation and DNA cleavage efficiency experiments suggests that the spirolactone biradical 6 is a relatively stable species and that intramolecular quenching of the C2 radical of 6 to form the biologically active cyclospirolactone radical 7a occurs first (pathway a in Scheme 2), leaving the C6 radical to abstract the hydrogen atom from the DNA deoxyribose and to form the cyclospirol...
Rapid and Direct Sequencing of Double-Stranded DNA Using Exonuclease III and MALDI-TOF MS

Application of MALDI-TOF MS to direct sequencing of dsDNA substrates is demonstrated using a strategy that employs exonuclease III digestion of a target sequence. Experimental conditions for exonuclease III have been optimized for this application, including addition of essential divalent metal ion cofactors. A short cation-exchange column was designed to provide efficient sample cleanup and overcome major problems arising from salt interference.
Fibre-tip displacement sensor using sinusoidal FM-based technique

A frequency modulated dual-electrode DFB laser is used as the optical source for a sensor which is immune to polarisation and acoustic fluctuations affecting its fibre-optic leads. Detection of the quadrature components of the reflected signal allows unambiguous direction determination. A measurement accuracy of ± 20nm is demonstrated over a range of several millimetres.
The Pro region N-terminal domain provides specific interactions required for catalysis of α-lytic protease folding

The extracellular bacterial protease, alpha-lytic protease (alphaLP), is synthesized with a large, two-domain pro region (Pro) that catalyzes the folding of the protease to its native conformation. In the absence of its Pro folding catalyst, alphaLP encounters a very large folding barrier (DeltaG = 30 kcal mol(-1)) that effectively prevents the protease from folding (t(1/2) of folding = 1800 years). Although homology data, mutational studies, and structural analysis of the Pro.alphaLP complex suggested that the Pro C-terminal domain (Pro C-domain) serves as the minimum "foldase" unit responsible for folding catalysis, we find that the Pro N-terminal domain (Pro N-domain) is absolutely required for alphaLP folding. Detailed kinetic analysis of Pro N-domain point mutants and a complete N-domain deletion reveal that the Pro N-domain both provides direct interactions with alphaLP that stabilize the folding transition state and confers stability to the Pro C-domain. The Pro N- and C-domains make conflicting demands upon native alphaLP binding that are alleviated in the optimized interface of the folding transition state complex. From these studies, it appears that the extremely high alphaLP folding barrier necessitates the presence of both the Pro domains; however, alphaLP homologues with less demanding folding barriers may not require both domains, thus possibly explaining the wide variation in the pro region size of related pro-proteases.
Inhibition of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase by bioflavonoids and their interaction with furosemide and gossypol

Abstract Inhibition of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-OHSD) can cause a mineralocorticoid effect. This enzyme, in guinea pig renal cortex microsomes in vitro, is inhibited by quercetin, tea polyphenols, furosemide, and gossypol. The dietary polyphenols, quercetin and tea polyphenols, interact with furosemide to enhance its 11β-OHSD inhibitory effect. Tea polyphenols added to the effect of gossypol. We conclude that the diet contains inhibitors of 11β-OHSD that can alter the activity of this enzyme and may modify the degree of endogenous mineralocorticoid activity.
Interactions of bubbles in a fluid

Abstract Interactive force between bubbles in a fluid is described, following Bjerknes, in connection with its effects on dynamics of microbubbles in blood vessels.
The bahadur efficiency of paired versus joint ranking procedures for pa1rwtse multiple comparisons

The performance of paired versus joint ranking procedures for pairwise multiple comparisons is investigated using approxiirete Bahadur efficiency, When the populations to be compared are widely separated, or-when the. data arise from a shift model with an underlying unimodal density, the paired ranking procedure is found to be better for comparing two adjacent populations while the joint ranking procedure is more efficient for comparing the two most distant populations
Improving network connectivity in the presence of heavy-tailed interference

The heavy tailed (HT) traffic from wireless users, caused by the emerging Internet and multimedia applications, in- troduces a HT interference region within which network users will experience unbounded delay with infinite mean and/or variance. Specifically, it is proven that, if the network traffic of primary net- works (e.g., cellular and Wi-Fi networks) is heavy tail distributed, there always exists a critical density λp such that, if the density of primary users is larger than λp, the secondary network users (e.g., sensor devices and cognitive radio users) can experience unbounded end-to-end delay with infinite variance even though there exists feasible routing paths along the network users. To counter this problem, the mobility of network users is utilized to achieve delay-bounded connectivity, which simultaneously ensures the existence of routing paths and the finiteness of the delay vari- ance along these paths. In particular, it is shown that there exists a critical threshold on the maximum radius that the secondary user can reach, above which delay-bounded connectivity is achievable in the secondary networks. In this case, the end-to-end latency of secondary users is shown to be asymptotically linear in the Euclidean distance between the transmitter and receiver. Index Terms—Heavy tail, connectivity, latency.
The acquisitive auditory cortex

The auditory cortex, once thought to be a passive detector, is now caught in the act of reshaping the frequency sensitivity of its neurons to intercept target sounds that are significant for a behavioral task, suggesting tuning properties can change 'on-line'.
Electron microprobe analysis of calcium solution penetration into milled pine bark particles

Abstract Pine bark (Pinus taeda L. and P. elliottii Engelm.) pieces, 2.5 to 5.0 cm diameter, submerged in water became saturated more rapidly in a vacuum than at atmospheric pressure. A test was conducted to determine the extent of Ca solution penetration into smaller milled particles and the effect physical structure of particles has on this process. Particles 2.0–2.8 mm diameter were submerged in a solution of 1000 ppm Ca as Ca(OH)2, placed in desiccators and evacuated to 150 mm Hg of tension. At intervals of 24, 48 and 96 hours samples were removed, freeze‐dried, and cut tangentially to expose the internal phloem. Electron microprobe x‐ray analysis initially showed different Ca concentration in peripheral and central zones and indicated that Ca solution had penetrated the particle and saturation was completed within 96 hours. The progression of Ca penetration was uniform from all edges and indicated that the varied structure of bark tissues did not impede water penetration.
Another elliptocytosis locus on chromosome 1

Analysis of pedigrees given in the literature suggests that a second elliptocytosis locus (not linked to Rh) may be linked to Duffy (Ž=1.97 at \(\hat \theta = 0.0\)) and therefore on chromosome 1. Significant heterogeneity is found between the El1 and El2 total lod scores with Fy.
Reflections on Mystery and Awe

SUMMARY In this “Discussant's Response” to the foregoing papers, the author shares his own reactions and then underscores the importance of awe by quoting poets, mystics, writers, and scholars who understood that mystery is central to human life.
Evaluation of a power injection system in the 7-Tesla MRI environment

The injection of contrast media enables the visualization of various pathologies through X-ray, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging MRI, or other medical imaging modalities. Safety and functionality of power injector systems must be evaluated at high magnetic fields 7-Tesla. The purpose of this study was to evaluate MRI issues for a power injection system OptiStar Elite MR Contrast Delivery System, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, Hazelwood, MO at 7-Tesla including magnetic field interaction and 31 injector performance tests. Additionally, effects of operation of the power injection system on MR images were evaluated through observation of image artifacts and signal to noise analysis. The components of the power injection system powerhead, syringes exhibited no translational attraction when close to 7-Tesla MR system. Translational attraction was detected for the power supply, power control, and cables, therefore there is a requirement to maintain these components fixed outside of the 0.1000 Tesla line. 7-Tesla MR scanning did not impact power injection performance. The power injection system produced no discernible image artifacts or degradation when the power controls and powerhead were positioned in the worst-case position. The power injection system tested for MRI issues passed evaluation for safety and operation at 7-Tesla and is labeled MR Conditional for use at 7-T. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 25, 50-55, 2015
Application of stochastic equations of population balances to sterilization processes

Abstract This work explores concepts for describing the uncertainty in the total number of cells when cell birth and death rates are age-structured. These ideas are particularly relevant for sterilization processes when the number of cells decreases to levels where the variation in the number of cells is comparable to the expected number. Uncertainty in the number of cells is always present due to the random timing of the birth and death events, but the age-dependence of rates implies that all cells cannot be treated equally. Moreover, due to the age-dependence of the rate functions, correlations between the ages of cells in the population develop and divergence from the expected number density (and expected total number of cells) occurs. Accounting for these variations explicitly is computationally cumbersome, but it is shown how higher order product densities—or averages of the actual number density—provide information about the age interactions. The integrated total product densities provide information about the cell number probability distribution in the form of its moments which are used to describe the distribution qualitatively and approximate it quantitatively. Two age-structured models are examined: (1) a continuous birth model where mother cells continuously age while giving birth to new daughter cells of age zero and (2) a mother and daughter cell model where the mother cell's age is reset to zero after giving birth to a daughter cell of age zero, but the two cells may have different birth and death rates. In both cases it is shown that no more than the three lowest order product densities are necessary to approximate the cell age correlations when a closure approximation is used for calculating higher order total product densities. In fact, either the first or the first and second order product densities are sufficient in several cases examined herein. For quantitative validation of the methodology, the first 10 moments of the cell number probability distribution are calculated by applying the closure approximation and the distribution fit to these moments. Approximations of both the probabilities of a population having zero cells or less than 10 cells are shown to be in good agreement with Monte Carlo simulations. This methodology has a wide range of potential applications from quantifying potential cancer chemotherapy treatment models to testing models of food decontamination procedures.
Factors Complicating Treatment Sessions in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation: Nature, Frequency, and Consequences

Abstract Objective To describe therapist-reported factors affecting therapy sessions in spinal cord injury (SCI) inpatient rehabilitation and explore their impact on the patient's rehabilitation program. Design Prospective observational longitudinal cohort design. Data were obtained from systematic recordings of interventions by clinicians and from medical record abstraction. Setting Six inpatient rehabilitation programs. Participants Patients (N=1376) with traumatic SCI admitted for initial rehabilitation. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Factors recorded as impacting the objective or content of treatment sessions by physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and therapeutic recreation, patients' participation in treatment as rated using a modified Pittsburgh Rehabilitation Participation Scale (PRPS), length of stay (LOS), medical morbidity measured using the Comprehensive Severity Index, hours of therapy per week, and missed therapy minutes. Results Patients received 151,172 treatment sessions from 483 therapists. Pain, fatigue, and spasticity were commonly reported factors; other medical, behavioral, and logistical factors were also frequent, with 30% of sessions being affected by at least 1 factor. The number of factors was correlated with missed therapy minutes and with the PRPS score. Patients with more reported factors, overall or per average session, had a longer LOS and fewer hours of treatment per week. Conclusions Medical and other factors complicating therapy are common. Those who need a longer stay because of their injury level or for other reasons have more opportunity to have sessions affected, but having many treatment sessions impacted by 1 or more factors also is likely to increase LOS. The nature of these factors and their impact on rehabilitation processes and outcomes deserve further study.
Understanding the dose-effect relationship: clinical application of pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic models.

It is a major goal of clinical pharmacology to understand the dose-effect relationship in therapeutics. Much progress towards this goal has been made in the last 2 decades through the development of pharmacokinetics as a discipline. The study of pharmacokinetics seeks to explain the time course of drug concentration in the body. Recognition of the crucial concepts of clearance and volume of distribution has provided an important link to the physiological determinants of drug disposition. Mathematical models of absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination have been extensively applied, and generally their predictions agree remarkably well with actual observations. However, the time course of drug concentration cannot in itself predict the time course or magnitude of drug effect. When drug concentrations at the effect site have reached equilibrium and the response is constant, the concentration-effect relationship is known as pharmacodynamics. Mathematical models of pharmacodynamics have been used widely by pharmacologists to describe drug effects on isolated tissues. The crucial concepts of pharmacodynamics are potency — reflecting the sensitivity of the organ or tissue to a drug, and efficacy — describing the maximum response. These concepts have been embodied in a simple mathematical expression, the Emax model, which provides a practical tool for predicting drug response analogous to the compartmental model in pharmacokinetics for predicting drug concentration.
Measurement for Management Decision

The article reviews the book “Measurement for Management Decision,” by Richard O. Mason and E. Burton Swanson.
Mixed alkali glasses — Their properties and uses

Abstract The mixed alkali effect in glass refers to the large, orders of magnitude, changes in many properties when a second alkali oxide is added. Properties most affected are those associated with alkali ion movement such as electrical conductivity and loss, alkali diffusion, internal friction, viscosity and chemical durability. The compositional dependence of these properties is briefly reviewed and examples are given of the relevance of the mixed alkali effect to the manufacture of commercial glasses. Also reviewed are various theories for this scientifically interesting effect.
Distinguishing between living and nonliving bacteria: Evaluation of the vital stain propidium iodide and its combined use with molecular probes in aquatic samples

Abstract Recent studies have suggested that a large fraction of marine bacterioplankton are either dead or moribund and, therefore, new methods are required to distinguish bacteria of different physiological states. A method is described which uses the general cell stain 4′6′-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), the vital stain propidium iodide (PI), and 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes, to quantitatively identify cells with compromised membranes, and those cells containing sufficient rRNA to be considered metabolically active. Validation and optimization of this method was conducted using cultured bacteria. Optimal PI staining was achieved after cells were washed in 10 mM MgSO 4 (pH=6.5) and stained with PI (5 μg/ml) for 30 min. Staining of cells with PI appeared to be independent of growth phase and cells could be stored in 25% (v/v) glycerol for at least one month at −20°C without changes in staining status. Staining of heat-killed cells indicated that PI stained only dead cells. Comparison of PI staining properties and hybridization with 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes indicated that there was a strong inverse correlation between hybridization of cells with 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes and cells stained by PI. Evidence indicates that this vital stain and probe (VSP) technique differentiates between (1) cells that are dead, (2) cells that are dead but were recently active (
Effect of a follow-up professional home cleaning on serial dust and blood lead levels of urban children.

Children residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who were enrolled in a clinical trial oral chelation therapy (n = 73) were studied to determine the effects of a follow-up professional lead dust cleaning of their homes 18 mo after an initial cleaning and commencement of therapy. Home dust lead levels were determined from dust-wipe specimens collected from the kitchen and playroom floors, and from a playroom windowsill, prior to, immediately following, and 3 and 6 mo after the second cleaning. Children's blood lead levels were assessed at 3-mo intervals before and after the follow-up cleaning. Professional cleaning produced immediate decreases in dust lead levels; however, dust lead re-accumulated to precleaning levels within 3-6 mo. Frequent, repeated cleanings may be required if blood lead or dust lead levels are to be reduced and sustained at low levels in urban homes.
Uncertainty and the Outcome of a Development Situation

Dans plusieurs societes industrielles, les decisions concernant linvestissement rurale se prennent dans un contexte dune planification rationnelle a niveau central et dune prise de decision au niveau local. Lorsque le changement provoque sexprime dans un projet de developpement economique sur un territoire donne concu par rapport a des resultats anticipes precis en courte periode, il est utile de concevoir le processus de developpement economique comme un processus social dinteraction entre les concepteurs et les clients de telle sorte quil soit possible de comprendre les differences qui existent entre les attentes des premiers et les realisations des seconds dans la situation de developpement. Larticle entreprend de mettre en parallele les decisions dinvestissement des planificateurs centraux qui veulent transformer les fondements de lindustrie dexportation des bananes dans la vallee de Waidina Fiji, sur une periode de cinq ans, et celles des villageois producteurs durant la meme periode. Rural investment decisions in many postcolonial societies take place within a framework of rational central-planning and local-level decision-making. When induced change occurs in the form of an economic development project over a defined area for a specified short-term outcome, it is fruitful to view the economic development process as a social process of interaction between developers and developed in order to understand the discrepancies between the expectations of the former and the attainments of the latter in the development situation. This article examines the central planners investment decision to change the production base for the banana-export industry in the Waidina valley, Fiji, over a five-year period, and the investment decisions of village producers during this same period.
Training needs of the infection control practitioner: Development of practice standards and internship programs

The main mission of the Association for Practitioners in Infection Control (APIC) is to help its practitioners develop and improve the practice of infection control through education, communication, research, standardization, and professional relations (APIC bylaws, 1985). In only 13 years, most of these objectives have been realized. Although educational standards have been clearly defined and a certification process has been established for the infection control practitioner (ICP), infection control practice lacks standards. In the face of increasing .expectations for ICPs, the need intensifies to define what the entry-level ICP should be able to do, what the prospective employer should look for in hiring an ICP, and what standards, in both preparation and demonstrated competence, can help to assure that these expectations are met. Infection control practice standards should enable ICPs to determine the essential elements of an effective infection control program by providing a systematic and organized approach to consistent practice regardless of the setting in which they practice. The purpose of this commentary is to challenge our profession and APIC to develop practice standards and, more important, to devise a practical and accessible mechanism to implement them. Virtually all ICPs have been asked by both the lay public and various health professionals the following questions: (1) What is an epidemiologist? (2) What do you do in your day-today activities? (3) How do you become an ICP?
Indirect Adaptive Robust Control of Hydraulic Manipulators With Accurate Parameter Estimates

In a general direct adaptive robust control (DARC) framework, the emphasis is always on the guaranteed transient performance and accurate trajectory tracking in presence of uncertain nonlinearities and parametric uncertainties. Such a direct algorithm suffers from lack of modularity, controller-estimator inseparability, and poor convergence of parameter estimates. In the DARC design the parameters are estimated by gradient law with the sole purpose of reducing tracking error, which is typical of a Lyapunov-type design. However, when the controller-estimator module is expected to assist in secondary purposes such as health monitoring and fault detection, the requirement of having accurate online parameter estimates is as important as the need for the smaller tracking error. In this paper, we consider the trajectory tracking of a robotic manipulator driven by electro-hydraulic actuators. The controller is constructed based on the indirect adaptive robust control (IARC) framework with necessary design modifications required to accommodate uncertain and nonsmooth nonlinearities of the hydraulic system. The online parameter estimates are obtained through a parameter adaptation algorithm that is based on physical plant dynamics rather than the tracking error dynamics. While the new controller preserves the nice properties of the DARC design such as prescribed output tracking transient performance and final tracking accuracy, more accurate parameter estimates are obtained for prognosis and diagnosis purpose. Comparative experimental results are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Comment Letter to Financial Stability Oversight Council on Money Market Fund Reform

This letter on Money Market Fund Reform was submitted in response to the Financial Stability Oversight Council’s proposals of November 2012. I endorse the so-called “Minimum Balance at Risk Proposal,” in which sponsors would contribute or raise capital of one percent of a MMF’s assets while users would be subject to delayed redemption of three percent of their MMF account over $100,000. This approach could cause sponsors to internalize cost of portfolio security selection while forcing large MMF users to internalize some of the costs of running on the fund. The letter has one novel legal argument, which is that the Dodd-Frank Act itself appears to contemplate capital for MMFs. Since the practical effect of DFA's tightening of the Fed's emergency lending authority (Fed Res Act sec.13(3)) is to require a collateral haircut, MMFs (especially with fixed NAV) will need loss absorbing capital to access a Fed liquidity facility. If they do a repurchase agreement without capital, they may well break the buck; the requirement that the Fed evaluate the collateral may force a revaluation of portfolio assets that may threaten $1 fixed NAV at other MMFs as well as the borrowing Fund. MMFs are a novel financial intermediary, which arose out of regulatory arbitrage with an appeal principally for retail users who wanted a better interest rate deal than banks could offer. Some years later, institutional users found MMFs. These are cash-laden parties such as non-financial corporations, pension funds, securities lender, and asset managers, that want more safety than what the official banking system offers and also unrestricted liquidity, all without paying the costs of systemic stability. That is not possible -- unless, as now, the taxpayers bear the costs when the systemic bill comes due. The appeal of MMFs is the offer of a credit-screened diversified portfolio of financial assets that is safer than deposits in a single bank but highly liquid. If that value proposition holds, then the small restriction on liquidity and remote loss-bearing contingency should not be a significant disincentive for the institutional MMF user.
Nonlaboratory Assessment of Sleep-Related Breathing Disorders

- Overview - Pretest clinical assessment - Cardiopulmonary recorder assessment - Interpretation and disposition - Summary
Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Matrix Protein Impairs CD1d-Mediated Antigen Presentation through Activation of the p38 MAPK Pathway

Natural killer T (NKT) cells are unique T lymphocytes that recognize CD1d-bound lipid antigens and play an important role in both innate and acquired immune responses against infectious diseases and tumors. We have already shown that a vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection results in the rapid inhibition of murine CD1d-mediated antigen presentation to NKT cells. In the present study, it was found that the VSV matrix (VSV-M) protein is an important element in this decrease in antigen presentation postinfection. The VSV-M protein altered the intracellular distribution of murine CD1d molecules, resulting in qualitative (but not quantitative) changes in cell surface CD1d expression. The M protein was distributed throughout the infected cell, and it was found to activate the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38 very early postinfection. Infection of CD1d(+) cells with a temperature-sensitive VSV-M mutant at the nonpermissive temperature both substantially reversed the inhibition of antigen presentation by CD1d and delayed the activation of p38. Thus, the VSV-M protein plays an important role in permitting the virus to evade important components of the innate immune response by regulating specific MAPK pathways.
Buprenorphine Outpatient Outcomes Project: can Suboxone be a viable outpatient option for heroin addiction?

Background: Opioid dependence treatment traditionally involves methadone clinics, for which dispensing schedules can be cumbersome. Buprenorphine, a partial agonist of the mu receptor and antagonist of the kappa receptor, is a potential outpatient alternative to methadone. Funded by a grant from the State of Maryland’s Community Health Resources Commission (CHRC), the Buprenorphine Outpatient Outcomes Project (BOOP) evaluates the outcome of Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) treatment on abstinence from heroin use, rates of emergency room visits and hospitalizations, legal issues, and quality of life. Methods: Active heroin users were recruited between June 2007 and June 2010 and induction therapy with Suboxone was instituted during hospitalization. Once discharged, patients were followed as outpatients for maintenance treatment and counseling. Data were collected from electronic medical records, Maryland state legal records, and SF-36 ® Health Surveys regarding several parameters and patients were categorized according to duration of treatment with Suboxone into one of three groups: 3 months. Results: A total of 220 participants were included in the study. The age range of participants was 18–67 years with most being African American males. Eighty-three (38%) remained in the study for at least 1 month, with 37 of the 83 (45%) remaining in treatment for >3 months. Ten of the 37 (27%) never relapsed after their longest period of abstinence from heroin. During the first year after initiating treatment with Suboxone, hospitalization and emergency room visit rates for all 220 participants decreased by 45 and 23%, respectively, as compared to the year prior to starting treatment. The number of legal charges for drug possession decreased from 70 to 62. Anecdotally, the quality of life seemed to improve in those who were treated with Suboxone for longer periods of time and received regular counseling. Conclusion: Overall, Suboxone is an effective treatment method for heroin addiction and is a viable outpatient therapy option. Individualized treatment plans and counseling must be implemented for maximum benefits to be seen. Retention of patients for a long duration of therapy was difficult, but for those who did remain, benefits were seen in overall health, abstinence from heroin use, cognition, and quality of life. Keywords: Suboxone; heroin abuse; substance abuse treatment; quality of life (Published: 14 April 2014) Citation: Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives 2014, 4 : 22902 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/jchimp.v4.22902
Juvenile Sex Offender Treatment at State-Operated Correctional Institutions

Today's criminal justice system faces enormous challenges across a broad spectrum of issues. Sex offenses are one such issue posing unique problems to criminal justice practitioners. Research on adult sex offenders indicates offense patterns begin early in life, usually around preor postadolescence. This underscores the importance ofjuvenile sex offender rehabilitative intervention to curb individuals' offense histories before they escalate in severity and frequency. This nationwide study describes 30 juvenile sex offender treatment programs. Survey research identifies programs in state institutions treating incarcerated juveniles for sex crimes. The article details treatment modalities offered juveniles and describes biological, behavioral, and psychological regimens. The article also explores what rehabilitative strategies administrators would implement if unconstrained by financial andpolitical circumstances.
Docetaxel, capecitabine and carboplatin in metastatic esophagogastric cancer: a phase II study.

Purpose: A Phase I investigation of docetaxel, carboplatin, and capecitabine at our institution demonstrated the safety and tolerability of this regimen in patients with metastatic esophagogastric cancer. The objectives of this Phase II study were to determine the response rate, toxicity, and survival for patients with metastatic esophagogastric cancer treated with this regimen. Materials and Methods: Chemotherapy naive patients with metastatic esophageal or gastric cancer received a regimen comprised of docetaxel 40 mg/m2, days 1 and 8, carboplatin AUC = 2, Days 1 and 8, and capecitabine 2000 mg/m2, Days 1–10 in 21-Day cycles. Patients were treated until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Results: Twenty-five patients were treated with a median of 4 cycles of chemotherapy. Twelve of 25 patients (48 percent) had a Grade 3/4 toxicity. There were no Grade 4 nonhematologic toxicities, and 1 patient (4 percent) had neutropenic fever. There were 3 complete responses, and 9 partial responses, for an ...
"Knowledge Innovation" and the Chinese Academy of Sciences

CAS is working to set the course for scientific and technological development over the next 15 years.
Modifications of horn antennas for low sidelobe levels

A modified horn antenna with significantly reduced backlobes over nearly a two-to-one frequency band is discussed. This horn has a well-defined phase center at its apex, and the E - and H -plane patterns are nearly identical over the frequency band if the horn has a square (or circular) aperture. Horns considered cover a wide range of flare angles and include one which fits the criterion for the optimum horn at the lower end of the operating frequency band. The VSWR is less than 1.2 over most of the frequency band.
Predictive value of noninvasivelydetermined endothelial dysfunction for long-term cardiovascular events inpatients with peripheral vascular disease

Abstract Objectives The goal of this study was to prospectively examine the long-term predictive value of brachial-artery endothelial dysfunction for future cardiovascular events. Background Brachial-artery endothelial function is impaired in individuals with atherosclerosis and coronary risk factors. The prospective relation between endothelial function determined by brachial-artery ultrasound and long-term cardiovascular risk is unknown. Methods We examined brachial-artery endothelial function using ultrasound in 199 patients with peripheral arterial disease before elective vascular surgery. Patients were prospectively followed with an average follow-up of 1.2 years after surgery. Results Thirty-five patients had an event during follow-up, including cardiac death (5 patients), myocardial infarction (17 patients), unstable angina (10 patients), or stroke (3 patients). Preoperative endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was significantly lower in patients with an event (4.4 ± 2.8%) compared with those without an event (7.0 ± 4.9%, p Conclusions Impaired brachial-artery endothelial function independently predicts long-term cardiovascular events in patients with peripheral arterial disease. The findings suggest that noninvasive assessment of endothelial function using brachial-artery FMD may serve as a surrogate end point for cardiovascular risk.
Retinoic acid and the restoration of anchorage dependent growth to transformed mammalian cells

Abstract Retinoic acid, the acid form of vitamin A, was found to restore anchorage-dependent growth to three transformed cell lines in vitro but not to four others. The ability of retinoic acid to restore this characteristic of normal cell growth was found to vary across a wide spectrum among the different cell lines tested. L-929 cells were the most sensitive; in this cell line 2.1 × 10−9 M retinoic acid was capable of inhibiting clone formation by 50% in methyl cellulose-containing medium. Retinoic acid induced anchorage-dependent growth of L-929 and HeLa cells was found to be reversible. Other vitamin A analogues were used in the clone inhibition assay and it was found that the effect was specific for retinoic acid. Since anchorage-independent growth may be related to tumorigenicity, this effect of retinoic acid on transformed cells may be the basis of the anti-tumor properties of this vitamin.