cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Change Trajectories in Women's STD/HIV Risk Behaviors Following Intervention

Three 16-month sexual risk-taking trajectories were identified in 287 women in an STD/HIV intervention study. The Risk Eliminator group reported no sex risk following intervention while the Risk Reducer group reported continuous drops over time. The High Risk group reported higher initial risk than the other two and no subsequent changes. The trajectory groups showed no between- or within-group effects of intervention exposure. Trajectory groups were compared on baseline characteristics. No differences were seen in demographics or STD/HIV knowledge. Compared to one or both of the other groups, the High Risk women reported more lifetime partners, recent paying partners, adult rape, and recent substance use. Their steady partners were more likely to be abusive, intoxicated during sex (as were the women themselves), and believed to be non-monogamous. The Risk Eliminator group differed from the other two by being less likely to report a history of childhood sexual abuse.
Comparative effects of glucose- and mannitol-induced osmolar stress on blood-brain barrier function in ovine fetuses and lambs.

We examined the effects of hyperglycemic hyperosmolality on blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability during development. We hypothesized that the barrier becomes more resistant to hyperglycemic hyperosmolality during development, and the immature BBB is more resistant to glucose than to mannitol hyperosmolality. We quantified the BBB response to hyperosmolality with the blood-to-brain transfer constant (Ki) in immature fetuses, premature, and newborn lambs. Ki increased as a function of increases in osmolality. A segmented regression model described the relationship between Ki and osmolality. At lower osmolalities, changes in Ki were minimal but after a threshold, increases were linear. We examined responses of Ki to hyperglycemic hyperosmolality by comparing the thresholds and slopes of the second regression segments. Lower thresholds and steeper slopes indicate greater vulnerability to hyperosmolality. Thresholds increased (P<0.05) during development in pons and superior colliculus. Thresholds were higher (P<0.05) during glucose than mannitol hyperosmolality in thalamus, superior colliculus, inferior colliculus and medulla of premature lambs, and in cerebrum and cerebellum of newborns. We conclude that BBB permeability increased as a function of changes in glucose osmolality, the barrier becomes more resistant to glucose hyperosmolality in two brain regions during development, and the barrier is more resistant to glucose than to mannitol hyperosmolality in some brain regions of premature and newborn lambs. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism (2012) 32, 115–126; doi:10.1038/jcbfm.2011.114; published online 31 August 2011
IGF-1-dependent subunit communication of the IGF-1 holoreceptor: interactions between alpha beta heterodimeric receptor halves.

Examination of 125I-IGF-1 affinity cross-linking and beta-subunit autophosphorylation has indicated that IGF-1 induces a covalent association of isolated alpha beta heterodimeric IGF-1 receptors into an alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric state, in a similar manner to that observed for the insulin receptor [Morrison, B.D., Swanson, M.L., Sweet, L.J., & Pessin, J.E. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 7806-7813]. The formation of the alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric IGF-1 receptor complex from the partially purified alpha beta heterodimers was time dependent with half-maximal formation in approximately 30 min at saturating IGF-1 concentrations. The IGF-1-dependent association of the partially purified alpha beta heterodimers into an alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric state was specific for the IGF-1 receptors since IGF-1 was unable to stimulate the protein kinase activity of the purified alpha beta heterodimeric insulin receptor complex. Incubation of the alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric IGF-1 holoreceptor with the specific sulfhydryl agent iodoacetamide (IAN) did not alter 125I-IGF-1 binding of IGF-1 stimulation of protein kinase activity. In addition, IAN did not affect the Mn/MgATP-dependent noncovalent association of IGF-1 receptor alpha beta heterodimers into an alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric state. However, IAN treatment of the alpha beta heterodimeric IGF-1 receptors inhibited the IGF-1-dependent covalent formation of the disulfide-linked alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric complex. These data indicate that IGF-1 induces the covalent association of isolated alpha beta heterodimeric IGF-1 receptor complexes into a disulfide-linked alpha 2 beta 2 heterotetrameric state whereas Mn/MgATP induces a noncovalent association.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
An Extracellular Macromolecular Complex from the Surface of Soybean Suspension Cultures

A cell-free, insoluble cell wall fraction is described which floats on the surface of suspension cultures of Glycine max L. Merrill var. Acme cells. Its accumulation is governed by both the shaking speed and the medium volume, a shaking speed of 110 to 120 revolutions per minute with a medium volume of about 100 to 120 milliliters in a 250-milliliter flask being optimal. Various factors which could control the accumulation of the complex were tested and are discussed, and scanning electron micrographs of the complex being released from the cell surface are presented. The composition of the complex by weight is 46% galacturonic acid, 36% protein, 11% lignin (apparent), 4.4% arabinose, 2% ash, and 0.5% methyl ester. Evidence for an intimate relationship between the uronic acid and protein fractions is presented. The protein contains hydroxyproline, and the bulk of it is tightly bound to the complex, although a portion can be removed with high salt treatments.
Increased secretion of luteinizing hormone in prepuberal ewes treated with an antagonist of opiates

Abstract The effect of intramuscular injection of naloxone, an antagonist of opiatergic actions, on serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH) and ovarian activity in prepuberal ewes was investigated. Naloxone stimulated release of LH over a period of approximately 3 h. Subsequently, serum concentrations of LH did not differ from controls. Serum concentrations of estradiol-17β were elevated 8 h after treatment with naloxone. Ewe lambs did not ovulate. Endogenous opioid peptides may be involved in the regulation of secretion of LH in immature female sheep.
Personal Characteristics Associated with Resident Physicians’ Self Perceptions of Preparedness to Deliver Cross-Cultural Care

BACKGROUND Recent reports from the Institute of Medicine emphasize patient-centered care and cross-cultural training as a means of improving the quality of medical care and eliminating racial and ethnic disparities.
Complexes of 1,8-naphthyridines—XI Complexes of 1,8-naphthyridine with some lanthanide perchlorates

Abstract Lanthanide perchlorate complexes of the type M(napy)6(ClO4)3 where M = LaPr, and napy is 1,8-naphthyridine, and M(napy)5(ClO)4)3 where M = NdEu have been prepared. The compounds have been characterized by elemental analyses, molar conductances, i.r. (4000−200 cm−1) spectra, and PMR spectroscopy. The molar conductance and i.r. spectral data reveal that all perchlorate groups are ionic, and the PMR and i.r. studies indicate that all the ligands are coordinated in a bidendate manner. Napy is known to yield cationic and neutral species of unusually high coordination number in its complexes with lanthanide nitrates and first row transition metal perchlorates. Therefore, the M(napy)6(ClO)4)3 complexes are apparently twelve-coordinate and the M(napy)5(ClO)4)3 complexes are ten-coordinate.
Forward-planned, multiple-segment, tangential fields with concomitant boost in the treatment of breast cancer

Abstract We report on the utility of forward-planned, 3-dimensional (3D), multiple-segment tangential fields for radiation treatment of patients with breast cancer. The technique accurately targets breast tissue and the tumor bed and reduces dose inhomogeneity in the target. By decreasing excess dose to the skin and lung, a concomitant boost to the tumor bed can be delivered during the initial treatment, thereby decreasing the overall treatment time by one week. More than 120 breast cancer patients have been treated with this breast conservation technique in our clinic. For each patient, a 3D treatment plan based upon breast and tumor bed volumes delineated on computed tomography (CT) was developed. Segmented tangent fields were iteratively created to reduce “hot spots” produced by traditional tangents. The tumor bed received a concomitant boost with additional conformal photon beams. The final tumor bed boost was delivered either with conformal photon beams or conventional electron beams. All patients received 45 Gy to the breast target, plus an additional 5 Gy to the surgical excision site, bringing the total dose to 50 Gy to the boost target volume in 25 fractions. The final boost to the excision site brought the total target dose to 60 Gy. With minimum follow-up of 4 months and median follow-up of 11 months, all patients have excellent cosmetic results. There has been minimal breast edema and minimal skin changes. There have been no local relapses to date. Forward planning of multi-segment fields is facilitated with 3D planning and multileaf collimation. The treatment technique offers improvement in target dose homogeneity and the ability to confidently concomitantly boost the excision site. The technique also offers the advantage for physics and therapy staff to develop familiarity with multiple segment fields, as a precursor to intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) techniques.
Solvation thermodynamics of gas solubility at sub‐ and near‐critical conditions

The recent developed formalism for describing the solute-induced effect in dilute near-critical mixtures is extended to fluids composed of anisotropic molecules through the statistical mechanical interpretation of the derivative ({partial_derivative}P/{partial_derivative}x{sub 2}){sub T,{rho}}{sup {infinity}} whose critical value is the Krichevskii parameter. Rigorous expressions for Henry`s constant and the solute distribution factor along the orthobaric curve are derived in terms of the volumetric and entropic solute-induced local effects, and the quasi-linear behavior of their orthobaric density dependence away from the solvent`s critical point is rationalized. The formalism is illustrated with integral equation calculations of the orthobaric density dependence of several solvation thermodynamic quantities for an infinitely dilute volatile solute in near-critical solutions of hard-sphere Yukawa fluids.
Microstructures of electron beam deposited Nb3Sn and Nb3Sn-Al2O3 composites related to their superconducting properties

Abstract A wide variety of Nb 3 Sn films has been produced by electron beam coevaporation of the elements. The correlation between the deposition parameters, including rate, substrate temperature and chemical composition, and the microstructural features of both pure Nb 3 Sn and coevaporated Nb 3 Sn-Al 2 O 3 films has been studied using transmission electron microscopy as the main tool. The corresponding superconducting properties have been characterized by measurements of the critical temperature, the residual resistivity and the initial slope of the upper critical magnetic field. Pure Nb 3 Sn films grow as fibers or columns with diameters from 250 A to 2000 A. Coevaporation of A1 2 O 3 causes a refined, stabilized and equiaxed growth morphology and also an extremely fine distribution of intragranular voids 25 A in diameter. The critical temperature is not degraded by the Al 2 O 3 .
Some effects of material property data selection on crack propagation analyses

Abstract A series of life predictions has been made for three amplitude constant compact tension specimens using several growth rate descriptions based on different sources of data. Those descriptions based on the data set which contained the specimens gave quite accurate predictions, generally within 25% of the actual life. Simpler descriptions based on other sources of data for the same material gave predictions which were in error by as much as a factor of six.
PHOTOIONIZATION CROSS SECTIONS AND OSCILLATOR STRENGTHS FOR FE III

Ab initio calculations are carried out for the photoionization cross sections and oscillator strengths for Fe III in the close-coupling approximation employing the R-matrix method. A 49-state eigenfunction expansion for Fe IV, with states dominated by the ground configuration 3d 5 and the excited configurations 3d 4 4s and 3d 4 4p, is employed to ensure an extensive treatment of autoionizing resonances and other electron correlation effects related to channel couplings that considerably affect the effective cross sections. Of particular interest are the wide resonances due to photoexcitation within the core states that enhance the background cross sections by orders of magnitude at high energies. Coupled wave functions are obtained for 805 bound states of Fe III below the first ionization threshold; all of the 199LS terms observed experimentally have been identified. Photoionization cross sections, with detailed autoionizing resonances, are obtained for the computed bound states as a function of photoelectron energy. The present results also include the oscillator strengths for 11 979 transitions between the bound states of Fe III that lie below the ionization threshold. In addition, the partial photoionization cross sections for 239 bound states, with the residual ion in the ground state, are also obtained. These cross sections are computed for applications to the determination of electron-ion recombination rate coefficients and population of levels in collisional-radiative models that do not assume local thermodynamic equilibrium. The present radiative data are compared with the observed energy values, lifetimes, and the photoionization cross sections calculated by others.
The case against primordial nucleosynthesis

It is shown that there is no underlying basic theory which will lead to the idea that the lightest isotopes were produced in an early universe. Everything depends on the choice of the initial ratio of the energy density of photons to baryons that is chosen (originally by Gamow and his colleagues). There is a clear alternative for the origin of the light isotopes. This is that they were generated by hydrogen burning in stars which produces the helium directly while are produced by flare activity in stellar atmospheres. All of this activity takes place in the centers of active galaxies where matter is being created in a cyclic (quasi-steady) state universe.
A practical type system and language for reference immutability

This paper describes a type system that is capable of expressing and enforcing immutability constraints. The specific constraint expressed is that the abstract state of the object to which an immutable reference refers cannot be modified using that reference. The abstract state is (part of) the transitively reachable state: that is, the state of the object and all state reachable from it by following references. The type system permits explicitly excluding fields or objects from the abstract state of an object. For a statically type-safe language, the type system guarantees reference immutability. If the language is extended with immutability downcasts, then run-time checks enforce the reference immutability constraints. In order to better understand the usability and efficacy of the type system, we have implemented an extension to Java, called Javari, that includes all the features of our type system. Javari is interoperable with Java and existing JVMs. It can be viewed as a proposal for the semantics of the Java const keyword, though Javari's syntax uses readonly instead. This paper describes the design and implementation of Javari, including the type-checking rules for the language. This paper also discusses experience with 160,000 lines of Javari code. Javari was easy to use and provided a number of benefits, including detecting errors in well-tested code.
Clinical Observations on Acute Poliomyelitis

During the years of the polio epidemics, most patients with the poliovirus had little or no paralysis. In those with paralytic polio, the extent of involvement of the anterior horn cells was often underestimated. Thus, patients with post-polio syndrome now often report that a limb was uninvolved; however, the original record will show clear evidence of initial paralysis that improved so that the patient no longer recognized the weakness. The epidemics were associated with great anxiety involving the patients, their families and all of society. Treatment was for the most part ineffective and was sometimes confused or inappropriate. Patients developed coping techniques that have been singularly useful and effective. These coping techniques often include strategies that require maximal athletic development of little-used muscles. The coping techniques developed by post-polio patients would be of great benefit to patients with other forms of disability. Review of the medical histories, biographies, and autobiographies of patients who had severe disability because of poliomyelitis reveals that they adopted firm convictions about their disease and their recovery. We must be aware of these convictions if we are to treat their later disabilities. These convictions include the belief that their condition can only improve, that their improvement is related primarily to the willingness of the patient to engage in exercise, and that improvement is more a thing of the spirit than of medication. Associated with this conviction is denial--often concurred with by the family--of the extent of the disability. Furthermore, the confusion of physicians that patients witnessed during the great epidemics suggests to patients that physicians can be of little help to them now. Convictions that were invaluable to patients who were young and vigorous become a liability when aging and progressive weakness supervene. Patients who had adapted to muscle weakness through great physical and emotional effort are unable to continue functions they had regained. However, such patients cannot accept that they do not continue to improve. Some become depressed, but this is unusual.
The role of self-consciousness in the experience of alcohol-related consequences among college students

Heavy drinking among college students is a well-established national concern. An in-depth look at the characteristics and traits of heavy drinking students is an essential precursor to the development of successful targeted interventions with at-risk students. The current study examines the role self-consciousness (private, public, social anxiety) plays in the experience of alcohol-related consequences among a sample of 1,168 student members of campus organizations. Male gender predicted drinking in the sample, while both private self-consciousness and social anxiety predicted less drinking. Public self-consciousness predicted alcohol-related consequences over and above the variance explained by drinking for both males and females. Additionally, both gender and social anxiety moderated the effect of drinking on problems. Heavier drinking female students and heavier drinking students high in social anxiety appear more susceptible to the experience of negative consequences. These results highlight the direct and indirect impact that self-consciousness and gender have on college students' experience of alcohol-related negative consequences.
Relationship Between the Risk of Suffering a First-Time Noncontact ACL Injury and Geometry of the Femoral Notch and ACL A Prospective Cohort Study With a Nested Case-Control Analysis

Background:The morphometric characteristics of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the femoral intercondylar notch within which it resides have been implicated as risk factors for injuries to this important stabilizer of the knee. Prior research has produced equivocal results with differing methodologies, and consequently, it is unclear how these characteristics affect the injury risk in male and female patients.Hypothesis:The morphometric characteristics of the ACL and femoral intercondylar notch are individually and independently associated with the risk of suffering a noncontact ACL injury, and these relationships are different in male and female patients.Study Design:Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:Magnetic resonance imaging scans of the bilateral knees were obtained on 88 case-control pairs (27 male, 61 female) matched for age, sex, and participation on the same sports team. Patients had suffered a grade III, first-time, noncontact ACL tear. The femoral notch width at 4 location...
Current status of FDG-PET for head and neck cancer.

18-FDG-PET has utility for the identification of the unknown primary head and neck squamous carcinoma, distant metastases or second primary carcinomas, and recurrent HNSCC in the post-treatment setting. PET has a high negative predictive value in the detection of recurrent HNSCC. Standardized uptake values have demonstrated prognostic value. Limitations of PET include a lower utility for identifying occult nodal metastases and false positive readings from inflammation, infection, muscle activity, and radiation effect. Novel radioactive tracers may enable PET to identify sites of DNA replication, protein metabolism, and hypoxia. J. Surg. Oncol. 2008;97:649–652. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Type II Secretion System Delivers Matrix Proteins for Biofilm Formation by Vibrio cholerae

Gram-negative bacteria have evolved several highly dedicated pathways for extracellular protein secretion, including the type II secretion (T2S) system. Since substrates secreted via the T2S system include both virulence factors and degradative enzymes, this secretion system is considered a major survival mechanism for pathogenic and environmental species. Previous analyses revealed that the T2S system mediates the export of ≥ 20 proteins in Vibrio cholerae, a human pathogen that is indigenous to the marine environment. Here we demonstrate a new role in biofilm formation for the V. cholerae T2S system, since wild-type V. cholerae was found to secrete the biofilm matrix proteins RbmC, RbmA, and Bap1 into the culture supernatant, while an isogenic T2S mutant could not. In agreement with this finding, the level of biofilm formation in a static microtiter assay was diminished in T2S mutants. Moreover, inactivation of the T2S system in a rugose V. cholerae strain prevented the development of colony corrugation and pellicle formation at the air-liquid interface. In contrast, extracellular secretion of the exopolysaccharide VPS, an essential component of the biofilm matrix, remained unaffected in the T2S mutants. Our results indicate that the T2S system provides a mechanism for the delivery of extracellular matrix proteins known to be important for biofilm formation by V. cholerae. Because the T2S system contributes to the pathogenicity of V. cholerae by secreting proteins such as cholera toxin and biofilm matrix proteins, elucidation of the molecular mechanism of T2S has the potential to lead to the development of novel preventions and therapies.
Intercarrier Interference Immune Single Carrier OFDM via Magnitude Shift Keying Modulation

SC-OFDM (single carrier orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) has demonstrated excellent performance in multipath fading channels with very low peak to average power ratio (PAPR). Similar to other multi-carrier transmission technologies such as MC-CDMA and OFDM, SC-OFDM also suffers significant performance degradation to inter-carrier interference (ICI) when there is a frequency offset between the transmitter and receiver or in a high mobility environment. In this paper, we analyze the effect of ICI on SC-OFDM system and propose a novel modulation scheme called Magnitude Shift Keying (MSK) for SC-OFDM system. The MSK modulation provides SC-OFDM system immunity to ICI and significantly outperforms SC-OFDM system and OFDM system with Phase Shift Keying (PSK) modulations in severe ICI environment. Simulation results over AWGN channel and multi-path fading channels with different ICI confirm the effectiveness of the proposed system.
All-fiber 10-GHz picosecond-pulse generation at 1.9 μm without mode-locking

I generate 3.6 ps 10-GHz pulses at 1877 nm in an all-fiber package without mode-locking. To the best of my knowledge, this shows the highest repetition rate for all-fiber ultrafast pulse generation near 2.0 μm.
An Analysis of the Economic Impact of Hurricanes Dennis, Floyd, and Irene on North Carolina's Lodging Industry

During September and October of 1999, the state of North Carolina was ravaged by the effects of successive hurricanes, followed by the worst flooding in 500 years. At the request of the state hotel...
The induction of pro‐angiogenic processes within a collagen scaffold via exogenous estradiol and endometrial epithelial cells

Nutrient transport remains a major limitation in the design of biomaterials. One approach to overcome this constraint is to incorporate features to induce angiogenesis-mediated microvasculature formation. Angiogenesis requires a temporal presentation of both pro- and anti-angiogenic factors to achieve stable vasculature, leading to increasingly complex biomaterial design scheme. The endometrium, the lining of the uterus and site of embryo implantation, exemplifies a non-pathological model of rapid growth, shedding, and re-growth of dense vascular networks regulated by the dynamic actions of estradiol and progesterone. In this study, we examined the individual and combined response of endometrial epithelial cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells to exogenous estradiol within a three-dimensional collagen scaffold. While endothelial cells did not respond to exogenous estradiol, estradiol directly stimulated endometrial epithelial cell transduction pathways and resulted in dose-dependent increases in endogenous VEGF production. Co-culture experiments using conditioned media demonstrated estradiol stimulation of endometrial epithelial cells can induce functional changes in endothelial cells within the collagen biomaterial. We also report the effect of direct endometrial epithelial and endothelial co-culture as well as covalent immobilization of estradiol within the collagen biomaterial. These efforts establish the suitability of an endometrial-inspired model for promoting pro-angiogenic events within regenerative medicine applications. These results also suggest the potential for developing biomaterial-based models of the endometrium. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2015;112: 2185–2194. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
THE RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK PARTICULATE MATTER PANEL STUDY: PM MASS CONCENTRATION RELATIONSHIPS

Abstract The US Environmental Protection Agency has recently performed the Research Triangle Park Particulate Matter Panel Study. This was a 1-year investigation of PM and related co-pollutants involving participants living within the RTP area of North Carolina. Primary goals were to characterize the relationships between ambient and residential PM measures to those obtained from personal exposure monitoring and estimate ambient source contributions to personal and indoor mass concentrations. A total of 38 participants living in 37 homes were involved in personal, residential indoor, residential outdoor and ambient PM2.5 exposure monitoring. Participants were 30 non-smoking hypertensive African-Americans living in a low-moderate SES neighborhood (SE Raleigh, NC) and a cohort of eight individuals having implanted cardiac defibrillators (Chapel Hill, NC). Residential and ambient monitoring of PM10 and PM10–2.5 (coarse by differential) was also performed. The volunteers were monitored for seven consecutive days during each of four seasons (summer 2000, fall 2000, winter 2001, spring 2001). Individual PM2.5 personal exposure concentrations ranged from 4 to 218 μg m−3 during the study. The highest personal exposures were determined to be the result of passive environmental tobacco exposures. Subsequently, ∼7% of the total number of personal exposure trials were excluded to minimize this pollutant's effect upon the overall analysis. Results indicated that a pooled data set (seasons, cohorts, residences, participants) was appropriate for investigation of the basic mass concentration relationships. Daily personal PM2.5 mass concentrations were typically higher than their associated residential or ambient measurements (mean personal=23.0, indoor=19.1, outdoor=19.3, ambient=19.2 μg m−3). Mean personal PM2.5 exposures were observed to be only moderately correlated to ambient PM2.5 concentrations (r=0.39).
Institutional Arrangements for Producing Macroeconomic Statistics in Countries Subscribing to the Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS)

1. The paper presents the results of a survey of the institutional arrangements for producing official macroeconomic statistics. The survey covers 41 countries subscribing to the IMF’s Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS)—with well-developed national statistical systems. It demonstrates the prevalence of multiple institutional responsibilities for producing macroeconomic datasets with an overall lead role for the national statistical agency. Most data-producing agencies work within well-defined legal frameworks, an important basis for integrity and professional independence of statistical agencies. Survey of SDDS subscribers on their institutional arrangements 2. A survey of SDDS member countries was conducted in November 2006 to shed light on the institutional and legal arrangements for producing and disseminating macroeconomic statistics (Dziobek and Tanase, forthcoming 2007). Most, but not all, of the countries that subscribe to the IMF’s SDDS have well-developed national statistical systems. An important purpose of the survey was to better understand the division of labor among data-producing agencies in advanced economies to provide some benchmarks for countries that aspire to join the SDDS. It is widely recognized that clarity of institutional roles and professional independence of statistical agencies are core ingredients for producing high-quality and impartial statistics (UN Fundamental Principles; IMF Data Quality Assessment Framework). The survey, therefore, was focused on the institutional roles and their legal underpinnings, as well as on interagency cooperation agreements governing areas of common responsibility. In the survey questions, a distinction was made between the responsibilities for collection and dissemination of data as these are sometimes not with the same agencies. In many countries, for example, the national statistical agency disseminates data on government finance statistics while these data are produced by another agency, often the finance ministry. This
Diversion of the gastroduodenal vein: an in situ model of systemic insulin drainage

A technique of diversion of the gastroduodenal vein in a canine model is described to compare long-term metabolic effects of systemic versus portal pancreatic endocrine drainage. The vein was transected at its entrance into the portal vein and either diverted to the inferior vena cava (systemic group) or reanastomosed to the portal vein (portal group). All remaining venous drainage of the pancreas was interrupted. An additional group of animals underwent laparotomy without manipulation of pancreatic vasculature (sham group). Fasting peripheral insulin and glucose values were determined 3 months postoperatively. Fasting insulin values were significantly higher in the systemic group (mean 10.7 +/- 1.06 U/ml) than in the portal (5.8 +/- 0.70, P = 0.002) and sham (6.4 +/- 0.68, P = 0.01) groups. Fasting glucose values were not significantly different in the three groups. At sacrifice, venous thrombosis was noted in one systemically diverted dog (6.7%). All other anastomoses were patent. No significant collateralization was apparent in any group. No significant complications were noted. This procedure simulates the hormonal milieu created by heterotopic pancreatic transplantation while preserving pancreatic innervation and exocrine function, and serves as an excellent model for investigating the effects of systemic hyperinsulinemia on protein, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism.
Modeling and simulation of a fault tolerant ATM switching architecture

Multistage interconnection networks (MINs) have been proposed as the switching fabrics for B-ISDN. With the throughput requirement of the packet switches exceeding several gigabits/sec, it becomes important to make them fault tolerant. To provide fault tolerance and improve network performance, a new fault-tolerant, self-routing, and high performance switching architecture for ATM networks based on MINs is proposed. It consists of two closely linked Banyan networks. Links are provided at every stage to allow cells to transfer to and from each plane. The performance and the reliability of the proposed architecture is compared to the other networks. The proposed network has low cell loss rate probabilities than other networks for both fault-free and faulty environments. Routing is kept simple as in basic MINs. Furthermore, the proposed switch architecture is modular in its design making it ideal for VLSI implementation.
The estrogen replacement therapy of the Women's Health Initiative promotes the cellular mechanisms of memory and neuronal survival in neurons vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract Objectives : The current study investigated the neurotrophic and neuroprotective action of the complex formulation of conjugated equine estrogens (CEEs), the most frequently prescribed estrogen replacement therapy in the United States and the estrogen replacement therapy of the Women’s Health Initiative. Methods : Videomicroscopic, morphologic and biochemical analyses were conducted in primary cultures of hippocampal neurons to determine the neurotrophic and neuroprotective properties of CEEs. Results : Results of these analyses demonstrated that CEEs significantly increased hippocampal neuronal outgrowth, a cellular marker of memory formation. Dose response analyses indicated that the lowest effective concentration of CEEs exerted the maximal neurotrophic effect. Results of neuroprotection studies demonstrated that CEES induced highly significant neuroprotection against beta amyloid 25–35 , hydrogen peroxide and glutamate-induced toxicity. Conclusions : CEEs induced cellular markers of memory function in neurons critical to memory and vulnerable to negative effects of aging and Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, CEEs significantly and potently protected neurons against toxic insults associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Because CEEs are the estrogen replacement therapy of the Women’s Health Initiative, results of the current study could provide cellular mechanisms for effects of CEEs on cognitive function and risk of Alzheimer’s disease derived from this prospective clinical trial.
Performance Of Deterministic And Stochastic Trends Models In Forecasting The Behavior Of The Canadian Dollar And The Japanese Yen Against The US Dollar

The literature on modeling and forecasting exchange rate behavior shows that complex forecasting exchange rate models do not often outperform ARIMA models. We show that the same forecasting models applied to forecast the behavior of the Canadian dollar and the Japanese Yen against the US dollar produced varying forecast performance.
Diverse Language Profiles: Leveraging Resources of Potential Bilingual Teachers of Color

Bilingual prospective teachers of color may possess experiences and knowledge particularly suitable for teaching linguistically diverse students but may need guidance and support to leverage such resources for teaching. In a class of 76 undergraduates, with a focus on bilingual students of color intending to teach, this study used self-reflexive inquiry to foster reflections on language histories, repertoires, and ideologies. Using surveys, writings, and focal student language profiles, the study surfaced themes and contrasts across profiles and found that self-reflexive inquiry promoted metalinguistic awareness and helped students begin to leverage their linguistic resources in generating ideas for teaching linguistically diverse learners.
Utmost Gallantry: The U.S. and Royal Navies at Sea in the War of 1812, by Kevin D. McCranie

The War of 1812's bicentennial has seen an outpouring of works on an under-studied conflict compared to other wars of the two primary belligerents: Britain and the United States. Kevin D. McCranie,...
Parallelized Two-Dimensional Dam-Break Flood Analysis with Dynamic Data Structures

Numerical solution of shallow water equations using an explicit scheme are generally implemented using array type data structures. The computation is performed by sweeping the entire two-dimensional computational domain in row or column-wise order, starting with the cell in one corner and ending with the cell in the opposite corner. Although much simpler to program, this technique presents an important drawback due to the fact that it does not distinguish between wet (cells containing water) and dry cells. During a simulation, a considerable amount of computational time is spent sweeping over dry cells and skipping them once they are detected to be dry. The present study introduces a new solution algorithm which computes only those cells of the computational domain that are already wet or are becoming wet. This algorithm is especially useful for accelerating computations over very large Cartesian grids when only a small portion of cells are wet. The tracking of wet cells is achieved using dynamic data structures. This implementation takes advantage of the CFL (Courant-Friedrichs-Lewy) condition for explicit schemes, which requires that the flood propagates a fraction of the cell size during a time step. The CFL condition ensures that only the dry cells that are direct neighbors of wet cells can become wet cells. A multi-threaded parallelized version of this algorithm is implemented and tested in the CCHE2D-FLOOD TM , which is the solver of the DSS-WISE TM software developed by the National Center for Computational Hydroscience and Engineering, the University of Mississippi. The paper describes the implementation of the algorithm and discusses the performance gain achieved for different ratios of wet cells to the total number of cells.
Importance of 3-D grid resolution and structure for calculating reentry heating environments

The effects of grid structure and resolution are investigated at reentry flow conditions for two 3-D geometries. Chemically reacting full Navier-Stokes calculations are generated around the shuttle orbiter at peak heating and compared with heating values derived from the STS-2 flight data. A number of grid configurations are employed to illustrate the effects of grid resolution and structure on the numerical heat transfer predictions. To isolate some of the effects of grid structure, 3-D calculations are carried out on an axisymmetric sphere-cone-cylinder. It is shown that windside heat transfer predictions which are in reasonable agreement with the flight data are obtained using 50 points normal to the body. The level of grid convergence in the direction normal to the surface relative to heat transfer is demonstrated by doubling the grid points in the normal direction. Further, it is concluded that the grid topology in the 3-D inviscid curved bow shock region strongly affects the prediction of numerical heat transfer. (Author)
Review: Adolf Loos—dílo v českých zemích / Adolf Loos—Works in the Czech Lands by Maria Szadkowska, Leslie Van Duzer, Dagmar Černoušková; Junge Meister: Architekten aus der Schule Otto Wagners in Mähren und Schlesien by Jindřich Vybíral

Maria Szadkowska, Leslie Van Duzer , and Dagmar Cernouskova . Adolf Loos—dilo v ceských zemich / Adolf Loos—Works in the Czech Lands . Prague: Muzeum hlavniho města Prahy and Nekladatelstvi Kant, 2009, 393 pp., 302 color and 193 b/w illus. 790 Kc (paper), ISBN 9788085394634 Jindřich Vybiral . Junge Meister: Architekten aus der Schule Otto Wagners in Mahren und Schlesien . Vienna, Cologne, and Weimar: Bohlau Verlag, 2007, 319 pp., 156 b/w illus. €39 (cloth), ISBN 9783205775737 Although he is now inextricably linked with the Vienna of the first decades of the last century, Adolf Loos was not a native Viennese. Raised and educated early on in the province of Brno, in Moravia (now in the Czech Republic), he continued throughout his life to maintain a strong bond with his native land, building many of his works there. But Loos was hardly an exception. A sizeable number of the most important early modernist architects and designers in Vienna hailed from the Czech lands, among them Josef Maria Olbrich, Josef Hoffmann, Hubert Gessner, and Leopold Bauer. For many years, the secondary literature on these figures centered almost exclusively on their works and activities in Vienna, paying scarcely any attention to the buildings and projects they produced for their homeland. One of the principal reasons for this, of course, had to do with the difficulties foreigners faced when undertaking research in the former Communist Czechoslovakia. But the causes ran deeper: the forced expulsion of ethnic Germans from the Czech lands after World War II fostered a false partition between "German Austria" and the new Czech and Slovak state. It had not always been thus, for roughly three out of seven of those living in Moravia at the turn of the century were ethnic Germans, and German speakers made up half of the population of Silesia; the remainder were Czech and Polish. What had once been a marvelously diverse and culturally rich territory, with German and Czech speakers living and creating cheek by jowl, became much less so, and although memories of the old order persisted, more and more historians on both sides appropriated their own and neglected the others. Almost nothing, for example, was written for decades about the large German-speaking community of architects working in Prague before and …
Local and conducted vasomotor responses in isolated rat cerebral arterioles

We tested the hypothesis that conduction of vasomotor responses occurs in cannulated and isolated rat cerebral penetrating arterioles. Both at the site of stimulation (local) and 500-650 microns distant from it, we observed the diameter responses and time courses thereof to pressure-ejected vasoactive stimuli. ATP locally caused an initial constriction (response onset at 0.3 s, average diameter 85% of control at 450-ms pulse with a maximum at 1.6 s after stimulation) followed by a secondary dilation (111% at 7 s). Conducted vasodilation of 111% was observed over a distance of 520 microns. Prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) constricted the vessels locally (80%) and caused conducted vasodilation (110%). For both ATP and PGF2 alpha the local constriction occurred simultaneously to the conducted vasodilation. Adenosine dilated the vessels (123%) but produced only inconsistent conducted vasodilation. Hydrogen ions initially constricted the vessels (88%) and then dilated them to 113%. Thus, although ATP and PGF2 alpha are strong promoters of conduction, adenosine and hydrogen ions are not. Paradoxically, ATP and PGF2 alpha caused conducted vasodilation even though the initial local response was a vasoconstriction, indicating that in cerebral arterioles conduction may be mediated through endothelial cell mechanisms rather than through smooth muscle cell communication.
How and why do transactional-gestalt therapists work as they do?

(1976). How and Why Do Transactional-Gestalt Therapists Work as They Do? International Journal of Group Psychotherapy: Vol. 26, No. 2, pp. 163-172.
Clinical and Genetic Classification of Osteogenesis Imperfecta and Epidemiology

Osteogenesis imperfecta is described as a “rare” disorder occurring in approximately 1 per 10,000 live births. Most physicians do not treat individuals with OI, and this may present problems when diagnostic or treatment decisions are required. However, OI is one of the most common of the inherited disorders of connective tissue and is significantly under-diagnosed. The prevalence of OI is not explored in many populations around the world. More than 95% of individuals with OI are heterozygous for mutations in either of the two type I collagen genes, COL1A1 and COL1A2. The discovery of genes associated with recessive inheritance identified the genes in which bi-allelic mutations resulted in recessive inheritance and broadened the clinical classification of OI (types I–IV) proposed by Sillence in 1979. These new discoveries have created a tension between an expanded clinical classification, one based solely on genetic grounds, or some middle ground that adopts some of the clinical elements used for classification (historical) and melds them with the more recent genetic findings.
Constitution of Drop-Tube-Generated Coal Chars from Vitrinite- and Inertinite-Rich South African Coals

The structural transformations of two Permian-aged South African coals, one vitrinite-rich [91.8% dry mineral matter free (dmmf)] and one inertinite-rich (87.7% dmmf), and their resultant char morphologies were compared in this study. With these two maceral-rich coals, the opportunity presented itself to compare the degree of thermoplasticity during coal-to-char formations for the macerals without the need to use maceral separation techniques. The thermoplasticity is affected by its petrographic composition and, consequently, influences the combustion behavior. Pyrolysis chars were generated from wet-screened coal (200 × 400 mesh), under rapid-heating conditions (104–105 °C/s) in a drop-tube reactor, to closely resemble chars generated in pulverized combustion conditions. The chemical and physical structures of the chars were characterized through a range of different analytical techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), nitrogen adsor...
Function of Calcium-Independent Phospholipase A2 in Arachidonic Acid Metabolism in P388D1 Macrophages

It is widely recognized that phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is the enzyme largely responsible for regulating arachidonic acid (AA) release and hence eicosanoid production in most cell types1. Mammalian phospholipase A2s include three major families: the Ca2+-depend-ent, low molecular mass enzymes (approximately 14 kDa), the structurally unrelated Ca2+-dependent, high molecular mass enzymes (85 kDa), and the recently described Ca2+-independent enzymes1. All three families have been implicated in AA release in a variety of cells, their relative contribution being dependent on the agonist and cell type considered.
Soft tissue reconstruction and salvage of infected fixation hardware in lower extremity trauma.

Background Tibial fracture management may be complicated by infection of internal fixation hardware (iIFH) resulting in increased morbidity and amputation rate. When iIFH removal is not possible, salvage of the lower extremity is attempted through debridement, antibiotics, and vascularized soft tissue coverage. This study investigates lower extremity salvage with retention of iIFH. Methods Demographics, outcomes, and bacterial speciation in patients with tibial fractures at a level 1 trauma center from 2007 to 2014 were reviewed. The primary outcome was infection suppression, while secondary outcomes included limb salvage, amputation, and osseous union. Results Twenty-five patients underwent soft tissue reconstruction for salvage of iIFH. Average age was 41, 19 (76%) were male, average BMI 30.1 kg/m2, 10 (40%) patients smoked. Tibial fractures were closed in 8 (32%), Gustilo-Anderson grade I in 1 (4%), II in 8 (32%), IIIb in 5 (20%), and IIIc in 1 (4%). Staphylococcus was most commonly cultured with 11 (44%) demonstrating methicillin-resistance. Soft tissue reconstruction was performed by local flap in 15 (60%) and free flap in 10 (40%). At an average of 16.1 months, 19 (76%) hardware salvage patients demonstrated clinical suppression of infection, 11 of 19 (57.9%) patients had bony union, and 24 (96%) maintained a salvaged limb. One patient was amputated for recurrent infection. Conclusions Following complex, infected tibial fractures, salvage of the lower extremity may be attempted even when iIFH cannot be removed. Thorough debridement, antibiotics, and vascularized soft tissue may suppress infection long enough to facilitate osseous union and subsequent removal of iIFH.