cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of adolescent self-report measures from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health.

Abstract Purpose: To present a set of multi-item indicators and associated reliability estimates derived from early research with survey data from adolescents participating in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Methods: Add Health provides information on the health and health-related behaviors of a nationally representative sample of U.S. adolescents, as well as on individual-level and contextual factors that either promote young peoples' health or increase their health risk. Specifically, the 135-page in-home adolescent survey instrument includes multiple items intended to measure individual-level and social-environmental constructs relevant to adolescent health and well-being. This article details the development of a set of multi-item scales and indices from Add Health in-home adolescent survey data. These steps include identification of inconsistent responders, use of a split-halves approach to measurement validation, and use of a deductive approach in the development of scales and item composites. Results: Estimates of internal consistency reliability suggest that many of the multi-item measures have acceptable levels of internal consistency across grade, gender, and race/ethnic groups included in this nationally representative sample of adolescents. In addition, moderate to high bivariate correlations between selected measures provide initial evidence of underlying latent constructs. Conclusions: This article provides adolescent health researchers with a set of methodologic procedures and measures developed in early research on the Add Health core adolescent data set.
An Examination into the Effectiveness of Two-Sided Comparative Price Appeals

This study extended previous research in the two-sided comparative area by considering such a strategy from a price disclaimer perspective. The effectiveness in usage of a two-sided comparative price appeal relative to a one-sided counterpart across increasing levels of savings between the sponsor’s average price for a supermarket basket of goods and that of the average competitor was considered. In general, the findings of the study were consistent with previous research involving comparative two-sided appeals. That is, the two-sided advertisement was found to be significantly more believable than its one-sided counterpart. However, this result was found to have little impact upon purchase intention.
2D plasma layer conductivity tensor in high magnetic field

The magnetoconductivity tensor σij of a two-dimensional (layer fo semiconductor plasma is examined here used high magnetic field conditions. The quantum strong field limit is considered, such that electrons populate only the lowest Landau eigenstate with the magnetic field perpendicular to the 2D layer. This work is based on a random phase approximation analysis of the 2D magnetoconductivity tensor previously set forth [1, 2], from which a highly tractable form for σij is developed in high magnetic fields. A closed form evaluation of the integral representation of the 2D layer magnetoconductivity tensor is carried out here, and the results are exceptionally simple in representing the full range of dynamic and nonlocal electromagnetic response. The final results for σij in the quantum strong field limit are expressed in terms of Incomplete Gamma Functions γ(x, −λ) in closed form, where x = Ωωc (ratio of frequency to cyclotron frequency) and λ = hk22mωc (nonlocality parameter).
Observation of Nonmagnetic Resonant Scattering Effects by Tunneling in Dilute Al-Mn Alloy Superconductors

We have observed the BCS-like density of states predicted for energy-gap suppression by nonmagnetic Anderson impurities in superconductors. We show that Mn impurities in Al exhibit no magnetic character and act exclusively as strong resonant scattering sites without producing time-reverse symmetry breaking of Cooper pairs (pair breaking).
An update on unilateral sporadic small vestibular schwannoma.

Advances in neuroimaging have increased the detection rate of small vestibular schwannomas (VSs, maximum diameter < 25 mm). Current management modalities include observation with serial imaging, stereotactic radiosurgery, and microsurgical resection. Selecting one approach over another invites speculation, and no standard management consensus has been established. Moreover, there is a distinct clinical heterogeneity among patients harboring small VSs, making standardization of management difficult. The aim of this article is to guide treating physicians toward the most plausible therapeutic option based on etiopathogenesis and the highest level of existing evidence specific to the different cohorts of hypothetical case scenarios. Hypothetical cases were created to represent 5 commonly encountered scenarios involving patients with sporadic unilateral small VSs, and the literature was reviewed with a focus on small VS. The authors extrapolated from the data to the hypothetical case scenarios, and based on t...
AIRPORTS AND THE AIR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM: FUNCTIONAL REFINEMENTS AND FUNCTIONAL DISCOVERY

Abstract This paper examines the technological development of the airport and the air transportation system in order to identify opportunities for increased growth and development. The paper identifies two approaches to accomodating growth, which it terms functional refinement and functional discovery. The former refers to incremental improvements, the latter to the discovery of new technological forms and functions. Functional refinements condition and frequently constrain efforts towards functional discovery. For example, efforts to advance “demand management” may not be beneficial for the exploration of new uses for air transportation technology. The paper examines how efforts towards functional refinement might be reoriented towards fostering functional discovery, identifies parallels between the air transportation system and other infrastructure systems, and examines how efforts towards functional refinement that lock out functional discovery run counter to powerful social pressures for flexible, specialized production.
The “twirl”, stella octangula and mixed state entanglement

Abstract A simple group theoretical explanation is given of the “twirl” operation introduced by Bennett et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 76 (1996) 722]. Following this, some aspects of mixed state entanglement discussed by Horodecki et al. [Phys. Rev. A 54 (1996) 1838], Peres [Phys. Rev. Lett. 77 (1996) 1413] and Bennett et al. [Phys. Rev. A 54 (1996) 3852] are unified within the framework of a geometrical diagram introduced by Horodecki et al.
Interconnect analysis: from 3-D structures to circuit models

In this survey paper we describe the combination of: discretized integral formulations, sparsification techniques, and Krylov-subspace based model-order reduction that has led to robust tools for automatic generation of macromodels that represent the distributed RLC effects in 3D interconnect. A few computational results are presented, mostly to point out the problems yet to be addressed.
Use of a soundcard in teaching audio frequency and analog modem communications

Sound cards have become standard features of personal computers in the home, office and classroom. This paper demonstrates the usefulness of these inexpensive devices in the teaching of some of the basic and not so basic concepts of communications. These devices can be very effective in the explanation of amplitude, frequency and frequency multiplexed circuits, as well as modem handshake standards.
Objective Sea-Level Pressure Analysis for Data-Sparse Areas

A computer procedure, described in an earlier study, uses the wind speed field near the ocean surface in combination with a small number of observations of pressure and wind velocity to specify the maritime sea-level pressure field. An improved version was used to analyze the pressure distribution over the North Pacific Ocean for eleven synoptic times in February 1967. Independent knowledge of the central pressures of lows is shown to reduce the analysis errors for very sparse data coverage. The application of planned remote sensing of sea-level wind speeds is shown to make a significant contribution to the quality of the analysis especially in the high gradient midlatitudes and for sparse coverage of conventional observations (such as over Southern Hemisphere oceans). Uniform distribution of the available observations of sea-level pressure and wind velocity yields results far superior to those derived from a random distribution.
Global and Local Evaluations of Public Speaking Performance in Social Anxiety

Abstract Differences in the relative use of global and local information (seeing the forest vs. the trees) may explain why people with social anxiety often do not benefit from corrective feedback, even though they pay close attention to details in social situations. In the current study, participants high (n = 43) or low (n = 47) in social anxiety symptoms gave a series of brief speeches, and then self-rated their speaking performance on items reflecting global and local performance indicators (self-assessment) and also received standardized performance feedback from an experimenter. Participants then completed a questionnaire asking how they thought the experimenter would rate their performance based on the feedback provided (experimenter assessment). Participants completed the self- and experimenter assessments again after 3 days, in addition to a measure of postevent processing (repetitive negative thinking) about their speech performance. Results showed that, as hypothesized, the High SA group rated their performance more negatively than the Low SA group. Moreover, the High SA group's ratings of global aspects of their performance became relatively more negative over time, compared to their ratings of local aspects and the Low SA group's ratings. As expected, postevent processing mediated the relationship between social anxiety group status and worsening global performance evaluations. These findings point to a pattern of progressively more negative global evaluations over time for persons high in social anxiety.
Management of a Patient With Chronic Low Back Pain and Multiple Health Conditions Using a Pain Mechanisms–Based Classification Approach

Study Design Case report. Background Pain can lead to a significant reduction in quality of life. A pain mechanisms–based classification scheme has been outlined to improve management of patients with pain, but studies describing its use are limited. Evidence for physical therapy interventions in those with chronic pain and multiple health conditions is also lacking. This case report describes management of a patient with chronic pain and multiple health conditions. Case Description A 29-year-old man presented with a 3-year history of low back pain and 11-month history of lower extremity paresthesia. Current health conditions included left-sided hemiparesis secondary to a stroke, pancreatic kidney transplant, left-sided blindness, and osteoporosis secondary to hyperparathyroidism. Inability to walk to school and sit through class, and pain-related sleep disruption were the primary activity and participation restrictions. Outcome measures included the numeric pain rating scale, global rating of change, Osw...
The stimulation of Toll-like receptors by nuclear antigens: a link between apoptosis and autoimmunity

As immunologists have long understood, effective responses to foreign antigens require adjuvants. It is now apparent that the initiation of autoimmune disease is comparably facilitated by adjuvant activity. In the case of antinuclear antibodies, it seems that DNA itself can serve as an endogenous adjuvant. Similar to many of the microbial adjuvants, mammalian DNA mediates its effect through a Toll-like receptor--in this case, TLR9.
Grain height fluctuation and medium noise in longitudinal thin film recording media

The effect of grain height variation on medium noise at small head-medium spacing has been studied by micromagnetic modeling. The reverse DC erasure process using a thin film head at low-fly height is simulated for two types of films: a film with grain height fluctuation and a film with identical grain height. Results show that grain height variation at microscopic scale does not significantly affect the noise behavior of the thin film media and the domain widths are mainly determined by magnetic interactions. Calculations show that the magnetization cross-track correlation lengths for both films are essentially the same. The noise power as a function of erasure field exhibits a linear relation with the field derivative of the remanent hysteresis curve, consistent with recent experimental results. >
Field dependence of the knight shift in simple metals

Abstract The effect of the magnetic field dependence on the wave function on the Knight shift has been examined in the nearly free electron approximation, and can lead to an appreciable oscillatory field dependence for polyvalent metals.
Development of a Supervisory Manipulator System for A Free-Swimming Submersible

Supervisory control has been suggested as a means to improve the capabilities of remotely controlled underwater manipulators. This paper describes the implementation of such a system. The development is part of a joint effort between the Man-Machine Systems Laboratory at MIT and the Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego and includes experimentation both in the laboratory and in the water. The system will be used to experimentally investigate man-machine communication concepts and to demonstrate technology of interest to the offshore community.
Catalytic Hydrogenation with Amorphous and Crystalline Pd8 0Si2 0

Several metallic glasses in the form of ribbons were screened for activity as hydrogenation catalysts. Pd80Si20 and (Ni50Fe50)80B20 showed activity in reducing cyclohexene. Pd80Si20 was further examined for differences between the glassy and crystalline phases in the selectivity shown during hydrogenation reactions of n-hexenes, phenylethyne, α-pinene, and cyclododecene. No significant differences were found for catalytic selectivity in regard to cis-trans isomerization, double bond migration, and stereochemistry of addition under the reaction conditions used. Minor differences were observed in hydrogen-deuterium exchange.
Resurgent Ethnicity among Asian Americans: Ethnic Neighborhood Context and Health

In this study I investigate the associations of neighborhood socioeconomic and social environments with the health of Asian Americans living in both Asian ethnic neighborhoods and non-Asian neighborhoods. I use a sample of 1962 Asian Americans from the National Latino and Asian American Study (NLAAS, 2003-04). Three key findings emerge. First, absolute levels of socioeconomic and social resources do not differ greatly between the Asian ethnic neighborhoods and non-Asian neighborhoods in which Asian Americans live. Second, the ethnic neighborhood context conditions the effects of neighborhood education on health so that higher neighborhood education is related to better self-rated health among Asian Americans only when they live in Asian ethnic neighborhoods. Finally, the social environment, measured by everyday discrimination and social cohesion, does not differ in its health effects for individuals living in Asian ethnic and non-Asian neighborhoods. Together, these findings illuminate the complex ways that racial and ethnic neighborhood concentration impacts health.
Small intestine slow wave signals measured with an intraluminal probe

Bioelectric potentials in the small intestine have been measured in a series of dogs using intraluminal ring electrodes on a probe inserted through the mouth and stomach. Potentials of the order of one millivolt have been obtained for the slow wave using this technique. The velocity of the propagating signal was measured to be about 10 cm/s, and the frequencies of the signals in the small intestine and the pylorus were about 0.27 Hz and 0.06 Hz, respectively. The signals obtained are similar to those reported in the literature for other methods. >
The meaning and measurement of race in the U.S. census: glimpses into the future.

The 1996 Racial and Ethnic Targeted Test (RAETT) was a “mail-out mail-back” household survey with an experimental design of eight alternative questionnaire formats containing systematic variations in race, instructions, question order, and other aspects of the measurement. The eight different questionnaires were administered to random subsamples of six “targeted” populations: geographic areas with ethnic concentrations of whites, blacks, American Indians, Alaskan natives, Asian and Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics. The major conclusion is that allowing multiple responses to the “race” question in the 2000 census (and other variations in measurement that were considered in RAETT) had only a slight impact on the measured racial composition of the population. Another finding was a dramatic reduction in nonresponse to the combined race/Hispanic-origin question relative to all other questionnaire formats. We conclude that the concept of “origins” may be closer to the popular understanding of American diversity than is the antiquated concept of race.
Effects of positive and negative affect on electromyographic activity over zygomaticus major and corrugator supercilii

Pleasant stimuli typically elicit greater electromyographic (EMG) activity over zygomaticus major and less activity over corrugator supercilii than do unpleasant stimuli. To provide a systematic comparison of these 2 measures, the authors examined the relative form and strength of affective influences on activity over zygomaticus major and corrugator supercilii. Self-reported positive and negative affective reactions and facial EMG were collected as women (n = 68) were exposed to series of affective pictures, sounds, and words. Consistent with speculations based on known properties of the neurophysiology of the facial musculature, results revealed a stronger linear effect of valence on activity over corrugator supercilii versus zygomaticus major. In addition, positive and negative affect ratings indicated that positive and negative affect have reciprocal effects on activity over corrugator supercilii, but not zygomaticus major.
The ethics of cost containment from the anesthesiologist’s perspective

Abstract Cost containment, as an essential part of current efforts to manage health care, has been examined thoroughly from the perspectives of finance and patient care. In this article, the ethics of cost containment are discussed from the vantage point of the health care provider. Cost-cutting initiatives, however necessary and sound, nevertheless may place anesthesiologists in situations of ethical conflict and ultimately interfere with their rights as workers and professionals. The anesthesiology community is encouraged to investigate the effect of cost-cutting measures on patients and physicians alike.
Bertrand de Jouvenel: A Remembrance

Bertrand de Jouvenel, who died a year ago this March, at the age of 83, is best known to American political scientists for three books—On Power (1945), Sovereignty (1957), and The Pure Theory of Politics (1963)—and several essays, among them “The Chairman's Problem” and “The Nature of Political Science.”I almost met Bertrand de Jouvenel in the summer of 1964, when I was 20 years old, a political science major at Oberlin College, and the editor of a student political magazine called The Activist. I was also a student of Wilson Carey McWilliams, a prolific source of article ideas for the magazine, and a reliable guide to the academics and journalists who we often tapped for free copy. Since I was about to spend two months in France, and since Carey had been de Jouvenel's student at Berkeley when de Jouvenel was a Visiting Professor there, why not take a letter of introduction and get an Activist article from one of Europe's most famous political scientists?
Asymmetric glucose uptake in leg muscles of patients with Multiple Sclerosis during walking detected by [18F]-FDG PET/CT.

BACKGROUND In patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), comparative leg muscle strength asymmetries are common and typically accompanied by walking difficulties. Underlying mechanisms for these asymmetries are not completely known, but altered muscle energetics may play a role. OBJECTIVE To investigate glucose uptake asymmetries in leg muscles of patients with mild MS during walking. METHODS Eight MS and 8 healthy control (CON) participants performed a 15-min treadmill walking test at self-selected speed. They were injected with a glucose tracer (18F-FDG) two minutes into the test and immediately upon completion, underwent Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) imaging. RESULTS MS group walked at a lower speed than the healthy control group (P < 0.01), however it was found that: 1) ([18F]-FDG) uptake in knee and hip flexors was higher compared to the CON group (P = 0.02); 2) the MS group exhibited asymmetrical strength of the knee flexors (P = 0.03); 3) [18F]-FDG uptake was significantly lower in the weaker knee flexors of patients with MS (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS [18F]-FDG uptake and strength asymmetries in the legs of patients with MS indicate greater metabolic costs during activity, which may play a major role in premature muscle fatigability and subsequent impaired walking capacity.
The Landscape Handscroll and the Parquet Deformation

Parquet Deformations, designs produced for over three decades in a curriculum of formative studies, are rooted in two analytical disciplines: monohedral tiling from geometry; continuous deformation from biological morphology. As designs, outcomes of deliberate choice, they are inevitably subject to aesthetic assessment. Though they occupy graphic formats, these designs are, by virtue of their disproportionate horizontal dimensions, appreciated more as temporal than as spatial compositions —manifesting a distinct affinity with the nonplastic arts of music, dance, poetry, and theater. The lone exemplary tradition of temporal visual art reposes in the Sino-Japanese landscape handscroll. Comparisons are made in this paper between that art form and the parquet deformation.
Measuring women's interests: how useful?

Vocational interest inventories such as the SVIB are inherently appealing to women who seek career counseling. How useful they are to the counselor is another question. The author reviews studies employing the SVIB-W conducted during the past decade in order to answer such questions as: How reliable is the SVIB-W? How well does it differentiate interests? Can it effectively distinguish career commitments? Is it a good predictor? The author's conclusion is that information gained from this inventory is of minimal-use in counseling women about careers.
Feeding Intolerance and Poor Growth in Infants with Gastroschisis: Longitudinal Experience with Consecutive Patients over Thirteen Years.

Objectives: 1) To investigate in-hospital factors associated with delayed tolerance of full volume enteral nutrition and 2) To assess longitudinal growth in a contemporary population of infants with gastroschisis. Design: Retrospective single-center study of all infants with gastroschisis Setting: Level III neonatal intensive care unit in a free-standing Children’s Hospital Duration: 13.5 years Materials & Methods: Detailed data regarding demographics, nutritional support, growth, and infant outcomes was collected for all infants with gastroschisis. Linear regression was used to investigate in-hospital factors associated with feeding intolerance and poor growth. Results: For 52 infants, the median gestational age at birth was 36 weeks, the median postnatal age to achieve full feeds was 22 days, and median in-hospital weight gain was 18 gm/day. With linear regression, there was a positive association between time to full feeds and both hospital length of stay (adjusted R2=0.503, p<0.0001) and (unexpectedly) in-hospital weight gain (adjusted R2=0.125, p=0.0248). There was a negative association between in-hospital weight gain and preterm birth (adjusted R2=0.125, p=0.0356). For infants with longitudinal growth data, 35% had a weight <5th percentile (of whom 67% were preterm). Conclusions: Many infants with gastroschisis have poor growth before and after hospital discharge. Aggressive feeding advancement may be a contributing factor to this finding and preterm infants may be at greater risk for poor growth than term infants.
The life closure scale: Additional psychometric testing of a tool to measure psychological adaptation in death and dying

The purpose of this study was to conduct additional psychometric testing on an instrument designed to measure psychological adaptation in end-of-life populations across a wide spectrum of terminal illnesses. A sample of 20 participants completed initial testing of the Life Closure Scale (LCS); however, its usefulness was limited by the small sample size. A larger sample of 113 home hospice individuals who met established criteria and who gave informed consent completed the 27-item LCS for additional psychometric testing. Cronbach's alphas and correlation coefficients were computed, and factor analysis was conducted to establish internal consistency reliability, theoretical clarity, and criterion-related validity. The number of scale items was reduced to 20, with a total alpha of.87. Cronbach's alphas for the two subscales were.80 (self-reconciled) and.82 (self-restructuring). Item-total correlations for the subscales ranged from a low of.37 to a high of.68, with confirmatory factor analysis yielding two loadings. These findings lend credence to the usefulness of the LCS in measuring psychological adaptation in dying persons.
Natural and man‐made hazards

AGU has been less active in public affairs than the American Physical and American Chemical societies, perhaps because of less worry about the social consequences of research in geophysics than in nuclear physics and industrial chemistry. However, there are important matters requiring the knowledge and judgment of geophysicists and geochemists, and I wish to suggest that AGU should make a serious contribution to public discussion. Such a contribution ought to be confined to scientific matters and should not stray unwittingly into the realms of politics and social affairs. AGU should become known to the public as a reliable source of scientific facts and reasoned evaluations of incompletely understood phenomena. In particular, I believe that AGU should provide public sessions on natural and man-made hazards.
Changes in arboreal ant populations following pruning of coffee shade-treesin Chiapas, Mexico

Reducing or eliminating shade cover in coffee (Coffea arabica L.) agroforestry systems affects fungal disease and pest outbreaks, coffee yields, and can result in biodiversity loss of important predators, such as ants. Less dramatic changes in shade structure or composition may also affect ants. Shade tree pruning, a common management practice in shaded coffee systems, has unknown consequences for ant communities. The effects of pruning on arboreal ant communities were investigated by measuring ant abundance, distribution, and species richness in the short (1 week) and long-term (6 months) after shade tree pruning in one 25×50 m plot. Shade tree pruning significantly affected the distribution and abundance of two of the most common ant species (Azteca instabilis F. Smith and Camponotus senex textor Forel), and in general did not affect other ants. After pruning, C. senex textor ants were 80% more abundant on coffee plants and shade trees, whereas A. instabilis abundance dropped by 40% on coffee plants and 73% on shade trees after pruning. Additionally, C. senex textor were significantly more widespread, whereas A. instabilis distributions were more restricted. The effects of pruning were strong over the short-term, but were not evident over the long-term. Shade tree pruning did not affect ant diversity. Thus shade tree pruning largely affected certain aspects of arboreal ant communities in one coffee agroforestry system, with important implications for biological control.
Transient response study of 16-QAM with nonlinear amplifier arrays

Nonlinear power amplifiers are used extensively in wireless telecommunication devices. They provide much higher power efficiency than linear power amplifiers. This translates to smaller batteries, longer battery life, and smaller wireless devices in general. This paper studies a novel technique to generate a quadrature amplitude modulated signal using nonlinear power amplifier arrays. This type of system effectively eliminates the traditional nonlinear effects of the power amplifiers. This paper analyzes and models for the first time the distortion introduced by the amplifier arrays as a transient response. Several techniques are introduced to mitigate the array distortion at the receiver.
New Jersey’s Historical Development of a Statewide Children’s System of Care, Including the Lessons Learned From Embedding CANS Tools

New Jersey has made significant investments in their creation of a “statewide” reform to better serve the most vulnerable children and their families. Many states can learn from New Jersey’s statewide reform, which now celebrates completion of its first decade. This article details the historic timeline of the implementation processes as well as the structural components of a system of care. The particular role of each system entity is identified as well as their adaptation of the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment tool to best serve the children/youth in a statewide system of care. This article also examines the methods for effectively training and embedding the CANS tools within New Jersey’s Division of Children’s System of Care (DCSOC). As the children’s system of care (SOC) celebrates a milestone and its second decade of existence, much data have been accumulated with the next logical step being a series of reviews and systemic update. Result shows the need for planning for tra...
Gender differences in response to dietary soluble fiber in guinea pigs: effects of pectin, guar gum, and psyllium.

Dietary soluble fiber significantly lowers plasma low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations in humans and animals. In male guinea pigs, alterations in he- patic cholesterol homeostasis induced by dietary fiber in part account for the decrease in plasma LDL levels (Fernandez et al. 1994. Am.J Clin. Nutr. 59 869-878; 1995. 61: 127-134, andJ. Lipid Res. 1995. 36 1128-1138). To test whether die- tary fiber elicited similar hypocholesterolemic responses in both genders, female guinea pigs were fed diets containing 12.5% pectin (PE), 12.5% guar gum (GG), 7.5% psyllium (PSY), or 12.5% cellulose (control diet). In addition, physi- ological (0.04%) (LC) or pharmacological (0.25%) (HC) amounts of cholesterol were tested with the fibers to deter- mine whether dietary cholesterol altered the plasma choles- terol response. Significant reductions in plasma cholesterol were observed in females fed LC diets with PE, GG, or PSY (P < 0.01) while the responses to fiber with high cholesterol intake were more moderate. Hepatic cholesterol concentra- tions were reduced in the LC group (P < 0.001) with increased HMG-CoA reductase and cholesterol 7cc-hydroxylase and de- creased acyl CoAcholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) activi- ties accompanied by a reduction in hepatic cholesterol pools induced by fiber intake. In addition, plasma LDL lowering in animals fed the LC diets was associated with increases in hepatic LDL receptor B,, values. Effects of fiber on hepatic cholesterol in animals fed HC diets were moderate and he- patic enzymes were not altered to the same extent as in the LC groups. For the LC groups there was no gender effect on the magnitude of plasma LDL lowering, depletion of hepatic cholesterol, or alterations in hepatic cholesterol metabolism, although hepatic HMG-CoA reductase and ACAT activities were lower in females compared to males (P < 0.01). In contrast, females fed the control HC diet had higher plasma LDL levels than males and dietary fiber did not reduce he- patic cholesterol concentrations nor alter hepatic enzyme activities as effectively as in males. e These studies demon- strate that female, compared to male, guinea pigs are more responsive to a dietary cholesterol challenge and, that with this pharmacological perturbation, fiber effects are moderate compared to males. In contrast, with low cholesterol intakes, the cholesterol lowering effects of fiber are similar in both genders.-Fernandez, M. L., M. Vergara-Jimenez, A. L. Romero, S. K. Erickson, and D. J. McNamara. Gender differ- ences in response
Geometric optics and the bottom of the spectrum

The continuous spectrum, near its infimum, of the Laplacian for certain classes of ‘doubly warped’ complete Riemannian metrics on the interiors of compact manifolds with boundary is examined using geometric optics. General conditions on the geometry of an algebra of vector fields leading to a calculus of pseudodifferential operators are described and, once verified in this particular case, the associated notion of wavefront set can be used to show the existence of an absolute scattering matrix. This operator is conjectured to be a Fourier integral operator; the confirmation of this conjecture is discussed in the special case of a ‘double-zero’ metric where the fibrations are trivial.
Metabolic Interrelationship between Vitamin B12 and Ascorbic Acid in Pernicious Anemia

An interrelationship between vitamin C and vitamin B12 was studied in three patients with vitamin B12 deficiency associated with pernicious anemia. Subnormal plasma ascorbate concentrations were found prior to therapy confirming previous observations. Following vitamin B12 administration and utilizing methylmalonate (MMA) excretion as a biochemical index of vitamin B12 deficiency, low plasma ascorbate concentrations persisted until MMA excretion was abolished. In two patients, RBC vitamin B12 activity was also serially measured in order to evaluate its sensitivity as an index of vitamin B12 stores when compared to MMA excretion. The data demonstrate that in these two vitamin B12-deficient patients undergoing slow repletion therapy, RBC vitamin B12 activity returns to normal before MMA excretion is abolished. Whether continued MMA excretion in these patients indicates a greater sensitivity of MMA excretion as an index of deficiency of vitamin B12 stores than does RBC vitamin B12 activity remains to be answered by future work.
DNA-sensing inflammasomes: regulation of bacterial host defense and the gut microbiota

DNA sensors are formidable immune guardians of the host. At least 14 cytoplasmic DNA sensors have been identified in recent years, each with specialized roles in driving inflammation and/or cell death. Of these, AIM2 is a sensor of dsDNA, and forms an inflammasome complex to activate the cysteine protease caspase-1, mediates the release of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18, and induces pyroptosis. The inflammasome sensor NLRP3 can also respond to DNA in the forms of oxidized mitochondrial DNA and the DNA derivative RNA:DNA hybrids produced by bacteria, whereas the putative inflammasome sensor IFI16 responds to viral DNA in the nucleus. Although inflammasomes provoke inflammation for anti-microbial host defense, they must also maintain homeostasis with commensal microbiota. Here, we outline recent advances highlighting the complex relationship between DNA-sensing inflammasomes, bacterial host defense and the gut microbiota.
Microsurgical ovarian transplantation in the primate.

We have developed a technique for orthotopic transplantation of ovaries by microsurgical reanastomosis of the ovarian blood vessels in rhesus monkeys. Four monkeys receiving autografts resumed cyclic menses and had postoperative circulating luteinizing hormone (LH) and progesterone concentrations consistent with developing follicles and corpus luteum function. Postoperative luteal phase ovarian biopsies were indicative of ovulation in three of the four animals. However, in a fifth recipient an ovarian allograft from an unrelated donor was rejected despite the use of a standard immunosuppressive regimen. This study suggests that ovarian transplantation by direct vascular anastomosis is a technically feasible surgical procedure in the human, where the vascular anatomy is similar and the caliber of the ovarian vessels is greater than in the rhesus monkey.
Overview of the Economic and Social Impacts of Gambling in the United States

Casino gambling is very popular with consumers and politicians, and it has become one of the fastest growing entertainment industries around the world. However, the economic effects of casino gambling and gambling behavior still have not received much research attention. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the empirical research on the economic and social impacts of gambling performed by the author. The issues examined include the economic growth effects of casino gambling, the relationships among gambling industries and the implications of these relationships on net government tax revenue, the social costs of gambling, casinos and crime, casinos and political corruption, and problems with cost-benefit analysis applied to gambling. Despite an increase in the amount of research on the gambling industry, its overall impacts on the economy and society are largely unknown. More research on gambling would be helpful as more U.S. states – and nations – turn toward legalized gambling to help with fiscal crises.
Adherence in dermatology

Non-adherence to treatment and medical recommendations is one of the leading causes of treatment failure, poor clinical outcomes, and increased healthcare utilization. Although non-adherence is observed across all medical specialties, adherence to treatment in dermatology deserves special attention given the multiple different routes of treatment. Adherence can be measured using subjective methods (patient reporting and questionnaires) or objective methods (pill counts, electronic chips, and pharmacy records). Adherence to dermatologic treatments varies based on the specific condition but is poor for systemic therapies and even worse with topical agents. Among the factors that influence adherence, duration of treatment, complexity of regimen, and access play a large role. Interventions to improve adherence can range from simplifying treatment regimens to scheduling more frequent office visits. Due to the profound effect on cost, healthcare outcomes, and mortality, understanding and improving adherence is equally as important as making the correct diagnosis and prescribing the correct treatment.
Induction of alpha-helix in the beta-sheet protein tumor necrosis factor-alpha: acid-induced denaturation.

Acid-induced unfolding of proteins often results in an intermediate structure, called the molten globule structure or “A” state, which retains at least partial secondary structure but lacks a rigid...
Spontaneously Acquired Anti-Factor VIII Antibodies: Report of a Patient with Adenocarcinoma of the Prostate

AbstractAnti-factor VIII antibodies, inherited or acquired inhibitors of the factor VIII molecule, have not been reported previously in the urological literature. Although more common in hemophiliac patients who have received multiple transfusions, this anticoagulant may be the cause of severe hemorrhage in nonhemophiliac patients. We describe a patient with carcinoma of the prostate and an unsuspected anti-factor VIII antibody, who experienced excessive postoperative bleeding and prolonged hospitalization following a vesicolithotomy and bilateral orchiectomy.A prolonged partial thromboplastin time and a significant decrease in measurable factor VIII clotting activity in a patient with no history of bleeding problems are essential clues in making the diagnosis of a factor VIII inhibitor. This coagulation defect is treated best with prothrombin complex concentrates, which contain vitamin K dependent clotting factors.
The Role of Nitric Oxide and the Regulation of Cardiac Metabolism

In the past several years there has been a concerted effort to justify the monies spent by Congress through the NIH to support the fight against cardiovascular disease. By and large the public and various constituencies have been disappointed in the slow, almost inconsequential progress made in understanding the genesis of cardiovascular disease, compared with the apparent success of studies of the human genome project. There has therefore been some hesitancy associated with taking funds from the human genome project even though its direct clinical impact has been slow to mature. Translational medicine, then, is an attempt to collect evidence that funding will directly result in a successful treatment that will quickly generate additional funds to test drugs and new therapies in humans. A portion of this approach is the recognition that academic research communities are typically “horizontally integrated,” that is, a collection of many investigators who are perhaps more interested in the mechanisms of disease rather than in the implications of basic research. In contrast, investigators and clinicians in industry are “vertically integrated” such that research efforts are targeted primarily toward the development of specific therapeutic modalities. With this in mind, we examine how the use of a large animal model has led to studies which have a broad impact on therapeutic outcome. This chapter reviews our own studies which have developed methods for the measurement of large coronary artery diameters, and examines nitric oxide-dependent mechanisms and therapies. It also presents data which demonstrate the importance of NO in the control of coronary vascular function, providing the basis for the etiology of seemingly diverse diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, metabolic disease, pregnancy, and low-salt consumption.
Using a Distance-Based Partnership to Start a Hospital Medicine Program and a Quality Improvement Education Program

Distance-based partnerships are being increasingly used in health care and have previously been described to facilitate the training of nurses, researchers, and occupational therapists.1–6 In 2013, the Society of Hospital Medicine’s newly published guidelines for pediatric hospital medicine (PHM) programs indicated that strong leadership is critically important to a program’s success. Many smaller children’s hospitals have very few dedicated pediatric hospitalists, and these hospitalists might not have formal leadership or quality improvement (QI) training, resources, or dedicated time for QI work because of their clinical responsibilities. Similarly, pediatric residency programs at smaller institutions might lack robust inpatient QI experiences for their trainees. Leaders at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (Cincinnati) were approached by leaders at Niswonger Children’s Hospital (Niswonger) to complete a needs assessment of Niswonger’s inpatient program. Niswonger is a 69-bed children’s hospital colocated with Johnson City Medical Center, an adult hospital. These hospitals are located in a suburban area with a large rural catchment area. Both the adult and children’s hospitals are part of a larger health system, Mountain States Health Alliance. Niswonger is affiliated with East Tennessee State University (ETSU) Department of Pediatrics, which provided the majority of physician staffing. The needs assessment, completed in 2012, consisted of several site visits, observation of inpatient rounds, interviews with Niswonger faculty and staff, evaluation of available historical data, and collection of new data. Two main gaps in clinical care and training at Niswonger were identified. The first was …
Electrode array for reversing the recruitment order of peripheral nerve stimulation: a simulation study

Electrical stimulation of peripheral nerve activates large-diameter fibers before small ones. Previous studies using computer simulations and animal experiments showed that selective activation of small fibers could be achieved using an array of four cathodes and five anodes to reshape the extracellular voltage along the nerve and that the technique was independent of stimulating pulse width. In this simulation study, electrode arrays of 5, 7, 9, and 11 contacts were tested using finite element model of ventral sacral root. Contact separation of the array was 0.75 mm. The 5-contact array activated small axons having internodal distance smaller than contact separation before larger axons (< 7.5 /spl mu/m in this case). Arrays of 7, 9 and 11 contacts suppressed the excitability of axons having internodal distance close to the intercathodic distance (/spl sim/15/spl mu/m in this case). The recruitment orders were identical for 50 /spl mu/s and 200 /spl mu/s-pulse stimulations. Simulations suggested that electrode arrays of 5 and 7 contacts could be used to achieve selective activation of small axons independently of stimulating pulse width. Arrays of 5 and 7 contacts also decreased the recruitment curve slope to 43% and 72% of the tripolar electrode.
Leveraging existing virtual platform for training medical officers on Non-Communicable Diseases; an experience from Bihar, India

Background: The state of Bihar in India has high prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). A NCDs training program using virtual platform was implemented for medical officers posted at public health facilities from two districts of Bihar. Aims & Objectives: The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of a pilot NCDs training program in improving the knowledge of Medical officers using virtual platform. Material & Methods: A secondary analysis of pre-post NCDs training data was undertaken. A structured knowledge assessment tool (KAT) was used to assess the knowledge of participants before and after completion of training. Also, post-training participant’s feedback was collected using a “Likert scale”. Statistical analysis: Median pre-post KAT scores were calculated and compared for statistical significance using “Wilcoxon Signed Rank test”. The proportions of participants satisfied with training were also calculated. Results: The pre-post KAT scores for diabetes, hypertension and CAD were ranked, analysed and found to be statistically significant (p < .001). Overall 94% of the participants were satisfied with the virtual training on NCDs. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the NCDs training using virtual platform significantly improved the knowledge of medical officers and was found to be highly acceptable by them.