cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 152: Dietary Patterns Associated With Slower Cognitive Decline Post Stroke

Introduction: Stroke survivors are at increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Recent studies have shown that the MIND diet (a hybrid of the Mediterranean and Dash diets, with modification...
The Fourteenath Amendment and the Poverty of African American

Following the Civil War Congress passed the 14th amendment to the constitution. It granted citizenship to African Americans and forbade any state government from taking away life, liberty or property of any person without due process of law. However, the amendment benefited the corporations with little help to black Americans. Each time a state decided to curb the monopoly power of a business, the courts would step in and proclaim that the state flouted the due process clause. This collusion between the government and corporations has contributed to high rates of poverty in America, especially among African American communities.
A 7-YEAR PROGRESSION OF ADENOID CYSTIC CARCINOMA: CASE REPORT (2010–2017)

Background Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and relentless malignancy, which accounts for less than 1% of all head and neck carcinomas. The minor salivary glands of the hard palate, as in this case, are most commonly affected. ACC's characteristic perineural invasion and subsequent proximity to vital neural and vascular structures often result in an unresectable lesion at the time of diagnosis. The frequency of recurrence is high. The goal of this report is to present some of the case findings regarding disease progression and treatment sequelae over a 7-year time span. Materials and Methods Clinical and radiologic findings: A 37-year-old male presented with an ulcerated lesion of the left palate. Pantomography revealed an ill-defined relative radiolucency of the left posterior maxilla, with crestal bone involvement. The inferior border of the maxillary sinus was untraceable. Result Differential or definitive interpretation: Biopsy and subsequent analysis of the lesion demonstrated epithelial islands and a cribriform structure consistent with adenoid cystic carcinoma. Discussion The initial multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), performed after analysis of the biopsy specimen confirmed the diagnosis, revealed invasion of ACC along the V2 distribution to the foramen rotundum, with involvement of the pterygopalatine fossa. A left partial maxillectomy was performed, followed by radiation therapy. Subsequent findings of disease invasion and treatment sequela demonstrated were skull base radiation necrosis; metastasis to the left frontal lobe after left frontal lobe resection, which was complicated by brain abscess; ventriculitis; hydrocephalus; perforation of the cartilaginous nasal septum; infiltration of the left masticator space, vidian canal, superior orbital fissure, and eustachian tube; and osteoradionecrosis of the greater sphenoid wing, clivus, and left petrous apex.
Multiscale Modeling Combined with Active Learning for Microstructure Optimization of Bifunctional Catalysts

A number of studies have recently demonstrated that catalyst microstructure and defect engineering are important to enhance reaction rates, but rigorous microstructure optimization studies are lacking. Kinetic rate prediction requires models that resolve catalyst sites and their coupling arising from surface diffusion, spatial arrangement of multifunctional sites, and lateral interactions. Modeling these effects requires kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulation. The computational demand of KMC simulation makes direct microstructure optimization infeasible. To overcome this challenge, we parametrize the KMC data (reaction rate) using an active learning approach to capture complex structural dependencies among sites at negligible computational cost. We apply our method to a prototype chemistry over bifunctional materials, a case study reminiscent of the ammonia decomposition reaction on defected NiPt (core/shell) structures. We demonstrate that machine learning can effectively develop surrogate models for syste...
Discussions about contralateral prophylactic mastectomy among surgical oncology providers and women with sporadic breast cancer: a content analysis

Rates of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) have risen substantially, yet little is known about how and to what extent CPM is discussed within surgical oncology visits at the time of treatment decision-making. We examined CPM discussions in naturally occurring interactions between sporadic breast cancer patients and their surgical oncology providers. Women with early-stage unilateral disease were recruited before their first surgical visit and completed brief questionnaires to determine study eligibility and interest in treatment options. After their visits, enrolled patients and their providers completed questionnaires assessing discussion of and interest in CPM. Audio-recorded visits from 36 unique patients were randomly selected, transcribed, and analyzed. A CPM discussion was present in 28 transcripts. Approximately half of CPM discussions were initiated by the patient or the oncology provider. The topic of CPM was most frequently introduced while reviewing available treatment options. Patients were most interested in pursuing CPM to reduce the risk of future breast cancer. Providers most frequently responded by offering information (e.g., about risk of contralateral disease). A high level of agreement was found among patient, provider, and observer ratings of whether or not CPM was discussed. CPM discussions were consistently present within our sample. Results can be used to build providers' skills and bring provider-patient communication more in line with best practices and recommendations from leading professional medical societies.
Immunotherapy for Precancerous Lesions of the Uterine Cervix

The immunological milieu of premalignant lesions of the uterine cervix has not been sufficiently explored. The rationale for immunological approaches for the treatment of the premalignant lesions is as to prevent secondary premalignant lesions and their progression to cancer. Among the challenges of immunotherapeutic approaches for cancer are the multitudes of mechanisms by which cancers are known to subvert the immune defenses. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is known as a cause of uterine cervical cancer and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). HPVs related to cancer express two main oncogenes, i.e., E6 and E7, considered as tumorigenic genes; their integration into the host genome results in the abnormal regulation of cell cycle control. Due to their molecular characteristics, these oncogenes represent a target for immunotherapy. The development of HPV-associated cancers depends on efficient negative regulation of cell cycle control that supports the accumulation of genetic damage and immune evasion that enables the virus to go undetected for a long time. Noting that HPV-related lesions and tumors usually present MHC class I down-regulation, impaired antigen-processing ability, avoidance of T-cell mediated killing, increased immunosuppression due to Treg infiltration and secrete immunosuppressive cytokines. This chapter focuses on the immunological aspects of premalignant lesions of the uterine cervix and highlights strategies for immunotherapy and several promising immunotherapy technologies.
Modeling of pharmacodynamic (PD) biomarkers (BM) related to CDK4/6 inhibition and exploratory BM-response (progression free survival [PFS]) analyses in patients with advanced breast cancer.

e14528Background: Palbociclib (PAL) is an oral inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) approved for advanced breast cancer (ABC). In a clinical trial, the expression levels of PD BMs ...
A Robotic Platform for 3D Forelimb Rehabilitation with Rats

In an attempt to promote greater functional recovery after spinal cord injury, researchers have begun exploring combinatorial treatments, such as robotic rehabilitation combined with stem cell transplantation. Since these treatment methods are in their nascent stages, rodent models have been proposed for initial investigations. Robots have been built for locomotion rehabilitation and planar forelimb reach and grasp assessment with rodents; however, a robotic platform suitable for three-dimensional movement rehabilitation of the rodent forelimb has not yet been developed. In this paper, a novel three degree of freedom robotic manipulator for automated forelimb rehabilitation combined with stem cell transplantation after cervical spinal cord injury with rats is proposed. The robot interfaces with a rat in an end-effector manner, measuring and interacting with the forelimb in the 3D Cartesian space. In this work, we trained two rats through behavioral shaping to actively interact with the device during two robot control modes. This work provides preliminary investigations into the feasibility of 3D forelimb rehabilitation with rats, which could be translated as a paradigm for combinatorial treatments after spinal cord injury in a controlled manner.
Opiate Prescriptions at Discharge Are Not Associated with Early Readmissions in Acute Pancreatitis.

Early readmissions in acute pancreatitis (AP) are common. The impact of opiate prescriptions on readmissions is unknown. To determine whether the prescription of opiates at hospital discharge and the dose prescribed are associated with early readmissions in AP. Direct admissions from the Emergency Department (ED) for AP from September 1, 2013, to August 31, 2016 were identified. Opiate prescription was defined as a new prescription at discharge in an opiate-naive patient. Early readmission was ED visit or hospitalization within 30 days for an AP-related reason. Multivariable logistic regression was performed, adjusted for age, Charlson Comorbidity Index, pancreatic necrosis, baseline opiate use, non-opiate analgesics, and pain score at discharge. A total of 318 AP patients were identified; the overall early readmission rate was 18%. One hundred and twenty-one (38%) were prescribed opiates at discharge, and 22% had an early readmission. One hundred and ninety-seven (62%) were not prescribed opiates, and 16% had an early readmission. Median opiate dose was 48 mg (24-h morphine equivalents). On multivariable analysis, neither the prescription of opiates (OR 1.2, 95% CI 0.6–2.4, p = 0.55) nor the dose of opiates (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.99–1.00, p = 0.39) was associated with early readmission. In subset analysis of patients discharged with an opiate prescription, those on opiates at baseline were significantly more likely to have an early readmission (OR 4.19, 95% CI 1.04–16.94, p = 0.04). In AP patients, neither prescription of opiates at discharge nor prescribed dose was associated with early readmission. Patients on opiates at baseline discharged with an opiate prescription were more likely to have an early readmission.
EOM-CC Methods with Approximate Triple Excitations for NEXAFS and XPS

A number of iterative and perturbative approximations to the full equation-of-motion coupled cluster method with single, double, and triple excitations (EOM-CCSDT) are evaluated in the context of calculating the K-edge core-excitation and core-ionization energies of several small molecules. Several of these methods are found to accurately reproduce the full EOM-CCSDT energies well, in particular the EOM-CCSD* method which, when using the core-valence separation (CVS) ansatz, scales rigorously with the sixth power of molecular size. The EOM-CCSDR(3) method, which has been used previously to include triples effects in a cost-effective manner was found to perform rather poorly, although the precise cause has not been determined. These results highlight that very accurate NEXAFS and XPS spectra for molecules with first-row atoms can be computed at a cost not much larger than that for EOM-CCSD.
PATIENT PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR HEART FAILURE: A QUESTIONNAIRE BASED STUDY

Despite GMDT, HF hospitalizations and readmissions often driven by poor compliance, continue to rise. We explored the hypothesis that patient's perception of their disease may influence compliance and outcome. While admitted for exacerbation of known HF, 48 pts completed a cross sectional
Stillbirth in women with diabetes: a retrospective analysis of fetal autopsy reports.

Introduction: Diabetes in pregnancy is associated with an increased rate of stillbirth. There are a wide variety of factors that have been implicated including placental insufficiency, hypoxia, hyp...
Robust Self-Induced Nonreciprocal Transmission in Nonlinear PT-Symmetric Epsilon-Near-Zero Metamaterials

Self-induced nonreciprocal transmission is demonstrated due to the enhanced Kerr nonlinear effect in compact epsilon-near-zero media photonically doped with gain and loss defects. Unitary transmission contrast is obtained by operating close to the exceptional point.
Lyα EMITTING GALAXIES AS EARLY STAGES IN GALAXY FORMATION

We present optical spectroscopy of two samples of Galaxy Evolution Explorer grism selected Ly{alpha} emitters (LAEs): one at z = 0.195-0.44 and the other at z = 0.65-1.25. We have also observed a comparison sample of galaxies in the same redshift intervals with the same UV magnitude distributions but with no detected Ly{alpha}. We use the optical spectroscopy to eliminate active galactic nuclei and to obtain the optical emission-line properties of the samples. We compare the luminosities of the LAEs in the two redshift intervals and show that there is dramatic evolution in the maximum Ly{alpha} luminosity over z = 0-1. Focusing on the z = 0.195-0.44 samples alone, we show that there are tightly defined relations between all of the galaxy parameters and the rest-frame equivalent width (EW) of H{alpha}. The higher EW(H{alpha}) sources all have lower metallicities, bluer colors, smaller sizes, and less extinction, consistent with their being in the early stages of the galaxy formation process. We find that 75% {+-} 12% of the LAEs have EW(H{alpha}) >100 A and, conversely, that 31% {+-} 13% of galaxies with EW(H{alpha}) >100 A are LAEs. We correct the broadband magnitudes for the emission-line contributions and use spectral synthesis fitsmore » to estimate the ages of the galaxies. We find a median age of 1.1 x 10{sup 8} yr for the LAE sample and 1.4 x 10{sup 9} yr for the UV-continuum sample without detected Ly{alpha}. The median metallicity of the LAE sample is 12 + log (O/H) = 8.24, or about 0.4 dex lower than the UV-continuum sample.« less
Emotion regulation and the association between PTSD, diet, and exercise: a longitudinal evaluation among US military veterans.

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with premature onset of chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease. Diet and exercise are behavioural contributors to ph...
Quality of Care for Incident Lupus Nephritis Among Medicaid Beneficiaries in the United States

Objective We investigated the quality of care and factors associated with variations in care among a national cohort of Medicaid enrollees with incident lupus nephritis. Methods Using Medicaid Analytic eXtract files from 47 US states and the District of Columbia for 2000–2006, we identified a cohort of individuals with incident lupus nephritis. We assessed performance on 3 measures of health care quality: receipt of immunosuppressive, renal-protective antihypertensive, and antimalarial medications. We examined performance on these measures over 1 year and applied multivariable logistic regression models to understand whether sociodemographic, geographic, or health care access factors were associated with higher performance on quality measures. Results We identified 1,711 Medicaid enrollees with incident lupus nephritis. Performance on quality measures was low at 90 days (21.9% for immunosuppressive therapy, 44.0% for renal protection, and 36.4% for antimalarials) but increased by 1 year (33.7%, 56.4%, and 45.8%, respectively). Younger individuals, African Americans, and Hispanics were more likely to receive immunosuppressive therapy and hydroxychloroquine. Younger individuals were less likely to receive renal-protective antihypertensive medications. We found significant geographic variation in performance, with patients in the Northeast receiving higher quality of care compared to other regions. Poor access to health care, as assessed by having a greater number of treat-and-release emergency department visits compared to ambulatory encounters, was associated with lower receipt of recommended treatment. Conclusion These nationwide data suggest low overall quality of care and potential delays in care for Medicaid enrollees with incident lupus nephritis. Significant regional differences also suggest room for quality improvement.
Deterministic skip lists in analog topological placement

This paper presents a novel algorithm for device-level analog placement with symmetry constraints. Based on the exploration of symmetric-feasible (S-F) binary tree representations (Balasa et al., 2004) of the layout, the novel approach employs 1-3 deterministic skip lists (Munro et al., 1992) and (Papadakis, 1993), exhibiting running times at least 20-30% better than previous (nonslicing) topological algorithms for analog placement, and significantly better (typically, over 100%) than more traditional approaches based on the absolute representation
Density Functional Theory of Quantum Dots in A Magnetic Field

To summarize the main content of this talk: (1) We have reviewed the papers demonstrating a broad applicability of DFT to the calculation of ground-state properties and level crossings in quantum dot “atoms” in magnetic field. (2) A specific problem — the calculation of the region of stability of the maximum density droplet — has been studied. The results are in qualitative agreement with experiment.
Searching for information, understanding, and self-value: the utilization of peer support groups by gay men with HIV/AIDS

The present study examined the patterns and variations characterizing the support group involvements of 25 gay men with HIV/AIDS. Results indicated that those men who participated in support groups on a long-term basis (i.e., one year or more) were less likely to have access to other social support networks. They were also most interested in receiving and exchanging emotionally-oriented forms of support, such as empathy, acceptance and camaraderie. By contrast, the men who participated in support groups for a brief period of time (i.e., six months or less) had greater access to alternative support networks and were more interested in receiving and exchanging instrumental forms of support, such as illness-related information and examples of effective coping. Those men who elected not to participate in support groups emphasized their relatively good health, the strength of their existing support systems and their reluctance to see others with life-threatening symptoms. Finally, regardless of whether and how they participated in formal support groups, the majority of men in this study benefitted from interacting regularly with peers. Through these interactions, they received helpful understanding, information and friendship. In addition to this, they often experienced a revitalizing sense of purpose, efficacy and mutuality which enabled them to cope more successfully with their illness.
Linking metrics of landscape pattern to hydrological process in a lotic wetland

Strong reciprocal interactions exist between landscape patterns and ecological processes. In wetlands, hydrology is the dominant abiotic driver of ecological processes and both controls, and is controlled, by vegetation presence and patterning. We focus on binary patterning in the Everglades ridge-slough landscape, where longitudinally connected flow, principally in sloughs, is integral to landscape function. Patterning controls discharge competence in this low-gradient peatland, with important feedbacks on hydroperiod and thus peat accretion and patch transitions. To quantitatively predict pattern effects on hydrologic connectivity and thus hydroperiod. We evaluated three pattern metrics that vary in their hydrologic specificity. (1) Landscape discharge competence considers elongation and patch-type density that capture geostatistical landscape features. (2) Directional connectivity index (DCI) extracts both flow path and direction based on graph theory. (3) Least flow cost (LFC) is based on a global spatial distance algorithm strongly analogous to landscape water routing, where ridges have higher flow cost than sloughs because of their elevation and vegetation structure. Metrics were evaluated in comparison to hydroperiod estimated using a numerically intensive hydrologic model for synthetic landscapes. Fitted relationships between metrics and hydroperiod for synthetic landscapes were extrapolated to contemporary and historical maps to explore hydroperiod trends in space and time. Both LFC and DCI were excellent predictors of hydroperiod and useful for diagnosing how the modern landscape has reorganized in response to modified hydrology. Metric simplicity and performance indicates potential to provide hydrologically explicit, computationally simple, and spatially independent predictions of landscape hydrology, and thus effectively measure of restoration performance.
A three dimensional extension of the self-structuring antenna to improve beam steering

A self-structuring antenna (SSA) responds to changes in its operating environment by changing its electrical shape. Existing variants of the SSA show great promise for tuning across wide bands and for self-healing when subject to damage. However, their ability to steer the main beam of radiation to a chosen direction has, so far, been limited.
The Dialectics of Shopping

The Dialectics of Shopping. Daniel Miller. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2001. 222 pp.
HIV Infection among New York State Female Inmates: Preliminary Results of a Voluntary Counseling and Testing Program

New York State's prison population has the highest seroprevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among incarcerated populations in the United States. Five percent of the State prison inmate population is female. To date there have been few studies of incarcerated females in New York State (NYS). Seroprevalence rates have ranged from 18.9% to as high as 29%. In 1991, counselors from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) AIDS Institute's Criminal Justice Initiative, in collaboration with the State's Department of Correctional Services (NYSDOCS), began to offer educational services and anonymous pretest counseling, HIV antibody testing, and posttest counseling to NYS female prisoners. With preliminary program testing data (N = 216) descriptive and multivariate techniques are used to evaluate the demographic and risk-related behaviors associated with HIV infection among female inmates in this voluntary HIV testing program. Results are discussed in light of previous research findings regardin...
Kernel synthetic discriminant function (SDF) filters for fast object recognition

In most object recognition applications, the object is present with different distortions (e.g. aspect view and scale) and its location is unknown. Our objective is to develop higher-order classifiers that can be applied (efficiently and fast) for different locations of the object over the test input. A type of classifier, the distortion-invariant filter (DIF), is attractive for fast object recognition, since it can be applied for different shifts using the fast Fourier transform (FFT); a single DIF handles different object distortions, e.g. all aspect views and some range of scale. In our prior work (Proc. SPIE 7252- 02), we combined DIFs and the kernel technique to form higher-order "kernel DIFs." In this paper, we present new test results with these kernel DIFs; we emphasize kernel versions of the synthetic discriminant function (SDF) filter, since we recall that they are the most efficient to use. We include new insight into the difference between vector-based and pixel-based kernels. We also present more test results with our recently introduced (Proc. SPIE 6977-03) combination of minimum noise and correlation energy (MINACE) filter preprocessing and kernel SDF filters (these form "preprocessed kernel SDF filters"); in our new work, we consider whether automated selection of the Minace-preprocessing parameter improves filter performance. We consider the classification of different pairs of true-class CAD (computer-aided design) infrared (IR) objects and the rejection of unseen problematic (blob) real IR clutter and unseen confuser-class CAD IR objects with full 360° aspect-view distortions and with different ranges of scale distortions present. We present new test results with more and different confuser-class objects and for both polynomial and Gaussian kernel SDF filters. We also include new test results at farther ranges than before; these are emphasized in this paper.
Evaporative cooling of mixed atomic fermions

The evaporative cooling of a two-component mixture of trapped atomic fermions into quantum degeneracy is investigated using the semiclassical Boltzmann equation for fermions. The influence of Fermi blocking for temperatures well below the Fermi temperature is discussed. Comparison between collisional and relaxation rates for a Fermi degenerate gas are made, and the similarities and differences between the cooling kinetics of the Fermi gas mixture and a mixture of classical gases is investigated, and discussed using a simple model. The latter also serves to clarify the processes which terminate the cooling in the quantum degenerate regime. Finally, a brief discussion of mean-field effects is given.
CMOS-Analogous Wafer-Scale Nanotube-on-Insulator Approach for Submicrometer Devices and Integrated Circuits Using Aligned Nanotubes

Massive aligned carbon nanotubes hold great potential but also face significant integration/assembly challenges for future beyond-silicon nanoelectronics. We report a wafer-scale processing of aligned nanotube devices and integrated circuits, including progress on essential technological components such as wafer-scale synthesis of aligned nanotubes, wafer-scale transfer of nanotubes to silicon wafers, metallic nanotube removal and chemical doping, and defect-tolerant integrated nanotube circuits. We have achieved synthesis of massive aligned nanotubes on complete 4 in. quartz and sapphire substrates, which were then transferred to 4 in. Si/SiO2 wafers. CMOS analogous fabrication was performed to yield transistors and circuits with features down to 0.5 μm, with high current density ∼20 μA/μm and good on/off ratios. In addition, chemical doping has been used to build fully integrated complementary inverter with a gain ∼5, and a defect-tolerant design has been employed for NAND and NOR gates. This full-wafer...
Modeling the pressure gradient-velocity correlation of turbulence

The modeling of the pressure gradient–velocity correlation of turbulence is considered. Two distinctly different approaches have been proposed in the turbulence literature: one in which the pressure gradient–velocity correlation is decomposed into a pressure‐strain correlation and a pressure‐diffusion correlation, and another in which the pressure gradient–velocity correlation is split into its deviatoric and isotropic parts. By examining the limit of two‐dimensional turbulence, it is demonstrated that the models obtained from the former approach are inconsistent with the Navier–Stokes equations in a fundamental way, whereas the models obtained from the latter approach are not. Consequently, it appears that the direct modeling of the pressure gradient–velocity correlation in its deviatoric and isotropic parts should be favored. The implications that this result has on turbulence modeling are discussed briefly.
Cytogenetic Abnormalities in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

ABSTRACT Objective To systematically assess the prevalence of fragile X syndrome, velocardiofacial syndrome, and other cytogenetic abnormalities in a group of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Method Blood samples were obtained from 100 children (64 boys) with combined type ADHD and normal intelligence and analyzed for the presence of fragile X mutation expansions, the 22q11.2 microdeletion associated with velocardiofacial syndrome, and cytogenetic abnormalities that would be detected with high resolution chromosomal banding. Results One girl with ADHD had a sex chromosome aneuploidy (47,XXX). One boy had a premutation-sized allele for fragile X; no subjects showed the full mutation. Testing for 22q11.2 microdeletion was negative for all subjects with ADHD screened. None of these differences exceeded those expected by chance. Conclusions In the absence of clinical signs or positive family history, these relatively expensive laboratory assessments are not clinically indicated for children with ADHD and normal intelligence, and are not recommended as a component of other genetic investigations of this disorder.
Spontaneous Generation of Prion Infectivity in Fatal Familial Insomnia Knockin Mice

Summary A crucial tenet of the prion hypothesis is that misfolding of the prion protein (PrP) induced by mutations associated with familial prion disease is, in an otherwise normal mammalian brain, sufficient to generate the infectious agent. Yet this has never been demonstrated. We engineered knockin mice to express a PrP mutation associated with a distinct human prion disease, fatal familial insomnia (FFI). An additional substitution created a strong transmission barrier against pre-existing prions. The mice spontaneously developed a disease distinct from that of other mouse prion models and highly reminiscent of FFI. Unique pathology was transmitted from FFI mice to mice expressing wild-type PrP sharing the same transmission barrier. FFI mice were highly resistant to infection by pre-existing prions, confirming infectivity did not arise from contaminating agents. Thus, a single amino acid change in PrP is sufficient to induce a distinct neurodegenerative disease and the spontaneous generation of prion infectivity.
Ischemia/reperfusion-induced arrhythmias in the isolated rat heart: prevention by melatonin.

Cardiac arrhythmias during ischemia/reperfusion are believed to be related to free radicals generated in the heart especially during the period of reperfusion. Since melatonin functions as a free radical scavenger and antioxidant, the ability of this molecule to influence cardiac arrhythmias was investigated. The pineal secretory product, melatonin, reduced the incidence and severity of arrhythmias induced by ischemia/reperfusion due to ligation of the anterior descending coronary artery in the isolated rat heart. Melatonin was either infused during both the ischemia and reperfusion periods or only late in the ischemia period and throughout reperfusion. The percentage of hearts that developed cardiac arrhythmias during reperfusion as indicated by the incidence of premature ventricular contraction (PVC) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) were recorded. Melatonin either infused during both the ischemia and reperfusion periods or during essentially the period of reperfusion greatly reduced PVC and VF due to occlusion and reopening the anterior descending coronary artery. Presumably melatonin's beneficial effect in reducing cardiac arrhythmias was due in part to its free radical scavenging activity, which is greatly assisted by the rapidity with which it is taken up into cells. Previous studies have shown that vitamin C is effective in reducing the severity of cardiac arrhythmias induced by ischemia/reperfusion; thus, we also compared the efficacy of melatonin with this well-known antioxidant. Melatonin was more potent than vitamin C in protecting against arrhythmias induced by ischemia/reperfusion. Besides melatonin's function as a broad spectrum free radical scavenger, melatonin may have also reduced cardiac arrhythmias due to its regulation of intracellular calcium levels, i.e., by preventing calcium overloading, or due to its ability to suppress sympathetic nerve function and reduce adrenergic receptor function in the myocardium. Additional studies into the mechanisms of melatonin's action in reducing cardiac arrhythmias due to ischemia/reperfusion or other causes are warranted because of the possible application of this information to humans with heart disease.
Left ventricular shape: a factor in the etiology of functional mitral regurgitation in heart failure.

The relationship between left ventricular (LV) shape and functional mitral regurgitation (MR) was examined in 18 dogs with long-standing heart failure produced by multiple sequential intracoronary microembolizations. Global LV shape changes were evaluated from angiographic silhouettes obtained at baseline (before embolization) and during heart failure. LV shape changes at end systole and end diastole were quantitated based upon the ratio of the major-to-minor axis and the sphericity index. Among the 18 dogs studied, 11 developed 1+ to 3+ MR during heart failure and seven did not. There was no difference among the two groups with respect to hemodynamics, LV ejection fraction, chamber volume, and regional wall motion. A significant difference, however, was observed between the two groups with respect to the global indexes of LV shape. In dogs with MR, the end-systolic major-to-minor axis ratio decreased 29 ± 3% between baseline and heart failure compared with only a 16 ± 3% decrease in dogs without MR (p < 0.01). In dogs with MR, the end-systolic sphericity index increased 72 ± 11% between baseline and heart failure compared with an increase of only 30 ± 5% in dogs without MR (p < 0.02). Significant and directionally similar differences were observed during end diastole. These data indicate that in heart failure functional MR is associated with a more spherical LV and is not the result of simple LV chamber enlargement. Shape changes of the LV that occur in heart failure may be an important determinant of functional MR.
Rapid Growth Responses of Avena Coleoptile Segments to Lanthanum and Other Cations

The rapid growth responses of oat (var. Victory) coleoptile segments treated with millimolar concentrations of the chlorides of La 3+ , Ca 2+ , K + , and NH 4 + , respectively, have been measured. La 3+ and Ca 2+ initially depressed the endogenous elongation rate. In the case of La 3+ a prolonged stimulatory effect on the rate of elongation was produced by concentrations of 50 millimolar down to 20 micromolar after an initial depression of elongation rate. The effect of K + was slightly stimulatory and showed a synergistic effect in combination with La 3+ . NH 4 + produced an immediate rapid increase in elongation rate. La 3+ did not behave as a “super calcium” in its action upon the spontaneous growth response. The prolonged elongation of the La 3+ -treated segments exhibiting the spontaneous growth response is apparently a newly observed effect. These rapid growth responses are interpreted as an interaction between anionic lipid-protein complexes in the plasmalemma and the respective ions.
The arginine provocative test: an aid in the diagnosis of hyposomatotropism.

Abstract Comparisons have been made of the secretion of growth hormone (HGH) following the induction of hypoglycemia with insulin and that induced by arginine infusion (0.5 g/kg /30 min) in order to determine the reliability of the latter procedure in the diagnosis of disturbances in growth hormone secretion in children and adult patients. In 49 normal individuals tested with arginine, the HGH level rose to a peak concentration of 21 mμg/ml; in 105 normal individuals tested with hypoglycemia, the mean peak concentration was 17 mμg/ml. The mean peak concentration in plasma HGH in both tests was slightly, but not significantly, higher in women than men. The growth hormone rise in response to arginine was not dependent on prior insulin secretion, for a normal rise was observed in 12 juvenile diabetic patients tested. In 17 normal individuals who were pair-tested, the coefficient correlation between the peak HGH level attained following arginine and following hypoglycemia was 0.20; in 23 children with growth ...
Estimation of DNA sequence context-dependent mutation rates using primate genomic sequences.

It is understood that DNA and amino acid substitution rates are highly sequence context-dependent, e.g., C→T substitutions in vertebrates may occur much more frequently at CpG sites and that cysteine substitution rates may depend on support of the context for participation in a disulfide bond. Furthermore, many applications rely on quantitative models of nucleotide or amino acid substitution, including phylogenetic inference and identification of amino acid sequence positions involved in functional specificity. We describe quantification of the context dependence of nucleotide substitution rates using baboon, chimpanzee, and human genomic sequence data generated by the NISC Comparative Sequencing Program. Relative mutation rates are reported for the 96 classes of mutations of the form 5′αβγ3′ → 5′αδγ3′, where α, β, γ, and δ are nucleotides and β ≠ δ, based on maximum likelihood calculations. Our results confirm that C→T substitutions are enhanced at CpG sites compared with other transitions, relatively independent of the identity of the preceding nucleotide. While, as expected, transitions generally occur more frequently than transversions, we find that the most frequent transversions involve the C at CpG sites (CpG transversions) and that their rate is comparable to the rate of transitions at non-CpG sites. A four-class model of the rates of context-dependent evolution of primate DNA sequences, CpG transitions > non-CpG transitions ≈ CpG transversions > non-CpG transversions, captures qualitative features of the mutation spectrum. We find that despite qualitative similarity of mutation rates among different genomic regions, there are statistically significant differences.
Recovery of Nematodes From Infected Roots By Maceration

A procedure for the recovery of quantities of living root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) from galled roots has been developed. Infected roots are macerated by pectolytic enzymes obtained commercially or prepared from potatoes inoculated with Erwinia carolovora, Roots are immersed in enzymes in flasks at room temperatures with constant agitation in a wrist-action shaker. Chemical agents (periodic acid, or a mixture of chromic and nitric acids) also macerate infected roots; the nematodes are killed but their bodies remain intact. Nematodes are separated from plant debris by washing with tap water through a nest of sieves, followed by decantation. Giant cells also may be recovered on screens. The procedure should prove useful in obtaining live endoparasitic nematodes in quantity for physiological and biochemical studies, for estimating the population in infected roots, and for the study of pathological cell types.
Comparative study on rod fretting behavior of different spacer spring geometries

Abstract The resistance to fretting wear is one of the most important parameters of fuel assembly behavior in the reactor. To choose and optimize the designs with regards to this aspect, it is necessary to carry out lots of model tests. This paper describes the results of some of them carried out to determine the fuel rod fretting behavior for different support conditions. The tests were carried out in a special autoclave in water and at room temperature, with the test excitation being applied by an electromagnetic force excitation system. The test objects consisted of a test rod made of zirconium alloy, supported in three spacer grid cells with convex spring profiles of different geometries (i.e. different radii of curvature). The grid-to-rod diametral gap measured 0.1 mm at all locations. Due to these conditions of support, both impact and sliding motions can simultaneously occur at the interface between the contact surfaces. The dimensions of the fretting marks found after testing for 100 h were measured using mechanical instruments and an interferometer. The results showed that fretting increases the more, the smaller the radius of curvature of the convex support elements. This is due, on the one hand, to the smaller contact surface and, on the other, to certain features of the spring design. Given that the shapes of the fretting marks can vary widely, evaluation of fretting on the basis of fretting depth alone is insufficient. Instead, it is important to determine the entire geometry or shape of the fretting mark and thus the wear volume. The conclusions of this study are limited to the explored parameters and must not be extrapolated to any operational product without further investigations.
A comparison of bronchoscopic vs blind protected specimen brush sampling in patients with suspected ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Background: Pneumonia is a common complication in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation and increases ICU mortality. The clinical diagnosis of ventilator-associated, however, pneumonia is unreliable, and many consider bronchoscopic-directed protected specimen brush sampling and quantitative culture the diagnostic method of choice. Bronchoscopy, however, is expensive and not readily available in many ICUs. Objective: To test the hypothesis that “blind” protected specimen brush (PSB) sampling may produce results similar to that of bronchoscopic-directed sampling. Setting: The medical ICU of a university-affiliated teaching hospital. Intervention: Patients with suspected ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) who had not received antibiotics for at least 48 h underwent “blind” and bronchoscopic-directed PSB sampling with quantitative culture. Results: Fifty-five paired PSB specimens were obtained from 53 patients. There was an 85% quantitative agreement between the blind and bronchoscopic-directed specimens. The agreement was independent of the bronchopulmonary segment from which the bronchoscopic sampling was directed. Conclusion: The results of this study are consistent with the notion that blind PSB sampling and quantitative culture may prove to be a useful, cost-effective, and minimally invasive method of diagnosing VAP.
A shock tube, laser-schlieren study of the pyrolysis of isobutene: Relaxation, incubation, and dissociation rates

Dissociation, vibrational relaxation, and unimolecular incubation have all been observed in shock waves in isobutene with the laser-schlieren technique. Experiments covered a wide range of high-temperature conditions: 900–2300 K, and post-incident shock pressures from 7 to 400 torr in 2, 5, and 10% mixtures with krypton. The surprising observation is that of vibrational relaxation, well resolved over the full temperature range. The resolved process is completely exponential, with relaxation times in the range 20–120 ns atm. Relaxation and dissociation are clearly separated for T > 1850 K, with estimated incubation times near 200 ns atm. Incubation is essential for modeling of the very low-pressure decomposition. Modeling of gradients with a chain mechanism initiated by CH fission produces an excellent fit and accurate dissociation rates that show severe falloff. A restricted-rotor, Gorin-model RRKM analysis fits these rates quite well with the known bond-energy as barrier and 〈ΔE〉down = 680 cm−1. The extrapolated k∞ is log k∞(s−1) = 19.187–0.865 log T −87.337 (kcal/mol)/RT, in good agreement with previous work. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 35: 381–390, 2003
The optimal degree of cooperation in the repeated Prisoners' Dilemma with side payments

Abstract In the infinitely repeated Prisoners' Dilemma with side payments, we characterize the Pareto frontier of the set of subgame perfect equilibrium payoffs for all possible combinations of discount factors. Play paths implementing Pareto dominant equilibrium payoffs are uniquely determined in all but the first period. Full cooperation does not necessarily implement these payoffs even when it maximizes total stage game payoffs. Rather, when the difference in players' discount factors is sufficiently large, Pareto dominant equilibrium payoffs are implemented by partial cooperation supported by repeated payments from the impatient to the patient player. When both players are sufficiently patient, such payoffs, while implemented via full cooperation, are supported by repeated payments from the impatient to the patient player. We characterize conditions under which public randomization has no impact on the Pareto dominant equilibrium payoffs and conditions under which such payoffs are robust to renegotiation.
The generalized Boltzmann distribution.

Abstract The Boltzmann distribution is usually derived for systems in which the total energy is the sum of the energies of the individual molecules. A corresponding derivation may be given in the general case where the form of the energy function is unknown, since only its differential, by nature a linear function, is required. A somewhat different verbal definition of entropy is suggested, and Stirling's approximation is avoided.
Modulation of innate immune signaling by nonstructural protein 1 (nsp1) in the family Arteriviridae

Arteriviruses infect immune cells and may cause persistence in infected hosts. Inefficient induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and type I IFNs are observed during infection of this group of viruses, suggesting that they may have evolved to escape the host immune surveillance for efficient survival. Recent studies have identified viral proteins regulating the innate immune signaling, and among these, nsp1 (nonstructural protein 1) is the most potent IFN antagonist. For porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), individual subunits (nsp1α and nsp1β) of nsp1 suppress type I IFN production. In particular, PRRSV-nsp1α degrades CREB (cyclic AMP responsive element binding)-binding protein (CBP), a key component of the IFN enhanceosome, whereas PRRSV-nsp1β degrades karyopherin-α1 which is known to mediate the nuclear import of ISGF3 (interferon-stimulated gene factor 3). All individual subunits of nsp1 of PRRSV, equine arteritis virus (EAV), lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus (LDV), and simian hemorrhagic fever virus (SHFV) appear to contain IFN suppressive activities. As with PRRSV-nsp1α, CBP degradation is evident by LDV-nsp1α and partly by SHFV-nsp1γ. This review summarizes the biogenesis and the role of individual subunits of nsp1 of arteriviruses for innate immune modulation.
Uniqueness of theSUNgauge groups for implementing absolute proton stability with a globalU1of color

The problem of ensuring proton stability in grand unified models of the strong, weak, and electromagnetic interactions by means of a new conserved quantum number is investigated. It is assumed that spontaneous symmetry breaking will preserve an $\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{U}}_{3}^{c}$ of color. To guarantee that the new quantum number $\ensuremath{\chi}$ be conserved after the spontaneous symmetry breaking, we require that all color-singlet Higgs fields in the theory have $\ensuremath{\chi}=0$. This assumption has the following consequences: The gauge symmetry must be $\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{U}}_{N}$, the global symmetry must be ${\mathrm{U}}_{N}$, $\ensuremath{\chi}$ must generate the ${\mathrm{U}}_{1}^{c}$ of color, and only certain representations for the Higgs scalars are possible. Conservation of $\ensuremath{\chi}$ also restricts the possible $\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{U}}_{N}$ fermion assignments. In particular, if all fermions are either singlets, triplets, or antitriplets of color and if the only massless fermions are $\ensuremath{\chi}=0$ neutrinos, then conservation of $\ensuremath{\chi}$ requires that either the model is vectorlike or that there are many fermion representations, some of which include families of particles with unusual values of $\ensuremath{\chi}$. Both cases are anomaly free.