cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Implications for the delivery of health care.

Abstract Several international agencies have recently passed resolutions calling for increased comprehension of the interactions at the interface which links social organization of the community with systems of health care so as to make synergism possible. One of the bases on which more synergistic relationships can be built is by development and utilization of a comparative anthropology of health beliefs similar to the comparative epidemiological studies which have made such major contributions to the understanding of multiple causes of diseases. Another is the development of more centrifugal comprehensive care services reaching out to rural communities and integrating both traditional healers and local community leaders. A new partnership between official cosmopolitan medicine and local resources holds a promise of bringing back some of the human concern and hope that health systems need if they are really going to meet social needs.
Prospective influences of circadian clocks in adipose tissue and metabolism

Circadian rhythms make a critical contribution to endocrine functions that involve adipose tissue. These contributions are made at the systemic, organ and stem cell levels. The transcription factors and enzymes responsible for the maintenance of circadian rhythms in adipose depots and other peripheral tissues that are metabolically active have now been identified. Furthermore, the circadian regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism is well-established. Animal and human models provide strong evidence that disturbances in circadian pathways are associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity and their comorbidities. Thus, circadian mechanisms represent a novel putative target for therapy in patients with metabolic diseases.
Dry micromachining of high-aspect-ratio Si for microsensors

Dry micromachining technology is developed for fabricating high aspect ratio Si structrues for microsensors. Two microsensor structures, including Si resonators and field emitters, will be presented in this ppaer. Released Si resonators up to 30 micrometers deep with 2 micrometers wide gap were fabricated. This is accomplished by a novel deep etch and shallow diffusion technique. High aspect ratio Si microstructures with vertical profile were first etched using an electron cyclotron resonance source, followed by a shallow B diffusion to fully convert the etched microstructures to p++ layer. In addition, dry etching was used to form Si emitters with sharp tips and high packing density. Profile for Si emitters is controlled by erosion of the SiO2 mask during dry etching. The ion flux and energy, controlled through coupled microwave and rf power, were used to obtain the desired etch rate and basewidth of the emitters. By increasing the pressure during etching, more vertical Si emitters were developed. Sharp emitter tips in Si with 2.2 micrometers basewidth and 11 micrometers height were fabricated and packing densities up to 1 X 107 tip/cm2 were achieved.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Uncertainty Estimations for Particle Image Velocimetry in a Medical Device Analog (Nozzle) Model

Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) is currently the most widely used and well-established tool for non-invasive flow field velocity measurements, and a valuable method for validating computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models of medical devices. One of the critical steps in the CFD validation process is quantification of the experimental uncertainties. This work utilizes a new uncertainty estimation methodology developed by Charonko et al.1 for quantifying the PIV cross-correlation uncertainties. Uncertainties from experimental sources, including image magnification and acquisition timing, were propagated using Taylor series expansion for PIV data within the FDA benchmark Nozzle model2.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Mercury’s global color mosaic: An update from MESSENGER’s orbital observations

Abstract We report an update to the photometric correction used to produce global color mosaics of Mercury, derived from an analysis of photometric observations acquired during the orbital phase of MESSENGER’s primary mission. Comparisons between versions of the color mosaic produced with photometric corrections derived from flyby and orbital data indicate that areas imaged at high incidence and emission angles (>50°) are better standardized to a common illumination and viewing geometry with the orbit-derived corrections. Seams between images taken at very different illumination geometries, however, are still present at visually detectable levels. Further improvements to the photometric correction await updates to the radiometric calibration that will enable data retrieval over a larger range of photometric angles.
Social Psychology Research during the 1970s Predominance of Experimentation and College Students

Articles published in four mainline social psychology journals in 1978 and 1979 were categorized by research design and subjects, and compared with similar analyses from 1949, 1959, and 1969. The results indicated that research trends previously observed for the 1940s through the 1960s were perpetuated during the 1970s: At the end of the 1970s, experimental research still predominated over correlational research, and college students still predominated over noncollege samples.
Carbohydrates in phytoplankton and freshly produced dissolved organic matter

Four taxonomically-diverse, phytoplankton cultures (Phaeocystis sp., Emiliania huxleyi, Synechococcus bacillaris, Skeletonema costatum) were grown in batch culture for 14 days, and the particulate and high-molecular-weight dissolved components of the cultures were harvested by tangential-flow ultrafiltration for bulk and molecular-level carbohydrate analyses. Bulk carbohydrates and neutral aldoses accounted for an average of 37% and 20%, respectively, of the particulate organic carbon (>0.1 μm) in the cultures. Glucose was the dominant aldose in phytoplankton cellular material. Ultrafiltered dissolved organic matter (UDOM; >1000 Da) from the cultures was rich in carbohydrates relative to cellular material. Bulk carbohydrates and neutral aldoses accounted for an average of 66% and 35%, respectively, of UDOM in the cultures. The average C/N value (21.6) for UDOM was much higher than the value (8.8) for cellular material, reflecting the carbohydrate-rich nature of UDOM. Freshly produced UDOM was characterized by similar contributions of several aldoses, including galactose, glucose, mannose, fucose, xylose, and arabinose. The aldose signatures of phytoplankton UDOM were distinct from the signatures for cellular material and were indicative of heteropolysaccharides. The UDOM produced in phytoplankton cultures was similar in nature to the UDOM isolated from various locations in the surface ocean. Surface ocean UDOM is rich in carbohydrates and is relatively depleted in nitrogen (C/N∼17), and the aldose signature of marine UDOM is similar to that of phytoplankton UDOM. These observations indicate that phytoplankton extracellular releases could be a major source of the dissolved heteropolysaccharides observed throughout the surface ocean.
Use of rank-based decision level fusion in landmine discrimination

The paper discusses the fusing of results from classifiers and discriminant functions. It explores the relationship between the Bayesian opinion pooling of classifier results and the linear pooling of ranks generated by normalizing discriminant values. This work is closely related to current research rank preference aggregation. I discuss a method of using gradient ascent to choose appropriate aggregation parameters from a surface comprising the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney statistic and discuss the importance of including negative weights in that search. Finally I recap the results of applying this method to a large-scale collection of landmine data from a vehicular mounted mine detection system.
The Mayo Clinic Biobank: A Building Block for Individualized Medicine

Abstract Objective To report the design and implementation of the first 3 years of enrollment of the Mayo Clinic Biobank. Patients and Methods Preparations for this biobank began with a 4-day Deliberative Community Engagement with local residents to obtain community input into the design and governance of the biobank. Recruitment, which began in April 2009, is ongoing, with a target goal of 50,000. Any Mayo Clinic patient who is 18 years or older, able to consent, and a US resident is eligible to participate. Each participant completes a health history questionnaire, provides a blood sample, and allows access to existing tissue specimens and all data from their Mayo Clinic electronic medical record. A community advisory board provides ongoing advice and guidance on complex decisions. Results After 3 years of recruitment, 21,736 individuals have enrolled. Fifty-eight percent (12,498) of participants are female and 95% (20,541) of European ancestry. Median participant age is 62 years. Seventy-four percent (16,171) live in Minnesota, with 42% (9157) from Olmsted County, where the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, is located. The 5 most commonly self-reported conditions are hyperlipidemia (8979, 41%), hypertension (8174, 38%), osteoarthritis (6448, 30%), any cancer (6224, 29%), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (5669, 26%). Among patients with self-reported cancer, the 5 most common types are nonmelanoma skin cancer (2950, 14%), prostate cancer (1107, 12% in men), breast cancer (941, 4%), melanoma (692, 3%), and cervical cancer (240, 2% in women). Fifty-six percent (12,115) of participants have at least 15 years of electronic medical record history. To date, more than 60 projects and more than 69,000 samples have been approved for use. Conclusion The Mayo Clinic Biobank has quickly been established as a valuable resource for researchers.
Penalized Likelihood PET Image Reconstruction Using Patch-Based Edge-Preserving Regularization

Iterative image reconstruction for positron emission tomography (PET) can improve image quality by using spatial regularization that penalizes image intensity difference between neighboring pixels. The most commonly used quadratic penalty often oversmoothes edges and fine features in reconstructed images. Nonquadratic penalties can preserve edges but often introduce piece-wise constant blocky artifacts and the results are also sensitive to the hyper-parameter that controls the shape of the penalty function. This paper presents a patch-based regularization for iterative image reconstruction that uses neighborhood patches instead of individual pixels in computing the nonquadratic penalty. The new regularization is more robust than the conventional pixel-based regularization in differentiating sharp edges from random fluctuations due to noise. An optimization transfer algorithm is developed for the penalized maximum likelihood estimation. Each iteration of the algorithm can be implemented in three simple steps: an EM-like image update, an image smoothing and a pixel-by-pixel image fusion. Computer simulations show that the proposed patch-based regularization can achieve higher contrast recovery for small objects without increasing background variation compared with the quadratic regularization. The reconstruction is also more robust to the hyper-parameter than conventional pixel-based nonquadratic regularizations. The proposed regularization method has been applied to real 3-D PET data.
X-ray phase-shifts-based method of volumetric breast density measurement

Purpose: The high breast density is one of the biggest risk factors for breast cancer. Identifying patient having persistent high breast density is important for breast cancer screening and prevention. In this work the authors propose for the first time an x-ray phase-shifts-based method of breast density measurement. Methods: When x ray traverses the breast, x ray gets not only its intensity attenuated but also its phase shifted. Studying the x-ray phase-shifts generated by the breast tissues, we derived a general formula for determining the volumetric breast density from the breast phase map. The volumetric breast density is reconstructed by retrieving the breast phase map from just a single phase-sensitive projection of the breast, through the use of an innovative phase retrieval method based on the phase-attenuation duality. In order to numerically validate this phase-shifts-based method for measuring the volumetric breast density, the authors performed computer simulations with a digitally simulated anthropomorphic breast phantom. Results: Using the proposed phase-shifts-based method, we reconstructed the breast phantom's volumetric breast density, which differs from the phantom's intrinsic breast density by only 0.06%. In the presence of noises in the projection image, the reconstructed volumetric breast density differs from the phantom's intrinsic breast density by only 1.79% for a projection signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) of 34. The error in reconstructed breast density is further reduced to 1.61% and 1.55% for SNR = 68 and SNR = 134, respectively, achieving good accuracies in the breast density determination. Conclusions : The authors proposed an x-ray phase-shifts-based method of measuring the volumetric breast density. The simulation results numerically validated the proposed method as a novel method of breast density measurement with good accuracies.
A conformational change in heparan sulfate 3-O-sulfotransferase-1 is induced by binding to heparan sulfate.

The 3-O-sulfation of glucosamine by heparan sulfate 3-O-sulfotransferase-1 (3-OST-1) is a key modification step during the biosynthesis of anticoagulant heparan sulfate (HS). In this paper, we present evidence of a conformational change that occurs in 3-OST-1 upon binding to heparan sulfate. The intrinsic fluorescence of 3-OST-1 was increased in the presence of HS, suggesting a conformational change. This apparent conformational change was further investigated using differential chemical modification of 3-OST-1 to measure the solvent accessibility of the lysine residues. 3-OST-1 was treated with acetic anhydride in either the presence or absence of HS using both acetic anhydride and hexadeuterioacetic anhydride under nondenaturing and denaturing conditions, respectively. The relative reactivity of the lysine residues to acetylation and [ 2 H] acetylation in the presence or absence of HS was analyzed by measuring the ratio of acetylated and deuterioacetylated peptides using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry. The solvent accessibilities of the lysine residues were altered differentially depending on their location. In particular, we observed a group of lysine residues in the C-terminus of 3-OST- 1 that become more solvent accessible when 3-OST- 1 binds to HS. This observation indicates that a conformational change could be occurring during substrate binding. A truncated mutant of 3-OST-1 that lacked this C-terminal region was expressed and found to exhibit a 200-fold reduction in sulfotransferase activity. The results from this study will contribute to our understanding of the interactions between 3-OSTs and HS.
Ectopic Fat in Insulin Resistance, Dyslipidemia, and Cardiometabolic Disease

The relationship between insulin resistance and visceral and muscle fat is complex. Recent research findings are unraveling some of the mysteries and suggesting therapeutic approaches to restoring insulin sensitivity.
Metallic Foil-Assisted Laser Cell Printing

Laser direct-write technology such as modified laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) is emerging as a revolutionary technology for biological construct fabrication. While many modified LIFT-based cell direct writing successes have been achieved, possible process-induced cell injury and death is still a big hurdle for modified LIFT-based cell direct writing to be a viable technology. The objective of this study is to propose metallic foil-assisted LIFT using a four-layer structure to achieve better droplet size control and increase cell viability in direct writing of human colon cancer cells (HT-29). The proposed four layers include a quartz disk, a sacrificial and adhesive layer, a metallic foil, and a cell suspension layer. The bubble formation-induced stress wave is responsible for droplet formation. It is found that the proposed metallic foil-assisted LIFT approach is an effective cell direct-write technology and provides better printing resolution and high post-transfer cell viability when compared with other conventional modified LIFT technologies such as matrix-assisted pulsed-laser evaporation direct-write; at the same time, the possible contamination from the laser energy absorbing material is minimized using a metallic foil.
Immersed boundary computations of shear- and buoyancy-driven flows in complex enclosures

Cartesian grids used with the immersed boundary method (IBM) offer an attractive alternative for simulating fluid flows in complex geometries. We present a ghost fluid method for incompressible flows solved with staggered grids. The primary feature is the satisfaction of local mass continuity for ghost pressure cells, rather than extrapolating the pressures from within the flow domain. The method preserves local continuity in each cell and also global continuity. As a result, no explicit mass sources or sinks are needed. We have applied the method to study shear- and buoyancy-driven flows in a number of complex cavities.
Bacterial crowd control with iron.

Bacterial biofilms account for more than 80% of human infections. Hergenrother and coworkers report in this issue that high concentrations of iron salts can block the formation of these bacterial communities [1]; this represents an attractive new method for biofilm control.
Application of the zone model to multiple noncatalytic fluid-solid reactions☆

Abstract The effect of intraparticle diffusion on the multiple gas-solid reactions occurring in a porous solid reactant is analyzed by the zone reaction model. In parallel reactions for gases and a consecutive reaction for the solid, the solutions of transient concentration profiles of two solid reactants are given by classifying three zones, viz. Reaction zone and reaction-diffusion zone and diffusion zone in the course of the reaction progression. As an example, the simultaneous reduction-sulfidation of porous iron oxide sorbent in the desuifurization from low BTU coal gases is analyzed by the present model. The Thiele modulus of the reaction governs the behavior of the moving boundary between the reaction zone and the diffusion zone. When the Thiele modulus tends to be infinite, the present model is consistent with the solutions based on the unreacted shrinking core model.
Origin of clay minerals associated with V-U deposits in the Entrada Sandstone, Placerville mining district, southwestern Colorado

The relative timing of ore metal accumulation and clay formation in sandstone-hosted vanadium-uranium (V-U) deposits is poorly known. The relation between these two processes was investigated by comparison of the mineralogy, chemical composition, petrography, and Rb-Sr ages of clays in barren and ore-bearing sandstones from the Middle Jurassic Entrada Sandstone. The only clay detected in all samples was illite that is aluminous, a 1M polytype, and contains variable but low amounts of interlayered smectite ( 1 wt % V 2 O 3 ) illite (roscoelite), which forms ribbons and plates that locally constitute as much as 70 percent of the rock. Rb-Sr data failed to produce a usable isochron presumably because of heterogeneity in the initial 87 SR/ 86 Sr. Calculated model ages for barren and vanadium-rich illites are similar and most values range from 30 to 45 Ma. An episode of illitization that altered preexisting V-U deposits produced the similar characteristics of illite in barren and ore samples. Geochemical constraints support accumulation of vanadium prior to the Late Cretaceous, when the Entrada Sandstone was buried by less than 300 m of overlying sediments. Organic compounds or HiS reduced chromium, uranium, and vanadium dissolved in ground water and precipitated them as oxides or precursor clay minerals. Later, during the Tertiary, illite formed by reaction between epigenetic solutions at approximately 100%C, and solid constituents of the Entrada Sandstone. The unusually large abundance of illite in ore relative to barren sandstone is consistent with recrystallization of precursor clay minerals or enhanced illite precipitation because of a high dissolved vanadium activity. Based on this interpretation, genetic models of V-U deposits should not assume that ore clays formed coeval with metal accumulation.
The Effects of a WIC Educational Video and Viewers’ Characteristics on Nutrition Knowledge

Abstract Videotapes are popular alternatives to traditional methods of teaching because they are efficient, convenient and accessible. However, using videotapes to meet the educational needs of an audience that is culturally and linguistically diverse becomes a challenge. One hundred fifty pregnant women from nine SDSU Foundation Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children [WIC] clinics enrolled in the study. Subjects were grouped by first language (English versus all others) and by time for a 2×2 repeated measures analysis of variance of mean scores on a nutrition knowledge test completed before and after watching a video. The subjects' higher scores after (15.0 ± 2.1) watching than before (12.9 ± 2.6) showed a significant time (p = 0.000) and language (p = 0.000) effect The native English speakers scored higher than the non-native English speakers on both tests. Other factors that affected test scores included parity, education and desire to learn more about nutrition. Subjects earned high scores on the importance of breast milk, weight gain during pregnancy and not drinking alcohol, indicating success in delivery of these standard WIC messages. Subjects paid attention to the video as they significantly (p = 0.000) increased their scores on questions directly associated with the video (GLOW, GO, and GROW foods). Also, subjects significantly (p ≤ 0.019) improved their scores on questions asking about carbohydrates, iron, foods for healthy blood and fighting off infections, weight gain during pregnancy and daily fluid intake. Subjects did not improve their scores after watching the video on questions asking about calcium, Vitamin C, fiber, foods that are good for the eyes and for healthy teeth and bones, breast milk and foods to limit in the diet. More attention needs to be given to helping the women understand messages about Vitamin C, calcium, iron and fiber.
The impact of stroke on the cost and level of care in nursing homes: a retrospective population-based study.

Objective To estimate the impact of incident stroke on nursing home (NH) costs and level of care. Subjects and Methods This retrospective population-based cohort study is part of a larger study that identified all Rochester, Minn, residents with a confirmed first stroke occurring between January 1, 1988, and December 31, 1989. One Rochester resident who had not had a stroke was matched to each person with stroke. Persons with and without stroke were followed up in provider-linked medical records and NH files from baseline (ie, date of stroke) through December 31, 1994, for evidence of NH use. This study characterized the NH activity of those individuals with any NH activity after baseline (58 persons with major stroke, 36 persons with minor stroke, and 63 persons without stroke) as to NH case mix at first assessment, number of NH days, and per diem Medicaid reimbursement. Results Characteristics at first NH assessment after baseline revealed that NH residents with major stroke were younger and more disabled and required more services than residents without stroke. Over the full period of follow-up, the mean number of NH days was similar for NH residents with major stroke and those without stroke, yet per diem Medicaid reimbursement was 11% higher for residents with major stroke compared with residents without stroke. Nursing home residents with minor stroke appeared similar to those without stroke with respect to time to admission, characteristics at first assessment, number of NH days, and per diem Medicaid reimbursement. Conclusion Lower incidence and severity of stroke may contribute to lower care needs and per diem cost, but no fewer NH days.
Nuclear Quadrupole Interactions at Te 125 in the Isoelectronic Crystalline Hosts of S, Se, and Te

A systematic increase in ${\mathrm{Te}}^{125}$ quadrupole splitting of up to 54% has been observed in the isoelectronic crystalline hosts of Te, Se, and S. This is attributed to nonlocal and overlap electronic contributions to the electric field gradient ${q}_{\mathrm{e}1}$, which increase as a result of a systematic shortening of the covalent bonds.
Large deflection measurements in structures using diffraction gratings

An optical technique has been developed whereby two angles and linear displacement can be simultaneously measured in a non-contact manner. The method depends upon the usage of a diffraction grating with linear variation of period along its length. The grating is attached to a structure at a point of interest while all other system components are placed at a remote location. Evaluation of this measurement technique has been demonstrated on a laboratory- based structure which simulated conditions found at deep trench (or tunnel) walls or bracing systems. In a construction site configuration, this sensor allows the user to determine if the walls are undergoing structural deformation. In addition, the magnitude of deformation may be measured and alarm conditions may be monitored. Experimental results obtained using this technique are presented and compared with theory.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Hapa-Based Systems for Producing Oreochromis niloticus Fry Suitable for Hormone Sex-Reversal

Two techniques for producing Nile tilapia. Oreochromis niloticus, fry suitable for sex-reversal were evaluated: (1) broodstock placed in 8-m2 fine-mesh (1.6 mm) suspended net enclosures apas from which fry could not escape, and (2) broodstock placed in 8-m2 large mesh (6.4 mm) hapas from which fry could escape into a 0.67-mm deep 20-m2 concrete tank. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the number of fry less than 14 mm produced in the large- or fine-mesh hapas with an average of 286 fry/m2. However, fry produced in large-mesh hapas were significantly larger (10.9 mm; P 0.05) in fry mortality during harvest averaging 1.3%. The large-mesh hapas p...
Apparent diffusion coefficient histogram analysis stratifies progression-free and overall survival in patients with recurrent GBM treated with bevacizumab: a multi-center study.

We have tested the predictive value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) histogram analysis in stratifying progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in bevacizumab-treated patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) from the multi-center BRAIN study. Available MRI's from patients enrolled in the BRAIN study (n = 97) were examined by generating ADC histograms from areas of enhancing tumor on T1 weighted post-contrast images fitted to a two normal distribution mixture curve. ADC classifiers including the mean ADC from the lower curve (ADC-L) and the mean lower curve proportion (LCP) were tested for their ability to stratify PFS and OS by using Cox proportional hazard ratios and the Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank test. Mean ADC-L was 1,209 × 10(-6)mm(2)/s ± 224 (SD), and mean LCP was 0.71 ± 0.23 (SD). Low ADC-L was associated with worse outcome. The hazard ratios for 6-month PFS, overall PFS, and OS in patients with less versus greater than mean ADC-L were 3.1 (95 % confidence interval: 1.6, 6.1; P = 0.001), 2.3 (95 % CI: 1.3, 4.0; P = 0.002), and 2.4 (95 % CI: 1.4, 4.2; P = 0.002), respectively. In patients with ADC-L 0.71 versus ADC-L >1,209 and LCP <0.71, there was a 2.28-fold reduction in the median time to progression, and a 1.42-fold decrease in the median OS. The predictive value of ADC histogram analysis, in which low ADC-L was associated with poor outcome, was confirmed in bevacizumab-treated patients with recurrent GBM in a post hoc analysis from the multi-center (BRAIN) study.
Psychological and psychosocial adjustment of HIV‐infected gay/bisexual men: Disease stage comparisons

The association between HIV disease progression (asymptomatic, symptomatic, AIDS) and mental health and psychosocial adjustment was examined among 144 men living in the New York City metropolitan area who had sex with men. While mean levels of mental health reported by the men did not differ by disease stage, mean levels of psychosocial adjustment did, with asymptomatic participants reporting significantly higher levels of adjustment on average, than those with AIDS. The data indicated that gay and bisexual men with HIV or AIDS were at risk of intrapsychic distress throughout the disease course, but the likelihood of problematic adjustment associated with their social interactions appeared to increase with the progression of the disease. The data also revealed that the men reported relatively high levels of psychological symptomatology and low levels of psychosocial adjustment compared to normative general population samples, and lower levels of psychosocial adjustment compared with some samples of individuals having other acute or chronic conditions. The implications of these findings for community psychologists are discussed. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Human C-reactive protein promotes oxidized low density lipoprotein uptake and matrix metalloproteinase-9 release in Wistar rats

C-reactive protein (CRP) is present in the atherosclerotic plaques and appears to promote atherogenesis. Intraplaque CRP colocalizes with oxidized low density lipoprotein (OxLDL) and macrophages in human atherosclerotic lesions. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) has been implicated in plaque rupture. CRP promotes OxLDL uptake and MMP induction in vitro; however, these have not been investigated in vivo. We examined the effect of CRP on OxLDL uptake and MMP-9 production in vivo in Wistar rats. CRP significantly increased OxLDL uptake in the peritoneal and sterile pouch macrophages compared with human serum albumin (huSA). CRP also significantly increased intracellular cholesteryl ester accumulation compared with huSA. The increased uptake of OxLDL by CRP was inhibited by pretreatment with antibodies to CD32, CD64, CD36, and fucoidin, suggesting uptake by both scavenger receptors and Fc-γ receptors. Furthermore, CRP treatment increased MMP-9 activity in macrophages compared with huSA, which was abrogated by inhibitors to p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and nuclear factor (NF)-κB but not Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) before human CRP treatment. Because OxLDL uptake by macrophages contributes to foam cell formation and MMP release contributes to plaque instability, this study provides novel in vivo evidence for the role of CRP in atherosclerosis.
The Variation of Young's Modulus with Magnetization and Temperature in Nickel

The relation between Young's modulus, magnetization, and temperature in annealed polycrystalline nickel, 99.7 percent pure, is determined for values of $J$ between zero and saturation, and for values of $T$ between 23.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C and 400\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. The percent increase in Young's modulus is proportional to ${J}^{2}$ between zero and about 0.4 saturation, at all temperatures below 311\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. The total increase in the modulus from the demagnetized to the saturated state is 6.7 percent at 23\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, reaches a maximum of 18.7 percent at 185\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, and decreases to zero at the Curie point. The results indicate that the theory of this phenomenon offered by Akulov is probably essentially correct but requires modification. The method employed for the measurement of Young's modulus yields at the same time a measure of the coefficient of internal friction of the material. The internal friction decreases with increasing magnetization at all temperatures below the Curie point. In the demagnetized material it reaches a maximum value at the same temperature as does the change in elastic modulus. Its value at magnetic saturation is the same order of magnitude as that of a nonferromagnetic substance.
UPTAKE OF METAL IONS BY A NEW CHELATING ION-EXCHANGE RESIN. VII. ALKALINE EARTH CATIONS∗∗

ABSTRACT The comparison among the uptake of alkaline earth cations from dilute acidic solutions by the Diphonix™ resin, a silica based Diphonix-like resin, and a sulfonic type strong acid ion exchange resin has shown that the alkaline earth cations at tracer level concentration are retained by the Diphonix resin because they are bound mainly to the diphosphonic acid groups of the resin. Consequently, a dual-mechanism of access and recognition can be assumed to be operative in the uptake of the Group Ila cations by the Diphonix resin. A similar conclusion had been previously reached for the uptake of actinide ions based on the shape of their acid dependencies. Infrared spectra of the Diphonix resin and some of its metal salts have shown that the alkaline earth cations are bound to the diphosphonic acid groups through highly ionic interactions.
Glycemic Control in the Diabetic Patient After Stroke

Hyperglycemia is a common problem in the diabetic patient after an acute stroke. Maintaining therapeutic blood glucose levels in diabetics during extreme physiologic stress can present extreme challenges. Reasonably tight, yet therapeutic, control of glycemia in the diabetic stroke patient must be a priority. This article evaluates strategies for lowering glycemia to improve neurologic outcome in acute stroke patients. It reviews the literature of the epidemiology, describes the pathophysiologic process, discusses the debate over the glycemic target goal, and gives algorithms for glucose control methods for acute care.
Incorporating monotonicity and concavity conditions in flexible functional forms

SUMMARY Empirical economists using flexible functional forms often face the disturbing choice of drawing inferences from an approximation violating properties dictated by theory or imposing global restrictions that greatly restrict the flexibility of the functional form. Focusing on the cost function, this paper presents an alternative approach which imposes monotonicity and concavity properties only over the set of prices where inferences will be drawn. An application investigating elasticities for Bemdt-Wood data set using the translog, generalized Leontief, and symmetric generalized McFadden flexible functional forms illustrates the technique. Violations of theoretical properties pose one of the most difficult challenges faced by empirical economists. The introduction of flexible functional forms provided specifications capable of approximating many technologies and of violating monotonicity and concavity conditions implied by theory. Imposing these restrictions at all non-negative prices eliminates this problem, but with a significant loss in flexibility. This paper assesses the benefits of imposing monotonicity and concavity on cost functions over a range of prices through appropriate choice of prior distribution. The evolution of flexible functional forms approximating cost functions over the last twenty years supplies a clear indication of the importance of incorporating properties from theory into empirical analysis. Diewert's (1971) introduction of the generalized Leontief and Christensen, Jorgenson, and Lau's (1973) translog supplied attractive alternatives to earlier Cobb-Douglass and CES forms. These fexible functional forms are capable of attaining arbitrary price elasticities at a point, unlike other forms which imposed strong restrictions on elasticities between inputs. Unfortunately, such advances leading to gains in flexibility also produced functional forms that often violate monotonicity and concavity properties implied by theory. Caves and Christensen (1980) and Barnett and Lee (1985) find small regular regions for the translog and generalized Leontief, and concavity violations often appear in empirical applications using these forms.1 For example, Diewert and Wales (1987) report violations of
CdSe-ZnS quantum dot Langmuir films employing thiophene thiol as a capping ligand

Core-shell CdSe-ZnS quantum dots have been one of the most actively researched nanomaterials in the past decade. In this paper we introduce thiophene thiol (TPT) as a capping ligand on the CdSe-ZnS heterostructure. These conjugated ligands allow for improved carrier transport in comparison to their saturated, long chain hydrocarbon counterparts. By demonstrating a robust and inexpensive method to deposit close packed monolayers of these nanostructures, we hope to open the door for a new family of low cost inorganic devices employing them.
Development of the first infrared satellite observatory

A development history is given for the Infrared Astronomical Satelite (IRAS), whose primary mission objective is an unbiased, all-sky survey in the 8-120 micron wavelength range. A point source catalog of more than 200,000 IR sources, to be published later this year, represents the accomplishment of this objective. IRAS has also conducted 10,000 pointed observations of specific objects. Attention is given to the cost increases and schedule slips which resulted from the substantial technical challenges of IRAS hardware and software development, and to the management techniques which had to be employed in this major international project.
The Rectal Tube: An Excellent Catheter for Severe Clot Retention

AbstractPurpose: We describe the use of an alternative catheter for clot irrigation.Materials and Methods: Six patients with severe clot retention that could not be treated successfully with irrigation using large bore urethral catheters were subsequently treated with a fenestrated 28 to 32F Rusch red rubber rectal catheter.Results: All clots were successfully evacuated. Cystoscopic evaluation the following day in 4 patients with hematuria confirmed the absence of clots. The other 2 patients did not undergo cystoscopy but continuous bladder irrigation was completely clear for the next 24 hours and the catheters were removed without further sequelae.Conclusions: Irrigation through a rectal tube can provide immediate relief of clot retention and consequently avoid emergency endoscopic intervention in the operating room.
Leadership Training in Health Care Action Teams: A Systematic Review

PurposeTo identify and describe the design, implementation, and evidence of effectiveness of leadership training interventions for health care action (HCA) teams, defined as interdisciplinary teams whose members coordinate their actions in time-pressured, unstable situations.MethodThe authors conduc
“An International Alliance of People of All Nations Against Racism”: Nonviolence and Solidarity in the Antiapartheid Activism of the American Committee on Africa, 1952–19651

Martin Luther King's 1965 call for “People of all Nations” to impose economic sanctions on South Africa grew from his experience with active nonviolence in the American civil rights movement. King worked with the American Committee on Africa (ACOA) to oppose apartheid. Initially, both ACOA and King looked to the antiapartheid struggle in South Africa as an exemplary use of nonviolence in opposition to racial segregation. The 1960 Sharpeville Massacre, which prompted the South African antiapartheid movement's turn from nonviolence to armed struggle, created a quandary for American advocates of nonviolence. King and ACOA responded to this dilemma by advocating the transnational application of sanction and boycott. Thus, a new form of solidarity developed in which opponents of apartheid outside South Africa used nonviolence to help create ways for peoples of all nations to express their opposition to racism.
The interaction of DRD2 and violent victimization on depression: an analysis by gender and race.

Abstract Background Recent research has shown that a polymorphism in the dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2) moderates the association between stressful life events and depression. The present study builds off this literature and examines whether DRD2 moderates the effect of violent victimization on depression. Furthermore, the current analyses investigate whether the effects of DRD2 and violent victimization vary by gender and by race for females. Methods Respondents from waves II and III of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) completed questionnaires regarding their depressive symptoms and violent victimization experiences (n = 2380). Results Multivariate regression results reveal that violent victimization has a strong independent effect on depressive symptoms for Caucasian females. In contrast, violent victimization is only associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms among African American females when they carry at least one A1 allele of DRD2. Results also show that DRD2 has a significant independent effect on depressive symptoms for males and African American females. Conclusions The results suggest that African American females who carry the A1 allele of DRD2 may be more vulnerable to the negative effects of violent victimization than African American females who do not carry at least one copy of the A1 allele. Limitations The current study's findings may not generalize to clinical populations, adults, and individuals residing in other countries. In addition, the effects of DRD2 may reflect other polymorphisms that are in linkage with DRD2.
The spatial distribution and annual cycle of upper ocean thermohaline structure

[1] Observations of the spatial distribution and persistence of thermohaline structure are presented, and show how advection and diffusion affect a passive tracer. More than two years of underwater glider observations in the central subtropical North Pacific showed thermohaline variability over horizontal scales from 5 to 1300 km. Thermohaline fluctuations along isopycnals (spice fluctuations) were elevated in layers throughout the water column with the largest fluctuations near the surface and subtropical frontal regions. Fluctuations were uncorrelated between the layers but stirred by the same velocity field. Spice variance had local extrema in the vertical because of differences in source water properties and the influence of neighboring water masses. Spice variance spanned about three orders of magnitude along deeper isopycnals with larger variance where different water masses met and where velocity and vorticity variance were elevated. Horizontal wave number spectra of spice had slopes of −2 everywhere in the upper 1000 m. Submesoscale spice fluctuations had slopes in physical space near the ratio of the Coriolis parameter to the buoyancy frequency (f/N), consistent with predictions of quasi-geostrophic theory. In the mixed layer, thermohaline structure had a significant annual cycle with smaller interannual differences. Thermohaline fluctuations left behind during restratification and isolated from the mixed layer decayed with time because of diffusion along isopycnals. Horizontal diffusivity estimates in the remnant mixed layer were 0.4 m2 s−1 at 15–28 km wavelengths and 0.9 m2 s−1 at 35–45 km wavelengths.
Upper Extremity Orthoses Use in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/Motor Neuron Disease: Three Case Reports

Background Central to the armamentarium of a hand therapist is evaluation for successful orthotic use. Orthoses can have a profound effect on quality of life in persons with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/motor neuron disease (MND). The purposes of orthoses are to decrease the effects of muscle imbalance, provide assistance in performance of activities of daily living (ADLs), prevent joint contracture, and relieve pain. There are few published accounts on the usefulness of orthoses and ALS. The purpose of this paper is to expand the body of literature by describing three successful cases.
Incorporating Vaccine-Preventable Disease Surveillance Into the National Health Information Network: Leveraging Children's Hospitals

OBJECTIVE Development of national biosurveillance systems to advance regional and national data exchange among sites of clinical care and public health authorities is a top federal priority, creating the opportunity to develop a unified national network for tracking and responding to cases of vaccine-preventable diseases. The purpose of this study was to assess the current practice and feasibility of developing a nationwide network of children's hospitals to conduct surveillance for vaccine preventable diseases. METHODS In 2004-2005, Web-based surveys were sent to 506 key hospital personnel from 119 pediatric hospitals, identified by the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions. Surveys measured attitudes toward public health initiatives, willingness to join a surveillance network of children's hospitals, knowledge of mandated reporting requirements, methods of disease detection and reporting, and data sources available for surveillance. RESULTS A total of 395 (78%) respondents from 119 hospitals completed the survey. Surveillance at pediatric hospitals is largely passive and driven by unreimbursed efforts of infection control staff. It is vulnerable to missing cases that occur in the outpatient setting and are diagnosed clinically without laboratory confirmation or are never diagnosed by clinicians. Nearly 90% of hospital leaders are interested in participating in public health programs, and most are interested in a national network to conduct active surveillance for vaccine-preventable diseases, dependent on the provision of sufficient funding. Pediatric hospitals store records relevant to surveillance in an electronic fashion accessible to query, but <20% of these hospitals use automated methods to report cases of disease. CONCLUSIONS There is both the will and capability to create a robust active pediatric hospital-based reporting system for vaccine preventable diseases. This effort would dovetail well with the national priority to bolster surveillance, as well as with the goal of reducing morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Identification of a Functionally Distinct Truncated BDNF mRNA Splice Variant and Protein in Trachemys scripta elegans

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has a diverse functional role and complex pattern of gene expression. Alternative splicing of mRNA transcripts leads to further diversity of mRNAs and protein isoforms. Here, we describe the regulation of BDNF mRNA transcripts in an in vitro model of eyeblink classical conditioning and a unique transcript that forms a functionally distinct truncated BDNF protein isoform. Nine different mRNA transcripts from the BDNF gene of the pond turtle Trachemys scripta elegans (tBDNF) are selectively regulated during classical conditioning: exon I mRNA transcripts show no change, exon II transcripts are downregulated, while exon III transcripts are upregulated. One unique transcript that codes from exon II, tBDNF2a, contains a 40 base pair deletion in the protein coding exon that generates a truncated tBDNF protein. The truncated transcript and protein are expressed in the naive untrained state and are fully repressed during conditioning when full-length mature tBDNF is expressed, thereby having an alternate pattern of expression in conditioning. Truncated BDNF is not restricted to turtles as a truncated mRNA splice variant has been described for the human BDNF gene. Further studies are required to determine the ubiquity of truncated BDNF alternative splice variants across species and the mechanisms of regulation and function of this newly recognized BDNF protein.