cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The relationship between depressive symptoms and subjective well-being in newly admitted patients with schizophrenia

Abstract Background Depressive symptoms are common in schizophrenia and are considered core features of the disorder. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between depressive symptoms and subjective well-being in newly admitted patients with schizophrenia. Methods Eighty newly admitted patients were comprehensively evaluated for subjective well-being, schizophrenic symptoms, and depressive symptoms using the Subjective Well-Being Under Neuroleptics Scale (SWN), the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and the Beck Depression Inventory. Correlation coefficients were obtained between depressive symptoms and subjective well-being while controlling for the influence of the severity of psychotic symptoms, extrapyramidal side effect, and subjective attitude toward antipsychotics, as assessed by the PANSS, the Drug-Induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms Scale, and the Drug Attitude Inventory, respectively. Results The SWN score had a significant negative correlation with the PANSS depression factor score ( P P Conclusions The results of our study suggest that depressive symptoms are significantly associated with a low subjective well-being in newly admitted patients with schizophrenia and that the relationship is significant even after controlling for the influence of potential confounding variables. Detection and appropriate management of depressive symptoms in schizophrenic patients may affect their perceptions of their own well-being.
Clinical Effects of Membrane Lung Support for Acute Respiratory Failure

Abstract Extrapulmonary support in respiratory failure has become possible for prolonged periods with clinical application of the membrane lung oxygenator. The membrane lung may be perfused in a venovenous circuit, in which case it functions by prepulmonary venous oxygenation, or it may be pumped in venoarterial perfusion as partial or total cardiopulmonary bypass. Four patients were placed on venovenous membrane lung (GE–Peirce) perfusion for periods ranging from 6 to 112 hours. In oxygenating blood flows of less than 50% of the cardiac output, a viable Pa O 2 (mean, 52 mm Hg) was obtained in 2 patients with 60%Fi O 2 , including 1 survivor who was weaned from the membrane lung. The remaining 2 patients had heart failure and insufficient venovenous membrane lung flows to improve systemic oxygenation (mean Pa O 2 , 45 mm Hg on 100%Fi O 2 ). Four other patients were placed on venoarterial membrane lung (GE–DuaLung) bypass for 18 to 110 hours. With 40 to 85% of the cardiac output bypassed through the membrane oxygenator, immediate improvement was seen in systemic oxygenation (mean Pa O 2 , 75 mm Hg), effective compliance (mean increase of 75%), and reduction in pulmonary hypertension (mean decrease, 15 mm Hg). These changes during bypass allowed the lungs to be put at rest with a decrease in Fi O 2 and positive end-expiratory pressures. This clinical experience indicates that venoarterial membrane lung bypass may be both supportive and therapeutic, decompressing the pulmonary circuit and maintaining systemic oxygenation. Membrane lung support by either mode of perfusion has been shown to be clinically effective in patients suffering acute respiratory failure.
Experimental study of Λp and Ξ0p interactions in the range 1 – 10 GeV/c

Abstract The reactions Λ p → Λ p, → Σ ± p π ∓ , → Λ p π + π − and → Σ 0 p have been studied in the SLAC 82 inch bubble chamber for incident Λ particles in the momentum range 1–10 GeV/ c . The incident Λ flux was produced by the exposure of a platinum target mounted inside the chamber to a 12 GeV K − beam. A total of 992 events have been analyzed. The reactions are found to be qualitatively similar to corresponding nucleon-nucleon reactions. In particular, the slope parameter B in the elastic cross section d σ /d t = A e Bt has been determined as a function of incident momentum and found to be consistent with that for proton-proton elastic scattering. Angular distributions for the inelastic channels are compared with those of similar nucleon-nucleon reactions, and predictions of relevant exchange models.
Electron excited M‐region resonant x‐ray excitation spectra from cerium and oxidized cerium

Electron excited M‐region x‐ray resonances in cerium and cerium oxide were investigated with an instrument which permits simultaneous recording of x‐ray emissions and electron spectra from samples prepared in an ultrahigh vacuum. X‐ray intensities were recorded as a function of incident electron energy from 850 to 930 eV. This range encompasses the binding energies of the M5 and M4 shell electrons in cerium and the associated x‐ray continuum resonances. The x‐ray excitation spectra obtained in this study show large resonances for incident electron energies near the M5 and M4 shell ionization energies, but the electron spectra show no corresponding features. The spectra of resonant x rays from cerium oxide show almost no ‘‘chemical shift’’ relative to those from the pure metal but exhibit large increases in the intensity of the resonances. No explanation as to why the oxidized sample x‐ray yields are higher is offered. An estimate of the maximum x‐ray photon yield per incident electron for cerium and ceriu...
Systemic delivery of a breast cancer-detecting adenovirus using targeted microbubbles.

One of the major limitations of cancer gene therapy using recombinant human adenovirus (Ad) is rapid Ad inactivation from systemic delivery. To eliminate this, biotin-coated ultrasound contrast agents, or microbubbles (MBs), were streptavidin-coupled with biotinylated antibodies to three distinct tumor vasculature-associated receptors (αVβ3 integrin, P-selectin and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2) for systemic targeting of a previously generated vector Ad5/3-Id1-SEAP-Id1-mCherry. This cancer-specific, dual-reporter vector was loaded in the targeted MBs and confirmed by confocal microscopy. MB loading capacity was estimated by functional assays as 4.72±0.2 plaque forming unit (PFU) per MB. Non-loaded (free) Ad particles were effectively inactivated by treatment with human complement. The Ad-loaded, targeted-MBs were injected systemically in mice bearing MDA-MB-231 tumors (Grp 1) and compared with two control groups: Ad-loaded, non-targeted MBs (Grp 2) and free Ad (Grp 3) administered under the same conditions. Two days after administration the blood levels of secreted embryonic alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) reporter in Grp 1 mice (16.1 ng ml–1±2.5) were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those in Grp 2 (9.75 ng ml–1±1.5) or Grp 3 (4.26 ng ml–1±2.5) animals. The targeted Ad delivery was also confirmed by fluorescence imaging. Thus, Ad delivery by targeted MBs holds potential as a safe and effective system for systemic Ad delivery for the purpose of cancer screening.
Decoupling: what is it and does it really help increase consent to organ donation?

Although the notion of decoupling is simple and potentially controllable by organ donation requestors, evidence to date of its potential has been inconsistent. The impact of the timing of requests was analyzed using data from a study of organ donor-eligible patients and their families (N = 420), involving 9 trauma hospitals located in southwest Pennsylvania and northeast Ohio. In-depth interviews where conducted with family members, healthcare professionals, and organ procurement organization staff involved in the process. Only a weak effect was found for the impact of timing on the decision using a bivariate, correlational analysis. Moreover, we found that raising the issue before rather than after the pronouncement of death was most strongly associated with consent to donation. This effect disappeared after examining decoupling in relation to other factors. However, active consideration of the patient's donation wishes and a clear understanding of the families' initial inclination toward donation were a...
Plasma flows in the heliosheath

Voyager 2 is making the first plasma measurements in the heliosheath. The radial flow speeds in the heliosheath vary between 80 and 200 km/s with an average speed of 138 km/s. The flow in the T (azimuthal) direction is fairly constant and averages about 48 km/s; the flow direction is consistent with flow away from the heliospheric nose. Flow in the N (meridional) direction is also away from the nose and averages −14 km/s. These flows suggest that the shock is blunter in the T than in the N direction, so that the heliosphere is wider than it is high. The flow in the RN plane has quasi-periodic oscillation with a period of 110 days and an amplitude of 21 km/s. The oscillation in flow angle is about 6° in the RN plane and 17° in the TN plane and may result from periodic variations of the termination shock normal direction.
Is there epidemiologic evidence to support vascular disruption as a pathogenesis of gastroschisis

Gastroschisis is a congenital defect of the abdominal wall that occurs most commonly in the offspring of young women. The defect is often hypothesized to result from vascular disruption in the early embryo. We measured the associations between maternal vasoactive exposures in pregnancy, as possible markers of vascular disruption, and gastroschisis risk, using data collected as part of the National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Study participants included mothers of births from October 1997 to December 2003 in 10 states. The mothers of 514 gastroschisis cases were matched by age at delivery and state to 3,277 non-malformed controls and compared for periconceptional smoking and use of vasoconstrictors, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and vasodilators. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated from conditional logistic regression. Case mothers were more likely than control mothers to smoke (OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.2-1.9) and report use of non-aspirin NSAIDs (1.4, 1.1-1.7) and anti-hypertensive vasodilators (2.6, 0.9-8.0), but not vasoconstrictive decongestants (1.0, 0.7-1.4). Cigarette smoking had little effect on gastroschisis risk in mothers or=25 years. Likewise, ORs were greatest in the older women for use of non-aspirin NSAIDs (1.6, 1.0-2.6) and bronchodilators (3.0, 1.8-5.0). These findings suggest that, overall, vasoactive risk factors play a minor role in the etiology of gastroschisis, and do not support the vascular disruption hypothesis. However, the observation that increased ORs for some vasoactive exposures were confined to older women raises the question of whether inherent maternal factors might influence risk.
Highlights of the second European ScienceDirect User Conference

Integration et lien (integration and linking) sont les themes de la deuxieme conference europeenne des usagers de ScienceDirect, plateforme de periodiques electroniques produite par Elsevier. L'article constitue une synthese des interventions de la conference. Tout d'abord, une description de l'experience menee par OhioLINK, consortium de bibliotheques universitaires americaines, pour fournir aux chercheurs les articles de journaux en texte integral, et son role dans le projet EJC (Electronic Journal Center). Ensuite, differentes etudes de cas permettent d'evaluer les attentes et les reactions des utilisateurs face aux services de periodiques electroniques fournis par ScienceDirect. Differents modeles d'utilisation des periodiques en texte integral sont decrits. Le profil actuel et les developpements a venir de ScienceDirect font l'objet d'une presentation : integration et mise en relation (par une technologie de portail permettant de lier le contenu de ScienceDirect a d'autres sites web fournisseurs d'information) guident ces developpements.
Does short-term vitamin C reduce cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes?

ABSTRACT Objective Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that is potentially useful in the prevention of atherosclerosis in diabetic individuals. However, the mechanism(s) of vitamin C’s anti-atherosclerotic effects in vivo are unresolved, and clinical trials in nondiabetic individuals have yielded conflicting results. Therefore, we performed 32 studies in a randomized, crossover, dose-response trial in 8 volunteers with type 2 diabetes to determine the effects of vitamin C on serum vitamin C levels, lipids, inflammation, and coagulation. Methods Well-controlled, type 2 volunteers received, in randomized order for 2-week periods, each of the following: 1) no supplemental vitamin C, 2) low-dose vitamin C (250 mg/day), 3) medium-dose vitamin C (500 mg/ day), and 4) high-dose vitamin C (1,000 mg/day). A high-caloric content lunch was ingested during each study arm to enhance oxidative stress. Serum vitamin C levels and atherosclerotic risk factors including lipids and markers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and hypercoagulation were determined. Results Serum vitamin C levels increased significantly at all dosages. In addition, the high-caloric content meal resulted in acute elevations of glucose, insulin, and triglycerides for several hours postmeal. However, no significant effect of vitamin C was observed on lipid parameters or any of the surrogate markers of oxidative stress, inflammation, or hypercoagulability. Conclusion Our study suggests that if vitamin C does have anti-atherosclerotic effects in diabetes, it does not exert them through the traditional pathways identifiable by established surrogate markers of cardiovascular risk. (Endocr Pract. 2013;19:785-791)
emb-4 Is a Conserved Gene Required for Efficient Germline-Specific Chromatin Remodeling During Caenorhabditis elegans Embryogenesis

In C. elegans, germline blastomeres are initially kept transcriptionally quiescent by the maternally loaded CCCH zinc-finger protein PIE-1. PIE-1 disappears upon the birth of the primordial germ cells Z2 and Z3, yet these cells appear to remain quiescent. We have previously demonstrated that there is a chromatin-based repression that succeeds PIE-1 degradation. The chromatin in Z2/Z3 loses certain histone modifications, including histone H3 lysine 4 dimethylation (H3K4me2), a conserved marker for transcriptionally competent chromatin. We find that mutations in the maternal-effect gene emb-4 cause defects in both PIE-1 degradation and germline-specific chromatin remodeling. emb-4 encodes a highly conserved protein with orthologs in fly, mouse, and human and has a subtle role in Notch signaling. The embryonic phenotype of emb-4 is consistent with a defect in the efficient and timely activation of developmental programs, including germline chromatin remodeling. We also find that, as in early somatic blastomeres, the degradation of PIE-1 in Z2/Z3 is facilitated by zinc-finger-interacting protein ZIF-1, and in the absence of either zif-1 or emb-4, PIE-1 is abnormally retained in Z2/Z3.
Preferred provider organization claims showed high predictive value but missed substantial proportion of adults with high-risk conditions

Abstract Background and Objective We assessed the validity and utility of a claims-based ICD-9-CM algorithm for identifying preferred provider organization (PPO) enrollees ages 18–64 years at high risk for influenza complications. Methods PPO enrollees with ≥2 encounters in an ambulatory setting or ≥1 encounters in an inpatient or emergency room setting with ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes for the high-risk conditions were considered algorithm positive. Stratified random sampling was used to select 1,001 algorithm-positive and 330 algorithm-negative enrollees for medical chart abstractions. Results The prevalence of high-risk conditions using claims data was 2.5% compared to 18.2% according to medical records. The algorithm had a sensitivity of 12% and a specificity of 99%. Positive and negative predictive values were 87 and 84%, respectively. Sensitivity was twofold higher among adults aged 50–64 years than among younger adults (17 vs. 9%). Applying an algorithm definition of ≥1 encounters in any setting resulted in an increased sensitivity, but captured a higher proportion of false positives. Conclusion A claims-positive record was highly indicative of the presence of high-risk conditions, but such claims missed a large proportion of PPO enrollees with high-risk conditions. It is important to assess the validity of administrative data in different age groups.
THE MIDDLE EOCENE BELOSAEPIA UNGULA (CEPHALOPODA: COLEOIDA) FROM TEXAS: STRUCTURE, ONTOGENY AND FUNCTION

Abstract The ontogeny of Belosaepia ungula Gabb, 1860 from the Crockett Formation (Bartonian stage, Eocene) of Texas is documented for growth from embryo to old age. During the last stage of life, much skeletal resorption occurred, resulting in a major change in form of the skeleton. The animal produced a large skeleton (to 180 mm in length and 50 mm in diameter) with endogastric coiling, oblique septa and a very large siphuncle. The skeleton has a guard with a solid posterior prong, a posteroventral corona plate and a noded dorsal shield. The ventral margin of the skeleton consists of a thin flattened deck containing strongly recurved septa, conotheca and a secondary prismatic shell layer. New terms are defined for features of the skeleton not previously described. The microstructure of the ventral deck and the presence of a rod structure between the prong and callus are described for the first time. Chamberlets similar to those in living Sepia cuttlebones are present between closely spaced septa and the...
Using a victim buffer in an application-specific memory hierarchy

Customizing a memory hierarchy to a particular application or applications is becoming increasingly common in embedded system design, with one benefit being reduced energy. Adding a victim buffer to the memory hierarchy is known to reduce energy and improve performance on average, yet victim buffers are not typically found in commercial embedded processors. One problem with such buffers is, while they work well on average, they tend to hurt performance for many applications. We show that a victim buffer can be very effective if it is considered as a parameter in designing a memory hierarchy, like the traditional cache parameters of total size, associativity, and line size. We describe experiments on PowerStone and MediaBench benchmarks, showing that having the option of adding a victim buffer to a direct-mapped cache can reduce memory-access energy by a factor of 3 in some cases. Furthermore, even when other cache parameters are configurable, we show that a victim buffer can still reduce energy by 43%. By treating the victim buffer as a parameter, meaning the buffer can be included or excluded, we can avoid performance overhead of up to 4% on some examples. We discuss the victim buffer in the context of both core-based and pre-fabricated platform based design approaches.
Distribution of Hemoglobin F, A, S, C, E, and D Quantities in 4 Million Newborn Screening Specimens

The California newborn screening program requires that all newborns be screened for selected hemoglobinopathies. Dried blood spot (DBS) specimens are analyzed using an automated 2-min cation-gradient HPLC method that is sensitive and specific (1)(2). The standardized method selected by the State allows the screening program to match the quantitative analytical performance of the assay at eight private contract laboratories and a central laboratory. Information technology is designed to derive phenotypes automatically and to use quantitative acceptability limits for quality control and proficiency testing. The distribution of hemoglobin (Hb) quantities determined by cation-exchange HPLC in cord blood specimens has been published previously (3)(4). We have determined the frequency distributions for the analysis of DBS specimens using the rapid HPLC screening method. In this study, we examined screening data reported on 4 million nontransfused newborns tested within 2 days of birth. The frequency distributions were determined for the percentages of Hb concentrations in 14 phenotypes containing Hbs F, A, S, C, E, and D. The frequency distributions are available on request. The medians only are given in Table 1⇓ . The percent concentrations in the current study are lower than the published cord blood data by 15% for all Hb F and by a median 36% for the Hb in other hetero- and homozygous patterns (range, 22–40%). This may be caused by differences in the HPLC methodology and by chemical degradation of Hb during formation of the dried blood spots (5)(6). Approximately 28–34% of the total area of the …
E Pluribus Unum? The Main Protein Kinase A Catalytic Subunit (PRKACA), a Likely Oncogene, and Cortisol-Producing Tumors

Evidence has been accumulating for years that increased cAMP signaling (Figure 1) is the culprit behind the development of most benign cortisol-producing tumors of the adrenal gland (1, 2). First, GNAS1 mutations in McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS) were responsible for cortisol-producing tumors in the context of an otherwise normal adrenal gland in toddlers with MAS and Cushing syndrome (CS) (3). Then, a rare disease, massive macronodular adrenocortical disease (MMAD) or ACTH-independent macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia (AIMAH), now aptly renamed as primary macronodular hyperplasia (PMAH) (4), was found to be linked to the ectopic expression of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) (5, 6). And we found mutations of the main cAMP receptor in all cells, PRKAR1A, the gene that codes for the regulatory subunit type 1α (R1α) of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase or protein kinase A (PKA) to cause another rare form of cortisol-producing hyperplasia: primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease (PPNAD) is caused in both its isolated form and the type associated with Carney complex, a multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome, by PRKAR1A-inactivating mutations (7, 8). However, proof that increased cAMP signaling was involved in almost all benign cortisol-producing lesions, and especially the “garden variety” cortisol-producing adenoma (CPA), was lacking. Yes, we showed that MMAD/AIMAH/PMAH tissues showed allelic losses of the PRKAR1A gene and/or its 17q locus (9), and that up to one out of five CPAs (especially those with dexamethasone-responsive increase in their cortisol production) could harbor somatic mutations of PRKAR1A (10) and that CPAs with no GNAS1 or PRKAR1A mutations (or mutations in any other genes) had increased cAMP levels and/or PKA activation (11), but this was all circumstantial evidence. The circumstantial evidence was somewhat strengthened by our discovery of the involvement of cAMP-binding phosphodiesterases (PDEs) PDE11A (12, 13) and PDE8B (14,–16) in predisposition to a variety of cortisol-producing adrenal tumors, from cancer (17) to MMAD/AIMAH/PMAH (18, 19), and even in conjunction with PRKAR1A mutations (20). The latter was in fact the first evidence of any digenic involvement in predisposition to a cortisol-producing lesion, and both genes (PRKAR1A and PDE11A) were regulating cAMP signaling. Nevertheless, it was all circumstantial evidence, especially because a number of the identified molecules have a multitude of functions and are expressed in almost every tissue; why would the adrenal cortex be specifically targeted by an increase in cAMP signaling mediated by the ubiquitous PKA? Surely other tissues, the bone, the pituitary, and thyroid glands would be affected.
Performance in synthetic applications of a yeast surface display-based biocatalyst

This work demonstrates the effectiveness of yeast surface display (YSD) as a scaffold for biocatalysts in hydrophobic, non-aqueous environments. Two lipases, Candida antarctica lipase B (CalB) and Photobacterium lipolyticum sp. M37 lipase (M37L), were immobilized independently by surface display on Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The two YSD biocatalysts were employed to synthesize esters of butanol and saturated fatty acids of varying length (8 to 16 carbons) in heptane. Effects of fatty acid chain length and temperature on the esterification reaction were examined. The YSD catalysts synthesized butyl decanoate in 10 repeated batches with little loss in activity. Compared to a commercial immobilized lipase (Novozym 435), the activity of both YSD lipases was lower on a mass loading basis, but higher when normalized on estimates of protein loading. Initial-rate kinetics of the butyl decanoate reaction were measured for the CalB-displaying yeast. Kinetics and apparent activity of M37L in the multi-batch experiments depend heavily on water concentration; kinetics for M37L could not be elucidated with initial-rate methods. The difference between CalB and M37L in water requirements illustrates a critical parameter for optimization of lipase activity in non-aqueous environments. The activity of both lipases in a completely hydrophobic environment is a step towards more economical biocatalysis of industrial esterification.
An Examination of the McKinney-Vento Act and Its Influence on the Homeless Education Situation.

This article describes the central elements of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and, drawing from Spillane’s distributed leadership perspective, examines the policy’s impact on the homele...
Ventilator Settings and Outcome of Respiratory Failure in Chronic Interstitial Lung Disease

Background While patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) may be particularly susceptible to ventilator-induced lung injury, ventilator strategies have not been studied in this group of patients. Purpose To describe the clinical course and outcome of patients with ILD and acute respiratory failure in relation to ventilatory parameters. Methods We retrospectively identified a cohort of ventilated patients with ILD who had been admitted to five ICUs at a single institution. We analyzed demographic data, pulmonary function test results, severity of illness, and the parameters of continuous ventilation for the initial 24 h after admission to the ICU. Primary outcomes were survival to hospital discharge and 1-year survival. Main results Of 94 patients with ILD, 44 (47%) survived to hospital discharge and 39 (41%) were alive at 1 year. Nonsurvivors were less likely to be postoperative, had higher severity of illness, and were ventilated at higher airway pressures and lower tidal volumes. Step changes in positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of > 10 cm H2O were attempted in 20 patients and resulted in an increase in plateau pressure (median difference, + 16 cm H2O; interquartile range [IQR], 9 to 24 cm H2O) and a decrease in respiratory system compliance (median difference, − 0.28 mL/kg/cm H2O; IQR, − 0.43 to − 0.13 mL/kg/cm H2O). The Cox proportional hazards model revealed that high PEEP (hazard ratio, 4.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.06 to 11.15), acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) III score predicted mortality (hazard ratio 1.33; 95% CI, 1.18 to 1.50), age (hazard ratio, 1.03; 95% CI, 1 to 1.05), and low Pao2/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio (hazard ratio, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.92 to 0.99) to be independent determinants of survival. Conclusion Both severity of illness and high PEEP settings are associated with the decreased survival of patients with ILD who are receiving mechanical ventilation.
Anthropology, Bioethics, and Medicine: A Provocative Trilogy

This article investigates the contributions anthropological perspectives can make to the field of bioethics. Four dimensions of an anthropological approach to bioethics are presented: the contextual nature of bioethical dilemmas; the cultural embeddedness of moral systems; the culturally pluralistic character of many bioethical problems; and the examination of the field of bioethics as a cultural phenomenon. The discussion explores how moral dilemmas and the means to resolve them are inextricably bound to their institutional, economic, and social contexts, how different cultural systems have different moral codes with different standards for behavior, and how bioethical conflicts often arise in culturally plural health care settings. In addition, it discusses the challenge offered to anthropologists to examine the values, cognitive framework, and social organization of bioethics. The article concludes with a discussion of ways that anthropological methods and knowledge can be applied in the bioethics arena.
Intrinsic Age-Dependent Changes and Cell-Cell Contacts Regulate Nephron Progenitor Lifespan

During fetal development, nephrons of the metanephric kidney form from a mesenchymal progenitor population that differentiates en masse before or shortly after birth. We explored intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms controlling progenitor lifespan in a transplantation assay that allowed us to compare engraftment of old and young progenitors into the same young niche. The progenitors displayed an age-dependent decrease in proliferation and concomitant increase in niche exit rates. Single-cell transcriptome profiling revealed progressive age-dependent changes, with heterogeneity increasing in older populations. Age-dependent elevation in mTor and reduction in Fgf20 could contribute to increased exit rates. Importantly, 30% of old progenitors remained in the niche for up to 1 week post engraftment, a net gain of 50% to their lifespan, but only if surrounded by young neighbors. We provide evidence in support of a model in which intrinsic age-dependent changes affect inter-progenitor interactions that drive cessation of nephrogenesis.
A Preliminary Study of Elderly Emergency Service Clients in Chicago and Their Housing-Related Problems

Emergencies to which city agencies respond reveal a connection between homelessness and other housing hardships of the elderly. This study examines a random sample of 125 case records of elderly clients assisted by the Chicago Department of Human Services Emergency Services program between 1984 and 1987. The crises that lead to emergency services, the extent of clients' housing-related problems, and the needs that cluster around shelter placement and other housing related problems are analyzed An extraordinarily broad range of problems and service needs are identified The findings reveal the prevalence of housing problems for the elderly and the relationship between basic needs, patterns of services offered, and certain emergencies, includ ing homelessness. They have implications for improving client services and underscore the importance of ongoing rather than emergency assistance with the elderly. Very old persons without kin who experience crises are at great risk and pose growing dilemmas for urban pu...
The Amygdala, Synaptic Plasticity, and Fear Memory

The nature and mechanisms of synaptic plasticity in the amygdala and the relation of amygdaloid plasticity to behavior are exciting new areas of study in neuroscience. These issues were at the heart of presentations by Paul Chapman, Michael Fanselow, Patricia Shinnick-Gallagher, and Michael Rogawski in a session entitled "Long-Term Plasticity in Amygdala Synaptic Transmission" that was held at the conference featured in this volume. In this chapter, I briefly summarize these talks and give my perspective on the presentations as the session chair. I argue that we must first understand the role of the amygdala in learning and memory in order to understand the contribution of amygdaloid synaptic plasticity to behavior. Although it is generally agreed that the amygdala is involved in several forms of emotional learning and memory such as pavlovian fear conditioning, a recent debate has emerged concerning the precise role of the amygdala in learning versus performing fear responses. I discuss data from my laboratory that unravel this issue. I argue that the basolateral complex of the amygdala (BLA) normally plays an essential role in associative processes in fear conditioning. Nonetheless, rats with BLA lesions acquire and express conditional fear under some conditions. A neuroanatomical model that accounts for these data is presented.
A pilot study linking reduced fronto–Striatal recruitment during reward processing to persistent bingeing following treatment for binge‐eating disorder

Objective The primary purpose of this study was to examine neurobiological underpinnings of reward processing that may relate to treatment outcome for binge-eating disorder (BED). Method Prior to starting treatment, 19 obese persons seeking treatment for BED performed a monetary incentive delay task during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Analyses examined how the neural correlates of reward processing related to binge-eating status after 4-months of treatment. Results Ten individuals continued to report binge-eating (BEpost-tx) following treatment and 9 individuals did not (NBEpost-tx). The groups did not differ in body mass index. The BEpost-tx group relative to the NBEpost-tx group showed diminished recruitment of the ventral striatum and the inferior frontal gyrus during the anticipatory phase of reward processing and reduced activity in the medial prefrontal cortex during the outcome phase of reward processing. Discussion These results link brain reward circuitry to treatment outcome in BED and suggest that specific brain regions underlying reward processing may represent important therapeutic targets in BED. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2014; 47:376–384)
Immigrants’ Social Capital and Labor Market Performance: The Effect of Social Ties on Earnings and Occupational Prestige*

Objectives While a growing body of literature investigates the role of social capital in the labor market outcomes of immigrants, the verdict is still out on whether or not reliance on social networks enhances or constrains labor market performance. This study explores the effect of relying on social ties to find a job on the hourly earnings and occupational prestige of new legal immigrants in the United States. Methods Utilizing data from the New Immigrant Survey 2003 cohort, the effect on occupational outcomes of relying on social ties to locate a job is estimated using both ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and propensity score matching (PSM), to minimize observable selection bias. Propensity score matching is used to identify the treatment effect of using social contacts by comparing the outcomes of closely matched treatment and control groups. Results Both OLS and PSM estimates indicate that using a close contact to find a job has a detrimental effect on earnings and occupational prestige. The effect of social capital, however, varies across groups. Particularly, while social capital has little or no effect on the labor market outcomes of black and Hispanic immigrants, it has a detrimental effect on the occupational prestige of Asian and white immigrants (the effect being stronger for Asians than for whites). Conclusion Social capital research on immigrants’ outcomes should, therefore, take caution in generalizing from group-specific research, as these findings point to contextual labor market effects of social capital.
Langmuir-Blodgett Electronic Devices

The importance of control over the micro-engineering of Langmuir films is amply documented for a variety of amphiphilic materials. Such parameters as temperature, pressure, substrate quality, amphiphile chemistry, and others must be considered when high-quality films are desired. A comparison is made between high and low-quality films, and a novel MLSFET device is described, which was prepared with a high-quality film. They are the initial products of a joint Polymer Science and Electrical Engineering laboratory established in late 1983, the Polymer Microdevice Laboratory (PML). These devices exhibit characteristics well within the useful range of normal semiconductors, including temperature stability. Several of these devices will be discussed, along with the peculiar problems associated with the fabrication and testing of such devices.
Seismic Cracking of Concrete Gravity Dams

A mathematical model describes properties of concrete under a two-dimensional state of stress. The effects of strain rate — the time rate of change of strain — on the mechanical properties are incorporated in the model. Appropriate assumptions are introduced in the model where experimental data were lacking; it was assumed, for example, that strain rate effects on mechanical properties of concrete under biaxial states of stress are identical to those revealed by uniaxial tests, because experimental data were available only for the latter case. Because no data were available for complete stress and strain reversals, the stress-strain curves in unloading and reloading where hypothesized in terms of the skeleton stress-strain curve. A method is developed for nonlinear analysis of response of concrete gravity dams to earthquake ground motion wherein mechanical properties of concrete are defined by the mathematical model mentioned. Each dam monolith is treated independently and idealized as an assemblage of two-dimensional finite elements.
The Effects of ESWL on Renal Function and Systemic Blood Pressure: Preliminary Report of an Experimental Study

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a relatively new therapy for most urinary stones. The effects of high energy shock waves on human renal tissue is difficult to assess. Recent studies indicate that direct injury to the kidney from high energy shock waves can occur. This insult may result in a decrease in renal function and an elevation of the systemic blood pressure. The purpose of this study was to develop an animal model where any alterations in renal function or in systemic blood pressure could be followed after ESWL. In a pilot study, the kidneys of uninephrectomized dogs (n=5) were subjected to 3,000 shocks at 18 kV of power with the Dornier HM3 unit. Systemic blood pressure was determined before and after treatment at 24 hours, at 48 hours, and at four weeks after ESWL. In addition, glomerular filtration rate (inulin clearance) and plasma renin activity were measured. Transient elevations in blood pressure with concomitant decreases in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and increases in plasma renin activity were noted in some experiments. While the dog is a difficult model in which to produce hypertension, this approach offers a reasonable way to study the relationship between alterations in renal function and systemic blood pressure following ESWL.
Spectroscopic studies of aluminosilicate formation in tank waste simulants

Aluminosilicates are one of the major class of species controlling the volume of radioactive high-level waste that will be produced from future remediation at Hanford site. Here the authors present studies of the phases and structures of aluminosilicates as a function of sludge composition using X-ray powder diffraction, solid state {sup 27}Al and {sup 29}Si NMR, and Raman spectroscopy. The results show that the content of NaNO{sub 3} in solution has significant effects on the nature of the insoluble aluminosilicate phases produced. It was found that regardless of the initial Si:Al ratio, nitrate cancrinite was the main phase formed in the solution with pH of 13.5 and 5 M NaNO{sub 3}. However, at lower NaNO{sub 3} concentration with initial Si:Al ratios of 1.1, 2.2, and 11.0 in the solutions, a range of aluminosilicate zeolites was produced with Si:Al ratios of 1.1, 1.3, and 1.5, respectively. Lowering the solution pH appears to promote the formation of amorphous aluminosilicates. The results presented here are important for the prediction of the solubility and dissolution rate of Al in tank wastes.
Stricken by Infection: Art and Adultery in Anna Karenina and Kreutzer Sonata

Resentment proceeds from powerlessness, said Rousseau. How true! A man is spiteful when he wants to do what is not in his power–he encounters obstacles and grows resentful. (57:136) Lev Tolstoi had originally intended to open Anna Karenina with a scene in Princess Betsy’s salon, later moved to part 2 of the novel, in which the work’s central themes are all touched on in the conversation of the gathered guests. This introductory discussion primarily concerns illicit liaisons, but alongside the talk of adultery, one guest states, “The theme is everything. Once one has a theme, it is easy to embroider on it” (121). These words obliquely acknowledge a debt to one of the novel’s sources, Aleksandr Pushkin’s “Egyptian Nights,” a story about improvisation in which that art is conceived not merely as the instantaneous or impromptu invention we usually think of, but even more importantly as the appropriation of someone else’s topic. Anna Karenina, and some of Tolstoi’s later works as well, make important borrowings from Pushkin’s story about borrowing, employing both themes from “Egyptian Nights” and therefore the methods of the Italian improvisor in it.
Value of the clinical application of CT SSD stereography in the reconstruction of patients with pathological maxillofacial

Objective To study the value of clinical application of CT scanning and SSD-3D in the reconstruction of patients with pathological Maxillofacial. Methods CT and SSD-3D scanning were given to 16 patients with pathological changes of tumor in maxillofacial regions and 30 patients with pathological changes in the fractures and were compared with results gained from CT (2DCT). Results Of the 4 bone tumor pathological changes, SSD-3D could only showed the general surface morphology of the inflated bones and the images of the inner structure display of bone tumor were inferior to those gained by 2DCT. Of the 12 cases of malignant tumor infringed maxillofacial regions and the bone destruction by bone tumor, the ssd-3d images were more tridimensional and visualized, yet the image quality was inferior to those gained by 2DCT regarding the intrabony destruction and the surrounding parenchyma tumors. Of the positions, types, ranges, the line feed of irregular fracture and the displacement of the 30 cases of maxillofacial fractures, SSD-3D images were visual and stereo displayed, but the displays of minute fracture, plutonic fracture and thin fracture were inferior to the 2DCT ones. Conclusion Both 2DCT and SSD-3D had their relative merits in the display of pathological maxillofacial regions. It would be best to use axial bone CT as the basic method for diagnosis for pathological changes in maxillofacial regions while SSD-3D could be an alternative for its images were more visual and could tridimensionally display the relation between the whole shape and spatial position of pathological changes.
Study on Cellular Immunity Function of Children with Acute Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Objective To assess the changes of T cell subsets,natural killer(NK) T cell and Th1/Th2 related cytokines of children with acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).Methods A total of 30 ITP patients[(21 male,9 female;age (2.50±2.39) years] who were hospitalized from Mar.2009 to May 2010,were randomly selected as the research objects,and 30 cases of healthy children were selected as the healthy control group.The levels of T cell subsets,NK T cell,Th1/Th2 related cytokines (IL-2,IL-4,IL-6,IL-10),tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) of all samples were stained with flow cytometry.Statistical analysis was made by using SPSS 10.0 software.Results The rate of CD4+T cells [(31.35±10.26)%] in peripheral blood in ITP group was significantly lower than that in healthy control group [(37.29±8.18)%](P0.05).The rate of NK T cells in peripheral blood in ITP group[(0.59±0.42)%] was significantly lower than that in the healthy control group[(1.18±0.55)%](P0.01).The levels of Th1 related cytokines(TNF-α,IFN-γ and IL-2) in peripheral blood in ITP group [(5.23±2.18) ng·L-1,(5.58±2.49) ng·L-1,(29.78±8.08) ng·L-1] were significantly higher,respectively,than those in healthy control group [(1.98±0.82) ng·L-1,(2.31±0.49) ng·L-1,(21.64±11.99) ng·L-1] (Pa0.01).The levels of Th2 related cytokines(IL-4,IL-6,IL-10) in peripheral blood in ITP group[(2.34±1.15) ng·L-1,(4.26±1.55) ng·L-1,(2.56±1.01) ng·L-1] were respectively lower than those in healthy control group [(6.03±1.11) ng·L-1,(6.49±1.39) ng·L-1,(4.61±1.30) ng·L-1,Pa 0.01].Conclusion All of these may suggest the disorder of cellular immunity in children with acute ITP.
Analysis and Strategy on the Data of Measles in Nanning City From 2001 to 2003

We have studied the data of 498 cases of measles derived from epidemic diseases-reporting system by statistics in order to know the characteristics of the diseases and the situation of diseases-reporting system in Nanning City. The results show that 1-13 years old is the age vulnerable to measles. March to June is the epidemical season for measles.There is significant difference of the gender ratio between the measles and the whole Nanning City’s people in the same age younger than 1 years old.41.2% cases are children who live scattered and 32.9% cases are students. 46.0% cases have not certain experience of immunization and 16.5% cases have finished the whole immunization schedule.There is significant difference in the proportion of cases age and of the experience of immunization between the floating population and the non-floating population.
Observations of multi-scale granular kinematics around driven piles in plane strain condition

The behavior of granular media around driven piles is not well understood. Current design guidelines still remain empirical and highly approximate. Plane-strain calibration chamber tests have been conducted to provide visual observations of the penetration mechanisms occurring during driving. Tests were performed to investigate the effects of confinement, relative density, and soil type. Digital image correlation (DIC) combined with other advanced image analysis tools were used to obtain meso-scale displacement, finite strain maps, as well as micro scale particle kinematics during pile installation. The observed shear strain map for the confined dense Ottawa sand test shows a wedge-type soil failure plane with a rigid cone of sand beneath the pile tip. The obtained volumetric strain maps show an intense compression zone directly below the pile tip, followed by a dilation zone to accommodate shear. High degree of sand compaction at the pile tip during driving also created a thin dilation strip along the pile shaft. High hoop stresses could then be sustained in the surrounding denser sand by arching. Large rotation and chaotic particle motion were also observed in the areas where there were large shear and volumetric strains. The random motion of particles near pile boundaries was further confirmed through affine/non-affine analysis of grain kinematics.
Relating Use of Effective Responsive, Structure, and Non-Directive Control Vegetable Parenting Practices to Subscales from the Model of Goal Directed Behavior

Parents may positively influence children’s vegetable consumption through effective vegetable parenting practices (VPP). Research has demonstrated three dimensions of effective VPP: Effective Responsiveness, Structure, and Non-Directive Control, but there is limited research investigating each separately. This study presents the modeling of Effective Responsive, Structure, and Non-Directive Control VPP using constructs from the Model of Goal Directed Vegetable Parenting Practices (MGDVPP). Parents ( n =307) completed a survey on demographics, MGDVPP constructs, and effective VPP. Block regression modeling tested three models: one for each dimension of effective VPP as the dependent variable. Independent variables included validated subscales representing MGDVPP constructs: Intention, Desire, Perceived Barriers, Autonomy, Relatedness, Self-Efficacy, Habit, Anticipated Emotions, Perceived Behavioral Control, Attitudes, and Norms. Participants were racially diverse, and a majority was female, of higher socioeconomic status, and with a male child. Effective Responsive VPP was positively related to a Habit subscale. Effective Structure VPP was positively related to a Barrier, two Habit, and an Attitude subscales. Effective Non-Directive Control VPP was positively related to being a high school or GED graduate, having younger children, a Habit, and two Intentions subscales, and negatively related to an Intentions and a Perceived Behavioral Control subscales. The adjusted R 2 for the Effective Responsive, Structure, and Non-Directive Control VPP models were 0.432, 0.310, and 0.515, respectively. This was the first study to relate constructs from a theoretical model to effective VPP dimensions. Research is needed to longitudinally assess the MGDVPP and test its utility in vegetable-related interventions.