cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of post-transplantation diabetes mellitus incidence and risk factors between kidney and liver transplantation patients.

Background Most prior studies characterizing post-transplantation diabetes mellitus (PTDM) have been limited to single-cohort, single-organ studies. This retrospective study determined PTDM across organs by comparing incidence and risk factors among 346 liver and 407 kidney transplant recipients from a single center. Methods Univariate and multivariate regression-based analyses were conducted to determine association of various risk factors and PTDM in the two cohorts, as well as differences in glucometrics and insulin use across time points. Results There was a higher incidence of PTDM among liver versus kidney transplant recipients (30% vs. 19%) at 1-year post-transplant. Liver transplant recipients demonstrated a 337% higher odds association to PTDM (OR 3.37, 95% CI (1.38–8.25), p<0.01). 1-month FBG was higher in kidney patients (135 mg/dL vs 104 mg/dL; p < .01), while 1-month insulin use was higher in liver patients (61% vs 27%, p < .01). Age, BMI, insulin use, and inpatient FBG were also significantly associated with differential PTDM risk. Conclusions Kidney and liver transplant patients have different PTDM risk profiles, both in terms of absolute PTDM risk as well as time course of risk. Management of this population should better reflect risk heterogeneity to short-term need for insulin therapy and potentially long-term outcomes.
Organized crime and political party systems characteristics in post-communist and Latin American countries

In this paper, I explore the relationship between organized crime and the features of political party systems, particularly countries that underwent economic and political transition. The paper arg...
Multimodal Education Program to Improve Nurses' Knowledge and Confidence on Delirium Recognition in a Surgical-Trauma Intermediate-Care Setting.

BACKGROUND High incidence of delirium in hospitalized patients has been reported in the United States and is significantly associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The lack of knowledge and confidence in performing delirium assessment (KCDA) has led to significant underrecognition of delirium by nurses regardless of evidence-based education intervention. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a multimodal educational program (MEP) to enhance nurses' KCDA. METHODS A MEP including an online didactic with a video-simulation and 1:1 bedside coaching with delirium screening (DS) was conducted in the surgical intermediate-care unit of an academic medical center. A quasi-experimental pre- and post-test design was used. RESULTS Of 23 nurses, the majority were <41 years old (73.9%) and had at least a bachelor of science in nursing degree (78.3%) with <6 years of experience (60.9%). The overall KCDA scores and the performance of DS improved significantly after the MEP (p < .001). A positive correlation was noted between the changes of the KCDA scores (p = .009). CONCLUSIONS The MEP demonstrated improvement in nurses' KCDA. The MEP should focus on an individualized learning approach with a targeted patient population, using current delirium screening tools. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Educational programs are recommended in either an orientation or continuing education program on nursing units. This is also recommended for use in other academic centers that encompass similar clinical settings and could possibly be considered for use in other disease processes.
Generalized Arterial Calcification of Infancy: New Insights, Controversies, and Approach to Management

This review summarizes current understanding of generalized arterial calcification of infancy (GACI), emphasizing pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and approaches and controversies in management. Identification of causative ENPP1 mutations revealed that GACI arises from deficiencies in inorganic pyrophosphate (leading to calcifications) and adenosine monophosphate (leading to intimal proliferation). Identification of genotypic and phenotypic overlap with pseudoxanthoma elasticum and autosomal recessive hypophosphatemic rickets further advanced understanding of GACI as a complex, multisystemic disease. Clinical data is limited to small, retrospective samples; it is therefore unknown whether commonly used medications, such as bisphosphonates and hypophosphatemia treatment, are therapeutic or potentially harmful. ENPP1-Fc replacement represents a promising approach warranting further study. Knowledge gaps in natural history place clinicians at high risk of assigning causality to interventions that are correlated with changes in clinical status. There is thus a critical need for improved natural history studies to develop and test targeted therapies.
Evaluating Change-Based Item Selection Rules

This study explores guidelines for selecting change-sensitive items. Applying traditional and change-based selection rules to alcohol attitude items produced scales with differing psychometric prop...
Impact of triage liaison provider on emergency department throughput: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction Emergency department (ED) overcrowding is linked to poor outcome and decreases patient satisfaction. Strategies to control Emergency department (ED) overcrowding has been subject of research. Study objectives The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the impact of triage liaison providers (TLPs) on the ED throughput. Methods We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science up to April 2019 for studies done in the United States. Primary outcomes were number of patients left without being seen (LWBS) and patients' emergency department length of stay (ED-LOS). ED-LOS data was pooled using mean difference with random effect model. Risk Ratio (RRs) for LWBS was calculated with random effect model with 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results Twelve studies encompassing 329,340patients were included in the meta-analysis. Implementation of the TLP system using attending physicians was associated with a decrease in risk of LWBS 0.62 (95% CI 0.54, 0.71), The change in ED-LOS after implementation of TLP was too heterogeneous to pool the data with the mean ΔED-LOS ranging from -82 to +20 min. Stratification of studies by disposition, admitted versus discharged, did not decrease the heterogeneity. Conclusion Implementation of TLP can decrease the rate of LWBS however this review is inconclusive about the effect of TLP on ED-LOS due to the high heterogeneity observed in the literature.
Cascading system impacts of the 2018 Camp Fire in California: The interdependent provision of infrastructure services to displaced populations

Abstract An often overlooked, cascading impact of disasters is displaced populations suddenly arriving in neighboring communities. Due to a lack of front end planning, the infrastructure systems in hosting communities may consequently be challenged as the communities try to accommodate the sudden influx of people. Disaster-induced displacement is not a new trend, yet we know little about how hosting communities respond or how future responses might be improved. The current study aims to address this gap by utilizing the context of the 2018 California Camp Fire, which displaced over 50,000 people. We conducted 13 semi-structured interviews with stakeholders involved in the provision of infrastructure services and qualitatively analyzed the data. This was done to (1) examine the challenges hosting communities faced as they tried to provide infrastructure services—specifically housing, water sector, and transportation—to displaced and existing residents and (2) document the efforts to accommodate displaced persons, taking infrastructure interdependencies into account. Findings show that displacement compounded prior infrastructure issues (e.g., traffic, housing shortage), suggesting that communities can prepare for displacements by assessing their existing capabilities, and as such, anticipate vulnerabilities in their systems when responding to displacement. We also found that practitioners involved in all systems were challenged by communication and organizational issues (e.g., incorporating stakeholders from various institutions).
An Alternative to Spinning Dust for the Microwave Emission of LPH 201.663+1.643: An Ultracompact H II Region

The microwave spectral energy distribution of the dusty, diffuse H II region LPH 201.663+1.643 has been interpreted by other authors as tentative evidence for microwave emission from spinning dust grains. We present an alternative interpretation for that particular object, specifically, that an ultracompact H II region embedded within the dust cloud would explain the available observations as well or better than spinning dust. Parameters for the size, surface brightness, and flux density of the putative ultracompact H II region, derived from the microwave observations, are within known ranges. A possible candidate for such an ultracompact H II region is IRAS 06337+1051, based on its infrared colors. However, the infrared flux of IRAS 06337+1051 appears to be too small to be consistent with the microwave flux required for this alternative model to explain the observations.
Effect of electrodes on microsecond explosion of thin metal wires in vacuum

An order of magnitude difference was observed in the energy deposition during a microsecond explosion of thin nickel wires in a vacuum, depending on the design of the wire-holding electrodes. In one case, cylindrical polished stainless steel (ss) electrodes with a rounded edge have a small axial hole of 0.3 mm to hold a thin wire. In the second case, these were the same polished electrodes without an axial hole, and the wire was attached to the side of the electrode with a kapton tape. For the electrodes with an axial hole, a voltage breakdown appears when the wire reaches a low temperature of ∼570 K due to the generation of the parasitic plasma discharges from the wire-holder contact. In a long timescale of ∼30 μs, wire resistive heating was interrupted by plasma generations 6 times up to the moment of melting. For the same electrodes without holes, the wire reaches a temperature of ∼1870 K during an ∼2 μs single-stage heating, and the shunting plasma was generated due to the evaporation of impurities from the hot metal surface and avalanche ionization by thermo-emitted electrons from the hot metal surface. We observe similar effects for Cu, Ti, and Pt wires. This effect is important for slow microsecond exploding wires in a vacuum and negligible for fast nanosecond explosions.
Basic Electrochemistry Concepts

This chapter starts by defining the most important concepts a reader must understand to proceed with the study of electrochemistry. These concepts are explained at the fundamental level to be easily understood by those with basic science training, but they lay the foundation for a further, more complex understanding of relationships in electrochemistry. These simple definitions include the concept of a cell, anode and cathode, electronic and ionic conductivities, different types of electrolytes, types of electrodes, and electrochemical cell configurations.
Within Group Ethnic Diversity in Latinx Psychological Research: A Publication Analysis

Based on a population-representation approach using census data we explored the breadth of research in the Journal of Latinx Psychology (N = 154) and Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences (N = 94...
Association of Positive Fluid Balance at Discharge After Sepsis Management With 30-Day Readmission.

Importance Although early fluid administration has been shown to lower sepsis mortality, positive fluid balance has been associated with adverse outcomes. Little is known about associations in non-intensive care unit settings, with growing concern about readmission from excess fluid accumulation in patients with sepsis. Objective To evaluate whether positive fluid balance among non-critically ill patients with sepsis was associated with increased readmission risk, including readmission for heart failure. Design, setting, and participants This multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2017, among 57 032 non-critically ill adults hospitalized for sepsis at 21 hospitals across Northern California. Kaiser Permanente Northern California is an integrated health care system with a community-based population of more than 4.4 million members. Statistical analysis was performed from January 1 to December 31, 2019. Exposures Intake and output net fluid balance (I/O) measured daily and cumulatively at discharge (positive vs negative). Main outcomes and measures The primary outcome was 30-day readmission. The secondary outcomes were readmission stratified by category and mortality after living discharge. Results The cohort included 57 032 patients who were hospitalized for sepsis (28 779 women [50.5%]; mean [SD] age, 73.7 [15.5] years). Compared with patients with positive I/O (40 940 [71.8%]), those with negative I/O (16 092 [28.2%]) were older, with increased comorbidity, acute illness severity, preexisting heart failure or chronic kidney disease, diuretic use, and decreased fluid administration volume. During 30-day follow-up, 8719 patients (15.3%) were readmitted and 3639 patients (6.4%) died. There was no difference in readmission between patients with positive vs negative I/O (HR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.95-1.05). No association was detected between readmission and I/O using continuous, splined, and quadratic function transformations. Positive I/O was associated with decreased heart failure-related readmission (HR, 0.80 [95% CI, 0.71-0.91]) and increased 30-day mortality (HR, 1.23 [95% CI, 1.15-1.31]). Conclusions and relevance In this large observational study of non-critically ill patients hospitalized with sepsis, there was no association between positive fluid balance at the time of discharge and readmission. However, these findings may have been limited by variable recording and documentation of fluid intake and output; additional studies are needed to examine the association of fluid status with outcomes in patients with sepsis to reduce readmission risk.
Antisocial Traits and Risky Sexual Behavior In Inpatient Adolescents

Risky sexual behavior (RSB) during adolescence increases risk for sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDs, and teenage pregnancy. Youth with externalizing disorders are more likely to engage in RSB, and antisocial traits in adolescence may be particularly relevant to RSB. It is still not clear which specific antisocial traits are most relevant to RSB and RSB attitudes, or how biological sex influences RSB and RSB attitudes in adolescence. The present study examined RSB and RSB attitudes, and their relationship with sex among inpatient adolescents with antisocial traits. 128 female and 52 male (N = 180) inpatient adolescents ranging from 12 to 17 years of age (M = 15.28, SD = 1.41) completed self-report measures of antisocial features, RSB, and RSB attitudes. Correlations, followed up with multiple linear regressions, were used to examine relations between antisocial features, adolescent age, RSB, and RSB attitudes. Results indicated no sex differences in RSB; however, significant sex differences in RSB attitudes were found. All antisocial facets, apart from stimulus seeking, were not related to RSB. Most antisocial facets were found to be related to RSB attitudes, most significantly antisocial behavior. Age at admission was the variable most significantly related to RSB and RSB attitudes. Results suggest that, for inpatient adolescents, antisocial features may not be related to engagement in RSB; however, the presence of riskier attitudes may affect future engagement in RSB among adolescent males with antisocial traits later in life and therefore present important preventative targets.
Learn Locally, Correct Globally: A Distributed Algorithm for Training Graph Neural Networks.

Despite the recent success of Graph Neural Networks (GNNs), training GNNs on large graphs remains challenging. The limited resource capacities of the existing servers, the dependency between nodes in a graph, and the privacy concern due to the centralized storage and model learning have spurred the need to design an effective distributed algorithm for GNN training. However, existing distributed GNN training methods impose either excessive communication costs or large memory overheads that hinders their scalability. To overcome these issues, we propose a communication-efficient distributed GNN training technique named $\text{{Learn Locally, Correct Globally}}$ (LLCG). To reduce the communication and memory overhead, each local machine in LLCG first trains a GNN on its local data by ignoring the dependency between nodes among different machines, then sends the locally trained model to the server for periodic model averaging. However, ignoring node dependency could result in significant performance degradation. To solve the performance degradation, we propose to apply $\text{{Global Server Corrections}}$ on the server to refine the locally learned models. We rigorously analyze the convergence of distributed methods with periodic model averaging for training GNNs and show that naively applying periodic model averaging but ignoring the dependency between nodes will suffer from an irreducible residual error. However, this residual error can be eliminated by utilizing the proposed global corrections to entail fast convergence rate. Extensive experiments on real-world datasets show that LLCG can significantly improve the efficiency without hurting the performance.
Improved TEEN based trust routing algorithm in WSNs

Deployed in harsh environment of wireless sensor network node is physically captured or damage easily, and its wireless communication pattern may lead network vulnerable by all kinds of interference and attacks. Therefore, the routing security is particularly important. Based on the in-depth analysis of wireless sensor networks protocol — TEEN protocol, combined with the trustworthy evaluation mechanism, an improved TEEN based trust routing algorithm in wireless sensor networks is put forward. A dynamic trust management mode is designed to ensure the credibility of node. The cluster head selection strategy and routing strategy of TEEN are improved to ensure the energy efficiency of the network, and the periodic data collection mechanism is introduced to determine the survival state of node. The simulation and performance evaluation show that the proposed algorithm has better performance.
Delay reduction in redundant trees for preplanned protection against single link/node failure in 2-connected graphs

Protection and restoration in high speed networks is an important issue, especially for applications in SONET and WDM networks. We study quality of service issues in preplanned recovery using redundant trees in 2-vertex connected graphs and 2-edge connected graphs. In particular, we present efficient heuristic algorithms for finding a pair of working-protection trees with small delay in the working tree. Extensive computational results show that our algorithms reduce the average delay in the working tree by 60% to 90%. Many challenging problems remain open.
Didn't I tell you that?: challenges and tensions in developing and sustaining school-university partnerships

Chamberlain High School is small inner-city school within a school in a large urban district. Over its five years of existence, Chamberlain administrators have enlisted the aid of outside partners to help them realize the vision of an interdisciplinary environmental science theme based school. Partners include many university-based groups, as well as groups such as National Public Radio's Living on Earth, the Urban Ecology Institute (a non-profit university-based organization), and a local environmental literacy program. This study was undertaken to understand some of the dynamics behind those partnerships. Using activity theory as an analytical lens we found a set of tensions that drove many of the changes that have occurred between the school and its partners. In this paper we document these tensions so others who are working in similar situations will be able to leverage our experience and findings to support urban school change.
Simulation of multi-channel AM-VSB CATV lightwave system employing semiconductor optical amplifier as an external modulator

This paper proposes an optical AM-VSB CATV link which utilizes a traveling wave semiconductor optical amplifier (TWSOA) as an external modulator and a high-power CW DFB laser diode, as an alternative to directly modulated DFB laser based transmitters. We use computer simulation techniques to investigate the potential and limitations of TWSOAs when used as external analog modulators at the transmitter end of multi-channel AM-VSB CATV lightwave systems.
Dopamine D2 Receptor Signaling Modulates Mutant Ataxin-1 S776 Phosphorylation and Aggregation

Spinocerebellar ataxia 1 (SCA1) is a dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disease associated with progressive ataxia resulting from the loss of cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) and neurons in the brainstem. In PCs of SCA1 transgenic mice, the disease causing ataxin-1 protein mediates the formation of S100B containing cytoplasmic vacuoles and further self-aggregates to form intranuclear inclusions. The exact function of the ataxin-1 protein is not fully understood. However, the aggregation and neurotoxicity of the mutant ataxin-1 protein is dependent on the phosphorylation at serine 776 (S776). Although protein kinase A (PKA) has been implicated as the S776 kinase, the mechanism of PKA/ataxin-1 regulation in SCA1 is still not clear. We propose that a dopamine D(2) receptor (D2R)/S100B pathway may be involved in modulating PKA activity in PCs. Using a D2R/S100B HEK stable cell line transiently transfected with GFP-ataxin-1[82Q], we demonstrate that stimulation of the D2R/S100B pathway caused a reduction in mutant ataxin-1 S776 phosphorylation and ataxin-1 aggregation. Activation of PKA by forskolin resulted in an enhanced S776 phosphorylation and increased ataxin-1 nuclear aggregation, which was suppressed by treatment with D2R agonist bromocriptine and PKA inhibitor H89. Furthermore, treating SCA1 transgenic PC slice cultures with forskolin induced neurodegenerative morphological abnormalities in PC dendrites consistent with those observed in vivo. Taken together our data support a mechanism where PKA dependent mutant ataxin-1 phosphorylation and aggregation can be regulated by D2R/S100B signaling.
Roles of translesion synthesis DNA polymerases in the potent mutagenicity of tobacco-specific nitrosamine-derived O2-alkylthymidines in human cells

The tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is a potent human carcinogen. Metabolic activation of NNK generates a number of DNA adducts including O(2)-methylthymidine (O(2)-Me-dT) and O(2)-[4-(3-pyridyl)-4-oxobut-1-yl]thymidine (O(2)-POB-dT). To investigate the biological effects of these O(2)-alkylthymidines in humans, we have replicated plasmids containing a site-specifically incorporated O(2)-Me-dT or O(2)-POB-dT in human embryonic kidney 293T (HEK293T) cells. The bulkier O(2)-POB-dT exhibited high genotoxicity and only 26% translesion synthesis (TLS) occurred, while O(2)-Me-dT was less genotoxic and allowed 55% TLS. However, O(2)-Me-dT was 20% more mutagenic (mutation frequency (MF) 64%) compared to O(2)-POB-dT (MF 53%) in HEK293T cells. The major type of mutations in each case was targeted T → A transversions (56% and 47%, respectively, for O(2)-Me-dT and O(2)-POB-dT). Both lesions induced a much lower frequency of T → G, the dominant mutation in bacteria. siRNA knockdown of the TLS polymerases (pols) indicated that pol η, pol ζ, and Rev1 are involved in the lesion bypass of O(2)-Me-dT and O(2)-POB-dT as the TLS efficiency decreased with knockdown of each pol. In contrast, MF of O(2)-Me-dT was decreased in pol ζ and Rev1 knockdown cells by 24% and 25%, respectively, while for O(2)-POB-dT, it was decreased by 44% in pol ζ knockdown cells, indicating that these TLS pols are critical for mutagenesis. Additional decrease in both TLS efficiency and MF was observed in cells deficient in pol ζ plus other Y-family pols. This study provided important mechanistic details on how these lesions are bypassed in human cells in both error-free and error-prone manner.
Curveballs in protoplanetary discs – the effect of the Magnus force on planet formation

Spinning planetesimals in a gaseous protoplanetary disk may experience a hydrodynamical force perpendicular to their relative velocities. We examine the effect this force has on the dynamics of these objects using analytical arguments based on a simple laminar disk model and numerical integrations of the equations of motion for individual grains. We focus in particular on meter-sized boulders traditionally expected to spiral in to the central star in as little as 100 years from 1 A.U. We find that there are plausible scenarios in which this force extends the lifetime of these solids in the disk by a factor of several. More importantly the velocities induced by the Magnus force can prevent the formation of planetesimals via gravitational instability in the inner disk if the size of the dust particles is larger than of order 10 cm. We find that the fastest growing linear modes of the streaming instability may still grow despite the diffusive effect of the Magnus force, but it remains to be seen how the Magnus force will alter the non-linear evolution of these instabilities.
Modulation of Amyloid Beta Peptide Aggregation by Apolipoprotein E Isoforms

Apolipoprotein E4 (apoE) is a confirmed risk factor for late onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). Mouse model studies indicate enhanced depostion of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides in the brain in presence of the e4 isoform of apoE. However, the mechanism of apoE-Aβ interaction and the biophysical nature of these complexes remain largely unclear. In addition, the relative specificity of this interaction with the other two common isoforms (apoE2 and apoE3) not associated with AD is poorly understood. Aβ aggregation followed by turbidity measurements show that the aggregation is accelerated by all three isoforms of apoE and apoE4 showed the greatest and apoE2 the least effects. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) measurements using fluorescently labeled Aβ show that diffusion time of Aβ increases upon incubation with wild type apoE proteins. FCS data confirm that apoE4 has the highest and apoE2 has the lowest affinity for Aβ. However, this interaction appears to be slow and does not reach completion even after several days of co-incubation. The diffusion time of the complexes are found to be large indicating involvement of multimeric forms of Aβ. In addition, a monomeric form of apoE prepared by 4 mutations in the apoE sequence does not bind to Aβ. Thus apoE multimers may be acting as nucleation sites for oligomerization of Aβ. We are currently investigating the molecular basis of the apoE-Aβ complex formations by employing Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange by mass spectrometry (HDX-MS).
Different Interaction Modes of Biomolecules with Citrate-Capped Gold Nanoparticles

In this study, we investigated the interaction between five biorelevant molecules and citrate-capped gold nanoparticles using dynamic light scattering, ζ-potential analysis, UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The five biomolecules are bovine serum albumin (BSA), two immunoglobulin G (IgG) proteins, immunoglobulin M (IgM), and a polysaccharide molecule, hyaluronan. BSA, IgG, and IgM are high abundance proteins in blood. Hyaluronan is a major component of the extracellular matrix. An abnormal level of hyaluronan in blood is associated with a number of medical conditions including rheumatoid arthritis and malignancy. Five different interaction modes were observed from these molecules. While BSA and IgM interact with the gold nanoparticles by forming electrostatic interactions with the citrate ligands, IgG and hyaluronan adsorb to the nanoparticle metal core by displacing the citrate ligands. BSA, rabbit IgG, and hyaluronan formed a stable monolayer on the nanoparticle surfa...
Estimation of interclass correlation via a Kotz-type distribution

We estimate interclass (mom-sib) correlation by maximizing the log-likelihood function of a Kotz-type distribution. The results are illustrated on a real life data set due to Galton. Using extensive simulations and the three criteria, namely, bias, MSE and Pitman nearness probability, we compare the proposed estimator with the maximum likelihood estimator based on normal distribution and with a non-iterative estimator due to Srivastava. We conclude that the proposed estimator performs well when the data are not from multivariate normal distribution. However, if the data are from multivariate normal distribution then Srivastava's estimator and normal based maximum likelihood estimator perform well as expected. Testing of hypothesis about this correlation is also discussed using likelihood based tests. It is concluded that score test derived using Kotz-type density performs the best.
Unique Radiographic Appearance of Bone Marrow Metastasis of an Insulin-Secreting Beta-Cell Carcinoma in a Dog

A9-year-old, neutered male Border Collie—mix dog presented to the Louisiana State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Clinics (LSU-VTH&C) for evaluation of chronic, intermittent vomiting of 6 months' duration. The episodes of vomiting, along with decreased appetite and lethargy, had occurred sporadically during these 6 months. One day before referral, episodes of acute collapse and weakness in the pelvic limbs were noticed. A CBC and serum biochemistry had been performed on several occasions during the previous 6 months by the referring veterinarian and each time, high alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was found. An ACTH stimulation test also had been performed 8 weeks before referral and results were normal. On 2 separate occasions, therapeutic dietary trialsa, b and symptomatic treatment with metoclopramidec (0.5 mg/kg PO q8h) did not improve the clinical signs. In addition, the dog had lost 6 pounds of body weight over the 6-month period
Predators and avian community organization: an experiment in a semi-desert grassland.

We provide experimental evidence that predators are a major factor organizing a community of granivorous grassland birds (mostly emberizid finches). Our focus is not on the lethal effects of predators, but on the simple idea that (i) birds will not settle where they perceive a high risk of predation, and (ii) species differ in their perception of the safety of woody vegetative cover due to differences in antipredator escape behavior. Consistent with this idea is the fact that the composition of this grassland community responds markedly to minor manipulations in the distribution of woody cover. In particular, with the addition of cover to open grasslands, species with cover-dependent escape tactics increase in abundance, while the abundance of “cover-independent” species decreases greatly; this decrease may reflect aggression from cover-dependent species, but evidence suggests that some cover-independent species may actively avoid cover-rich areas per se. Non-predatory effects of cover, most notably those concerning food resources and microclimate, appear unable to explain these results. Predators may influence many communities of terrestrial vertebrates via species-specific responses to cover.
ACCURATE DENSITY FUNCTIONAL CALCULATIONS ON LARGE SYSTEMS

Efforts to compute accurate all-electron density-functional energies for large molecules and clusters using Gaussian basis sets are reviewed and their use in fullerene science described. The foundation of this effort, variational fitting, is described first. When discovered experimentally, C60 was naturally assumed to be particularly stable, but local-density-functional calculations showed that C60 is quite unstable relative to the higher fullerenes and graphene (a single sheet of graphite). In addition to raising questions about the relative abundance of the various fullerenes, this work conflicted with the then state-of-the-art density-functional calculations on crystalline graphene. Now high accuracy molecular and band structure calculations are in fairly good agreement with each other and experiment. These calculations clearly demonstrate that each of the 12 pentagons, which are necessary to close a fullerene, is best viewed as a rather high-energy, more than 2 eV, defect in a graphene sheet. The effect of the heptagon, the second most common defect in fullerene materials, is described. Most recently, we have developed accurate, variational gradient-corrected forces for use in geometry optimization of clusters and in molecular-dynamics simulations of friction. The gradient-corrected optimized geometry of C60 is given. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 64: 193–203, 1997
A level set projection model of lipid vesicles in general flows

A new numerical method to model the dynamic behavior of lipid vesicles under general flows is presented. A gradient-augmented level set method is used to model the membrane motion. To enforce the volume- and surface-incompressibility constraints a four-step projection method is developed to integrate the full Navier-Stokes equations. This scheme is implemented on an adaptive non-graded Cartesian grid. Convergence results are presented, along with sample two-dimensional results of vesicles under various flow conditions.
Development of protective immunity against cutaneous leishmaniasis is dependent on STAT1-mediated IFN signaling pathway.

Although STAT1-dependent signaling mediates biological functions of IFN-α/β and IFN-γ, recent reports indicate that STAT1-independent IFN signaling also regulates expression of several genes. To determine the roles of STAT1-dependent and -independent IFN signaling in the regulation of immunity during cutaneous leishmaniasis, we studied the course of Leishmania major infection in resistant C57BL/6 mice lacking the STAT1 gene. While L. major-infected STAT1+/+ mice resolved their lesions, STAT1–/– mice developed large lesions containing significantly more parasites. Moreover, the inability of STAT1–/– mice to control L. major infection was due to the lack of Th1 development associated with reduced production of IL-12, IFN-γ and nitric oxide. Although STAT1–/– mice produced more IL-4 and total IgE than STAT1+/+ mice later during infection, these differences were not significant. Nevertheless, at these time points lymph node cells from STAT1–/– mice produced significantly more IL-10. Finally, STAT1–/– mice were also susceptible to low dose L. major infection. Thesefindings demonstrate that STAT1-mediated IFN signaling is indispensable for the development of protective immunity against cutaneous L. major infection. Moreover, they also suggest that the protective role of STAT1-mediated signaling is due to its ability to induce Th1 development during infection with this parasite.
R-isomers of Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) mimics as potent αvβ3 inhibitors

Abstract The integrin αvβ3, vitronectin receptor, is expressed in a number of cell types and has been shown to mediate adhesion of osteoclasts to bone matrix, vascular smooth muscle cell migration, and angiogenesis. We recently disclosed the discovery of a tripeptide Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) mimic, which has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of the integrin αvβ3 and has excellent anti-angiogenic properties including its suppression of tumor growth in animal models. In other investigations involving RGD mimics, only compounds containing the S-isomers of the β-amino acids have been shown to be potent. We were surprised to find the potencies of analogs containing enantiomerically pure S-isomers of β-amino acids which were only marginally better than the corresponding racemic mixtures. We therefore synthesized RGD mimics containing R-isomers of β-amino acids and found them to be relatively potent inhibitors of αvβ3. One of the compounds was examined in tumor models in mice and has been shown to significantly reduce the rate of growth and the size of tumors.
Molecular phylogeny of mud crabs (Brachyura: Panopeidae) from the northwestern Atlantic and the role of morphological stasis and convergence

Mud crabs of the family Panopeidae are common organisms in coastal soft-bottom, vegetated, rubble, and oyster-bed communities along the temperate and tropical coastlines of the American continent. Similar morphology among many species renders their distinction and classification difficult. Here, we present phylogenies of western Atlantic Panopeidae based on DNA sequences of the mitochondrial large subunit rRNA (16S; 529 basepairs) and cytochrome oxidase I (COI; 640 basepairs) genes. Results suggest that the speciose genera Panopeus and Eurypanopeus are not monophyletic and that their taxonomy does not accurately reflect evolutionary partitions. In two cases (P. herbstii complex and E. depressus and allies), the molecular findings strongly support sister-species relationships that differ from previous morphology-based assumptions. We suggest that convergence or morphological stasis are responsible for the phenotypic similarities between divergent evolutionary lineages.
Distressing Upper Extremity Phantom Limb Sensation During Intravenous Regional Anesthesia

Background and Objectives The objective of this article is to describe a case of distressing upper extremity phantom limb sensation during intravenous regional anesthesia (IVRA). Case Report A 33-year-old American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status I female with an uncomplicated intrauterine gestation presented for endoscopic carpal tunnel release. Following gravity-assisted exsanguination of the vertically positioned left upper extremity, she underwent an IVRA. Within minutes of her arm being repositioned for surgery she remarked that the arm felt as if it was still in the vertical position. This sensory disturbance was described as fatiguing and exhausting. Despite reassurance and medication with intravenous narcotics, her symptoms became intolerable. Her phantom sensation disappeared upon dissipation of the IVRA. Conclusions There are no previous reports regarding the development of phantom phenomena during an IVRA. The occurrence of distressing phantom sensations during an otherwise adequate IVRA may be interpreted as block failure and may lead to conversion to general anesthesia. Practitioners are encouraged to consider these phenomena when performing IVRA.
Children's Acquisition of Arithmetic Principles: The Role of Experience

The current study investigated how young learners' experiences with arithmetic equations can lead to learning of an arithmetic principle. The focus was elementary school children's acquisition of the Relation to Operands principle for subtraction (i.e., for natural numbers, the difference must be less than the minuend). In Experiment 1, children who viewed incorrect, principle-consistent equations and those who viewed a mix of incorrect, principle-consistent and principle-violation equations both showed gains in principle knowledge. However, children who viewed only principle-consistent equations did not. We hypothesized that improvements were due in part to improved encoding of relative magnitudes. In Experiment 2, children who practiced comparing numerical magnitudes increased their knowledge of the principle. Thus, experience that highlights the encoding of relative magnitude facilitates principle learning. This work shows that exposure to certain types of arithmetic equations can facilitate the learni...
Ethanol self-administration in ALKO rats. I: Effects of selection and concentration

The ALKO Alcohol Accepting (AA) rats and Alcohol Non-Accepting (ANA) rats were used to study the relationship between ethanol preference in a two-bottle choice paradigm and oral ethanol self-administration in an operant conditioning paradigm. Ethanol served as a positive reinforcer in the preferring AA line. Under a continuous reinforcement schedule (FR 1), ethanol deliveries were consistently greater than water (vehicle) deliveries and varied as an orderly inverted U-shaped function of ethanol concentration. Conversely, in nonpreferring ANA animals, ethanol did not serve as a reinforcer. Findings obtained with the AA rats were compared with those obtained with Sprague-Dawley rats. Sprague-Dawley rats maintained higher levels of responding and greater ethanol intake, relative to AA rats, at all concentrations of ethanol tested. The data are consistent with evidence that genotype is a critical factor in determining the extent to which ethanol serves as a reinforcer. The results also suggest that ethanol preference and the maintenance of ethanol reinforced behavior under operant conditions appear to have some common mechanisms. However, since the selection for ethanol preference in AA rats apparently did not maximize the maintenance of ethanol-reinforced behavior in an operant paradigm, ethanol drinking behavior in the preference paradigm may not be completely generalizable to that observed in the operant model.
Absolute photometry of the aurora—I. The ionized molecular nitrogen emission and the oxygen green line in the dark atmosphere

Abstract A low latitude aurora was measured photometrically. Three prominent emission features, λ3914 band of 1.N.G. N2+, λ5577 of OI and λ6300–6364 of OI, were isolated with narrow pass band filters and recorded continuously throughout the night in the meridian sweep. Absolute calibration was carried out, and corrections for the scattered light and atmospheric extinction were made. The absolute emission intensity for λ3914 and λ5577 is given at a selected zenith distance. The ratio of instantaneous intensities I(O)5577 to I(O)3914 was found to be essentially constant over an intensity range of three powers of ten and to be independent of the type of auroral form. The intensities and correlations obtained are consistent with the following excitation mechanisms. In the dark atmosphere the N2+ is excited from ionizing collisions of incoming particles with atmospheric N2. It is concluded that the OI λ5577 line results from secondary electrons, arising from the primary ionization process above, colliding inelastically with oxygen atoms.
Rb/E2F: a two-edged sword in the melanocytic system

Rb is a tumor suppressor that represses the expression of E2F regulated genes required for cell cycle progression. It is inactivated in melanomas and other cancer cells by phosphorylation catalyzed by persistent cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) activity. CDK activity is sustained in melanoma cells mostly by the elimination of the CDK inhibitor p16INK4A and by high levels of cyclins whose expression is maintained by stimuli emanating from activated cell surface receptors and/or mutated intracellular intermediates, such as N-Ras and B-Raf. However, Rb also suppresses the expression of apoptosis genes, and its presence protects normal melanocytes from cell death. Its high expression in human melanoma cells and tumors suggests a similar role in malignant cells as well. The differential release and suppression of E2F transcriptional activity is likely to depend on promoter-specific E2F/Rb interaction. Phosphorylated Rb is displaced from cell cycle genes but not from others. In addition, Rb gene repression is dependent on the nature of Rb-E2F interaction and the activity of the Rb-bound proteins recruited to the promoter. Deciphering the differences in Rb/E2F complex formation in normal and malignant melanocytes is likely to shed light on the mechanism by which Rb can exert tumor suppressing and promoting activities in this cellular system. The Rb/E2F pathway provides opportunities for efficient therapy at multiple levels. Novel drugs can reactivate Rb potential to suppress growth cycle promoting genes. In addition, the high E2F transcriptional activity in melanoma cells can be exploited to deliver cytotoxic molecules specifically to tumors, sparing the normal tissues.
White Sands Missile Range PC-based real-time video tracker

White Sands Missile Range has developed a video tracker using a consumer grade personal computer and frame grabber. The video tracker receives NTSC video at a 60Hz field rate and delivers tracking data with a 32ms delay. Thirty video trackers have been fielded with great success tracking highly dynamic rockets and airplanes from launch with an azimuth slew rate of up to 60 degrees/second. Simple contrast tracking is employed for both initial launch and steady-state tracking. Smart region of interest determination is used to facilitate servo control issues.
Primary care provider practices and beliefs related to cervical cancer screening with the HPV test in Federally Qualified Health Centers

Abstract Objective Cervical cancer screening using the human papillomavirus (HPV) test and Pap test together (co-testing) is an option for average-risk women ≥ 30 years of age. With normal co-test results, screening intervals can be extended. The study objective is to assess primary care provider practices, beliefs, facilitators and barriers to using the co-test and extending screening intervals among low-income women. Method Data were collected from 98 providers in 15 Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) clinics in Illinois between August 2009 and March 2010 using a cross-sectional survey. Results 39% of providers reported using the co-test, and 25% would recommend a three-year screening interval for women with normal co-test results. Providers perceived greater encouragement for co-testing than for extending screening intervals with a normal co-test result. Barriers to extending screening intervals included concerns about patients not returning annually for other screening tests (77%), patient concerns about missing cancer (62%), and liability (52%). Conclusion Among FQHC providers in Illinois, few administered the co-test for screening and recommended appropriate intervals, possibly due to concerns over loss to follow-up and liability. Education regarding harms of too-frequent screening and false positives may be necessary to balance barriers to extending screening intervals.
Remote Detection of Trichodesmium Blooms in Optically Complex Coastal Waters: Examples with Modis Full-Spectral Data

Abstract Remote detection of the Trichodesmium spp. cyanobacteria blooms on the west Florida shelf (WFS) has been problematic due to optical complexity caused by sediment resuspension, coastal runoff, and bottom interference. By combining MODIS data measured by the ocean bands and land bands, an approach was developed to identify surface mats of Trichodesmium on the WFS. The approach first identifies possible bloom patches in MODIS FAI (floating algae index) 250 m resolution imagery derived from the Rayleigh-corrected reflectance at 667, 859, and 1240 nm. Then, spectral analysis examines the unique reflectance characteristics of Trichodesmium at 469, 488, 531, 551, and 555 nm due to specific optical properties (absorption, backscattering, and fluorescence) of the unusual pigments in Trichodesmium . These spectral characteristics (i.e., high–low–high–low–high reflectance at 469-488–531–551–555 nm, respectively) differentiate Trichodesmium mats unambiguously from other features observed in the FAI imagery, such as Sargassum spp. Tests in other coastal locations show that the approach is robust and applicable to other optically complex waters. Results shown here can help study Trichodesmium bloom dynamics (e.g., initiation and bloom formation) and may also help design future sensors to better detect and quantify Trichodesmium , an important N 2 fixer in the global oceans.