cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reliability, validity and measurement invariance of the Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire (SMAQ) among HIV-positive women in Ethiopia: a quasi-experimental study

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy is critical to the achievement of the third target of the UNAIDS Fast-Track Initiative goals of 2020–2030. Reliable, valid and accurate measurement of adherence are important for correct assessment of adherence and in predicting the efficacy of ART. The Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire is a six-item scale which assesses the perception of persons living with HIV about their adherence to ART. Despite recent widespread use, its measurement properties have yet to be carefully documented beyond the original study in Spain. The objective of this paper was to conduct internal consistency reliability, concurrent validity and measurement invariance tests for the SMAQ. HIV-positive women who were receiving ART services from 51 service providers in two sub-cities of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia completed the SMAQ in a HIV treatment referral network study between 2011 and 2012. Two cross-sections of 402 and 524 female patients of reproductive age, respectively, from the two sub-cities were randomly selected and interviewed at baseline and follow-up. We used Cronbach’s coefficient alpha (α) to assess internal consistency reliability, Pearson product-moment correlation (r) to assess concurrent validity and multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis to analyze factorial structure and measurement invariance of the SMAQ. All participants were female with a mean age of 33; median: 34 years; range 18–45 years. Cronbach’s alphas for the six items of the SMAQ were 0.66, 0.68, 0.75 and 0.75 for T1 control, T1 intervention, T2 control, and T2 intervention groups, respectively. Pearson correlation coefficients were 0.78, 0.49, 0.52, 0.48, 0.76 and 0.80 for items 1 to 6, respectively, between T1 compared to T2. We found invariance for factor loadings, observed item intercepts and factor variances, also known as strong measurement invariance, when we compared latent adherence levels between and across patient-groups. Our results show that the six-item SMAQ scale has adequate reliability and validity indices for this sample, in addition to being invariant across comparison groups. The findings of this study strengthen the evidence in support of the increasing use of SMAQ by interventionists and researchers to examine, pool and compare adherence scores across groups and time periods.
Resorufin inhibits the in vitro metabolism and mutagenesis of benzo(a)pyrene

7-Hydroxyphenoxazin-3-one, commonly known as resorufin, strongly inhibits benzo(a)pyrene-induced mutation in the Ames bacterial reversion assay. The antimutagenic mechanism is due in part to redox cycling of resorufin with the concommitant transfer of reducing equivalents from NADPH to molecular oxygen. The diversion of electrons from cytochrome P-450 enzymes results in a large decrease in the percent of benzo(a)pyrene metabolized by rat liver microsomes as measured by HPLC. Resorufin stimulated a non-stoichiometric consumption of NADPH and was reduced in S-9 or microsomal solutions. These processes were sensitive to dicumarol and NADP inhibition to different degrees in each liver fraction. This suggests two pathways are involved in resorufin redox cycling, one involving DT-diaphorase and the other with NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase. Oxygen was shown to be an electron acceptor for S-9 mediated resorufin redox cycling, but was not consumed by a microsomal solution in the presence of resorufin and NADPH.
Overview of the fundamentals of laparoscopic surgery program and its significance for Chinese surgeons

Fundamentals of laparoscopic surgery (FLS) Program is the first truly validated psychomotor and cognitive skills program and assessment in general surgery.FLS was developed by the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) and endorsed by the American Board of Surgery.It is a pre-requisite mandated by the American Board of Surgery for all surgeons wishing to sit for the General Surgical Board Qualifying Exam,which is the first step towards board certification in the United States This paper reviews the success of the FLS program in the United States,and its potential use and benefit in standardizing laparoscopy in China. Key words: Fundamentals of laparoscopic surgery; Training; Standardization
Oncotype DX testing in node-positive breast cancer strongly impacts chemotherapy use at a comprehensive cancer center.

In 2016, we initiated standardized “reflex” Oncotype DX Recurrence Score (RS) testing for patients ≤ 65 years with pT1-2N0-1 HR+/HER2− breast cancer. Here, we examine RS testing patterns, RS distribution, and factors associated with chemotherapy use in patients with pN1 breast cancer. Patients with stage I–III HR+/HER2− pN1 breast cancer treated with upfront surgery from February 2016 to March 2019 were identified. Clinical characteristics were compared between patients meeting reflex RS testing criteria, those with RS ordered outside of reflex criteria, and those without RS testing. RS was categorized as low (< 18), intermediate (18–30), and high (≥ 31). Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with adjuvant chemotherapy receipt. We examined 3-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) stratified by chemotherapy use. We identified 347 HR+/HER2− pN1 patients; 272 (78.4%) received RS testing, and 194 (71.3%) met reflex criteria. RS was < 18 in 164 (61.4%) patients, 18–30 in 89 (32.7%) patients, and ≥ 31 in 16 (5.9%) patients. On multivariate analysis, RS < 18 (OR 0.47, 95% CI 0.24–0.92) was associated with lower odds of chemotherapy use, whereas presence of lymphovascular invasion (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.03–3.07) and lobular subtype (OR 2.40, 95% CI 1.21–4.78) were associated with higher odds. No differences in 3-year RFS (p = 0.97) or OS (p = 0.19) based on chemotherapy receipt were observed. Most RS-tested HR+/HER2− pN1 patients at our center had low genomic risk. A low RS independently influenced chemotherapy omission and in RS-tested patients, short-term outcomes were excellent. Our study demonstrates increased use of RS in guiding adjuvant treatment decisions in node-positive disease.
Ebola and the Evolving Ethics of Quarantine

Within the context of the history of quarantine, both worldwide and in the United States, this essay analyzes current quarantine policies related to Ebola with an inquiry into both related bio-ethical concerns and an analysis of the ways in which emerging Ebola pharmaceutical treatments, particularly the rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine, may shift quarantine policies. By way of background, the historical roots of quarantine are first briefly examined alongside an analysis of why quarantine policies were not instituted in relationship to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Then, current quarantine policies and procedures in both the developed and developing world are delineated, with an analysis of the application of these quarantine policies to Ebola. An overview is provided of how new treatment protocols may change Ebola quarantine alongside related bio-ethical concerns.
Attitudes Toward Euthanasia: A Longitudinal Analysis of the Role of Economic, Cultural, and Health-Related Factors.

Abstract Context It is crucial that physicians understand differing attitudes toward euthanasia and which factors to consider when discussing end-of-life decisions with patients and families from diverse backgrounds. Objectives To investigate how attitudes toward euthanasia differ among countries, how they change, and how economic, religious, and health-related factors affect these attitudes. Methods We analyzed attitudes toward euthanasia and economic, religious, and health-related indicators using longitudinal (1981–2018) World Values Survey (WVS) data. They included 62 countries with at least a 15-year, three-wave, time series (total n = 389,243 participants). Each national survey interviewed representative samples of adults (mean = 1405). Results In the latest wave, The Netherlands had the most favorable views of euthanasia (10-point scale with 1 = least justifiable: mean = 7.47) and Jordan the least (mean = 1.50). Residents of 23 of 24 high-income countries came to view euthanasia as more justifiable, while residents of 12 of 38 middle- and low-income countries came to view it as less justifiable over time. The higher GDP per-capita at the time of survey, the more euthanasia was accepted (r = 0.703; P Conclusion Euthanasia-related attitudes differ widely depending on the cultural context; changes over time varied in both directions; euthanasia-related attitudes were associated with economic, religious and health-related factors. With globalization increasing cultural diversity, these findings can inform physicians’ communication about end-of-life decisions with patients and families from diverse backgrounds.
Design of the Gyrotron Traveling-Wave Amplifier with Te-11 Mode

A gyrotron traveling wave amplifier was designed for high gain experiments with the dominant circular TE-11 mode. The calculated optimum circuit parameters are scaled to S-band for experiments to investigate performance characteristics of the future mm wave tube.
One Health and Averting the Next Pandemic: Concept, Origin, Evolution, and Challenges

More than 70 percent of emerging human diseases are zoonotic (originate in animals). The ongoing pandemic (a global outbreak of a disease) caused by the novel coronavirus has infected more than 176 million people worldwide and caused more than 3.8 million deaths globally. The ongoing pandemic may likely have its origin in animals before it was spilled over to the humans. As a public health professional and someone who has studied virus infections for a decade, my Infectious Disease Epidemiology course at the Texas A&M University School of Public Health had a focus on zoonotic diseases and the interconnections between animals, human, and the environment. This article provides overviews recent zoonotic outbreaks, the concept of One Health, origins and evolution of One Health, and strides and challenges for One Health.
Automated emergent large vessel occlusion detection by artificial intelligence improves stroke workflow in a hub and spoke stroke system of care.

Background Emergent large vessel occlusion (ELVO) acute ischemic stroke is a time-sensitive disease. Objective To describe our experience with artificial intelligence (AI) for automated ELVO detection and its impact on stroke workflow. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of code stroke cases in which VizAI was used for automated ELVO detection. Patients with ELVO identified by VizAI were compared with patients with ELVO identified by usual care. Details of treatment, CT angiography (CTA) interpretation by blinded neuroradiologists, and stroke workflow metrics were collected. Univariate statistical comparisons and linear regression analysis were performed to quantify time savings for stroke metrics. Results Six hundred and eighty consecutive code strokes were evaluated by AI; 104 patients were diagnosed with ELVO during the study period. Forty-five patients with ELVO were identified by AI and 59 by usual care. Sixty-nine mechanical thrombectomies were performed. Median time from CTA to team notification was shorter for AI ELVOs (7 vs 26 min; p Conclusions AI automated alerts can be incorporated into a comprehensive stroke center hub and spoke system of care. The use of AI to detect ELVO improves clinically meaningful stroke workflow metrics, resulting in faster treatment times for mechanical thrombectomy.
Adsorption of ethane, ethene, and ethyne on reconstructed Fe3O4(001)

Abstract The adsorption of the C2 hydrocarbons, including ethane, ethene, and ethyne, are studied on magnetite Fe3O4(001) by a combination of molecular beam dosing, temperature programmed desorption, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The ethane desorption profile has a single temperature invariant peak at 100 K, while ethene and ethyne exhibit additional peaks at ∼120 -and ∼135 K. An inversion analysis is used to extract coverage-dependent desorption energies as well as coverage-averaged prefactors for each molecule. Ethene and ethyne exhibit moderate coverage-dependent desorption energies decreasing from ∼80 to ∼30 kJ/mol at saturation, while ethane shows a relatively coverage invariant desorption energy ∼28 kJ/mol. The desorption energies of the C2 hydrocarbons increase in the order of increasing bond order. This is likely due to the enhanced interaction of the ethene and ethyne π system to the coordinatively unsaturated octahedral Fe sites (Feoct) on the oxide surface. The saturation coverages of each C2 hydrocarbon at 82 K were also determined. These match well with the 2-dimensional area determined from their liquid densities.
Regulation of autophagy by miRNAs in human diseases

Autophagy is a homeostatic process designed to eliminate dysfunctional and aging organelles and misfolded proteins through a well-concerted pathway, starting with forming a double-membrane vesicle and culminating in the lysosomal degradation of the cargo enclosed inside the mature vesicle. As a vital sentry of cellular health, autophagy is regulated in every human disease condition and is an essential target for non-coding RNAs like microRNAs (miRNAs). miRNAs are short oligonucleotides that specifically bind to the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of target mRNAs, thus leading to mRNA silencing, degradation, or translation blockage. This review summarizes the recent findings regarding the regulation of autophagy and autophagy-related genes by different miRNAs in various pathological conditions, including cancer, kidney and liver disorders, neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disorders, infectious diseases, aging-related conditions, and inflammation-related diseases. As miRNAs are being identified as prime regulators of autophagy in human disease, pharmacological molecules and traditional medicines targeting these miRNAs are also being tested in disease models, thus initiating a new series of therapeutic interventions targeting autophagy.
Diminishing Reality: Potential Benefits and Risks

Within distracting environments, it is difficult to maintain attentional focus on complex tasks. Cognitive aids can support attention by adding relevant information to the environment, such as via ...
Chemistry of Lipid Nanoparticles for RNA Delivery

ConspectusLipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are a type of lipid vesicles that possess a homogeneous lipid core. These vesicles are widely used in small-molecule drug and nucleic acid delivery and recently gained much attention because of their remarkable success as a delivery platform for COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. Nonetheless, the utility of transient protein expression induced by mRNA extends far beyond vaccines against infectious diseases─they also hold promise as cancer vaccines, protein replacement therapies, and gene editing components for rare genetic diseases. However, naked mRNA is inherently unstable and prone to rapid degradation by nucleases and self-hydrolysis. Encapsulation of mRNA within LNPs protects mRNA from extracellular ribonucleases and assists with intracellular mRNA delivery.In this Account, we discuss the core features of LNPs for RNA delivery. We focus our attention on LNPs designed to deliver mRNA; however, we also include examples of siRNA-LNP delivery where appropriate to highlight the commonalities and the dissimilarities due to the nucleic acid structure. First, we introduce the concept of LNPs, the advantages and disadvantages of utilizing nucleic acids as therapeutic agents, and the general reasoning behind the molecular makeup of LNPs. We also briefly highlight the most recent clinical successes of LNP-based nucleic acid therapies. Second, we describe the theory and methods of LNP self-assembly. The common idea behind all of the preparation methods is inducing electrostatic interactions between the nucleic acid and charged lipids and promoting nanoparticle growth via hydrophobic interactions. Third, we break down the LNP composition with special attention to the fundamental properties and purposes of each component. This includes the identified molecular design criteria, commercial sourcing, impact on intracellular trafficking, and contribution to the properties of LNPs. One of the key components of LNPs is ionizable lipids, which initiate electrostatic binding with endosomal membranes and facilitate cytosolic release; however, the roles of other lipid components should not be disregarded, as they are associated with stability, clearance, and distribution of LNPs. Fourth, we review the attributes of LNP constructs as a whole that can heavily influence RNA delivery. These attributes are LNP size, charge, internal structure, lipid packing, lipid membrane hydration, stability, and affinity toward biomacromolecules. We also discuss the specific techniques used to examine these attributes and how they can be adjusted. Finally, we offer our perspective on the future of RNA therapies and some questions that remain in the realm of LNP formulation and optimization.
Emotion regulation deficits and depression-related maladaptive interpersonal behaviours.

ABSTRACTCoyne's interpersonal theory of depression posits that those with depressive symptoms engage in maladaptive interpersonal behaviours that, although intended to assuage distress, push away social supports and increase depressive symptoms (Coyne, 1976). Excessive reassurance seeking, negative feedback seeking, and conversational self-focus are three behaviours implicated in Coyne's theory, yet their correlates- apart from depressive symptoms- are poorly understood. The current study considered the potential role of intrapersonal emotion regulation deficits as an additional vulnerability factor for these behaviours. Mediation models further tested whether linkages between emotion regulation deficits and maladaptive interpersonal behaviours helped to explain short-term increases in depressive symptoms, as further suggested by theory. Older adolescents (N = 291, M age = 18.9) completed self-report measures of emotion regulation deficits, depressive symptoms, and the three maladaptive interpersonal behaviours during an initial lab visit and again four weeks later. A series of multiple regression models suggested that emotion regulation difficulties are uniquely associated with each of the behaviours over and above the impact of depressive symptoms. Mediation analyses suggested that only excessive reassurance seeking mediated the association between initial emotion regulation deficits and increased depressive symptoms over time. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
Hand-Assisted Left Colectomy

The benefits of laparoscopic colectomy over open colectomy for colorectal disease including colon cancer have been firmly established by a number of prospective randomized-controlled trials. The hand-assisted technique offers additional advantages, making it a useful tool in the surgeon’s armamentarium. This chapter lays out the authors’ step-by-step systematic approach to hand-assisted left colectomy.
Chapter 14 Protein—DNA Cross-Linking as a Means to Determine the Distribution of Proteins on DNA in Vivo

Publisher Summary The protein-DNA cross-linking can be used to determine the distribution of proteins on DNA in vivo . The temporal and spatial distributions of particular proteins on specific DNA sequences provide key insights into the regulation and mechanics of transcription and chromosome replication and basic information on chromatin structure. The chapter describes a method for directly mapping the distribution of a protein on DNA in living cells by ultraviolet (UV)-induced cross-linking. UV irradiation of cells cross-links protein to DNA at the points of contact. The protein–DNA adducts are purified from cells, and then the protein of interest is immunoprecipitated with an appropriate antibody. The distribution of the protein on DNA in the cell is revealed by identifying specific restriction fragments that coprecipitate with the protein via their UV-induced covalent attachment to the protein. The UV-cross-linking method provides a unique opportunity to evaluate mechanistic questions in vivo . The method has been used to demonstrate that Drosophila topoisomerase I is recruited during heat shock to activated transcription units. It has also provided a direct measure of the relative in vivo density of RNA polymerase II on a variety of Drosophila genes.
Inhibition of transducin activation and guanosine triphosphatase activity by aluminum ion.

Abstract Aluminum ion perturbs the activity of a number of physiologically important enzymes, including members of a family of guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G-proteins). G-proteins couple cellular receptor proteins to a variety of effector enzymes (including adenylate cyclase, phospholipase C, and the rod photoreceptor phosphodiesterase). We show herein that subnanomolar concentrations of free aluminum ion, produced in a carefully defined and kinetically stable manner through the buffering of total aluminum at 0.1-1.0 mM with calculated ratios of chelating agents, inhibit both the receptor-mediated activation and the self-inactivating GTPase activity of the rod photoreceptor G-protein, Gv. In the presence of 4 X 10(-10) M free aluminum ion, GTPase activity is inhibited from about 25-60% as the magnesium ion concentration is reduced from 10(-3) to about 5 X 10(-5) M. The principal effect of aluminum ion upon Gv is to inhibit receptor catalyzed nucleotide exchange. Binding of the GTP analog 5'-guanylyl imidodiphosphate can be reduced by as much as 90% by aluminum ion following subsaturating rhodopsin stimulation. Aluminum ion can produce either competitive or mixed noncompetitive inhibition of rhodopsin-catalyzed Gv activation and GTPase activity, as a function of whether Gv undergoes single (competitive), or multiple (mixed noncompetitive) nucleotide exchanges. The rod photoreceptor phosphodiesterase is only slightly inhibited by similar aluminum ion activities. Light- and Gv-coupled phosphodiesterase activation exhibits both a lower maximum rate of cyclic guanosine monophosphate hydrolysis and a slower inactivation in the presence of aluminum ion activities from about 10(-12) - 10(-10) M. These data suggest that intracellular free aluminum ion concentrations in the subnanomolar range could markedly affect the ability of cells to transduce extracellular signals. Interestingly, the combination of Al3+ and F- to produce the fluoro-aluminate species (AlFx) also inhibits the GTPase of G-proteins, although the mechanism of inhibition (e.g. binding to the G-protein.Mg2+.GDP complex) is totally distinct from that observed for free Al3+ and the overall effect on signal transduction (e.g. enhanced signal amplification) is in complete opposition to that observed for free Al3+.
Introduction to Consultation

The chapter begins with psychiatrist Gerald Caplan’s definition of consultation, not because it is the best definition for our purposes, rather because it provides a starting point, both historically and conceptually, from which to view the role of the school consultant. Historically speaking, perhaps the earliest systematic approach to human services consultation began in 1949 in Israel where Caplan and his small clinical staff were assigned the challenging task of attending to the mental health needs of 16,000 adolescent immigrants. Complicating this assignment were the facts that these adolescents were housed at more than 100 residential institutions, transportation within the country was often problematic, and there were about 1,000 initial requests for assistance. In confronting these obstacles to the traditional model of referral/diagnosis/psychotherapy of individual clients, Caplan reasoned that available professional resources would need to be used more effectively (Caplan, 1970).
Ca2+Phospholipid-dependent protein kinase activity correlates to the ability of transformed liver cells to proliferate in Ca2+-deficient medium

Extracellular Ca2+-deprivation inhibited the proliferation of normal T51B rat liver cells and reduced (2–4 fold) the amount of EDTAEGTA-extractable protein kinase C activity. By contrast, preneoplastic and neoplastic T51B rat liver cells were able to proliferate in Ca2+-deficient medium and retained all of their extractable protein kinase C activity.
Coding theory and compressed sensing through convex relaxations

We survey recent connections between convex relax- ations used in coding theory and in sparse approximation theory. One important conclusion arising from our results is that graph girth can be used to certify that sparse compressed sensing matri- ces have good sparse approximation guarantees. This allows us to present the first deterministic measurement matrix constructions that have an optimal number of measurements for � 1/� 1 sparse approximation. I. INTRODUCTION
Early Missions to the Asteroids

Asteroid mission objectives and requirements, discussing asteroid lander and flyby missions
Structural aberrations in T-even bacteriophage: I. Specificity of induction of aberrations

Abstract Aberrant bacteriophage substructures were produced by the addition of amino acid analogs and antimetabolites to cultures of infected cells. As was shown previously, the arginine analog l -canavanine specifically induced polyhead formation; the histidine analog 1,2,4-triazole-3-alanine gave rise to small heads; and l -azetidine-2-carboxylic acid led to the production of polytail tubes. We have now found that other arginine analogs (homoarginine, hydroxylysine) were ineffective in producing structural aberrations of the bacteriophage head. Dimethyl sulfoxide, which is known to disrupt the bond between the head and tail, induced polyhead formation. An additional histidine analog, 2-thiazolealanine, also gave rise to small heads. The polyamines, putrescine, cadaverine, and 1,3-diaminopropane induced small head formation, whereas spermine, spermidine, and agmatine exhibited no effect on head formation. Another proline analog, 1-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid did induce polytail tubes, but not as effectively as the proline analog tested before.
INTRACELLULAR CALCIUM SIGNALING – BASIC MECHANISMS AND POSSIBLE ALTERATIONS

The main property of neuronal and other excitable cells is their capability to transform excitatory waves into intracellular signals, where they trigger or modulate practically all cellular functions. Influx of calcium ions from the extracellular medium ("calcium signals") plays a key role in this process. Correspondingly alterations in intracellular calcium signaling are an important component of the physiological process of aging and of the most frequent and complicated forms of pathology, and their clarification is of basic medical importance. Therefore in the present paper we will discuss the main molecular mechanisms determining such signaling as well as their possible alterations
Effect of competitive antagonism of NO synthetase on weight and food intake in obese and diabetic mice

Recent studies have suggested a role for nitric oxide (NO) in the regulation of food intake. The present studies were undertaken to examine the effects of the administration of a nitric oxide synthetase inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), on food intake and weight loss. Two genetically obese mice, the ob/ob and db/db strains, and their lean heterozygote littermate controls, ob/c and db/c, served as subjects. In the first experiment, we demonstrated that L-NAME (100 micrograms/kg) given twice over a feeding period of 7 h/day produced a small but significant weight loss in ob/ob mice but not in their lean-genotype controls (P < 0.05). In the second experiment, a higher dose of L-NAME (100 mg/kg), given twice daily, produced a marked effect on body weight, with the ob/ob mice losing approximately 10% of their body weight in 9 days. The ob/c mice showed a lesser decrease in body weight. Food intake was decreased on all 9 days in the ob/ob mice (P < 0.01). A small decrease in body weight and food intake was seen in db/db and db/c mice receiving L-NAME. These studies provide further evidence for a role of nitric oxide in the modulation of food intake and weight gain.
Biodegradation Testing of Bitumen

An estimate of the rate of biodegradation of bituminous material is necessary to predict the long-term stability of low- and intermediate- level waste solidified using bitumen. Data from a series of scoping experiments have been analyzed to determine the rate of degradation of blown bitumen samples under a variety of conditions. Among the variables investigated were the effect of soil type, moisture, sample surface area and microbial strain. The rate of degradation was measured by monitoring metabolic CO 2 release. Using this data it was found that, for degradation in soil, a mean rate of 5.5 × 10 −4 cm/yr represented all data to within a factor of about two. This mean rate is nearly that for distilled bitumen samples measured by other workers.
The magnetic recording channel: noise, distortion and overwrite

It is noted that the noise, distortion, and interference which are present in a digital magnetic recording channel are unique. They depend on the type of magnetic recording medium and are not simply additive. The authors examine the properties of digital recording on rigid disks with thin metallic recording films and inductive read/write heads flying with a finite height above the recording surface; only longitudinally magnetized films are discussed. The channel is described with a zero'th-order model of saturated recording. The authors then describe then phenomena which cause it to depart from this simple model: distortion, noise, overwrite, and crosstalk. Physical origins of these phenomena are described, and techniques for measuring noise and distortion are discussed. >
A compact broadband microstrip circulator for phased array antenna modules

Minimal size, weight, and cost are three requirements for circulators to be packaged in T/R (transmit/receive) modules. The authors describe circulators realized under these constraints. Hybrid fabrication methods are used in order to meet magnetic biasing and shielding requirements. The circulators described are thought to be near the ultimate in miniaturization for the level of performance achieved over the 6-18-GHz frequency band. >
An example of a fair comparison between controller structures

This paper describes a way to quantify the potential advantage of adding a simple undelayed feedback path to a sampled-data control system, thereby bypassing delays associated with sampling, holding, and computation. The output regulation problem is studied. The achievable performance limits with different controller structures are used to make comparisons between the structures (rather than individual controllers). The controller structures are non-standard; they have multiple feedback paths. One feedback path uses sampled-data control with an associated delay, while the other path is undelayed. The regulated plants are modeled as stochastically perturbed continuous-time linear systems. Performance measures are the RMS control signal magnitude and the RMS regulation error - as in the linear quadratic Gaussian (LQG) problem framework. An example of this technique is presented.
On low-roundoff noise and low-sensitivity digital filter structures

This note presents a simple alternative form for the error-feedback digital filter structure which, with some minor modification of assumptions, can also represent the low-sensitivity and low-noise structures of Agarwal and Burrus. This form can thus explain why the Agarwal-Burrus structures have low-roundoff noise and can be shown to have low sensitivity. Finally, this form is generalized to define a new class of low-noise and low-sensitivity realization structures for digital filters.
Effects of Processing Conditions on Qualities of Rice Fries

Two rice flour mixtures, 2 extrading temperatures, and 2 insert sizes were used to develop rice fries, The extruded material was cut into pleces 7 to 8-cm long, prefricd in rice oil at 180°C for 20 s, and kept frozen until final frying for another 70 s. The rice fries were evaluated 5 min and 10 min after final frying for their lipid, moisture, and Instrumental texture characteristics, Extruding temperature, rice cuitivar, and insert size were significantly related to fat content, moisture, hardness, and fracturability vaInes. A mixture consisting of 80:20 (waxy-long-grain), and extruded at 70°C using a 6 mm insert, 5 min after frying, gave a texture profile analysis value for hardness, cohesiveness, and gumminess values comparabie to commercial potato French fries, The rice fries made by the process also had less than 50% fat than potato fries. 2 melanges de farine de riz sont utilises pour fabriquer un produit ayant la forme des frites et subissant une friture en pleine huile. La composition du produit apres friture, sa texture sont analyses, en fonction des conditions d'extrusion. Le produit prepare a partir d'un melange 80:20 (waxy: grain long), extrude a 70° a une texture comparable a celle des frites, 5 minutes apres la friture. Les frites de riz contiennent 50% de lipides en moins par rapport aux frites de pomme de terre.
Prognostic importance of brainstem auditory evoked responses after asphyxia

Brainstem auditory evoked responses were recorded after acute asphyxia in 126 infants, ages birth through 18 months. Of these, 21 had markedly abnormal amplitude ratios, and all infants with abnormal amplitude ratios had severe neurologic handicaps. An abnormal amplitude ratio predicts long-term neurologic sequelae of acute asphyxia in infants. Normal amplitude ratios did not, however, ensure normal neurologic outcome; 10 infants with normal responses were severely handicapped.
Pulmonary vein stenosis

Pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) is a rare disorder. Accurate diagnosis often requires anatomical examination. We report four children with pulmonary vein stenosis. Autopsy showed bilateral lesions in two patients who were thought clinically to have unilateral disease. A diagnosis of PVS was made at autopsy in the third case. Intimal and medial fibromuscular proliferation was noted in extrapulmonary and intrapulmonary veins. Some of the fibromuscular proliferation were eccentric, resembling organized thrombi. In one case a focal organizing thrombus was found in a clinically unobstructed but anatomically narrowed veno-atrial junction. In another case injection of contrast medium into the stenotic pulmonary vein (PV) showed anastomosis between PV and bronchial vessels as well as small pulmonary arteries. Bilateral hypertensive arteriopathy was observed in unilateral and bilateral PVS. Our histological finding of intrapulmonary venous lesions in the lobes in which PVS was not detected clinically suggests that during surgical correction of unilateral PVS multiple biopsies of the opposite lung may help to evaluate possible bilateral disease. Our study also suggests that thrombosis in a stenotic pulmonary vein may further compromise the lumen and contribute to the progression of pulmonary vein obstruction. The possible pathogenesis of bilateral pulmonary hypertensive arteriopathy in unilateral PVS also is discussed.
Septoplasty for Left Ventricular Outflow Obstruction without Aortic Valve Replacement: A New Technique

Abstract A new technique is described for relief of diffuse obstruction in the left ventricular outflow tract without aortic valve replacement. Left ventricular septoplasty was performed, preserving the aortic valve. The supravalve stenosis was repaired using a Y-shaped extension of the aortotomy proximally and a pantaloon-shaped patch of woven Dacron fabric. A 10-year-old girl with “tunnel” or diffuse stenosis obtained striking relief of left ventricular hypertension by this technique.
Vimentin: Changes in distribution during brain development

This paper examines both the anatomical changes in the distribution of vimentin intermediate filament protein and the biochemical changes in vimentin and its degradative enzyme during postnatal brain development in the tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri). A pattern of multiple immunoreactive bands at birth (postnatal day 0, or P0) was revealed in nitrocellulose blots of polyacrylamide gels ("Western blots"). These multiple bands gradually disappear during development, and in the adult a single band at the published molecular weight for vimentin (57 kD) is seen. This pattern of bands probably reflects shifts in the activity of a calcium-activated vimentin protease. The changes in the anatomical distribution of vimentin-immunoreactive (vimentin+) cells and their fine processes parallel the biochemical shifts seen in immunoblots. We have examined the neocortex, lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), and hippocampus in detail. During the first postnatal week, vimentin+ glia, especially radial glia, are prominent in both neocortex and hippocampus. In contrast, only a few vimentin+ radial glia remain in the thalamus at this age. Vimentin+ glia appear to coincide with bundles of axons and often seem to outline subdivisions of thalamic nuclei. Additionally, cellular layers of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) appear to stain with antibodies to vimentin several days before the characteristic neuronal cell layers appear in this area. During the second postnatal week, vimentin+ cells appear in "patches" throughout the cortex. Some subdivisions of the thalamus and hippocampus (as defined by cytoarchitectonic differences in the adult) are distinct when the tissue is stained with an antibody to vimentin, even though a conventional Nissl stain at this age shows no apparent delineation in these same regions. Finally, in the adult, only a few vimentin+ cells remain, primarily in the white matter. Taken together, these results suggest that the remodeling of vimentin+ intermediate filaments in immature glial cells (including radial glia) is paralleled by the action of the enzyme which breaks down these filaments. The apparent activity of this enzyme is high early in development as radial and other glia are rapidly dividing and undergoing morphological changes, with a decrease in activity in the juvenile and adult brain, as immature glial cells are supplanted by mature forms.
Role of the behavioural analysis in the product repair and replacement process: the preliminaries

Current product representation schema in any solid modelling system consists of product’s geometrical (structural) and topological information only. Unless the functional, behavioural and causal information related to the product, is either explicitly described or derived from knowledge of the structure and topology, the overall behaviours of the product (more importantly, its faulty behaviour which must be recognised before any repair or replacement activity could take place) and their causes are difficult to recognise. The paper discusses the preliminaries of functional and behavioural information models that need to be attached with the currently available product structure at providing foundations for building a complete and comprehensive information model for any product. A case study involving the design of a pendulum clock has been presented to clarify several design analysis points that will be useful in various repair and replacement-related problem-solving activities in the future.
Synthesis of 1,1′-di-t-butylstannocene and its reaction with trifluoroborane. The crystal and molecular structure of η5-(CH3)3CC5H4Sn+BF4−

Abstract The reaction of Li(CH 3 ) 3 CC 5 H 4 with SnCl 2 in THF affords 1,1′-di-t-butylstannocene in 78% yield as an air-sensitive oil. 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra are consistent with a pentahapto-structure. Mossbauer parameters of the stannocene and its trimethylsilyl counterpart match closely those of known stannocenes and neither compound appears to undergo oligomerization. The reaction of 1,1′-di-t-butylstannocene with BF 3 in CH 2 Cl 2 affords η 5 -(CH 3 ) 3 CC 5 H 4 Sn + BF 4 − and other uncharacterized product(s) thought to involve tetracoordinate tin. The structure of η 5 -(CH 3 ) 3 CC 5 H 4 Sn + BF 4 − was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction (orthorhombic, Pbcn , ( T 25°C), a 18.423(3), b 11.723(1), c 11.044(2) A, Z A, m.p. 95–96°C, colorless, Mo- K α , R = 0.043).
The immune system evolved to discriminate infectious nonself from noninfectious self

Here, Charles Janeway argues that the requirement for two signals to initiate the adaptive immune response may reflect the evolutionary history of host defences. Early phases of host defence involve receptors and ligands that may have controlled immune responses prior to the development of clonally-distributed receptors encoded in rearranging genes. The former receptors persist in contemporary vertebrates both to trigger innate or nonclonal responses and to signal to lymphocytes that a particular antigen is associated with a microorganism.
She wore a flower in her hair: The effect of ornamentation on nonverbal communication

(1980). She wore a flower in her hair: The effect of ornamentation on nonverbal communication. Journal of Applied Communication Research: Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 31-39.
Wave-packet decomposition for acoustic target recognition

The acoustic response scattered by an object depends on its physical shape and structure and on its elastic properties. This paper addresses the exploitation of the information contained in the scattered waves and with the aim of providing a broader view of waveform analysis as applied to target detection and classification applications. The approach for this target recognition methodology is to reduce the multi- feature appearance obtained from time frequency analysis of the received sensor signals into wave packets associated with the important scattering mechanisms. This decomposition method has a wide range of signal processing applications, the particular application considered here is sonar systems. In the case of a sonar target, mechanisms such as specular reflections, creeping waves, chalice waves, Bragg waves and Bloch waves from different parts of target or scattering centers can be incorporated into the target characterization. By applying pattern recognition logic, the present study can serve as a useful background for new sonar system development with advanced processing techniques and state-of-the-art computer hardware. Examples from simulation and laboratory measurements are used to test the robust nature of the target's structural responses and scattering center distributions and to assess the capability of this target recognition scheme.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Negotiating Otherness: The Analyst's Contribution to Creating New Ways of Being and Relating in the Analytic Process: Commentary on Paper by Frank Summers

In this discussion of Summers' “Creating New Ways of Being and Relating,” a synthesis of British Object Relations and American Relational contributions to theory and practice, the author suggests that Relational Clinical Theory constitued from the beginning an integration of theories that included Independent thinking. This integration of American Interpersonal and British Object Relations thinking included the facilitation within the psychoanalytic relationship of the emergence of potential space and the possibility of regression, which added several new dimensions to the clinical armamentarium of the generally more interactive Interpersonal approach as it was defined before the emergence of the synthesis that came to be called “Relational.” The implications of the synthesis of Interpersonal and Object Relations thinking in American Relational Psychoanalysis are explored in relation to both contemporary clinical theory and technique.
MicroRNA-196a Is a Potential Marker of Progression during Barrett's Metaplasia-Dysplasia-Invasive Adenocarcinoma Sequence in Esophagus

Barrett's esophagus (BE)/Barrett's metaplasia (BM) is a recognized precursor of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA) with an intermediary stage of dysplasia. The low yield and high cost of endoscopic screening of patients with BE underscores the need for novel biomarkers, such as microRNA (miRNA), which have emerged as important players in neoplastic progression for risk assessment of developing dysplasia/adenocarcinoma. Recently, we reported highly elevated levels of miRNA-196a (miR-196a) in EA and demonstrated its growth-promoting and anti-apoptotic functions. Here, we evaluated miR-196a as a marker of BE progression to low-grade dysplasia, high-grade dysplasia, and EA using microdissected paraffin-embedded tissues from 11 patients. Higher levels of miR-196a were observed in EA, BE, and dysplastic lesions compared with normal squamous mucosa, and in high-grade dysplasia compared with BE and low-grade dysplasia. Using frozen tumor tissues from 10 additional patients who had advanced EA, we evaluated the correlation of miR-196a with its in silico-predicted targets, keratin 5 (KRT5), small proline-rich protein 2C (SPRR2C), and S100 calcium-binding protein A9 (S100A9), which are down-regulated during BE progression. MiR-196a levels inversely correlated with the predicted target mRNA levels in EA. We confirmed that miR-196a specifically targets KRT5, SPRR2C, and S100A9 3' UTRs using miR-196a-mimic and luciferase reporter-based assays. In conclusion, this study identified miR-196a as a potential marker of progression of BE and KRT5, SPRR2C, and S100A9 as its targets.
Pharmacology and Toxicology of Propionyl Erythromycin Ester Lauryl Sulfate

Clinical usage of erythromycin 1 and propionyl erythromycin ester 2 has confirmed the low toxicity in experimental animals as reported from these laboratories. Propionyl erythromycin ester lauryl sulfate 3 (PELS) has been found to have very low water solubility and is easily usable in pleasantly flavored suspensions. Chronic toxicity studies in rats and dogs have demonstrated the absence of visceral or hematopoietic damage following large doses for over three months. Oral administration of PELS produced higher serum concentrations in rats than propionyl erythromycin. Both antibiotics are mainly absorbed from the intestine of rats and excreted in very small quantities in the bile. High concentrations of erythromycin activity were found in the lung, spleen, liver, kidney, and heart after oral administration. The results of absorption studies using S 35 labeled PELS will be discussed.
Label-Free Optical Imaging of Lymphatic Vessels Within Tissue Beds IN VIVO

Lymphatic vessels are a part of the circulatory system in vertebrates that maintain tissue fluid homeostasis and drain excess fluid and large cells that cannot easily find their way back into venous system. Due to the lack of noninvasive monitoring tools, lymphatic vessels are known as forgotten circulation. However, the lymphatic system plays an important role in diseases such as cancer and inflammatory conditions. In this paper, we start to briefly review the current existing methods for imaging lymphatic vessels, mostly involving dye/targeting cell injection. We then show the capability of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for label-free noninvasive in vivo imaging of lymph vessels and nodes. One of the advantages of using OCT over other imaging modalities is its ability to assess label-free blood flow perfusion that can be simultaneously observed along with lymphatic vessels for imaging the microcirculatory system within tissue beds. Imaging the microcirculatory system including blood and lymphatic vessels can be utilized for imaging and better understanding pathologic mechanisms and the treatment technique development in some critical diseases such as inflammation, malignant cancer angiogenesis, and metastasis.