cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An event-level examination of sex differences and subjective intoxication in alcohol-related aggression

Laboratory-based experimental research has demonstrated that the pharmacological effects of alcohol can increase aggressive responding. Given mixed findings and concerns regarding task validity, however, it remains uncertain whether this effect holds constant across men and women and whether variability in subjective alcohol intoxication contributes to alcohol-related aggression. In this investigation, the authors used 4 years of event-level data in a sample of 1,775 college students (140,618 total observations) to provide a test of laboratory-derived findings on the link between alcohol and aggression in an alternative methodology. They found support for several such findings: (a) Within-person increases in alcohol intoxication, as assessed by estimated blood alcohol concentrations (eBACs), were associated with increases in the probability of aggression at the drinking-episode level; (b) this association was significantly stronger among men than among women; and (c) within-person variability and between-persons individual differences in levels of subjective alcohol intoxication were associated with aggression over and beyond eBACs. Cross-methodological replication can reduce the impact of constraints specific to experimental studies on conclusions regarding alcohol's relation with aggression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved). Language: en
Determination of ab initio force constants of F2O and H2O

Abstract Ab initio SCF calculations at the 4-31G level were performed to obtain the potential surface of the ground states of F 2 O and H 2 O. The 19-parameter quartic force field and the spectroscopic constants ω i and x ij were obtained.
Attitudes toward the culturally different: the role of intercultural communication barriers, affective responses, consensual stereotypes, and perceived threat

Abstract The psychological impact of intercultural communication barriers on intergroup attitudes was examined by testing a model of global attitudes toward the culturally different. The prejudice literature has largely overlooked the role of intercultural communication and intercultural communication in determining people's evaluative orientation toward ethnolinguistic outgroups. Intercultural communication emotions (negative affect associated with perceived linguistic and cultural barriers) were investigated as determinants of prejudice, in conjunction with causal factors that are widely recognized as central to intergroup judgments (consensual stereotypes, intergroup anxiety, and realistic and symbolic/cultural threats [Stephan & Stephan Int. J. Intercultural Relations 20 (1996) 409]). Regression analyses indicated that intercultural communication emotions were strongly and uniquely related to prejudice toward a culturally diverse outgroup: foreign students. Consistent with the contact hypothesis [Allport (1954) The nature of prejudice , Addison-Wesley], moderated regression analyses indicated that the structure of intergroup attitudes was modified by social contact with the international community. Implications for intergroup relations and international educational exchange are discussed.
Is writing as difficult as it seems

Experiment 1 assessed the time and effort allocated to writing subprocesses while generating written and verbal protocols over 10 weekly writing sessions. Within a 40-min session, planning time consumed about 45% in the first 5 min, but stabilized at near 30% thereafter. Generating text initially consumed 40% of the writers' time, peaked at 50% midway, and then declined to its original level. The time spent revising and reviewing was negligible early in writing sessions, but increased substantially late in the sessions. The highest and lowest quality documents could be differentiated on the basis of the amount of time the writers devoted to revising and to the magnitude of their RTs in a secondary interference task. Writers showed consistent, distinctive patterns of transitional probabilities between writing subprocesses both within and across sessions, yielding quantitative representations of their writing styles. In Experiment 2, writers overestimated the amount of time they devote to revising and overestimated the amount of effort they allocate to planning and text generation. Their estimations did not improve after 10 weeks of composing. A time-and-effort-based analysis of writing is proposed to account for these data.
Radiochemical assay of long-chain fatty acids using 63Ni as tracer.

Abstract The 6- Co radiochemical assay of long-chain FFA was adapted to use 63 Ni as a tracer. 63 Ni is somewhat safer to work with than 60 Co owing to its lower energy of radiation and is counted better in a liquid scintillation counter. In a proper partition mixture, 63 Ni was obtained in the organic (upper) phase in stoichiometric relation to FFA present. From this phase it was easily sampled and counted. The simplicity, reliablity, sensitivity, and specificity of both 60 CO and 63 Ni radiochemical assay were comparable. Like the 60 Co assay, the 63 Ni method is not suitable for medium- or short-chain FFA without proper standards. A linear standard curve was obtained from 1 to 40 nmoles of long-chain FFA/assay. The FFA/Ni molar ratio in a Ni-FA complex is about 2 as determined by double-isotope experiments. This factor of 2 can be used to calculate the quantity of FFA tested without a FFA calibration curve. Phospholipid interferes with the recovery of 63 Ni as well as 60 Co in the organic phase. A simple procedure for measuring FFA in 10 μl of serum is described.
Effect of unilateral nephrectomy on three patients with histopathological evidence of diabetic glomerulosclerosis in the resected kidney.

Abstract Diabetes mellitus and surgical ablation of renal tissue are two independent influences associated with hyperfiltration and elevated levels of the glomerular transcapillary hydraulic pressure differential ( Δ P ¯ ) . There is increasing evidence that hyperfiltration with elevated Δ P ¯ is pathogenic and leads to glomerular damage. The authors questioned whether these two influences (surgical ablation of renal tissue and diabetes mellitus) would act in an additive fashion in human patients to produce an accelerated decline in renal function. Three patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus who had undergone a unilateral nephrectomy (for a variety of reasons) were (retrospectively) identified. In each patient, morphologic evidence of diabetic glomerulonephropathy was present in the resected kidney. The charts from these patients were reviewed and post-nephrectomy renal function was estimated over time by plotting reciprocal serum creatine values versus time. Follow-up intervals after nephrectomy varied from 4 to 15 years. The results of our follow-up showed no obvious detrimental effect on renal function (as measured by 1/serum creatinine) attributable to the unilateral nephrectomy. The authors conciude that residual renal function (and ultimate outcome) in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is highly variable, but does not seem to be adversely affected (at least over the time span of observation in these patients) by unilateral nephrectomy.
Prognostic implications of myocardial contractile reserve in patients with coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction.

Abstract OBJECTIVES This study was performed to assess the prognostic implications of myocardial contractile reserve (MCR) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. BACKGROUND MCR during dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) identifies viable myocardium that may improve in function after revascularization. Whether revascularization influences prognosis of patients with MCR has not been determined. METHODS We performed DSE in 80 patients with CAD and LV dysfunction (ejection fraction ≤40%). Viable myocardium was defined in dysfunctional myocardial segments as enhanced thickening and contraction during low-dose dobutamine (5 to 10 mcg/kg/min). Serial prospective follow-up was obtained in all patients (mean follow-up 2.2 ± 1.1 years). RESULTS Among 52 patients treated medically, there were 20 cardiac deaths. By multivariate analysis, the number of dysfunctional segments demonstrating MCR was the strongest predictor of survival (p CONCLUSIONS Myocardial contractile reserve is a significant predictor of survival in patients with CAD and LV dysfunction undergoing medical therapy. Although patients with MCR have an initial survival advantage, this advantage is lost over the course of three years. In contrast, survival in patients with significant MCR is enhanced by revascularization.
A nonlinear programming test problem

Figure 1 is a flow diagram of the chemical process. The test problem was a hydrocarbon refrigeration process in which the feed stream (stream number 1 of Figure 1) is a vapor mixture of ethane, propane, and n-butane (subscripts e, p and b, respectively) at 200°F and 500 psia. The product stream (stream number 8 of Figure 1) is liquid at -20°F at some reduced pressure. The nonlinear objective function was the minimization of the cost of the work done by the recycle stream compressors. There were 34 bounded variables (both upper bound and lower bound) associated with the process, 12 linear equality constraints, 18 nonlinear equality constraints, and 3 linear inequality constraints (see PROBLEM). The generalized reduced gradient code of Abadie and Guigou reached the solution shown in Table 1 from the nonfeasible starting point shown in Table 2.
New Sensitometric Method

AbstractThe use of an intensity scale sensitometer with a white light source does not simulatethe discrete spectral emission by rare earth intensifying screens and as such does nottruly measure the characteristic curve of rare earth screen film combinations. More tradi-tional methods such as inverse square sensitometry are impractical in the oridinary clin-ical setting. The sensitometry cassette described here uses an intensifying screen with aneutral density filter to expose the x -ray film. Direct x -ray exposure of the film iseliminated by insertion of a lead glass plate between the intensifying screen and film layers. Both front and back emulsions may be exposed equally or the unequal exposure nor-mally resulting from the absorption of x -ray photons by the front screen may be simulated.Optical spectometry of a lead glass indicates this method is valid for emissions of wave-lengths greater than 400 nm which includes the rare earth phosphors. Comparison of char-acteristic curves obtained by this method and other more traditional methods will be shownto agree well. The system is simple, accurate, and tests can be formed on a clinicallyfunctional x -ray source and processing combination.IntroductionIntensity scale sensitometry using appropriately filtered incandescent light can be usedto simulate the spectral emission of standard intensifying screens such as calcium tung-
Effects of a long-acting mutant bacterial cocaine esterase on acute cocaine toxicity in rats

Abstract Background A longer acting, double mutant bacterial cocaine esterase (CocE T172R/G173Q; DM CocE) has been shown to protect mice from cocaine-induced lethality, inhibit the reinforcing effects of cocaine in rats, and reverse cocaine's cardiovascular effects in rhesus monkeys. The current studies evaluated the effectiveness of DM CocE to protect against, and reverse cocaine's cardiovascular, convulsant, and lethal effects in male and female rats. Methods Pretreatment studies were used to determine the effectiveness and in vivo duration of action for DM CocE to protect rats against the occurrence of cardiovascular changes, convulsion and lethality associated with acute cocaine toxicity. Posttreatment studies were used to evaluate the capacity of DM CocE to rescue rats from the cardiovascular and lethal effects of large doses of cocaine. In addition, male and female rats were studied to determine if there were any potential effects of sex on the capacity of DM CocE to protect against, or reverse acute cocaine toxicity in rats. Results Pretreatment with DM CocE dose-dependently protected rats against cocaine-induced cardiovascular changes, convulsion and lethality, with higher doses active for up to 4 h, and shifting cocaine-induced lethality at least 10-fold to the right. In addition to dose-dependently recovering rats from an otherwise lethal dose of cocaine, post-treatment with DM CocE also reversed the cardiovascular effects of cocaine. There were no sex-related differences in the effectiveness of DM CocE to protect against, or reverse acute cocaine toxicity. Conclusions Together, these results support the development of DM CocE for the treatment of acute cocaine toxicity.
Carbon dioxide induction of panic anxiety in schizophrenia with auditory hallucinations

Panic is commonly co-morbid with schizophrenia. Panic may emerge prodromally, contribute to specific psychotic symptoms, and predict medication response. Panic is often missed due to agitation, impaired cognition, psychotic symptom overlap and limited clinician awareness. Carbon dioxide exposure has been used reliably to induce panic in non-psychotic panic subjects, but has not been systematically studied in schizophrenia. Eight inpatients with schizophrenia, recent auditory hallucinations, none preselected for panic, all on antipsychotic medication, received a structured Panic and Schizophrenia Interview (PaSI), assessing DSM-IV panic symptoms concurrent with paroxysmal auditory hallucinations. On that interview, all eight subjects reported panic concurrent with auditory hallucinations. At one sitting, subjects were exposed, in random order, to 35% carbon dioxide and to placebo room air, blinded to condition. All subjects experienced panic to carbon dioxide, one with limited symptoms. Only one subject panicked to placebo. One subject (one of only two without antipanic medication) had paroxysmal voices concurrent with induced panic. With added adjunctive clonazepam, that patient had marked clinical improvement and no response to carbon dioxide re-challenge. This first systematic examination offers preliminary evidence that carbon dioxide safely induces panic symptoms in schizophrenia. Panic may be prevalent and pathophysiologically significant in schizophrenia with auditory hallucinations.
Satire in Green: Marked Clothing and the Technique of indignatio at Juvenal 5.141-45

At Juvenal 5.141-45, Virro distributes a curious series of presents to the children of his impoverished client Trebius: a viridis thorax, nuts, and an as. Through an exploration of the connotations attached to these gifts, I argue that the scene provides a vivid mise en abyme for the rest of the poem. Just as the dinner offered to Trebius is not only meager but transforms him into a buffoon, the presents given to his children are both mean and perverse. In particular, the viridis thorax has un-Roman and effeminate connotations akin to the description of patronage as a sexual perversion in Satire 9. FOR MODERN READERS, one of the many challenges raised by Juvenal's Satires has to do with structure and coherence. While we enjoy the vivid and colorful details of the individual scenes brought before our eyes, the logic that connects one vignette to the other sometimes eludes us. Look- ing for unifying factors or, alternatively, stressing their absence, has there- fore been a major focus in the scholarship on Juvenal. This concern is reflected by the care with which almost every recent commentary sketches the composition of each satire. One way to think about that issue is to keep in mind that an ancient audience may have had criteria of "unity" and "coherence" that are different from ours. However, it may also be that our limited knowledge of the—direct or indirect—referent of the Satires, the reality of Rome, prevents us from appreciating details that subtly connect one scene to another. 1 Focusing on the viridis thorax and the other presents given by Virro to Trebius' children at S.143-44, this paper explores the signifi- cance of these objects in Roman Society as we see it represented in
Acknowledging the Racial State: An Agenda for Environmental Justice Research

: This paper argues that environmental justice scholars have tended to overlook the significance of the state's role in shaping understandings of race and racism, and argues for the use of critical race theory to deepen insight into the role of the state in both fostering and responding to conditions of racialized environmental injustice. Critical race theory offers insights into both why and how the state manages racial categories in such a way as to produce environmental injustice, and how the state responds to the claims of the environmental justice movement. Closer attention to the interplay between the racial state and the environmental justice movement as a racial social movement will yield important insights into the conditions, processes, institutions and state apparatuses that foster environmental injustice and that delimit the possibilities for achieving environmental justice in some form or another.
Seigniorage and conventional taxation with multiple exogenous shocks

Abstract The correlation between seigniorage and conventional taxation is investigated in a dynamic optimizing model which contains three shocks (to government expenditure and to the deadweight losses associated with conventional taxation and seigniorage), asymmetric costs of adjusting revenue, and potential absence of the availability of debt. Solutions and impulse response functions from the theoretical model are used to construct a three-variable structural vector autoregression (VAR) and identify the empirical reduced-form VAR. Judged by the parameter estimates, empirical impulse response functions, forecast error variance decompositions, and historical decompositions of the time series, identification is successful and the econometric results are supportive of the theoretical model.
Condensation nucleation light scattering detection (CNLSD) for ion chromatography

Ion chromatography (IC) combined with condensation nucleation light scattering detection (CNLSD) is shown here to be a highly sensitive method for cationic species determination, with limits-of-detection (LODs) at ng/mL levels. Furthermore, unlike the common conductivity detection method, higher than normally used acid concentration eluents can be used, resulting in faster elution of the analytes. The use of a suppressor is also eliminated since CNLSD is mainly dependent on the involatility of the analyte relative to the mobile phase, making the detection method universal for most cationic species. Investigative studies were also done on anion separations. In this case, a suppressor was required to improve the background level. Although detection limits for anionic species were not as low as for the cationic species, the results showed CNLSD to be a viable detector for anions, as well.
Recent discoveries and applications involving small-molecule microarrays

High-throughput and unbiased binding assays have proven useful in probe discovery for a myriad of biomolecules, including targets of unknown structure or function and historically challenging target classes. Over the past decade, a number of novel formats for executing large-scale binding assays have been developed and used successfully in probe discovery campaigns. Here we review the use of one such format, the small-molecule microarray (SMM), as a tool for discovering protein-small molecule interactions. This review will briefly highlight selected recent probe discoveries using SMMs as well as novel uses of SMMs in profiling applications.
Defect statistics in the two-dimensional complex Ginzburg-Landau model

The statistical correlations between defects in the two-dimensional complex Ginzburg-Landau model are studied in the defect-coarsening regime. In particular the defect-velocity probability distribution is determined and has the same high velocity tail found for the purely dissipative time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau (TDGL) model. The spiral arms of the defects lead to a very different behavior for the order parameter correlation function in the scaling regime compared to the results for the TDGL model.
MonoConc 1.5 and ParaConc

The review describes the design and features associated with two Windows text analysis programs: a concordancer MonoConc and a parallel concordance program ParaConc. The general operation and potential uses of the two programs are briefly explored.
Pulmonary Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in AIDS

Whereas extralymphatic involvement is common in lymphomas associated with HIV infection, there have been few reports of pulmonary lymphoma. In 648 cases of AIDS reported in Colorado, 40 have had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Of these, four have had documented pulmonary involvement and are reported in detail. Clinical manifestations were nonspecific and included fever, weight loss, generalized lymphadenopathy, dyspnea, chest pain and cough. Chest roentgenograms revealed multiple nodules or interstitial infiltrates. Transbronchial biopsy failed to establish the diagnosis in all cases. Three of four patients died four to five months after appearance of pulmonary nodules; one patient with stage IE disease showed slow radiographic progression over 16 months following radiation and chemotherapy and died 18 months after appearance of pulmonary nodules. Pulmonary involvement with lymphoma should be considered in patients with HIV infection, especially if multiple nodules are seen on chest roentgenograms.
Among the Guayaki (Ache)

I have worked with the Guayaki (usually referred to as the Ache) in Paraguay for the past 21 years and have published nearly 40 articles about them (with almost a dozen different colleagues), as well as a 500-page book about their demographic patterns ([1][1]). Thus, I was surprised to find that two
A Cytomegalovirus-Associated Mass Presenting With Laryngeal Obstruction

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a ubiquitous, opportunistic pathogen. Primary CMV infect tion occasionally causes a mononucleosis syndrome in immunocompetent patients but is more often asymptomatic. Congenital involvement leads to hearing loss and a host of irreversible neurologic sequelae, whereas the immunocompromised patient can experience chorioretinitis, enteritis, pneumonitis, or central nervous system involvement. Cytomegalovirus-related mucosal ulcerations of the oral cavity and pharynx are not uncommon to this patient population.
Haemodynamic effects of recombinant interleukin-2 administered by constant infusion

Abstract Adoptive immunotherapy with recombinant interleukin-2 (rhIL-2) has been reported to induce tumour regression in some patients with refractory cancer. However, the cardiovascular toxicity of bolus therapy requires invasive monitoring of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). In an effort to examine the haemodynamic alterations caused by a constant infusion of IL-2, as opposed to bolus therapy, we studied the haemodynamic variables of 10 patients, with no evidence of heart disease, receiving 3 × 10 6 IU/m 2 per day of rhIL-2 as a continuous infusion for 5 days. Measured and derived haemodynamic variables were obtained immediately prior to, at 2, 24, and 48 h during, and upon termination of the infusion. There was no evidence of clinical haemodynamic instability in these patients. Except for development of fever and tachycardia, there were no clinically significant differences in any measured or derived haemodynamic parameter. Moreover, continuous electrocardiographic monitoring of these patients during the infusion did not reveal any abnormalities. Invasive haemodynamic monitoring in an ICU is not necessary in carefully selected patients receiving constant infusion rhIL-2, at the described dose and schedule.
Preequilibrium reactions with complex particle channels

Investigations of nucleon induced reactions at incident energies of $14--90\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{MeV}$ resulting in the emission of complex particles ($A=2--4$) have provided insights which complement those previously obtained from ($N,\mathit{xN}$) reactions. The description of the preequilibrium energy spectra required modifications to an earlier phenomenological model for direct pickup reactions. This model supplements the usual exciton preequilibrium model. Work on complex particle induced reactions confirms some of these results, extends them to include stripping and exchange reactions, and provides evidence for a projectile dependence of the average effective matrix elements for the residual interactions in the exciton model. A full description of reactions with complex projectiles will require the inclusion of a realistic breakup component and the resulting reduction of the cross section available for the exciton model calculations. Reactions with complex particles in the entrance and/or exit channels have provided indirect evidence for the amount of surface peaking of the initial target-projectile interaction. A summary of additional data needed to help resolve remaining questions is presented.
Aesthetic role of transparency and layering in the creation of photo layouts

Even though technology has allowed us to measure many different aspects of images, it is still a challenge to objectively measure their aesthetic appeal. A more complex challenge is presented when an arrangement of images is to be analyzed, such as in a photo-book page. Several approaches have been proposed to measure the appeal of a document layout that, in general, make use of geometric features such as the position and size of a single object relative to the overall layout. Fewer efforts have been made to include in a metric the influence of the content and composition of images in the layout. Many of the aesthetic characteristics that graphic designers and artists use in their daily work have been either left out of the analysis or only roughly approximated in an effort to materialize the concepts. Moreover, graphic design tools such as transparency and layering play an important role in the professional creation of layouts for documents such as posters and flyers. The main goal of our study is to apply similar techniques within an automated photo-layout generation tool. Among other design techniques, the tool makes use of layering and transparency in the layout to produce a professional-looking arrangement of the pictures. Two series of experiments with people from different levels of expertise with graphic design provided us with the tools to make the results of our system more appealing. In this paper, we discuss the results of our experiments in the context of distinct graphic design concepts.
Phosphorus Release due to Decomposition of Wetland Plants

Agricultural activities are major sources of non-point pollutants causing eutrophication. Vegetated constructed wetlands are used as a best management practice for sequestration of nutrients from agricultural runoff. However, plants release nutrients back into the system as they decompose after senescence, affecting the nutrient removal efficiency of a constructed wetland. This information is important for a focused selection of plants and for improving the effectiveness of a constructed wetland. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to study the release of phosphorus by common freshwater macrophytes - Juncus effusus, Carex lurida and Dichanthelium acuminatum var. acuminatum during plant decomposition. Microcosms with the mixed culture of these three species showed higher phosphorus retention rates compared to monoculture microcosms. Results indicate that plant species differ in their nutrient removal efficiencies when grown in the mixed culture compared to monoculture treatments, indicating that nutrient removal efficiencies vary with plant species composition. Thus, plant species may play an important role in determining the phosphorus removal rates of vegetated constructed wetlands.
Phase 2 trial of intraperitoneal carboplatin and etoposide as salvage treatment of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer

Abstract To evaluate the efficacy of intraperitoneal (IP) carboplatin-based therapy as salvage treatment of ovarian cancer, 46 patients with persistent or recurrent ovarian cancer following initial systemic chemotherapy were treated with a regimen of carboplatin (200–300 mg/m 2 ) and etoposide (100 mg/m 2 ) administered on a monthly schedule. A maximum of six courses of therapy was delivered, followed by a response laparotomy. The treatment program was well tolerated, except for bone marrow suppression, with one-quarter of patients developing platelet count depressions to ⩽50,000/mm 3 , and one-third experiencing hemoglobin levels of ⩽8 g/dl during treatment. Twelve (38%) of 32 patients evaluable for efficacy of the treatment program achieved a surgically documented response, including 8 (25%) complete responses. Of 25 patients whose largest tumor mass at the initiation of therapy measured ⩽0.5 cm, 11 (44%) responded, including 8 (32%) complete responses. We conclude that the IP administration of carboplatin can result in surgically documented responses when used in the salvage setting in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. The relative efficacy of carboplatin versus cisplatin when administered by the IP route to patients with ovarian cancer previously treated with platinum-based systemic therapy remains to be defined.
New procedure of determining neodymium fluorescence branching ratios as applied to 25 crystal and glass hosts

Abstract A method of determining branching ratios of Nd+3 doped crystals and glasses by measuring the ratio of the 1.06 to 1.35 μm fluorescence band intensities is reported. This ratio is used to determine the Ω4/Ω6 factor in the Judd-Ofelt theory which allows calculation of all branching ratios. Branching ratios of 25 Nd+3 doped crystals and glasses were determined.
Portable hardware for real-time channel estimation on wireless body area networks

We present the design and implementation of a portable and economic device that can estimate wireless body area network (WBAN) channels in the 2.4–2.5 GHz frequency range. The equipment conventionally used for WBAN channel estimation is accurate, but bulky and expensive. Our channel estimator consists of multiple transmitters and a receiver, powered by consumer batteries, and small enough to fit in the palm of a hand. The transmitter includes an impulse generator fabricated in a 0.13µm CMOS process that continuously excites the channel with BPSK-modulated pulses. The receiver is implemented with COTS and records the impulse response in memory, storing up to 1.6M channel snapshots, which can be extracted later. The transmitter and receiver are described in this paper, along with experimental results. The measured data show the dynamics of WBAN channels in relation to the environment and the human body motion, in scenarios where it isn't practical to use conventional channel modeling equipment.
Science in the Age of Computer Simulation

Eric WinsbergUniversity of Chicago Press, 2010168 pages$30.00 (softcover)In contemporary architecture's perpetual rush toward short-term market differentiation through pseudo-technical platitudes s...
National survey of primary care physicians regarding herpes zoster and the herpes zoster vaccine.

BACKGROUND: This study describes physicians' perception of burden associated with herpes zoster (HZ) and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), intentions for recommending the HZ vaccine, and perceived barriers to vaccination. METHODS: A national survey of 438 general internal medicine (GIM) and 433 family medicine (FM) physicians was conducted during November-December 2005. RESULTS: The survey response rate was 69%. Approximately 35% of GIM and FM physicians strongly agreed that HZ and PHN caused a significant burden of disease. For patients 60-79 years of age, > or =80% of GIM and FM physicians were somewhat or very likely to recommend HZ vaccine. In multivariate analyses, physicians who strongly agreed that HZ and PHN cause significant burden were more likely to recommend the vaccine to patients 60-79 years of age (odds ratio [OR], 2.75 [95% confidence interval [CI], 1.85-4.09]), whereas those who felt there was insufficient information about duration of protection (OR, 0.40 [CI, 0.24-0.67]), that the need to store HZ vaccine in a freezer was a definite barrier (OR, 0.31 [CI, 0.13-0.75]), or that their patients would not pay for the vaccine if it was not covered by insurance (OR, 0.57 [CI, 0.38-0.86]) were less likely to recommend it. CONCLUSIONS: Primary care physicians perceived a high level of burden from HZ and PHN and generally favored the HZ vaccine.
Accessory Genes Confer a High Replication Rate to Virulent Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a lentivirus that causes AIDS in domestic cats, similar to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS in humans. The FIV accessory protein Vif abrogates the inhibition of infection by cat APOBEC3 restriction factors. FIV also encodes a multifunctional OrfA accessory protein that has characteristics similar to HIV Tat, Vpu, Vpr, and Nef. To examine the role of vif and orfA accessory genes in FIV replication and pathogenicity, we generated chimeras between two FIV molecular clones with divergent disease potentials: a highly pathogenic isolate that replicates rapidly in vitro and is associated with significant immunopathology in vivo, FIV-C36 (referred to here as high-virulence FIV [HV-FIV]), and a less-pathogenic strain, FIV-PPR (referred to here as low-virulence FIV [LV-FIV]). Using PCR-driven overlap extension, we produced viruses in which vif, orfA, or both genes from virulent HV-FIV replaced equivalent genes in LV-FIV. The generation of these chimeras is more straightforward in FIV than in primate lentiviruses, since FIV accessory gene open reading frames have very little overlap with other genes. All three chimeric viruses exhibited increased replication kinetics in vitro compared to the replication kinetics of LV-FIV. Chimeras containing HV-Vif or Vif/OrfA had replication rates equivalent to those of the virulent HV-FIV parental virus. Furthermore, small interfering RNA knockdown of feline APOBEC3 genes resulted in equalization of replication rates between LV-FIV and LV-FIV encoding HV-FIV Vif. These findings demonstrate that Vif-APOBEC interactions play a key role in controlling the replication and pathogenicity of this immunodeficiency-inducing virus in its native host species and that accessory genes act as mediators of lentiviral strain-specific virulence.
Evaluation of Herpes Simplex Virus Vaccines in Animals: The Guinea Pig Vaginal Model

The guinea pig model of genital herpes has proved useful for the evaluation of experimental herpes simplex virus vaccines. The model shares many of the features of genital herpes in humans, including a natural route of inoculation that results in self-limiting primary vulvovaginitis. Latent infection is established in sensory ganglia, and animals experience both spontaneous and ultraviolet radiation-induced recurrence of infection. Many humoral, cellular, and cytokine responses to herpes simplex virus type 2 infection in the guinea pig have been characterized. Both inactivated subunit immunogens and live, attenuated virus have been shown to afford some protection against primary disease, although they generally do not prevent acute viral replication or the establishment of latency. Because latently infected guinea pigs experience recurrent infections, this model has been used to explore immunotherapeutic approaches to the control of recurrent disease. With the development of more defined immunologic reagents, this model should prove useful for exploring the immune responses that are important in the control of primary, latent, and recurrent herpes simplex virus type 2 infections.
Fatal paradoxical muscle embolization in traumatic carotid-cavernous fistula repair. Case report.

✓ A unique case of fatal paradoxical muscle embolism in a patient with a traumatic carotid-cavernous fistula is described. The muscle plug intended to occlude a left-sided fistula passed through the large fistula, bypassed the lungs by way of a patent foramen ovale, and embolized through the right carotid artery to lodge in the internal carotid and middle cerebral arteries producing fatal brain infarction.
Epimuscular Fat in the Human Rotator Cuff Is a Novel Beige Depot

Chronic rotator cuff (RC) tears are a common and debilitating injury, characterized by dramatic expansion of adipose tissue, muscle atrophy, and limited functional recovery. The role of adipose expansion in RC pathology is unknown; however, given the identified paracrine/endocrine regulation by other adipose depots, it likely affects tissue function outside its boundaries. Therefore, we characterized the epimuscular (EM) fat depot of the human rotator cuff, defined its response to RC tears, and evaluated its influence on myogenesis in vitro. EM fat biopsies exhibited morphological and functional features of human beige fat compared with patient-matched s.c. biopsies, which appeared whiter. The transcriptional profile of EM fat and isolated EM adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) shifted as a function of the tear state; EM fat from intact cuffs had significantly elevated expression of the genes associated with uncoupled respiration, and the EM fat from torn cuffs had increased expression of beige-selective genes. EM ASC cocultures with human- and mouse-derived myogenic cells exhibited increased levels of myogenesis compared with s.c. cultures. Increased fusion and decreased proliferation of myogenic cells, rather than changes to the ASCs, were found to underlie this effect. Taken together, these data suggest that EM fat in the human rotator cuff is a novel beige adipose depot influenced by cuff state with therapeutic potential for promoting myogenesis in neighboring musculature.
Long-term intravenous infusion of antiarrhythmic drugs using a totally implanted drug delivery system

Abstract In vitro and in vivo testing was performed to establish the feasibility of a totally implantable pump system to deliver antiarrhythmic agents. In vitro flow characteristics suggested predictable day to day delivery with acceptably small variations in flow with changes in reservoir volume or temperature. During 3 months of in vitro testing, procainamide and bretylium were found suitable for long-term delivery. Delivery of lidocaine was limited by high viscosity and corrosion of steel elements within the pump. The pump was implanted in a subcutaneous pocket in four dogs. Procainamide (0.5 g/ml), delivered at 4 ml/day (70 mg/kg body weight per day), provided a mean steady state drug concentration of 5.3 μg/ml. Bretylium (50 mg/ml), delivered at 8 ml/day (13 mg/kg per day), provided a steady state concentration of 0.8 μg/ml (range 0.4 to 1.4). Long-term intravenous administration of therapeutic doses of bretylium and procainamide with this delivery system has been demonstrated in dogs and appears to be feasible in human subjects.
Reduction of noise in near-field measurements

Near-field measurements are sometimes corrupted by ambient noise from either far- or near-field sources. Far-field noise can be removed by performing measurements in a shielded room, but this option is not always available. An adaptive noise cancellation technique is proposed for cancelling ambient electromagnetic interference from measurements taken in a noisy environment. A time-domain, non-recursive, block-processing algorithm was selected to generate the adaptive linear filter. Measurements in the near field of a clocked-logic electronic device in a noisy environment are compared with measurements of the same device in a noise-free environment to demonstrate that the algorithm properly removes ambient electromagnetic noise from the recorded signals. Electromagnetic noise signals in the frequency range of 10 to 700 MHz are reduced in magnitude by 20 dB or more, often to the level of thermal noise.
GABAA-positive modulator selective discriminative stimulus effects of 1,1,1-trichloroethane vapor

Background The abuse-related behavioral effects of inhalant vapors are poorly understood but probably involve multiple neurotransmitter receptor mechanisms. The present study examined the receptor systems responsible for transducing the discriminative stimulus of the abused chlorinated hydrocarbon 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCE) in mice.
Everyday Products: Easy to Use … or Not?

More proof that human factors/ergonomics test and evaluation should be applied to even the simplest, most commonly used products.
Micro-indentation and inverse analysis to characterize elastic /plastic graded materials

Properties of actual graded materials were characterized with a new procedure based on inverse analysis. This procedure utilizes indirect experimental records obtained from instrumented micro-indentation and extracts key properties of indented specimen through the Kalman filter technique. The graded material is composed of mixture of Yittria Partially Stabilized Zirconia (PSZ) and NiCrAlY and it possesses varying elastic � /plastic properties through its thickness. This procedure enables determination of the compositional profile and the effective mechanical property without resorting to complex experimental measurements. It relies solely on the load � /displacement records of instrumented spherical indentation and the inverse analysis during the post-processing. The graded specimens were fabricated by plasma spray deposition process under controlled feeding of PSZ and NiCrAlY powders. Prior to testing of the graded materials, single phased coatings were made with each component and analyzed. This process allows consistent material constants to be used in the graded material analysis. Here PSZ and NiCrAlY were assumed to be elastic and elastic � /plastic, respectively. The elastic moduli of both materials were estimated with a common indentation method while the plastic properties of NiCrAlY were determined by modifying the inverse method proposed for the graded materials. The latter procedure represents a new indentation method for characterization of homogeneous elastic � /plastic materials. Once the properties of constituents were identified, the properties of graded material were estimated with the Kalman filter technique. The indented load � /displacement relations simulated from finite element analysis with the estimated properties and that of measured record showed excellent agreement, which assures a high degree of accuracy in the current measurement procedure. # 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Evidence for large century time-scale changes in solar activity in the past 32 Kyr, based on in-situ cosmogenic 14C in ice at Summit, Greenland

Abstract We present results of estimates of cosmic ray flux in Greenland at the Summit (3200 m.a.s.l, 72.6°N, 38.5°W), during the past 32 Kyr. We derive these estimates based on concentrations of in-situ cosmogenic 14 C produced in ice crystals. Based on the secular equilibrium concentration of in-situ produced 14 C in quartz in terrestrial rocks, we find that on century time-scales, the cosmic ray production rate of 14 C at the Summit was close to its estimated long-term average production rate, except during 3 periods: (i) during 8500–9500 yr B.P. and 27,000–32,000 yr B.P, when the production rate was higher by about a factor of 2, and (ii) during 12,000–16,000 yr B.P, when the production rate was lower by a factor of ∼ 1.5. The observed variation in cosmic ray flux at the polar site is best attributed to changes in solar activity resulting in variable modulation of terrestrial cosmic ray flux. Changes in the geomagnetic field in the past do not affect the cosmic ray flux at polar latitudes. Likewise, climate changes do not affect the in-situ 14 C record in ice. During the first two epochs, the solar activity must have been very low, as during Maunder Minimum (virtually no sunspots), resulting in essentially no modulation of the cosmic ray flux by the solar plasma. During the low cosmic ray flux epoch, 12,000–16,000 yr B.P., the observed decrease in cosmic ray flux corresponds to high solar activity as seen in 1958 ( sun-spot number ∼ 190). We discuss the proxy evidence from tree ring and sediment based records of atmospheric 14 C/ 12 C ratios during the three epochs. These records have been used as a measure of changes in cosmic ray flux, and solar activity in the past. However, since they are also appreciably affected by climatic changes, a comparison of the two records is potentially valuable for delineating the nature of past changes in solar activity, and large-scale ocean circulation and air–sea exchange.
Advances in the Multimodality Management of High-risk Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a heterogeneous disease with marked variability in its natural progression and response to therapeutic interventions. It is the most commonly diagnosed visceral cancer of men living in western countries, yet it is life-threatening in only a minority of cases. Thus, appropriate patient selection for treatment based on tumor as well as patient characteristics is essential to achieve optimal outcomes. The combination of early cancer detection and technical improvements in local treatment has led to a reduction in disease burden and an increase in cancer survivorship. However, treatment failure remains common among high-risk cases.
Sample path description of Gauss Markov random fields

We provide a characterization of Gauss Markov random fields in terms of partial differential equations with random forcing term. Our method consists of obtaining a concrete representation of an abstract stochastic partial differential equation using some results from the theory of vector measures.
Fractals of Strategic Coherence in a Successful Nonprofit Organization

We theorize that organizations that are able to use stories and examples to explain their strategy and offer a flexible guide to discretionary employee behaviors use them in what can be termed a fractal fashion. The thesis is based on the idea of how strategic logic can be communicated and how it can be reiterated to lead to strategic coherence across different levels of analysis in organizations. The parallels of a nonlinear, reinforcing process that is based on iteration inspired us to draw on complexity theory and fractal processes to understand the generation of strategic coherence. We present the case of a successful nonprofit organization where it appears that such a fractal use of stories occurred.
Unbiased minimum variance estimator design for scalar quadratic maps

In this paper, we consider the state estimation problem for scalar discrete-time nonlinear systems with second degree polynomial nonlinearities. This research is a follow up to our previous work on suboptimal minimum variance estimator design for quadratic maps. A novel state estimator is proposed where the extended Kalman filter structure is generalized to include quadratic terms and two consecutive measurements. Gains for unbiased minimum variance estimation are derived. It is shown both mathematically and by simulations that the new estimator achieves lower mean square estimation error than the extended Kalman filter. It is also shown in simulations that the new estimator performs better than the recently developed suboptimal estimator.