cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cognitive trajectories over 4 years among HIV-infected women with optimal viral suppression.

Objective: To determine whether persistent viral suppression alters cognitive trajectories among HIV-infected (HIV+) women on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) by investigating performance longitudinally in uninfected (HIV−) and 3 groups of HIV+ women: those with consistent viral suppression after continuous cART use (VS), those without consistent virologic suppression despite continuous cART use (NVS), and those without consistent virologic suppression after intermittent cART use (Int NVS). Methods: Two hundred thirty-nine VS, 220 NVS, 172 Int NVS, and 301 HIV− women from the Women9s Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) completed neuropsychological testing every 2 years for 3 visits between 2009 and 2013. Mixed-effects regressions were used to examine group differences on continuous T scores and categorical measures of impairment (T score Results: On global function, VS women demonstrated lower scores and were more likely to score in the impaired range than HIV− women ( p = 0.01). These differences persisted over time (group × time, p > 0.39). VS women demonstrated lower learning and memory scores than HIV− women ( p p p p Conclusions: Cognitive difficulties remain among HIV+ women despite persistent viral suppression. In some instances, VS women are worse than NVS women, reinforcing the need for novel adjunctive therapies to attenuate cognitive problems.
All is “Wells” With My Soul: Analysis of Conditioned Agency via The Defender's Coverage on the Construction and Opening of the Ida B. Wells Homes

ABSTRACTThis critical textual analysis explores how people exercise spatial and communicative agency through media, such as the Chicago Defender, and in social and physical space, such as the Wells...
Elastic Bending of Layered Plates

System of equations governing nonlinear bending of plates consisting of two or more bonded thin layers; effects of both transverse and in-plane loading and thermal gradients through plate thickness as well as over plate faces are given; specialization of equations for particular classes of problems.
Molecular transport in articular cartilage — what have we learned from the past 50 years?

Developing therapeutic molecules that target chondrocytes and locally produced inflammatory factors within arthritic cartilage is an active area of investigation. The extensive studies that have been conducted over the past 50 years have enabled the accurate prediction and reliable optimization of the transport of a wide variety of molecules into cartilage. In this Review, the factors that can be used to tune the transport kinetics of therapeutics are summarized. Overall, the most crucial factor when designing new therapeutic molecules is solute size. The diffusivity and partition coefficient of a solute both decrease with increasing solute size as indicated by molecular mass or by hydrodynamic radius. Surprisingly, despite having an effective pore size of ~6 nm, molecules of ~16 nm radius can diffuse through the cartilage matrix. Alteration of the shape or charge of a solute and the application of physiological loading to cartilage can be used to predictably improve solute transport kinetics, and this knowledge can be used to improve the development of therapeutic agents for osteoarthritis that target the cartilage.
Poppy seed ingestion as a contributing factor to opiate-positive urinalysis results: the Pacific perspective.

The possible contribution of poppy seed foods to positive opiate urinalysis results, especially from foods available in the Pacific Rim area, has recently become an issue for the U.S. Army Forensic Toxicology Drug Testing Laboratory in Hawaii. To assess the likelihood of this possible contribution, seven different poppy seed food products were consumed by male and female volunteers, and urine specimens were collected at time increments up to either 24 or 72 h. Specimens were evaluated for opiates using Roche Abuscreen radioimmunoassay (RIA), and all RIA positive specimens were analyzed for morphine and codeine using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Poppy seed cake, bagels, muffins, and rolls did not contain sufficient quantities of poppy seeds to give rise to opiate positive specimens by U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) GC-MS cutoff levels (morphine = 4000 ng/mL, codeine = 2000 ng/mL), although a number of specimens were positive by National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) cutoff levels (morphine and codeine = 300 ng/mL). However, ingestion of poppy seed streusel or Danish pastry led to confirmed morphine and codeine positive specimens, irrespective of the use of DOD or NIDA confirmation cutoff values. In addition, significant amounts of codeine were observed in a number of these specimens. These findings argue against the unqualified application of previously published quantitative guidelines for eliminating poppy seed ingestion as a possible cause for a positive opiate urinalysis result.
Dietary Habits of Pre-schoolers Living in Rural, Low-income Households in Wisconsin: A Pilot Study

Obesity rates among pre-schoolers are high in low-income, rural populations. This research explored dietary habits of preschool-aged children living in low-income, rural households using Photovoice...
Phosphorylation of cardiac myosin–binding protein-C contributes to calcium homeostasis

Cardiac myosin-binding protein-C (cMyBP-C) is highly phosphorylated under basal conditions. However, its phosphorylation level is decreased in individuals with heart failure. The necessity of cMyBP-C phosphorylation for proper contractile function is well-established, but the physiological and pathological consequences of decreased cMyBP-C phosphorylation in the heart are not clear. Herein, using intact adult cardiomyocytes from mouse models expressing phospho-ablated (AAA) and phosphomimetic (DDD) cMyBP-C as well as controls, we found that cMyBP-C dephosphorylation is sufficient to reduce contractile parameters and calcium kinetics associated with prolonged decay time of the calcium transient and increased diastolic calcium levels. Isoproterenol stimulation reversed the depressive contractile and Ca2+-kinetic parameters. Moreover, caffeine-induced calcium release yielded no difference between AAA/DDD and controls in calcium content of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. On the other hand, sodium-calcium exchanger function and phosphorylation levels of calcium-handling proteins were significantly decreased in AAA hearts compared with controls. Stress conditions caused increases in both spontaneous aftercontractions in AAA cardiomyocytes and the incidence of arrhythmias in vivo compared with the controls. Treatment with omecamtiv mecarbil, a positive cardiac inotropic drug, rescued the contractile deficit in AAA cardiomyocytes, but not the calcium-handling abnormalities. These findings indicate a cascade effect whereby cMyBP-C dephosphorylation causes contractile defects, which then lead to calcium-cycling abnormalities, resulting in aftercontractions and increased incidence of cardiac arrhythmias under stress conditions. We conclude that improvement of contractile deficits alone without improving calcium handling may be insufficient for effective management of heart failure.
Genome-wide profiling of DNA methylation and gene expression identifies candidate genes for human diabetic neuropathy

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is the most common complication of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Although the cellular and molecular mechanisms of DPN are poorly understood, we and others have shown that altered gene expression and DNA methylation are implicated in disease pathogenesis. However, how DNA methylation might functionally impact gene expression and contribute to nerve damage remains unclear. Here, we analyzed genome-wide transcriptomic and methylomic profiles of sural nerves from T2D patients with DPN. Unbiased clustering of transcriptomics data separated samples into groups, which correlated with HbA1c levels. Accordingly, we found 998 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 929 differentially methylated genes (DMGs) between the groups with the highest and lowest HbA1c levels. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that DEGs and DMGs were enriched for pathways known to play a role in DPN, including those related to the immune system, extracellular matrix (ECM), and axon guidance. To understand the interaction between the transcriptome and methylome in DPN, we performed an integrated analysis of the overlapping genes between DEGs and DMGs. Integrated functional and network analysis identified genes and pathways modulating functions such as immune response, ECM regulation, and PI3K-Akt signaling. These results suggest for the first time that DNA methylation is a mechanism regulating gene expression in DPN. Overall, DPN patients with high HbA1c have distinct alterations in sural nerve DNA methylome and transcriptome, suggesting that optimal glycemic control in DPN patients is an important factor in maintaining epigenetic homeostasis and nerve function.
Gastrointestinal Histoplasmosis as an Obstructing Ileocecal Mass

Histoplasmosis is a self-limiting and asymptomatic disease in immunocompetent individuals. Patients in an immunocompromised state are susceptible to disseminated disease. We present a case of a 60-year-old male with a history of psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis treated with a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (adalimumab), who presented with abdominal pain and was found to have gastrointestinal histoplasmosis as an obstructing ileocecal mass. Although gastrointestinal involvement is common in disseminating disease, symptomatic involvement is rare. This case presentation has implications in rheumatological patients on biologic medications.
Abstract P118: Process Improvement for Stroke/EMS Run Sheets Available in Medical Record

Background and Purpose: When stroke patients arrive to the hospital, it is imperative to have a clear picture of what occurred during transport from home, scene or other facility. The stroke team e...
Chelating agents for oilfield stimulation: Lessons learned and future outlook

1. Abstract Chelating agents were introduced because of the several issues associated with inorganic acids during oilfield stimulation. Carbonate and sandstone rocks have been stimulated using different kinds of acid systems and there is an engaging debate on chelating agents as an effective acid system. Several shortcomings of inorganic acid systems need to be addressed by chelating agents in order to be its constructive replacement. The complex nature of these chelating agents led to accelerated research and developmental efforts in understanding its applicability at different environmental conditions. The past two decades of research in chelating agents for oilfield stimulation has resulted in researchers branching out in several directions to realize the potential of this acid system. There is a requirement to link these branches and provide a holistic view of the lessons learned during this time. Various researchers have also provided guidance for future work that is commonly disregarded. This paper provides a nexus of the research conducted in this field and could direct plans for future research. Hydrochloric acid for carbonate acidizing and mud acid for sandstone damage removal have been found to cause issues such as face dissolution, reaction product precipitation, chemical incompatibility, high corrosion rates, toxic gas generation, emulsion issues, amongst many others. The recent interest in chelating agents led to researchers conducting tests to understand its interactions with the formation rock and other oilfield fluids. Experiments such as coreflooding, corrosion tests, compatibility, Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM), and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) helped in highlighting the advantages of chelating agents. From these studies, researchers were able to find synergistic blends that could help improve traditional treatment practices. Mechanisms of chelating agent reactions with sandstone and carbonate rock were elucidated in this work. The future outlook of chelating agents' application lies in making the treatment more cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and target focused. Chemical formulations must be designed to take advantage of high-temperature stability, low reprecipitation potential, low sludging tendency, high dissolving capacity, high iron controlling potential, and low corrosion rates offered by chelating agents. Some field experiences were noted, which could encourage operators to perform more such treatments in the future. The reader of this review article would gain knowledge of the complex chemistry of chelating agents and describes the research done for acid stimulation and iron control. Through the process of review, the paper also connects the wealth of research in this field and provides a measured guidance for technology development to promote the use of chelating agents in the industry. It can help future researchers in academics or the industry to enhance the quality of research.
Perspectives of Caregivers Experiencing Persistent Food Insecurity at an Academic Primary Care Clinic

Abstract Objective Food insecurity (FI) is often transitory and instigated by changes in family circumstances or environmental events. Clinics have developed interventions to address FI, yet families may face persistent FI. Little is known about persistently food insecure families’ experiences with clinic-based interventions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the perspectives of caregivers experiencing persistent FI in a clinical setting. Methods We conducted 40 semistructured interviews at one academic primary care clinic between July 2019 and December 2019. The clinic routinely screened families for FI at every visit; families screening positive could meet with a care navigator and receive bags of nonperishable foods. Caregivers who received food bags at ≥3 visits, spoke English or Spanish, and were ≥18 years old were eligible to participate. Interviews were recorded, de-identified, transcribed, and systematically coded using inductive content analysis. A modified constant comparative method was used to iteratively review codes, identify emerging themes, and resolve differences through consensus. Results Forty caregivers were interviewed; all were women; 45% were Hispanic/Latinx and 37.5% African American/Black. Three major themes emerged: 1) unmet social and medical needs and the challenges of caregiving complicate FI; 2) social supports help address FI and other social challenges that present barriers to accessing resources; and 3) caregivers provide practical recommendations for addressing persistent FI. Conclusion Families experiencing persistent FI described important social supports that help address FI and other social challenges that present barriers to accessing resources. Clinic-based resources were welcomed interventions, but their impact may be limited; practical recommendations were made.
Case histories and shorter communicationsSubjective responses to alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages by alcoholic respondents

Changes in the subjective response to alcohol following electrical aversive conditioning have been studied through the use of the semantic differential (Costello, 1974; Costello et al., 1974a, 1974b; Hallam et al., 1972; Miller et al., 1974; Miller et al. 1973). As pointed out by the Costello group and by Kaplan (1972) there are several problems with this technique. The midpoint of the 7-point scale may be psychologically impossible to define if the subject does not perceive the adjectives pairs as mutually antagonistic. It is frequently assumed that the adjective pairs are bipolar, based on the original work of Osgood et al. (1957). Recent evidence (Costello, 1974; Costello et al., 1974a, 1974b) has demonstrated that the scales used by Hallam et al. (1972) were in fact, not bipolar. The stimuli used by Costello and coworkers were an alcoholic and a non-alcoholic slide, following the work of Hallam et al. (1972). Recent studies (Miller et al., 1974; Miller et al., 1973; Wilson, 1973) have utilized rating the taste of real alcohol, as opposed to slides, in order to measure the effectiveness of behavioral therapies in alcoholism. The subject is asked to taste several beverages, some of which have alcohol, and rate the taste of each drink on a set of semantic differential adjective pairs. Miller et al. (1974), found that while the actual amount of pre-therapy alcoholic beverage consumed predicted which subjects did better at 6 months outcome, the semantic differential ratings did not. One reason might have been that the scales were not bipolar and thus the semantic measurement was highly unreliable. The purpose of the present study was to replicate the Costello studies, using real beverages, alcoholic and non-alcoholic as the stimuli.
LEPIDOPHTHALMUS MANNINGI, A NEW GHOST SHRIMP FROM THE SOUTHWESTERN GULF OF MEXICO (DECAPODA: THALASSINIDEA: CALLIANASSIDAE)

Lepidophthalmus manningi, new species, is described from intertidal and shallow subtidal margins of estuarine embayments, ephemeral tidal ponds, and river mouths in the states of Veracruz, Tabasco, and Campeche, eastern Mexico. This apparent endemic of the southwestern Gulf of Mexico is ornamented by conspicuous sclerotized plates on ventral surfaces of the abdomen, a feature it shares with several other tropically distributed species in the western Atlantic and eastern Pacific. Lepidophthalmus manningi is very close in morphology to the recently described L. richardi from Belize, its apparent sibling, but can be distinguished by unique features in sculpture and shape of not only the ventral abdominal plating, but also in structures such as the eye tubercles, major chelipeds, and the anterior two pleopod pairs, dorsal abdominal tergites, and the uropods. It is readily distinguishable from two other Gulf of Mexico species, both of which lack ventral sclerotized plates on the abdomen. The latter include the widely distributed warm-temperate species, L. louisianensis, which ranges throughout the northern Gulf of Mexico and into Tamaulipas, Mexico, and a second southwestern Gulf endemic form that remains undescribed and is currently under study. Disjuncture of appropriate habitats in the northern Yucatan Peninsula and limited dispersal ability in the genus appear to account for isolation of L. manningi from its Caribbean sibling.
CLOSURE ON SETTLEMENT OF STRIP LOAD ON ELASTIC-PLASTIC SOIL

THE WRITERS AGREE WITH HANSEN THAT THEIR RESULTS DO AGREE MORE WITH PRANDTL'S SOLUTION THAN WITH HILL'S. THE PURPOSE IN MENTIONING HILL'S WAS TO POINT OUT THAT THE LIMIT SOLUTION IS UNIQUE ONLY WITH RESPECT TO LOADS AT FAILURE, AND NOT WITH RESPECT TO THE EXACT MODE OF FAILURE. THE DISCRETIZATION INVOLVED IN ANY FINITE NUMERICAL PROCEDURE CAN CERTAINLY MODIFY THE RESULTS, ESPECIALLY AT SINGULARITIES. VILLIAPPAN'S RESULTS WERE DERIVED FOR A VERY DIFFERENT YIELD CRITERION FROM THAT USED BY THE WRITERS, BUT IT IS ENCOURAGING TO OBSERVE SOME QUALITATIVE AGREEMENT. THE WRITERS' METHOD IS ESSENTIALLY THAT OF CHANGING THE STIFFNESS MATRIX AT EACH STEP OF LOAD AND ITERATING UNTIL THE CALCULATED STRESSES ARE CORRECTLY BACK ON THE YIELD SURFACE. CORRECTIONS ARE GIVEN FOR AN EQUATION IN THE ORIGINAL PAPER. REFERENCES: SETTLEMENT OF STRIP LOAD ON ELASTIC-PLASTIC SOIL, KAARE HOEG, JOHN T. CHRISTIAN, ROBERT V. WHITMAN, ASCE PROCEEDINGS PAPER 5850, MARCH, 1968.
13. The Future of Laser Ablation

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the future of laser ablation. It discusses a variety of applications—some already implemented, some in prospect, and some only beginning to be realized. The chapter highlights a selection of applications that illustrate the versatility of laser ablation at different wavelengths, pulse durations, and pulse repetition rates in industrial processes. These applications are frequently driven by special capabilities of particular lasers, or the requirements of specialized industrial end uses. In addition to the ability to simply carry out a particular task, lasers for applications must often satisfy a wide variety of other constraints, including cost, the ease of operation and maintenance, safety, and adaptability for changing manufacturing processes. Laser ablation and other laser applications in materials processing and process monitoring are likely to play an even more important role in the future of both high- and low-technology industries. The most publicized laser cutting and drilling operations have been in applications requiring micrometer-level precision. The copper-vapor laser (CVL), for example, has recently shown significant promise for drilling high-aspect ratio holes in stainless steel, opening up possible niches in the microdrilling of inkjets for computer printers, fuel-injector nozzles, and other similarly demanding applications. The growing demand for higher quality and more individualized products can be satisfied by the high-precision application of laser ablation.
Saturable Bragg reflector mode-locking of Cr/sup 4+/:YAG laser pumped by a diode-pumped Nd:YVO/sub 4/ laser

Summary form only given. Mode-locked solid-state lasers with broadband gain have led to rapid advancements in the production of the ultrashort pulses. In 1991, Shestakov et al. reported the first room-temperature cw lasing of Cr/sup 4+/:YAG/sup /in the 550-nm telecommunications window of optical fiber. Kerr-lens mode-locking (KLM) of Cr/sup 4+/:YAG has produced pulses as short as 46 fs. In this paper, we demonstrate self-starting passive femtosecond mode-locking of Cr/sup 4+/:YAG using a nonlinear mirror called a saturable Bragg reflector (SBR). We pump the Cr/sup 4+/:YAG, whose absorption band is centered around 1000 nm, with a diode-pumped Nd:YVO/sub 4/ laser. We discuss the SBR mode-locking of this laser and compare with KLM techniques.
Vaginal estrogen preparations: a review of safety and efficacy for vaginal atrophy.

Background: A theoretical advantage of local (i.e., vaginal) therapy of genitourinary symptoms could be avoidance of systemic adverse effects. Review of efficacy and adverse effects of commonly prescribed vaginal estrogens is of great clinical relevance. Methods: A Medline (1966-present) search was performed for randomized controlled trials involving vaginal estrogens. Reference lists of papers were reviewed for additional references. Results: Twenty-two references were randomized controlled trials of vaginal estrogens used by postmenopausal women with signs or symptoms of vaginal atrophy. Subject numbers ranged from 20 to 251. Duration ranged from 2 weeks to 1 year. Different preparations and schedules were used across the trials. All treatments alleviated signs and symptoms of atrophic vaginitis, regardless of whether objective signs of atrophy were required for study entry. Data for urinary symptoms was conflicting; the ring may prevent recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). The trials with endomet...
Did May Company's Acquisition of Associated Dry Goods Corporation Reduce Competition? An Event Study Analysis

May Department Store's 1986 acquisition of AssociatedDry Goods substantially increased concentration amongdepartment stores in Denver and Southern California. When this acquisition was announced, department storechains with stores in these areas had higher abnormalreturns than other department store chains. Thisfinding suggests that this acquisition may havereduced competition among department stores sinceinvestors would have bid up the stock price of rivaldepartment stores if they believed that thisacquisition would lead to higher retail prices inDenver and Southern California.
SHIFT IN EGG‐LAYING STRATEGY TO AVOID PLANT DEFENSE LEADS TO REPRODUCTIVE ISOLATION IN MUTUALISTIC AND CHEATING YUCCA MOTHS

Through the process of ecological speciation, insect populations that adapt to new host plant species or to different plant tissues could speciate if such adaptations cause reproductive isolation. One of the key issues in this process is identifying the mechanisms by which adaptation in ecological traits leads directly to reproductive isolation. Here I show that within a radiation of specialist moths that pollinate and feed on yuccas, shifts in egg placement resulted in changes in female moth egg-laying structures that led to concomitant changes in male reproductive morphology. As pollinator moths evolved to circumvent the ability of yuccas to selectively abscise flowers that contain pollinator eggs, ovipositor length became shorter. Because mating occurs through the ovipositor, shortening of the ovipositor also led to significantly shorter and wider male intromittent organs. In instances where two pollinator moth species occur in sympatry and on the same host plant species, there is one short and one long ovipositor species that are reproductively isolated. Given that many plant-feeding insects lay eggs into plant tissues, changes in ovipositor morphology that lead to correlated changes in reproductive morphology may be a mechanism that maintains reproductive isolation among closely related species using the same host plant species.
Face Alignment Via Component-Based Discriminative Search

In this paper, we propose a component-based discriminative approach for face alignment without requiring initialization. Unlike many approaches which locally optimize in a small range, our approach searches the face shape in a large range at the component level by a discriminative search algorithm. Specifically, a set of direction classifiers guide the search of the configurations of facial components among multiple detected modes of facial components. The direction classifiers are learned using a large number of aligned local patches and misaligned local patches from the training data. The discriminative search is extremely effective and able to find very good alignment results only in a few (2~3) search iterations. As the new approach gives excellent alignment results on the commonly used datasets (e.g., AR [18], FERET [21]) created under-controlled conditions, we evaluate our approach on a more challenging dataset containing over 1,700 well-labeled facial images with a large range of variations in pose, lighting, expression, and background. The experimental results show the superiority of our approach on both accuracy and efficiency.
Comparison of techniques and immunoreagents used for indirect immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase identification of enteroviruses.

Peroxidase-conjugated antibodies were found to be as sensitive as those conjugated to fluorescein-isothiocyanate (FITC) for identification of selected enterovirus types by the indirect technique. Peroxidase conjugates, however, were found to give fewer nonspecific reactions. The reasons for the higher specificity of the immunoperoxidase technique appear to be related to the relative size, charge, and uniformity of the preparations. Monomers of peroxidase-conjugated globulin are larger than those of FITC conjugates, but the latter readily form aggregates. This was shown by chromatography on Sepharose 6B columns: various FITC-conjugated globulins eluted before those conjugated to peroxidase and before 125I-labeled immunoglobulin G. The net charge of the conjugates was determined by adsorption to ion-exchange columns. FITC-labeled globulins had a negative net charge, eluting at pH 5.1 from diethylamino-ethyl-Sephadex A-50 columns. Peroxidase conjugates were not retained by either cationic or anionic exchangers at pH values ranging from 4.0 to 10.5. Further, the fluorescein/protein ratios of FITC conjugates from different commercial sources and of those prepared in the laboratory were found to be variable; higher fluorescein/protein ratios (>2:1) give a higher degree of nonspecific reactions, whereas the peroxidase/protein ratio does not appear to affect specificity. These characteristics of peroxidase conjugates make the immunoperoxidase technique easier to standardize and more reliable for enterovirus identification than the immunofluorescence technique.
Evaluation of laparoscopic-assisted ovariohysterectomy for treatment of canine pyometra.

Objective To describe a technique for treating pyometra in dogs using a 3-portal laparoscopic-assisted ovariohysterectomy (LAOVH) and evaluate outcome. Study Design Retrospective case series. Animals Dogs (n = 12). Methods Dogs with open or closed-cervix pyometra with moderately sized (1–4 cm) uterine horn diameters based on preoperative ultrasonography and no evidence of perforation were included in the study. A 3-portal technique for LAOVH was used. A wound retraction device was inserted into the caudal portal after enlargement of the incision to 3–4 cm to simplify removal of the uterus with minimal tension. Results Twelve dogs (median weight, 23.3 kg; range, 2.1–46.0 kg) met the inclusion criteria. Median uterine diameter was 3.0 cm (range, 1.2–4.0 cm). Median surgical time for LAOVH was 107 minutes (range, 82–120 minutes). Complications included mild hemorrhage from the uterine vessels in 1 dog during uterine removal through the wound retraction device and intra-abdominal uterine rupture in 1 dog which necessitated conversion to an open approach. All dogs recovered from surgery and were discharged. Conclusions LAOVH can be used for treatment of select cases of canine pyometra. Careful case selection is mandatory to improve success and minimize conversion to an open approach. Gentle handling of the reproductive organs is imperative to avoid iatrogenic uterine rupture.
Psychometric Testing of the Children's Resourcefulness Scale

PROBLEM: Resourcefulness is known to reduce depression in adults, but its effects on children are less well known, possibly for lack of a psychometrically sound measure. METHODS: This study examined the reliability and validity of the 32-item Children's Self-Control Scale (C-SCS), which measures resourcefulness, in 122 school-aged children. FINDINGS: Standard scale refinement methods produced a 10-item scale with α= .72 and correlations with the C-SCS (r = .86), positive thoughts (r = .38), and depressive symptoms (r =–.32). Factor analysis revealed two factors: problem-solving and delay of gratification. CONCLUSIONS: The 10-item scale may be useful for identifying children who are not resourceful and are at risk for depression.
Women at the Modern Olympic Games: An Interdisciplinary Look at American Culture

This paper explores the impact of the modern Olympic Games on women in American culture by examining the cultural roles of women and the meaning of their participation in this cultural phenomenon. The study of women at the Olympics delineates critical themes in women's history, sport studies, American culture studies, and material culture. The analysis of women's roles in the Olympics indicates the interrelationships between gender, the sporting culture, and American culture. This paper also suggests areas for further scholarly investigation, based on an interdisciplinary perspective on women, the Olympic Games, and American culture.
Transforming growth factor-β and kidney dysfunction

In addition to their critical role in embryogenesis of the kidney, members of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β superfamily direct a number of pathways important in the maintenance of homeostasis in the differentiated kidney. TGF-β family members also play an important role in cell-cycle regulation. Through induction of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, TGF-β promotes a hypertrophic response of renal tubular epithelial cells and glomerular mesangial cells. This TGF-β-driven hypertrophic response, which occurs in diabetic nephropathy, may have deleterious effects on the kidney. In contrast, many human cancers are associated with loss of the growth inhibitory effects of TGF-β. TGF-β may promote or inhibit inflammation, an outcome which appears to depend on the cell type(s) involved and on potential interactions with other signaling pathways that regulate inflammatory responses. In recent studies, TGF-β has been implicated as a key mediator of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition, a process throug...
The discrete variational approach to the Euler-Lagrange equation

Abstract We apply symplectic integration schemes to solve two-point boundary value problems for the Euler-Lagrange equation. These methods admit a natural discrete variational principle, and are, therefore, a new type of approximation. Numerical results are given for several examples.
Nitrite toxicosis in the ascorbic acid-deficient guinea pig

Abstract Subcutaneous administration of 50 mg/kg NaNO2 produced significantly higher levels of methemoglobin in ascorbic acid-deficient guinea pigs than in controls. This dosage was fatal to a high percentage of the deficient group, whereas all control guinea pigs survived. Pretreatment of deficient guinea pigs with 10 mg/kg methylene blue protected against high levels of methemoglobin formation following the administration of 50 mg/kg NaNO2. Abortions occurred in a high percentage of ascorbic acid-deficient female guinea pigs following the subcutaneous administration of 45 mg/kg NaNO2. This same dosage caused no abortions in the control females. Ascorbic acid-deficient females not given NaNO2 had normal litters. Maternal blood levels of methemoglobin were significantly higher in ascorbic acid-deficient pregnant females following the subcutaneous administration of 40 mg/kg NaNO2. The accompanying levels of methemoglobin in fetuses derived by laparohysterotomy were similar in both the deficient and control groups. These data indicated that the fetal deaths were related to higher levels of methemoglobin in maternal blood of ascorbic acid-deficient guinea pigs.
Complete heart block from mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.

Complete heart block (CHB) in infants and children is usually congenital. Nonsurgical acquired CHB is rare. Occasionally, transient acquired CHB is seen in association with viral myocarditis. We describe here an unusual case of transient CHB in a 12-year-old boy with endomyocardial biopsy-proven myocarditis and evidence ofMycoplasma pneumoniae infection.
Flecainide acetate for paroxysmal supraventricular tachyarrhythmias

Flecainide has been shown to be effective in short-term, controlled studies for prevention of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). However, it is unknown whether this beneficial response is maintained during long-term chronic therapy. Forty-nine patients were studied who enrolled in double-blind, placebo-controlled, short-term studies of safety and efficacy and subsequently received long-term, open-label therapy for > or = 6 months (mean duration of therapy, 17 months). To evaluate chronic efficacy, events during long-term therapy were documented by a transtelephonic monitor for either 4 or 8 weeks, comparable to the corresponding 4- or 8-week placebo-baseline periods in the same patients. Results during chronic therapy were compared with those at baseline and after the initial (short-term) treatment period. Compared with placebo-baseline results, the number of patients free of arrhythmic attacks increased significantly for both patients with SVT (from 24% to 82%, p = 0.013, n = 17) and patients with AF (from 12% to 68%, p < 0.001, n = 25). Mean time to first attack and mean number of days between attacks also showed significant and parallel increases during the chronic efficacy period. In patients with paired short- and long-term efficacy evaluations with the same dose of flecainide, end points were maintained at equivalent levels or showed further improvement (i.e., mean rate of AF attacks decreased further with chronic therapy, p = 0.036). No proarrhythmic events, death, or myocardial infarction occurred.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Multiplicity Distributions in High-Energy Neutrino Interactions

We present results from the Fermilab 15-ft bubble chamber on the charged-particle multiplicity distributions produced in high-energy charged-current neutrino-proton interactions. Comparisons are made to $\ensuremath{\gamma}p$, $\mathrm{ep}$, $\ensuremath{\mu}p$, and inclusive $\mathrm{pp}$ scattering. The mean hadronic multiplicity $〈{n}_{c}〉$ appears to depend only on the mass of the excited hadronic state, independent of the mode of excitation. A fit to the neutrino data gives $〈{n}_{c}〉=(1.09\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.38)+(1.09\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03)\mathrm{ln}{W}^{2}$.
A uniform approach to gradient methods for linear operator equations

Abstract Let T be a bounded linear operator from one Hilbert space to another. A class of gradient methods for minimizing ∥Tx − f ∥2 is analyzed and characterized by the step-size used in the iteration x n+1 = x n − s(x n ) T ∗ (Tx n − f) . A general convergence theorem is proved under the simple assumption that the least-squares problem exhibits a solution. Specific convergence rates are established for operators with closed and nonclosed ranges.
Interval competition graphs of symmetric digraphs

Abstract The competition graph of a loopless symmetric digraph H is the two-step graph , S 2 ( H ). Necessary and sufficient conditions on H are given for S 2 ( H ) to be interval or unit interval. These are useful properties when application requires that the competition graph be efficiently colorable. Computational aspects are discussed, as are related open problems.
Increased working memory-related brain activity in middle-aged women with cognitive complaints

Individuals who report subjective cognitive complaints but perform normally on neuropsychological tests might be at increased risk for pathological cognitive aging. The current study examined the effects of the presence of subjective cognitive complaints on functional brain activity during a working memory task in a sample of middle-aged postmenopausal women. Twenty-three postmenopausal women aged 50-60 completed a cognitive complaint battery of questionnaires. Using 20% of items endorsed as the threshold, 12 women were categorized as cognitive complainers (CC) and 11 were noncomplainers (NC). All subjects then took part in a functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning session during which they completed a visual-verbal N-back test of working memory. Results showed no difference in working memory performance between CC and NC groups. However, the CC group showed greater activation relative to the NC group in a broad network involved in working memory including the middle frontal gyrus (Brodmann area [BA] 9 and 10), the precuneus (BA 7), and the cingulate gyrus (BA 24 and 32). The CC group recruited additional regions of the working memory network compared with the NC group as the working memory load and difficulty of the task increased. This study showed brain activation differences during working memory performance in a middle-aged group of postmenopausal women with subjective cognitive complaints but without objective cognitive deficit. These findings suggest that subjective cognitive complaints in postmenopausal women might be associated with increased cortical activity during effort-demanding cognitive tasks.
John Winthrop in The Maximus Poems

In The Maximus Poems, Charles Olson reinscribes colonial American history through the lens of his influential postmodern poetics. Playing on the tension between politics, economics, and myth, between primary sources and Whiteheadian “eternal events,” Olson brings John Winthrop, first governor of Massachusetts Bay, into the “live air” of the postmodern.
Polymer Shrink Film Lab Experiment

Polymers have many unique properties that make them ideally suited for everyday products and applications. One of these applications is heat activated shrink film. Shrink film is commonly used for packaging and temporarily insulating windows. Shrink film contains cross links between its polymer chains that are stretched when the film is manufactured. The application of heat allows the polymer chains to move and the cross links between the polymer chains to contract causing the film to shrink. This lab experiment investigates the shrinkage of polymer film that is commonly used to insulate windows. The experiment is performed in an Introduction to Materials class for freshman mechanical engineering technology students. Students first measure the change in length of strips of the film when the film is free from constraints to determine the maximum possible change in length. Then they put the film in a frame and measure the forces generated by the film as it shrinks. The results of the experiment are that the students are able to observe the macroscopic effects of the nanoscale cross links between the polymer molecules in the window film. This experiment provided an opportunity to investigate a unique aspect of the properties of polymers beyond the typical material properties such as tensile strength, elongation and stiffness.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Interaction of fiber and transformation toughening

Based on the small scale bridging (SSB) assumption, a theoretical study is made of the interaction between the fracture toughening effects of transforming particles and crack bridging fibers which are aligned in the direction perpendicular to the crack surfaces. The fibers bridging the crack are assumed to undergo large amounts of slipping inside the matrix. It is found that the interaction can be synergistic over a parametric range of material properties of the ceramic composite system. The Mode-1 plane-strain fracture toughness of the ceramic composite system is determined in terms of fiber strength, transformation toughening parameters and interaction parameters. The results obtained here are qualitatively similar to those for the interaction between the fracture toughening effects of transforming particles and crack-bridging ductile particles by Amazigo and Budiansky (1988a, J. Mech. Phys. Solids 36, 581).
Deformation-induced metal melt networks in silicates: Implications for core-mantle interactions in planetary bodies

Abstract Previous analyses of texturally equilibrated, hydrostatically annealed olivine rocks containing metal and metal–sulfide melts have determined that these melts do not form interconnected networks at low volume fractions. To characterize the change in connectivity of metal melt in response to deformation, we used optical microscopy and electron microprobe analyses to investigate the microstructures of samples of olivine + gold sheared to shear strains of > 200%. Deformation causes the development of a strong melt-preferred orientation 13–15° to the shear plane and antithetic to the shear direction. This melt-preferred orientation consists of previously isolated pockets of gold melt that have connected into networks extending for many grain lengths, as well as linear “trails” of isolated pockets. Melt was observed to have migrated 125–200 μm in response to pressure gradients induced by serrations in the pistons in contact with the sample, proving that finite permeability exists during deformation well below the critical melt fraction for connectivity. Consideration of the balance between differential and interfacial stresses on melt pockets indicates that melt channels formed in response to deformation can drain rocks to a very small melt fraction in a direction subparallel to the shear direction, stranding less melt than drainage under hydrostatic conditions. Therefore, core formation by percolative flow of non-wetting melt in actively deforming planets and planetesimals may be accomplished more efficiently than previously believed. In addition, core material entrained in the mantle at the core–mantle boundary will be strongly aligned sub-horizontally in regions of horizontal shear and have little to no permeability in the vertical direction, providing a mechanism to trap core material in Dʺ.
CULTURE STUDY OF REPRODUCTIVE CYCLES AND SYSTEMATICA IN MOUGEOTIA TRANSEAUI (CHLOROPHYTA)1,2

Asexual and sexual reproductive cyries are described and illustrated for a cultured homothallic strain of Mougeotia transeaui Collins. Reproduction is by aplanospores and zygospores. Aplanospore formation precedes zygospore formation and continues longer with regreening of older cultures occurring regularly from precocious germination of aplanospores. Aplanospores typically form when most of the protoplast moves into the central swollen region of a cell and two new cross walls form to delimit an aplanosporangium. Conjugation is scalariform without the movement and fusion of well-organized gametes. During zygospore maturation, three new cross walls form in the receptive gametangium and conjugation tube to produce a zygosporangium.
Competing order in the mixed state of high-temperature superconductors

We examine the low-temperature behavior of the mixed state of a layered superconductor in the vicinity of a quantum critical point separating a pure superconducting phase from a phase in which a competing order coexists with superconductivity. At zero temperature, we find that there is an avoided critical point in the sense that the phase boundary in the limit $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{B}0$ does not connect to the $B=0$ critical point. Consequently, there exists a quasi-one-dimensional (1D) regime of the phase diagram, in which the competing order is largely confined to 1D ``halos'' about each vortex core, and in which interactions between neighboring vortices, although relevant at low temperature, are relatively weak.
Relationship of hepatocyte growth factor in human umbilical vein serum to gestational age in normal pregnancies

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is expressed in placental syncitium and fetal organs and acts as a mitogen, motogen, and morphogen in vitro, suggesting a role in fetal growth and development. We aimed to examine the correlates of serum HGF in human cord blood. HGF was measured by ELISA using recombinant human HGF and mouse MAb to recombinant human HGF (Immunology Institute, Tokyo). Umbilical vein blood was collected prospectively at 148 deliveries including 94 normal pregnancies and 54 pregnancies complicated by medical conditions, primarily diabetes mellitus and pregnancy-induced hypertension. Growth parameters, gestation, pregnancy history, and perinatal events were recorded. Sera from 54 adolescents and 32 adult controls were also analyzed. Cord HGF [0.97 (0.66-1.33) ng/mL] [median (25-75 percentile)] was higher than HGF levels in adolescent sera [0.28 (0.21-0.35) ng/mL, p < 0.0001] and adult control sera [0.23 (0.14-0.31) ng/mL, p < 0.0001]. Cord HGF correlated with gestational age (r = 0.42, p = 0.0001) in normal pregnancies, with term babies (n = 69) having higher cord HGF than babies less than 37 wk of gestation (n = 25) [1.11 (0.78-1.45), 0.78 (0.46-1.03) ng/mL, p = 0.0007]. However, there was no relationship between gestation and cord HGF in complicated pregnancies. Cord HGF did not differ at term between appropriate for gestational age babies and small for gestational age babies. There were no independent correlations between cord HGF and birth weight, birth length and placental weight. We provide evidence for the first time that cord HGF levels are high and relate to gestation in normal pregnancies. HGF may have a significant role in fetal development during pregnancy.