cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intensive control of diabetes in the hospital: why, how, and what is in the future?

Intensive management of diabetes is identified as a critical component of inpatient care. However, the fundamental question that remains is whether controlling glycemia in noncritically ill diabetes patients at the lower end of the current guidelines improves outcomes of hospitalization, long-term outcomes of the primary condition, and long-term outcomes of diabetes compared with average glycemia greater than 180 mg/dl. A group of clinical investigators—Planning Research in Inpatient Diabetes (PRIDE)—is preparing randomized controlled trials with the hope of defining optimal glycemic targets for hospitalized patients with diabetes. Given the variety of clinical situations that can occur in the inpatient setting, many medical centers have established dedicated inpatient diabetes teams. There is ample evidence, albeit retrospective, that these teams improve inpatient glucose control and reduce lengths of hospital stays. Using hospitalization as an opportunity to educate patients about diabetes and to optimize their treatment regimen may improve long-term outpatient glycemic control.
Effects of human immunodeficiency virus and metabolic complications on myocardial nutrient metabolism, blood flow, and oxygen consumption: A cross-sectional analysis

Background In the general population, peripheral metabolic complications (MC) increase the risk for left ventricular dysfunction. Human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV) and combination anti-retroviral therapy (cART) are associated with MC, left ventricular dysfunction, and a higher incidence of cardiovascular events than the general population. We examined whether myocardial nutrient metabolism and left ventricular dysfunction are related to one another and worse in HIV infected men treated with cART vs. HIV-negative men with or without MC.
Georgia's experience with recycled roofing shingles in asphaltic concrete

Reuse of roofing shingle waste not only minimizes the environmental problems related to the disposal of waste in landfills, but also reduces the amount of virgin asphalt cement and fine aggregate required in hot mix asphaltic concrete (HMAC), thus creating the potential for cost savings. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has experimented with the recycling of roofing shingles in HMAC by constructing two test sections in 1994 and 1995. The source of the roofing shingles used in both test sections was waste generated by a roofing manufacturer; this generally consisted of discolored or damaged shingles. One test section was constructed on Chatham Parkway in Chatham County and one on State Route 21 in Effingham County. GAF Building Materials, Inc., located in Savannah, provided the waste shingle material; APAC Georgia, Inc., also located in Savannah, produced and placed these experimental mixtures. To date, both test sections are performing well compared with the unmodified control sections. Bas...
Triceps surae motoneuron morphology in the rat: a quantitative light microscopic study.

The rat is now the model of choice for many studies of motor function. However, little quantitative information on the structure of rat motoneurons is available. In conjunction with efforts to define the physiologic and anatomic substrates of operantly conditioned plasticity in the spinal cord, 13 physiologically identified triceps surae motoneurons in the rat lumbar spinal cord were labeled intracellularly with horseradish peroxidase and completely reconstructed and measured with a computer-based neuron-tracing system. Somata were all located in the ventral horn of lumbar segments 4-5, had an average diameter of 35 microns, and had 6-12 dendrites. Dendrites ramified throughout the ventral horn and also penetrated the white matter. Their spread was greater in the rostrocaudal and dorsoventral directions (1.53 +/- 0.24 mm and 1.35 +/- 0.23 mm, respectively) than in the mediolateral direction (0.85 +/- 0.14 mm). Regardless of soma location, dendritic fields usually extended throughout the ipsilateral coronal cross-section of the ventral horn. As a result, the ventral or lateral extent of the field was correlated strongly with the soma's distance from the ventral or lateral border, respectively, of the ventral horn. Furthermore, although soma locations in the coronal plane varied widely, the centers of the dendritic fields tended to cluster near the center of the ventral horn. Dendrites constituted 96.2-98.4% (mean +/- SD = 97.3 +/- 0.7%) of the total neuronal surface area. Each of the 104 dendrites studied had an average of 13 branch points and 27 segments. First-order segment diameters ranged from 1.4 to 11.7 microns (mean +/- SD = 5.3 +/- 2.1 microns). Total dendritic length, surface area, volume, number of dendritic segments, and maximum segment order were correlated strongly with diameter of the first-order segment. Proceeding distally between branch points, the mean decrease in dendritic diameter (i.e., tapering) +/- the standard deviation was 22 +/- 8% of the proximal diameter. The average ratio +/- the standard deviation of the sum of the average diameters of each daughter segment raised to the 1.5 power to the average diameter of the parent segment raised to the 1.5 power (i.e., Rall's ratio; Rall, 1959) was 0.87 +/- 0.08. In comparison with cat alpha-motoneurons, rat motoneurons had smaller soma diameters, fewer dendrites, smaller total surface areas, and shorter total dendritic lengths. However, the number of terminations per dendrite was similar in the two species, so that rat motoneurons had more terminations per unit dendritic length.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
DENDRAL: a case study of the first expert system for scientific hypothesis formation

Lindsay, R.K., B.G. Buchanan, E.A. Feigenbaum and J. Lederberg, DENDRAL: a case study of the first expert system for scientific hypothesis formation, Artificial Intelligence 61 (1993) 209-261. The DENDRAL Project was one of the first large-scale programs to embody the strategy of using detailed, task-specific knowledge about a problem domain as a source of heuristics, and to seek generality through automating the acquisition of such knowledge. This paper summarizes the major conceptual contributions and accomplishments of that project. It is an attempt to distill from this research the lessons that are of importance to artificial intelligence research and to provide a record of the final status of two decades of work.
Circulating Cell-Free DNA Enables Noninvasive Diagnosis of Heart Transplant Rejection

Monitoring allograft health is an important component of posttransplant therapy. Endomyocardial biopsy is the current gold standard for cardiac allograft monitoring but is an expensive and invasive procedure. Proof of principle of a universal, noninvasive diagnostic method based on high-throughput screening of circulating cell-free donor-derived DNA (cfdDNA) was recently demonstrated in a small retrospective cohort. We present the results of a prospective cohort study (65 patients, 565 samples) that tested the utility of cfdDNA in measuring acute rejection after heart transplantation. Circulating cell-free DNA was purified from plasma and sequenced (mean depth, 1.2 giga–base pairs) to quantify the fraction of cfdDNA. Through a comparison with endomyocardial biopsy results, we demonstrate that cfdDNA enables diagnosis of acute rejection after heart transplantation, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.83 and sensitivity and specificity that are comparable to the intrinsic performance of the biopsy itself. This noninvasive genome transplant dynamics approach is a powerful and informative method for routine monitoring of allograft health without incurring the risk, discomfort, and expense of an invasive biopsy.
Career choice selection and satisfaction among US adult nephrology fellows.

Summary Although many anticipate that there will be an eventual shortage of practicing nephrologists, a complete understanding is lacking regarding the current factors that lead US adult nephrology fellows to choose nephrology as a career and their satisfaction with this choice. It is of great concern that interest in obtaining nephrology fellowship training continues to decline in the United States, especially among US medical graduates, and the reasons for this are unclear. The exposure that students and residents have to nephrology is likely to play an important role in the career choices that they make and their ultimate satisfaction with this career choice is likely influenced by several factors, including job opportunities. Some of the findings presented here suggest that there may be a high percentage of nephrology fellows who are dissatisfied with their career choice. Failure to understand the factors that influence trainees to choose nephrology as a career and those that affect their satisfaction with this choice may impair the ability to graduate a sufficient number of nephrologists to meet projected demand. In this article, a number of variables related to the choice of nephrology as a career and satisfaction with a career in nephrology are discussed. Some steps that the nephrology training community might take to help promote interest in nephrology and optimize the satisfaction that nephrology graduates derive from their careers are also proposed.
A standardized diagnostic approach and ongoing feedback improves outcome in psychogenic nonepileptic seizures.

Abstract Introduction Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) are episodic alterations in behavior presumed to reflect a physical manifestation of underlying psychological distress. Standardized treatment approaches for PNES care are lacking. We evaluated common approaches to PNES management that do not require significant commitment of time and resources. Methodology Patients with PNES established with video-EEG monitoring were randomized to one of the following three groups: 1) PNES diagnosis delivered per the discretion of the attending physician with advice to seek mental health assistance in the community (n = 12), 2) scripted PNES diagnosis provided and inpatient psychiatry consult obtained (n = 10), and 3) weekly follow-up phone calls made in addition to scripted diagnosis and inpatient psychiatry consultation (n = 15). Reduction in event frequency measured at 8 weeks following hospital discharge represented the primary outcome variable. Secondary variables analyzed included exploration of change in self-reported mood, quality of life, and healthcare utilization. Results No significant improvements were noted in patients simply given a PNES diagnosis and advised to seek outside care on any measure. In contrast, patients receiving a scripted diagnosis and psychiatric consultation demonstrated decreased PNES frequency accompanied by improved quality of life (QOL). Patients also receiving weekly phone calls not only demonstrated decreased PNES frequency and improvements in QOL but also exhibited improved mood. Discussion These findings demonstrate that providing diagnostic information regarding PNES is insufficient by itself to meaningfully affect patient outcome. Structured feedback and psychiatric consultation appeared adequate to significantly reduce PNES frequency and improve aspects of quality of life, while the addition of a weekly phone contact also led to improved mood.
Cardiomyocyte differentiation by GATA-4-deficient embryonic stem cells

In situ hybridization studies, promoter analyses and antisense RNA experiments have implicated transcription factor GATA-4 in the regulation of cardiomyocyte differentiation. In this study, we utilized Gata4−/− embryonic stem (ES) cells to determine whether this transcription factor is essential for cardiomyocyte lineage commitment. First, we assessed the ability of Gata4−/− ES cells form cardiomyocytes during in vitro differentiation of embryoid bodies. Contracting cardiomyocytes were seen in both wild-type and Gata4−/− embryoid bodies, although cardiomyocytes were observed more often in wild type than in mutant embryoid bodies. Electron microscopy of cardiomyocytes in the Gata4−/− embryoid bodies revealed the presence of sarcomeres and junctional complexes, while immunofluorescence confirmed the presence of cardiac myosin. To assess the capacity of Gata4−/− ES cells to differentiate into cardiomyocytes in vivo, we prepared and analyzed chimeric mice. Gata4−/− ES cells were injected into 8-cell-stage embryos derived from ROSA26 mice, a transgenic line that expresses beta-galactosidase in all cell types. Chimeric embryos were stained with X-gal to discriminate ES cell- and host-derived tissue. Gata4−/− ES cells contributed to endocardium, myocardium and epicardium. In situ hybridization showed that myocardium derived from Gata4−/− ES cells expressed several cardiac-specific transcripts, including cardiac alpha-myosin heavy chain, troponin C, myosin light chain-2v, Nkx-2.5/Csx, dHAND, eHAND and GATA-6. Taken together these results indicate that GATA-4 is not essential for terminal differentiation of cardiomyocytes and suggest that additional GATA-binding proteins known to be in cardiac tissue, such as GATA-5 or GATA-6, may compensate for a lack of GATA-4.
Isotopic Fréchet Distance.

We present a variant of the Frechet distance (as well as geodesic and homotopic Frechet distance) which forces the motion between the input objects to fol- low an ambient isotopy. This provides a measure of how much you need to continuously deform one shape into another while maintaining topologically equiva- lently shapes throughout the deformation.
Don't Be a One-Trick Pony

A couple of years ago, I asked one of my most respected clinical mentors, a national thought leader on heart failure (HF), mechanical support, and transplantation to speak on the topic, “Will mechanical support ever fully replace transplantation as therapy for end-stage heart failure?” I ran into him before the talk and asked him what the answer was, and his cryptic response left me puzzled. “Don’t be a one-trick pony,” he replied and walked on. My first inpatient rotation as a medical intern was on the HF service of a large tertiary-care academic medical center. I quickly became enamored with the study and treatment of the failing heart. Trained by skilled and experienced clinicians, I learned how to evaluate volume status, the importance of neurohormonal antagonists in HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), and how to interpret and respond to hemodynamic data among the sickest and most complex patients with HF in the intensive care unit. Often, patients were admitted with acute HF and through careful diuresis and medical optimization they would improve and be discharged home. Occasional patients with de novo HFrEF would be admitted and discharged after decongestion and the stepwise addition of guideline-directed therapy, such as angiotensinconverting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, beta-blockers, and aldosterone antagonists. I understood the fundamental benefits of neurohormonal antagonists, but their efficacy had long before been proven and my understanding of the power of these pharmacologics to improve survival and reduce symptoms, or even reverse maladaptive remodeling, was limited. Given our training model, rarely did I see these patients in longitudinal follow-up, because they usually went back to their primary care physicians and cardiologists. Most exciting to me was the introduction of the Heartmate vented electric device (XVE; Thoratec), approved as destination therapy just 1 year before my internship began. I eagerly learned the mechanics of the device and read the Randomized Evaluation of Mechanical Assistance for the Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure (REMATCH) trial. 1 I looked forward to the upcoming device trial of the 2nd-generation implantable continuousflow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) 2 —smaller, more
The Disparate Impact of Sexual Harassment: Does Motive Matter?

In this article, I propose the reconceptualization of sexual harassment in the workplace as a form of disparate impact discrimination, in addition to the more traditional conceptualization of sexual harassment as a form of disparate treatment. Under the disparate treatment theory, a showing of intent to discriminate and different treatment of men and women is generally required, and in a number of recent cases, the courts have found these elements to be lacking, either because of uncertainty as to whether the harassment might have been motivated by some factor other than gender or because both men and women have been subjected to similar conduct. By contrast, the disparate impact theory focuses on the disproportionate effects of employer actions, regardless of the intent of the employer, and can result in liability even when no different treatment on the basis of gender has occurred. The disparate impact theory should be applicable to sexual harassment cases because women - as a group - are disproportionately disadvantaged by the presence of sexually harassing conduct in the workplace. This article examines the degree to which the existing requirements of sexual harassment claims are consistent with the theoretical foundation of the disparate impact theory and explains how a sexual harassment claim could meet the doctrinal requirements of the theory. The article concludes that sexual harassment claims can be asserted under either the disparate treatment or the disparate impact theory, consistent with the existing statutory provisions of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and current judicial interpretations of those provisions.
DID REGIONAL ECONOMIC DIVERSITY INFLUENCE THE EFFECTS OF THE GREAT RECESSION

Using data for U.S. counties from 2005 to 2012, we test whether higher levels of economic diversity mediated the effects of the Great Recession via four measures of stability. Spatial spillover effects are modeled by the use of the spatial Durbin estimator with heteroscedastic errors. The data generally support the central hypothesis that higher levels of diversity within a county are associated with enhanced employment stability across all counties as well as subsets of metro and nonmetro counties. Results for wage stability, however, appear to contradict our other findings. We suggest that underlying labor elasticities can bridge these apparent contradictory results. (JEL R11, R12, O47)
Lateral Intraventricular Tumor

A left-sided lateral intraventricular tumor is presented intentionally to demonstrate the proper placement of the cortical incision in the middle temporal gyrus on the dominant hemisphere and to show how to avoid the posterior third of the superior temporal gyrus, the supramarginal gyrus, and an associated severe neurological deficit. Anatomical drawings in Figs. 263, 264 and 265 are of a choroid plexus papilloma in its typical location, the trigonum of the left lateral ventricle, and will assist in giving a three dimensional conception of the lesion. In Figs. 264 and 265 the incision over the middle temporal gyrus is outlined. Usually the temporal horn is distended by the tumor and/or from ventricular fluid obstruction and the resultant dilatation adds operative room for tumor removal. The tumor receives its blood supply from the anterior and posterior choroidal arteries.
TASK SOLUBILITY AND MOTIVATIONAL LEVEL IN WORD CATEGORIZATION

What happens when adults are presented with an insoluble task? In one of the few studies on this topic, Marquart and Arnold (1952) found that responding on a discrimination task was less flexible and more stereotyped following a period during which the task was insoluble. In the present study, flexibility of word categorization was examined when subjects were presented with a soluble or apparently insoluble task and when motivational level was manipulated by promising subjects $2.00 for correct responding or offering them nothing. The design of the experiment was a 2 X 2 factorial, with both solubility and motivation manipulated between subjects. Each of 28 female and 8 male undergraduates was given a list of 300 words, and on each trial was asked to write down a group of 10 words that "fit into one category." All of the words could be easily categorized, and the list was constructed to include at least 25 simple categories, e.g., flowers, numbers, proper nouns, with a minimum of 10 words per category. Testing was done individually. Fifteen trials were given and subjects had unlimited time to respond. At the end of each trial, the experimenter inspected the subject's responses and said "Good" to those given the soluble task and told those with the insoluble task that the words chosen were not in the specific category she was looking for. The data were scored by counting the total number of times words appeared more than once across the 15 trials.
Fluorescent antibody technic used for identification and typing of Streptococcus pneumoniae

A fluorescent antibody technic (FAT) has been developed for identification and typing of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The technic was first compared with the Neufeld test (NT) using polyvalent antiserum and isolates identified as S. pneumoniae. Of 197 isolates, 191 (97%) were positive by both technic, and six strains (3%) were negative by both methods. Both tests were also used for determination of pneumococcal types agreed in 23 of 25 tests (92%) but the Neufeld test gave false results in 2 of 25 determinations (8%). The polyvalent antiserum was used to examine by FAT direct films obtained from various specimens and the results were compared with Gram stain and cultures. Of 198 direct films in which gram-positive cocci resembling pneumococci were found, 154 were positive by FAT and 130 were positive by culture. FAT appears to be more reliable than Gram stain or culture. During a four-year period, isolated strains of pneumococci were typed by FAT and the results compared. A slight change in the incidence of the pneumococcal types was observed. Although the Neufeld test is simpler, FAT is easier to read and is a more reliable method if identifying pneumococci, especially in body fluids where the number of microorganisms might be limited. Also, FAT is a more reliable procedure in typing strains.
Reproduction in a Population of Yellow-Bellied Marmots (Marmota Flaviventris)

The annual reproductive cycle within a yellow-bellied marmot population was studied in the central Sierra Nevada of California about 30 mi. N Lake Tahoe. Seventy animals were live-trapped and ear-tagged, and the reproductive organs of 47 marmots were examined histologically. the approximate date of emergence from hibernation apparently was governed by the time of spring thaw. the animals were ready to breed when they emerged, so the thaw apparently would determine the time of mating and copulation, parturition, weaning, and juvenile emergence from the natal burrow. During the 2-week mating and copulation period, almost all adult females, but few subadults, became pregnant. the average gravidum per pregnant female was 4.8 and litter size was slightly higher. the adult sex ratio was approximately equal, as judged by trapping records. However, juvenile males were seen much more often than adult males. a high population in 1966 dropped to a low level in 1967, seemingly as a result of over-winter loss. Juveniles grew most rapidly, followed by subadults, and then by adults. the average number of active days required to grow 1 centimeter in length was 4.7 days for juveniles, 11 days for subadults, and 16 days for adults.
Bed-Rock Incision by Streams

Streams incise bed rock by cutting and quarrying rock exposed in the stream beds. The bed-rock-cutting mechanism is conceptually simple; except where solution or flow cavitation is acting, it must be abrasion by entrained sediment (Shepherd and Schumm, 1974). When a sediment particle strikes the bed, some of its kinetic energy may be expended in fracturing the bed material. Fractures from a severe enough impact, or coalescing fractures from a series of impacts, allow separation of a particle of bed material which is then carried away by the flow. The abrasion rate at a point will thus be proportional to the local sediment transport rate and will depend upon the details of the fluid flow. This paper describes a bed-load-abrasion, stream-incision model developed from engineering sandblast-abrasion theory. This model is not generally applicable to bed-rock incision because extensive bed-rock reaches in stream channels often develop complex morphologies which prevent hydraulic analysis at an appropriate scale. However, predominantly alluvial streams with short (compared to channel width) bed-rock reaches have relatively simple hydraulic geometry. The bed-rock reaches are local base levels, and they control incision; the alluvial reaches control channel geometry and sediment-transport rate. Model parameters can be evaluated in this case, which is common in streams incised into tilted, layered rocks of variable resistance to abrasion. Analysis of incision by a glacially diverted gravel-bed stream (Foley, 1980a, 1980b) is used to illustrate application of the model and to test the validity of the model.
Notes on Perlinodes aurea (Plecoptera: Perlodidae)

The nymph of Perlinodes aurea (Smith) (Plecoptera: Perlodidae) is described, and habitus and mouthparts are illustrated. Male and female genitalia are described and illustrated, and scanning electron microscope photomicrographs of eggs are provided.
Fibrinopeptide A, platelet factor 4, and beta-thromboglobulin levels in coronary heart disease

In vivo platelet alpha-granule release and fibrin I formation were measured in 82 patients with ischemic heart disease by radioimmunoassay of platelet factor 4, beta-thromboglobulin, and fibrinopeptide A. The presence and extent of coronary artery disease were determined by coronary arteriography, and the extent of left ventricular regional dysfunction was assessed by contrast left ventriculography. In patients with abnormal coronary arteriograms without previous myocardial infarction, mean levels of platelet factor 4, beta-thromboglobulin, and fibrinopeptide A were not elevated. In patients in whom myocardial infarction had occurred more than 6 mo previously, platelet factor 4 (8.3 ng/ml; p less than 0.01) and beta-thromboglobulin (33.2 ng/ml; p less than 0.001) levels were significantly elevated, but fibrinopeptide A levels were normal. Levels of platelet factor 4 and beta-thromboglobulin were unrelated to the extent of coronary artery disease. In the patients with prior infarction, beta-thromboglobulin correlated directly with extent of left ventricular regional dysfunction (r = 0.53; p less than 0.01) and inversely with ejection fraction (r = -056; p less than 0.05). In a small group of patients with left ventricular aneurysm, mean fibrinopeptide A levels were also elevated. We interpret these findings as indicating that platelet release in patients with ischemic heart disease results from platelet reaction with previously infarcted myocardium rather than with the atherosclerotic coronary arteries.
Starch gel electrophoresis of lactic dehydrogenase from rat kidney.

Summary1. An improved method for demonstration of lactic dehydrogenase after starch gel electrophoresis is described. This method employs a more sensitive tetrazolium and phenazine methosulfate. 2. Rat kidney contained 5 lactic dehydrogenase fractions which varied in cofactor requirements. DPN diaphorase was not demonstrable in any of these fractions, when reduced DPN was employed as the substrate, but was demonstrated in 2 additional bands. 3. The possibility is discussed that at least certain of the lactic dehydrogenase fractions from rat kidney exhibit electrophoretic heterogenity because of their association with various components of the respiratory system.We are deeply indebted to Mrs. Julia Ternak for technical assistance.
Skin as a source for hospital infection.

The skin is itself the site of infection by many different bacteria. Dermatologists may see primary skin infection due to Staphylococcus aureus, beta hemolytic streptococci and a host of less common pathogens including gonococci, mycobacteria and even enterobacteriaceae, or secondary infection which is mostly staphylococcal in eczema or weighted toward Proteus and Pseudomonas in venous stasis ulcers. Geriatricians see a mixed microbial flora in decubitus ulcers while those who insert plastic prostheses, intravenous or abdominal catheters can expect infection with coagulase-negative or positive cocci.The skin also forms a natural reservoir of organisms available to infect a variety of patients and it is with the skin as a reservoir that this article is concerned. The normal flora of the skin in healthy subjects is composed chiefly of coagulase-negative cocci and coryneforms with gram-negative bacilli chiefly, but not entirely, represented by Acinetobacter. Patients admitted to the hospital who are severely ill may become more heavily colonized by gram-negative bacilli while frank skin lesions constitute a more obvious source of potential pathogens.
A model for teaching technology: Using Excel in an accounting information systems course

Abstract In response to recommendation #4 of the Pathways Commission Report, this teaching note describes an instructional project that allows students to learn new functions in Microsoft Excel. While this project is used in a small undergraduate Accounting Information Systems course, it can be used in larger classes and in any class where students learn technology. In addition to strengthening their understanding of Excel, students are given an opportunity to communicate their understanding of Excel via peer teaching. Since accountants use Excel frequently, students need to be exposed to the vast array of functions and capabilities in Excel in order to enhance student success in the accounting profession. Students enter the course with varying degrees of Excel experience potentially making teaching and developing projects that meet the needs of all students a daunting and challenging task. This paper explains how the experience level problem is overcome in order to help students learn Excel in an environment that not only allows them to learn how to use selected Excel skills but also allows them to learn why and when these skills are useful for accountants.
Pancreatic Superoxide Dismutase Activity in the Copper-Depleted Rat

Since Cu deficiency in rats is accompanied by progressive atrophy of pancreatic tissue (2, 6–8), this study was designed to investigate the role of the Cu-dependent enzymes superoxide dismutase (CuSOD) and cytochrome oxidase and the Mn-dependent enzyme superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) in this process. Superoxide dismutase catalyzes the dismutation of the superoxide radical anion (O2 −) to O and H2O2 and is considered to have an important role in protecting cells against direct and indirect oxidative damage (4, 5). The cytotoxicity of O2 − has been ascribed to the secondary production of highly reactive intermediates, such as hydroxy radicals (4).
STABILITY AND INSTABILITY IN ONE DIMENSIONAL POPULATION MODELS

One dimensional difference equations are widely used in population biol- ogy. These seemingly simple models can show a variety of behaviors from stability to chaos. (see Cull, Yorke, May, Feigenbaum) We show how the enveloping technique can be used to demonstrate global and semi-global stability. We discuss the issue of whether local stability implies global stability. We give some examples of more com- plicated behavior which can co-exist with local stability. We show that local stability implies global stability even for models slightly more complicated than the usual mod- els. We address the issue of how complicated a model must be to have local without global stability, and we describe our candidates for the simplest such models. 1 Introduction Populations wax and wane. To understand these changes in population, we often use simple models. In this paper, we will study difference equation (10) models of population growth. Often these models have a single equilibrium point and for some values of the param- eters this equilibrium is stable. Biological modelers have often checked for stability with respect to small perturbations and then treated the equilibrium as being stable with re- spect to large perturbations. Remarkably, this logical jump never caused any difficulties. Eventually, a number of mathematical papers (4, 34, 32) showed that for some of the usual population models local stability implies global stability. These papers used a variety of methods including Lyapunov functions (23, 18, 19) Schwartzian derivative (34), and some ad hoc techniques (34, 1, 2, 4, 3, 5, 32). But, one uniform technique applicable to all usual population models was lacking. In particular, it was unclear whether the single hump of population models was sufficient to derive global stability from local stability. Finally, Cull and Chaffee (9, 8) were able to show that the usual population models were bounded by linear fractional functions and that this bounding was enough to show global stability from local stability. One aspect of the above approaches is the assumption that the models were three times continuously differentiable. Huang (22) pointed out that for some of these arguments, the continuously differentiable assumption was essential. It was also unclear whether biological modelers really wanted to make such an assumption about their models. Cull (13) showed that bounding (enveloping) by linear fractionals did not depend on differentiability, and, in fact, such enveloping could apply to discontinuous multi-functions. In contrast to such stability May (25, 26) and others have shown that without local stability, population models can show complicated behavior including chaos (24, 14). But, is more complicated behavior possible for population models when local stability is assumed? We investigate some generalizations of the usual population models and show that YES, more complicated behavior is possible even with local stability. How much more complicated does a population model have to be to allow more complicated behavior? We show that
The Career of the Lógos: A Brief Biography

This paper is a review of the influence that logos has had on ancient Greek, Jewish, and Christian writings. During the philosophical era known as Middle Platonism, the concept/ontology of the logos played a unique role in enabling Pagan, Jewish, and Christian intellectuals to communicate on a small space of common ground.
I12 The role of the cerebellum in juvenile huntington’s disease (JHD)

Background The cerebellum is integrated structurally and functionally with the striatum with the anterior lobe having input into the indirect pathway of the striatum – the pathway responsible for movement inhibition, and the pathway affected most by HD. In JHD, hyper-connectivity of the cerebellum could lead to the hypokinetic state seen in JHD. Aim To evaluate brain structure in a sample of JHD subjects Methods The University of Iowa Kids-JHD program enrols children 8–18 years of age who have already received the clinical diagnosis. Each child undergoes an MRI scan. A total of 10 children with JHD, ages 6–17 were studied (mean CAG = 77). JHD subjects were compared to a large data base (>200 subjects) of control children. Structural brain measures and DTI measures were evaluated between groups. Results Subjects with JHD had substantially reduced Intracranial Volumes (ICV). After controlling for the overall small size of the brain, JHD, the striatum and globus pallidus were specifically affected with volumes that were far below normal. Thalamus and hippocampus were of normal size. The cerebellum was enlarged in the JHD sample. DTI measures indicated a hyper-connectivity between the cerebellum and the striatum. Finally, the size of the cerebellum and the strength of the associated white matter tracts were directly related to abnormalities in motor function (large volume and high FA associated with worse motor scores). This suggests that the enlargement and hyper-connected cerebellum is driving the hypokinetic state in the JHD subjects. Conclusion HTT is vital for normal brain development. In its mutant form, mHTT may alter the development of the striatum which in turn spurs the development of the cerebellum to have greater input to the indirect pathway. In AOHD this is likely compensatory. However in JHD, the striatal development is so severe that the cerebellar compensation is driven so far that instead of facilitating function, it actually inhibits motor function, manifesting in the hypokinetic state of JHD.
Thermoelastic State of a Semiinfinite Thermally Sensitive Three-Component Rod Under Convective-Radiative Heat Exchange

We propose a numerical-analytic approach to the determination of the thermoelastic state of a semiinfinite thermally sensitive three-component rod interacting with the ambient medium by convectiveradiative heat exchange. The proposed approach is based on the use of the Kirchhoff transformation, generalized functions, Green functions of the linear nonstationary problem of heat conduction for a three-component space, and linear splines. We investigate the influence of thermal sensitivity and heat-exchange parameters on the distributions of temperature, stresses, and displacements.
Probabilistic Simulation Framework for EEG-Based BCI Design.

AbstractA simulation framework could decrease the burden of attending long and tiring experimental sessions on the potential users of brain-computer interface (BCI) systems. Specifically during the initial design of a BCI, a simulation framework that could replicate the operational performance of the system would be a useful tool for designers to make design choices. In this manuscript, we develop a Monte Carlo-based probabilistic simulation framework for electroencephalography (EEG) based BCI design. We employ one event-related potential (ERP) based typing and one steady-state evoked potential (SSVEP) based control interface as testbeds. We compare the results of simulations with real-time experiments. Even though over- and underestimation of the performance is possible, the statistical results over the Monte Carlo simulations show that the developed framework generally provides a good approximation of the real-time system performance.
On the Well-Posedness of Two Fluid Interfacial Flows with Surface Tension

We apply a technique to linearize the equations of motion about any smooth solution, even far from equilibrium. This technique was developed in our recent study of water waves (Beale, Hou & Lowengrub 1992). We show that these new linearized equations have a beautiful form when projected into the tangential and normal coordinates of the underlying smooth interface. We prove that these equations are well-posed in the appro priate Sobolev spaces. We investigate the full nonlinear behavior numerically. We describe several methods to compute these flows. We prove that of these, only suitably modified spectral methods are nonlinearly stable and converge. The other methods are proved to be linearly unstable, even far from equilibrium. (Baker & Nachbin 1992) independently demonstrated these instabilities near equilibrium for vortex sheets with surface tension. Finally, we present numerical computations. Our results include a sequence of computations of vortex sheets with surface tension using successively smaller suface tensions. The interfaces remain smooth and there seems to be no finite time physical singularity. Their structure also differs from the zero surface tension case.
Interaction and Transport of Methamphetamine and its Primary Metabolites by Organic Cation and Multidrug and Toxin Extrusion Transporters.

Methamphetamine is one of the most abused illicit drugs with roughly 1.2 million users in the United States alone. A large portion of methamphetamine and its metabolites is eliminated by the kidney with renal clearance larger than glomerular filtration clearance. Yet the mechanism of active renal secretion is poorly understood. The goals of this study were to characterize the interaction of methamphetamine and its major metabolites with organic cation transporters (OCTs) and multidrug and toxin extrusion (MATE) transporters and to identify the major transporters involved in the disposition of methamphetamine and its major metabolites, amphetamine and para-hydroxymethamphetamine (p-OHMA). We used cell lines stably expressing relevant transporters to show that methamphetamine and its metabolites inhibit human OCTs 1–3 (hOCT1–3) and hMATE1/2-K with the greatest potencies against hOCT1 and hOCT2. Methamphetamine and amphetamine are substrates of hOCT2, hMATE1, and hMATE2-K, but not hOCT1 and hOCT3. p-OHMA is transported by hOCT1–3 and hMATE1, but not hMATE2-K. In contrast, organic anion transporters 1 and 3 do not interact with or transport these compounds. Methamphetamine and its metabolites exhibited complex interactions with hOCT1 and hOCT2, suggesting the existence of multiple binding sites. Our studies suggest the involvement of the renal OCT2/MATE pathway in tubular secretion of methamphetamine and its major metabolites and the potential of drug-drug interactions with substrates or inhibitors of the OCTs. This information may be considered when prescribing medications to suspected or known abusers of methamphetamine to mitigate the risk of increased toxicity or reduced therapeutic efficacy.
Novel application of simple molybdates: Catalytic hydrolysis of an organophosphate neurotoxin under mild aqueous conditions

Abstract A novel protocol for hydrolyzing phosphonothioate neurotoxins has been developed that uses a readily available, inexpensive and non-toxic molybdate (MoO 4 2− ). The target organophosphate is O,S -diethylphenyl phosphonothioate ( 1 ), a model compound that has served as an analog of the chemical warfare agent VX. Molybdate-mediated hydrolysis of 1 proceeds at room temperature (pH ∼ 7.5) and yields a relatively safe phosphonate product through P-S specific scission. This is the first report of utilizing the molybdate, MoO 4 2− , to degrade an organophosphate neurotoxin with turnover. A ΔS ‡ of −81.5 J/mol·K (−19.5 cal/mol·K) indicates a bimolecular process, and 18 O-labeling studies show no oxygen exchange of 1 throughout the hydrolysis by MoO 4 2− ( aq ). We hypothesize primarily the monomeric molybdate is the active species at pH 7.5 where a S N 2(P) mechanism takes place. Density functional theory methods suggest the molybdate oxoanion serves as the nucleophile to attack phosphonothioate 1 to form a molybdate-phosphonate anhydride that subsequently hydrolyzes to the starting molybdate and phenylethyl phosphonate.
71 – Sex Differences in HPA-Axis Regulation: The Role of Gonadal Hormones

One of the primary physiological consequences of life stress is activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA axis). The HPA axis is a well-tuned system designed to achieve and maintain homeostasis. Activation of this system sets in motion a cascade of hormonal responses that allow the body to adapt to the stressor at hand. As with many physiological systems, there are sex differences in HPA-axis regulation across species. Understanding the nature of this sex difference is important, given that HPA-axis dysregulation is associated with a number of pathologies with significant female bias, including depression, anxiety, and autoimmune diseases. This chapter focuses on the role of gonadal hormones as modulators of HPA-axis function in animal models. We first discuss the contribution of gonadal hormones on the neuroendocrine and central responses to acute and chronic stress. Because gonadal hormones interact with specific receptors in target areas to produce their effects on HPA-axis tone, we also discuss the importance of steroid receptors in mediating these sex differences in HPA-axis activity. Finally, we summarize the current state of knowledge on neural control of gonadal hormone effects on HPA-axis regulation.
Thoughts about Anomalous Diffusion: Time-Dependent Coefficients versus Memory Functions

Electrons and holes in a semiconducting device [1], interstitial atoms injected into a solid [2], molecules in a gas container, ink droplets in a glass of liquid, mice carrying the deadly Hantavirus over a landscape [3], all of these entities engage in a common activity: they diffuse. The study of diffusion has, therefore, been fundamental, important, and active in diverse disciplines. Famous thinkers who have made primary and oft-used contributions to such a study include not only the physicist Einstein [4] but the financial expert Bachelier [5], the former in his research on Brownian motion, the latter during his investigations of markets and stock movements. In the present manuscript, the authors report thoughts and calculations regarding two manners of the generalization of the fundamental process of diffusion. Such generalization becomes necessary when the mechanism of motion is more complex than in normal diffusion and may involve coherence, spatial restrictions, trapping, and similar features.
Fast Newton Hard Thresholding Pursuit for Sparsity Constrained Nonconvex Optimization

We propose a fast Newton hard thresholding pursuit algorithm for sparsity constrained nonconvex optimization. Our proposed algorithm reduces the per-iteration time complexity to linear in the data dimension d compared with cubic time complexity in Newton's method, while preserving faster computational and statistical convergence rates. In particular, we prove that the proposed algorithm converges to the unknown sparse model parameter at a composite rate, namely quadratic at first and linear when it gets close to the true parameter, up to the minimax optimal statistical precision of the underlying model. Thorough experiments on both synthetic and real datasets demonstrate that our algorithm outperforms the state-of-the-art optimization algorithms for sparsity constrained optimization.
Suicide Among Southeast Asian Youth

Since the turn of the millennium, suicide among Southeast Asian diverse youth has increased. It has become one of the leading causes of mortality in young people globally. Therefore, it has become a public health concern in developing countries such as those in Southeast Asia (SEA). Suicide was identified to be one of the five leading causes of death in people aged 15–29 years (Patton et al. Lancet. 2009;374(9693):881–92). There appears to be specific predisposing and risk factors, psychiatric diagnoses, and access to means of self-harm among youth who either thought of suicide, attempt suicide, or complete suicide in the majority of these countries. Fortunately, some countries have taken steps to prevention and intervention. In other countries, the stigma of mental illness is still profound. This stigma can translate into their adopted countries such as the USA, where there are profound difference in Asian-American mental healthcare utilization (Abe-Kim et al. Am J Public Health. 2007;97(1):91–98). We performed a literature search of the most recent publications with the most recent statistics and epidemiology of suicide among youth from Southeast Asian ethnicity and found that there are very limited studies or literature. But, there are studies studying mental health among Asian-Americans. The countries we will focus on in this chapter are Brunei, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Control of the Ovarian Cycle of the Sheep

Reproduction in the ewe is dominated by two distinct rhythms: a 16–17-day estrous cycle and an annual cycle of fertility. Events of the estrous cycle are controlled by the interactions of several hormones (gonadotropin-releasing hormone from the hypothalamus; luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone from the pituitary; estradiol, inhibin, and progesterone from the ovary; and prostaglandin F 2α from the uterus), while seasonal reproductive patterns are determined by melatonin from the pineal gland. In this chapter, we will first describe the behavioral and hormonal patterns during the cycle, and then consider the mechanisms controlling estrous behavior and the secretion of each hormone. We will next synthesize these components to provide an integrated model for the ovarian cycle. Finally, we will discuss the mechanisms underlying the annual breeding and anestrous seasons, and how pheromones and social cues act in anestrus to re-initiate fertility. Throughout, we will emphasize new data obtained in the last decade, while integrating this information with established concepts described in the previous version of this chapter.