cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Adaptive Effect of Illness-Specific Panic-Fear on Asthma Outcomes in Mexican and Puerto Rican Children

Objective To examine baseline measures of illness-specific panic-fear (ie, the level of anxiety experienced specifically during asthma exacerbations) as a protective factor in pediatric asthma outcomes over a 1-year period. Study design The sample comprised 267 children (Mexican, n = 188; Puerto Rican, n = 79; age 5-12 years) from a longitudinal observational study conducted in Phoenix, AZ and Bronx, NY. Assessments were done at baseline and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. The Childhood Asthma Symptom Checklist was administered at baseline to children and caregivers to assess children's illness-specific panic-fear. Asthma outcome variables quantified longitudinally included pulmonary function, the Asthma Control Test, acute healthcare utilization, and medication adherence, measured by devices attached to inhaled corticosteroids. Results Child report of illness-specific panic-fear at baseline predicted higher forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1 ) % across 1-year follow-up in Mexican children (β = 0.17, P = .02), better asthma control in Puerto Rican children (β = 0.45, P = .007), and less acute healthcare utilization for asthma in both groups (Mexicans: β = −0.39, P = .03; Puerto Ricans: β = −0.47, P = .02). Caregiver report of child panic-fear predicted higher FEV 1 % in Mexican (β = 0.30; P = .02) and Puerto Rican (β = 0.19; P = .05) children. Panic-fear was not related to medication adherence. Conclusions Illness-specific panic-fear had beneficial effects on asthma outcomes in both groups of Latino children. The heightened vigilance associated with illness-specific panic-fear may lead children to be more aware of their asthma symptoms and lead to better strategies for asthma management.
Minimally-invasive methods for examining biological changes in response to chronic stress: A scoping review.

Abstract Background Nurse researchers are increasingly interested in incorporating biological indicators related to chronic stress, or repeated or constant exposure to psychological stressors. Minimally invasive collection methods may improve access to vulnerable populations. Objective To map biological indicators measured through minimally invasive methods investigating biological changes in response to chronic stress. Design, data sources, and methods The paper seeks to answer two questions: What are the characteristics of the minimally-invasive methods used to measure the biological correlates of chronic stress? What are the limitations regarding the use of the minimally-invasive methods and/or biological indicators identified above? Authors completed a scoping review following guidelines from the Joanna Briggs Institute Manual and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) extension for Scoping Reviews. A literature search was completed in PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus. 2518 articles were screened and 145 studies were included. Data were extracted using a standardized extraction tool, compiled, and coded. Results Studies included minimally-invasive methods to measure the hypothalamic–adrenal–pituitary axis (N = 173), immune and inflammatory markers (N = 118), and adult neurogenesis (N = 6). Cortisol was most frequently measured (N = 136), usually in saliva (N = 86). Studies included a variety of limitations for the methods and indicators, including concerns about timing and accuracy of collection, frequency of sampling, and controlling for acute stressors. Conclusions Nurse researchers have access to many minimally-invasive methods to measure altered biological processes related to chronic stress. A gap identified by this review is the paucity of minimally-invasive methods for investigating neurogenesis; the measurement of brain derived neurotrophic factor in plasma is a distal proxy and further research is needed to test the response of peripheral levels to psychosocial stress interventions. Additionally, while this scoping review allows nurse researchers to consider possible biological indicators to include in their research, future research is still needed on some of the basic premises of stress research, including agreement on the conceptualization of chronic stress.
A fast computational model for wellbore pressure transients while perforating with dynamic underbalance

Abstract Perforations provide the critical production link between the reservoir and a cased well completion. Though perforating with shaped-charge jet penetrators is common practice today, they can leave behind tunnel debris and formation damage layers surrounding the perforations that significantly reduce well productivity. Perforating with a dynamic pressure underbalance has become a standard technique to provide better cleanup of debris and damage layers by enhancing the surge flow through tunnels (i.e., perforation cleanup). However, effective use of dynamic underbalance in practical perforating job design requires an understanding of three critical and interdependent processes: First, the generation of the underbalanced pressure transient, and how it depends on job design parameters such as wellbore geometry, gun configuration, and reservoir data; Second, how the magnitude and timing of the pressure underbalance drives the surge flow through perforation tunnels; Finally, the cleanup process itself, and how it depends on the generated surge flow. Though the latter two processes have received much attention from researchers over the past few decades, the design and optimization of the pressure underbalance itself has not. In this paper, a fast computational model for the generation of a dynamic underbalance is presented. The model is based on dominant physics. The effectiveness of this model is demonstrated by comparing results with pressure gage data obtained during API-RP 19B Section IV testing.
The Role of Palliative Care in Reducing Symptoms and Improving Quality of Life for Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Review.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibrotic lung disease with a median survival of 3–4 years from time of initial diagnosis, similar to the time course of many malignancies. A hallmark of IPF is its unpredictable disease course, ranging from long periods of clinical stability to acute exacerbations with rapid decompensation. As the disease progresses, patients with chronic cough and progressive exertional dyspnea become oxygen dependent. They may experience significant distress due to concurrent depression, anxiety, and fatigue, which often lead to increased symptom burden and decreased quality of life. Despite these complications, palliative care is an underutilized, and often underappreciated, resource before end-of-life care in this population. While there is growing recognition about early palliative care in IPF, current data suggest referral patterns vary widely based on institutional practices. In addition to focusing on symptom management, there is emphasis on supplemental oxygen use, pulmonary rehabilitation, quality of life, and end-of-life care. Importantly, increased use of support groups and national foundation forums have served as venues for further disease education, communication, and advanced care planning outside of the hospital settings. The purpose of this review article is to discuss the clinical features of IPF, the role of palliative care in chronic disease management, current data supporting benefits of palliative care in IPF, its role in symptom management, and practices to help patients and their caregivers achieve their best quality of life.
An experimental assessment of analytical blockage corrections for turbines

Abstract In laboratory experiments involving wind or water turbines, it is often desirable to correct measured performance for the effects of model blockage. However, there has been limited experimental validation of the analytical blockage corrections presented in the literature. Therefore, the objective of this study is to evaluate corrections against experimental data and recommend one or more for future use. For this investigation, we tested a cross-flow turbine and an axial-flow turbine under conditions of varying blockage with other non-dimensional parameters, such as the free-stream Reynolds and Froude numbers, held approximately constant. Increasing blockage improved turbine performance, resulting in higher thrust and power coefficients over a larger range of tip-speed ratios. We used these experimental data to assess the effectiveness of multiple analytical blockage corrections for both turbine types. Of the corrections evaluated, the two based on measured thrust performed best. These corrections were more effective for the cross-flow turbine than the axial-flow turbine. We attribute this result to changes in the local Reynolds number caused by increasing blockage, an effect not captured by the analytical theory. For both turbines, the corrections performed better for thrust than power, which is consistent with the assumptions that underlie the analytical theory.
Family and caregiver relationships influence patient self-management of heart failure.

Commentary on : Kim JSR, Risbud R, Gray C, et al . The dyadic experience of managing heart failure: a qualitative investigation. J Cardiovasc Nurs 2020 Jan/Feb;35(1):12–18. doi:10.1097/JCN.0000000000000605. HF is a complex health challenge, often requiring long-term management at home. Although care is monitored by a team of professionals, day-to-day management depends on the patient and caregivers’ ability to manage complex regimens, including medications, diet and lifestyle adaptations. The shift to home care requires an understanding …
1H detection of heteronuclear dipolar oscillations with water suppression in single crystal peptide and oriented protein samples.

Abstract Oriented sample solid-state NMR is a complementary approach to protein structure determination with the distinct advantage that it can be applied to supramolecular assemblies, such as viruses and membrane proteins, under near-native conditions, which generally include high levels of hydration as found in living systems. Thus, in order to perform 1H detected versions of multi-dimensional experiments water suppression techniques must be integrated into the pulse sequences. For example, 1H-windowed detection of 1H-15N dipolar couplings enable multi-dimensional NMR experiments to be performed. Here we show that the addition of a solvent suppression pulse during the z-filter interval greatly improves the sensitivity of the experiments by suppressing the 1H signals from water present. This is demonstrated here with a crystal sample submerged in water and then extended to proteins. The combination of solvent-suppressed 1H detected PISEMO and the use of a strip shield-solenoid coil probe configuration provides a two-fold sensitivity enhancement in both the crystal sample and Pf1 coat protein sample compared to the 15N direct detection method. Here we also examine protein NMR line-widths and sensitivity enhancements in the context of window detected separated local field experiments for protein samples.
Cosmopolitan Pluralist Hybrid Tribunals

Hybrid tribunals (also known as internationalized criminal tribunals or hybrid courts) are ad hoc courts that have jurisdiction over atrocity crimes such as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity and incorporate a blend of international and national components. Hybrid courts are expected to enable engagement between international and domestic legal systems and communities, and thereby to promote transitional justice and rule of law aims. But have hybrid tribunals succeeded in this function? Using cosmopolitan pluralism as a conceptual framework, this article examines the trends in hybrid courts’ original core features of mixed staffing, mixed law, domestic location, and close relationship to the national legal system, as well as the relevance of new elements such as victim participation and domestic outreach. It evaluates internationalized criminal tribunals’ efforts to promote the goals of domestic perceived legitimacy, capacity-building, and norm penetration, assesses the inclusivity of the court design processes. and considers hybrid tribunals’ participation in norm fragmentation in international criminal law. Overall, as institutions, some hybrid tribunals offer substantial opportunities for engagement between international and local actors, while others are significantly constrained by institutional design or operational choices.
Use of continuous sample translation to reduce radiation damage for XPCS studies of protein diffusion.

An experimental setup to measure X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy during continuous sample translation is presented and its effectiveness as a means to avoid sample damage in dynamics studies of protein diffusion is evaluated. X-ray damage from focused coherent synchrotron radiation remains below tolerable levels as long as the sample is translated through the beam sufficiently quickly. Here it is shown that it is possible to separate sample dynamics from the effects associated with the transit of the sample through the beam. By varying the sample translation rate, the damage threshold level, Dthresh = 1.8 kGy, for when beam damage begins to modify the dynamics under the conditions used, is also determined. Signal-to-noise ratios, Rsn ≥ 20, are obtained down to the shortest delay times of 20 µs. The applicability of this method of data collection to the next generation of multi-bend achromat synchrotron sources is discussed and it is shown that sub-microsecond dynamics should be obtainable on protein samples.
Effect of pattern scanning laser on macular thickness in diabetic retinopathy

Purpose This study investigates the effect of pattern scanning laser (PASCAL) panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) on central macular thickness (CMT) and visual acuity (VA) in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Methods This retrospective non-randomized comparative case series included 262 eyes (163 with macular edema) of 177 patients with PDR. Treatment was PRP alone (137), PRP + anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (69), PRP + focal laser (28), or all three (89). CMT and central macular volume 3 and 6 mm from fovea were analyzed before and 1, 3, and 6 months after PRP. Spot number was plotted against CMT, and linear regression analysis was performed. Results For each treatment group and time point, there was a non-significant relationship between spot number and CMT. In eyes receiving all three treatment modalities, a significant negative relationship was found between spot number and 3-mm volume at 6 months (p = 0.04) and 6-mm volume at 1 month (p = 0.002) and 6 months (p = 0.011). There was no significant change in VA in any treatment group at the 6-month time point. Conclusion PASCAL PRP ± focal laser or anti-VEGF was not associated with increased development of macular edema or change in VA. PASCAL PRP with focal laser and anti-VEGF may result in a decrease in macular edema.
The relationship between handwriting, reading, fine motor and visual-motor skills in kindergarteners

Little is known about handwriting development in kindergarten. A vast number of studies can be found on reading, but few include writing skills and even fewer include handwriting skills in kindergarteners. This study examined the relationship between 7handwriting and reading measures at the kindergarten mid-year using the Alphabet Writing Test (Clark, 2010), Name Writing Test (Clark, 2010), and the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS; Good & Kaminiski, 2002). The 48 participating students ranged in ages from 68 to 82 months, with boys making up 53.8% of the study. Significant correlations were found between handwriting measures and DIBELS measures. Students who scored lower on DIBELS measures also scored lower on handwriting measures. The study also found a significant difference between the student‘s legibility in writing upper case letters compared to lower case letters; however, the speed of writing these letters was not significantly different. Variables that predicted alphabet writing included the student‘s age, ability to write first and last name, and the score on the DIBELS Initial Sound Fluency. Variables that predicted name writing were the student‘s age, writing the upper and lower case alphabet, the Beery TM Visual Motor Integration (Beery & Berry, 2006), and Motor Coordination test (Beery & Beery, 2006). The implications for kindergartener‘s handwriting skills and future research are discussed.
Health‐care Nonprofits: Enhancing Governance and Public Trust

Nonprofits are a major part of the U.S. economy and they are not immune from corporate malfeasance controversies. Even Congress has expressed concern about the crisis in nonprofit governance. The nonprofit response to Congress has been a historic initiative recognizing critical challenges to nonprofit governance. In contrast to their for-profit counterparts, nonprofits are committed to missions serving the public benefit and not to shareholder profits. Accordingly, their missions and financial resources are intrinsic to their very existence, which is built upon the public trust. That trust is rooted in fiduciary responsibility and reflected in best practices. This article traces the history of the nonprofit public trust and fiduciary standards and examines principles of Sarbanes–Oxley and other best practices as they apply to nonprofits. The authors sampled 80 health-care nonprofit corporation web sites from eight asset classes to determine compliance with Sarbanes–Oxley and identification of fiduciary duty, ethical values, and other best practices. Among the very largest health-care nonprofits, many comply with Sarbanes–Oxley and identify fiduciary duty, ethical values, and other best practices. However, there are substantial deficiencies in such compliance and identification among all remaining seven asset classes ranging from 99.9 million to less than 100,000. The results appear to corroborate the urgent necessity for reform articulated by the Congress and the nonprofit sector. Nonprofit governance has entered a new era where best practices must be implemented to sustain the public trust.
Foreign and Domestic Bank Performances: An Ideal Decomposition of Industry Dynamics

The aggregate performance of the banking industry depends on the underlying microlevel dynamics within that industry – adjustments within banks, reallocations between banks, entries of new banks, and exits of existing banks. This paper develops a generalized ideal dynamic decomposition and applies it to the return on equity of foreign and domestic commercial banks in Korea from 1994 to 2000. The sample corresponds to the Asian financial crisis and the final stages of a long process of deregulation and privatization in the Korean banking industry. The comparison of our findings reveals that the overall performance of Korean banks largely reflects individual bank efficiencies, except immediately after the Asian financial crisis where restructuring played a more important role on average bank performance. Moreover, Korean regional banks started the restructuring process about one year before the Korean nationwide banks. Foreign bank performance, however, largely reflected individual bank efficiencies, even immediately after the Asian financial crisis.
Colic in geriatric compared to mature nongeriatric horses. Part 2: Treatment, diagnosis and short-term survival.

Summary Reason for performing study: Owners and veterinarians are often concerned about mortality of geriatric horses following colic surgery. Objective: To compare treatment, diagnosis and short-term survival for geriatric compared to mature nongeriatric horses with colic. Methods: Medical records of horses admitted with a presenting complaint of colic between 2000 and 2006 were reviewed. Geriatric horses were aged ≥16 years (n = 300) and subcategorised as age ≥20 years (n = 134). Mature nongeriatric horses were age 4–15 years (n = 300). Information obtained included medical (included horses subjected to euthanasia without surgery) vs. surgical management, lesion location, type and classification, surgical procedures performed and short-term survival. Data were analysed using a Chi-squared test or an analysis of variance. Level of significance was P<0.05. Results: The overall short-term survival of geriatric horses was lower than that for mature horses (59 vs. 76%, respectively). The survival of medically managed geriatric horses was lower than that for mature horses (58 vs. 80%, respectively). The survival of surgically managed geriatric horses was not different to that for mature horses (59 vs. 70%, respectively) except for geriatric horses age ≥20 years (53%). There was no difference in survival between geriatric and mature horses with small (86 and 83%, respectively) or large (78 vs. 70%, respectively) intestinal strangulating lesions or those undergoing jejunojejunostomy (75 vs. 70%, respectively). Geriatric horses with a large colon simple obstruction had a lower survival compared to mature horses (80 vs. 97%, respectively). Conclusions and potential relevance: The survival of geriatric horses with a strangulating lesion or requiring jejunojejunostomy was not different to that for mature horses. Geriatric horses presenting with colic were more likely than mature horses to be subjected to euthanasia without surgery (i.e. lower survival with medical treatment). Geriatric horses undergoing surgery for a large colon simple obstruction had a lower survival than mature horses.
Invasive scotch broom alters soil chemical properties in Douglas-fir forests of the Pacific Northwest, USA

Scotch broom is an N-fixing invasive species that has high potential to alter soil properties. We compared soil from areas of Scotch broom invasion with nearby areas that had no evidence of invasion to assess the influence of broom on soil P fractions and other chemical properties. The study was conducted at two contrasting Douglas-fir sites in Oregon (OR) and Washington (WA), USA with broom invasion for 10 years. We used the Hedley sequential fractionation procedure to assess effects of Scotch broom invasion on P pools of varying bioavailability, and also measured total C, N and extractable nutrient cations. Total soil C and N were significantly higher with broom present at the fine-textured OR site, but there was no effect at the coarse-textured WA site. There was no difference in labile-P measures between the presence and absence of Scotch broom at either site, but there were notable reductions (25–30 %) in the intermediately-available P fraction when broom was present. Extractable nutrient cations (notably K) were lower in the presence of broom at both sites, with the effects most pronounced at the fine-textured OR site. Lasting effects of Scotch broom invasion are likely to be associated with variable changes in soil C, N, and decreases in extractable nutrients and available P. These changes, and other documented effects of Scotch broom on soil, are likely to have lasting effects on Douglas-fir growth after Scotch broom removal that will vary depending soil nutrient status at a given site.
Ribosome hopping and translational frameshifting are inadequate alternatives to translational attenuation in cat-86 regulation.

Abstract The induction of cat-86 by chloramphenicol has been proposed to follow the translational attenuation model. In the absence of inducer, the cat-86 gene is transcribed but remains phenotypically unexpressed because the transcripts sequester the ribosome binding site for the cat coding sequence in a stable stem-loop structure, preventing translation initiation. The translational attenuation model proposes that the natural inducer, chloramphenicol, stalls a ribosome in the leader region of cat transcripts, which causes localized melting of the downstream stem-loop structure, allowing initiation of translation of the cat-86 coding sequence. Although it is established that ribosome stalling in the cat-86 leader can induce translation of the coding sequence, several subsequent steps predicted by the model remain to be experimentally confirmed. As a consequence, the present evidence for cat-86 regulation can also be explained by two other potential control devices, ribosome hopping and translational frameshifting. Here we describe experiments designed to determine whether the alternatives to translational attenuation regulate cat-86. The results obtained are inconsistent with both competing models and are consistent with predictions made by the translational attenuation model.
A new method of evaluating the effects of fatigue on driver performance

A new research instrument has been developed over the last four years and is now available for studying driver performance objectively under actual driving conditions. This report describes a new method of evaluating the effects of fatigue on driving performance using this equipment. A mathematical rating system is developed based on the results of this preliminary experiment and pre-tests. Examples demonstrate how the equations are used for rating the degree of driver fatigue at several stages of the test run. The results of this test are now being used in planning a new experiment for studying driving fatigue on a small population of drivers. The same approach can also be applied to study the effects of drugs, alcohol, and physical deficiencies on driver performance.
STAPL: standard template adaptive parallel library

The Standard Template Adaptive Parallel Library (stapl) is a high-productivity parallel programming framework that extends C++ and stl with unified support for shared and distributed memory parallelism. stapl provides distributed data structures (pContainers) and parallel algorithms (pAlgorithms) and a generic methodology for extending them to provide customized functionality. The stapl runtime system provides the abstraction for communication and program execution. In this paper, we describe the major components of stapl and present performance results for both algorithms and data structures showing scalability up to tens of thousands of processors.
The Space Shuttle, Fluid Dynamics, and Computer Graphics

Several samples are presented of CFD-generated flow ribbon images of fuel flow in the SSME. The images result from simulations of H2 flow through a design iteration of the main injector, the hot gas manifold and the fuel bowl section. The color-coded ribbons provide three-dimensional perspectives which indicate the direction and orientation of the flow and the velocity magnitude in intervals along the flow path.
Effect of nutritive and bulk intake on the suppression of food-deprivation polydipsia in the gerbil.

Abstract Gerbils which become polydipsic when food-deprived, were refed with mixtures of Laboratory Chow and a non-nutritive material (Sterolit) after 2 days of food deprivation. Suppression of polydipsia was not related to bulk of material ingested. Instead, when the intake of Chow in the mixture reached 6 g, suppression appeared precipitously suggesting the existence of a threshold for suppression. It was concluded that nutritional, rather than stomach fill, factors were primary in suppressing polydipsia on the refeeding day.
Recent Developments in Smart Adaptive Structures for Solar Sailcraft

The "Smart Adaptive Structures for Solar Sailcraft" development activity at MSFC has investigated issues associated with understanding how to model and scale the subsystem and multi-body system dynamics of a gossamer solar sailcraft with the objective of designing sailcraft attitude control systems. This research and development activity addressed three key tasks that leveraged existing facilities and core competencies of MSFC to investigate dynamics and control issues of solar sails. Key aspects of this effort included modeling and testing of a 30 m deployable boom; modeling of the multi-body system dynamics of a gossamer sailcraft; investigation of control-structures interaction for gossamer sailcraft; and development and experimental demonstration of adaptive control technologies to mitigate control-structures interaction.
Charting a course into the unknown: Banda Aceh, Indonesia, tsunami, 2004.

TOPIC. My journey as an Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse, aboard the USNS Mercy, providing humanitarian aid to victims of the December 2004 tsunami is the focus of this paper. PURPOSE. To offer insights about healing and recovery that I learned from my time with the victims of this disaster that may be applicable to future disaster situations. SOURCE OF INFORMATION. The author's personal experience of being a volunteer. CONCLUSIONS. My contributions focused on providing mental health care to victims of the tsunami as well as the development of a program of psychosocial intervention and education for children affected by the disaster.
« Sports à risque » et « sports extrêmes » : de quoi parle-t-on?

ResumeL’analyse des loisirs sportifs contemporains fait la part belle aux notions de sports a « risque ⊻ ou ⊫ extreme ⊻. Apres avoir souligne les simplifications inherentes a l’usage spontane de ces appellations, un recensement de leurs definitions scientifiques a ete entrepris. Concernant les ⊫ sports a risque ⊻, cinq perspectives terminologiques ont ete identifiees. A la suite de leur evocation, deux positions peuvent etre adoptees : renoncer a l’usage d’une categorie impossible a definir de facon generique ; admettre le caractere polythetique de cette appellation, impliquant des constructions specifiques de l’objet en fonction de chaque problematique. La critique des mobilisations scientifiques de la notion de ≪ sport extreme ≫ est plus severe. En effet, l’eclatement des significations et la redondance avec plusieurs caracterisations preexistantes rendent difficile l’accession de cette appellation au rang de concept. Des lors, un doute plane quant a la pertinence de ses usages scientifiques.
Do customer relationships mitigate or amplify failure responses

Abstract Service failures can have a damaging impact on company profitability. Prior research demonstrates that robust relationships with customers may mitigate the negative impact of a service failure on behavioral outcome variables, such as repatronage intentions and word-of-mouth. Yet other research finds that customer relationships may actually intensify this negative impact on word-of-mouth and complaining. In earlier research, customers' relationships with service marketers are conceptualized as a uni-dimensional construct ranging from a low level of intensity to high intensity. This research demonstrates that a two-dimensional conceptualization of customers' relationships with service marketers—the Personality-Relatedness and Reciprocity (PRR) framework (Kaltcheva and Parasuraman, 2009)—can account for the seemingly discrepant results in the literature. This article leads to the formulation of a framework—the PRR-Failure Control framework—that links customer relationship strategies to failure control solutions.
Targeted therapy for melanoma: rational combinatorial approaches

The treatment of melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, is being revolutionized by the development of personalized targeted therapy approaches. Mutant-selective BRAF inhibitors and MEK inhibitors have demonstrated impressive clinical results in molecularly selected patients. However, emerging understanding of the molecular heterogeneity of this disease and the identification of multiple mechanisms of resistance to targeted therapies strongly support the rationale for combinatorial approaches. In this review, we will discuss the preclinical and clinical studies that are testing leading hypotheses and emerging combinatorial strategies for the future.
Can a Single Dose of 300 mg of Pregabalin Reach Acute Antihyperalgesic Levels in the Central Nervous System

Background and Objectives: Central spinal cord sensitization can occur during surgery and may lead to persistent pain after surgery. Pregabalin has been shown to decrease central sensitization in experimental pain paradigms, and so the same antihyperalgesic effect of pregabalin may occur during and immediately after surgery. Our study investigated whether a single 300-mg dose of pregabalin in patients has sufficient central nervous system bioavailability to be useful under acute conditions where brain or spinal cord excitability may lead to long-term disease, such as chronic pain. Methods: Nine patients undergoing primary total knee replacement received pregabalin 300 mg orally, 1 hr before surgery. An intrathecal catheter was inserted for anesthesia, postoperative analgesic drug administration, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sampling. Blood and CSF were then simultaneously sampled at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 24 hrs after oral pregabalin administration. Pregabalin concentration in plasma and CSF was measured using a validated high-pressure liquid chromatography assay. Results: By 2 hrs after pregabalin administration, the CSF pregabalin concentration is high enough (0.115 μg/mL) to have anticonvulsant activity, and by 6 hrs after pregabalin administration, the CSF pregabalin level is high enough (0.359 μg/mL) to reduce central nervous system hypersensitivity. The median time to peak pregabalin concentration in CSF was at 8 hrs. The pregabalin CSF/plasma based on area under the curve (AUC[0-24 hrs]) was 0.098 ± 0.016, and for AUC[0-∞], the ratio was 0.176 ± 0.064. Conclusions: Sufficient central nervous system drug concentrations are reached after oral administration of pregabalin, suggesting that postoperative pain hypersensitivity can be reduced. Decreasing this acute brain or spinal cord excitability may prevent chronic pain from developing after surgery.
Synthesis of benzochlorin iminium salts with improved photosensitizing properties

Abstract Treatment of a nickel benzochlorin iminium salt with conc. sulfuric acid generates the free base analogs and their sulfonated derivatives. Insertion of zinc lead to the formation of metallobenzochlorius with improved photodynamic activities.
Path Preferences and Optimal Paths in Probabilistic Networks

The classical shortest route problem in networks assumes deterministic link weights, and route evaluation by a utility (or cost) function that is linear over path weights. When the environment is stochastic and the “traveler’s” utility function for travel attributes is nonlinear, we define “optimal paths” that maximize the expected utility. In this setting, the concept of temporary and permanent preferences for route choices is introduced. It is shown that when the utility function is linear or exponential (constant risk averseness), permanent preferences prevail and an efficient Dijkstra-type algorithm can be used.
Dual-energy micro-CT functional imaging of primary lung cancer in mice using gold and iodine nanoparticle contrast agents: a validation study.

Purpose To provide additional functional information for tumor characterization, we investigated the use of dual-energy computed tomography for imaging murine lung tumors. Tumor blood volume and vascular permeability were quantified using gold and iodine nanoparticles. This approach was compared with a single contrast agent/single-energy CT method. Ex vivo validation studies were performed to demonstrate the accuracy of in vivo contrast agent quantification by CT. Methods Primary lung tumors were generated in LSL-Kras(G12D); p53(FL/FL) mice. Gold nanoparticles were injected, followed by iodine nanoparticles two days later. The gold accumulated in tumors, while the iodine provided intravascular contrast. Three dual-energy CT scans were performed-two for the single contrast agent method and one for the dual contrast agent method. Gold and iodine concentrations in each scan were calculated using a dual-energy decomposition. For each method, the tumor fractional blood volume was calculated based on iodine concentration, and tumor vascular permeability was estimated based on accumulated gold concentration. For validation, the CT-derived measurements were compared with histology and inductively-coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy measurements of gold concentrations in tissues. Results Dual-energy CT enabled in vivo separation of gold and iodine contrast agents and showed uptake of gold nanoparticles in the spleen, liver, and tumors. The tumor fractional blood volume measurements determined from the two imaging methods were in agreement, and a high correlation (R(2) = 0.81) was found between measured fractional blood volume and histology-derived microvascular density. Vascular permeability measurements obtained from the two imaging methods agreed well with ex vivo measurements. Conclusions Dual-energy CT using two types of nanoparticles is equivalent to the single nanoparticle method, but allows for measurement of fractional blood volume and permeability with a single scan. As confirmed by ex vivo methods, CT-derived nanoparticle concentrations are accurate. This method could play an important role in lung tumor characterization by CT.
Analysis of Domains in the IKKα and IKKβ Proteins That Regulate Their Kinase Activity

The IkappaB kinases IKKalpha and IKKbeta are critical in activating the NF-kappaB pathway. Although these proteins have a similar structure that includes kinase, leucine zipper, and helix-loop-helix domains, they exhibit marked differences in their kinase activity and functional properties. For example, IKKbeta has a 10-20-fold higher level of kinase activity for IkappaBalpha than does IKKalpha. Furthermore, disruption of the murine IKKbeta gene, but not the IKKalpha gene, results in severe defects in activating the NF-kappaB pathway. Mice lacking IKKbeta succumb to severe hepatic apoptosis because of failure to activate the NF-kappaB pathway, whereas mice deficient in IKKalpha exhibit skin and skeletal abnormalities and an embryonic lethal phenotype. To better characterize differences in the functional properties of these kinases, hybrid IKK proteins were constructed by domain swapping, and their kinase activity was assayed. These studies demonstrated that differences in the IKKalpha and IKKbeta helix-loop-helix domains are primarily responsible for differences in their kinase activity. In contrast, their kinase and leucine zipper domains exhibited relatively conserved function. These studies further define the properties of IKKalpha and IKKbeta, which are involved in their unique regulatory roles.
Transformation-assisted consolidation of bulk nanocrystalline TiO2

Abstract Bulk nanocrystalline TiO2 samples have been produced by high pressure/low temperature sintering. Nanophase TiO2 powder with metastable anatase structure and particle size ∼ 38 nm was used as the starting material. During sintering, the anatase phase transformed to either rutile or srilankite phase, depending on the pressure/temperature combination. Grain growth was limited by the low sintering temperature and multiple nucleation events in the parent phase. The transformed rutile grain size was found to decrease with sintering pressure, due to increasing nucleation rate and decreasing growth rate with high pressure. In contrast to previous researchers who found exaggerated grain growth during sintering of n-ceramics, we have demonstrated that it is possible to produce a dense sintered compact with grain size even smaller than that of the starting powder by proper selection of sintering parameters.
Migrants and Citizens: Demographic Change in the European State System. By Rey Koslowski. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2000. 232p. $39.95.

Every scholar likes to think that what he or she studies is of capital importance. For that reason alone, this ambitious book would have to please immigration specialists. “Demography is destiny” is Rey Koslowski's thesis, boiled down, and in his view it is almost impossible to overrate migration's impact on international politics. While guilty of overreaching in a few spots and failing to appreciate the role of politics in quite a few more, he makes a compelling case overall. His bold work both brings a stimulating perspective to a multidisciplinary area of study that is still seeking its center of gravity and serves to remind the field of international relations (IR) that migration deserves its full attention.
Spinal Cord Injury Causes Brain Inflammation Associated with Cognitive and Affective Changes: Role of Cell Cycle Pathways

Experimental spinal cord injury (SCI) causes chronic neuropathic pain associated with inflammatory changes in thalamic pain regulatory sites. Our recent studies examining chronic pain mechanisms after rodent SCI showed chronic inflammatory changes not only in thalamus, but also in other regions including hippocampus and cerebral cortex. Because changes appeared similar to those in our rodent TBI models that are associated with neurodegeneration and neurobehavioral dysfunction, we examined effects of mouse SCI on cognition, depressive-like behavior, and brain inflammation. SCI caused spatial and retention memory impairment and depressive-like behavior, as evidenced by poor performance in the Morris water maze, Y-maze, novel objective recognition, step-down passive avoidance, tail suspension, and sucrose preference tests. SCI caused chronic microglial activation in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, where microglia with hypertrophic morphologies and M1 phenotype predominated. Stereological analyses showed significant neuronal loss in the hippocampus at 12 weeks but not 8 d after injury. Increased cell-cycle-related gene (cyclins A1, A2, D1, E2F1, and PCNA) and protein (cyclin D1 and CDK4) expression were found chronically in hippocampus and cerebral cortex. Systemic administration of the selective cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor CR8 after SCI significantly reduced cell cycle gene and protein expression, microglial activation and neurodegeneration in the brain, cognitive decline, and depression. These studies indicate that SCI can initiate a chronic brain neurodegenerative response, likely related to delayed, sustained induction of M1-type microglia and related cell cycle activation, which result in cognitive deficits and physiological depression.
IFPS: A lot more than a spreadsheet

The Interactive Financial Planning system (IFPS) is a powerful modeling language which can effectively be used by managers (with no computing background) and by computer professionals. Although a quick introduction to the system may leave the impression that IFPS is basically a spreadsheet system, it has capabilities far beyond the typical spreadsheet system. These capabilities include Monte Carlo simulation and optimization.
Parallel algorithms for implicit material dynamics schemes

Procedures are presented for parallelizing implicit schemes for computational material dynamics. These procedures are illustrated on an implicit version of the von Neumann-Richtmyer (vNR) scheme. The original vNR scheme, a one-dimensional scheme for continuum dynamics in the material reference frame, has extensions to two- and three-dimensional and spatial reference frames. The vNR codes, and codes with similar structure, are representative of large classes of codes accounting for large numbers of supercomputer cycles.
The Spanish version of the Parental Stressor Scale: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

The Spanish Parental Stressor Scale: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (SPSS:PICU) was developed to assess Hispanic parents' perceptions of stressful stimuli in the PICU. Twenty parents completed a personal data sheet and the SPSS: PICU. Alpha coefficients were 0.91 for the total scale and ranged from 0.47 to 0.94 for the subscales. The Sights and Sounds and Procedures subscales were the most stressful to Hispanic parents. Significant positive correlations were found between SPSS:PICU scores and parents' level of education. Although further instrument validation is suggested, this pilot study of the SPSS:PICU instrument proved to be reliable in assessing Hispanic parents' perceptions of stress.
A homotopy approach to the feedback stabilization of linear systems

Constant-gain, fixed-order controllers for linear time-invariant systems are considered. A closed-form necessary and sufficient condition for the stabilizability of such a system by a controller of chosen order is established. This criterion is obtained by solving a constrained optimization problem and results in a system of nonlinear matrix equations. A method based on homotopy is proposed and studied to solve this system of nonlinear equations. The numerical implementation of the homotopy is discussed and various properties of the optimizing feedback control as a function of the homotopy parameter are established.
Some behavioural correlates of the transcephalic d.c. potential in cats.

NEURAL direct current (d.c.) potentials have recently received much attention1. A steady d.c. potential across amphibian cortex in a fronto-occipital plane has been observed2. These measurable exterior surface potentials are correlated with anaesthesia and sleep3,4. High correlations have been reported between transcephalic d.c. potential (measured between mid-forehead to low union), level of anaesthesia and electro-encephalograph (EEG)5. In the awake state the surface-recorded steady potentials are frontally negative, while in anaesthesia the frontal negativity decreases, that is, the forehead becomes more positive with respect to the occiput. The general relationship between EEG activity and behaviour (sleep–wakefulness) of humans and animals is, of course, well known6,7. This correlation of behaviour and EEG breaks down following the administration of anticholinergics such as atropine8. The EEG activity is slowed, whereas the animal appears excited. Such dissociation of EEG and behaviour under atropine has been observed in cat9, dog10 and rabbit11.
A course on simulation, probability and statistics

Simulation is an important topic in Computer Science, as is probability and statistics. Most undergraduates who take a course in probability and statistics do so through the mathematics department, and often to fulfill a college quantitative reasoning (QR) requirement. However, a course that combines the two topics can exploit some useful synergies between them. This paper describes those synergies and a one-semester course that covers both topics.
Developmental Psychology in the Context of Other Behavioral Sciences

Certain characteristics of psychology that have been instrumental to its success, such as emphases on an experimental approach, on group means, on theory-driven research, and on analysis but not synthesis, can be detrimental to progress if taken too far. In addition, psychology's success has led to its fragmentation into subdisciplines, with too little cross-fertilization. Future progress may depend on a focus not only on individuals, but also on individuals in a network of social relationships whose course is influenced by social norms and values. In this connection, it is helpful to distinguish a number of levels of social complexity and to come to terms with the dialectical relations between them. We must pay more attention to description as a first stage in the analysis of process, recognizing that description can never be perfect and that it must embrace the several levels of social complexity. We must also come to terms with the relations between the several levels of complexity, and thus between the several subdisciplines appropriate to them. This multidisciplinary approach can be based on a study of relatively stable human behavioral characteristics and must include the relations among individuals, relationships, and culture. Some pointers can be found in a judiciously used evolutionary approach.