cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The medical management of rheumatoid arthritis and the relationship between the rheumatologist and the orthopedic surgeon

Summary Proper medical management of rheumatoid arthritis depends upon recognition of various patterns of involvement and includes a basic program of rest, physial therapy, and salicylate therapy. Adjunctive procedures and supplementary medications may be required. Modern long-term therapy requires multidisciplinary teamwork using fully the talents of an orthopedist and a physiatrist in addition to the rheumatologist.
G326(P) Facial weakness in children: It’s not bell’s when alarm bells are ringing

Introduction An initial manifestation of isolated facial weakness is commonly due to Bell’s palsy. We describe three cases of paediatric stroke presenting as facial weakness, posing a challenge to medical practitioners in interpreting clinical signs and delaying diagnosis. Cases Patient 1 is 15 year old boy who presented to his local emergency department with a right-sided facial droop and was discharged with a diagnosis of Bell’s palsy. The pattern of facial nerve weakness was not documented. Over the next 48 h during a camping trip, his parents noticed weakness of his right arm and he was rushed to a different emergency department. Brain imaging confirmed a left MCA infarct secondary to left ICA dissection. Patient 2 is a 4 year old boy who presented to his local emergency department with a four day history of right-sided facial weakness. He was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy and discharged with prednisolone and aciclovir. Over the next 24 h, he became encephalopathic with right arm weakness and re-presented. Urgent brain imaging demonstrated an acute left MCA infarct. Patient 3 is a 4 year old girl who presented to her GP with mild encephalopathy a few days after the onset of a viral illness. She developed an asymmetrical smile, which was presumed to be due to Bell’s palsy. Over the next week, it was noted that the use of her right arm was suboptimal and subsequent brain imaging confirmed a left MCA infarct. Discussion In all cases, the diagnosis of stroke was not contemplated and the facial weakness was dismissed as the much commoner Bell’s palsy. Documentation on the pattern of weakness was absent in all three cases. Careful examination differentiating upper and lower motor neurone features will help distinguish stroke from Bell’s palsy. Conclusion Our cases illustrate that stroke is an important condition to consider in children presenting with any form of acute neurological deficit, including facial weakness. Increased awareness amongst primary and secondary healthcare professionals is needed to ensure that the diagnosis of stroke is not delayed in these situations.
Elbasvir/Grazoprevir: A Review of the Latest Agent in the Fight against Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is estimated to affect up to 150 million people worldwide. Despite worldwide prevalence, treatment modalities prior to 2011 remained suboptimal, with low virologic response rates and intolerable side effect profiles. Fortunately, the landscape of treatment for chronic hepatitis C has rapidly evolved since the introduction of HCV NS3/4 protease inhibitors in 2011. Elbasvir, a NS5A inhibitor, combined with grazoprevir, a NS3/4A protease inhibitor, is the latest FDA-approved therapy for patients with genotype 1 or 4 chronic hepatitis C, with or without compensated cirrhosis. This review will focus on the current literature and clinical evidence supporting elbasvir/grazoprevir as first-line therapy in patients with genotypes 1 and 4 chronic hepatitis C.
Towards a situated view of language

By examining a brief history of psycholinguistics and its various approaches to research on sentence processing, we point to a general convergence toward evidence that multiple different linguistic constraints interact in real-time to allow for successful comprehension of a sentence. While some traditions emphasized the unique importance syntactic structure and others emphasized semantic content, a consensus appears to be forming that sentence processing may be best characterized as involving fluid interaction among a wide variety of information formats, including acoustic-phonetic processing, lexical statistics, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, and even visual environments, action affordances, and social contexts. Rather than searching for the “cognitive architecture” of the language system in the form of a box-an-arrow diagram that displays which processing module becomes operative before which other processing modules, this extensive array of findings suggests that the field of sentence processing may find clearer success by treating the process as a dynamical system composed of interactive processes, rather than domain-specific processors.
The Role of Vasopressin and Angiotensin II in the Hemodynamic Response to Dynamic Exercise

The cardiovascular response to dynamic exercise is characterized by increases in blood pressure, myocardial contractility, and heart rate (Mitchell, 1990). In addition, cardiac output is redistributed such that blood flow is reduced in the renal and splanchnic circulations,while it is greatly increased to the heart and contracting skeletal muscles (Armstrong et al, 1987). Although central neural mechanisms (i.e. central command) and reflexes originating in working skeletal muscles are largely responsible for these alterations (Mitchell, 1990), hormones released during physical activity also may contribute to or modulate the cardiovascular response to dynamic exercise.
Impedance Modeling of Three-Phase Voltage Source Converters in DQ, Sequence, and Phasor Domains

This paper presents a modular approach for the impedance modeling of three-phase voltage source converters (VSC) by representing the VSC dynamics using three-by-three transfer matrix in the dq, sequence, and phasor domains. The transfer matrix form simplifies the modeling process by separately modeling the ac and dc side dynamics, and describing the VSC dynamics independent of the ac and dc side networks. It also explicitly captures coupling among the dominant frequency components of the ac and dc side voltages and currents in the off-diagonal elements. Modeling of the VSC ac and dc side impedances, including the effects of the network on the other side of the VSC, is presented using the transfer matrix models. Transfer matrix based impedance modeling in the three domains and several stability analysis case studies are presented for a VSC-based HVDC station in an offshore wind farm. It is shown that the coupling between the ac and dc networks, and between the positive and negative sequence components of the three-phase quantities, play an important role in the low-frequency stability of the VSC. Impedance models and stability analysis predictions are validated using the wind farm simulations.
Abstract 1239: The expression of salvage pathway enzymes in non-small cell lung cancer cells

The aim of this study is to evaluate the expression of the salvage pathway enzymes DCK, APRT, and HPRT in lung cancer cells to determine if they could serve as biomarkers for lung cancer diagnosis and potential treatment. In both men and women, lung cancer is the most lethal cancer in the world, and accounts for more than 30% of cancer-related deaths. We chose to evaluate the salvage pathway enzymes due to an established relationship between the serum biomarker Thymidine Kinase 1 (TK1) and lung cancer. Two non-small cell lung carcinoma cell lines were utilized for this analysis (NCI-H460 and A549) along with cancer tissue and healthy tissue from 27 lung squamous carcinoma patients. The surface localization of these enzymes was determined utilizing flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, while upregulation within tissue was assessed using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Throughout our investigation, we found no significant expression of DCK or APRT on the surface of non-small cell lung cancer cells, but found a significant presence of HPRT on the plasma membrane of both NCI-H460 and A549 cells. The average population florescence of cells treated with HPRT antibodies increased by 24.3% and 12.9% in NCI-H460 and A549 cells, respectively, in comparison to controls. To ensure expression was not attributed to cytoplasmic HPRT, confocal microscopy was performed to visualize HPRT binding on the plasma membrane. After staining NCI-H460 cells treated with both fluorescent antibodies and a membrane-specific dye, we observed direct overlap between HPRT and the membrane of the cancer cells. Additionally, gold conjugated antibodies were used to label and quantify the amount of HPRT on the cell surface using scanning electron microscopy and EDAX. Further confirming HPRT presence, the gold weight percentage of the sample increased significantly when NCI-H460 cells were exposed to HPRT antibody (p-value 0.012) in comparison to isotype controls. Finally, the general upregulation of the protein was observed in patient tissue samples, with approximately 44% of lung cancer tissues showing significant HPRT upregulation when compared to healthy tissue samples. This differential upregulation shows an altered HPRT expression within some patients, which may help explain the presence of this presumed cytosolic enzyme on the surface of lung cancer cells. These results strongly indicate a unique relationship between cancer cells and HPRT and suggest HPRT as a possible biomarker for the detection and treatment of non-small cell lung cancers. Citation Format: Michelle H. Townsend, Evita G. Weagel, Michael D. Anderson, Edwin Velazquez, Richard A. Robison, Kim L. O9Neill. The expression of salvage pathway enzymes in non-small cell lung cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1239. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-1239
Transamniotic stem cell therapy: a novel strategy for the prenatal management of congenital anomalies

Transamniotic stem cell therapy, or TRASCET, is an emerging therapeutic concept for the management of congenital anomalies based on the augmentation of the biological role of select populations of stem cells that already occur in the amniotic fluid, for targeted therapeutic benefit. Amniotic fluid-derived mesenchymal stem cells (afMSCs) have a central role in the enhanced ability of the fetus to repair tissue damage. This germane recent finding constitutes the biological foundation for the use of afMSCs in TRASCET. It has been shown experimentally that simple intra-amniotic delivery of afMSCs in large numbers can either elicit the repair, or significantly mitigate the effects associated with major congenital anomalies by boosting the activity that these cells normally have. For example, TRASCET can induce partial or complete coverage of experimental spina bifida by promoting the local formation of host-derived skin, thus protecting the spinal cord from further damage. In another example, it can significantly alleviate the bowel damage associated with gastroschisis, one of the most common major abdominal wall defects. Other applications involving different congenital anomalies and/or other stem cells present in the amniotic fluid in diseased pregnancies are currently under investigation in this freshly evolving facet of fetal stem cell therapy.
Temporal Migration Shifts in the Aransas-Wood Buffalo Population of Whooping Cranes (Grus americana) Across North America

Birds are altering the phenology of critical life history events, including migration, in response to the effects of global climate change. Whooping Cranes (Grus americana) are one of the most critically endangered birds in the world. Their remnant population, referred to as the Aransas-Wood Buffalo Population, numbers between 300–400 individuals and migrates between the U.S. Gulf of Mexico coast and north-central Canada twice each year. Previous analyses suggested Whooping Crane migration was temporally constant in spring and fall. New analyses of observations spanning 1942–2016 show Whooping Crane migration is now occurring earlier in spring by approximately 22 days and later in fall by approximately 21 days. Spring temperatures have also increased in the migration corridor during the same period; however, there is no apparent temperature pattern during the fall. In spring, earlier migrating Whooping Cranes stopped over for longer periods of time compared to late-migrating cranes. This result may be partially explained by single Whooping Cranes migrating with earlier migrating Sandhill Cranes (Antigone canadensis). These results have important conservation implications as the timing of Whooping Crane migration and availability of the habitat and foraging resources, including those associated with agriculture, on which this species relies will be increasingly affected by climate change.
Characterization of macromolecular orientation in κ-carrageenan fibers using polarized Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy

Abstract In the current study, polarized infrared (IR) microspectroscopy was employed to characterize the macromolecular orientation in wet-spun and stretched κ-carrageenan fibers. The fibers were shown to be well oriented by X-ray diffraction, suggesting that the κ-carrageenan molecules were generally aligned along the fiber axis direction. Longitudinal fiber pieces of about 10 μm thick were obtained by focused ion beam (FIB) micromilling. The fiber pieces were examined by polarized IR in transmission mode. Several bands, including those characteristic of κ-carrageenan at 845 and 930 cm−1, were polarization-dependent, demonstrating polarized IR as a useful tool to evaluate macromolecular orientation in carrageenan fibers. Band assignments were discussed by considering the general alignment of molecules and the polarization dependence of vibration modes, and our results agreed well with band assignments from previous reports.
Economic Justification of Capital Expenditures

A problem common to all managers in any business is that of investing or reinvesting capital in the business. Yearly, if not more often, the manager must select the capital investments that will insure maximum profits. This difficult selection is even more complex because of the many different choices available as the result of rapidly expanding and changing technology.Paper published with permission.Compilation Copyright © 2018 ASME
Magnetically Doped Topological Insulator Thin Films

Abstract Topological insulators (TIs) are a recently discovered class of materials characterized by massless spin-helical Dirac surface states with time-reversal symmetry (TRS) at the interface of non-topological insulating materials. The backscattering of surface carriers in TIs is suppressed as the spin and momentum direction are locked and the nonmagnetic impurities in TIs can change only the direction of momentum but not spin. The massless surface states of TIs have potential applications in low dissipation spintronics devices. The TRS protecting the surface state of TIs against backscattering can be broken by introducing magnetic impurities. The surface carriers of magnetically doped TI materials, below the magnetic ordering temperature, can acquire an effective mass and a surface energy gap opening. Synthesis of thin film and nano-structured TIs is important to maximize the surface/bulk ratio and highlight the surface contribution. Moreover, exploration of magnetic element that can be incorporated into TI crystals while maintaining crystal quality is also critical to understand ferromagnetic ordering in TIs. Many important phenomena, such as anomalous quantum Hall effect, Majorana fermion, magnetoelectric effect proposed to exist within TIs require nontrivial energy band structure, that are the induced surface gap are within the bulk bandgap and the Fermi level is within both gaps. This chapter will introduce properties of TIs, synthesis of nanoscale TI thin films, and the potential application of magnetically doped TIs.
A dyadic model of investments: Partner effects on commitment:

A dyadic approach to studying relationship dynamics yields considerably more insights than examining each partner separately. Yet relatively little research has examined dyadic models of commitment...
A General Framework for Structured Learning of Mechanical Systems.

Learning accurate dynamics models is necessary for optimal, compliant control of robotic systems. Current approaches to white-box modeling using analytic parameterizations, or black-box modeling using neural networks, can suffer from high bias or high variance. We address the need for a flexible, gray-box model of mechanical systems that can seamlessly incorporate prior knowledge where it is available, and train expressive function approximators where it is not. We propose to parameterize a mechanical system using neural networks to model its Lagrangian and the generalized forces that act on it. We test our method on a simulated, actuated double pendulum. We show that our method outperforms a naive, black-box model in terms of data-efficiency, as well as performance in model-based reinforcement learning. We also conduct a systematic study of our method's ability to incorporate available prior knowledge about the system to improve data efficiency.
A 10-b 600-MS/s 2-Way Time-Interleaved SAR ADC With Mean Absolute Deviation-Based Background Timing-Skew Calibration

This paper presents a mean absolute deviation (MAD)-based background timing-skew calibration technique for time-interleaved (TI) ADCs. It uses a single comparator-based window detector to select input samples near the zero crossing and computes their MAD value, which is used as an indicator for the timing skew. The proposed technique has low computation complexity, as it only requires taking absolute value and averaging. It also has a fast convergence speed when operating in the background with unknown random inputs, as the MAD value can be accurately estimated with a small number of samples. A prototype 10-bit 2-way TI-SAR ADC is built in 40-nm CMOS to verify the proposed technique. It achieves over 52 dB of SNDR over the entire Nyquist band. Operating at 600 MS/s, it consumes 4.7 mW, which translates to a Walden figure-of-merit of 24-fJ/conversion-step.
Learner Engagement in Blended Learning Environments: A Conceptual Framework

Learner engagement correlates with important educational outcomes, including academic achievement and satisfaction. Although research is already exploring learner engagement in blended contexts, no theoretical framework guides inquiry or practice, and little consistency or specificity exists in engagement definitions and operationalizations. Developing definitions, models, and measures of the factors that indicate learner engagement is important to establishing whether changes in instructional methods (facilitators) result in improved engagement (measured via indicators). This article reviews the existing literature on learner engagement and identifies constructs most relevant to learning in general and blended learning in particular. We present a possible conceptual framework for engagement that includes cognitive and emotional indicators, offering examples of research measuring these engagement indicators in technology-mediated learning contexts. Finally, we suggest future studies to test the framework, which we believe can support advances in blended learning engagement research that is increasingly real-time, minimally intrusive, and maximally generalizable across subject matter contexts.
Correspondence on the debate regarding the haemodynamic definition of pulmonary hypertension.

Additional data are needed to clarify the haemodynamic spectrum of clinical risk in pulmonary hypertensionhttp://bit.ly/2ZXgld8
Reproductive History and Cognitive Aging: The Bogalusa Heart Study

Abstract Background Although it has become increasingly clear that pregnancy-related health predicts later-life cardiometabolic health, the relationship between reproductive history and cognitive health is less frequently studied. Although some research has identified associations between parity or hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and cognitive changes, the evidence is mixed. Objective To examine the association between reproductive history and midlife cognition in a community-based population. Study design Seven hundred and thirty midlife women in the Bogalusa Heart Study completed a brief cognitive battery (memory, attention, executive function, and processing speed) and were interviewed about their reproductive history. Reproductive history (parity, age at first pregnancy, and breastfeeding) and pregnancy complications (low birthweight, preterm birth, hypertensive disorders, and miscarriage) were examined as predictors of cognitive function, with adjustment for potential confounders. Results Nulliparous women had an overall lower cognitive score (adjusted beta −1.50, standard error [SE]: 0.41). Adolescent birth was associated with a somewhat better performance on the Trail Making Test (beta −0.31, SE: 0.15 for birth 24 weeks lifetime breastfeeding, beta 1.21, SE: 0.44). Conclusion Nulliparity and breastfeeding are associated with midlife cognition in women. Future studies should examine possible mechanisms by which these associations are created.
A Predictive Process Design Kit for Three-Independent-Gate Field-Effect Transistors

The Three-Independent-Gate Field-Effect Transistor (TIGFET) is a promising beyond-CMOS technology which offers many unique properties, such as (i) dynamic control of the device polarity, (ii) dual threshold operation and (iii) more expressive logic capabilities. The efficient exploitation of these properties provides opportunity to design area and power optimized logic circuits. However, the evaluation of TIGFET-based design currently relies on a close approximation for the Power, Performance, and Area (PPA) rather than traditional layout-based methods. There is a need for a publicly available Process Design Kit (PDK) enabling systematic evaluation of the design area. In this paper, we propose Predictive PDK for the 10 nm-diameter silicon-nanowire TIGFET device. This work consists of a SPICE model and full custom physical design files including a Design Rule Manual, a Design Rule Check, and a Layout Versus Schematic decks for Calibre®. We then validate the design rules through the implementation of basic logic gates and a full-adder and compare extracted metrics with FreePDK15nm™ PDK. We show 26% and 41% area reduction in the case of an XOR gate and a 1-bit full-adder design respectively.
Cognitions and behaviors related to risk for alcohol-exposed pregnancies among young adult women.

This study assessed alcohol and sex-related cognitions and behaviors, including alcohol-related sexual expectancies, descriptive norms, and protective behavioral strategies, associated with women’s risk for an alcohol-exposed pregnancy. A national sample of young adults ages 18–20 years was subset to women who were capable of pregnancy and sexually active (n = 422). The outcome was risk of alcohol-exposed pregnancy as determined by contraceptive status and heavy-episodic drinking. SAS version 9.4 was used to estimate logistic regression models. Alcohol-related sexual expectancies related to enhancement were significantly associated with increased odds of alcohol-exposed pregnancy risk. In contrast, women who reported the use of more safe sex (non-condom related) protective behavioral strategies (e.g., talk to partner about birth control use) were at decreased odds of alcohol-exposed pregnancy risk. Future interventions to reduce the risk of alcohol-exposed pregnancies should consider alcohol-related sexual expectancies and safer sex protective behavioral strategies as leverage points.
A facile strategy for the development of n‒type carbon nanotube composites with tunable thermoelectric properties via thiol‒ene chemistry

Abstract This work exploits thiol‒ene chemistry for the development of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) ‒based, solution‒processed, and flexible thermoelectric (TE) composites. A systematic study was implemented by optimizing many aspects: (i) use of π‒conjugated vs non‒conjugated linkers, (ii) amount and type of CNTs (SWNT vs MWNT) in the composite, and (iii) doping. The resulting samples revealed that the materials exhibited n‒type semiconducting behavior without requiring a doping process and attained power factors (PF) up to 1.1 μW m−1 K−2. It was also found that the composites made with non‒conjugated linkers showed better TE performance than that of π‒conjugated linkers. Besides n‒type materials, this methodology is also capable of producing p‒type materials, and n‒type materials can also convert to p‒type upon doping exposure. A variety of distinct surface morphologies with segregated structures were observed on scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The methodology which has been benefited here relies on the factors beyond just the blend composition or type of CNTs used, including the specific structure of the linkers, doping process, and the morphology resulting from the cross‒linking composites.
The Indiana Learning Health System Initiative: Early experience developing a collaborative, regional learning health system.

Introduction Learning health systems (LHSs) are usually created and maintained by single institutions or healthcare systems. The Indiana Learning Health System Initiative (ILHSI) is a new multi-institutional, collaborative regional LHS initiative led by the Regenstrief Institute (RI) and developed in partnership with five additional organizations: two Indiana-based health systems, two schools at Indiana University, and our state-wide health information exchange. We report our experiences and lessons learned during the initial 2-year phase of developing and implementing the ILHSI. Methods The initial goals of the ILHSI were to instantiate the concept, establish partnerships, and perform LHS pilot projects to inform expansion. We established shared governance and technical capabilities, conducted a literature review-based and regional environmental scan, and convened key stakeholders to iteratively identify focus areas, and select and implement six initial joint projects. Results The ILHSI successfully collaborated with its partner organizations to establish a foundational governance structure, set goals and strategies, and prioritize projects and training activities. We developed and deployed strategies to effectively use health system and regional HIE infrastructure and minimize information silos, a frequent challenge for multi-organizational LHSs. Successful projects were diverse and included deploying a Fast Healthcare Interoperability Standards (FHIR)-based tool across emergency departments state-wide, analyzing free-text elements of cross-hospital surveys, and developing models to provide clinical decision support based on clinical and social determinants of health. We also experienced organizational challenges, including changes in key leadership personnel and varying levels of engagement with health system partners, which impacted initial ILHSI efforts and structures. Reflecting on these early experiences, we identified lessons learned and next steps. Conclusions Multi-organizational LHSs can be challenging to develop but present the opportunity to leverage learning across multiple organizations and systems to benefit the general population. Attention to governance decisions, shared goal setting and monitoring, and careful selection of projects are important for early success.
Analyzing Macromolecular Complexes in Situ Using Cellular Cryo-Electron Microscopy

Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) is a powerful technique for imaging biological structures in their native state and in an unperturbed cellular environment. We integrate high resolution imaging b...
Color Variants of Aureobasidium pullulans Overproduce Xylanase with Extremely High Specific Activity.

Abstract Xylanase activity from naturally occurring color variants of Aureobasidium pullulans was associated with extracellular monomeric proteins of 20 to 21 kilodaltons. Xylanase represented nearly half the total extracellular protein, with a yield of up to 0.3 g of xylanase per liter. The specific activity of partially purified xylanase exceeded 2,000 IU/mg. Xylanase from typically pigmented strains appeared similar to that from color variants with respect to molecular weight, pH and temperature optima, and specific activity of purified (but not crude) enzyme. However, xylanase from typical strains made up only about 1.0% of total extracellular protein. Xylanase from strains of Cryptococcus albidus was associated with abundant proteins of about 43 kilodaltons and showed much lower specific activity.
The Mpowerment Project: Community-Building with Young Gay and Bisexual Men to Prevent HIV

The Mpowerment Project is a community-level HIV prevention intervention for young gay and bisexual men ages 18–27. The program seeks to build a strong, supportive young gay and bisexual men's community where young gay and bisexual men nurture and protect each other, particularly with regard to HIV prevention. The program's theoretical framework draws from the areas of diffusion of innovations, community organizing, peer influence, and personal empowerment. The Mpowerment Project promotes a norm for safer sex through a variety of social, outreach and small group activities. The project is run by a “Core Group” of 12–15 young gay and bisexual men who, with volunteers, design and carry out all project activities. Implemented in 4 communities (Eugene, OR; Santa Barbara, CA; Albuquerque, NM; Austin, TX), the Mpowerment Project has proven to be effective in reducing high risk sex. This paper discusses the development and implementation of the program and various challenges encountered.
Emotions: An Essay in Aid of Moral Psychology

Life, on a day to day basis, is a sequence of emotional states: hope, disappointment, irritation, anger, affection, envy, pride, embarrassment, joy, sadness and many more. We know intuitively that these states express deep things about our character and our view of the world. But what are emotions and why are they so important to us? In one of the most extensive investigations of the emotions ever published, Robert Roberts develops a novel conception of what emotions are and then applies it to a large range of types of emotion and related phenomena. In so doing he lays the foundations for a deeper understanding of our evaluative judgments, our actions, our personal relationships and our fundamental well-being. Aimed principally at philosophers and psychologists, this book will certainly be accessible to readers in other disciplines such as religion and anthropology.
Refractive errors and 10-year incidence of age-related maculopathy.

PURPOSE. To describe the relationship of refractive errors to the 10-year incidence of age-related maculopathy (ARM) in a defined white population. METHODS. Persons aged 43 to 86 years of age in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, were invited for a baseline examination from 1988 through 1990, and follow-up examinations 5 and 10 years later (n = 3684). Refraction was measured at baseline, with myopia defined as a spherical equivalent of -1.00 D or less, emmetropia as -0.75 to +0.75 D and hyperopia as + 1.00 D or more. At each examination, signs of ARM were ascertained from grading stereoscopic color fundus photographs based on a standard protocol. The association between baseline refractive status and the 10-year incidence and progression of ARM was analyzed. RESULTS. The 10-year cumulative incidence for carly ARM was 7.1%, 7.7%, and 11.7%, in eyes with myopia, emmetropia, and hyperopia, respectively. The corresponding 10-year cumulative incidence for late ARM was 0.3%, 0.8%, and 2.2%. When age was controlled for, there was no association between myopia and incident early (relative risk [RR] 1.0, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.7-1.3) and late (RR 0.5, 95% CI, 0.2-1.5) ARM. Similarly, after controlling for age, hyperopia was not associated with incident early (RR 0.9, 95% CI, 0.7-1.1) or late (RR 1.2, 95% CI, 0.6-2.3) ARM. CONCLUSIONS. These prospective population-based data provide no evidence of an association between refractive errors and risk of ARM .
Hepatic Lipid Metabolism in Experimental Diabetes IV. INCORPORATION OF AMINO ACID 14C INTO LIPOPROTEIN-PROTEIN AND TRIGLYCERIDE

Abstract The incorporation of radioactive amino acids into serum proteins by isolated perfused livers from alloxan diabetic rats was depressed in comparison to the normal. The incorporation of amino acids into the major classes of serum lipoproteins (density l1.020; density 1.020 to 1.063; density 1.063 to 1.210) also was impaired in alloxan diabetes. The incorporation of 14C into the total serum proteins and into the lipoproteins was also depressed with livers from chronic alloxan diabetic rats maintained on insulin, and was not further depressed after withdrawal of the insulin from the animals. The incorporation of amino acids into serum proteins was not restored to normal levels upon treatment of the diabetic rats with insulin under our experimental conditions. The incorporation of amino acids into hepatic protein also appeared to be depressed below normal in livers from diabetic rats. The conversion of amino acid 14C to fatty acid carbon of liver and serum triglycerides was reduced with perfused livers from acute and chronic alloxan diabetic rats and was stimulated when the animals were treated with insulin. In diabetes, an increase in the incorporation of amino acid 14C into glyceride-glycerol and into water-soluble neutral compounds of the perfusate was observed, and production of urea and output of amino acid nitrogen were also elevated. The inhibition of synthesis and, possibly, release of the protein moiety of the density l1.020 serum lipoprotein (the carrier of the major proportion of the serum triglyceride) which was observed in perfused livers from acute and chronic alloxan diabetic rats may not be causally related to the inhibition of release of triglyceride in diabetes, since, upon administration of insulin to the diabetic animal, the release of triglyceride by the liver was stimulated even though the defect in the synthesis of serum lipoprotein-protein persisted.
Second-order correlation-based algorithm for STBC-OFDM signal identification

An efficient algorithm for identifying space-time block-coded orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (STBC-OFDM) signals is introduced in this paper. The inherited signal redundancy is exploited for identification, with the second-order correlations between pairs of signals received from diverse antennas used as the identification feature. The decision on the STBC signal is made by employing the statistical properties of the feature estimate. The proposed algorithm does not require STBC or OFDM block synchronization, channel or noise power estimation, and knowledge of the signal constellation. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated through extensive simulation experiments. The results show the superiority of the proposed algorithm over the previously reported algorithms, with a reduced observation time and at lower signal-to-noise ratio.
Representations of Islam and Arab Societies in Western Secondary Textbooks

Since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the textbooks in Arab and Islamic nation-states have been carefully critiqued for any content that Westerners view as promoting hate or violence against non-Muslims. Very little has been said, however, about the portrayals of Islamic and Arab society in Western textbooks. This report investigates the perspectives and ideologies concerning representations of Islam and Arab societies in textbooks worldwide, and specifically in Western countries' national education systems. Seventy-two textbooks from 15 Western countries and Israel were examined to investigate the included and excluded content related to Islam and Arab societies. This research found that those countries with either an immediate stake in the Middle East (e.g., Israel) or an immediate past stake in the region (e.g., the United Kingdom) were the most likely to include coverage of Islam and Arab societies in secondary textbooks. The major findings of this research, however, are that content related to contemporary Islam and Arab societies in Western secondary-level textbooks is overwhelmingly related to terrorism and terrorists, the Arab/Israeli conflict, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The majority of content related to contemporary Islam and Arab societies represents Muslims and their communities as: 1) socially, politically, and economically repressed; 2) religiously and ideologically oppressed; and 3) both typically and frequently violent.
Transformability of Streptomycin-resistant Group H Streptococci

Several resistant mutants of a transformable group H streptococcus, strain Challis, were isolated from media containing high concentrations of streptomycin. Mutants SR5a and SR5 exhibited high and low transformability, respectively, when exposed to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from a novobiocin-resistant Challis strain. With similar exposure, mutant SR30 exhibited loss of transformability. The mutants further differed from the parent strain in time of appearance of optimal competence, and, in the case of SR5 and SR30, total growth was somewhat less than that of the parent. The rapidity with which transformants appeared upon initial exposure to DNA was approximately the same in the mutants and the parent strain. The decrease or loss of transformability of mutants SR5 and SR30 was found to be due to an alteration in capacity to take up DNA. Mutant SR5a (highly transformable) was further differentiated from mutants SR5 and SR30 in that it was somewhat more sensitive to high concentrations of streptomycin. Transformants obtained by treating strain Challis with the three types of mutant DNA, on the other hand, exhibited similar degrees of resistance to increasing concentrations of streptomycin. The additional decrease in transforming ability of mutant SR5a and the loss of transforming ability of mutant SR5 after a second exposure to streptomycin may indicate a stepwise process in the change from transformability to nontransformability. Although streptomycin resistance may not be directly related to inability to transform, results indicate that streptomycin greatly increases the chances of selecting these mutants and also can be of value in serving as a marker in studies of this nature.
Malignant hyperthermia in dogs

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is an anesthetic agent-induced hypermetabolic state. Human beings and several other animal species, including dogs, have been described to be genetically predisposed to development of MH. The halothane-triggered MH syndrome was characterized in genetically predisposed dogs, and in vitro contracture sensitivity of biopsied gracilis muscle exposed to halothane and caffeine was quantitated. Within 1 hour of halothane administration, each MH-susceptible dog developed rapid increases in CO2 production and rectal temperature. Reversal of the hypermetabolic state was achieved when halothane was discontinued and dantrolene sodium was given i.v. Biopsied gracilis muscle from MH-susceptible dogs had abnormal in vitro contracture responses to halothane and caffeine. These findings were consistent with those observed for MH-susceptible human beings and pigs in which a loss in regulation of muscle cell Ca(+)+ is believed to be the primary etiologic event for induction of MH.
The response of NE-228A, NE-228, NE-224, and NE-102 scintillators to protons from 2.43 to 19.55 MeV

Abstract The response of NE-228A, NE-228, NE-224, and NE-102 scintillators to protons from 2.43 to 19.55 MeV has been measured relative to electrons. The NE-228A scintillator has the same high hydrogen content (CH 2.11 ) as NE-228; but it has a 30% higher light output. Proton recoils in this energy range were obtained by elastically scattering (20.76±0.13) and (26.08±0.06) MeV neutrons from protons in the scintillators through angles of 20°, 30°, 45°, and 60°. The neutrons were obtained from the T(d, n)α reaction. The measured response (in units of electron energy) for protons above 5 MeV in NE- 102 is about 8% higher than that assumed in popular computer programs for calculating the neutron detection efficiency of plastic scintillators. The response of NE-228A is equivalent to that of NE-228. The response of NE-224 differs from that of either NE-102 or NE-228.
Ring chromosome 14 and immunoglobulin locus

A 2.5-yr-old girl was evaluated for seizurelike episodes and psychomotor and growth retardation. Cytogenetic study showed a ring 14 chromosome in most cells, with some cells having monosomy 14. Rarely, a cell showed a double ring chromosome 14. Both parents had normal chromosomes. Because serum immunoglobulins have been mapped to the distal portion of 14q, we attempted to correlate Ig levels with the deletion involved in the formation of this ring. No decrease in IgG, IgM, IgA, IgE, and IgD serum levels was observed. The normal serum Ig levels found in the proposita are compatible with the suggestion that the Ig loci are not located on the terminal portion of 14q but more proximally in band 14q32. However, because Gm and Am allotyping was not available mapping was not conclusive.
Increased plasminogen activator and type IV collagenase activity in invasive follicular thyroid carcinoma cells

Background. An essential difference between benign and malignant follicular thyroid tumors is the ability to invade and metastasize. Thyrotropin (TSH) stimulates invasion of cultured human follicular thyroid cancer cells (FTG-133) via a protein kinase C (PKC) dependent mechanism. Tumor invasion depends on degradation of extracellular matrix by proteases. Methods. We analyzed protease activity in FTC-133 and its more invasive clone, FTC-238. Cells were treated with TSH or 12-0-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA), a PKC agonist, for 24 hours. Conditioned medium and cellular extract were subjected to substrate gel zymography with either casein-plasminogen or gelatin (collagen). Western blot and immunohistochemistry confirmed protease identity. Results. We found increased 50 kd urokinase-like plasminogen activator (uPA) and 62 kd gelatinase activity by FTC-238 cells compared with the less invasive FTC-133 cells. There was no effect of TSH on uPA or collagenase activity at concentrations of 0.01 to 10 mU/ml. In both FTC-133 and FTC-238, TPA incubations of 0.1 to 100 ng/ml caused a dose-dependent increase in uPA and a 94 kd type IV collagenase. Conclusions. These findings show that TSH-stimulated invasion may be due to PKC-induced activation of uPA and 94 kd type IV collagenase. uPA and basement membrane type IV collagenase warrant investigation as markers for follicular thyroid cancer.
Peanut Agglutinin High Phenotype of Activated CD8+ T Cells Results from de Novo Synthesis of CD45 Glycans

Following activation in the periphery, murine CD8+ T cells exhibit a characteristic increased binding of peanut agglutinin (PNA), reflecting an increased expression of hyposialylated O-linked glycans (Galβ1–3GalNAcα-O-Thr/Ser) on the cell surface. In this report, we show that the majority of the PNA receptors expressed on activated CD8+ T cells are carried by CD45. Other glycoproteins (e.g. CD8) and the glycolipid asialo-GM1 also carry PNA receptors, although to a much lesser extent. Analysis of enzymes involved in the sialylation/de-sialylation pathways showed that generation of PNA receptors in activated CD8+ T cells is not due to up-regulation of endogenous sialidases. Instead, our results indicate that the PNAhigh phenotype results from de novo synthesis of CD45 carrying reduced sialylated core 1 O-glycans.
Single-machine scheduling with time windows and earliness/tardiness penalties

Abstract We study the single machine earliness/tardiness problem with arbitrary time windows (STW). We show that STW is NP-hard and then decompose it into the subproblems of finding a good job sequence and optimally inserting idle time into a given sequence. We propose heuristics for the sequencing subproblem by appropriately modifying heuristics originally developed for other single machine scheduling problems. Experimentation with randomly generated problems shows that one of the proposed heuristics is computationally efficient and capable of finding good solutions to problems of arbitrary size. We also propose an algorithm to optimally insert idle time into a given job sequence.
A dosimetric comparison of accelerated partial breast irradiation techniques: multicatheter interstitial brachytherapy, three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy, and supine versus prone helical tomotherapy.

Purpose: To compare dosimetrically four different techniques of accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) in the same patient. Methods and Materials: Thirteen post-lumpectomy interstitial brachytherapy (IB) patients underwent imaging with preimplant computed tomography (CT) in the prone and supine position. These CT scans were then used to generate three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) and prone and supine helical tomotherapy (PT and ST, respectively) APBI plans and compared with the treated IB plans. Dose–volume histogram analysis and the mean dose (NTD mean ) values were compared. Results: Planning target volume coverage was excellent for all methods. Statistical significance was considered to be a p value mean dose of 1.3 Gy 3 and 1.2 Gy 3 , respectively. Both of these methods were statistically significantly lower than the supine external beam techniques. Overall, all four methods yielded similar low doses to the heart. Conclusions: The use of IB and PT resulted in greater normal tissue sparing (especially ipsilateral breast and lung) than the use of supine external beam techniques of 3D-CRT or ST. However, the choice of APBI technique must be tailored to the patient's anatomy, lumpectomy cavity location, and overall treatment goals.
A note on the magnetic variations near the equatorial electrojet

Abstract A correction of the published tables of magnetic data from Addis Ababa removes the apparent anomaly in a previous paper in this Journal 27 , 559.
A brief overview of acute respiratory distress syndrome.

The low pO 2 in traumatic and septic shock was first documented at Walter Reed Army Medical Center starting in 1960. It was postulated that this respiratory failure was due to the occlusion of the pulmonary microcirculation by the microclots of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Animal studies showed that pulmonary failure and death could be caused by intravenous injection of a killed culture of either Escherichia coli or pneumococcal organisms or by severe muscle contusion. Severe clinical septic and traumatic shock cases were studied. Injection of either killed E. coli or killed pneumococci resulted in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and death in pigs. Muscle contusion also resulted in ARDS and death in pigs. Both ARDS and death were prevented by administration of a plasminogen activator, and ARDS in human septic or traumatic shock were safely and effectively treated by administration of a plasminogen activator. Acute respiratory distress syndrome can be caused by DIC, which blocks the microcirculation of any and all organs. These microclots can be safely lysed by a plasminogen activator, thus treating ARDS and saving lives.
Ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic spin correlation in mictomagnets

Typical mictomagnetic (spin-glass) behavior, as in Cu-Mn alloys, depends on the presence side by side of regions with predominantly ferromagnetic spin correlation (magnetic clusters) and a matrix with predominantly antiferromagnetic spin correlation. The volume fraction occupied by these two magnetic structures in different mictomagnetic alloys varies from practically zero of one to zero of the other. As the volume of ferromagnetically correlated regions approaches zero the susceptibility cusp and the saturated spontaneous magnetization after field cooling to low temperatures tend to disappear, while the displacement (shift) of the magnetization curve on field cooling becomes very large. At the other extreme, where the volume fraction with predominantly antiferromagnetic spin correlation approaches zero, the displacement of the magnetization curve and the unidirectionality of the remanence after field cooling disappear and the "freezing temperature" becomes frequency dependent.