cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adipose Tissue Inflammation Induces B Cell Inflammation and Decreases B Cell Function in Aging.

Aging is the greatest risk factor for developing chronic diseases. Inflamm-aging, the age-related increase in low-grade chronic inflammation, may be a common link in age-related diseases. This review summarizes recent published data on potential cellular and molecular mechanisms of the age-related increase in inflammation, and how these contribute to decreased humoral immune responses in aged mice and humans. Briefly, we cover how aging and related inflammation decrease antibody responses in mice and humans, and how obesity contributes to the mechanisms for aging through increased inflammation. We also report data in the literature showing adipose tissue infiltration with immune cells and how these cells are recruited and contribute to local and systemic inflammation. We show that several types of immune cells infiltrate the adipose tissue and these include macrophages, neutrophils, NK cells, innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), eosinophils, T cells, B1 and B2 cells. Our main focus is how the adipose tissue affects immune responses, in particular B cell responses and antibody production. The role of leptin in generating inflammation and decreased B cell responses is also discussed. We report data published by us and by other groups showing that the adipose tissue generates pro-inflammatory B cell subsets which induce pro-inflammatory T cells, promote insulin resistance and secrete pathogenic autoimmune antibodies.
Navigating translational ecology: Creating opportunities for scientist participation

Interest in translational ecology (TE) – a research approach that yields useful scientific outcomes through ongoing collaboration between scientists and stakeholders – is growing among both of these groups. Translational ecology brings together participants from different cultures and with different professional incentives. We address ways to cultivate a culture of TE, such as investing time in understanding one another's decision context and incentives, and outline common entry points to translational research, such as working through boundary organizations, building place-based research programs, and being open to opportunities as they arise. We also highlight common institutional constraints on scientists and practitioners, and ways in which collaborative research can overcome these limitations, emphasizing considerations for navigating TE within current institutional frameworks, but also pointing out ways in which institutions are evolving to facilitate translational research approaches.
Fighting for a name on the ballot: constituency-level analysis of nomination violence in Zambia

What factors increase the likelihood of nomination violence? Nomination violence can be an expression of both horizontal conflict, between local political elites, and vertical conflict, between nat...
"Watch Me!" A Testimonial to the Importance of Bearing Witness in Child Analysis

The supervision of a candidate’s first child psychoanalysis is an opportunity to revisit, with the freshness of discovery, the infinitely varied representations of core childhood conflicts. Because...
A Brief History of the Opioid Epidemic and Strategies for Pain Medicine

The opioid epidemic has resulted from myriad causes and will not be solved by any simple solution. Consequent to a staggering increase in opioid-related deaths in the USA, various governmental inputs and stakeholder strategies have been proposed and implemented with varying success. This article summarizes the history of opioid use and explores the causes for the present day epidemic. Recent trends in opioid-related data demonstrate an almost fourfold increase in overdose deaths from 1999 to 2008. Tragically, opioids claimed over 64,000 lives just last year. Some solutions have undergone legislation, including the limitation of numbers of opioids postsurgery, as well as growing national prevalence of enhanced recovery after surgery protocols which focus on reduced postoperative opioid consumption and shortened hospital stays. Stricter prescribing practices and prescription monitoring programs have been instituted in the recent past. Improvement in abuse deterrent strategies which is a major focus of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for all opioid preparations will likely play an important role by increasing the safety of these medications. Future potential strategies such as additional legislative policies, public awareness, and physician education are also detailed in this review.
Building a Path Toward Ubiquitous Plug-in Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

Most electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle energy needs can be met with Level 1 charging. This level requires only conventional single-phase outlets. Safety protection, metering, communication, billing, and other functions can be supported by a car to turn a “dumb” single-phase outlet into intelligent vehicle charging infrastructure. Some of the considerations and strategies linked to this process are described. Operating scenario examples linked to vehicles are presented. Grid support capabilities and standards issues are presented. The ability to use conventional outlets has the potential to make electric vehicle charging infrastructure ubiquitous, with expansion at a fraction of anticipated costs.
Safety and feasibility of a novel recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring technique.

Objectives/hypothesis Continuous intraoperative nerve monitoring (CIONM) during thyroidectomy is promising technology that may reduce the incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injuries. However, the current technique for CIONM, in which a stimulating probe is placed on the vagus nerve, has not been widely adopted because of concerns regarding its invasiveness and safety. A new method with the lead positioned on the RLN may overcome these objections and promote greater adoption of CIONM. This study was conducted to serve as the first step in determining the safety and feasibility of an RLN-based CIONM approach. Study design Case series with planned data collection. Methods Fifty patients scheduled to undergo thyroidectomy were enrolled. In all cases, after identification of the RLN, a lead designed for CIONM was placed on the nerve. The lead was then left in place for a minimum of 2 minutes, and CIONM data were recorded. Laryngeal electromyographic (EMG) characteristics were assessed just before the lead was placed on the RLN and after it was removed. Pre- and postoperative fiberoptic laryngoscopy was performed to assess vocal cord function in all patients. Results In 49 patients (98%), the probe was successfully positioned on the RLN, and CIONM data were generated. On average, 1.4 attempts per patient were required to properly place the lead. No accidental dislodgements of the lead occurred during the experiments. No patients demonstrated significant EMG changes from baseline after manipulation and stimulation of the RLN. The average CIONM time was 175.7 s (range, 138-212 s), and the average CIONM amplitude and latency were 675.2 µV (range, 211.0-1405.2 µV) and 1.8 ms (1.25-1.9), respectively. All patients had normal bilateral vocal cord function preoperatively and at the first postoperative visit. Conclusions This study demonstrates the apparent safety and viability of a CIONM technique using a lead placed directly on the RLN. Future investigations are warranted of this promising method, which may promote more widespread adoption of CIONM during thyroidectomy to reduce RLN injuries. Level of evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 2018.
Functionalization of luminescent lanthanide-gallium metallacrowns using copper-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition and thiol-maleimide Michael addition.

Abstract The synthesis and characterization of {Ln[12-MCGaIIIN(eshi)-4]}2(iph)4 and {Ln[12-MCGaIIIN(shi)-4]}2(miph)4 metallacrowns (MCs), where shi3− is salicylhydroximate, eshi3− is 4-ethynylsalicylhydroximate, iph2− is isopthalate, and miph2− is 5-maleimidoisophthalate, is reported. The ethynyl functionality allows for coupling of MCs to azides using copper(I) catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC), while the maleimido functionality allows for coupling of the MCs to thiol-bearing compounds. We demonstrate these coupling reactions using benzyl azide for the former and cysteamine for the latter, with complete conversion shown by ESI-MS. With the Sm analogues, the MCs exhibit characteristic luminescent emission of Sm(III), which is preserved after introducing the ethynyl and maleimido groups onto the MC scaffold. Furthermore, the high stability of these compounds in solution illustrates that once functionalized, the MCs are promising for fluorescent imaging applications.
Trends in Health Equity in the United States by Race/Ethnicity, Sex, and Income, 1993-2017

Importance Health equity is an often-cited goal of public health, included among the 4 overarching goals of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2020. Yet it is difficult to find summary assessments of national progress toward this goal. Objectives To identify variation in several measures of health equity from 1993 to 2017 in the United States and to test whether there are significant time trends. Design, Setting, and Participants Survey study using 25 years of data, from January 1, 1993, to December 31, 2017, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System to assess trends in health equity and health justice by race/ethnicity, sex, and income in 3 categories by year. Main Outcomes and Measures Health equity was assessed separately for each of 2 health constructs: healthy days—the average of physical and mental healthy days over the previous 30 days—and general health in 5 categories, rescaled to approximate a continuous variable. For each health construct, average health was calculated along with 4 measures of health equity: disparities across 3 income groups; black-white disparities; health justice—a measure of the correlation of health outcomes with income, race/ethnicity and sex; and a summary health equity metric. Results Among the 5 456 006 respondents, the mean (SD) age was 44.5 (12.7) years; 3 178 688 (58.3%) were female; 4 163 945 (76.3%) were non-Latinx white; 474 855 (8.7%) were non-Latinx black; 419 542 (7.7%) were Latinx; and 397 664 (7.3%) were of other race/ethnicity. The final sample included 5 456 006 respondents for self-reported health and 5 349 527 respondents for healthy days. During the 25-year period, the black-white gap showed significant improvement (year coefficient: healthy days, 0.021; 97.5% CI, 0.012 to 0.029;P Conclusions and Relevance Results of this analysis suggest that there has been a clear lack of progress on health equity during the past 25 years in the United States. Achieving widely shared goals of improving health equity will require greater effort from public health policy makers, along with their partners in medicine and the sectors that contribute to the social determinants of health.
Sensitivity to change of the cerebral palsy profile of health and function Upper-Extremity (UE) domain in children following musculoskeletal surgery

Date Presented 04/06/19 The psychometric properties examined in this research study will enable evidence-informed decision making for OTs to select robust assessment tools when working with children with cerebral palsy. This study reports on the significantly better ability of the Upper-Extremity Cerebral Palsy Profile of Health and Function Computerized Adaptive Test in detecting a change in UE function of children with cerebral palsy when compared to other measures. Primary Author and Speaker: Namrata Grampurohit Contributing Authors: Mary Slavin, Pengsheng Ni, Alan Jette, MaryJane Mulcahey
Examining Patterns in Teacher-Student Classroom Conversations during STEM Lessons

Teacher-student conversations are central to student learning within the science classroom. Educational literature recommends teachers aim to build a common scientific language and, through dialog, develop shared meanings with students. This study examines teacher-student conversations in the specific situation of an integrated science and engineering curriculum, involving lessons on heat transfer. The findings identify critical nuances and discourse patterns in the conversations that may pose barriers to student engagement and learning. The study illustrates the need for teachers to plan dialogic, authentic interaction with students to build shared meanings about scientific concepts in order to enhance STEM learning.
Biracial Identity Development at Historically White and Historically Black Colleges and Universities

This study explores the relationship between biracial identity development and college context. I draw on interviews with 49 black-white biracial first- and second-year students attending historica...
Impact of galcanezumab on total pain burden: findings from phase 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in patients with episodic or chronic migraine (EVOLVE-1, EVOLVE-2, and REGAIN trials).

Focus on the frequency of migraine pain may undervalue the total burden of migraine as pain duration and severity may present unique, additive burden. A composite measure of total pain burden (TPB; frequency, severity, and duration) may provide a more comprehensive characterization of pain burden and treatment response in patients with episodic migraine (EM) or chronic migraine (CM). The impact of galcanezumab versus placebo on TPB among patients with EM or CM was analyzed. Patients from randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled episodic (two 6-month studies pooled) and chronic migraine (3-month) studies received once-monthly subcutaneous injection of galcanezumab 120 mg or placebo. A post hoc analysis of TPB for a given month was calculated as severity-weighted duration by multiplying duration (hours) and maximum pain severity (0 = none, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe) of migraine for each day and summing these over the days in a month. Least square mean change from baseline in monthly TPB across Months 1–6 (EM, N = 444 galcanezumab, N = 894 placebo) and Months 1–3 (CM, N = 278 galcanezumab, N = 558 placebo) were compared using a mixed-model repeated measures model. Correlation of the Migraine Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MSQ) and Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS) to TPB at baseline was assessed. At baseline, the duration of migraine on a given migraine headache day accounted for the greatest unique proportion of variability (EM, 57.4% and CM, 61.1%) to TPB after adjusting for frequency of migraine headache days and maximum pain severity. The decrease from baseline in monthly TPB was greater with galcanezumab than placebo for patients with EM (68.6 versus 36.2) and CM (102.6 versus 44.4). The average percent reduction of TPB from baseline was significantly greater with galcanezumab compared with placebo in patients with EM (50.8% versus 17.2%) and CM (29.7% versus 11.0%). In patients with EM and CM, TPB correlated with MSQ total score (r = − 0.35 and r = − 0.37) and MIDAS (r = 0.34 and r = 0.32). Greater reduction in TPB was seen in patients with EM and CM treated with galcanezumab 120 mg once-monthly injection relative to placebo. Discussing TPB supports patient-centric conversations regarding treatment expectations when clinicians are evaluating options for migraine prevention. ClinicalTrials.gov : # NCT02614183 (I5Q-MC-CGAG; EVOLVE-1), # NCT02614196 (I5Q-MC-CGAH; EVOLVE-2), and # NCT02614261 (I5Q-MC-CGAI; REGAIN) – all 3 trials were registered on 23 November 2015.
Validation of low-coverage whole-genome sequencing for mitochondrial DNA variants suggests mitochondrial DNA as a genetic cause of preterm birth.

Preterm birth (PTB), or birth that occurs earlier than 37 weeks of gestational age, is a major contributor to infant mortality and neonatal hospitalization. Mutations in the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) have been linked to various rare mitochondrial disorders, and may be a contributing factor in PTB given that maternal genetic factors have been strongly linked to PTB. However, to date, no study has found a conclusive connection between a particular mtDNA variant and PTB. Given the high mtDNA copy number per cell, an automated pipeline was developed for detecting mtDNA variants using low-pass whole genome sequencing (lcWGS) data. The pipeline was first validated against samples of known heteroplasmy, and then applied to 929 samples from a PTB cohort from diverse ethnic backgrounds with an average gestational age of 27.18 weeks (range: 21-30). Our new pipeline successfully identified haplogroups and a large number of mtDNA variants in this large PTB cohort, including 8 samples carrying known pathogenic variants and 47 samples carrying rare mtDNA variants. These results confirm that lcWGS can be utilized to reliably identify mtDNA variants. These mtDNA variants may make a contribution toward preterm birth in a small proportion of live births. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Smarther MRI. Novel Software Generates 3d Renderings of Fibroid Uterus for Preoperative Surgical Planning and Intraoperative Approach.

Study Objective To compare the effects of conventional MRI and 3D Smart MRI for myomectomies by evaluating operative times, conversion rates, bleeding. A secondary objective is to compare patient satisfaction and perceived understanding of surgery for pre-surgical counseling. Design Use hospitalization records on patients who underwent myomectomies with standard MRI and collect data on the length of the case, EBL, conversion rate. This will be compared with the same measures in patients where 3D Smart MRI was employed to render anatomy adapted from coronal, sagittal, and axial 2D MRI imaging. The operating surgeons in both arms will be qualified MIGS surgeons. For our secondary objective, we design patient questionnaire for patients undergoing myomectomies using the standard 2D MRI during pre-surgical counseling and comparing it to the questionnaire of patients counseled with 3D Smart MRI renderings. The questionnaire will gauge patient ‘s understanding of the amount/size of the fibroids, their understanding of the procedure, and their satisfaction of pre-surgical counseling. Setting Major Academic Medical Center. Patients or Participants Population consist of 90 patients who have undergone or will undergo a laparoscopic and/or robot-assisted myomectomy, with 45 patients receiving conventional pre-surgical MRI and 45 patients receiving 3D Smart MRI. Interventions Primary endpoints: Operative time, blood loss, and conversion rate from laparoscopic to open surgery, in patients whose pre-surgical and/or intra-operative imaging consultation was a standard MRI or Smart MRI technology. The three primary endpoints will be compared between the two MRI modalities. Secondary endpoints: Patient satisfaction with pre-surgical counseling and patient perceived pre-surgical understanding in each of the two MRI groups. Measurements and Main Results TBD. Conclusion Hypothetically, 3D imaging of the leiomyomatous uterus with relationships of fibroids to one another and surrounding organs could help plan and execute surgical techniques more efficiently, leading to shorter operative times, less blood loss, fewer complications, and more complete excisions of myomas.
A Qualitative Approach to Inverse Scattering Theory

1. Functional Analysis and Sobolev Spaces.- 2. Ill-Posed Problems.- 3. Scattering by Imperfect Conductors.- 4. Inverse Scattering Problems for Imperfect Conductors.- 5. Scattering by Orthotropic Media.- 6. Inverse Scattering Problems for Orthotropic Media.- 7. Factorization Methods.- 8. Mixed Boundary Value Problems.- 9. Inverse Spectral Problems for Transmission Eigenvalues.- 10. A Glimpse at Maxwell's Equations.
Firmsâ€™ Heterogeneity and Incomplete Pass-Through

A large body of empirical work documents that prices of traded goods change by a smaller proportion than real exchange rates between the trading countries (incomplete pass-through). The wedge between exchange rates and relative prices also varies a cross countries (pricing-to-market). I present a model of trade and international price-setting with heterogeneous firms, where firmsâ€™ strategic behavior implies that: 1) firm-level pass-through is incomplete and a U-shaped function of firm market share; 2) exchange rate fluctuations affect both the prices of traded goods and the prices of goods sold domestically; and 3) firm-level pass-through varies across destination countries. Estimates from a panel data set of cars prices support the predictions of the model.
Data Fusion for Enhanced Aircraft Engine Prognostics and Health Management

Aircraft gas-turbine engine data is available from a variety of sources, including on-board sensor measurements, maintenance histories, and component models. An ultimate goal of Propulsion Health Management (PHM) is to maximize the amount of meaningful information that can be extracted from disparate data sources to obtain comprehensive diagnostic and prognostic knowledge regarding the health of the engine. Data fusion is the integration of data or information from multiple sources for the achievement of improved accuracy and more specific inferences than can be obtained from the use of a single sensor alone. The basic tenet underlying the data/ information fusion concept is to leverage all available information to enhance diagnostic visibility, increase diagnostic reliability and reduce the number of diagnostic false alarms. This report describes a basic PHM data fusion architecture being developed in alignment with the NASA C-17 PHM Flight Test program. The challenge of how to maximize the meaningful information extracted from disparate data sources to obtain enhanced diagnostic and prognostic information regarding the health and condition of the engine is the primary goal of this endeavor. To address this challenge, NASA Glenn Research Center, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, and Pratt & Whitney have formed a team with several small innovative technology companies to plan and conduct a research project in the area of data fusion, as it applies to PHM. Methodologies being developed and evaluated have been drawn from a wide range of areas including artificial intelligence, pattern recognition, statistical estimation, and fuzzy logic. This report will provide a chronology and summary of the work accomplished under this research contract.
Chapter 14 Tissue-Specific Expression of Genes Encoding the Rat Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the strategy and techniques used to study the expression of the rat sodium channel genes in different excitable tissues. The voltage-gated sodium channel is responsible for the generation of the action potential in nerve and muscle cells. Previous comparative studies of the functional properties of sodium channels have indicated that sodium channels in these two tissue types are very similar. Recent studies have concluded that sodium channels in nerve and muscle differ in significant ways. Investigators have shown that the sodium channels of skeletal muscle differ from the sodium channels in nerve and cardiac muscle in their affinities for the peptide sodium channel blocker, μ-conotoxin. mRNA purified from brain and muscle produces sodium channels that are both functionally and pharmacologically distinguishable in Xenopus oocyte membrane.
A Surface-Based DNA Algorithm for the Expansion of Symbolic Determinants

In the past few years since Adleman's pioneering work on solving the HPP(Hamiltonian Path Problem) with a DNA-based computer [1], many algorithms have been designed on solving NP problems. Most of them are in the solution bases and need some error correction or tolerance technique in order to get good and correct results [3] [7] [9] [11] [21] [22]. The advantage of surface-based DNA computing technique, with very low error rate, has been shown many times [12] [18] [17] [20] over the solution based DNA computing, but this technique has not been widely used in the DNA computer algorithms design. This is mainly due to the restriction of the surface-based technique comparing with those methods using the DNA strands in solutions. In this paper, we introduce a surface-based DNA computing algorithm for solving a hard computation problem: expansion of symbolic determinants given their patterns of zero entries. This problem is well-known for its exponential difficulty. It is even more difficult than evaluating determinants whose entries are merely numerical [15]. We will show how this problem can be solved with the low error rate surface-based DNA computer using our naive algorithm.
SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A BINUCLEAR RHENIUM NITROPYRAZOLE COMPLEX RE2O3CL2(PPH3)2(C3H2N3O2)2

The binuclear nitropyrazole compound [Re 2 O 3 Cl 2 (PPh 3 ) 2 (C 3 H 2 N 3 O 2 ) 2 ] ( 3 ) was synthesized by refluxing [ReOCl 2 (OEt)(PPh 3 ) 2 ] and 2-nitropyrazole in ethanol for 12 h. The octahedral {ReO 2 N 2 ClP} sites are linked by two bridging nitropyrazoles and an oxo group, with an Re–O–Re angle of 124.7(6)°. Compound 3 is electrochemically active, displaying a reversible one electron reduction at −0.55 V with respect to Ag/Ag + . Crystal data: C 36 H 34 Cl 2 N 6 O 7 P 2 Re 2 ( 3 ), monoclinic C 2/ c , a =32.569(7), b =9.624(2), c =29.151(6) A, β =109.33(3)°, V=8622(3) A 3 , Z=8, D calc =1.799 g cm −3 , structure solution and refinement based on 3364 reflections converged at R =0.056.
Introduction to Software Process Improvement.

Abstract : While software now pervades most facets of modern life, its historical problems have not been solved. This report explains why some of these problems have been so difficult for organizations to address and the actions required to address them. It describes the Software Engineering Institute's (SEI) software process maturity model, how this model can be used to guide software organizations in process improvement, and the various assessment and evaluation methods that use this model. The report concludes with a discussion of improvement experience and some comments on future directions for this work.
THE EVOLUTION OF THE BRAZILIAN REGULATION OF ETHANOL AND POSSIBLE LESSONS FOR THE UNITED STATES

The oil shocks of the 1970s propelled the search for alternative fuel sources by oil-dependent countries. The United States and Brazil–then the two largest producers and consumers of ethanol in the world – focused intensely on biofuels as a substitute for oil, while other countries – such as Japan and European Union members – focused more on nuclear energy and other methods of power generation. However, from the 1980s onward, climate change emerged as a significant concern. This new focus on climate change revived the discussion about the need for alternative energy sources. In addition, during the 2000s, oil prices spiked anew. Political and social instability in areas of oil abundance, combined with the widespread belief that oil extraction would peak in ten or twenty years and then decline, contributed to this price volatility.Biofuels, emerged into this turbulent landscape, offering the promise of partially or completely supplanting fossil fuels. This article focuses on the Brazilian experience using ethanol as a substitute for gasoline for motor-vehicle fuel. Part I offers a brief discussion of the nature and role of biofuels. Part II details the development of ethanol regulation in Brazil, from its inception during the era of military dictatorship through the present. Part III discusses the environmental issues and criticisms concerning ethanol production and how they apply to the Brazilian model. Part IV analyzes the Brazilian experience and explains why it would be very difficult or impossible to replicate in the United States. Overall, this article portrays the difficulties and challenges the United States will face in trying to follow the Brazilian model.
Po/sup 2/V: network layer position verification in multi-hop wireless networks

We propose Po/sup 2/V, a lightweight, network layer position verification scheme for distributed position services in multi-hop wireless networks. Our scheme uses adaptive transmitting power and multi-path polling to improve verification accuracy. We study different attacks against the verification scheme and propose corresponding mitigation techniques. Our analysis shows that while less expensive because no advanced techniques are required in the physical layer, Po/sup 2/V achieves a verification accuracy that meets the needs of many applications such as region-based access services, sensor monitoring, or ad hoc geocasting.
Microcomputer implementable low cost speaker-independent word recognition

A simple algorithm to perform speaker-independent word recognition with modest performance on a small, acoustically distinct, vocabulary is described. The primary measurements are the zero crossing intervals of the acoustic waveform. Robust and reliable performance was achieved by deriving binary-valued features, using dynamic time warping and invoking high level logic. The algorithm demonstrates implementation potential via simple analog circuitry and an 8-bit microcomputer. The performance achieved was 85% correct recognition, 9% rejection and 6% substitution for a set of six words uttered by over 100 speakers.
More People Than Ever Before Are Receiving Behavioral Health Care In The United States, But Gaps And Challenges Remain

The high prevalence of mental illness and substance abuse disorders and their significant impact on disability, mortality, and other chronic diseases have encouraged new initiatives in mental health policy including important provisions of the Affordable Care Act and changes in Medicaid. This article examines the development and status of the behavioral health services system, gaps in access to and quality of care, and the challenges to implementing aspirations for improved behavioral and related medical services. Although many more people than ever before are receiving behavioral health services in the United States—predominantly pharmaceutical treatments—care is poorly allocated and rarely meets evidence-based standards, particularly in the primary care sector. Ideologies, finances, and pharmaceutical marketing have shaped the provision of services more than treatment advances or guidance from a growing evidence base. Among the many challenges to overcome are organizational and financial realignments an...
Novel approaches for immunotherapeutic intervention in Alzheimer's disease.

Immunotherapy can attenuate amyloid neuropathology and improve cognitive function in transgenic models of Alzheimer's disease. However, the first clinical trial was halted when 6% of the Alzheimer's patients developed aseptic meningoencephalitis. Postmortem analysis of two cases with meningoencephalitis showed robust glial activation, T-cell infiltration and sporadic clearance of Aβ. Interestingly, transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease failed as predictors of these adverse inflammatory events. However there are now several studies with amyloid precursor protein transgenic mice that have reported an increased risk of microhemorrhages at sites of cerebrovascular amyloid deposits and because approximately 80% of Alzheimer's patient's have cerebrovascular pathology, there is concern regarding clinical trials using passive administration of humanized anti-Aβ antibodies. Although many studies have now been published on immunotherapy in mouse models, the mechanism(s) of antibody-mediated clearance of β-amyloid from the brain, and the cause of the antibody-induced microhemorrhages remain unclear. In this review, we will discuss the most recent results from the first clinical trial, offer speculation on possible causes for the failure of the trial, review data on antibody-mediated clearance mechanisms, explore the role of complement and inflammation in the clearance of β-amyloid, and suggest novel strategies for avoiding problems in future clinical trials. The central hypothesis being proposed in this review is that anti-Aβ antibodies delivered directly to the CNS at the sites of amyloid deposits will be far more effective at clearing Aβ and safer than active or passive immunization strategies where the majority of the antibodies are in the periphery.
Drug delivery systems: anticancer prodrugs and their polymeric conjugates

Prodrugs and their polymeric conjugates (transport forms) offer many promising modalities for new cancer chemotherapies. They present unique opportunities to increase the therapeutic index of a particular drug by exploiting the properties associated with the disease in a predictable fashion. Drugs can be chemically modified with a promoiety to achieve an exclusive selectivity by utilising specific enzymes, fenestrated vasculatures, more acidic environments and other unique properties of the tumour. Additionally, by incorporating a promoiety into existing immunoconjugates, greater efficacy can be achieved.
Intravenous Epoprostenol for Management of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension during Pregnancy

Background Pulmonary arterial hypertension carries a high risk of mortality in pregnancy. Recent advances in treatment may improve disease course and allow for successful management of the pregnancy. Case Report We present the case of a 20-year-old gravida 1, para 0 with diagnosis of severe primary pulmonary hypertension. The patient was managed with epoprostenol (prostacyclin) infusion via an indwelling catheter, which was initiated at 23 weeks' gestation. The dose was adjusted to the patient's symptoms and a successful vaginal delivery was achieved at 36 weeks' gestation. Although maternal postpartum course was uncomplicated, unexplained neonatal demise occurred at 11 days of life. Conclusion Successful management of pulmonary hypertension in pregnancy can be accomplished with a multidisciplinary approach and intensive therapy. Long-term effects of epoprostenol on fetal or neonatal well-being are unknown.
Uranium and Thorium Concentration and Isotopic Composition in Five Glass (BHVO-2G, BCR-2G, NKT-1G, T1-G, ATHO-G) and Two Powder (BHVO-2, BCR-2) Reference Materials

Here we report uranium and thorium isotopic ratios and elemental concentrations measured in solid reference materials from the USGS (BHVO-2G, BCR-2G, NKT-1G), as well as those from the MPI-DING series (T1-G, ATHO-G). Specifically created for microanalysis, these naturally-sourced glasses were fused from rock powders. They cover a range of compositions, elemental concentrations and expected isotopic ratios. The U-Th isotopic ratios of two powdered source materials (BCR-2, BHVO-2) were also characterised. These new measurements via multi-collector thermal ionisation mass spectrometry and multi-collector inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry can now be used to assess the relative performance of techniques and facilitate comparison of U-Th data amongst laboratories in the geoscience community for in situ and bulk analyses. Nous presentons ici les rapports isotopiques et les concentrations elementaires de l’uranium et du thorium mesures dans les materiaux de reference solides de l’USGS (BHVO-2G, BCR-2G, NKT-1G), ainsi que ceux de la serie MPI-DING (T1-G, ATHO-G). Specifiquement cree pour la microanalyse, ces materiaux de reference sont des verres d’origine naturelle qui ont ete fabriques par la fusion de poudres de roche. Ils couvrent une gamme prevue de compositions, de concentrations elementaires et de rapports isotopiques. Les rapports isotopiques U-Th de deux materiaux de base reduits en poudre (BCR-2, BHVO-2) ont egalement ete caracterises. Ces nouvelles mesures obtenues en utilisant les techniques de spectrometrie de masse a ionisation thermique et a multi-collection (MC-TIMS) et de spectrometrie de masse a source plasma et a multi-collection (MC-ICP-MS) peuvent etre maintenant utilise pour evaluer la performance relative des techniques et pour faciliter la comparaison des donnees U- Th in situ et globales entre les laboratoires de la communaute des geosciences pour des analyses in situ et en vrac.
The nature of individual differences in inhibited temperament and risk for psychiatric disease: A review and meta-analysis

What makes us different from one another? Why does one person jump out of airplanes for fun while another prefers to stay home and read? Why are some babies born with a predisposition to become anxious? Questions about individual differences in temperament have engaged the minds of scientists, psychologists, and philosophers for centuries. Recent technological advances in neuroimaging and genetics provide an unprecedented opportunity to answer these questions. Here we review the literature on the neurobiology of one of the most basic individual differences-the tendency to approach or avoid novelty. This trait, called inhibited temperament, is innate, heritable, and observed across species. Importantly, inhibited temperament also confers risk for psychiatric disease. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of inhibited temperament, including neuroimaging and genetic studies in human and non-human primates. We conducted a meta-analysis of neuroimaging findings in inhibited humans that points to alterations in a fronto-limbic-basal ganglia circuit; these findings provide the basis of a model of inhibited temperament neurocircuitry. Lesion and neuroimaging studies in non-human primate models of inhibited temperament highlight roles for the amygdala, hippocampus, orbitofrontal cortex, and dorsal prefrontal cortex. Genetic studies highlight a role for genes that regulate neurotransmitter function, such as the serotonin transporter polymorphisms (5-HTTLPR), as well as genes that regulate stress response, such as corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH). Together these studies provide a foundation of knowledge about the genetic and neural substrates of this most basic of temperament traits. Future studies using novel imaging methods and genetic approaches promise to expand upon these biological bases of inhibited temperament and inform our understanding of risk for psychiatric disease.
Confidence Intervals for the MMPI--2

The confidence intervals for the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2) clinical scales were investigated. Based on the clinical scale reliabilities published in the MMPI-2 manual, estimated true scores, standard errors of measurement for estimated true scores, and 95% confidence intervals centered around estimated true scores were calculated at 5-point MMPI-2 T-score intervals. The relationships between obtained T-scores, estimated true T-scores, scale reliabilities, and confidence intervals are discussed. The possible role of error measurement in defining scale high point and code types is noted.
Rapid OTAN method for localizing unsaturated lipids in lung tissue sections

The OTAN treatment, which is the only histochemical method available at present for the simultaneous localization of hydrophobic and hydrophilic unsaturated lipids in tissue sections, requires unduly long exposure to OsO4 and use of free-floating sections, which makes handling the sections difficult and often results in their loss or damage. Simple modifications using OsO4 treatment at 37 C and slide-mounted sections eliminate the practical drawbacks of the existing method and provide as good or better localization in less than one-eight of the time. The modified method is applicable to fixed as well as fresh frozen tissues.
Application of aircraft multispectral scanner data to algae mapping over the venice lagoon

Abstract Remote sensing is a powerful tool to study eutrophication phenomena and algae blooming in coastal zones. Experiments performed utilizing aircraft multispectral scanner data taken over the Venice Lagoon demonstrate the usefulness of a methodology, based on atmospheric correction and vegetation index computation, for algae mapping in upper layers of lagoon waters. The methodology, besides being useful in studying eutrophication phenomena evolution, finds an operational application in algae monitoring and collection.
Analysis of a distributed model of leg coordination

Using tools from discrete dynamical systems theory, we begin a systematic analysis of a distributed model of leg coordination with both biological and robotic applications. In this paper, we clarify the role of individual coordination mechanisms by studying a system of two leg oscillators coupled in one direction by each of the three major mechanisms that have been described for the stick insect Carausius morosus. For each mechanism, we derive analytical return maps, and analyze the behavior of these return maps under iteration in order to determine the asymptotic phase relationship between the two legs. We also derive asymptotic relative phase densities for each mechanism and compare these densities to those obtained from numerical simulations of the model. Our analysis demonstrates that, although each of these mechanisms can individually compress a range of initial conditions into a narrow band of relative phase, this asymptotic relative phase relationship is, in general, only neutrally stable. We also show that the nonlinear dependence of relative phase on walking speed along the body in the full hexapod model can be explained by our analysis. Finally, we provide detailed parameter charts of the range of behavior that each mechanism can produce as coupling strength and walking speed are varied.
Color space analysis of road detection algorithms

Color space analysis of classification-based segmentation algorithms provides insights into the capabilities of the color vision system. In standard pattern recognition theory, classification algorithms are categorized by their discriminant functions in feature space. This analysis is applied to color classification methods used in road detection systems. There have been many systems that use classification techniques. By examining these road detection system in color space, a relationship can be seen between their color model representation and their capabilities and limitations.
Fate and Fortune in Rural China: Social Organization and Population Behavior in Liaoning 1774-1873

Fate and Fortune in Rural China is a major contribution to the study of both the social and population history of late traditional China, and that of historical demography in general. Lee and Campbell use the example of Liaoning to demonstrate the interaction between demographic and other social pressures, and to illustrate graphically the nature of social mobility and social organization in rural China over the course of the century from 1774–1873. Their conclusion - that social norms, rooted in ideology, determined demographic performance - is supported by a mass of hitherto inaccessible primary data. The authors show how the Chinese state articulated two different principles of social hierarchy, heredity and ability, through two different social organizations: households and banners. These different boundary conditions, each the explicit creation of the state, gave rise to contrasting demographic behaviour.
Is it a chief , main , major , primary , or principal concern?: A corpus-based behavioral profile study of the near-synonyms

Using the Corpus of Contemporary American English as the source data and employing a corpus-based behavioral profile (BP) approach, this study examines the internal semantic structure of a set of five near-synonyms (chief, main, major, primary, and principal).1 By focusing on their distributional patterns, especially the typical types of nouns that they each modify, the study has identified several important fine-grained semantic and usage differences among the five near-synonyms and produced a meaningful delineation of their internal semantic structure. Some of the findings of the study challenge several existing understandings of these adjectives’ meanings and usage patterns. Furthermore, the results of the study have affirmed (i) the theory and applicability of the BP approach for studying the semantic and usage patterns of synonyms in a set, and (ii) previous research findings about the co-occurrents of adjectives that best capture the essence of the semantics of adjectives, especially attributive adjectives.
An extension of Zermelo's model for ranking by paired comparisons

In 1929, Zermelo proposed a probabilistic model for ranking by paired comparisons and showed that this model produces a unique ranking of the objects under consideration when the outcome matrix is irreducible. When the matrix is reducible, the model may yield only a partial ordering of the objects. In this paper, we analyse a natural extension of Zermelo’s model resulting from a singular perturbation. We show that this extension produces a ranking for arbitrary (nonnegative) outcome matrices and retains several of the desirable properties of the original model. In addition, we discuss computational techniques and provide examples of their use. Suppose that n objects are compared a pair at a time, and that for each comparison one of the two objects in the pair is judged superior to the other. (A common example would be athletic teams engaged in pairwise competitions.) The results of the comparisons can be summarized in the outcome matrix A =( aij), where aij is the number of comparisons in which object i is judged to be superior to object j. If all of the o-diagonal elements in A +A T are the same (i.e. there has been roundrobin competition) then the natural way to rank objects would be according to their scores si = P n=1aij. If, on the other hand, the outcome matrix lacks this symmetry, it is reasonable to suspect that ranking by score is not necessarily the best possible choice. (Contrary to common mathematical usage, we will often use the word tournament when referring to this asymmetric case; when we wish to emphasize the possible lack of symmetry, we may use the phrase generalized tournament.) A wide variety of methods have been proposed for ranking generalized tournaments. (See, for example, [9, 10].) In 1929, Zermelo [33] derived the functional
Optimal variable length codes (arbitrary symbol cost and equal code word probability)

The problem of constructing minimum-redundancy prefix codes for the general discrete noiseless channel without constraints is solved for unequal code letter costs, provided that the symbols encoded are assumed to be equally probable. A graphical technique is developed for solving the problem for which the code words are equally probable and are constructed from r symbols where r is greater than or equal to two. A method is given for constructing an optimal exhaustive prefix code. This method is then generalized to the extent that the exhaustive constraint is deleted, thereby resulting in an algorithm, designated ACE for arbitrary symbol cost and equal code word probability, which solves the stated problem.
Mammalian collagenase: Direct demonstration in homogenates of involuting rat uterus

Summary Homogenates of involuting rat uterus contain an enzyme capable of digesting native collagen fibers at pH 7.5 and 37°. Collagenase activity and the uterine collagen are both found in the pellet when the homogenates are centrifuged at 6,000 g . Incubation of this pellet at 37° in the presence of calcium leads to the release of soluble degradation products of collagen. It is suggested that the collagenase is firmly bound to its substrate collagen fibers, since it cannot be readily extracted from the pellet.