cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Historical and Current Concepts Regarding Urodynamics in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

In this review, current literature on management of neurogenic bladder in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is summarized. Topics include a review of MS, a brief overview of general treatment options, the effects of MS may manifest on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), and clinical assessment of these patients. The utility of urodynamic evaluation in this patient population and the use of antibiotic prophylaxis in patients with MS on immunomodulatory medications are reviewed. Unlike neurogenic bladder in spinal cord patients, lower urinary tract dysfunction in MS patients rarely leads to upper urinary tract deterioration. Currently there is no consensus on imaging as a screening tool to assess renal deterioration in this patient population. Internationally, there are differing opinions on the necessity of performing invasive urodynamic (UDS) investigation in MS patients during initial assessment. However, UDS evaluation can be useful in the guidance of treatment options and patient counseling and prior to more invasive interventions. Depending on the severity of MS, lower urinary tract symptoms are common and can evolve with progression of the disease. Although individual guidelines exist for management of patients with MS and select aspects of neurogenic LUTS, an optimal guideline for initial evaluation and surveillance is not available. The evaluation of patients with MS reporting LUTS should be uniquely tailored and take into consideration individual symptoms, disease course, comorbidities, and medications. Additionally, MS patients on immunomodulation medications that undergo UDS should be considered for prophylactic antibiotics.
Oncolytic Newcastle disease virus expressing a checkpoint inhibitor as a radioenhancing agent for murine melanoma.

Abstract Background Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting negative regulators, or checkpoint molecules (e.g. PD1/PD-L1 & CTLA4), of anti-tumoural T cells have demonstrated clinical efficacy in treating several neoplastic diseases. While many patients enjoy remarkable responses to checkpoint inhibitors, a majority show adverse effects. Understanding how checkpoint inhibitors may augment established chemotherapy or radiotherapy regimens or other immunotherapies like oncolytic viruses may lead to better clinical outcomes measured by improved efficacy with reduced toxicity. Here, we assess how Newcastle disease virus (NDV), an oncolytic virus in clinical testing, may interact with radiotherapy to enhance checkpoint inhibitor blockade. Methods An immunocompetent B16-F10 murine melanoma model, generally considered to be a poorly immunogenic or “cold” tumour, was utilised to query whether combining localised radiotherapy with NDV may be more effective than either therapy alone in controlling tumours in mice treated with anti-PD1 or anti-CTLA4 monoclonal antibodies. We also investigated whether localised administration of a checkpoint inhibitor through an intratumoural injection of NDV that expresses anti-CTLA4 single-chain variable fragment (scFv) is comparable to systemic administration of anti-CTLA4 when combined with radiation in mediating its anti-tumour efficacy. Response rates were characterised by measuring tumour size over time, observation of complete tumour regression, and overall survival. Findings Our results show that combining NDV plus radiotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors (PD1 or CTLA4 targeted mAbs) results in significantly better complete tumour regression rates with an abscopal effect in a murine model of melanoma than either single therapy combined with checkpoint inhibitors. Finally, we also show that localised administration of a recombinant NDV expressing anti-CTLA4 plus radiation is comparable to systemic anti-CTLA4 plus radiation in mediating its anti-tumour effect as assayed by survival benefit. Interpretation Our results show that oncolytic NDV plus radiotherapy work together with checkpoint inhibitors to enhance tumour clearance of murine melanoma. NDV is an effective radiotherapy dose-sparing and immunotherapeutic agent capable of transgenic, in vivo expression of an anti-CTLA4 targeted scFv antibody with the potential to spare systemic exposure. Funding The National Institutes of Health grant HHSN272201400008C supported the work. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
COVID-19: Rescue by transcriptional inhibition.

Ali Shilatifard The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently disclosed preliminary results from their highly anticipated clinical study with the viral-specific transcriptional inhibitor Remdesivir for the treatment of adults suffering from severe COVID-19. The results, as indicated in their news release, are very encouraging! You may ask, why transcription and how is transcription being targeted for the treatment of COVID-19? Here is a short answer for you. The genetic information in our genome and that of all other living organisms is stored in the form of DNA. Viruses, however, are not living organisms but similarly store their genetic information in the form of nucleic acids as well but either as DNA or RNA, depending on the virus. Before the information in the genome can be translated into proteins, this genetic information needs to be transcribed to generate an intermediate molecule known as mRNA. The enzyme involved in the synthesis of RNA is RNA polymerase. RNA polymerases are highly conserved, both structurally and functionally from single-cell bacteria to humans, with the difference being that there are more RNA polymerase genes/subunits in the human genome and many auxiliary factors that regulate their function …
Optimized Restoration Planning of Infrastructure System-of-Systems Using Heterogeneous Network Flow Simulation

AbstractInter- and intradependencies could lead to cascading failures in infrastructures or inefficient restoration of disrupted infrastructures. To help achieve optimized restoration of inter- and...
Expanding Food Agency Theory and Measurement with Mixed Methods: A Study from Philadelphia

This qualitative strand of a mixed-methods study investigates the experiences of a group of low-income residents of color and university students from Philadelphia, in conjunction with the devel­opment of the Cooking and Food Provisioning Scale (CAFPAS). The CAFPAS is a tool for understanding and intervening in people’s ability to access and prepare food, an ability known as “food agency.” Qualitative data identified in this study reveal aspects of food agency not measured by the scale, such as the constraints of the physical environment and lack of money, or strategic provisioning to overcome barriers to access. Physical distance from food sources combined with income and time barriers makes procuring and preparing food difficult to achieve. Pro­visioning practices, such as strategic shopping and gardening, thus emerged as a means to mitigate such socioeconomic barriers to enacting food agency. Personal aspirations—to eat more healthfully, cook more skillfully, and have greater self-sufficiency—also emerged as an unexpectedly important way in which people related to their own food choices and actions. CAFPAS scores are perhaps best understood with accompanying contextual data to elucidate food agency in particular places and life circumstances. Likewise, a qualitative inquiry into food agency can be appropriately contextualized by connecting it to broader patterns in CAFPAS scores. For a full conception of food agency, if it is to be applied in community projects or policy decisions, we need to better understand individuals’ preferred actions and the place-based structures that either support or inhibit them.
Preserved Efficacy and Reduced Toxicity with Intermittent Linezolid Dosing in Combination with Bedaquiline and Pretomanid in a Murine Tuberculosis Model.

The novel regimen of bedaquiline, pretomanid, and linezolid (BPaL) is highly effective against drug-resistant tuberculosis, but linezolid toxicities are frequent. We hypothesized that, for a similar total weekly cumulative dose, thrice-weekly administration of linezolid would preserve efficacy while reducing toxicity compared with daily dosing, in the context of the BPaL regimen. Using C3HeB/FeJ and BALB/c mouse models of tuberculosis disease, thrice-weekly linezolid dosing was compared with daily dosing, with intermittent dosing introduced (i) from treatment initiation or (ii) after an initial period of daily dosing. In all animals, BPa was dosed daily throughout treatment. Blood counts were used to assess hematologic toxicity. After unexpected findings of apparent antagonism, we conducted additional experiments to investigate strain-to-strain differences in the contribution of linezolid to regimen efficacy by comparing each 1- and 2-drug component to the BPaL regimen in BALB/c mice infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv or HN878. Giving linezolid daily for 1 to 2 months achieved the greatest efficacy but, after that, results were similar if the drug was stopped, dosed thrice-weekly, or continued daily. Erythrocyte counts were lower with daily than thrice-weekly dosing. Linezolid had additive effects with BPa against M. tuberculosis H37Rv but antagonistic effects with BPa against M. tuberculosis HN878. However, the overall efficacy of BPaL was high and similar against both strains. Dosing linezolid daily for the first 2 months and then less frequently thereafter may optimize its therapeutic margin. Linezolid's contribution to BPaL regimens may depend on the M. tuberculosis strain.
Computational modeling of low-velocity impact response of woven carbon laminates in arctic conditions

Ice melting in the Arctic has led to the creation of two new passages (Northwest and Northeast), which can become viable transportation routes in the future [1]. This has resulted in a rise in demand and interest in Arctic exploration, which has brought new challenges regarding the mechanical behavior of lightweight composites used in offshore structures. Composites are typically preferred for ship structures due to their lightweight, enhanced performance and affordability. However, these materials typically experience drastic changes and degradation in their macro-andmicrostructures when exposed to seawater and cold temperatures in-service. Therefore, it is critical to have a detailed comprehension of the mechanical behavior and failure mechanisms of layered composites at low-temperatures [2]. Despite the several advantages of layered fiber reinforced composites (FRPs), a major drawback is their low resistance to impact damage. The objective of this research is to develop a computational model within the finite element method (FEA) framework that is able to predict damage and failure mechanisms such as delamination, matrix cracking and fiber fracture of FRPs during a low-velocity impact event at room temperature (25 degreesC) and arctic temperatures (-50 degreesC).
A World Without Internet: A New Framework for Analyzing a Supervised Release Condition That Restricts Computer and Internet Access

This Note explores whether a condition of supervised release that restricts computer and Internet access violates the doctrine of unconstitutional conditions. Although a circuit split has developed regarding the scope of a permissible restriction, as Courts of Appeals have been inundated with cases challenging the validity of these technology restrictions, no court has yet viewed these limits through the lens of the doctrine of unconstitutional conditions. This Note begins with a discussion of the First Amendment and the theory of unconstitutional conditions, tracing their respective developments in cases relating to prisoners, speech, and the Internet age. Next, it synthesizes the oft-criticized idea of unconstitutional conditions into a new three-prong framework, judging the propriety of a condition based on the government’s coerciveness in making the offer, the purpose for pursuing the condition, and the condition’s effect on protected speech. Then, this Note surveys cases where courts have ruled on the validity of a computer or Internet restriction, and recasts their reasoning to discuss whether such a condition may be constitutional, using the coercion-purpose-effect framework. Finally, this Note concludes that a condition is constitutional where it is accepted knowingly and voluntarily, is intended to protect the public rather than regulate speech indirectly, and where computer-monitoring and Internet-filtering technology is maximized to minimize First Amendment infringement.
Nitrofurantoin-Associated Acute Granulomatous Interstitial Nephritis:

We report the case of a 71-year-old female who was incidentally found to have nonoliguric acute kidney injury on a routine workup for new-onset visual hallucination. Further history revealed inadvertent usage of nitrofurantoin for 3 months for an anticipated urological procedure. Renal biopsy demonstrated acute granulomatous interstitial nephritis. The renal function significantly improved following discontinuation of nitrofurantoin and corticosteroid administration. We highlight a rare association of nitrofurantoin with acute granulomatous interstitial nephritis through this case report.
Biotin-induced thyroid stimulating hormone aberrations in the setting of immunotherapy:

IntroductionImmune checkpoint inhibitors are associated with immune-mediated thyroid disease and other endocrinopathies. Biotin is an over-the-counter supplement known to interfere with lab assays,...
P57 MOTHeRS' Project: Acceptability of a Medically Tailored Food Bag Treating Food Insecurity of High-Risk Pregnant Patients

Objective To develop a medically tailored emergency food bag and nutrition education handouts treating food insecurity (FIS) identified in clinical settings of rural, high-risk pregnant women. Use of Theory Grounded in the socio-ecological model Target Audience High-risk pregnant women who screen positive for FIS during an appointment. Program Description The MOTHeRS' Project is a pilot to provide mental health and maternal-fetal services via telehealth to women with high-risk pregnancies in rural OB-GYN practices where FIS rates of 18-24% exceed the state average (15%). The funder requested FIS be addressed but the timeline precluded us from interacting with the target audience or reviewing clinic records. An extensive literature review identified 9 nutrients critical but commonly under consumed in pregnancy. Published food lists from USDA and NIH were used to select foods high in the target nutrients. An online local grocery store was used to select 31 foods within the budget. Three complementary handouts were developed (eg, healthy eating, recipes, food safety) in English and Spanish. The bag and educational materials were designed to complement WIC benefits, expecting women may also receive WIC. The food bag and handouts were evaluated by 18 practitioners and/or researchers with expertise with rural, under-served pregnant women, and/or FIS. Bags were provided to patients who screened positive for FIS via the Hunger Vital Sign screener validated for clinical settings. Evaluation Methods Process evaluation was via a semi-structured telephone interview with content validated for MOTHeRS’. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using deductive content analysis to identify themes. Transcripts were reviewed independently by the research team (n = 4) using a codebook and consensus was reached regarding themes. Results Preliminary themes suggest high satisfaction, acceptance and utilization of the food. Most participants reported limited access to other food resources and sharing food with other household members. Conclusion Our findings align with previous studies further suggesting medically tailored food resources provided in clinical settings are acceptable, and potentially associated with reduced social stigma. Contents of food bag and handouts will be shared.
Transcriptional analysis of peripheral memory T cells reveals Parkinson’s disease-specific gene signatures

Summary Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a multi-stage neurodegenerative disorder with largely unknown etiology. Recent findings have identified PD-associated autoimmune features including roles for T cells. To further characterize the role of T cells in PD, we performed RNA sequencing on PBMC and peripheral CD4 and CD8 memory T cell subsets derived from PD patients and age-matched healthy controls. When the groups were stratified by their T cell responsiveness to alpha-synuclein (α-syn) as a proxy for ongoing inflammatory autoimmune response, the study revealed a broad differential gene expression profile in memory T cell subsets and a specific PD associated gene signature. We identified a significant enrichment of transcriptomic signatures previously associated with PD, including for oxidative stress, phosphorylation, autophagy of mitochondria, cholesterol metabolism and inflammation, and the chemokine signaling proteins CX3CR1, CCR5 and CCR1. In addition, we identified genes in these peripheral cells that have previously been shown to be involved in PD pathogenesis and expressed in neurons, such as LRRK2, LAMP3, and aquaporin. Together, these findings suggest that features of circulating T cells with α-syn-specific responses in PD patients provide insights into the interactive processes that occur during PD pathogenesis and suggest potential intervention targets.
A modern day experience with Brunschwig's operation: advancements in pelvic exenteration

Objectives: To evaluate the perioperative outcomes and oncologic outcomes of patients undergoing pelvic exenteration, first described by Alexander Brunschwig in 1948, for non-ovarian gynecologic malignancies at a comprehensive cancer center. Methods: All patients who underwent exenteration at our institution from 1/2010-12/2019 were identified. Patients with non-ovarian gynecologic malignancies were included. Patients undergoing palliative exenteration were included for perioperative outcomes but excluded from the survival analysis. Post-operative complications were defined as early (≤30 days) and delayed (31-180 days). Complications were graded using a validated institutional secondary surgical events system. Major complications were defined as Grade 3 or above which would, at minimum, require surgical, endoscopic, or radiological intervention. Appropriate statistical analyses were performed. Results: One-hundred patients were identified. Eighty-nine (89%) received treatment for recurrent disease, 5 (5%) for primary disease, 1 (1%) for persistent disease, and 5 (5%) received palliative treatment. The most common cancer type was cervical (n=30, 30%), followed by vulvar (n=27, 27%), uterine (n=24, 24%), and vaginal (n=19, 19%). The most common histologies were squamous cell carcinoma (n=61, 61%), endometrioid carcinoma (n=18, 18%), and adenocarcinoma (n=13, 13%). Sixty-two (62%) patients had total exenteration, 30 (30%) anterior exenteration, 8 (8%) posterior exenteration. The median age at time of surgery was 61.3 years (range, 28-86 years). There were no intraoperative deaths or deaths within 30 days of surgery. Six patients expired within the delayed time frame, including 1 (16.7%) from respiratory failure and 5 (83.3%) from aggressive progression of disease. Ninety-seven (97%) patients experienced a perioperative complication: 49 (50%) early, 1 (1%) delayed, 47 (48%) both early and delayed. Fifty/100 patients (50%) had a major complication: 22/50 (44%) early, 19/50 (38%) delayed, 9/50 (18%) both early and delayed. We did not identify any variables statistically associated with the development of a complication, including exenteration type, initial malignancy type, conduit type, operative time, estimated blood loss, or tumor volume. The median follow-up time for the entire cohort was 27.6 months (range, 1.0-117.5). The median follow-up time for survivors was 38.0 months (range, 1.0-117.5). The 3-year PFS was 61.0%, and the 3-year OS was 61.6%. There are 58 total survivors (58%), of whom 16 (28%) and 4 (7%) remain alive after 5 and 10 years, respectively. Conclusions: The complication rate for pelvic exenteration remains high, although we identified no variables showing association with the development of a complication. However, the lack of perioperative mortality, and improved oncologic outcomes, exemplify the advancements of this surgical approach since its inception.
Effect of Phenolic Acids and Esters on Respiration and Reproduction of Bacteria in Urine

Vanillic, syringic, gallic, and protocatechuic acids, methyl-p-hydroxybenzoate, and propyl-p-hydroxybenzoate generally inhibited respiration in vitro of Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Aerobacter aerogenes in human urine. In the absence of any other available carbon source, certain of the phenolic compounds were utilized. Reproduction was generally suppressed in urine buffered to pH 7, 5.6, 4.5, and 4.0. The phenolic compounds were used in the range of 0.11 to 0.99 μmole/ml.
Introduction to Biomechanics of Human Movement

Most people are extremely skilled in many everyday movements like standing, walking, or climbing stairs. By the time children are two, they are skilled walkers with little instruction from parents aside from emotional encouragement. Unfortunately, modern living does not require enough movement to prevent several chronic diseases associated with low physical activity (USD-HHS, 1996). Fortunately, many human movement professions help people to participate in beneficial physical activities. Physical Educators, coaches, athletic trainers, strength & conditioning coaches, personal trainers, and physical therapists all help people reap the benefits of physical activity. These human movement professions rely on undergraduate training in kinesiology, and typically require coursework in biomechanics. Kinesiology is the term referring to the whole scholarly area of human movement study, while biomechanics is the study of motion and its causes in living things. Biomechanics provides key information on the most effective and safest movement patterns, equipment, and relevant exercises to improve human movement. In a sense, kinesiology professionals solve human movement problems every day, and one of their most important tools is biomechanics. This chapter outlines the field of biomechanics, why biomechanics is such an important area to the kinesiology professional, and where biomechanics information can be found.
Responses of Tropical Trees to Rainfall Seasonality and Its Long-Term Changes

Seasonality and physiognomy of tropical forests are mainly determined by the amount of annual rainfall and its seasonal distribution. Climatic change scenarios predict that global warming will result in reduced annual rainfall and longer dry seasons for some, but not all, tropical rainforests. Tropical trees can reduce the impact of seasonal drought by adaptive mechanisms such as leaf shedding or stem succulence and by utilization of soil water reserves, which enable the maintenance of an evergreen canopy during periods of low rainfall. Correlations between climate and responses of tropical trees are therefore poor and the responses of tropical rainforests to climatic changes are hard to predict. Predicted climate change is unlikely to affect the physiognomy of rainforests with high annual rainfall and low seasonality. Seasonal evergreen forests which depend on the use of soil water reserves will be replaced by more drought-tolerant semideciduous forests, once rainfall becomes insufficient to replenish soil water reserves regularly. As the limits of drought tolerance of tropical rainforests are not known, rate and extent of future changes cannot be predicted.
Sensitivity analysis and computable bounds for the generalized algebraic Riccati equation

In this paper we study the effect of perturbations in the system matrices on the generalized Riccati equation. The topological aspects of the regular Riccati equation are generalized and the existence and uniqueness of a stabilizing solution to the generalized Riccati equation is guaranteed for sufficiently small perturbations in the system matrices. No assumptions are made about the stabilizability or detectability of the perturbed system. Further, bounds on the "sufficiently small" perturbations are provided which lead to computable bounds on the sensitivity of the solution.
Artificial neural network based Duty Cycle estimation for maximum Power Point tracking in Photovoltaic systems

According to a nonlinear current-voltage characteristic of Photovoltaics (PV) we need to track maximum power output of PV generation units instantly. The aim of this paper is to introduce a non-complicated method for tracking the maximum Power Point without any previous knowledge of the physical parameters linked with a Grid-Connected photovoltaic (PV) system using artificial neural networks (ANN) modelling. The ANN is trained in various conditions of PV Output Voltage and PV Output Current to forecast the Duty Cycle of DC-DC boost converter as the MPPT device. The proposed technique is implemented in Matlab/Simulink and compared with the conventional method of incremental conductance. Simulation results show a good performance of the ANN based MPPT controller. MPPT techniques that properly detect the global MPP has been widely investigated in the literature. They include hill climbing (HC), incremental conductance (IncCond), perturb-band-observe (P&O), and fuzzy logic controller (FLC). As the best of our knowledge estimation of the duty cycle of the DC-DC boost converter by Artificial Neural Network and using it in place of the whole MPPT controller and using Voltage and current has not been done so far in the literature.
Measuring User Rated Language Quality: Development and Validation of the User Interface Language Quality Survey (LQS)

Abstract Written text plays a special role in user interfaces. Key information in interaction elements and content are mostly conveyed through text. The global context, where software has to run in multiple geographical and cultural regions, requires software developers to translate their interfaces into many different languages. This translation process is prone to errors – therefore the question of how language quality can be measured is important. This paper presents the development of a questionnaire to measure user interface language quality (LQS). After a first validation of the instrument with 843 participants, a final set of 10 items remained, which was tested again ( N = 690 ). The survey showed a high internal consistency (Cronbach׳s α) of .82, acceptable discriminatory power coefficients (.34–.47), as well as a moderate average homogeneity of .36. The LQS also showed moderate correlation to UMUX, an established usability metric (convergent validity), and it successfully distinguished high and low language quality (discriminative validity). The application to three different products (YouTube, Google Analytics, Google AdWords) revealed similar key statistics, providing evidence that this survey is product-independent. Meanwhile, the survey has been translated and applied to more than 60 languages.
The longitudinal impact of depression on disability in Parkinson disease.

Objective Depression in Parkinson disease (PD) is a common problem that worsens quality of life and causes disability. However, little is known about the longitudinal impact of depression on disability in PD. This study examined the association between disability and DSM-IV-TR depression status across six years. Methods Longitudinal cohort study with assessments at study entry, year two, four, and six conducted in the Morris K. Udall Parkinson Disease Research Center. Recruitment totaled 137 adult men and women with idiopathic PD in which up to six years of data on demographic, motor, and non-motor variables was collected. Movement disorder specialists used the structured interview for DSM-IV-TR depressive disorders and the Northwestern Disability Scale to assess depression and disability. A generalized linear mixed model was fitted with Northwestern Disability Scale score as the dependent variable to determine the effect of baseline depression status on disability. Results A total of 43 participants were depressed at baseline compared to 94 without depression. Depressed participants were more likely to be female, were less educated, were less likely to take dopamine agonists, and more likely to have motor fluctuations. Controlling for these variables, symptomatic depression predicted greater disability compared to both never depressed (p = 0.0133) and remitted depression (p = 0.0009). Disability associated with symptomatic depression at baseline was greater over the entire six-year period compared to participants with remitted depressive episodes or who were never depressed. Conclusions Persisting depression is associated with a long-term adverse impact on daily functioning in PD. Adequate treatment or spontaneous remission of depression improves ADL function. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Post-Imperial English: Status Change in Former British and American Colonies, 1940-1990.

Post-Imperial English: Status Change in Former British and American Colonies, 1940–1990. Joshua A. Fishman. Andrew W. Conrad. and Alma Rubal-Lopez. eds. Contributions to the Sociology of Language, 72. Berlin and New York: Mouton de Gruyter, 1996. 654 pp.
Implementation and simulation of a fractal modulation communication system

Recent work has suggested the possibility of using homogenous signals, which can be conveniently represented in terms of orthonormal wavelet basis sets, as the modulating waveforms in communications systems. In order to research the performance of this "fractal modulation", we have developed a simulator and a high-level implementation of a complete transceiver, comprising: transmitter, channel, receiver, and data generation and verification components. Simulation results of this implementation matches the theoretical performance for fractal modulation over a channel with additive white Gaussian noise. >
Self-Inhibition of Propagating Carbenes in ROMP of 7-Oxa-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene-5,6-dicarboxylic Acid Dendritic Diesters Initiated with Ru(CHPh)Cl2(PCy3)(1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene)

The kinetic study of the ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of exo,exo-7-oxa-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene-5,6-dicarboxylic acid diethyl ester (2), exo,exo-5,6-bis[[[3,5-bis(3,4-(dodecyl-1-oxy)benzyloxy)]benzyloxy]carbonyl]-7-oxabicyclo [2.2.1] hept-2-ene (3), exo,exo-5,6-bis[[[3,4-bis(3,4,5-(dodecyl-1-oxy)benzyloxy)]benzyloxy] carbonyl]-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene (4), and exo,exo-5,6-bis[[[3,4,5-tris(3,4,5-(dodecyl-1-oxy)benzyloxy)]benzyloxy]carbonyl]-7-oxa-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene (5) initiated with Ru(CHPh)Cl2(PCy3)L (L = 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene) (1) and with the novel catalyst Ru(CH−C6H4-p-CF3)Cl2(PCy3)L (1-CF3) revealed a competition between ROMP and a facile secondary metathesis reaction between the polymer backbone and the catalyst. Both 1 and 1-CF3 polymerize 2 with a rate of propagation much higher than the rate of initiation and therefore yield polymers with a broad molecular weight distribution. It was demonstrated that the propagation was self-inhibited, and the ex...
White matter abnormalities in adolescents with major depressive disorder.

The purpose of this study was to identify areas of abnormal white matter microstructure in adolescents with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Fractional anisotropy (FA) values representing preferential diffusivity along major tracts were examined using tract-based spatial statistics across the whole brain in adolescents ages 13–19 with MDD (n = 31) compared with demographically-matched healthy controls (n = 31). We not only examined frontal lobe tracts that have been most frequently identified as abnormal in previous DTI studies of older depressed patients, but also tested for FA group differences across the whole brain to determine if adolescent depression was related to any other regional white matter abnormality. MDD-diagnosed adolescents had significantly lower FA in many regions concentrated predominantly in the frontal lobe. There also was strong evidence for lower FA in bilateral anterior/posterior limbs of the internal capsules, as well as tracts through the midbrain, left external capsule, right thalamic radiation and left inferior longitudinal fasciculus. Consistent with previous findings in depressed young and elderly adults, the current study found evidence for abnormal microstructure in white matter connections of the frontal lobe in MDD adolescents. There also was strong evidence for FA abnormalities in corpus callosum genu, internal and external capsule tracts, thalamus and midbrain, notable for both the relative magnitude of these effects and absence from most previous white matter studies of depression. These abnormalities might represent important markers of early life-onset depression.
Measuring potential doubling times of murine tumors using flow cytometry

Flow cytometric analysis of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) labeled cells has led to the description of various methods for determining population potential doubling times (Tpot) from samples obtained at a single time point. There have been several reports of results from human tumor samples using these various methods of analysis, but little documentation of the validity of these approaches in experimental tumor models. Recently, we reported results using in vitro cell cultures and determined the most reliable method for these. In this paper we report the results of this methodology when applied to two in vivo murine tumor models (MCaK and FSA). The analytic approach tested is summarized as follows: The relative movement (RMlu(t)), a measure of the mean DNA fluorescence of BrdUrd-labeled cells that have not undergone division at the time of sampling, and a quantity ν, a function of the fractions of BrdUrd-labeled divided and undivided cells, were measured for a series of time points following labeling. From each value of RMlu(t) an estimate of the length of S-phase (Ts) was computed and from each ν and Ts a value for Tpot was found. These results were compared to the values of Ts and Tpot obtained by fitting all the values simultaneously. Tumor MCaK values of Ts and Tpot of 9.6 and 28.0 h were obtained from fitting all of the data. Tumor FSA gave values of 16.8 and 42.3 h for Ts and Tpot, respectively. The results of this analysis show that single time point measurements can give reliable estimates of Ts and Tpot.
Effect of Rate of Cell Division on RNA Synthesis in Developing Frog Embryos

ENDODERM cells of developing Xenopus laevis1 and Rana pipiens embryos2,3 synthesize more RNA per cell, including DNA-like RNA, than do the more rapidly dividing ectoderm–mesoderm cells. Slowing the rate of cell division by culturing frog embryo explants in LiCl increases the amount of RNA synthesized per cell, including DNA-like RNA2, while increasing the rate of cell division by exposure to NaHCO3 has the opposite effect3. These data suggest that a reduction in the rate of cell division allows higher levels of RNA (including DNA-like RNA) to be synthesized per cell.
Individual differences in trajectories of emotion regulation processes: The effects of maternal depressive symptomatology and children’s physiological regulation.

Trajectories of emotion regulation processes were examined in a community sample of 269 children across the ages of 4 to 7 using hierarchical linear modeling. Maternal depressive symptomatology (Symptom Checklist-90) and children's physiological reactivity (respiratory sinus arrhythmia [RSA]) and vagal regulation (Delta RSA) were explored as predictors of individual differences in trajectories of emotion regulation and negativity (mother-reported Emotion Regulation Checklist; A. M. Shields & D. Cicchetti, 1997). In addition, the authors explored whether children's physiological regulation would moderate the effect of maternal depressive symptomatology on children's emotion regulation trajectories. Results indicated that over time, emotion regulation increased whereas negativity decreased, though considerable individual variability in the pattern of change was observed. Greater maternal depressive symptomatology was associated with less steep emotion regulation trajectories. There was a significant Maternal Depressive Symptomatology x Baseline RSA x Age interaction predicting emotion regulation trajectories. Overall, it appears that the development of emotion regulation over time is compromised when mothers report greater depressive symptomatology. There is also evidence that children's capacity for physiological regulation can buffer some of the adverse consequences associated with maternal depressive symptomatology.
Pigouvian Taxation, Risk Aversion, and Avoidance:

When there are large numbers of government projects in which benefits and costs are uncertain, strong arguments have been made for ignoring people's aversion to risk and basing public decisions entirely on expected values. However, these arguments are weakened in cases in which risk-averse citizens can make private expenditures to reduce their own risk. A model is presented in which pollution damage is stochastic and households expend resources to reduce their exposure. If pollution is controlled by a Pigouvian tax set equal to expected marginal pollution damage alone and the additional burden of uncertainty borne by risk-averse households is not taken into account, it is shown that the economy will operate inside of its production possibility frontier. The article concludes with an example in the policy arena where this issue is likely to be an important one.
The cell biology and physiologic relevance of ApoE recycling

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) is unique among the different apoproteins because of its many functions in the assembly, processing, and removal of plasma lipoproteins. Some of these functions require the presence of apoE inside the cell or in close association with its outer membrane. For example, the presence of apoE increases triglyceride content in newly formed very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), whereas the fast removal of chylomicrons requires the presence of a cellular pool of apoE ready to surface and bind to membrane proteoglycans and possibly to lipoprotein receptors such as the LDL receptor-related protein (LRP). Our recent discovery that VLDL-apoE internalized by hepatocytes is partially protected from lysosomal degradation and recycles through the Golgi apparatus suggests that the biologic cycle of apoE may not be concluded when the lipoprotein is taken up by the cell, and that recycling apoE may have a physiologic role in lipoprotein assembly, remnant removal, and cholesterol efflux.
MEDTOUR: a scale for measuring medical tourism intentions

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to use a theoretical model to create a scale to predict medical tourism (MT) intentions.Design/methodology/approach – The theory of planned behavior (TPB) model was applied to MT by creating a 49‐item questionnaire and collecting data from a convenience sample of 453 undergraduate students enrolled in a university located in the USA. Factor analysis was used to evaluate the results, and yielded a MEDTOUR scale containing 29 items.Findings – A regression of the three variables on an intentions scale of participation in MT had an R‐value of 0.587. The model was able to explain around 35 percent of the variance in intentions. Given the general nature of the model and the first attempt at predicting MT, the results are positive.Research limitations/implications – This research is limited due to the use of a convenience sample of undergraduate students. Further research utilizing additional samples is needed to verify the MEDTOUR scale. In addition, future research can fo...
Neuroanatomic and neuropsychological predictors of unawareness of cognitive deficit in the vascular population

Unawareness of cognitive deficit following brain damage was investigated in a sample of 108 cerebrovascular accident patients and 30 orthopaedic controls. The purpose of this study was to: 1. investigate the incidence of unawareness, 2. test if neurocognitive factors were predictive of unawareness, and 3. determine which specific neuroanatomic lesion sites were predictive of the phenomenon. Neuroanatomic lesion site was identified by CT/MRI. Unawareness of cognitive deficit was assessed using a structured unawareness interview, while neurocognitive status was quantified on several indices. Results showed unawareness was associated with brain injury (p <.0001), occurred in varying degrees of severity in about 40% of the cerebrovascular group, was significantly correlated with various neurocognitive indices, and was more frequently associated with cortical verses subcortical lesion sites (p <.0001). The results could partially be explained by existing theoretical models, but showed that both degree of neurocognitive impairment and neuroanatomic lesion site are predictive variables of the unawareness phenomenon. The potential clinical use of unawareness screening as a part of routine neuropsychological evaluation was discussed.
EFFECT OF 6-MERCAPTOPURINE (6-MP) ON DIFFERENT CLASSES OF ANTIBODY

In the primary response of mice and rabbits immunized with foreign red cells, 6-MP administration prolonged the formation of 19S antibody. 7S antibody formation was delayed and reduced in these animals. Animals treated with 6-MP during primary response exhibited a preferential 19S response when challenged in the anamnestic response. Animals immunized with small doses of antigen and treated with 6-MP only during the secondary response, reversed the usual antibody pattern and responded with preferential 19S antibody formation.
Inferring Three-Dimensional Crack Statistics from Two-Dimensional Data

In rock mechanics it is often assumed that the number of cracks whose size exceeds c is given by the exponential N0e?c/c?. It is difficult, however, to examine the cracks in a three-dimensional body to verify this exponential variation, and one is normally limited to observations on an outcropping, a cut, or a plane obtained by sectioning a sample. In this paper, we consider two mathematical problems. The direct problem is to find the distribution of the line segments in a plane section when the three-dimensional distribution of cracks is homogeneous, isotropic, and exponential. It will be shown that this distribution can be expressed by means of a Hankel function and that the distribution in a plane section is qualitatively different from the three-dimensional exponential distribution in having a peak at a finite value of segment length. It is found that the mean segment size in the plane is ?/2 times the mean crack diameter in these dimensions. This is consistent with the well-known observation that small cracks have a lower probability of being intercepted by a plane than larger cracks.The indirect problem is to infer the three-dimensional distribution of cracks from the distribution on a plane section. This problem is solved by deriving an integral equation relating the three-dimensional distribution of cracks to the distribution of line segments in a plane and showing that it can be solved for an arbitrary distribution of segments. The special case of the Hankel distribution in the plane leads to an exponential distribution in three dimensions, verifying the general solution of the indirect problem.
Effect of Cisplatin on Myoelectric Activity of the Stomach and Small Intestine in Dogs

The effect of cisplatin on interdigestive myoelectric activity (IDMA) of the gastric antrum, duodenum and jejunum, plasma concentration of motilin, and animal behavior was studied in seven conscious dogs with gastric cannulas and platinum electrodes implanted on the serosal surface of antrum and upper small intestine. Cisplatin given intravenously in a dose of 2 mg/kg resulted in complete interruption of IDMA and produced predominantly phase II-like activity, lasting as long as 24 hr. Six of the seven dogs exhibited retropropagation of spike bursts from the jejunum to the antrum which was accompanied by emesis. Retropropagation of spike bursts did not occur in one dog who did not exhibit emesis. In addition, abnormal spike bursts occurred frequently, including simultaneously occurring spike bursts in both duodenum and jejunum and nonpropagating short spike bursts in isolated segments of the upper small intestine. As phase III of IDMA disappeared, plasma motilin concentrations remained comparable to those in phase II of normal IDMA but without the cyclic increases. These studies indicate that cisplatin interrupts the regular cycle of IDMA as well as the plasma motilin cycle and produces retropropagation of spike bursts and abnormal spike bursts. These changes in both motility and plasma motilin levels may play a part in the mechanism of emesis induced by cisplatin in dogs.
Optical absorption above the optical gap of amorphous silicon hydride

From transmission and reflection measurements on glow discharge prepared aSi:Hx(x≈0.09−0.19) films we obtain the imaginary part of the dielectric constant, ϵ2 in the range 1.4 to 3.8 eV. We compare this data with the prediction of a model first introduced by Tauc for optical transitions, with momentum conservation relaxed, between the valence (occupied) and conduction (unoccupied) bands of an amorphous semiconductor. The agreement with the Tauc model is good, but is greatly improved if the constant momentum matrix element of that is replaced by a constant dipole matrix element. This substitution, which is physically plausible for the high energy optical transition considered, completely removes a spurious thickness dependence of the derived optical gap. We obtain from the modified Tauc model, an optical gap for aSi:Hx(x≈0.09−0.19) of 1.64 eV with a constant dipole matrix element of 6.7 A.