cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of Gender and Blood Pressure on Poststroke Cognitive Decline among Older Latinos

Background Poststroke cognitive decline (PSCD) is an important consequence of stroke that may be more severe in women than in men. The existence of any gender differences in PSCD among Mexican Americans, and their potential mechanisms, such as blood pressure (BP), remain unknown. We assessed PSCD stratified on gender in older Mexican Americans and explored the influence of pre- and poststroke systolic BP on PSCD. Methods Among 1576 nondemented, stroke-free adults 60 years of age or older when recruited between 1998 and 1999 in the Sacramento Area Latino Study on Aging (SALSA) cohort, we examined pre- and poststroke longitudinal changes in Spanish English Verbal Learning test scores (WL), a verbal memory test, and errors on the Modified Mini Mental State Examination (3MSE) scores, a global cognition test, stratified by gender, adjusting for baseline and time-varying covariates with linear mixed effects models. Results We identified 151 adults (mean age 72 ± 8 years) with incident first-ever stroke during 10 years of follow-up. After adjustment for age, education, and time-varying depressive symptoms, 3MSE errors increased by 22% per year (95% confidence interval [CI] 6.8-36.7%) in men and 13.2% per year (95% CI 3.5-22.9%) in women over the poststroke period. Poststroke WL scores improved by 0.05 words per year (95% CI −0.24 to 0.33) in men and by 0.09 words per year (95% CI −0.16 to 0.34) in women. Results persisted after adjustment for time-varying systolic BP. Conclusions Among this population of older Mexican Americans, PSCD did not differ by gender. We found no evidence that systolic BP influenced PSCD in women or men.
What do ratings on unidimensional Pain and emotion scales really mean? A Multidimensional Affect and Pain Survey (MAPS) analysis of cancer patient responses

The purpose of the study was to determine what dimensions of pain predicted scores on numerical rating scales (NRSs) of Pain, Anxiety, Depression, and Health Expectation in cancer patients. Seventy-one patients with intra-abdominal cancer responded to the Multidimensional Affect and Pain Survey (MAPS) and rated their pain and emotion on the NRSs. Scores on the Pain NRS were predicted by 41% of clusters in the MAPS Somatosensory Pain Supercluster, but by 100% of clusters in the Emotional Pain Supercluster, and negatively by 51% of clusters in the Well-Being Supercluster. The Anxiety and Depression NRSs were each predicted by only the Intense Pain cluster in the Somatosensory Pain Supercluster, but by all of clusters in the Emotional Pain Supercluster. The findings indicate that cancer patients' emotional state is a strong co-determinant of their sensory pain ratings. Negative emotional aspects of pain contribute also to scores on the Anxiety, Depression and Health Expectation NRSs.
Is it life or is it Memorex? Video as a representation of reality

Abstract This paper offers an overview of research on infants’ early behavior toward televised images, followed by an account of the development of representational competence with video. Several aspects of representation are involved in young children’s understanding and use of video. From a very young age, children form mental representations of the contents of video, making sense of realistic images of familiar things. Children also notice and represent information regarding video itself (e.g., its 2-dimensionality). An important development occurs when children represent the relation between video and reality: at first, toddlers appear to categorize video as separate from reality, but eventually children recognize realistic video images as physical representations (symbols) of events they have not directly perceived. A mature representation of video takes into account genre (e.g., news, drama) and reality status based on recognition that video can (but does not always) represent real events.
Colloidal nanocrystal heterostructures with linear and branched topology

The development of colloidal quantum dots has led to practical applications of quantum confinement, such as in solution-processed solar cells1, lasers2 and as biological labels3. Further scientific and technological advances should be achievable if these colloidal quantum systems could be electronically coupled in a general way. For example, this was the case when it became possible to couple solid-state embedded quantum dots into quantum dot molecules4,5. Similarly, the preparation of nanowires with linear alternating compositions—another form of coupled quantum dots—has led to the rapid development of single-nanowire light-emitting diodes6 and single-electron transistors7. Current strategies to connect colloidal quantum dots use organic coupling agents8,9, which suffer from limited control over coupling parameters and over the geometry and complexity of assemblies. Here we demonstrate a general approach for fabricating inorganically coupled colloidal quantum dots and rods, connected epitaxially at branched and linear junctions within single nanocrystals. We achieve control over branching and composition throughout the growth of nanocrystal heterostructures to independently tune the properties of each component and the nature of their interactions. Distinct dots and rods are coupled through potential barriers of tuneable height and width, and arranged in three-dimensional space at well-defined angles and distances. Such control allows investigation of potential applications ranging from quantum information processing to artificial photosynthesis.
Adenosine Triphosphate Released from HIV-Infected Macrophages Regulates Glutamatergic Tone and Dendritic Spine Density on Neurons

Despite wide spread use of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in developed countries, approximately half of HIV-infected patients will develop impairments in cognitive function. Accumulating evidence suggests that neuronal dysfunction can be precipitated by HIV-infection of macrophages by mechanisms that involve alterations in innate and adaptive immune responses. HIV-infection of macrophages is known to increase the release of soluble neurotoxins. However, the composition of products released from infected macrophages is complex and not fully known. In this study we provide evidence that ATP and other immuno-/neuromodulatory nucleotides are exported from HIV-infected macrophages and modify neuronal structure. Supernatants collected from HIV-infected macrophages (HIV/MDM) contained large amounts of ATP, ADP, AMP and small amounts of adenosine, in addition to glutamate. Dilutions of these supernatants that were sub-threshold for glutamate receptor activation evoked rapid calcium flux in neurons that were completely inhibited by the enzymatic degradation of ATP, or by blockade of calcium permeable purinergic receptors. Applications of these highly diluted HIV/MDM onto neuronal cultures increased the amount of extracellular glutamate by mechanisms dependent on purinergic receptor activation, and downregulated spine density on neurons by mechanisms dependent on purinergic and glutamate receptor activation. We conclude from these data that ATP released from HIV-infected macrophages downregulates dendritic spine density on neurons by a mechanism that involves purinergic receptor mediated modulation of glutamatergic tone. These data suggest that neuronal function may be depressed in HIV infected individuals by mechanisms that involve macrophage release of ATP that triggers secondary effects on glutamate handling.
Effects of Lateralized Cerebral Dysfunction on the Continuous Paired-Associate Test

Some authorities have advocated matching tests on several critical psychometric properties before inferring the presence of a differential pattern of deficit. This study examined the effects of lateralized cerebral dysfunction on the matched Verbal and Design subtests of the Continuous Paired-Associate Test (CPAT). Patients with lateralized destructive lesions were studied in Experiment 1. Epileptic patients with lateralized electroencephalographic findings were studied in Experiment 2. Left but not right hemispheric abnormalities impaired performance on the Verbal CPAT, but only for destructive lesions. The Designs CPAT was a nonspecific indicator of cerebral dysfunction. For studies with the goal of predicting laterality of cerebral dysfunction, we advocate a two-step strategy of test development. The first step would make use of the principle of double dissociation in selecting items to compose subtests. The second step would involve an item analysis of subtests to determine the need for matching.
Contribution of breast volume and weight to body fat distribution in females

Breast volume and body composition were measured in 45 adult females to determine the contribution of breast weight and breast volume to total body fat. Plaster casts were filled with sand of known density to obtain breast volume. Breast weight was computed as breast volume times its density. The correlation between total breast volume and percent body fat was r = .40. Breast weight (x = 484 grams) accounted for 3.5 percent of the total weight of body fat, and at most, 12 percent of the estimated quantities of sex-specific fat. A theoretical model is proposed for the distribution of body fat in the female which subdivides total body fat into three components: reserve storage fat, essential fat, and expend- able storage fat. For the purposes of in vitro and in vivo analy- sis and evaluation, the human body is some- times viewed comprising two major compo- nents, lean body mass and fat weight, each with its own density. If the whole body density (D,) is known (consisting of two intermixed but known densities), it is possible to calculate the relative and absolute fat and lean components, re- spectively (Brozek et al., '63). Behnke ('69) has suggested that the body's total quantity of fat can be partitioned into two compartments. One major subdivision is termed storage fat, repre- sentative of nutritional status located in sub- cutaneous depots and comprised of lipid tri- glyceride. For males and females storage fat averages about 8 to 10 percent of total body weight. The second compartment, essential fat, contributes 2 to 4 percent of body weight in the male and approximately 14 percent in the female. Essential fat is located in bone marrow, the deep fat stores, intramuscularly, and throughout the central nervous system. Essen- tial fat in the female also includes sex-specific fat, believed located in mammary and other tissues (Behnke and Wilmore, '74). The quan- tity of sex-specific fat is thought to range from 8 to 12 percent, although there are no direct quantitative estimates.
Two Humanistic Psychologies? A Response:

In response to certain questions raised by John Rowan (1989), Wilber suggests that there are indeed two humanistic psychologies, one of which is open to the spiritual, transcendental, or trans-personal dimensions in men and women, and one of which is not. This response includes a defense of transpersonal psychology against certain charges (notably by Rollo May) that it is, in effect, a product of unrealistic or wish-fulfillment thought, that it is out of touch with the evil side of men and women, and that "transpersonal experiences" themselves are at best imaginary. The article concludes with a defense of mysticism in general, pointing out that its claims are based on experiential evidence and thus are no more or less verifiable than any other experiential knowledge claims, including those of empirical science.
Genetic interactions controlling sex and color establish the potential for sexual conflict in Lake Malawi cichlid fishes.

Sex-determining systems may evolve rapidly and contribute to lineage diversification. In fact, recent work has suggested an integral role of sex chromosome evolution in models of speciation. We use quantitative trait loci analysis of restriction site-associated DNA -tag single nucleotide polymorphisms to identify multiple loci responsible for sex determination and reproductively adaptive color phenotypes in Lake Malawi cichlids. We detect a complex epistatic sex system consisting of a major female heterogametic ZW locus on chromosome 5, two separate male heterogametic XY loci on chromosome 7, and two additional interacting loci on chromosomes 3 and 20. Our data support the known chromosomal linkage between orange blotch color and ZW, as well as novel genetic associations between male blue nuptial color and two sex determining regions (an XY and ZW locus). These results provide further empirical evidence for a complex antagonistic sex–color system in this species flock and suggest a possible role for, and effect of, polygenic sex-determining systems in rapid evolutionary diversification.
Aminoglycoside antibiotics restore CFTR function by overcoming premature stop mutations

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by mutations in the gene encoding the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). A single recessive mutation, the deletion of phenylalanine 508 (deltaF508), causes severe CF and resides on 70% of mutant chromosomes. Severe CF is also caused by premature stop mutations, which are found on 5% of CF chromosomes. Here we report that two common, disease-associated stop mutations can be suppressed by treating cells with low doses of the aminoglycoside antibiotic G-418. Aminoglycoside treatment resulted in the expression of full-length CFTR and restored its cyclic AMP-activated chloride channel activity. Another aminoglycoside, gentamicin, also promoted the expression of full-length CFTR. These results suggest that treatment with aminoglycosides may provide a means of restoring CFTR function in patients with this class of mutation.
Compendium of the eight articles on the “Carrington Event” attributed to or written by Elias Loomis in the American Journal of Science, 1859–1861

Abstract The eight articles attributed to or written by Elias Loomis on the outstanding aurora and magnetic observations between 28 August and 5 September 1859 are assembled into one compilation for easy reference by contemporary researchers. The articles were originally published in the American Journal of Science between 1859 and 1861.
Quantitative analysis of coherent detection in a turbid medium

Coherent detection is a promising technique for medical imaging, because it offers high spectral and temporal resolution, high spatial and angular resolution, and higher signal-to- noise ratio than direct detection. Analysis techniques developed for coherent lidars used in remote sensing of clouds are applicable to coherent medical imaging. Single-scattering models, in which analysis is normally performed using the irradiance of the transmitter and of the 'back-propagated local oscillator' (BPLO), have been used for a variety of beam profiles, but are not applicable to medical imaging in highly-scattering tissue. However, recent work has extended the BPLO technique to model lidar returns from dense, highly-scattering clouds. The computation is based on fluence rates determined using a Monte-Carlo model. Results are equally applicable to various coherent imaging systems, as well as vibration measurement, and holography. The equations are described and sample results are presented for reflection from tissue and transillumination. Variations in signal behavior with different layered structures in the tissue are considered.
Fluorescence relaxation in 3D from diffraction‐limited sources of PAGFP or sinks of EGFP created by multiphoton photoconversion

The relaxation of fluorescence from diffraction-limited sources of photoactivatable green fluorescent protein (PAGFP) or sinks of photobleached enhanced GFP (EGFP) created by multiphoton photo-conversion was measured in solutions of varied viscosity (eta), and in live, spherical Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Fluorescence relaxation was monitored with the probing laser fixed, or rapidly scanning along a line bisected by the photoconversion site. Novel solutions to several problems that hamper the study of PAGFP diffusion after multiphoton photoconversion are presented. A theoretical model of 3D diffusion in a sphere from a source in the shape of the measured multiphoton point-spread function was applied to the fluorescence data to estimate the apparent diffusion coefficient, D(ap). The model incorporates two novel features that make it of broad utility. First, the model includes the no-flux boundary condition imposed by cell plasma membranes, allowing assessment of potential impact of this boundary on estimates of D(ap). Second, the model uses an inhomogeneous source term that, for the first time, allows analysis of diffusion from sources produced by multiphoton photoconversion pulses of varying duration. For diffusion in aqueous solution, indistinguishable linear relationships between D(ap) and eta(-1) were obtained for the two proteins: for PAGFP, D(aq)= 89 +/- 2.4 microm2 s(-1) (mean +/- 95% confidence interval), and for EGFP D(aq)= 91 +/- 1.8 microm2 s(-1). In CHO cells, the application of the model yielded D(ap)= 20 +/- 3 microm2 s(-1) (PAGFP) and 19 +/- 2 microm2 s(-1) (EGFP). Furthermore, the model quantitatively predicted the decline in baseline fluorescence that accompanied repeated photobleaching cycles in CHO cells expressing EGFP, supporting the hypothesis of fluorophore depletion as an alternative to the oft invoked 'bound fraction' explanation of the deviation of the terminal fluorescence recovery from its pre-bleach baseline level. Nonetheless for their identical diffusive properties, advantages of PAGFP over EGFP were found, including an intrinsically higher signal/noise ratio with 488-nm excitation, and the requirement for approximately 1/200th the cumulative light energy to produce data of comparable signal/noise.
Promoting Bank Accounts to Low-Income Households: Implications for Social Work Practice

In the wake of the recent economic challenges, it is clear that social workers must be educated about the financial opportunities for low-income households. Encouraging low-income households to have a bank account at an insured depository institution, or become banked, is increasingly emphasized in policy and practice. Becoming banked offers the opportunity to avoid high-cost alternative financial services. Social workers can facilitate relationships between low-income households and the mainstream financial services industry to help families advance their long-term financial interest. Understanding the structure of all types of banks and credit unions is imperative. Implications for social work practice are explored.
Maskless selective diffusion of Si into GaAs

A maskless selective diffusion of silicon into GaAs is achieved by the selective modification of the GaAs surface using low energy Ar sputtering. The Ga rich surface resulting from the Ar sputtering prevents the diffusion of silicon into GaAs.
Modelling the effect of form and profile adjustments on channel equilibrium timescales

A model for describing river channel proﬁle adjustments through time is developed and applied to a river responding to base-level lowering in order to examine the effect of channel widening and downstream aggradation on equilibrium timescales. Across a range of boundary conditions, downstream aggradation controlled how quickly a channel reached equilibrium. Channel widening either increased or decreased the equilibrium timescale, depending on whether or not sediment derived from widening was deposited downstream. Results suggest that proﬁle adjustments are more important than channel width adjustments in controlling equilibrium timescales for a channel responding to base-level lowering. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Simplicial minisuperspace. II. Some classical solutions on simple triangulations

The extrema of the Euclidean Regge gravitational action are investigated numerically for some closed, compact, four‐dimensional simplicial manifolds with topologies S4, CP2, and S2×S2.
The small acid soluble proteins (SASP α and SASP β) of Bacillus weihenstephanensis and Bacillus mycoides group 2 are the most distinct among the Bacillus cereus group

The Bacillus cereus group includes Bacillus anthracis, B. cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus mycoides and Bacillus weihenstephanensis. The small acid soluble spore protein (SASP) beta has been previously demonstrated to be among the biomarkers differentiating B. anthracis and B. cereus; SASP beta of B. cereus most commonly exhibits one or two amino acid substitutions when compared to B. anthracis. SASP alpha is conserved in sequence among these two species. Neither SASP alpha nor beta for B. thuringiensis, B. mycoides and B. weihenstephanensis have been previously characterized as taxonomic discriminators. In the current work molecular weight (MW) variation of these SASPs were determined by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for representative strains of the 5 species within the B. cereus group. The measured MWs also correlate with calculated MWs of translated amino acid sequences generated from whole genome sequencing projects. SASP alpha and beta demonstrated consistent MW among B. cereus, B. thuringiensis, and B. mycoides strains (group 1). However B. mycoides (group 2) and B. weihenstephanensis SASP alpha and beta were quite distinct making them unique among the B. cereus group. Limited sequence changes were observed in SASP alpha (at most 3 substitutions and 2 deletions) indicating it is a more conserved protein than SASP beta (up to 6 substitutions and a deletion). Another even more conserved SASP, SASP alpha-beta type, was described here for the first time.
Acute Psychosocial Stress-Mediated Changes in the Expression and Methylation of Perforin in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Perforin (PRF1) is essential for immune surveillance and studies report decreased perforin in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), an illness potentially associated with stress and/or infection. We hypothesize that stress can influence regulation of PRF1 expression, and that this regulation will differ between CFS and non-fatigued (NF) controls. We used the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) as a standardized acute psychosocial stress, and evaluated its effect on PRF1 expression and methylation in CFS (n = 34) compared with NF (n = 47) participants. During the TSST, natural killer (NK) cells increased significantly in both CFS (P = <0.0001) and NF subjects (P = <0.0001). Unlike previous reports, there was no significant difference in PRF1 expression at baseline or during TSST between CFS and NF. However, whole blood PRF1 expression increased 1.6 fold during the TSST in both CFS (P = 0.0003) and NF (P = <0.0001). Further, the peak response immediately following the TSST was lower in CFS compared with NF (P = 0.04). In addition, at 1.5 hours post TSST, PRF1 expression was elevated in CFS compared with NF (whole blood, P = 0.06; PBMC, P = 0.02). Methylation of seven CpG sites in the methylation sensitive region of the PRF1 promoter ranged from 38%-79% with no significant differences between CFS and NF. Although, the average baseline methylation of all seven CpG sites did not differ between CFS and NF groups, it showed a significant negative correlation with PRF1 expression at all TSST time points in both CFS (r = -0.56, P = <0.0001) and NF (r = -0.38, P = <0.0001). Among participants with high average methylation (≥65%), PRF1 expression was significantly lower in CFS than NF subjects immediately following TSST. These findings suggest methylation could be an important epigenetic determinant of inter-individual differences in PRF1 expression and that the differences in PRF1 expression and methylation between CFS and NF in the acute stress response require further investigation.
Enthalpies of Solution of Sodium Chloride and Potassium Sulfate in Water. Thermodynamic Properties of the Potassium Sulfate + Water System†

An adiabatic calorimeter was used to measure enthalpies of solution into water of sodium chloride (∼0.13 mol·kg-1) at nominal temperatures of 298.15 K, 303.15 K, and 308.15 K and of potassium sulfate (∼0.039 mol·kg-1) at nominal temperatures of 298.15 K and 303.15 K. The results for sodium chloride were compared to a previous equation of state so as to validate the use of values from that equation of state for calibration of, or checks on the accuracy of, solution calorimeters. Thermodynamic properties from the literature for the potassium sulfate + water system and the present measurements were used to generate equations that represented the thermodynamic properties of this system from the freezing point of the aqueous solution to 500 K. The measured values included in the fitted equations spanned the range of temperature of approximately 271 K to 530 K for K2SO4(aq) and 13 K to 854 K for K2SO4(cr). New equations and/or values for the following properties are given in the present work: (1) thermal prope...
Biometric Models of Fertility

Biometrics models describe aspects of fertility in terms of mathematical functions. A number of purposes are served by these models: description and estimation, prediction, and evaluation of the effects of changes in the parameters governing the specified relationships. This paper, by reviewing reproductive models of varying complexity, attempts to illustrate their many uses in fertility, research. As mortality in the world declines, fertility becomes, more and more, the primary determinant of population growth and structure. Recognition of this situation has spurred interest in documenting levels of fertility and causes of changes in birth rates throughout history and in investigating how rates might change in the future. Fertility research, therefore, is directed toward measuring, explaining, predicting and, in some cases, influencing numbers of births and other characteristics of reproductive behavior. Biometric models have proved useful in the pursuit of each of these goals. These models are attempts to describe various aspects of fertility by means of a mathematical function whose parameters may vary among populations. Existing models differ greatly in the variables which are included as determinants of reproduction. This paper is intended as a review of models of increasing complexity in terms of inclusion of variables affecting fertility, and an analysis of both existing and possible applications. In no way is it intended as an exhaustive analytical and critical treatment, but rather as an overview of as wide a variety of examples as is possible in a brief survey. One major purpose of models is concise description of some aspect of fertility behavior. If a particular model adequately represents reality, the characteristics of a given population can be summarized by the parameters of the model as estimated from a body of data, thereby facilitating study of variation among populations or within a population over time. When a model is postulated, methods of estimating its parameters must be devised and tested for their adequacy. Both the development and comparison of procedures and the consideration of kinds of data sufficient for estimation purposes have proved fruitful. Interestingly, in a number of cases demographers have been able to devise, with the help of a model, procedures which employ data that otherwise would be considered inadequate for estimating a specified characteristic. Thus, an extremely important service performed by models is to increase our knowledge of either current or past levels of fertility. Another way of exploiting models is in predicting or forecasting fertility or population growth as extrapolations from an appropriate model viewed as theory. Nathan Keyfitz (1971) called prediction the "trisecting the angle" of demography because most attempts, like those of mathematicians to trisect the angle, have failed. Yet, in
Adult Children of Divorce and Intimate Relationships: Implications for Counseling

Many researchers have suggested that parental divorce can influence intimacy and marital attitudes in the relationships of adult children of divorce (ACD). This study examined the effect of parenta...
The Human Motor System Supports Sequence-Specific Representations over Multiple Training-Dependent Timescales

Motor sequence learning is associated with increasing and decreasing motor system activity. Here, we ask whether sequence-specific activity is contingent upon the time interval and absolute amount of training over which the skill is acquired. We hypothesize that within each motor region, the strength of any sequence representation is a non-linear function that can be characterized by 3 timescales. We had subjects train for 6 weeks and measured brain activity with functional magnetic resonance imaging. We used repetition suppression (RS) to isolate sequence-specific representations while controlling for effects related to kinematics and general task familiarity. Following a baseline training session, primary and secondary motor regions demonstrated rapidly increasing RS. With continued training, there was evidence for skill-specific efficiency, characterized by a dramatic decrease in motor system RS. In contrast, after performance had reached a plateau, further training led to a pattern of slowly increasing RS in the contralateral sensorimotor cortex, supplementary motor area, ventral premotor cortex, and anterior cerebellum consistent with skill-specific specialization. Importantly, many motor areas show changes involving more than 1 of these 3 timescales, underscoring the capacity of the motor system to flexibly represent a sequence based on the amount of prior experience.
Listeria monocytogenes σB Modulates PrfA-Mediated Virulence Factor Expression

Listeria monocytogenes σB and positive regulatory factor A (PrfA) are pleiotropic transcriptional regulators that coregulate a subset of virulence genes. A positive regulatory role for σB in prfA transcription has been well established; therefore, observations of increased virulence gene expression and hemolytic activity in a ΔsigB strain initially appeared paradoxical. To test the hypothesis that L. monocytogenes σB contributes to a regulatory network critical for appropriate repression as well as induction of virulence gene expression, genome-wide transcript profiling and follow-up quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR), reporter fusion, and phenotypic experiments were conducted using L. monocytogenes prfA*, prfA* ΔsigB, ΔprfA, and ΔprfA ΔsigB strains. Genome-wide transcript profiling and qRT-PCR showed that in the presence of active PrfA (PrfA*), σB is responsible for reduced expression of the PrfA regulon. σB-dependent modulation of PrfA regulon expression reduced the cytotoxic effects of a PrfA* strain in HepG2 cells, highlighting the functional importance of regulatory interactions between PrfA and σB. The emerging model of the role of σB in regulating overall PrfA activity includes a switch from transcriptional activation at the P2prfA promoter (e.g., in extracellular bacteria when PrfA activity is low) to posttranscriptional downregulation of PrfA regulon expression (e.g., in intracellular bacteria when PrfA activity is high).
Data Detection for Doubly-Selective MIMO Channels Using Decision-Directed Channel Tracking and Exponential Basis Models

We present a decision-directed tracking approach to doubly-selective MIMO channel estimation, exploiting the complex exponential basis expansion model (CE-BEM) for the overall channel variations, and an autoregressive (AR) model to update the BEM coefficients. We track the BEM coefficients via Kalman filtering, aided by symbol decisions from a decision-feedback equalizer (DFE). The time gap between symbol decisions and required channel estimates, arising from the decision-directed tracking, is bridged by CE-BEM-based channel prediction using the estimated BEM coefficients. Simulation examples demonstrate its superior performance over the existing AR-based and subblock-wise channel tracking schemes.
Radiographic Film Methods

Osteoporosis remained an undetected and unmentioned disease until the 1920s. It was not until x-ray film methods came into widespread use in the 1920s that there was a means of visualizing the disease. As the life expectancy in humans increased in the early decades of the twentienth century, more people were living long enough to manifest the disease. In the 1930s and 1940s, routine x-ray film methods were used to detect osteoporosis (Davies and Saha, 1985). Today, the most widely available technique for the diagnosis of osteoporosis is the use of standard radiographs of the spine and other areas of the skeleton.
Relationships between caregiver violence exposure, caregiver depression, and youth behavioral health among homeless families

Homelessness affects a large and increasing number of families in the United States, and exposure to violence and other potentially traumatic events is common among homeless families. It is important to understand more about this population and, more specifically, about the relationship between youth mental health and caregiver mental health and trauma exposure among homeless families, in order to better serve the needs of this vulnerable population. The objective of this study is to explore the relationships between caregiver exposure to violence, caregiver depression, and youth depression and behavioral problems among homeless families. Preliminary findings indicate that among this sample of homeless families, caregiver violence exposure has statistically significant relationships with both youth behavioral problems and youth depression symptoms, as mediated by caregiver depression. These findings indicate that youth behavioral health is associated with caregiver mental health, which, in turn, is associated with caregiver trauma exposure. This highlights the importance of taking into account adult mental health while treating youth externalizing and internalizing behaviors and ensuring that caregivers, too, have access to adequate treatment and supports. Furthermore, this treatment should be trauma informed, given the link between trauma and mental health.
Silent Data Corruption and Embedded Processing With NASA's SpaceCube

Dramatic increases in embedded data processing performance are becoming possible using platforms such as the NASA SpaceCube. With a flexible architecture and commercial devices, selected computations can be tuned for the highest performance while giving up perfect data reliability. More needs to be known about the nature of silent data corruption in this paradigm. When it occurs, how pervasive is it? To what extent can it be mitigated while near-optimal performance is maintained? This paper provides new insights into these questions, via a fault emulation-based study of two disparate applications running on a hard-core embedded processor. Two very low-cost methods of data error detection reduce the worst type of silent data corruption (SDC) by 89-97% with a performance overhead of <; 1%.
Theoretical studies of UV-preionized transverse discharge KrF and ArF lasers

A theoretical model has been developed to examine the behavior of UV preionized, fast transverse discharge, rare-gas halide lasers. The model integrates the time dependent circuit equations for the discharge, the kinetic equations for the important atomic and molecular species and electrons, and the equations describing the growth of the spontaneous and stimulated emission. Results of KrF and ArF are compared with those in a companion experimental paper by Sze and Loree. The effects of various self-absorption mechanisms in the laser media are discussed, along with the possible impact of several uncertainties regarding the fundamental processes occurring in such lasers.
Sin Taxes: When the State Becomes the Sinner

To fill budget gaps, several state legislatures have proposed increasing existing taxes on tobacco and alcohol products. In addition, some states (as well as the federal government) are considering the enactment of new 'sin taxes,' for example on high sugar drinks and internet pornography. This working paper examines the arguments for and against imposing sin taxes. It argues that the use of sin tax revenues should be limited to ameliorating the problems caused by the 'sinful' product rather than for general governmental purposes. The paper uses the Master Settlement Agreement between the states and major tobacco companies to illustrate the moral hazard that is created when states become dependent on sin tax revenues. Finally, the paper draws out lessons from the states’ experience with taxing tobacco products to identify issues that should be considered as state legislatures weigh whether to enact new sin taxes.
Letter by Gallet and Marbán Regarding Article, “Intracoronary Injection of Large Stem Cells: Size Matters”

We have read with interest the editorial1 about our article on intracoronary cardiosphere infusion.2 In his editorial, Ishikawa1 proposes 4 different mechanisms that might explain the absence of microinfarctions after cardiosphere injection: (1) adhesion and transmigration of cardiospheres in the large vessels, (2) passage of the cardiospheres through the capillaries, (3) transient microvascular occlusion followed by …
Sexual dysfunction in the diabetic BB/WOR rat: a role of central neuropathy

The pathophysiological mechanisms of diabetic impotence remain obscure. We have presented an analysis of sexual function in a diabetic rat (BB/WOR) model characterized by diffuse neuropathic changes without a confounding vasculopathy that allows us to define the neural components of erectile failure. Copulatory behavioral testing demonstrated that diabetic males were severely impaired: the controls mounted three times more than the diabetics and had about one-half the latency to first mount. The diabetics had about one-fourth the number of intromissions and took nearly twice as long to achieve first ejaculation. The number of ejaculations was drastically reduced as well. We examined sexual reflexes in the anesthetized acutely spinalized rat. These experiments tested the integrity of spinal circuits controlling sexual function. Reflex testing demonstrated that spinal sexual reflexes were also severely impaired: the onset latency of reflexes was more than doubled, and the duration of reflexes was less than one-half. More than one-half of the diabetic rats showed no penile erections. Neural studies showed even more derangement in reflex measures in rats, without erection. Nerve conduction velocity experiments suggested a peripheral neuropathic change in hypogastric nerve and motor pudendal nerve fibers. These dysfunctional findings were seen without any androgen deficiency. These results indicate that diabetic impotence in this model reflects central and peripheral neuropathic disease processes.
Hydrothermal Synthesis of MoO2 Nanoparticles Directly onto a Copper Substrate

Recently, molybdenum oxide (MoO2) has been found to be a chemically stable and relatively inexpensive material for the application as the anode in a lithium ion battery [1-5]. We believe the use of MoO2 in battery applications has been hindered due to a long, complicated, and multistep synthesis process. We present a simple one-pot hydrothermal technique to synthesize MoO2 nanoparticles directly onto a copper (Cu) substrate.We believe this is a first report of the synthesis of MoO2 directly onto a Cu substrate, and could lead to the ability to both fabricate other materials in a similar manner as well as depositing MoO2 onto other substrates. This technique can reduce anode production time by eliminating the coating process, and also decrease the total amount of chemicals used when compared to a typical powder synthesis and coating processes. The MoO2 coated Cu electrode was characterized using Raman Spectroscopy, Grazing Incident X-ray Diffraction (GIXRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques to confirm the composition, crystallinity and structure of the synthesized MoO2 nanomaterial.
Hepatitis C in methadone maintenance patients: prevalence and public policy implications.

Objective: This study measured the extent and examined implications of hepatitis C (HCV) infection in a methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) population. Method: Four hundred and sixty patients were tested for HCV-Ab, hepatic enzymes and bilirubin, HCV-RNA, and hepatitis B antibody. Results: Overall, 87% of this population had evidence of HCV-Ab. Among drug injectors (IDU), 96% were HCV-Ab positive. Among a subset of Laotian opium-smoking patients prevalence was only 11%. Sixty-two percent of patients with HCV-Ab had detectable HCV-RNA. Only 41% had elevated hepatic enzymes, and 5% had elevated bilirubin levels. All age groups were equally infected. Systemic problems in screening and treating HCV in drug users were identified. Conclusion: HCV infection poses significant long-term health risks for this population. Harm reduction interventions aimed at reducing transmission of HCV and other needle-related infectious disease deserves more consideration.
Vitamin A Deficiency in the Rat Prior to Weaning

SummaryFemale rats maintained on retinoic acid and given a supplement of 1 μg of retinyl acetate during part of pregnancy delivered normal offspring that became vitamin A deficient in the first 2 weeks of life. If the rats were not supplemented with vitamin A, reversible crippling of the front legs occurred frequently in the second week of life. If retinoic acid supplementation was started a few days after birth, the rats developed normally but their growth would stop in 4 days whenever the supplement was removed from the diet. Growth resumed promptly when retinoic acid was again supplied.
The New York Botanical Garden Lichen Herbarium: A unique resource for fungal biodiversity research and education

The history and development of the lichen research program and herbarium at The New York Botanical Garden are reviewed.
Histopathological changes in leiomyomata treated with leuprolide acetate

Several studies have shown a decrease in uterine and/or leiomyoma volume when treated with leuprolide acetate (LA), a widely used gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist. The mechanism by which these changes occur is unknown. In this study, the histopathological slides of 31 women of reproductive age who underwent hysterectomy or myomectomy were blindly reviewed by a pathologist. Seventeen women underwent myomectomy. Among those, 10 were treated with LA. The tumors in all of these patients were reduced in size after therapy. Histopathologically, the LA treatment correlated with a significant reduction in cellularity. No significant change in fibrosis, edema, or mitotic activity was seen.
Assessment and management of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia include agitation, depression, apathy, repetitive questioning, psychosis, aggression, sleep problems, wandering, and a variety of inappropriate behaviors. One or more of these symptoms will affect nearly all people with dementia over the course of their illness. These symptoms are among the most complex, stressful, and costly aspects of care, and they lead to a myriad of poor patient health outcomes, healthcare problems, and income loss for family care givers. The causes include neurobiologically related disease factors; unmet needs; care giver factors; environmental triggers; and interactions of individual, care giver, and environmental factors. The complexity of these symptoms means that there is no “one size fits all solution,” and approaches tailored to the patient and the care giver are needed. Non-pharmacologic approaches should be used first line, although several exceptions are discussed. Non-pharmacologic approaches with the strongest evidence base involve family care giver interventions. Regarding pharmacologic treatments, antipsychotics have the strongest evidence base, although the risk to benefit ratio is a concern. An approach to integrating non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic treatments is described. Finally, the paradigm shift needed to fully institute tailored treatments for people and families dealing with these symptoms in the community is discussed.
Consumption and Equity

In this chapter, I will discuss the dimensions of both consumption and equity in the context of tourism and social and environmental equity. These are the dimensions in global political economy of the environment that are most often neglected by the neoliberal institutionalist literature. Neoliberal institutionalism puts emphasis on political processes and mechanisms based on technical expertise within the parameters of predominant economic values and thus follows the canon of classical economic theory which sees consumption and production as two sides of the same coin. Consumption is the final destination of all that is produced. This means that both production and consumption activities today are more pervasive than at any other time because in the past ten years alone world output grew by 50 per cent and this has obviously led to unprecedented levels of consumption (World Bank, 2008: 193). The academic literature in global political economy has concentrated on analyzing production as the driving vehicle of progress and explanatory variable of social relations, and has seen the activity of consumption as a natural extension of this production structure rather than as a social force or activity in its own right (Boyer and Drache, 1996; Hoogvelt, 1997; Hirst and Thompson, 1996; Dicken, 2007). This means that the study of consumption has been neglected and is one of the least understood of economic activities.
Clarifying and Furthering Existential Psychotherapy: An Introduction

This article serves as an introduction to this text on existential psychotherapy, which originated as a special issue of the Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy (2015, Volume 45, No. 1). This book clarifies and furthers existential psychotherapy for those who may not be familiar with the merits of these approaches. There is value in them, but they are often misunderstood. Contributions to this work represent a range of international perspectives, with submissions from the United States, the United Kingdom, Colombia, the Russian Federation, and Portugal. These works explain an array of existential psychotherapy schools of thought considering different contexts.
Caveolin-1 Is Required for VEGF- Triggered Multiple Myeloma Cell Migration and Is Targeted by Bortezomib (Velcade®).

We recently demonstrated that caveolae, vesicular flask-shaped invaginations of the plasma membrane represent novel therapeutic targets in multiple myeloma (MM). In the present study, we demonstrate that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) triggers Src-dependent phosphorylation of caveolin-1, which is required for p130Cas phosphorylation and MM cell migration. Conversely, depletion of caveolin-1 by antisense methodology abrogates p130Cas phosphorylation and VEGF-triggered MM cell migration. The proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, both inhibited VEGF-triggered caveolin-1 phosphorylation and markedly decreased caveolin-1 expression. Consequently, bortezomib inhibited VEGF- induced MM cell migration. Bortezomib also decreased VEGF secretion in the bone marrow microenvironment and inhibited VEGF-triggered tyrosine phosphorylation of caveolin-1, migration, and survival in HUVECs. Taken together, these studies demonstrate the requirement of caveolae for VEGF-triggered MM cell migration and identify caveolin-1 in MM cells and HUVECs as a molecular target of bortezomib.