cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of Movement in Evaluation of Area-Wide Insect Pest Management Tactics

Insect management tactics can be divided into three groups according to the influence of insect movement on their evaluation: (1) the use of insecticides and antibiotic host plant characters directed against immatures, (2) the use of trap crop, trap out, adulticides, and antixenotic host plant characters directed against mobile adults and augmentative biological control relying on mobile control agents, and (3) wild host management and the use of autocidal genetic controls applied on an area-wide basis. A simulation model of insect movement is subjected to a sensitivity analysis based on average parameter values derived from the literature. It is used to explore the process of reinvasion of an area in which a pest population has been suppressed. It is estimated that suppression of Heliothis virescens (F.) over an area 25 km in diameter would be necessary to prevent substantial infiltration into the treated area by the wild population within two generations. Given such potentially large treatment areas, eight experimental designs that reduce the size and number of areas required to test the efficacy of area-wide control tactics experimentally are explored. The best designs require two smaller areas for 6 yr or two larger areas for 2 yr. The latter requires extensive sampling effort because it depends on measuring spatial gradients of insect density
485 A FAILURE IN MEDICAL AND RESIDENT EDUCATION THE UNSCRUPULOUS EXPERT WITNESS

The exponential increase in malpractice suits and medical negligence litigation has brought an increasing number of physicians into the courtroom as expert witnesses for the plaintiffs and the defense. Analysis of the testimony reveals that medical expert witnesses are frequently confused about their role in court. This confusion occurs for several reasons. Medical students and residents are given no organized or scholarly exposure to the courtroom. Experts frequently believe that they should be active participants in winning a case. Taking on this inappropriate role frequently results in dishonesty and lack of scholarship. The financial remuneration for expert witnesses has reached a level that has made it an attractive area for unscrupulous professional witnesses. It is essential that the quality and accuracy of expert testimony be improved. Although major changes in the judicial process could correct many aspects of this problem, it is unlikely to be forthcoming. The most immediate solution would be to publicize the testimony of expert witnesses so that the entire medical profession can scrutinize the level of an expert witness' scholarship. (HD 630; HD 7075; HD 11038)
Learning from our Experience in the Field: Using Participatory Development Methods in the Higher Education Classroom

Participatory development methods are used in international development work to assure local and grass-roots initiation, design, implementation, evaluation, and ownership of development programs. A tacit assumption is that a participatory process is more likely to yield a successful and sustainable program, for such a process starts with the people’s needs, mobilizes local resources, and strengthens local capacity. Thus, participatory processes have been designed to bring out the best of each individual, facilitate exchange of ideas and collaboration, and result in a much better product than any one team member could have produced alone. In turn, adult educators and other teaching and learning scholars are empirically demonstrating that college education can be improved by further involving students in the planning and evaluation of their learning. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the potential of participatory development methods in supporting the shift from a teacher-centered to a student-centered learning environment in higher education. In particular, one method, the problem/solution tree, is analyzed in-depth. Some of the contributions to teaching of the problem tree, as emphasized in the paper, include: 1) enhances group processes and cooperative learning, 2) promotes active learning, 3) nurtures multidisciplinary analysis, 4) improves student motivation, initiative, and individual work prior to class meetings, 5) promotes student development of higher order thinking skills, and 6) addresses the needs of particular students who would typically not participate in traditionally-designed group exercises.
Catheter ablation targeting complex fractionated atrial electrograms for the control of atrial fibrillation.

Purpose of review Catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation has a lower success rate than for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, due to structural, electrical and anatomical remodeling of the left atrium. Ablation strategies targeting complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAEs) are commonly employed to identify and eliminate the substrate responsible for atrial fibrillation maintenance in persistent cases. This review discusses the pathophysiology as well as the role of targeting CFAEs in catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. Recent findings As our understanding regarding the origin and role of CFAEs in atrial fibrillation continues to evolve, there have been multiple recent studies looking at pathophysiology, distribution and significance of CFAEs in atrial fibrillation. In addition, different ablation strategies targeting CFAEs have been compared with the standard pulmonary vein isolation in persistent as well as paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Recent meta-analysis studies have striven to identify atrial fibrillation patients who would benefit from CFAE ablation. Summary Whereas CFAE ablation in addition to standard pulmonary vein isolation improves outcomes in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation, there is no benefit of CFAE ablation in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Further studies are required to define and identify CFAEs more accurately, in a standardized manner, to enhance the success of catheter ablation and freedom from atrial fibrillation.
Social Class, Family Formation, and Delinquency in Early Adulthood

Recent research suggests increasing heterogeneity in the transition from adolescence to early adulthood. This study considers how this heterogeneity may influence delinquency between these two deve...
ApoA-IMilano phospholipid complex (ETC-216) infusion in human volunteers. Insights into the phenotypic characteristics of ApoA-IMilano carriers

Epidemiological studies support an inverse correlation between HDL-C and cardiovascular disease. However, low HDL-C levels do not always segregate with premature disease. These include, LCAT deficiency and the apolipoproteinA-IMilano (AIM) variant. AIM has a cysteine for arginine at position 173 in the otherwise cysteine free protein permitting AIM homodimerization and apoA-II heterodimerization. We relate the biochemical characteristics of low HDL-C phenotype AIM carriers to lipoprotein changes in humans administered recombinant dimeric AIM/palmitoyl-oleoyl phosphatidyl choline (ETC-216). Pharmacokinetic analysis of infused ETC-216 suggest a slow distribution of AIM into peripheral tissue and an extremely long terminal half-life in plasma. Following ETC-216 administration to normal human volunteers, an initial dose-dependent HDL-C elevation was observed. Thereafter, subjects transiently acquired a lipoprotein profile similar to that of AIM carriers, including reduced HDL-C and mild hypertriglyceridemia. The time-dependent changes in plasma lipids/lipoproteins may support an increased tissue cholesterol removing capacity of ETC-216. These findings provide mechanistic insight into the rapid removal of atheromatous plaques observed in humans, possibly linked to enhanced cholesterol removal capacity of ETC-216.
Application of ATP detection system in evaluation of effect of clinical cleaning and disinfection

OBJECTIVE To summarize the application scope of ATP detection system that applied in clinical ward.METHODS Have made a test by ATP detection system in different department and different object surface and compared its result with conventional environmental microbial inspection in the hospital.RESULTS The ATP test results showed that the top three disqualification of different point are the surface that patient have touched(medical bed,waiting seats,nightstand,etc.),the staff hand,the office supplies of medical personnel(telephone,printer,computer keyboard and mouse);the Top three disqualification of different department are intensive care,Clinical laboratory,outpatient and emergency department.Before and after clean and disinfection,it has statistically significant on ATP test.But it has no statistically significant on conventional environmental microbial check synchronously.ATP detection system can get results more immediately than environmental microorganism culture results.But compared with the detection by multiple antibiotic resistant bacteria checking and ATP detection system,they had no relation.CONCLUSIONS We need to strengthen clean and disinfection on high results sites.It is more sensitive by ATP test when we evaluate the degree of environmental cleaning.We′d better use the ATP at neglected site and departments,the critical events,the operating room,infection outbreak etc.We'd better use on assessing the clean degree of environment,but cannot replace routine microbiological test for the detected pathogens.
SU-F-J-178: A Computer Simulation Model Observer for Task-Based Image Quality Assessment in Radiation Therapy

Purpose: Traditionally, image quality in radiation therapy is assessed subjectively or by utilizing physically-based metrics. Some model observers exist for task-based medical image quality assessment, but almost exclusively for diagnostic imaging tasks. As opposed to disease diagnosis, the task for image observers in radiation therapy is to utilize the available images to design and deliver a radiation dose which maximizes patient disease control while minimizing normal tissue damage. The purpose of this study was to design and implement a new computer simulation model observer to enable task-based image quality assessment in radiation therapy. Methods: A modular computer simulation framework was developed to resemble the radiotherapy observer by simulating an end-to-end radiation therapy treatment. Given images and the ground-truth organ boundaries from a numerical phantom as inputs, the framework simulates an external beam radiation therapy treatment and quantifies patient treatment outcomes using the previously defined therapeutic operating characteristic (TOC) curve. As a preliminary demonstration, TOC curves were calculated for various CT acquisition and reconstruction parameters, with the goal of assessing and optimizing simulation CT image quality for radiation therapy. Sources of randomness and bias within the system were analyzed. Results: The relationship between CT imaging dose and patient treatment outcome was objectively quantified in terms of a singular value, the area under the TOC (AUTOC) curve. The AUTOC decreases more rapidly for low-dose imaging protocols. AUTOC variation introduced by the dose optimization algorithm was approximately 0.02%, at the 95% confidence interval. Conclusion: A model observer has been developed and implemented to assess image quality based on radiation therapy treatment efficacy. It enables objective determination of appropriate imaging parameter values (e.g. imaging dose). Framework flexibility allows for incorporation of additional modules to include any aspect of the treatment process, and therefore has great potential for both assessment and optimization within radiation therapy.
United States—Academic Medicine: Where Are We Going?

Critical care providers in the United States are frustrated by their participation in the most costly medical delivery system in the world, nonetheless plagued by a dismal return on investment in terms of value. The current pace of increasing cost, without budgetary restraint and without adequate guarantee of quality, is a recipe for economic disaster. However, given proper direction and stewardship, the American medical system is capable of providing high value, cost effective healthcare.
The C-Terminus of Alpha Spectrin Binds Protein 4.2 and Is Necessary for Optimal Spectrin-Actin Binding.

The red blood cell (RBC) membrane skeleton is composed principally of short F-actin filaments crosslinked by α 2 β 2 -spectrin tetramers with the assistance of protein 4.1R. Actin and 4.1R bind to the actin-binding domain (βABD) at the N-terminus of the spectrin β-chain. The adjacent, C-terminal end of α-spectrin, contains a calmodulin-like domain (αCML, aa 2262–2418) that is also called the EF hand domain and is thought to be inert or vestigial. However, the sph 1J /sph 1J mouse, which has severe hereditary spherocytosis and unstable RBC membranes, makes a mutant α-spectrin that lacks the last 13 amino acids (αCMLΔC13), showing that the domain has some important function. To investigate this function we “fished” for interacting proteins using glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-fused to the CML domain—either the wildtype (αGST-CML) or sph 1J (αGST-CMLΔC13). αGST-CML retrieved protein 4.2 from a 2M Tris HCl extract of spectrin-actin depleted human RBC membranes. Protein 4.2 bound αGST-CML with high affinity (Kd = 2.7 x 10 −7 M) but did not bind αGST-CMLΔC13. Binding was abolished by 1 mM Ca 2+ , which converts the CML domain to the liganded conformation. The binding site on protein 4.2 localized, at least partly, to amino acids 411–492. Because red cells lacking protein 4.2 are not as severely affected as sph 1J /sph 1J RBCs, we also tested the effect of the αCMLΔC13 mutation on spectrin-actin binding. A minispectrin was prepared containing the actin-binding domain plus the first four spectrin repeats of the β-chain, combined with the CML domain (±ΔC13) and the last four repeats of the α-chain. The normal and mutant minispectrins were incubated with protein 4.1R, F-actin, or both proteins. The results were striking. The minispectrin containing the normal CML domain bound actin in the presence of protein 4.1R, but the minispectrin containing the mutant CML domain did not. Similarly, the mutant minispectrin was defective in its ability to bind 125 I-4.1R in the presence of a constant amount of F-actin. However, the mutation did not affect binding of the minispectrin to protein 4.1R in the absence of actin. We have not yet tested whether protein 4.2 or Ca 2+ modulate the effects of the CML domain on spectrin-actin binding. In summary, these experiments clearly show that the calmodulin-like (EF hand) domain of α-spectrin, which was previously considered inert, binds protein 4.2 and also contributes to spectrin-actin binding in the presence of protein 4.1R. Further experiments will be needed to determine whether the CML domain binds actin directly or strengthens the binding of the adjacent actin-binding domain.
Letters to the editor in response to studies of guns in the home and homicide and suicide.

Letters to the editor are an important venue for scientific discussion and ensuring accountability of authors and editors. We investigated the content and tone of letters to the editor published in response to research on having a firearm in the home as it relates to homicide and suicide. A recent meta-analysis found 16 analytic studies of household firearm access and homicide and suicide. We audited the letters to the editor emanating from those 16 articles. Each letter was coded for themes by two raters and analyzed using descriptive statistics and cluster analysis. For comparison, we also coded and analyzed the content of letters to the editor written in response to all other articles that were published in the same journal volumes where the firearm articles appeared. We identified 30 letters regarding the gun in the home studies: 24 (80%) letters to the editor and 6 (20%) replies from original authors. Of the 24 letters to the editor, 30% contained no scientific discussion, 46% made a political reference, 17% criticized the original author’s character, and 25% criticized the journal. Moreover, 29% made a pro-gun reference, 25% made an anti-gun reference, 13% referred to the constitutional right to bear arms, 13% referred to the National Rifle Association (NRA), and 0% referred to advocacy organizations known to be in opposition to the NRA. Of these themes mentioned in letters to the editor, only the NRA was mentioned in a response by an original author. The median number of scientific citations in letters to the editor was one versus four in replies from original authors. In the articles on topics other than firearms that were analyzed as a point of comparison, only 8% contained no scientific discussion, 4% made a political reference, 2% criticized the authors’ character, and 0% criticized the journal. Letters to the editor in response to epidemiologic research on guns in the home contain considerable content that minimally advances scientific discussion; author responses meet a higher standard for science and civility, as do letters to the editor regarding research topics other than firearms. The scientific study of firearm violence could be better served with more letters containing greater scientific commentary and dissent.
Amigas Latinas Motivando el Alma (ALMA): an Evaluation of a Mindfulness Intervention to Promote Mental Health among Latina Immigrant Mothers

Latina immigrants are at increased risk for poor mental health. Amigas Latinas Motivando el Alma (ALMA) is a group-based intervention to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among Latina immigrants. Based on participants' feedback and growing evidence supporting mindfulness as a way to reduce stress and improve mental health, additional sessions of the ALMA intervention were developed and pilot tested to provide more training on mindfulness as a coping strategy. The feasibility and potential efficacy were evaluated in a community sample using a pre- and post-test study design. Findings suggested that women were satisfied with the sessions and used mindfulness strategies they learned in their daily lives. The program also reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety (19% reduction in mean depression scores and 26% reduction in mean anxiety scores). Further evaluation is needed to test the efficacy of the intervention.
Operando Synchrotron Measurement of Strain Evolution in Individual Alloying Anode Particles within Lithium Batteries

Alloying anode materials offer high capacity for next-generation batteries, but the performance of these materials often decays rapidly with cycling because of volume changes and associated mechanical degradation or fracture. The direct measurement of crystallographic strain evolution in individual particles has not been reported, however, and this level of insight is critical for designing mechanically resilient materials. Here, we use operando X-ray diffraction to investigate strain evolution in individual germanium microparticles during electrochemical reaction with lithium. The diffraction peak was observed to shift in position and diminish in intensity during reaction because of the disappearance of the crystalline Ge phase. The compressive strain along the [111] direction was found to increase monotonically to a value of −0.21%. This finding is in agreement with a mechanical model that considers expansion and plastic deformation during reaction. This new insight into the mechanics of large-volume-ch...
Double-Loop Learning in the College Classroom:

How can future ministers in the area of Christian education survive in a constantly changing world? How can the church survive if its future leaders do not know why they believe and act as they do?...
My Entrance, Her Exit.

I. My EntranceProtected by fluid,you carried meuntil I burst outinto lights and activitynoise and cold.Placed in your tired armsI can regulate my breath,I can hear your voice andbe comforted by the...
Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta during non-ST elevation myocardial infarction: A case report

Resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is a hemorrhage control technique that is increasingly being adopted for the management of noncompressible bleeding. In addition to...
Bounded Plurisubharmonic Exhaustion Functions and Levi-flat Hypersurfaces

In this paper, we survey some recent results on the existence of bounded plurisubharmonic functions on pseudoconvex domains, the Diederich–Fornaess exponent and its relations with existence of domains with Levi-flat boundary in complex manifolds.
Impact of advanced detector technology and iterative reconstruction on low-dose quantitative assessment of lung computed tomography density in a biological lung model

Purpose Quantitative computed tomography (QCT)-derived measures of lung density are valued methods for objectively characterizing lung parenchymal and peripheral airways disease and are being used in a growing number of lung disease focused trials. Detector and reconstruction improvements in CT technology have allowed for significant radiation dose reduction in image acquisition with comparable qualitative image quality. We report the impact of detector type and reconstruction type on QCT lung density measures in relation to decreasing dose indices. Methods Two sets of studies were completed in an in vivo pig model with a SOMATOM Definition Flash CT system: (a) prior to system upgrade with conventional detectors (UFC) and filtered back projection (FBP), and (b) post system upgrade with integrated electronic detectors (STELLAR) and iterative reconstruction (SAFIRE). CT data were acquired across estimated CT volume dose indices (CTDIvol ) ranging from 0.75 to 15 mGy at both inspiratory and expiratory breath holds. Semiautomated lung segmentations allowed calculation of histogram median, kurtosis, and 15th percentile. Percentage of voxels below -910 HU and -950 HU (inspiratory), and -856 HU (expiratory) were also examined. The changes in these QCT metrics from dose reduction (15 mGy down to 0.75 mGy) were calculated relative to paired reference values (15 mGy). Results were compared based on detector and reconstruction type. Results In this study, STELLAR detectors improved concordance with 15 mGy values down to 3 mGy for inspiratory scans and 6 mGy for expiratory scans. The addition of SAFIRE reconstruction in all acquired measurements resulted in minimal deviation from reference values at 0.75 mGy. Conclusion The use of STELLAR integrated electronic detectors and SAFIRE iterative reconstruction may allow for comparable lung density measures with CT dose indices down to 0.75 mGy.
Domesticating a revolution : No child left behind reforms and state administrative response

In recognition of the increased demands facing state education departments in this accountability-focused era, Gail L. Sunderman and Gary Orfield present results from a study on the response of these agencies to the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). In this article, Sunderman and Orfield analyze issues of state capacity, compiling data from interviews, policy and program document analysis, and budget and staffing information. They find that state education departments, which are tasked with intervening in underperforming schools to ensure 100 percent proficiency for all students under NCLB, may not have the necessary human and financial resources or organizational capacity to adequately meet their increased responsibilities. In addition to issues of capacity, structural, functional, and political factors all limit the ability of state education departments to completely fulfill their new administrative roles. Sunderman and Orfield suggest that state education departments have shown good faith in their resp...
What Is Fuzzy Probability Theory

The article begins with a discussion of sets and fuzzy sets. It is observed that identifying a set with its indicator function makes it clear that a fuzzy set is a direct and natural generalization of a set. Making this identification also provides simplified proofs of various relationships between sets. Connectives for fuzzy sets that generalize those for sets are defined. The fundamentals of ordinary probability theory are reviewed and these ideas are used to motivate fuzzy probability theory. Observables (fuzzy random variables) and their distributions are defined. Some applications of fuzzy probability theory to quantum mechanics and computer science are briefly considered.
Plasmon-Enhanced Autocatalytic N-Demethylation

Increasing experimental results indicate that optically excited plasmonic metal nanoparticles can drive photochemical reactions at photon flux comparable to that of solar radiation. However, experimental evidence that provides insight into the mechanism of the reactions on plasmonic surfaces has been limited. Here, using plasmon-enhanced N-demethylation (PEND) of methylene blue (MB) as model reaction, we report mechanistic analysis of photochemical reactions on plasmonic gold nanoparticles under different adsorption and atmospheric conditions using surface-enhanced Raman scattering as operando spectroscopy to monitor the reaction as a function of exposure time to the light source. We found that in air and oxygen atmospheres and in the presence of co-adsorbed water molecules, MB undergoes photochemical N-demethylation to yield thionine (complete N-demethylation product) and other partial N-demethylation products that have distinct vibrational signatures. The product signals are negligible when the MB-parti...
Medical Image Fusion (MIF) Exploring Textural Information

Medical image fusion (MIF), an image viewing technique for diagnostic images, works by reducing uncertainty and redundancy associated with viewing two separate images. The resultant fused image is easier for physicians to interpret than the originals. Even so, current MIF techniques do not always adequately resolve complex textural features or edges in the fused images. In this paper, a novel method using the properties of Gabor filters in combination with fuzzy-based pixel selection methods is described. The proposed method improves the textural properties and edges visualization of the resulting fused image. The approach used takes input images, filter them by Gabor filter, then select based on pixels with higher intensities for fusion using a fuzzy logic algorithm. The resultant images have superior texture and edge resolution when compared with either the original images or fused images created by other algorithms.
Parent Perceptions of Social Behaviors Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder Are Related to Motor Skills.

Parents who report motor difficulties as their primary concern receive autism intervention services earlier than those first concerned with communication. This study revealed that parent perception...
Cell-autonomous expression of the acid hydrolase galactocerebrosidase

Lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) are typically caused by a deficiency in a soluble acid hydrolase and are characterized by the accumulation of undegraded substrates in the lysosome. Determining the role of specific cell types in the pathogenesis of LSDs is a major challenge due to the secretion and subsequent uptake of lysosomal hydrolases by adjacent cells, often referred to as "cross-correction." Here we create and validate a conditional mouse model for cell-autonomous expression of galactocerebrosidase (GALC), the lysosomal enzyme deficient in Krabbe disease. We show that lysosomal membrane-tethered GALC (GALCLAMP1) retains enzyme activity, is able to cleave galactosylsphingosine, and is unable to cross-correct. Ubiquitous expression of GALCLAMP1 fully rescues the phenotype of the GALC-deficient mouse (Twitcher), and widespread deletion of GALCLAMP1 recapitulates the Twitcher phenotype. We demonstrate the utility of this model by deleting GALCLAMP1 specifically in myelinating Schwann cells in order to characterize the peripheral neuropathy seen in Krabbe disease.
Immune Modulation in Interventional Oncology

Interventional oncology (IO) and oncoimmunology (OI) are fields that have significantly evolved during the last two decades and are providing new opportunities to conquer cancer with a safe and effective treatment profile. Novel IO treatments have the potential to complement OI and sensitize “cold” tumors to immunostimulatory therapies with the ultimate aim of improving patient outcomes. In this manuscript, we provide an overview of the current knowledge of the immune system in cancer, the potential for IO to modulate the immune system, and how IO and OI may synergize.
Predicting hearing aid use in adults: the Beaver Dam Offspring Study

The purpose of this study was to (i) develop a model that predicts hearing aid (HA) use and (ii) determine if model fit is improved by adding factors not typically collected in audiological evaluat...
On-Chip Thermal Profiling to Detect Malicious Activity: System-Level Concepts and Design of Key Building Blocks

This article introduces an on-chip anomaly monitoring system design approach that is based on thermal profiling and side-channel analysis. The strategy aims at the realization of nonintrusive hardware Trojan (HT) detection over the lifetime of the circuit under test (CUT). To evaluate the capability of the proposed HT detection system, the on-chip electrothermal coupling is modeled as part of the simulation technique, which associates local thermal activities with circuit-level power consumption using a standard electrical simulator. To monitor the thermal profiles on chips with high sensitivity to local temperature changes and the resilience to flicker noise, the sensor architecture described in this article is the first differential temperature sensor equipped with a chopping mechanism. A methodology is described to utilize principal component analysis (PCA) to extract critical information from the quantized output of the system for effective HT detection in the presence of noise. The complete sensor signal path of the system was designed and simulated with foundry-supplied device models (130-nm CMOS technology), and the impact due to process variations have been considered via Monte Carlo simulations. The results indicate that small Trojans with approximately $2~\mu \text{W}$ of power can be detected within the thermal profile of a CUT consuming more than $500~\mu \text{W}$ . As the first step to prove the feasibility of on-chip quantization in the HT detection system, a prototype 8-bit successive approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converter (ADC) was fabricated with 130-nm CMOS technology.
Prolonged response to treatment based on cell-free DNA analysis and molecular profiling in three patients with metastatic cancer: a case series:

Background:Patients with advanced and/or metastatic solid tumors have limited treatment options. Mutations that serve as biomarkers of carcinogenesis can be found in cell-free DNA of patients’ plas...
A Systematic Review of Black American Same-Sex Couples Research: Laying the Groundwork for Culturally-Specific Research and Interventions.

This article presents the findings of a systematic review of the empirical literature related to Black American same-sex couples (BASCs). We found 16 articles that met inclusion criteria. Most arti...
Infections of the Central Nervous System

Infections of the central nervous system (CNS) may be acute (days) or chronic (months to years). The CNS is sequestered from the rest of the body. The blood brain barrier (BBB) excludes most microorganisms and also vital immune cells including phagocytes, antibodies, and complement. Once this barrier is breached, pathogens in the subarachnoid space may grow logarithmically. In this chapter, we discuss the immune response and clinical manifestations of common bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections of the CNS.
TSPO, a Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Protein, Controls Ethanol-Related Behaviors in Drosophila

The heavy consumption of ethanol can lead to alcohol use disorders (AUDs) which impact patients, their families, and societies. Yet the genetic and physiological factors that predispose humans to AUDs remain unclear. One hypothesis is that alterations in mitochondrial function modulate neuronal sensitivity to ethanol exposure. Using Drosophila genetics we report that inactivation of the mitochondrial outer membrane translocator protein 18kDa (TSPO), also known as the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor, affects ethanol sedation and tolerance in male flies. Knockdown of dTSPO in adult male neurons results in increased sensitivity to ethanol sedation, and this effect requires the dTSPO depletion-mediated increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and inhibition of caspase activity in fly heads. Systemic loss of dTSPO in male flies blocks the development of tolerance to repeated ethanol exposures, an effect that is not seen when dTSPO is only inactivated in neurons. Female flies are naturally more sensitive to ethanol than males, and female fly heads have strikingly lower levels of dTSPO mRNA than males. Hence, mitochondrial TSPO function plays an important role in ethanol sensitivity and tolerance. Since a large array of benzodiazepine analogues have been developed that interact with the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor, the mitochondrial TSPO might provide an important new target for treating AUDs.
Higher-order moment-method modeling of curved metallic antennas and scatterers

We propose a MoM technique using generalized curved parametric quadrilaterals of arbitrary geometrical order. In the new technique, the geometrical surface elements in the model can be both electrically large, with higher-order basis functions for current modeling, and curved. With this, the large-domain current-modeling efficiency is preserved even for surfaces with pronounced curvature (such as a sphere or a cylinder). The geometrical orders of the quadrilateral elements are entirely independent from the current-approximation orders of the basis functions, and the two sets of parameters of the higher-order model can be adopted at will for the best overall performance of the method. Numerical examples showing the efficiency and accuracy of the new technique are a metallic spherical scatterer, analyzed using four different higher-order models, and an antenna system consisting of two wire monopoles attached to a metallic cylinder.
Seven new species of neotropical Malpighiaceae

Seven new species of neotropical Malpighiaceae are described: Aspicarpa steinmannii, Bunchosia breedlovei, and Bunchosia cruciana from Mexico; Bunchosia soejartoi, Lophanthera marcelae, and Mascagnia corymbosa from Colombia; and Heteropterys tiinae from Peru.
Acute Pyogenic Arthritis of the Hip: An Operation Giving Free Access and Effective Drainage

Dr. Gathorne R. Girdlestone is shown at a Wingfield Hospital fete. Figure reprinted with permission of the Oxfordshire Health Archives, Oxfordshire, UK.
Low literacy levels in adults: implications for patient education

Background Patients are being discharged with the need for more complex care in the home. Written information frequently is used in health education. Patients and caregivers must be able to read and understand this information. Method A comprehensive literature review of articles on literacy and health education materials was performed. Results The literature review revealed that low literacy is more prevalent in the United States than is generally recognized. Health education materials often require a reading level higher than the reading level of most patients. There are a number of tools available for assessing reading levels. Conclusion Findings indicate there are implications for nursing practice, education, and research. There is a need for nurses to be aware of the prevalence of low literacy. They need to know how to accurately assess reading ability and develop material that is at the appropriate level for patients and caregivers. There is a need for research to investigate possible relationships between health status and low literacy and to examine the effects of remedial reading programs on health practices.
Deletion of autophagy inducer RB1CC1 results in degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium

Autophagy regulates cellular homeostasis and response to environmental stress. Within the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of the eye, the level of autophagy can change with both age and disease. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between reduced autophagy and age-related degeneration of the RPE. The gene encoding RB1CC1/FIP200 (RB1-inducible coiled-coil 1), a protein essential for induction of autophagy, was selectively knocked out in the RPE by crossing Best1-Cre mice with mice in which the Rb1cc1 gene was flanked with Lox-P sites (Rb1cc1(flox/flox)). Ex vivo and in vivo analyses, including western blot, immunohistochemistry, transmission electron microscopy, fundus photography, optical coherence tomography, fluorescein angiography, and electroretinography were performed to assess the structure and function of the retina as a function of age. Deletion of Rb1cc1 resulted in multiple autophagy defects within the RPE including decreased conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II, accumulation of autophagy-targeted precursors, and increased numbers of mitochondria. Age-dependent degeneration of the RPE occurred, with formation of atrophic patches, subretinal migration of activated microglial cells, subRPE deposition of inflammatory and oxidatively damaged proteins, subretinal drusenoid deposits, and occasional foci of choroidal neovascularization. There was secondary loss of photoreceptors overlying the degenerated RPE and reduction in the electroretinogram. These observations are consistent with a critical role of autophagy in the maintenance of normal homeostasis in the aging RPE, and indicate that disruption of autophagy leads to retinal phenotypes associated with age-related degeneration.
Use of Control Sera for Monitoring Temperature Changes during pH and PCO2 Measurements

We evaluated the temperature coefficients from 25 to 38 °C for aqueous calibration materials, serum (protein-based) control material, and patients’ samples in blood pH measurements and gas analysis. Whereas the aqueous buffers and calibration gases (used as unknowns) were not affected by changing temperature, the temperature coefficients of patients’ samples and protein-based control materials varied similarly to those reported in the literature: 0.011 and 0.014 vs. 0.015 pH/ °C, and 1.76 and 1.57 vs. 1.80 mm Hg/°C. We conclude that the periodic use of suitable control materials can assist in the detection of temperature abnormalities.
Promoter-specific induction of the phosphatase SHP-1 by viral infection and cytokines in CNS glia.

We have previously shown that the protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 is highly expressed in CNS glia and is an important modulator of cytokine signaling. As such, mice genetically lacking SHP-1 display constitutive myelin abnormalities, severe virus-induced demyelinating disease, and defects in innate anti-viral responses in the CNS. In this study, we show the differential distribution of the SHP-1 promoter-specific transcripts and demonstrate that several cytokines significantly induce SHP-1 expression in CNS glia. Consistent with these cytokine effects, infection with a neurotropic virus both in vitro and in vivo up-regulates SHP-1 transcripts and protein in CNS cells. Using CNS glial cultures of gene knockout mice, we show that interferons-β and interferons-γ act through STAT-1 and interferon regulatory factor-1 to induce the SHP-1 promoter I transcripts. Conversely, interferons-β and IL-6 act through STAT-3 to induce SHP-1 promoter II transcripts. This study demonstrates that interferons and other cytokines associated with virus infections in the CNS can significantly induce the expression of SHP-1 through STAT-1/3 activity and provides a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating cytokine-induced expression important for multiple homeostatic functions of SHP-1 in the CNS.
White light events as photospheric flares

We consider the possibility that white light flares are due to heating of the photosphere by a flux of energetic ions and electrons impinging on it from above. Particles with energy in the range 10 MeV to 1 BeV release most of their energy to the ambient gas at about optical depth unity in the photosphere. This increase in energy produces a temperature perturbation of several hundred degrees in the layer and results in a re-radiation of the energy with a radiative relaxation time of several seconds. The consequences of this model are applied to a study of the great flare of May 23, 1967 and to the very fast event of August 11, 1954. Large numbers of very energetic electrons or protons must be produced in the first few minutes of the primary flare event if our interpretation (or one based on synchrotron emission) is correct.
Micro-Raman imaging analysis of monomer/mineral distribution in intertubular region of adhesive/dentin interfaces

It is generally proposed that bonding of resins to dentin results from infiltration of the adhesive monomers into the superficially demineralized dentin. However, it is still not clear how well the mineral phase of dentin is removed and how far each monomer penetrates into the thin zone of "wet" demineralized dentin. The quality and molecular structure of adhesive/dentin interfaces formed under "wet" bonding conditions are studied using 2-D Raman microspectroscopic mapping/imaging techniques. Micro-Raman imaging analysis of the adhesive/dentin interface provides a reliable and powerful means of identifying the degree and depth of dentin demineralization, adhesive monomer distribution, and flaws or defects in the pattern of adhesive penetration. The image of mineral reveals a partially demineralized layer on the top of dentin substrate. Adhesive monomers readily penetrate into dentin tubules and spread into intertubular region through open tubules. The extent of adhesive monomer penetration is higher in the intertubular regions close to tubules as compared to the middle regions between the tubules. The diffusion of resin monomers differs substantially. In a comparison with a hydrophilic monomer, the hydrophobic monomer resists diffusion into the demineralized intertubular dentin area.
In-line monitoring of (MR) fluid properties

Abstract Proper functionality of devices and processes based on (MR) fluids greatly depends, along with other factors, on stability of fluid characteristics such as concentration of magnetic particles and magnetic properties of the particles. The concentration of magnetic particles may change due to evaporation or leakage of carrier fluid, as well as particle sedimentation. Magnetic properties may change due to temperature, corrosion of particles or irreversible aggregation. In-line noninvasive monitoring of particle concentration and magnetic properties allows, in one way or another, compensation for the impact of destabilizing factors and provides system stable output. Two novel methods of in-line measurement of MR fluid magnetic permeability or magnetic particle concentration are considered in this presentation. The first one is based on the principle of mutual inductance and is intended for monitoring MR fluid flowing in pipes or channels. In the second one, permeability is measured by a flash-mount sensor which reacts on changes in the reluctance of the MR fluid layer adjacent to the wall. The use of the methods for stabilization of the material removal rate in high precision finishing process employing aqueous MR fluid is discussed.
Primary care psychology training on campus: Collaboration within a student health center

Applied psychological services are being implemented into the primary care treatment milieu to improve patient treatment and reduce health care costs. Unfortunately, few psychologists have training specifically oriented to working in this setting. A predoctoral training program wherein psychology graduate students may obtain practicum experience working in a student health center on a university campus is described. The theoretical underpinnings of this training are based on the integrated primary care models of K. Strosahl (1997) and K. Strosahl, N. Baker, M. Braddick, M. Stuart, and M. Handley (1997), which emphasize integration of psychological and medical treatment, brief intervention, consultation, and expedited referral for longer term cases. Though many issues remain, integrated primary care offers promise for improved health care.
Climatic and environmental controls on speleothem oxygen-isotope values

Variations in speleothem oxygen-isotope values (d 18 O) result from a complicated interplay of environmental controls and processes in the ocean, atmosphere, soil zone, epikarst, and cave system. As such, the controls on speleothem d 18 O values are extremely complex. An understanding of the processes that control equilibrium and kinetic fractionation of oxygen isotopes in water and carbonate species is essential for the proper interpretation of speleothem d 18 O as paleoclimate and paleoenvironmental proxies, and is best complemented by study of site-specific cave processes such as infiltration, flow routing, drip seasonality and saturation state, and cave microclimate, among others. This review is a process-based summary of the multiple controls on d 18 O in the atmosphere, soil, epikarst, and speleothem calcite, illustrated with case studies. Primary controls of d 18 O in the atmosphere include temperature and relative humidity through their role in the multiple isotope ‘‘effects’’. Variability and modifications of water d 18 O values in the soil and epikarst zones are dominated by evaporation, mixing, and infiltration of source waters. The isotopically effective recharge into a cave system consists of those waters that participate in precipitation of CaCO3, resulting in calcite deposition rates which may be biased to time periods with optimal dripwater saturation state. Recent modeling, experimental, and observational data yield insight into the significance of kinetic fractionation between dissolved carbonate phases and solid CaCO3, and have implications for the ‘Hendy’ test. To assist interpretation of speleothem d 18 O time series, quantitative and semi-quantitative d 18 O-climate calibrations are discussed with an emphasis on some of the difficulties inherent in using modern spatial and temporal isotope gradients to interpret speleothems as paleoclimate proxy records. Finally, several case studies of globally significant speleothem paleoclimate records are discussed that show the utility of d 18 O to reconstruct past climate
Water vapor permeability, mechanical, and structural properties of edible β-casein films.

Abstract Edible films were made using glycerol and β-casein that had been stored for 16 months at −29 and +22.5°C. Water vapor permeability at 22.5°C was determined for two relative humidity gradients. Stress–strain curves for mechanical property evaluation were obtained by dynamic mechanical analysis. Film structure was observed by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Protein storage temperature did not significantly affect water vapor permeability, elongation, or observed structure; however, differences in yield strength, modulus of elasticity, and tensile strength were detected.
2011 Special Issue: Multi-scale correlation structure of gene expression in the brain

The mammalian brain is best understood as a multi-scale hierarchical neural system, in the sense that connection and function occur on multiple scales from micro to macro. Modern genomic-scale expression profiling can provide insight into methodologies that elucidate this architecture. We present a methodology for understanding the relationship of gene expression and neuroanatomy based on correlation between gene expression profiles across tissue samples. A resulting tool, NeuroBlast, can identify networks of genes co-expressed within or across neuroanatomic structures. The method applies to any data modality that can be mapped with sufficient spatial resolution, and provides a computation technique to elucidate neuroanatomy via patterns of gene expression on spatial and temporal scales. In addition, from the perspective of spatial location, we discuss a complementary technique that identifies gene classes that contribute to defining anatomic patterns.