cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pancytopenia associated with low dose pulse methotrexate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Low dose pulse MTX was associated with the development of pancytopenia in six patients with RA. Two patients died. Factors implicated in the occurrence of this complication were renal impairment in five patients, medication errors by two patients, preexisting marrow injury from occult alcoholism in one patient, and an apparent idiosyncratic reaction to the drug in another. Medication errors were associated with the use of five or more medications, and the unusual schedule of administration of low dose MTX may also have been contributory. From a consideration of the clinical pharmacokinetics of MTX, we suggest other factors that may predispose to the occurrence of marrow toxicity: the presence of hypoalbuminemia, interactions between MTX and other protein bound or weakly acidic drugs, and the repetitive dosing schedule of low dose MTX. Based on our experience, patients with impaired renal function (creatinine greater than or equal to 2.0 mg/dL) should not receive MTX. Renal function should be monitored regularly during treatment with MTX, and blood counts should be observed carefully if a new drug is added or substituted. A 5 mg test dose of MTX before initiating weekly therapy may identify patients with severe hypersensitivity to the drug. The potential risks of using MTX in a patient unwilling to accept blood products should be acknowledged and discussed with the patient. Furthermore, we recommend the use of leucovorin if pancytopenia occurs, even if low or undetectable serum levels of MTX are present.
Hybrid debranching with endovascular repair for thoracoabdominal aneurysms: a comparison with open repair.

Background Hybrid visceral-renal debranching procedures with endovascular repair have recently been proposed as a less invasive alternative to conventional thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) surgery. This study provides a concurrent assessment of hybrid and open TAAA repair. Methods One hundred two consecutive patients (mean age, 63.0 years) underwent open (73) or hybrid (29) Crawford type 1 (19), 2 (50), or 3 (33) TAAA repair from 2000 to 2009. Hybrid debranching procedures were selected for patients considered poor operative risk for standard TAAA repair (27) or for patient preference (2). The TAAAs were fusiform atherosclerotic (68), dissection (30), or pseudoaneurysm (4). Fifty-seven patients (55.9%) had previously undergone aortic repair. Outcomes were analyzed with 100% follow-up (mean, 30.5 months). Results Operative procedures were urgent or emergent in 16 (15.6%). Early mortality occurred in 13 (12.7%), and was independently predicted by use of hypothermic circulatory arrest ( p = 0.005). Early morbidity included permanent paraplegia (12), stroke (1), need for dialysis (22), or tracheostomy (7). Independent correlates of a composite outcome comprised of early mortality and these early morbidities included an urgent-emergent presentation ( p = 0.002) or open TAAA repair ( p = 0.021). Kaplan-Meier survival was similar between open and hybrid TAAA groups ( p = 0.88). Late mortality was independently predicted by the presence of diabetes ( p = 0.052) or the need for dialysis at the time of TAAA repair ( p Conclusions Hybrid debranching procedures may reduce early morbidity and yield similar late survival, even in a group considered high risk for open surgery. These data support the increasing utilization of a hybrid debranching and endovascular approach for patients requiring thoracoabdominal aneurysmectomy.
The identification of a heparin-binding protein on the surface of bovine sperm

We report the identification of a sperm surface protein which binds tightly to heparin. The protein was isolated by affinity chromatography on heparin agarose, and its affinity for heparin was confirmed by electrophoresis in the presence of heparin under non-denaturing conditions. The protein consists of a single polypeptide chain with a molecular weight of 45,000, as determined by electrophoresis under denaturing conditions. The protein may bind glycosaminoglycans in vivo and play a part in initiating the capacitation/acrosome reaction.
Understanding and managing the off-road vehicle experience: standards of quality.

A companion paper in a previous issue of Managing Leisure suggested that crowding, litter, and waiting time to get a use permit were among the variables important in defining a high-quality off-road vehicle (ORV) experience at Cape Cod National Seashore (Cape Cod). Potential standards of quality – the minimum acceptable condition for these indicator variables – are addressed in this paper. Data to help formulate standards were collected during the 2005 summer-use season by asking visitors to evaluate narrative/numeric questions describing a range of visitor-caused impacts or photographic simulations depicting such impacts. Responses to survey questions suggest that between 12.0 and 33.2 ORVs per 0.16 km are appropriate for the ORV route, depending on what evaluative dimension (i.e., ‘preference’, ‘acceptability’, ‘management action’, or ‘displacement’) is considered. Maximum litter densities of 4.0–56.8 pieces of litter per 225 m2 area and a maximum waiting time to receive an ORV-use permit of 58 min to 1...
Observations on the onset of spherical aberration in microjetted microlenses

ABSTRACT We have characterized the performance of high quality micro-jetted microlenses with diameters ranging between 109microns and 400 microns, with focal lengths ranging between 135 microns and 540 microns. We have found that single drop109-micron diameter microlenses perform close to their diffraction limit. However, the larger lenses, made with multipledroplets show rapid increase in spherical aberration as the diameter of a lens increases.Keywords: microlenses, aberrations, optical testing, point spread functions, modulation transfer functions 1. INTRODUCTION Microlenses comprise a relatively new class of optical devices for which production techniques vary and which are underdifferent stages of development. A working definition of a microlens is that with a diameter under 1 mm. Examples offabrication techniques include micro-jetting,'2'3 photolithographic methods,45 chemical vapor deposition,6 laser ablation,7 andlaser heating.8'9 Microlenses are used individually, for example as placed on the tip of an opticalfiber,'° or are made into
Too close for comfort? Adult attachment and cuddling in romantic and parent–child relationships

Close physical contact is a defining feature of intimate relationships across the lifespan and occurs in nearly all kinds of close relationships. However, there are important individual differences in the extent to which people feel comfortable engaging in intimate interactions. In two samples, attachment avoidance was associated with less positive feelings toward cuddling in adult romantic relationships (Sample 1) and parent–child relationships (Sample 2); attachment anxiety was largely unrelated to feelings about cuddling across relationships. Moreover, the magnitude of the associations between attachment avoidance and feelings about cuddling was similar across relationship types. The current study highlights the similarities in people’s use of intimate touch across relationships, namely to communicate affection, trust, and responsiveness to their loved ones. Yet we also identified important attachment-related differences in feelings about intimate touch. The current findings suggest several new directions for future research on the benefits of interpersonal touch.
105 Activity of DNA ligase on substrates containing non-canonical structures

The expansion of trinucleotide repeat tracts (e.g. (CAG)n tracts) has been shown to contribute to genomic instability and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington’s Disease and Fragile X syndrome (Kovtun et al., 2008). While the molecular mechanism of this expansion is unknown, the ability of trinucleotide repeat sequences to form non-canonical secondary structures, such as hairpins, has been implicated as a multifaceted source of error (Gacy et al., 1995). Non-canonical DNA secondary structures have been shown to impact the action of enzymes in the base excision repair (BER) pathway, by which oxidatively damaged bases are removed. More specifically, there is evidence that trinucleotide repeat-containing DNA mistakenly enters long-patch BER, which can potentially lead to the incorporation of extra nucleobases by DNA polymerase (Jarem et al., 2011). The final enzyme in the BER pathway is DNA Ligase, which catalyses the formation of a phosphodiester...
Searching the literature for information on traumatic spinal cord injury: the usefulness of abstracts.

Study design: Systematic review of abstracts of published papers presumed to contain information on chronic pain in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). Objectives: To determine to what degree papers on SCI are abstracted in such a way that they can be retrieved, and evaluated as to the paper's applicability to a reader's questions. Setting: US - academic department of rehabilitation medicine. Methods: 868 abstracts published in Medline were independently examined by two out of 13 screeners, who answered four questions on the subjects and nature of the paper with ‘Yes’, ‘No’ or ‘insufficient information’. Frequency of ratings ‘insufficient information’, and screener agreement were evaluated as affected by screener and abstract/paper characteristics. Results: Screeners could not determine whether the paper dealt with persons with traumatic SCI for 37% of abstracts; whether chronic pain was a topic could not be determined in 18%. Physicians were less willing than other disciplines to assign ‘insufficient information’. Screener agreement was better than chance, but not at the level suggested for quality measurement. Screener discipline and task experience did not make a difference, nor did abstract length, structure, or decade of publication of the paper. Conclusion: Authors need to improve the quality of abstracts to make retrieval and screening of relevant papers more effective and efficient. Sponsorship: National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.
Design and simulation of nanowire-based high Quality factor nanocavities

ABSTRACT A cavity design that combines a bo ttom-up synthesized semiconductor nanowire with a top-dow n fabricated one-dimensional photonic crystal (PhC) has been proposed. In this paper, we present a detailed study of the characteristics of the nanowire-based Bragg mirror and the resulting nanocavities, using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) code. Based on this proposal, we demonstrate ultra-high Quality factor (Q ) on the order of one million, an increase of three orders of magnitude over the Quality factor of an as-grown nanowire. We believe that our design will offer a feasible platform to develop various nanowire-based photonic devices, for example, quantum optical devices that operate in the strong-coupling limit. Keywords: Optical microcavities, semicondu ctor nanowire, quantum optics 1. INTRODUCTION Recently, various novel light sources have been realized based on semiconductor nanowires, including electrically-driven light emitting diodes (LEDs) and nano-scale lasers
Differential inhibition by Bacillus thuringiensis δ endotoxin of leucine and aspartic acid uptake into BBMV from midgut of Manduca sexta

Abstract Pre-incubation of brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) isolated from the midgut of Manduca sexta with activated Bacillus thuringiensis δ edotoxin for a short period resulted in differential inhibition of K+-dependent transport of leucine relative to the effect on K+-dependent transport of aspartic acid. The difference in I 1 2 (5 fold greater for aspartic acid than for leucine) is interpreted as the result of enhanced binding of the B. thuringiensis δ endotoxin to the leucine transport system.
Adenosine A2A receptor agonists inhibit lipopolysaccharide-induced production of tumor necrosis factor-α by equine monocytes

Abstract Adenosine is an endogenous nucleoside that regulates many physiological processes by activating one or more adenosine receptor subtypes, namely A 1 , A 2A , A 2B and A 3 . The results of previous studies indicate that adenosine analogues inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by equine neutrophils primarily through activation of A 2A receptors. Because peripheral blood monocytes produce cytokines that are responsible for many of the deleterious effects of LPS, the current study was performed to evaluate the effects of an array of novel adenosine receptor agonists on LPS-induced production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and to assess the selectively of these agonists for equine adenosine A 2A over the A 1 receptor. Radioligand binding studies performed with equine tissues expressing adenosine A 1 and A 2A receptor subtypes yielded a rank order of affinity for the equine A 2A receptor of ATL307 > ATL309 ≈ ATL310 ≈ ATL313 > ATL202 ≈ ATL361 ≈ ATL376 > ATL372 > CGS21680 > NECA. Co-incubation of equine peripheral blood monocytes with LPS and these agonists resulted in inhibition of TNF-α production with a rank order of potency that strongly correlated with their binding affinities for equine adenosine A 2A receptors. Results of experiments performed with one of the adenosine receptor agonists (ATL313) and selective adenosine receptor antagonists confirmed that inhibition of LPS-induced production of TNF-α occurred via stimulation of A 2A receptors. Although incubation of monocytes with IB-MECA, a compound purported to act as an adenosine A 3 receptor agonist, reduced LPS-induced TNF-α production, this effect of IB-MECA was inhibited by the A 2A selective antagonist ZM241385 but not by the A 3 receptor antagonist MRS1220. These results indicate that the adenosine receptor subtype responsible for regulation of LPS-induced cytokine production by equine monocytes is the A 2A receptor. To address the signal transduction mechanism responsible for the anti-inflammatory effects of ATL313 in equine monocytes, production of cAMP was compared in the presence and absence of either the adenosine A 2A receptor antagonist ZM241385 or the adenosine A 2B receptor antagonist MRS1706. In the absence of the antagonists, ATL313 increased production of cAMP; ZM241385 inhibited this effect of ATL313, whereas MRS1706 did not. Furthermore, incubation of monocytes with either the stable analogue of cAMP, dibutyryl cAMP, or forskolin, an activator of adenylyl cyclase, also inhibited LPS-induced production of TNF-α production by equine monocytes. Collectively, the results of the current study indicate that adenosine analogues inhibit LPS-induced production of TNF-α by equine monocytes primarily via activation of adenosine A 2A receptors and do so in a cAMP-dependent manner. The results of this study indicate that stable adenosine analogues that are selective for adenosine A 2A receptors may be suitable for development as anti-inflammatory drugs in horses.
Amelioration of excess collagen IαI, fibrosis, and smooth muscle growth in TNBS-induced colitis in IGF-I(+/-) mice.

Background: Strictures occur in ≈30% of patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and are characterized by intestinal smooth muscle hyperplasia, hypertrophy, and fibrosis due to excess extracellular matrix production including collagen. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) expression is increased in smooth muscle cells of the muscularis propria in CD and in animal models of CD, including trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis. While upregulated IGF-I is conjectured to cause smooth muscle cell growth and collagen production in the inflamed intestine, its role in the development of fibrosis has not been directly demonstrated. Methods: Colitis was induced in IGF-I(+/−) or wildtype C57BL/6J mice by rectal administration of TNBS or ethanol vehicle. After 7 days, colonic smooth muscle cells were isolated and used to prepare RNA or protein lysates. Transcript levels of IGF-IEa, IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3, IGFBP-5, TGF-β1, and collagen IαI were measured by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Corresponding protein levels were measured by Western blot or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Fibrosis was measured using digital image analysis of Masson's trichrome-stained histologic sections. Results: In IGF-I(+/−) mice, which express significantly lower levels of IGF-I than wildtype, the response to TNBS-induced colitis: upregulation of IGF-I, IGFBP-3, IGFBP-5 muscle growth, and collagen IαI expression, the resulting collagen deposition, and fibrosis are all significantly diminished compared to C57BL/6J wildtype controls. TGF-β1 expression and its increase following TNBS administration are not altered in IGF-I(+/−) mice compared to wildtype. Conclusions: The findings indicate that IGF-I is a key regulator in intestinal smooth muscle hyperplasia and excess collagen production that leads to fibrosis and long term to stricture formation. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2011;)
Comparison of UV optical properties of ZnO nanoparticles dispersed in traditional organic and novel bio-molecular solvents

Two types of ZnO nanoparticles were dispersed in a bio-molecular solvent and in ethanol. The mixtures were characterized by photoluminescence and absorbance measurements. Strong UV emission was observed near the band gap of ZnO at 380 nm. The parasitic green emission which normally appears in ZnO suspensions was weakened when ZnO was dispersed in the bio-molecular solvent. Suspensions were spin-cast on quartz, and then Al contacts were deposited by a standard lift-off process via e-beam lithography. Point contact current-voltage characteristics of the samples were measured under equal intensity conditions using 340 nm UV LED and white LED sources. The ratio of the UV photo-generated current to dark current was as high as 105. Finally, the photocurrent response spectrum was measured. The results show that ZnO nanoparticle is favourable for visible blind UV photodetectors. (© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Interaction of deep and shallow convection is key to Madden-Julian Oscillation simulation

[1] This study investigates the role of the interaction between deep and shallow convection in MJO simulation using the NCAR CAM3. Two simulations were performed, one using a revised Zhang-McFarlane convection scheme for deep convection and the Hack scheme for shallow convection, and the other disallowing shallow convection below 700 mb in the tropical belt. The two simulations produce dramatically different MJO characteristics. While the control simulation produces realistic MJOs, the simulation without shallow convection has very weak MJO signals in the Indian Ocean and western Pacific. Composite analysis finds that shallow convection serves to precondition the lower troposphere by moistening it ahead of deep convection. It also produces enhanced low-level mass convergence below 850 mb ahead of deep convection. This work, together with previous studies, suggests that a correct simulation of the interaction between deep and shallow convection is key to MJO simulation in global climate models.
A population-based survey of hospitalized work-related ocular injury: diagnoses, cause of injury, resource utilization, and hospitalization outcome

Occupational injury is a major source of ocular trauma and is often preventable. A statewide population-based survey of severe work-related ocular injury was generated by using the California Hospital discharge database to identify hospitalized ocular injury and workers compensation as principal payor to identify work-relatedness. Information concerning diagnoses, procedures, causes of injury, length of hospital stay, total hospital charges and disposition at hospital discharge were obtained for injuries occurring during the calendar year 1988. A total of 455 admissions for work-related ocular trauma were identified. The most common work-related ocular trauma diagnoses associated with hospitalizations were open globe injury (46%), adnexal wounds (20%), orbital fractures (11%), and traumatic hyphema (11%). The most common causes of work-related ocular trauma were foreign-body or projectile objects (19%), transport vehicles (18%), cutting or piercing objects (17%), and assaults (9%). Approximately 8% report...
The intracellular pH of tunicate blood cells: Ascidia ceratodes whole blood, morula cells, vacuoles and cytoplasm

The intracellular pH of blood cells of the tunicate Ascidia ceratodes has been measured by equilibration of radioactively labeled markers between intra- and extracellular media. Labeled acid, 5,5-dimethyloxazolidine-2,4-dione (DMO), and base, methylamine (MA), have been used in the range of extracellular pH (pHm) of 4.5-7. For unsorted blood cells MA is less sensitive to the transmembrane pH gradient (delta pH) than is DMO in the pHm of 6.3-7. The data measured by DMO yield an intracellular pH value of 6.98 +/- 0.15. Ficoll density gradients separated 86.4% pure morula cells. Other experiments show that morula cells contain significant amounts of vanadium and most of the free tunichrome. Using both MA and DMO with morula cells yields pH values of 5.0 +/- 0.2 for the vacuoles and 7.1 +/- 0.2 for the cytoplasm. If vanadium is accumulated in the intravacuolar solution space, then this mildly acidic pH indicates that the aquo V3+ ion, which is only stable below pH 3, is stabilized by some factor other than high hydrogen ion concentration. This factor may be chelation by tunichrome. It is also possible that accumulated vanadium(III) is sequestered in hydrophobic regions of the vacuolar or cellular membranes.
AB INITIO STUDY OF PERNITRIC ACID : COMPARISON WITH EXPERIMENTAL SPECTRA

A high-level ab initio theoretical study has been performed on the spectra and bond energies of pernitric acid, HO2NO2. Excellent agreement with experimental rotational constants, 15N NMR chemical shifts, HO2 + NO2 reaction enthalpy, and vibrational frequencies are obtained. Slight revisions of low-frequency normal modes have been made. Vertical excitations are computed by CASPT2 for comparison with future high-resolution UV−visible spectra and match the low resolution UV−visible spectra of pernitric acid in solution. The optimized geometries reported are superior to previous microwave structures because assumptions of bond lengths and angles from the analogous nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide molecules introduce significant errors.
Gaia metaphor unfalsifiable

Jim Lovelock's nice-guy image may not last if he persists in responding to his critics by impugning their motives. Biologists, he says, "seem to see Gaia as another threat to the sanctity of their creature, neo-darwinism". Reductionists, he says, are engaged in a "dogmatic crusade". Lovelock apparently even sees fit to accuse me of a witch hunt: "like some figure of the Inquisition, he publicly burned several imaginary Gaias, and his pyrotechnic demolition of the strong Gaia stole the show. But when the sparks faded, the real system Gaia was still there hidden only by the smoke".
Assessing research methodology training needs in emergency medicine.

. Objective: To determine the perceptions of emergency medicine (EM) academic faculty leaders and other academic emergency physicians regarding importance and knowledge of specific research methodology content areas and training priorities. Methods: The authors conducted a confidential mail survey of 52 EM academic chairs, 112 residency directors, 116 research directors, and 400 randomly selected other members of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM). Respondents rated the importance of knowledge about each of 12 content areas for enhancing research productivity, rated their own knowledge of these areas, and identified training priorities. Standard descriptive statistics were used to characterize the study population; subgroup differences were examined by nonparametric statistics. Results: 551 (81%) of those sampled returned surveys. Most (90%) respondents thought that knowledge about all selected content areas was important for enhancing research productivity; however, 7-37% (depending on the topic) reported little knowledge or experience in specific areas. Research directors reported highest overall knowledge levels (p < 0.001), followed by chairs, residency directors, and other SAEM members. Top training priorities (identified by all subgroups) included study planning (70%), problem identification/hypothesis construction (41%), and proposal writing (38%). Conclusions: These data support the continued need to offer broad training in research methodology, but suggest that greater emphasis be given to concepts involved in initiating and planning a study and to strengthening research proposal writing skills. These results should be of interest to academic departments who must address their own training needs, and help support the development of research methodology curricula on regional and national levels to advance the state of research in the specialty of EM.
Adding Structure to Unstructured Research Courses

In this article, we describe techniques for clarifying goals, improving organization, and evaluating students in research courses that are typically unstructured. We include methods for assisting students in designing experiments, creating evaluation tools, and encouraging and monitoring student progress throughout the course. These techniques motivate students to avoid procrastination and become immediately involved in the research process. The methods are simple, hue a wide range of usefulness, and are appropriate for any graduate or undergraduate course with an independent study or seminar format.
Digoxin: Current Use and Approach to Toxicity

Heralded as the oldest known cardiovascular drug, digoxin remains widely used today in the face of increasing rates in heart failure and atrial fibrillation despite the emergence of newer medications. Its hemodynamic, neurohormonal and electrophysiologic actions make it a suitable adjunctive, evidence-based therapy for the above conditions. Its narrow therapeutic index and its toxicity, however, have become more relevant as aging, comorbid diseases, and polypharmacy make more patients vulnerable. Because signs and symptoms of digoxin toxicity are mostly nonspecific, a high index of suspicion is crucial for early recognition and appropriate management.
The neuropsychiatric burden of neurological diseases in the elderly.

Psychogeriatrics began as an extension of psychiatry, with an emphasis on the unique manifestation of psychiatric disorders in the elderly. Early in the history of psychogeriatrics there was an emphasis on late-onset or late-enduring depression; paraphrenia and late-onset psychotic disorders; the late-life phases of schizophrenia; and anxiety and substance abuse disorders in the elderly. Growing recognition of the increasing frequency of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the course of aging and the high prevalence of behavioral disturbances in patients with AD led psychogeriatricians to study the diagnosis and management of this disorder.
Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder of the paranasal sinuses in a child

Summary Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) represents an often fatal complication of chronic immunosuppression following solid organ or bone marrow transplantation. PTLD in the head and neck is uncommon and generally involves lymphoproliferation in Waldeyer's ring, cervical lymphadenopathy, or both. This unusual case of PTLD involving the paranasal sinuses in a child illustrates the difficulty in distinguishing PTLD from invasive fungal sinusitis. Promptly establishing the correct diagnosis via biopsy is critical to the successful management of such a patient.
An across-frequency processing deficit in listeners with hearing impairment is supported by acoustic correlation.

It has been recently suggested that listeners having a sensorineural hearing impairment (HI) may possess a deficit in their ability to integrate speech information across different frequencies. Whe...
Identifying positive selection candidate loci for high-altitude adaptation in Andean populations

High-altitude environments (>2,500 m) provide scientists with a natural laboratory to study the physiological and genetic effects of low ambient oxygen tension on human populations. One approach to understanding how life at high altitude has affected human metabolism is to survey genome-wide datasets for signatures of natural selection. In this work, we report on a study to identify selection-nominated candidate genes involved in adaptation to hypoxia in one highland group, Andeans from the South American Altiplano. We analysed dense microarray genotype data using four test statistics that detect departures from neutrality. Using a candidate gene, single nucleotide polymorphism-based approach, we identified genes exhibiting preliminary evidence of recent genetic adaptation in this population. These included genes that are part of the hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF) pathway, a biochemical pathway involved in oxygen homeostasis, as well as three other genomic regions previously not known to be associated with high-altitude phenotypes. In addition to identifying selection-nominated candidate genes, we also tested whether the HIF pathway shows evidence of natural selection. Our results indicate that the genes of this biochemical pathway as a group show no evidence of having evolved in response to hypoxia in Andeans. Results from particular HIF-targeted genes, however, suggest that genes in this pathway could play a role in Andean adaptation to high altitude, even if the pathway as a whole does not show higher relative rates of evolution. These data suggest a genetic role in high-altitude adaptation and provide a basis for genotype/phenotype association studies that are necessary to confirm the role of putative natural selection candidate genes and gene regions in adaptation to altitude.
Does release from natural belowground enemies help explain the invasiveness of Lygodium microphyllum ? A cross-continental comparison

Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R. Br., a climbing fern native to the Pantropics of the Old World, is aggressively colonizing natural ecosystems in the Florida Peninsula. Here, we examined soil factors that might affect the fern’s invasiveness, specifically addressing the hypothesis that a release from natural belowground enemies contributes to its vigorous growth in Florida. We also investigated phenotypic differences of sporophytes raised from spores collected in Florida and the fern’s native range in Australia, hypothesizing that the Florida population would possess traits resulting in faster growth and superior competitive ability than the two Australian populations. We tested our hypotheses in parallel greenhouse experiments—one in Australia using soil from the fern’s native habitat, and another in Florida, USA, with soil from a recently colonized ecosystem. Fern growth rate and its principal determinants were expressed relative to the optimal growth with a common sand culture in each experiment and compared among treatments in which soil was altered through either sterilization or nutrient amendment, or both. Contrary to the expectation, the optimal growth rates in the sand culture were higher for Australian populations than the Florida population, while the comparatively poor growth of all populations in unaltered soil was stimulated by nutrient amendment and sterilization. The overall effect of sterilization, however, was muted under high-nutrient conditions, suggesting that the effect of soil sterilization may be due to greater nutrient availability in sterilized soils. The only exception was the local population from the site where the soil was collected for the experiment in Australia, which grew significantly faster in sterilized than in non-sterilized soil, and also more rapidly in response to soil insecticide application. Our results indicate that the invasiveness of L. microphyllum in Florida is not a simple phenotypic difference in inherent growth rate as predicted by the evolution of increased competitive ability hypothesis, but it may be mediated in part by release from soil-borne enemies that vary in their effectiveness even within the native geographical range of the fern.
Calculation of biochemical net reactions and pathways by using matrix operations

Pathways for net biochemical reactions can be calculated by using a computer program that solves systems of linear equations. The coefficients in the linear equations are the stoichiometric numbers in the biochemical equations for the system. The solution of the system of linear equations is a vector of the stoichiometric numbers of the reactions in the pathway for the net reaction; this is referred to as the pathway vector. The pathway vector gives the number of times the various reactions have to occur to produce the desired net reaction. Net reactions may involve unknown numbers of ATP, ADP, and Pi molecules. The numbers of ATP, ADP, and Pi in a desired net reaction can be calculated in a two-step process. In the first step, the pathway is calculated by solving the system of linear equations for an abbreviated stoichiometric number matrix without ATP, ADP, Pi, NADred, and NADox. In the second step, the stoichiometric numbers in the desired net reaction, which includes ATP, ADP, Pi, NADred, and NADox, are obtained by multiplying the full stoichiometric number matrix by the calculated pathway vector.
Queer Identity Management and Political Self‐Expression on Social Networking Sites: A Co‐Cultural Approach to the Spiral of Silence

Social networking sites can facilitate self-expression, but for some, that freedom is constrained. This study investigated factors that influence LGBT+ individuals' identity management and political expression on social media. We interviewed 52 participants aged 18 to 53 around the 2012 U.S. election. Using co-cultural theory, we investigated communicative practices employed by queer-identified individuals on Facebook. Participants whose LGBT+ identity was not known by the social network (i.e., those who were still in the closet) revealed a spiral of silence, wherein they were silenced by the perceived heteronormative majority. Participants whose identity was known (i.e., those who were out) revealed a spiral of silencing as they used the site's affordances to empower their vocal minority and silence the dominant group.
Results on asymptotic behaviour for discrete, two-patch metapopulations with density-dependent selection

A 4-dimensional system of nonlinear difference equations tracking allele frequencies and population sizes for a two-patch metapopulation model is studied. This system describes intergenerational changes brought about by density-dependent selection within patches and moderated by the effects of migration between patches. To determine conditions which result in similar behaviour at the level of local populations, we introduce the concept of symmetric equilibrium and relate it to properties of allelic and genotypic fitness. We present examples of metapopulation stability, instability and bistability, as well as an example showing that differentially greater migration into a stable patch results in metapopulation stability. Finally, we illustrate a Naimark-Sacker bifurcation giving a globally asymptotically stable invariant curve for the 4-dimensional model.
SIP overload control: a backpressure-based approach

Overload happens in Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) networks when SIP servers have insufficient resources to handle all messages they receive. Under overload, SIP networks suffer from congestion collapse due to its ineffective overload control mechanism. In this paper we propose a backpressure-based SIP overload control mechanism called Bassoon. It consists of two parts: the first part is a provably optimal load balancing algorithm that ensures full utilization of the available network resources. The second part is an end-to-end load control algorithm that intelligently throttles excessive traffic at the edge of the network. We show that, by combining optimal load balancing and end-to-end load control, Bassoon effectively controls overload in SIP networks and outperforms existing schemes in terms of goodput, fairness and responsiveness.
The Epidemiology of Violence Against the Elderly: Implications for Primary and Secondary Prevention

Although the elderly are generally less likely to become the victims of violent crime compared to younger cohorts, they have unique and somewhat alarming patterns of victimization. This article examines the extant literature on elderly victimization and presents homicide data from the Supplementary Homicide Reports and robbery and assault data from the National Crime Victimization Survey to illuminate the idiosyncratic vulnerabilities elderly individuals have to violence compared to their younger counterparts. In addition, research examining violence that occurs in nursing homes as the result of staff-to-patient assaults and resident-to-resident assaults is also highlighted. Policies aimed at both primary and secondary prevention of violence against the elderly are discussed.
Comparison of linearized wave propagation models for arterial blood flow analysis.

Abstract Linearized wave propagation models which can be used to predict both transmission characteristics and hydraulic fluid impedance values based upon system input parameters are reviewed. Most of these models considered herein are concerned with the propagation of small, axisymmetric, harmonic disturbances through an incompressible, Newtonian fluid contained within a distensible tube of long length. The equations of motion of the fluid are usually described by the linearized Navier-Stokes equations. The equations of motion of the wall used in the various models showed a great deal of variability. According to the tube equations of motion and the boundary conditions employed, these models can be divided into three categories: constrained, thin-walled tube models; freely moving, thin-walled models; and freely moving, thick-walled models. The differences in the results predicted by these three groups are generally a function of the values of the system parameters. A comparison of the phase velocity and transmission per wavelength predicted by the different models is made. The differences in the parameter variations of the fluid impedance, resistance and inertance among the different models are also discussed. The comparisons demonstrate the existence of significant differences in the values of propagation constant and fluid impedance predicted by the different models.
Treatment of bipolar depression: current status, continued challenges, and the STEP-BD approach.

This article takes an evidence-based medicinal approach to the treatment of bipolar depression. Mood stabilizers are strongly recommended as the first line of treatment for milder bipolar depressive episodes, primarily because subsequent preventive therapy will be necessary. In addition to lithium, recent research has established the antidepressant effects of lamotrigine and olanzapine. There is agreement that three presentations of bipolar I depression warrant combined antidepressant/mood stabilizer strategies: episodes not responsive to mood stabilizers, episodes that break through despite prophylaxis, and markedly severe or psychotic episodes. Bupropion and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (of which fluoxetine and paroxetine have received the most extensive study) are uniformly considered the antidepressants of choice; venlafaxine and monoamine oxidase inhibitors rank highly for treatment-resistant cases. With concomitant mood stabilizer therapy, the risk of antidepressant-induced mania therapy is low (5%-10% during acute phase therapy with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or bupropion). The optimal duration of antidepressant therapy is not known, and experts tend to recommend relatively short or indefinite courses of therapy based on factors such chronicity and past history of recurrence. The goals of the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (www.stepbd.org), which was sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health, are described in terms of filling several large gaps in knowledge that preclude a truly evidence-based approach to treatment of bipolar depression.
Evaluation of the Beckman Coulter UniCel DxH 800, Beckman Coulter LH 780, and Abbott Diagnostics Cell-Dyn Sapphire Hematology Analyzers on Adult Specimens in a Tertiary Care Hospital

We evaluated the new Beckman Coulter DxH 800 hematology analyzer (Beckman Coulter, Miami, FL) vs the Abbott Diagnostics Cell-Dyn Sapphire (Abbott Diagnostics, Santa Clara, CA) and Beckman Coulter LH 780 hematology analyzers using 430 adult specimens. The DxH 800 provided a CBC and differential that correlated well with those of the Sapphire and LH 780, with most parameters showing correlation coefficients (r) of more than 0.97. In the instrument vs 400-cell manual differential comparison, all 3 instruments showed similar and acceptable accuracy to the reference method except for nucleated RBC (NRBC) enumeration, in which the DxH 800 and Sapphire outperformed the LH 780. We also compared clinical efficiency by determining whether flagged specimens showed abnormalities on a peripheral blood smear as defined by International Council for Standardization in Haematology criteria. The efficiency, sensitivity, and specificity of the DxH 800 were 77.0%, 87.1%, and 73.0%, respectively, compared with the Sapphire at 75.8%, 93.5%, and 68.8%, respectively, and LH 780 at 66.1%, 93.5%, and 55.3%, respectively.
The influence of water stress on leaf and stem photosynthesis in Spartium junceum L.

Stem and leaf photosynthetic responses to environmental parameters were studied in Spartium junceum L., a legume with chlorophyllous stems. Stem net photosynthesis (Pn) was consistently lower than leaf Pn. The low stem Pn was due to lower quantum yield, lower mesophyll conductance and lower CO2-saturated Pn than that of leaf Pn. Stomatal limitations to leaf and stem Pn were similar (25%). Water stress caused a greater reduction in leaf Pn than that of stems. Leaf Pn was also reduced in water-stressed plants following rehydration. The reduced leaf Pn was associated with a reduced photon saturated Pn rate and a reduced CO2 saturated Pn rate. Apparent quantum yield, mesophyll conductance and stomatal limitation of leaves were unaffected by water-stress. Stem Pn following rehydration was not influenced by the water-stress treatment. In general, leaf Pn was more responsive to environmental parameters and more sensitive to water stress than stem Pn. These data support the hypothesis that stem Pn has greater tolerance of water stress, but is limited to low Pn by biochemical means compared to leaves.
Russian Neoliberal: The Entrepreneurial Ethic and the Spirit of “True Careerism”

One of the most important results of the first post-Soviet decade in Russia is the world of affluent businessmen, successful cosmopolitan entrepreneurs, and the proverbial New Russians. Until recently this world was unimaginable and to this day is hidden from the view of most people in Russia. It is inhabited by remarkable characters-biznezmeny (businessmen), bankiry (bankers), brokery (brokers), dilery (traders), ekaunt-menedzhery (account managers), kopiraitery (copy-writers). They are residents of Moscow and a few other large cities, familiar to the majority only from the pages of new mass publications and from fleeting encounters on urban streets characterized by one Moscow sociologist: "We often see his shining automobile racing through the city at high speed. Sometimes his slightly plump figure in an expensive cashmere coat is glimpsed as he passes from his car to a restaurant or bank or through the mysteriously glittering doors of a luxurious office."' Most active and successful participants in the world of Russia's private business constitute a group defined quite precisely along generational and gender lines. A magazine that caters to aspiring young entrepreneurs summarizes this world as follows: "Literally within a few years a new generation of businessmen-young, energetic, tough-was formed before our eyes. They are as a rule under forty."2 Endless lists of "best bankers," "best brokers," and "best managers," compiled by publications for and about businessmen, describe them as predominantly men in their thirties-according to one list, in 1999, the average age of the country's forty top managers of private companies was 35.5, and thirtysix of them were men.3 Indeed, according to sociological studies, in the second half of the
A longitudinal study of the babbling and phonological development of a child with hypoglossia

This is a longitudinal study of the phonological development of a child born with severe hypoglossia. The purpose of the study was to determine this cognitively normal child's phonological repertoi...
Science to Practice: Can We Turn the Undesired Heating Effects of MR Imaging into Effective Cancer Therapies?

In the current study, Zhang et al take the principles of image guidance, energy deposition, and the known effects of hyperthermia at least one step further.
Determination of total biodiesel fatty acid methyl, ethyl esters, and hydrocarbon types in diesel fuels by supercritical fluid chromatography-flame ionization detection

A method for determining total biodiesel methyl and ethyl ester content in diesel fuels by supercritical fluid chromatography-flame ionization detection (SFC-FID) is developed. A silica column typically used for determining aromatics in conventional diesel fuels by ASTM D5186 is back-flushed after separation of the hydrocarbons to allow elution of the various esters as a single "total biodiesel" distinct peak. The modification concurrently allows the determination of total aromatic hydrocarbons and their distribution as mono- and polynuclear compounds, as described in the current version of D5186. The instrument response is linear from 1.0% to 50% biodiesel esters with a signal-to-noise ratio of 25 at the 0.1% level. The short-term relative standard is 0.8%. Normalized percent quantitation using a hydrocarbon response factor of 1.00 and an ester response factor of 1.19 provide an average percentage error of 1.8% when measuring actual biodiesel/hydrocarbon fuel blends. The ester response factor is the average of the response factors of 10 pure ester compounds. These responses are calculated from respective solutions of each ester and the four compounds, hexadecane, toluene, tetralin, and naphthalene, as used for the D5186 response factor mixture.
Distributed 2- and 3-bit W-band MEMS phase shifters on glass substrates

This paper presents state-of-the-art RF microelectromechanical (MEMS) phase shifters at 75-110 GHz based on the distributed microelectromechanical transmission-line (DMTL) concept. A 3-bit DMTL phase shifter, fabricated on a glass substrate using MEMS switches and coplanar-waveguide lines, results in an average loss of 2.7 dB at 78 GHz (0.9 dB/bit). The measured figure-of-merit performance is 93/spl deg//dB-100/spl deg//dB (equivalent to 0.9 dB/bit) of loss at 75-110 GHz. The associated phase error is /spl plusmn/3/spl deg/ (rms phase error is 1.56/spl deg/) and the reflection loss is below -10 dB over all eight states. A 2-bit phase shifter is also demonstrated with comparable performance to the 3-bit design. It is seen that the phase shifter can be accurately modeled using a combination of full-wave electromagnetic and microwave circuit analysis, thereby making the design quite easy up to 110 GHz. These results represent the best phase-shifter performance to date using any technology at W-band frequencies. Careful analysis indicates that the 75-110-GHz figure-of-merit performance becomes 150/spl deg//dB-200/spl deg//dB, and the 3-bit average insertion loss improves to 1.8-2.1 dB if the phase shifter is fabricated on quartz substrates.