cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of protein kinases in regulation of apical secretion and basal-lateral membrane recycling traffic in reconstituted rabbit lacrimal gland acini

Cholinergic stimulation activates at least two different membrane traffic functions in lacrimal gland acinar cells: (i) exocytic release of stored secretory proteins across the apical plasma membranes, which is followed by retrieval and recycling of secretory vesicle constituents, and (ii) recycling traffic between basal-lateral plasma membranes and endomembrane compartments, e.g., membranes involved in translocation of neurotransmitter and neuropeptide receptors and of Na,K-ATPase and other ion transport proteins. The signal transduction and effector mechanisms involved in regulated protein secretion have been studied most extensively in rat extraorbital lacrimal glands.1–4 Work with this preparation has produced considerable evidence implicating both branches of the phosphoinositide cascade, including Ca2+-mediated activation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase and diacylglycerol-mediated activation of protein kinase C.5,6 A role for phospholipase D has also been suggested.7 In contrast, relatively little is known about regulation of the basal-lateral plasma membrane-endomembrane recycling traffic. Therefore, the goals of the present study were to assess the effects of protein kinase activators and inhibitors on secretion of β-hexosaminidase, a marker for function of the apical secretory pathway,8 and on endocytosis of Lucifer Yellow, a marker for function of the basal-lateral plasma membrane-endomembrane recycling pathway, in rabbit lacrimal gland acinar cells.9,10 Accordingly, we employed the phorbol ester, phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA); the Ca2+-ionophore, A23187; the protein kinase C inhibitor, calphostin c; and the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaM kinase II) inhibitor, KN62.
Bacterial scleral abscesses after retinal buckling operations. Pathogenesis, management, and laboratory investigations.

Abstract Between 1971 and 1985, 28 patients were treated for a scleral abscess after a scleral buckle procedure. Twenty-six of the patients had the original surgery performed between those years during which a total of 4480 buckling procedures were performed. Therefore, the incidence of scleral abscess after buckling procedures was 0.58% (26/4480). All 28 patients had excessive pain, conjunctival chemosis and proptosis, a creamy white area of retina on the buckle, and a variable amount of vitreous inflammation. Seventeen of these patients had an especially severe scleral abscess with inflammatory vitreous opacification, which precluded visualization of the retinal vessels or allowed at most a hazy view of the optic nervehead or the scleral buckle. A review of these 17 severely involved patients showed that, in most cases (13 of 17), the vitreous inflammation was sterile. Therefore, most patients can be managed simply with immediate removal of the buckle along with topical and systemic antibiotics. A laboratory investigation showed that a cell-free millipore filtrate of Staphylococcus aureus culture in trypticase soy broth caused prominent but self-limited inflammation when injected intravitreally. Therefore, bacterial toxins or secretions could be the cause of the prominent vitreous inflammation in most patients with scleral abscesses. In another experiment, sponge exoplants, which had been soaked in a highly concentrated culture of S. aureus , were sutured episclerally in rabbits. A scleral abscess developed in 19 of 23 rabbit eyes with these infective sponges. Progressive scleral abscesses, which closely resembled those seen in humans, developed in 14 of the 23 eyes. Cultures of the vitreous were performed after opening the eyes so that contamination would not occur as the needle passed through the infected ocular coats. Nine of the 14 eyes had positive vitreous cultures relatively early on even when the vitreous cavity was only moderately inflamed. Therefore, the S. aureus in this in vivo model of an infective sponge exoplant penetrated the thin rabbit sclera readily.
The Epidemiology of Adolescent Health

Adolescence is a time when many health problems are first identified and many health behaviors, both positive and negative, are established. This chapter reviews mortality and morbidity data as well as a range of behavioral health indicators in five major areas: (1) chronic disease, (2) mental health and suicide, (3) substance use, (4) sexual health, and (5) injury and violence. The most recent national data are summarized to describe trends over time and subpopulation differences in adolescent health indicators. The findings demonstrate that most adolescent health problems are preventable, highlighting the importance of early intervention to promote healthy behaviors and resilience.
Analysis of building seismic records using artificial neural networks

Publisher Summary This chapter uses an artificial neural network to analyze the building acceleration records obtained during earthquakes. The neural network contained a buffer layer with six delay data points. The hidden layer either contained a nonlinear activating function or a simple linear activation function. The neural network was first tested on a model ten-storey building frame using real earthquake ground acceleration and simulated response at each floor based on a second-order linear mathematical model. The training of the network was successful and the fundamental vibration frequency and damping ratio were identified by exciting the network with harmonic acceleration. The neural network was then applied to a set of real data during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake from a four-story building. The data exhibited pronounced time-variation in the building characteristics. The neural network was not able to simulate this time-variation behavior over the long duration of thirty seconds, but was accurate in characterizing behavior within short duration windows of two to four seconds.
The place of tamoxifen in the treatment of breast cancer.

The aim of a round-table discussion was to place the current clinical data into a more complete prospective, and to identify the issues that remain to be resolved. There is general agreement that, with proper case selection, tamoxifen is both effective and relatively nontoxic. One of the main questions is the problem of patient selection, and specifically the role of receptor measurements.
Ultrafast Electron Cascades Driven by Intense Femtosecond THz Pulses

A table-top THz source has been employed to study the nonlinear response of semiconductors to near-half-cycle intense femtosecond pulses. We report nonlinear field-induced changes in the far infrared absorption coefficient, associated with THz-induced impact ionization processes occurring within the THz pulse.
Infinite Index Embeddings

Infinite Index Embeddings are discussed in the framework of quantized space and its quantized symmetry groups.
Abuser Risk Measure: Reports by Alleged Victims to Adult Protective Services.

Background and objectives Within the elder abuse field, research on the characteristics of the abusers is scant, and no validated measure of abuser risk exists. The purpose of this study was to develop and test the Abuser Risk Measure (ARM). Research design and methods The Rasch measurement model and traditional psychometrics were used on a sample of 425 elder abuse cases that completed an elder abuse investigation and had a substantiation decision (yes/no). All had usable ARM responses that were obtained primarily from the alleged victim. ARM construct/criterion validity was tested against four types of elder abuse using substantiation decision as the criterion. Item analyses guided the development of a full 21-item ARM measure and, subsequently, a short, 9-item screener. Results The 21-item ARM met the Rasch criteria. Although the screener was borderline on Rasch criteria, the combination of a good Cronbach's alpha with strong criterion validation provided a rationale for endorsing its validity. Both versions of the ARM were significantly and most strongly predictive of physical and emotional abuse, and significant for financial exploitation. While not significantly predictive of neglect alone, they were strongly and significantly predictive of total types of abuse. Discussion and implications This study was innovative in developing abuser risk items, analyzing client data, and generally supporting ARM validity for elder abuse. Theoretically, and now empirically, it is becoming clear that measures of abuser risk have an important role to play in both case assessment and in research.
Stroke-Associated Hemiparesis Detection Using Body Joints and Support Vector Machines

Hemiparesis, the weakness of one side of the body, affects the ability of stroke survivors to move and walk. It is generally diagnosed through motor tests performed as part of neurological examinations such as the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS), a subjective evaluation that requires the presence of an experienced neurologist. Here we report on an alternative way for computationally identifying hemiparesis that leverages body joint position data captured by the Microsoft Kinect. We employed support vector machines with 14 stroke subjects and 21 controls to characterize hemiparesis based on 4 core body angles recorded while the participants were simply sitting at rest, waiting for their neurologist. When comparing our results to neurologists' NIHSS scores, we were able to always identify right-side hemiparesis, left-side hemiparesis, or no hemiparesis using a leave-one-subject-out analysis. With additional data, our ultimate aim is to include the hemiparesis detection system presented here in a larger, multimodal tool that characterizes stroke based on several stroke-associated deficits. We envision deploying this tool in emergency settings for faster and more precise stroke severity assessments done in real-time.
Weight bias among exercise and nutrition professionals: a systematic review.

Obesity affects approximately one-third of American adults. Recent evidence suggests that weight bias may be pervasive among both exercise and nutrition professionals working with adults who have obesity. However, the published literature on this topic is limited. This review aimed to (i) systematically review existing literature examining weight bias among exercise and nutrition professionals; (ii) discuss the implications of this evidence for exercise and nutrition professionals and their clients; (iii) address gaps and limitations of this literature; and (iv) identify future research directions. Of the 31 studies that met the criteria for this review, 20 examined weight bias among exercise professionals, of which 17 (85%) found evidence of weight bias among professionals practicing physical therapy (n = 4), physical education (n = 8) and personal/group fitness training (n = 5). Of 11 studies examining weight bias among nutrition professionals, eight (73%) found evidence of weight bias. These findings demonstrate fairly consistent evidence of weight bias among exercise and nutrition professionals. However, the majority of studies were cross-sectional (90%). Given that weight bias may compromise quality of care and potentially reinforce weight gain and associated negative health consequences in patients with obesity, it is imperative for future work to examine the causes and consequences of weight bias within exercise and nutrition professions using more rigorous study designs.
Development of an antimicrobial stewardship program in an integrated healthcare system.

Purpose The development of an inpatient antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) in an integrated healthcare system is described. Summary With increasing national focus on reducing inappropriate antimicrobial use, state and national regulatory mandates require hospitals to develop ASPs. In 2015, BJC HealthCare, a multihospital health system, developed a system-level, multidisciplinary ASP team to assist member hospitals with ASP implementation. A comprehensive gap analysis was performed to assess current stewardship resources, activities and compliance with CDC core elements at each facility. BJC system clinical leads facilitated the development of hospital-specific leadership support statements, identification of hospital pharmacy and medical leaders, and led development of staff and patient educational components. An antimicrobial-use data dashboard was created for reporting and tracking the impact of improvement activities. Hospital-level interventions were individualized based on the needs and resources at each facility. Hospital learnings were shared at bimonthly system ASP meetings to disseminate best practices. The initial gap analysis revealed that BJC hospitals were compliant in a median of 6 ASP elements (range, 4-8) required by regulatory mandates. By leveraging system resources, all hospitals were fully compliant with regulatory requirements by January 2017. Conclusion BJC's ASP model facilitated the development of broad-based stewardship activities, including education modules for patients and providers and clinical decision support, while allowing hospitals to implement activities based on local needs and resource availability.
Sodium hypochlorite body wash in the management of Staphylococcus aureus-colonized moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in infants, children, and adolescents.

Objectives A cleansing body wash containing diluted sodium hypochlorite (0.006% NaOCl) was evaluated for management of moderate-to-severe Staphylococcus aureus-colonized, atopic dermatitis in children. Methods A 6-week, prospective, open-label study was conducted with 50 evaluable participants (ages 6 months to 17 years) who had moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis with S aureus skin colonization documented by culture. Participants were instructed to continue using their current medications while using the study product, 0.006% NaOCl body wash, once daily to affected areas for 6 weeks. Primary outcome measures were Investigator's Global Assessment, Eczema Area and Severity Index, and Body Surface Area scores. Secondary outcome measures were the Visual Analog Scale for pruritus, Family Dermatology Life Quality Index, and Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire for Problem Areas. A subject daily diary and a six-item subject questionnaire that provided information on preferences for bleach bath vs body wash were secondary outcome measures. Results Daily use of the 0.006% NaOCl body wash led to improvement for all outcome measures comparing baseline to 2-week and to 6-week evaluations. Of the 50 skin S aureus-positive subjects, 32/50 (64%) were still positive at 2 weeks. A 36.5% decrease in subject's daily record of topical corticosteroid application at end of study compared to baseline was found. Participant surveys indicated preferences for the body wash over bleach baths. Conclusions Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) body wash improved all outcome measures for moderate-to-severe S aureus-colonized AD in infants, children, and adolescents. The limited reduction in S aureus further suggests that sodium hypochlorite has ameliorative effects other than antimicrobial actions.
Material properties and structural characteristics influencing deformation capacity and plasticity in reinforced ductile cement-based composite structural components

Abstract Composite structural components using high-performance fiber-reinforced cementitious composites (HPFRCCs) reinforced with mild steel have been observed to fail due to reinforcement fracture instead of crushing of the concrete material. Unlike traditional reinforced concrete members, experimental findings have shown that HPFRCC component ductility increases with reinforcement ratio; however, variation in deformation capacity for a given reinforcement ratio is still not well understood. This study investigates the influence of composite material properties and structural characteristics on deformation capacity of reinforced HPFRCC members using numerical simulation. Finite element models were simulated under monotonic loading to understand the variability in deformation capacity through HPFRCC damage patterns, bond-slip between HPFRCC matrix and longitudinal reinforcement, and spread of plasticity in the longitudinal reinforcement. Simulation results show that there is a substantial decrease in component deformation capacity with high strength HPFRCC materials due to the formation and propagation of flexural cracks. The effects of boundary conditions and shear span-depth ratio are also explored. Discussion is provided to assess the relative influence of HPFRCC material and structural characteristics on component-level performance in terms of cracking, strain distribution, and deformation capacity to better inform future development of materials and structural applications.
Acing the test: an examination of teachers’ perceptions of and responses to the threat of state takeover

With the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act, states have increased latitude over school improvement and accountability policies. At the same time, school takeover via state-run turnaround districts has emerged as a prominent education reform. Although policies takeover influence how teachers are prepared, supported, and evaluated, little is known about how teachers may perceive and respond to the threat of state takeover. Using Georgia as a case study, this article (a) examines the ways in which teachers’ perceptions and practices shift in response to the threat of state takeover and (b) explores how accountability pressures associated with the threat of state takeover may result in organizational changes at the school level. We find that teachers have negative attitudes toward the threat of state takeover and there have been marked changes in practices. It appears that teaching to test is being normalized. School administrators and teachers appear to display a cognitive dissonance between their moral and ethical reactions to the practice and their use of the practices in response to heightened accountability pressures. Teachers acknowledge the difficulties of overhauling the inclusion of students’ test scores in evaluations, but they also raise several concerns regarding the process of testing.
Proton Transfer versus Hydrogen Bonding in a Reduced Iron Porphyrin Nitrosyl Complex

The 1H NMR spectra of Fe(OEP)(HNO), which was formed from Fe(OEP)(NO)- in the presence of 3,5-dichlorophenol, were studied as a function of temperature. The chemical shift of the HNO proton showed a unique behavior which could be explained based on the equilibrium between the protonated complex, Fe(OEP)(HNO), and the hydrogen-bonded complex, Fe(OEP)(NO)-···HOPh. This equilibrium was consistent with UV/visible spectroscopy and the voltammetric data. UV/visible stopped-flow experiments showed that the hydrogen-bonded complex, which was formed when weak acids such as phenol were added, and the Fe(OEP)(HNO) complex were quite similar. In addition to the HNO proton resonance, the meso-resonances were consistent with the proposed equilibrium. Density functional theory calculations of various Fe(OEP)(NO)-/Fe(OEP)(HNO) species were calculated, and the results were consistent with experimental data.
Dealing with government dysfunction: Perceived electoral system brokenness explains the effects of high and low perceived polarization on support for fixes

Abstract In five pre-registered experiments, we demonstrate causal effects of perceptions of political polarization and, especially, electoral system brokenness on desire for inclusion of a third party candidate and support for potential fixes to the electoral system. We first manipulated perceived issue polarization between two candidates in a fictional election to be high, medium, or low and showed that the high and low polarization conditions, compared to the medium condition, evoked greater desire for inclusion of a third candidate. Then we established that perceiving the electoral system as broken statistically mediated the effect of high and low polarization on greater desire for inclusion. We next demonstrated experimental mediation in two ways: via a manipulation-of-mediator design (Pirlott & MacKinnon, 2016) in which we manipulated the proposed mediator (i.e., perceived electoral system brokenness) and, separately, via a moderation-of process design (Spencer, Zanna, & Fong, 2005) in which we simultaneously manipulated both perceived polarization and perceived brokenness. Both perceived issue polarization (high and low versus medium, and high versus low, excluding medium) and perceived brokenness exert causal effects on greater desire for inclusion of a third party candidate. When people perceive high and low issue polarization and when people perceive brokenness in the electoral system they support actions that pose potential fixes to the brokenness, such as including a third-party or independent candidate in elections.
Institutionalizing partnerships: a mixed methods approach to identifying trends and perceptions of community policing and multi-agency task forces

Cooperation with citizens and community agencies is fundamental to successful community policing. Considerable scholarship has documented cooperation between police and residents; however, cooperat...
How salesperson traits and intuitive judgments influence adaptive selling: A sensemaking perspective

Abstract Although the increasing complexity of selling environments has been widely recognized, we know little about how salespeople manage the cognitive demands associated with information processing and decision-making during a sales encounter. Drawing on the Sensemaking Intuition Model and Dual Process Theory, we examine unique influences of salesperson traits and reliance on intuition as contributing to a sensemaking mechanism in the adaptive selling process. Further, we consider the moderating role that reliance on intuition has on the relationships between salesperson traits and adaptive selling. Survey results from 250 business-to-business salespeople produce well-fitting confirmatory and structural models that identify positive direct influences of cognitive empathy, trait competitiveness, and reliance on intuition in the adaptive selling process. Moderation analyses reveal that reliance on intuition reduces the positive impact of empathy, highlighting the complexity that salesperson traits and reliance on intuition introduce to the adaptive selling process.
Ionic-Liquid-Based Contactors for Carbon Dioxide Removal from Simulated Spacecraft Cabin Atmospheres

The ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([bmim][Ac]), was used to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from a simulated spacecraft cabin atmosphere (2 mm Hg (267 Pa)) partial pressure of CO2 w...
Design of a Wearable System to Capture Physiological Data to Monitor Surgeons’ Stress During Surgery

The mental and physiological stress experienced by surgeons during operations has been identified as an important human factor that impacts surgical performance and patient safety. It is crucial to objectively measure and quantify surgeons’ stress via physiological signals in order to enhance the understanding of how stress contributes to surgical outcomes. Current clinical and consumer devices for monitoring bio signals are not well adapted for use in the operating room; therefore, we designed an unobtrusive system, that measures select signals that correlate with stress and stores the data for integration into a data processing pipeline. Herein, we present a proof-of-concept device that captures data from ECG, EMG, EDA, and IMU sensors and initial testing results.
Does symptom severity predict response to low-dose onabotulinumtoxinA for the treatment of urgency urinary incontinence?

Abstract Objective Intradetrusor onabotulinumtoxinA is a third-line treatment for urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) which is customarily reserved for severe disease. We sought to determine if symptom severity predicts the proportional response to onabotulinumtoxinA and whether low-dose injection may be an appropriate treatment for mild-moderate symptoms. Study Design This prospective cohort study compared patients with urgency urinary incontinence who were recruited from the Urogynecology Clinic with mild-moderate (2–9 episodes/3-day diary) and severe UUI (>9 episodes/3-day diary) symptoms. Twenty-eight subjects were treated (11 mild-moderate, 17 severe) with 50 units of intradetrusor onabotulinumtoxinA. Voiding diaries and validated questionnaires (UDI-6 and IIQ-7) were collected at baseline and one, six, and twelve months post-treatment. The primary outcome was the difference in percent reduction in UUI episodes per 3-day diary at one month. Secondary outcomes included differences in absolute reduction of UUI events, treatment success rate (defined as greater than 50% reduction in UUI episodes), changes in UDI-6 and IIQ-7 questionnaire scores, and rates of urinary retention, self-catheterization, and urinary tract infection. Normally distributed data are presented as means with standard deviations (SD) and groups were compared using the two sample t-test. Data that were not normally distributed are presented as medians with the interquartile range (IQR) and were compared using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results The mild-moderate group showed median improvement; 100% (IQR: 100%, 100%) and severe group; 81% (IQR: 35%, 100%), p Conclusions Patients with both mild-moderate and severe symptoms showed a statistically significant improvement in UUI events from baseline to one month, but no difference between the groups in proportional improvement or treatment success.
Trust-aware control in proximate human-robot teaming

Abstract Proximate interaction is central to a variety of human-robot interaction (HRI) domains including healthcare, manufacturing, and education. While teaming in these domains can improve many aspects of everyday life, the dynamic environments in which it occurs often involve highly variable human behaviors and frequent robot errors. Thus, a well-calibrated trust dynamic between human and robot teammates is especially critical to achieving effective collaboration. Trust-aware robot control frameworks leverage existing knowledge about trust in HRI to maintain optimal team performance during real-time, ongoing interaction. In this chapter we review the advantages and shortcomings of the two existing trust-aware control frameworks with respect to their use in the context of proximate human robot teaming. In the process we provide the foundation for the next generation of trust-aware, proximate interaction control frameworks, emphasizing the importance of robot movement behavior in shaping team trust dynamics.
A nonparametric analysis of household-level food insecurity and its determinant factors: exploratory study in Ethiopia and Nigeria

Given the fundamental importance of food to human well-being, understanding food insecurity is crucial for sustainable development. However, due to the complex nature of food insecurity, traditional linear methods of empirical analysis may mask critical relationships between food insecurity and demographic, agricultural, and environmental factors. Here we show, using two years of household-level survey data from Ethiopia and Nigeria, that nonparametric regression (“random forest”, in this study) enables enhanced insight into the factors associated with self-reported food security and household dietary diversity score. We observe nonlinearities and thresholds in the relationships between the measures of food security, livestock ownership, and climatic conditions. The threshold-based relationships suggest that policies aimed at increasing agricultural productivity (e.g., livestock holdings) may only be beneficial up to an extent. While it is intuitive that some level of diminishing returns will exist, our nonparametric analysis could be used as a first step to discern the levels to which policies may be beneficial. Additionally, our results indicate that the random forest (and perhaps nonparametric regression and classification methods more generally) may be especially well-positioned to uncover nuances in these relationships in years with suboptimal climatic conditions (such as during the 2015 drought in Ethiopia). Ultimately, we argue that nonparametric approaches, when informed by existing theory, provide an insightful complement to inform the analysis of agricultural and development policy.
Arnol’d Diffusion

All conservative nonintegrable classical systems, with three or more degrees of freedom (DoF), can undergo a global transition to chaos due to a dense web of resonances (the Arnol’d web) that permeates the phase space. Each resonance line in the Arnol’d web is surrounded by a resonance region and a stochastic web. The system can diffuse throughout each energy surface, both along and across the web in a universal diffusion process called Arnol’d diffusion. The rate of diffusion depends on parameters of the system. Because Arnol’d diffusion occurs in systems with three or more degrees of freedom, it is difficult to visualize and difficult to analyze.
Force-sensing micropillar arrays for cell mechanics and mechanobiology

Abstract Cells are sensitive to their surrounding microenvironment. The microscopic length scale of single cells makes it challenging to study how cells sense, interpret, and transform complex microenvironmental cues into cellular responses. The micropost and micropillar array fabricated using biocompatible elastomers has been shown as a useful tool to investigate cell-generated dynamic forces in response to microenvironmental cues. Such studies provide important insights into the underlying mechanism of cellular mechanotransduction. In this chapter, we will provide an overview of the fabrication and functionalization of micropillar and micropost arrays and highlight the utility of these systems for cell mechanics and mechanobiological studies.
In Vivo Genome Editing at the Albumin Locus to Treat Methylmalonic Acidemia

ABSTRACT Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is a metabolic disorder most commonly caused by mutations in the methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (MMUT) gene. Although adeno-associated viral (AAV) gene therapy has been effective at correcting the disease phenotype in MMA mouse models, clinical translation may be impaired by loss of episomal transgene expression, and magnified by the need to treat patients early in life. To achieve permanent correction, we developed a dual AAV strategy to express a codon-optimized MMUT transgene from Alb, and tested various CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing vectors in newly developed knock-in mouse models of MMA. For one target site in intron 1 of Alb, we designed rescue cassettes expressing MMUT behind a 2A-peptide or an internal ribosomal entry site sequence. A second guide RNA targeted the initiator codon, and the donor cassette encompassed the proximal albumin promoter in the 5’ homology arm. Although all editing approaches were therapeutic, targeting the start codon of albumin allowed the use of a donor cassette that also functioned as an episome and after homologous recombination, even without the expression of Cas9, as an integrant. Targeting the albumin locus using these strategies would be effective for other metabolic disorders where early treatment and permanent long-term correction are needed.
ABSTINENCE EDUCATION FOR URBAN YOUTH

Teen sexual problems in the U.S. are reaching enormous proportions. Attempts to prevent common problems, pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, are underway through the persistent efforts of community, health, academic and government organizations. Abstinence education is one of the current attempts. However, the lack of well defined theoretical frameworks and analyses of outcomes have limited progress in the study of abstinence education. This article describes a pilot program in abstinence-only education provided to six groups of young teens within an urban middle school. The framework for the program, cognitive social learning theory, is described and operationalized. Student pretest-posttest attitudes, open-ended written comments about the program and the researchers' anecdotes about behavioral changes in the students are the outcome measures. Positive attitudes about premarital abstinence increased for all six groups; for four of the six groups the increase was statistically significant.
Public Employees and the Curious Mini-Revival of Contract Clause Jurisprudence

This article examines the role of the often-overlooked contract clause in the context of the current financial crisis experienced by many states and localities. In the face of severe budget shortfalls, state and local governments have sought to modify public employee contacts, especially with respect to health and pension benefits. Federal and state courts have reached confliction opinions concerning legislation that curtails existing contractual rights for such employees. The article criticizes the prevailing multi-prong test for determining contract clause violations as vague and malleable. It also calls into question the notion that courts should employ a heightened standard of review when states alter their own contractual undertakings. Further, the article proposes a return to a principled reading of the contract clause, arguing that financial problems are not a excuse to avoid contractual obligations of any sort, and that all contracts, public as well as private, should be held to the same standard of review. It maintains that public employees should not be singled out for harsh treatment in economically distressed times, but that neither should they be treated as a privileged class.
Artistic rendering to represent quality of information

The representation of information quality, also known as "verity visualization," can be explained as a judgment of the accuracy of specific information in a dataset relative to the whole. The visualization of information quality is an important factor in data comparison situations, or even to simply "highlight" regions of low quality information for further study. Depending on the scenario, the quality of the information could be related to the accuracy of the tools being used to gather the information, how recently the information was collected, etc. and, in general, the reliability of the source.
The Anderson Lattice and Universal Properties of Heavy Fermion Systems

Using the Kondo Boson − 1/N expansion, we solve for the Fermi liquid properties of the Anderson lattice at low temperatures. The Kondo limit of this model is shown to necessarily induce large mass enhancements m*/m ≫ 1, and generate a low lying energy scale \(\bar{T}_K \;\alpha\; (m*/m)^{-1}\), which dominates the dynamics of this heavy Fermi liquid. In particular, our calculation leads to the following predictions: (1) The specific heat \(C_v = \gamma T \;\alpha\; T/\bar{T}_K\) with corrections \(\Delta C_v = \left( {T/\bar T_K } \right)^3 \log \left( {T/\bar T_K } \right)\) (2) The zero temperature spin susceptibility \(\chi \;\alpha \;1/{\bar T_K}\), and (3) the resistivity \(\rho \;\alpha\; \left(T/\bar{T}_K\right)^2\). We analyze recent pressure dependent C v , χ and ρ/T 2 measurements on UPt3 to confirm the scaling of these quantities with a single strongly pressure dependent energy scale. The universality of these relations is supported by evidence of systematic trends throughout the entire class of heavy fermion compounds.
Reflections on Assumption of Risk

Despite calls for the abolition of assumption of risk, and for its "merger" within comparative fault, the doctrine survives in some jurisdictions, and its spirit endures in most, if not all. The consensual rationale underlying assumption of risk is distinctive, important, and not easily reducible to the paradigm of victim fault. That rationale helps shape many of the no duty and limited duty rules in negligence law. Moreover, a similar rationale also underlies consent to an intentional tort. To be sure, whether the victim acted "reasonably" seems to be more relevant when the injurer is a negligent rather than an intentional tortfeasor. But this difference largely reflects only contingent, empirical differences in the typical fact pattern when a victim "consents" to negligence as opposed to an intentional tort. Whether a formal defense of assumption of risk of an injurer's negligence should also be retained, however, is a close question. An affirmative answer is most plausible in two narrow categories - when the victim fully prefers the risk, and when the victim insists on a relationship with the injurer. A plaintiff fully prefers a risk if he actually favors the tortious option that defendant provided to the nontortious option that defendant could have provided. (Suppose a passenger encourages a driver to speed.) And a plaintiff insists on a relationship if he requests that defendant permit him to confront a tortious risk when defendant could decline a continuing relationship. (Suppose a stranded motorist requests a ride from a drunk driver.) But the traditional view that a victim should obtain no recovery if he voluntarily and knowingly elects to confront a risk is excessively broad and is not justified by the state's legitimate interests in furthering or respecting human autonomy.
A multicenter, placebo-controlled trial of melatonin for sleep disturbance in Alzheimer's disease.

Objectives: To determine the safety and efficacy of 2 dose formulations of melatonin for the treatment of insomnia in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Design: A multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of 2 dose formulations of oral melatonin coordinated by the National Institute of Aging-funded Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study. Subjects with Alzheimer's disease and nighttime sleep disturbance were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups: placebo, 2.5-mg slow-release melatonin, or 10-mg melatonin. Setting: Private homes and long-term care facilities. Participants: 157 individuals were recruited by 36 Alzheimer's disease research centers. Subjects with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease were eligible if they averaged less than 7 hours of sleep per night (as documented by wrist actigraphy) and had 2 or more episodes per week of nighttime awakenings reported by the caregiver. Measurements: Nocturnal total sleep time, sleep efficiency, wake-time after sleep onset, and day-night sleep ratio during 2- to 3-week baseline and 2-month treatment periods. Sleep was defined by an automated algorithmic analysis of wrist actigraph data. Results: No statistically significant differences in objective sleep measures were seen between baseline and treatment periods for the any of the 3 groups. Nonsignificant trends for increased nocturnal total sleep time and decreased wake after sleep onset were observed in the melatonin groups relative to placebo. Trends for a greater percentage of subjects having more than a 30-minute increase in nocturnal total sleep time in the 10-mg melatonin group and for a decline in the day-night sleep ratio in the 2.5-mg sustained-release melatonin group, compared to placebo, were also seen. On subjective measures, caregiver ratings of sleep quality showed improvement in the 2.5-mg sustained-release melatonin group relative to placebo. There were no significant differences in the number or seriousness of adverse events between the placebo and melatonin groups. Conclusions: Based on actigraphy as an objective measure of sleep time, melatonin is not an effective soporific agent in people with Alzheimer's disease. Citation: Singer C; Tractenberg RE; Kaye J et al. A multicenter, placebo-controlled trial of melatonin for sleep disturbance in Alzheimer's disease.
Protective capacity of CD8 T cells targeting a spectrum of Plasmodium-specific epitopes (MPF6P.735)

Despite decades of research, malaria remains a global health crisis. Currently, the most advanced anti-malarial vaccine in human clinical trials (RTS,S) does not provide long-term, sterilizing immunity against Plasmodium infection. Plasmodium -specific CD8 T cells can provide sterilizing immunity to Plasmodium infection in rodent models. However, the numerical requirements for memory CD8 T cell protection against a defined epitope, P. berghei CS252-260 (a CSP epitope) exceeds 1% of peripheral blood lymphocytes - a 10 3 -10 4 fold higher number than required for protection against some bacterial or viral infections. Recently, three novel H-2 b -restricted Plasmodium -specific CD8 T cell epitopes were described from the following antigens: GAP50, S20, and TRAP. Priming with peptide-loaded mature dendritic cells followed by boosting with recombinant L. monocytogenes expressing these epitopes results in antigen-specific CD8 T cell responses constituting 0.3-6% of the PBL in CB6.F1 mice. The capacity of these single CD8 T cell responses to provide protective immunity in a stringent model of liver stage infection with P. berghei will be described. Moreover, we are determining whether combining multiple epitope-specific responses can reduce the total numerical requirement for CD8 T cell-mediated protection. These studies may aid in the preclinical design of a sterilizing CD8 T cell based anti- Plasmodium subunit human vaccine containing multiple CD8 T cell epitopes.
Development of a high-resolution PET detector using LSO and wavelength-shifting fibers

By using wavelength-shifting fibers coupled to thin plates of LSO and to photomultipliers, the authors have demonstrated spatial resolution of 2 mm FWHM for photocapture events. Optimized systems are believed to be capable of better than 1 mm FWHM resolution, without requiring either very small crystals or large numbers of photosensors. With this sensor resolution, annihilation acollinearity dominates system resolution for large PET rings. By radially stacking alternating layers of thin crystals and wavelength-shifting fibers, a direct depth-of-interaction measurement is possible. Energy measurements and coincidence timing may be provided by trigger photomultipliers in a dual-photodetector geometry. Results from computer simulations and component response measurements on proof-of-concept prototypes are presented.
Single screw extrusion processing of soy white flakes based catla feed.

An initial investigation into the inclusion of soy white flakes (SWF) and high protein distillers dried grains (HP-DDG) in catla (Catla catla) diet, belonging to the family Cyprinidae, was conducted using a single screw extruder. Three isocaloric (302 kcal/100 g) ingredient blends containing graded levels of SWF in combination with HP-DDG and other required ingredients were formulated to contain a net protein content of 31.5% (wet basis). Extrusion processing was then performed using three levels each of SWF content, moisture content, and temperature gradient keeping a constant screw speed and die diameter. Effects of these variables on extrudate physical properties including: color, pellet durability index, bulk density, water absorption index, water solubility index, unit density and expansion ratio were extensively analyzed. Increasing the level of SWF resulted in increase in water absorption index and unit density but decrease in expansion ratio. The interaction effect of SWF content, moisture content and temperature were significant for color, pellet durability index, bulk density and expansion ratio. All the extrudates showed relatively high pellet durability and inclusion of SWF produced less expanded and more compact textured extrudates.
The Language of Revealed Theology

N HIS essay entitled, "A Starting-Point for the Philosophical Examination of Theological Belief," Austin Farrer states the impact of modem linguistic philosophy upon theology in this way: "The old method of philosophizing about theology was the endeavor to prove. This meant to prove theological conclusions from non-theological premises ... Such a method of proceeding is now out of fashion."' In the essay he goes on to express a position which might be called "linguistic pluralism"; that is, the position that "every science, art, or manner of speaking is now supposed to find its own justification in its own use."2 This theory of linguistic pluralism leads Farrer to conclude that "in such a philosophical climate the difference of status . . . between the demonstrable and the indemonstrable parts of theology, between 'rational' and 'revealed' doctrines largely disappears."3 Farrer's position here may be summarized in two main points: First, modem developments in logic and methodology have necessitated a plurality of language systems; for example, a language of science, a language of morals, a language of art, a language of religion, with each language obeying different logical rules and finding its own justification in its own use. Secondly, these developments necessitate a radical distinction between religious language with its own system of symbols and their use and any other language, such as the language of science. As a result, the distinction between revealed and rational theology disappears, and with it the hope of justifying any theological doctrines on non-theological grounds. Both of these positions have become very popular in philosophical and theological circles today. At the risk, however, of being considered "out of fashion," if not theologically and philosophically heretical, it is the purpose of this paper to take issue with both of these points. Modern attempts to treat the language of religious doctrine as something other than descriptive discourse, whether it be emotive language,4 moral discourse,5 or even something entirely unique,6 have failed. For it seems quite clear that, at least in the Christian
Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma: case series and literature review.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to understand the natural history and progression of sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC) to establish optimal management guidelines. Methods and materials We analyzed 8 consecutively treated patients diagnosed with SNUC between 1995 and 2002 at UCLA Medical Center. Staging was classified by the Kadish System with 7 patients presenting at stage C and 1 patient with stage B disease. Five patients received surgery. Four of these 5 patients received adjuvant radiotherapy, with 2 patients receiving it concurrently with chemotherapy (cisplatinum/5-fluorouracil). One patient received surgery alone as definitive management. Of the remaining 3 patients who did not receive surgical treatment, concurrent chemotherapy and radiation was used. Results At last follow-up, 6 of the 8 patients were still alive (overall survival 75%) with mean survival time of 20.6 months. However, only 2 of the 6 were alive and free of disease (disease-free survival 25%) with a mean disease-free survival time of 12.3 months. Locoregional recurrence occurred in 5 of the 8 patients (63%). Time to recurrence ranged from 3 to 30 months. Distant metastasis presented in 4 of the 8 patients (50%), all with disease spread to bone. Two of the 4 patients with distant metastasis were found to have locoregional disease recurrence at the same time. Time to metastasis ranged from 2 to 30 months. Results also show that the 5 patients who received surgery are still alive with a mean survival time of 23 months at last follow-up. Meanwhile, 1 of the 3 patients who received no surgical therapy is alive, with a mean survival time of 16.7 months in this group. Conclusions SNUC has proven to have a poor prognosis. Although limited by small numbers, this study along with reported series in the past appear to suggest longer survival results with aggressive multimodality therapy, especially with the incorporation of complete surgical resection.
Combined Statistical Analyses of Peptide Intensities and Peptide Occurrences Improves Identification of Significant Peptides from MS-Based Proteomics Data

Liquid chromatography−mass spectrometry-based (LC−MS) proteomics uses peak intensities of proteolytic peptides to infer the differential abundance of peptides/proteins. However, substantial run-to-...
Postmodern philosophy and politics

(1993). Postmodern philosophy and politics. History of European Ideas: Vol. 16, No. 4-6, pp. 561-567.
Lichenoid drug eruption from chlorpropamide and tolazamide

We report a case of persistent, raised, annular, erythematous plaques in a patient taking chlorpropamide. A diagnosis of lichenoid drug eruption was made