cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mesenchymal cell effect on the immune response in renovascular hypertension (INC1P.352)

Atherosclerotic renal artery sclerosis (RAS) is a significant public health concern, affecting 7% of the population over 65 years old and conveying an increased risk for cardiovascular as well as renal disease. Recent reports have failed to show a benefit of renal artery stenting to treat RAS. We tested the hypothesis that mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) slow the progression of renal injury by reducing inflammation. MSCs were isolated and cultured from murine adipocyte tissue and injected via the carotid artery into the animals 4 weeks after inducing RAS, a time at which the stenotic kidney has undergone severe atrophy. Conjugated microsphere labeling and flow cytometry confirmed that the MSCs migrate to the stenotic kidney. Half of the treatment group demonstrated a 90% reduction in atrophy and significantly lower level of regulatory T cell (Treg) infiltration while the other half demonstrated no change when compared to vehicle treated RAS mice. Array analysis showed a significant down-regulation of NOS2 (M1 macrophages), RORc (Th 17 cells), and CCR4 (associated with M1 macrophages) within those mice with low renal atrophy. The results suggest that under certain conditions, MSCs have a possible effect on the inflammatory environment present in RAS mice. Future studies will determine whether intervention prior to development of severe atrophy will increase therapeutic efficacy of MSC.
The Schwartz Space and the Fourier Transform

This chapter contains material pertaining to the Schwartz space of functions rapidly decaying at infinity and the Fourier transform in such a setting.
Physical examination: Mallampati score as an independent predictor of obstructive sleep apnea.

Study objective To assess the clinical usefulness of the Mallampati score in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Mallampati scoring of the orophyarynx is a simple noninvasive method used to assess the difficulty of endotracheal intubation, but its clinical usefulness has not been validated in patients with sleep-disordered breathing. Design Prospective multivariate assessment of a predictor variable. Setting The UCSF Sleep Disorders Center. Patients or participants One hundred thirty-seven adult patients who were evaluated for possible obstructive sleep apnea. Interventions Prospective determination of the Mallampati score, assessment of other variables for multivariate analysis, and subsequent overnight polysomnography. Measurements and results The Mallampati score was an independent predictor of both the presence and severity of obstructive sleep apnea. On average, for every 1-point increase in the Mallampati score, the odds of having obstructive sleep apnea (apnea-hypopnea index> or = 5) increased more than 2-fold (odds ratio [per 1-point increase] = 2.5; 95% confidence interval: 1.2-5.0; p = .01), and the apnea-hypopnea index increased by more than 5 events per hour (coefficient = 5.2; 95% confidence interval: 0.2-10; p = .04). These results were independent of more than 30 variables that reflected airway anatomy, body habitus, symptoms, and medical history. Conclusion Our results indicate that Mallampati scoring is a useful part of the physical examination of patients prior to polysomnography. The independent association between Mallampati score and presence and severity of obstructive sleep apnea suggests that this scoring system will have practical value in clinical settings and prospective studies of sleep-disordered breathing.
Blurring the Lines of Traditional Gender Roles: Beliefs of African American Women

BLURRING THE LINES OF TRADITIONAL GENDER ROLES: BELIEFS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN By Jasmine Alexis Abrams, B.S. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2012. Major Director: Faye Z. Belgrave, Professor of Psychology Department of Psychology Gender role beliefs of African American women in the United States should be investigated in a manner that considers their unique experiences and the distinct background of her cultural sharing group. In this study, gender role beliefs of African American women were examined by addressing the research question: What are the gender role beliefs of African American women for African American men and women? Eight focus groups comprising 44 African American women were conducted. Women were diverse in terms of age, religion, and socio-economic status. An ethnographic phenomenological approach was used to explore views related to gender roles among African American women. Nvivo 8, a qualitative data analysis software program, was utilized to code transcribed focus group data. Eight themes and 11 subthemes emerged from the data and were divided into three categories: gender role beliefs for women, gender role beliefs for men, and relevant contextual factors. Themes for gender role beliefs about women were 1) Having Multiple Roles, 2) Dedication to Care of Others, 3) Perceived Social Inferiority, and 4) Strength. Themes for gender role beliefs about men were 5) Lack of Commitment, 6) Strength, and 7) Mental and Emotional Immaturity. The theme that captured related contextual factors of gender roles was 8) Personal and Socio-historical Experiences of African Americans. Knowledge of gender role views can help provide a better understanding of human behavior and assist in the development of culturally specific interventions.
An Examination of Antecedents to Perceived Community Resilience in Disaster Postcrisis Communication

Through an online survey of residents in areas affected by Hurricane Matthew (n = 596), this study examines antecedents that lead to perceived community resilience (PCR) in a disaster crisis. Crisi...
North America before the European Invasions

North America Before the European Invasions tells the histories of North American peoples from first migrations in the Late Glacial Age, sixteen thousand years ago or more, to the European invasions following Columbus’s arrival. Contrary to invaders’ propaganda, North America was no wilderness, and its peoples had developed a variety of sophisticated resource uses, including intensive agriculture and cities in Mexico and the Midwest. Written in an easy-flowing style, the book is a true history although based primarily on archeological material. It reflects current emphasis within archaeology on rejecting the notion of “pre”-history, instead combining archaeology with post-Columbian ethnographies and histories to present the long histories of North America’s native peoples, most of them still here and still part of the continent’s history.
Medical Course and Complications After Liver Transplantation

Liver transplantation is a definitive treatment for several acute and chronic hepatitides, hepatic malignancies, and metabolic disorders affecting the liver. The technique has blossomed from a rare happenstance in the past to a routine surgery performed regularly in major medical centers all across the developed and developing world. Although liver transplant helps to prolong patient survival, the posttransplant course is fraught with various complications that may occur as a result of immediate or late effects of surgery or chronic cumulative effects of immunosuppressive regimen. Despite the ever-increasing number of liver transplants performed each year, the demand far exceeds the supply of available livers, and wait list morbidity and mortality continue to remain substantial. This chapter describes medical course after liver transplantation, including the major complications and their management.
The Influence of Goal Commitment and Partner Status on Team Assignment Outcomes

The present study replicated and extended research on the influence of team assignment methods on task performance and fairness perceptions. This study examined the influence of team assignment met...
Dungeness crab fishermen perceptions of injury causation and factors in staying safe.

Background: Commercial fishing is a hazardous occupation in the United States (US). Injury surveillance data relies heavily on US Coast Guard reports, which capture injuries severe enough to require reporting. The reports do not incorporate the fishermen’s perspective on contributing factors to injuries and staying safe while fishing. Materials and methods: We conducted a pre-season survey of Dungeness crab fishermen during 2015 to 2016. Community researchers administered surveys to fishermen. Respondents reported their opinions about factors contributing to injuries and staying safe, which were grouped into similar themes by consen- sus. Descriptive statistics were calculated to explore the number of injuries, crew position, age, and years of experience. Chi-square tests compared perceptions of injury causation, staying safe, and other factors. Results: Four hundred twenty-six surveys were completed. Injury causation perceptions were sorted into 17 categories, and staying safe perceptions were sorted into 13 categories. The most frequently cited causes of injury were heavy workload (86, 21.9%), poor mental focus (78, 19.9%), and inexperience (56, 14.3%). The most frequently cited factors in staying safe while fishing were awareness (142, 36.1%), good and well-maintained fishing gear/vessel (41, 10.4%), and best marine practices (39, 9.9%). Opinions were not significantly associated with experiencing an injury in the past while fishing, but some opinions were significantly associated with crew position, age, and years of experience. Conclusions: The perceptions of fishermen can be evaluated further and incorporated into training or intervention development. The fishermen-led approach of this project lends itself to developing injury pre- vention strategies that are effective, realistic and suitable. The resources available at FLIPPresources.org, such as informational sheets for new fishermen, sample crew agreements, and first aid kit resources, supply workers in this fishery with real solutions for issues they identified through their survey responses.
Crotylations of alpha-carbonyl radicals with crotylstannane.

Electrophilic radicals undergo crotylation with crotylstannane with moderate to good efficiency. The reaction provides the syn isomer as the major product. The present methodology is complementary to Claisen protocols for the synthesis of γ,δ-unsaturated carboxylic acid derivatives. Details of the new radical methodology are presented.
Replication, Molecular Biology, and Pathogenesis of Coxsackieviruses

The family Picornaviridae contains four genera: enteroviruses, cardioviruses, rhinoviruses, and aphthoviruses [26]. Enteroviruses that infect humans are polio, Coxsackie (CV) group A (CVA) and group B (CVB), echo, hepatitis A, and other enteroviruses. CV infections have been associated with a variety of human diseases, ranging from common cold to myocarditis, pericarditis, and juvenile onset (type I, insulin-dependent) diabetes.
Impact of state tobacco control policies on birth defects

While research has demonstrated the effects of tobacco control policies on birth outcomes, there is little known about their impact on birth defects. Using 2005-2015 natality data on 26,334,854 singletons from 47 US states and District of Columbia linked to state-level cigarette taxes and smoke-free restaurant legislation, we examined the impact of tobacco control policies on birth defects by maternal race/ethnicity and education. We found that among white women with less than a high school degree, every $1.00 increase in cigarette taxes reduced prenatal smoking by 3.48 percentage points and reduced the risk of their infant having any birth defect by 0.0023 percentage points. Tax increases also reduced the risk of cyanotic heart defects, cleft palate, gastroschisis, and limb reduction. We found no evidence for associations between the enactment of smoke-free legislation, prenatal smoking and birth defects. Our findings suggest that state cigarette taxes are a population-level intervention that can help reduce prenatal smoking and the risk of birth defects.
Thirty-day postoperative morbidity in patients with breast cancer following neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Abstract Background Early post-operative complications for patients having partial and total mastectomies after neoadjuvant chemotherapy have not been well defined. The objective was to compare post-operative complication rates among patients treated with partial mastectomy (PM), unilateral mastectomy (UM), and bilateral mastectomy (BM) after NAC. Study design 398 patients with breast cancer who had NAC from 2008 to 2016 were identified from a prospectively maintained database. The primary outcome measure was 30-day post-operative morbidity. Results 125 patients (31.4%) underwent PM, 107 patients (26.9%) UM, and 166 (41.7%) BM. There was no significant difference among the 3 groups with respect to histology (ductal: 96.0% PM, 88.8% UM, 92.6% BM, p = 0.161). Groups were similar with respect to estrogen receptor positivity (overall 58.8%, p = 0.331) and triple negative biomarker status (overall 23.9%, p = 0.559). The PM group had a higher rate of HER2 positive disease (n = 58, 47.5%, p = 0.012). Patients who underwent PM had a lower clinical T Stage at presentation (p= Conclusion Bilateral mastectomy is associated with higher rates of 30-day morbidity and re-admissions compared to partial mastectomy, but not unilateral mastectomy in patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Linking acculturation factors, family environments, and mental health outcomes among Latino families in traditional, emerging, and crisis immigrant receiving contexts in the United States

Abstract Findings from multiple studies link acculturation processes to the psychological and behavioral health of Latino immigrant population in the United States. A critical factor impacting this relation is the context of reception where immigrants settle. Several studies of acculturation have been conducted in traditional receiving contexts, and less attention has been paid to Latino immigrants in emerging contexts. In this chapter, we have discussed how traditional and emerging contexts of reception can confer very different experiences to Latino immigrants, and their significant implications for Latino immigrant health. Further, given the recent influx of crisis migrants from Central America, we have discussed receiving contexts for these newest Latino immigrants to the United States and demonstrated how such contexts might impact their psychological and behavioral health. We concluded with a discussion of implications for the development of policy, as well as culturally specific prevention and intervention programs for Latino immigrants.
Suspended Load Swing Stabilization

This research proposes an interdisciplinary collaboration to improve hoist stabilization for medical evacuation and successful rescues. This paper would include the collaborative efforts from a diverse range of fields to include Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, and the Special Collections & Archives Division of the United States Military Academy Library. The research objective of this effort is to create an algorithm which could limit the displacement angle of a suspended individual below a helicopter. This would be accomplished by changing the relative length of the cable at different points within the swing of the slung mass. This could all be done while reeling in the hoisted individual to the helicopter by changing the rate at which the hoist is lessening its cable. Elements of the mathematical principles that this research is built on are illustrated through Edgar Allen Poe’s application of the pendulum in his short story “The Pit and the Pendulum”. Poe was an individual who attended, but did not graduate from, USMA; however, his education at the Military Academy and his subsequent writings are the birthplace of this research endeavor. It is a multi-semester goal, and this paper will present an initial proof of concept.
Convex geometric reasoning for crystalline energies

The present work revisits the classical Wulff problem restricted to crystalline integrands, a class of surface energies that gives rise to finitely faceted crystals. The general proof of the Wulff theorem was given by J.E. Taylor (1978) by methods of Geometric Measure Theory. This work follows a simpler and direct way through Minkowski Theory by taking advantage of the convex properties of the considered Wulff shapes.
Lignin extraction from waste biomass with deep eutectic solvents: Molecular weight and heating value

Abstract Separating lignin from cellulose in biomass is a necessary pretreatment step prior to converting them to biofuels or bioproducts. If byproducts from food production can be separated in an ecofriendly solvent at low pressures, biomass specifically grown for biorefining will not need to be shipped long distances. Using deep eutectic solvents (DES) can separate out lignin from the non-food components remaining after agricultural production. This work investigated the efficacy of three DES on four food processing residues on lignin separation, characterizing the molecular weight and fuel value of the extracted lignins. DES pretreatments reduced molecular weight and increased the molecular weight distribution range (PDI) compared to the control black liquor derived lignin. The DES acetic acid: choline chloride (AACC) was most effective for reducing molecular weight and increasing PDI for rice husks and sugarcane bagasse, but a lactic acid: choline chloride DES improved these properties for coffee chaff, and formic acid: choline chloride DES improved them for corn stover. Higher heating values that were higher than the control black liquor derived lignin were found for lignins extracted from rice husks, sugarcane bagasse, and corn stover with AACC.
Inference for Factor Model Based Average Treatment Effects

In this paper we consider using a factor-model-based method, also known as the generalized synthetic control method, to estimate average treatment effects. This method is best suited for cases where there is only one (or a few) treated unit(s), a large number of control units, and large pre and post-treatment sample sizes (i.e., long panel). These settings of a long panel data are quite common in marketing due to the prevalence of daily and weekly data at the customer, store or company level. Existing inference methods lack theory and use a bootstrap or permutation procedure that either assumes that idiosyncratic errors have the same variance for the treated and control units or require that the treated units's error variances be the same during the pre and posttreatment periods. Our inference for the factor model based ATE addresses both issues, allowing the method to be more widely applied, and provides previously unknown distribution theory. We also propose a modified Bai and Ng model selection criterion to accurately select the number of factors even in finite samples. Simulations confirm our theoretical analysis, and an empirical application examines the effect of opening a showroom by e-tailer on its online sales.
Sphingosine Kinase 1 Regulates the Pulmonary Vascular Immune Response

The aberrant proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle (PASMCs) cells is a defining characteristic of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and leads to increased vascular resistance, elevated pulmonary pressure, and right heart failure. The sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1)/sphingosine-1 phosphate/sphingosine-1 phosphate receptor 2 pathway promotes vascular remodeling and induces PAH. The aim of this study was to identify genes and cellular processes that are modulated by over-expression of SPHK1 in human PASMCs (hPASMCs). RNA was purified and submitted for RNA sequencing to identify differentially expressed genes. Using a corrected p-value threshold of <0.05, there were 294 genes significantly up-regulated while 179 were significantly down-regulated. Predicted effects of these differentially expressed genes were evaluated using the freeware tool Enrichr to assess general gene set over-representation (enrichment) and ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA™) for upstream regulator predictions. We found a strong change in genes that regulated the cellular immune response. IL6, STAT1, and PARP9 were elevated in response to SPHK1 over-expression in hPASMCs. The gene set enrichment mapped to a few immune-modulatory signaling networks, including IFNG. Furthermore, PARP9 and STAT1 protein were elevated in primary hPASMCs isolated from PAH patients. In conclusion, these data suggest a role of Sphk1 regulates pulmonary vascular immune response in PAH.
The Microsoft relational engine

Microsoft offers three very successful database products, FoxPro, Access and SQL Server. While SQL Server excels in multi-user transaction performance, Access and its underlying Jet engine excel as an end-user and development tool for desktop and client-server applications. One of our top priorities is to improve the integration of these two products. With respect to their query processing capabilities, we plan on combining the strengths of SQL Server with those of Access. SQL Server's strengths are focused on management of very large tables, server-side cursors, and the use of stored procedures as scripts and as triggers. Access strengths are queries over multiple servers, updatable query results, and bit-mapped processing. In our next generation of products, SQL Server will employ new query processing technology. Both optimization and execution will be based on an extensible set of operators. We are focusing on the relational algebra augmented with a few operators such as the top operator found in Access, and suitable loops-, index-, sort-, hash-, and bitmap-based execution algorithms. Moreover, we are planning on executing these algorithms both sequentially and in parallel. We have four design goals, namely functionality, performance, scalability, and extensibility.
Common carotid arterial interadventitial distance (diameter) as an indicator of the damaging effects of age and atherosclerosis, a cross-sectional study of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Community Cohort Limited Access Data (ARICLAD), 1987–89

The effect of age on common carotid artery diameter is unclear for varying atherosclerosis risk levels. Cross-sectional data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Limited Access Data set were used to estimate the association of age with B-mode ultrasound common carotid artery diameter for three atherosclerosis risk levels. Based on information from clinical examinations, B-mode ultrasounds, questionnaires, blood and other tests, participants were categorized into three groups: pre-existing disease (prevalent stroke and/or coronary heart disease), high risk group (no pre-existing disease, but prevalent diabetes, hypertension, plaques/shadowing, body mass index >= 30, current smoking, or hyperlipidemia), and a low risk group (no pre-existing disease, no plaques/shadowing, and no major elevated risk factors). Multivariable linear regression analyses modeled the common carotid artery diameter relationship with age. Age was positively and significantly associated with common carotid artery diameter after risk factor adjustment in the overall sample, but age had a larger effect among persons with evidence of atherosclerosis (interaction p < 0.05). Each year of older age was associated with 0.03 mm larger diameter/year among persons with pre-existing disease, with 0.027 mm larger diameter/year in the high risk group, but only 0.017 mm/year among the low risk group. Results were qualitatively similar using plaques/shadowing status to indicate atherosclerosis severity. The significant impact of age on common carotid artery diameter among low risk, middle-aged, black and white men and women suggests arterial remodelling may occur in the absence of identified risk factors. The significantly larger impact of age among persons with, compared to persons without identified atherosclerosis or its risk factors, suggests that arterial remodelling may be an indicator of exposure duration.
Where Does All the Data Go: Quantifying the Final Disposition of Research Data

This paper describes the results of a large survey designed to quantify the final disposition of research data and to determine the extent that the key factors of repository technologies and data management resources influence the decisions that researchers make about their data. A total of 724 National Science Foundation awardees completed this survey. Removable media devices such as CDs, DVDs, and removable hard drives are the most common storage technologies. Less than 30% of researchers use community or reference repositories. More than half of the researchers get storage through their institutions. Institutional support for storage is significantly higher than for data management. The key finding of this research is that the availability of resources is the most significant indicator of whether the final deposition of data is in a preservation-worthy manner. Resources, provided by the research institution or via grant funding, include storage technologies, repository systems, and data management personnel. When high quality data storage is offered, researchers will use it. When professional data managers are available, data is more likely to be stored in more sustainable technologies.
microRNAs and inherited retinal dystrophies

Inherited retinal dystrophies (IRD) are a heterogeneous group of blinding diseases that affect more than 200,000 Americans and millions worldwide (1). Identification of genes that are responsible for IRD when defective is of great importance to the basic understanding as well as development of efficient gene diagnosis and treatment. Thus far, 272 genetic loci are linked to various forms of IRD; among these, 232 protein-coding genes have been identified to cause IRD when defective (RetNet, https://sph.uth.edu/Retnet, last updated April 29, 2015). microRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous, small, noncoding, regulatory RNAs (2). Since their discovery in 1993 (3, 4), miRNAs have proven to play important roles in the fine-tuning of gene expression at posttranscriptional levels (2). In spite of their importance in gene-expression regulation, few mutations of individual miRNAs have been found to cause Mendelian inherited diseases in humans, raising doubts about their importance in normal development and functions, and whether mutations in a miRNA can have significant functional impact to cause Mendelian inherited diseases, including IRD. Recently, a point mutation in the seed sequence of miR-184 was reported to cause familial keratoconus with cataract (5) and an anterior-segment dysplasia syndrome with endothelial dystrophy, iris hypoplasia, congenital cataract, and stromal thinning (6), suggesting that miR-184 is required for anterior-segment development and function, and proving that mutations in an individual miRNA can cause inherited ocular disease in humans. In mice, Lumayag et al. demonstrated that inactivation of the miR-183/96/182 cluster gene causes syndromic IRD with multisensory defects (7), suggesting that defects in miRNA genes can cause IRD in mammals. However, until now, no mutations in miRNAs have been found to cause IRD in humans. In PNAS, Conte et al. report a dominant mutation in miR-204 that causes IRD associated with ocular coloboma in a large five-generation family (8). This …
Sensitivity and Strength: Effects Of Instructions on Resistance to Change

Several research laboratories have found that instructed behavior can be less sensitive to changes in contingencies than shaped behavior. The current experiment examined whether these differences in sensitivity could be related to resistance to change. Two groups of subjects, who were matched on the basis of an initial disruption assessment, were exposed to a variable-interval 30-s schedule of reinforcement with and without a disrupter. The disrupter was a video presentation of a popular television situation comedy. One group received minimal instructions (MI) that told them only that they could earn points exchangeable for money. Each member of the second group received a complete instruction (CI) that described the topography of the target response that was yoked to a MI subject’s stable baseline response rate. The response rates under the disruption condition for the CI subjects were more resistant to change than the MI subjects in 14 out of 15 disruption sessions. These findings are discussed in terms of resistance to change being increased by instructional conditions like those manipulated and that the procedures used to test disruption provide an additional method to !waluate differences between instructed and contingency-governed behavior.
The Transcriptional Activator Mirk/Dyrk1B Is Sequestered by p38α/β MAP Kinase

Abstract Mirk/Dyrk1B protein kinase was shown in an earlier study to function as a transcriptional activator of HNF1α, which Mirk phosphorylates at Ser249 within its CREB (cAMP-response element-binding protein)-binding protein (CBP) binding domain (1). The MAPK kinase MKK3 was also shown to activate Mirk as a protein kinase, implicating Mirk in the biological response to certain stress agents. Another MKK3 substrate, p38MAPK, is now shown to inhibit the function of Mirk as a transcriptional activator in a kinase-independent manner. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that kinase-inactive p38AF, as well as wild-type p38, sequestered Mirk and prevented its association with MKK3. Only the p38α and p38β isoforms, but not the γ or δ isoforms, complexed with Mirk. p38αMAPK blocked Mirk activation of HNF1α in a dose-dependent manner, with high levels of kinase-inactive p38αAF completely suppressing the activity of Mirk. Size fractionation by fast protein liquid chromatography on Superdex 200 demonstrated that Mirk is not found as a monomer in vivo, but is found within 150–700 kDa subnuclear complexes, which co-migrate with the nuclear body scaffolding protein PML. Endogenous Mirk, p38, and MKK3 co-migrate within 500–700-kDa protein complexes, which accumulate when nuclear export is blocked by leptomycin B. Stable overexpression of Mirk increases the fraction of Mirk protein and p38 protein within these 500–700 kDa complexes, suggesting that the complexes act as nuclear depots for Mirk and p38. Sequestration of Mirk by p38 may occur within these subnuclear complexes. Synchronization experiments demonstrated that Mirk levels fluctuate about 10-fold within the cell cycle, while p38 levels do not, leading to the speculation that endogenous p38 could only block Mirk function when Mirk levels were low in S phase and not when Mirk levels were elevated in G0/G1. These data suggest a novel cell cycle-dependent function for p38, suppression of the function of Mirk as a transcriptional activator only when cells are proliferating, and thus limiting Mirk function to growth-arrested cells.
DIETARY CHOLESTEROL, FAT, AND FIBRE, AND COLON-CANCER MORTALITY. An Analysis of International Data

It has been suggested that high fat, high cholesterol, and low fibre intakes play a role in the causation of colon cancer, but since they are highly intercorrelated, it is difficult to determine which (if any) variable is truly related to colon cancer. Food disappearance data for 1954--65 and mortality data for 1967--73 from 20 industrialised countries were used to assess which variables are independently related to colon cancer. Simple correlation analysis indicated that intake of total fat, saturated fat, monounsaturated fat, cholesterol, and fibres are each highly correlated with mortality-rate for colon cancer. The partial correlation of dietary cholesterol with colon cancer remains highly significant when fat or fibre is controlled. However, the partial correlations of fat or of fibre iwth colon cancer are no longer significant when cholesterol is controlled. Cross-classification showed a highly signficant main effect for cholesterol, but nor for fat or fibre. The findings support the possibility of a causal relationship between cholesterol intake and colon cancer.
Postpartum smoking relapse and secondhand smoke.

Objective.There has been an abundance of research evaluating prenatal and postnatal smoking abstinence programs. However, few researchers have tested postpartum relapse interventions that address s...
Strong mixing coefficients for non-commutative Gaussian processes

Bounds for non-commutative versions of two classical strong mixing coefficients for q-Gaussian processes are found in terms of the angle between the underlying Hilbert spaces. As a consequence, we construct a ψ-mixing q-Gaussian stationary sequence with growth conditions on variances of partial sums. If classical processes with analogous properties were to exist, they would provide a counter-example to the Ibragimov conjecture.
History, grand strategy and NATO enlargement

Some principles of strategy are so basic that when stated they sound like platitudes: treat former enemies magnanimously; do not take on unnecessary new ones; keep the big picture in view; balance ends and means; avoid emotion and isolation in making decisions; be willing to acknowledge error. And yet, the Clinton administration's single most important foreign-policy initiative - NATO enlargement - somehow manages to violate every one of these principles. Perhaps that is why historians so widely agree that NATO enlargement is ill-conceived, ill-timed, and ill-suited to the realities of the post-Cold War world.
Axle Load Power for Pavement Fatigue Cracking: Empirical Estimation and Policy Implications

Deterioration equivalence factors are an essential part of deterioration models used in pavement management systems. For accurate cost estimation, it is important to determine the correct axle load power. The data set from the AASHO Road Test was used to estimate a hazard rate function. The results showed that the axle load power for initiation of fatigue cracking was significantly higher than the power typically assumed. This result has implications for pavement deterioration charging schemes that are based on marginal cost pricing.
Fixed‐Point Computer Arithmetic

The speed of a computer is determined to a first order by the speed of the arithmetic unit and the speed of the memory. Although the speed of both units depends directly on the implementation technology, arithmetic unit speed also depends strongly on the logic design. Even for an integer adder, speed can vary easily by an order of magnitude, whereas the complexity varies by less than 50%. Much arithmetic is performed with fixed-point numbers, which have constant scaling (i.e., the position of the binary point is fixed). The numbers can be interpreted as fractions, integers, or mixed numbers, which depends on the application. Pairs of fixed-point numbers are used to create floating-point numbers, the subject of another article. Keywords: algorithms; arithmetic; adder; matrix; number system; newton-raphson
Immunology and the lung: an overview.

ROM ALLERGY to autoimmunity, from infection to inhalation disease, from tumor to transplantation-immunology is at the forefront of medicine today. The purpose of this paper is to survey present day concepts in immunology and to evaluate pulmonary disease from an immunologic point of view. It is hoped that this approach will lead to greater appreciation of the immunobiology of disease by the radiologist. Admittedly, a detailed discussion of immunology would be inappropriate: Such a discussion would not hold the attention of radiologists who have yet to see a B cell on a chest film or a bursa of Fabricius on a barium enema! An attempt has been made to keep the information as clinically applicable as possible. Following an introductory glimpse into immunology, the four basic types of hypersensitivity are described and several lung diseases categorized under the appropriate immune response. Subsequent articles in this Seminar will then detail some of the topics briefly covered in this overview. The immune system is composed of lymphocytes and the antibody molecules that they secrete. These cells and antibodies are soldiers whose job is to patrol the body and guard its identity. Their mission is accomplished by recognizing and destroying foreign protein, termed antigen, and by ignoring the protein of the host, an appropriate disregard of unusual proportion, termed self tolerance.34 When an antibody reacts with an antigen an immune response occurs. This immune response may be beneficial to the host, as in immunization; or it may be harmful to the host, the immune response itself producing a disease state.17 The organs of immunity include the lymph nodes of the body, the spleen, and the reticuloendothelial system of the bone marrow and liver. There are, however, two relative latecomers to this immune organ system: the bursa of Fabricius (in birds) and the thymus gland. The little black juxtacloacal organ adjacent to the tail feathers of the chicken (Fig. 1) is the bursa of Fabricius,‘r a lympho
Pharmacoeconomic considerations in anticoagulant drug use.

Anticoagulants are used for the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism and for the secondary prevention of stroke and myocardial infarction. The list of available anticoagulants includes unfractionated heparin, low molecular weight heparins, fondaparinux, warfarin and the direct thrombin inhibitors. Numerous randomised controlled trials have pitted one anticoagulant against another to ascertain superiority in terms of safety and efficacy. Differences in these outcomes are assessed using appropriate statistical tests. When a statistically significant difference is found, it is generally accepted that one option is superior to another. There is also an interest in whether there is a clinically significant difference between two or more treatments, even when there may not be a statistically significant difference. This decision is reached through clinical judgment based on logical and ethical considerations. Another important way to judge the difference between alternative treatment strategies is...
Image Reconstruction from Cone-Beam Projections: Necessary and Sufficient Conditions and Reconstruction Methods

Previously unknown sufficient conditions, a necessary condition, and reconstruction methods for image reconstruction from cone-beam projections are developed. A sufficient condition developed is contained in the following statement. Statement 5: If one every plane that intersects the object, there exists at least one cone-beam source point, then the object can be reconstructed. Reconstruction methods for an arbitrary configuration of source points that satisfy Statement 5 are derived. By requiring additional conditions on the configuration of source points, a more efficient reconstruction method is developed. It is shown that when the configuration of source points is a circle, Statement 5 is not satisfied. In spite of this, several suggestions are made for reconstruction from a circle of source points.
Personality hardiness, ways of coping, social support and burnout in critical care nurses.

Hardiness, ways of coping, social support and burnout in 103 critical care nurses were addressed in this study Work-related and nonwork-related social support and hardiness were negatively related to burnout Use of emotion-focused coping was positively correlated with burnout while hardiness was negatively related to the use of emotion-focused coping and positively related to both types of social support After controlling for working nights, social support, hardiness, emotion-focused coping and problem-focused coping accounted for 44% of the variance in burnout scores
Association of Hemodialysis Central Venous Catheter Use With Ipsilateral Arteriovenous Vascular Access Survival

Background Central venous catheters frequently are used for hemodialysis vascular access while patients await placement and maturation of an arteriovenous fistula or graft. Catheters may cause central vein stenosis, which can adversely affect vascular access outcomes. We compared vascular access outcomes in patients with a history of ipsilateral and contralateral dialysis catheters. Study Design Retrospective analysis of a prospective computerized vascular access database. Setting & Participants Patients at a large medical center who initiated hemodialysis therapy with a catheter and subsequently received a fistula (n = 233) or graft (n = 89). Predictor History of central venous catheter placement ipsilateral versus contralateral to the arteriovenous fistula or graft. Outcome & Measurements Primary access failure (access never suitable for dialysis) and cumulative access survival (time from successful cannulation until permanent access failure). Results For patients receiving a fistula, the primary failure rate was similar for those with ipsilateral and contralateral catheters (50% vs 53%; HR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.71-1.26; P = 0.7), and time to fistula maturation was similar (101 ± 41 vs 107 ± 39 days; P = 0.5). However, cumulative fistula survival was inferior in patients with ipsilateral catheters (HR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.33-7.33; P = 0.009). For patients receiving a graft, the primary failure rate was similar for those with ipsilateral and contralateral catheters (35% vs 38%; HR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.49-1.73; P = 0.8), but cumulative graft survival tended to be shorter with ipsilateral catheters (HR, 2.04; 95% CI, 0.92-5.38; P = 0.07). Limitations Retrospective analysis, single medical center. Conclusions The primary failure rate of fistulas and grafts is not affected by the presence of an ipsilateral catheter. However, cumulative access survival is inferior in patients with prior ipsilateral catheters. Avoidance of ipsilateral catheters may improve long-term vascular access survival.
Race, kidney disease progression, and mortality risk in HIV-infected persons.

Background and objectives: The burden of HIV-associated chronic kidney disease (CKD) is growing in the United States, partially because of increased HIV-infection rates among African Americans. We determined the prevalence, incidence, and risk of rapid estimated GFR (eGFR) decline, ESRD, and death among HIV-infected (HIV+) African-American and non–African-American individuals cared for at the Comprehensive Care Center in Nashville, Tennessee, from January 1, 1998, through December 31, 2005. Design, setting, participants, & measurements: Mixed effects, competing risks, and Poisson and Cox regression models were used to assess the risk of rapid eGFR decline (defined as ≥50% decrease in baseline eGFR), CKD5/ESRD, and death. The Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation was used to calculate eGFR. Confounders were adjusted with a propensity score that related patient characteristics to the probability of being African American. Mixed effects models compared the rate of rapid eGFR decline for HIV-infected African Americans and non–African Americans. Results: There were 2468 HIV-infected individuals in the study: 33% African American; 21% female. Among all patients, HIV-infected African Americans did not have a statistically significant increased risk for rapid eGFR decline compared with non–African Americans. However, African Americans had a significantly higher risk of ESRD and tended toward a higher risk of death. Conclusions: HIV-infected African Americans did not have a statistically significant difference in the risk of eGFR decline when compared with HIV-infected non–African Americans. The findings in this study have potential public health significance.
A SURVEY OF ACTUAL TEST‐SCORE DISTRIBUTIONS WITH RESPECT TO SKEWNESS AND KURTOSIS*

A survey of 48 different aptitude and achievement tests administered to various populations shows that (a) the easier tests tend to have negatively skewed, and the more difficult tests positively skewed, score distributions; (b) most of the score distributions are at least slightly platykurtic, some of them distinctly so.
A Monte Carlo approach to generator portfolio planning and carbon emissions assessments of systems with large penetrations of variable renewables.

A new generator portfolio planning model is described that is capable of quantifying the carbon emissions associated with systems that include very high penetrations of variable renewables. The model combines a deterministic renewable portfolio planning module with a Monte Carlo simulation of system operation that determines the expected least-cost dispatch from each technology, the necessary reserve capacity, and the expected carbon emissions at each hour. Each system is designed to meet a maximum loss of load expectation requirement of 1 day in 10 years. The present study includes wind, centralized solar thermal, and rooftop photovoltaics, as well as hydroelectric, geothermal, and natural gas plants. The portfolios produced by the model take advantage of the aggregation of variable generators at multiple geographically disperse sites and the incorporation of meteorological and load forecasts. Results are presented from a model run of the continuous two-year period, 2005–2006 in the California ISO operating area. A low-carbon portfolio is produced for this system that is capable of achieving an 80% reduction in electric power sector carbon emissions from 2005 levels and supplying over 99% of the annual delivered load with non-carbon sources. A portfolio is also built for a projected 2050 system, which is capable of providing 96% of the delivered electricity from non-carbon sources, despite a projected doubling of the 2005 system peak load. The results suggest that further reductions in carbon emissions may be achieved with emerging technologies that can reliably provide large capacities without necessarily providing positive net annual energy generation. These technologies may include demand response, vehicle-to-grid systems, and large-scale energy storage.
Effects of trichomes on the behavior and distribution of Platyprepia virginalis caterpillars

Trichomes are an important physical resistance mechanism of plants, as they reduce insect herbivore movement, feeding, and digestion. However, we know little about how trichomes influence herbivore distributions and populations. We conducted laboratory and field experiments to evaluate the preferences of Platyprepia virginalis (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) caterpillars to natural and manipulated densities of trichomes on their primary food, Lupinus arboreus Sims (Fabaceae). We then conducted field surveys to determine whether variation in trichome density among lupine bushes affected caterpillar spatial distribution on the landscape. Platyprepia virginalis caterpillars preferred lupine leaves with fewer trichomes in choice and no-choice experiments. In the field, caterpillar feeding damage was found more often on leaves with fewer trichomes. These preferences scaled up to the level of bushes in the landscape such that more caterpillars were found on bushes with lower trichome densities than on bushes with higher trichome densities. This is one of few studies to show the potential for trichome density to influence herbivore population size and distribution in a natural system at a landscape level. The results are consistent with trichomes functioning as a resistance mechanism with consequences for herbivore choice, performance, and distribution.