cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal relationship of combat exposure with mental health diagnoses in the military health system

Introduction Combat deployment is associated with mental and physical health disorders and functional impairment. Mental health (MH) diagnoses such as adjustment and anxiety disorders have received little research attention but may reflect important postdeployment sequelae. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of combat exposure with the acquisition of a wide range of mental health diagnoses over 2 years. Materials and methods This retrospective longitudinal study utilized multiple administrative Military Health System datasets compiled for all individuals who entered active duty in the U.S. Army from FY2005 to FY2011. A total eligible cohort of 289,922 Service members was stratified into three mutually exclusive groups according to their deployment status after 2 years in service: Deployed, Combat-Exposed; Deployed, Not-Combat-Exposed; and Not Deployed. Outcomes of interest were new mental health diagnoses grouped into six categories-posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, adjustment, mood, substance use disorders, and any MH diagnosis. Survival analyses over 2 years were conducted and adjusted hazard ratios were calculated. Results Combat exposure in the first 2 years of military service was associated with significantly higher rates of a wide range of mental health diagnoses over a two-year follow-up period, compared with deployment with no combat exposure and no deployment. Adjusted cumulative failure proportions demonstrated that approximately a third of the Combat-Exposed group, a quarter of the Not-Combat-Exposed, and a fifth of the Not Deployed groups received a MH diagnosis over 2 years. For all groups, cumulative failure proportions and incidence rates were highest for adjustment disorder and lowest for posttraumatic stress disorder diagnoses. Conclusions Researchers and providers should be alerted to the impact of combat exposure and the wide range of MH conditions and diagnoses that may represent important postdeployment sequelae.
A passive perspiration biofuel cell: High energy return on investment

Summary Self-powered wearable systems that rely on bioenergy harvesters commonly require excessive energy inputs from the human body and are highly inefficient when accounting for the overall energy expenses. A harvester independent from the external environment for sedentary states has yet to be developed. Herein, we present a touch-based lactate biofuel cell that leverages the high passive perspiration rate of fingertips for bioenergy harvesting. Powered by finger contact, such a bioenergy-harvesting process can continuously collect hundreds of mJ of energy during sleep without movements, representing the most efficient approach compared to any reported on-body harvesters. To maximize the energy harvesting, complementary piezoelectric generators were integrated under the biofuel cell to further scavenge mechanical energy from the finger presses. The harvesters can rapidly and efficiently power sensors and electrochromic displays to enable independent self-powered sensing. The passive perspiration-based harvester establishes a practical example of remarkably high energy return on investment for future self-sustainable electronic systems.
Bacterial meningitis

Initial empiric therapy for community-acquired bacterial meningitis should be based on the possibility that penicillin-resistant pneumococci may be the etiologic organisms and, hence, should include a combination of third-generation cephalosporin (cefotaxime or ceftriaxone) and vancomycin. Ampicillin should be included if the patient has predisposing factors that are associated with a risk for infection with Listeria monocytogenes. Bacterial isolates from the cerebrospinal fluid should be tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. Understanding the significance of inflammatory cytokines in the pathophysiology of bacterial meningitis leads to an understanding of the need to prevent their formation. Dexamethasone inhibits synthesis of the inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor. Results of clinical trials and meta-analysis suggest that dexamethasone therapy improves the outcome for patients with bacterial meningitis. Dexamethasone should be administered before or with the first dose of antibiotics. The development of therapeutic modalities to downregulate host inflammatory responses, such as those of monoclonal antibodies to cytokines, is of utmost importance.
Hierarchical Bayesian modeling of spatio-temporal area-interaction processes

Abstract To model spatial point patterns with discrete time stamps a flexible spatio-temporal area-interaction point process is proposed. In particular, this model is suitable for describing the dependency between point patterns over time, when the new point pattern arises from the previous point pattern. A hierarchical model is also implemented in order to incorporate the underlying evolution process of the model parameters. For parameter estimation, a double Metropolis-Hastings within Gibbs sampler is used. The performance of the estimation algorithm is evaluated through a simulation study. Finally, the point pattern forecasting procedure is demonstrated through a simulation study and an application to United States natural caused wildfire data from 2002 to 2019.
Machine learning and feature engineering for predicting pulse presence during chest compressions.

Current resuscitation protocols require pausing chest compressions during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to check for a pulse. However, pausing CPR when a patient is pulseless can worsen patie...
SU‐F‐BRB‐03: Quantifying Patient Motion During Deep‐Inspiration Breath‐Hold Using the ABC System with Simultaneous Surface Photogrammetry

Purpose: Active breathing control (ABC) has been used to reduce treatment margin due to respiratory organ motion by enforcing temporary breath-holds. However, in practice, even if the ABC device indicates constant lung volume during breath-hold, the patient may still exhibit minor chest motion. Consequently, therapists are given a false sense of security that the patient is immobilized. This study aims at quantifying such motion during ABC breath-holds by monitoring the patient chest motion using a surface photogrammetry system, VisionRT. Methods: A female patient with breast cancer was selected to evaluate chest motion during ABC breath-holds. During the entire course of treatment, the patient’s chest surface was monitored by a surface photogrammetry system, VisionRT. Specifically, a user-defined region-of-interest (ROI) on the chest surface was selected for the system to track at a rate of ∼3Hz. The surface motion was estimated by rigid image registration between the current ROI image captured and a reference image. The translational and rotational displacements computed were saved in a log file. Results: A total of 20 fractions of radiation treatment were monitored by VisionRT. After removing noisy data, we obtained chest motion of 79 breath-hold sessions. Mean chest motion in AP direction during breath-holds is 1.31mm with 0.62mm standard deviation. Of the 79 sessions, the patient exhibited motion ranging from 0–1 mm (30 sessions), 1–2 mm (37 sessions), 2–3 mm (11 sessions) and >3 mm (1 session). Conclusion: Contrary to popular assumptions, the patient is not completely still during ABC breath-hold sessions. In this particular case studied, the patient exhibited chest motion over 2mm in 14 out of 79 breath-holds. Underestimating treatment margin for radiation therapy with ABC could reduce treatment effectiveness due to geometric miss or overdose of critical organs. The senior author receives research funding from NIH, VisionRT, Varian Medical Systems and Elekta
Crystallization of rat cellular retinol binding protein II. Preliminary X-ray data obtained from the apoprotein expressed in Escherichia coli.

Abstract Rat cellular retinol-binding protein II (CRBP II) is a member of a family of cytoplasmic proteins which bind hydrophobic ligands. CRBP II is thought to participate in the intestinal absorption and intracellular metabolism of retinoids. We have previously described the crystallization of a homologous rat intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) isolated from Escherichia coli containing a suitably constructed prokaryotic expression vector (Sacchettini, J. C., Meininger, T. A., Lowe, J. B., Gordon, J. I., and Banaszak, L. J., J. Biol. Chem. 262, 5428-5430). We have now efficiently expressed rat CRBP II in E. coli. The E. coli-derived protein, which does not contain any bound retinoid, has been purified and crystals grown from solutions of polyethylene glycol 4000. Crystals of apo-CRBP II are triclinic, space group P1, a = 36.8 A, b = 64.0 A, c = 30.4 A; alpha = 92.8 degrees, beta = 113.5 degrees, gamma = 90.1 degrees. Each unit cell contains two molecules of the 134-residue apoprotein. X-ray diffraction data suggest that the unit cell parameters of crystalline apo-CRBP II resemble those of I-FABP. Comparison of the tertiary structures of E. coli-derived rat I-FABP and CRBP II should provide insights about how these proteins evolved to bind different hydrophobic ligands.
Teaching Upperclass Writing: Everything You Always Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask

A survey conducted as part of this project reveals that law schools generally require their students to have an upperclass writing experience taught or supervised by non-writing tenured or tenure-track faculty. These teachers currently bear the responsibility for assigning, supervising, reviewing, and evaluating most of the writing by upperclass students, either through substantive seminars or independent study projects. In almost all schools there is no major curricular planning, systematic instruction, faculty training, or institutional support for upperclass writing.
The ‘sub-trigger’ crisis: An economic analysis of flexible stock policies

Abstract This paper investigates the value of international cooperation during an oil supply disruption. The International Energy Agency provides the aegis for energy cooperation among the industrialized countries, but only an enormous disruption would ‘trigger’ the Agency's emergency mechanism. Smaller (‘sub-trigger’) disruptions have occurred three times in the past decade, and twice, in 1973–1974, and again in 1979, the result was havoc in the international oil markets and substantial economic damage. General consensus credits oil inventory accumulation with exacerbating these shocks and decumulation with averting similar problems during the 1980 disruption. The paper employs a small short-run econometric model of the oil market to examine inventory behaviour and to test coordinated government stockpile drawdowns (termed ‘flexible stock policies’) which have been proposed to address these issues. Impacts on GNP are obtained by solving the oil market model simultaneously with an econometric model of the US macro-economy.
Computer-Assisted Instruction for Financial Management

This paper describes computer-assisted instruction for financial management which can be used to supplement an undergraduate course or to update training of persons in agribusiness. It is used to review principles of financial management, to illustrate analytical techniques, and to provide practice in the use of financial concepts and techniques. The material covered is similar to that found in traditional textbooks. Student evaluations of the software were fairly positive, but teaching effectiveness needs to be measured.
Abstract T P194: Targeted Lipid Profiling Discovers Plasma Markers of Acute Ischemic Stroke

BACKGROUND: The detection of tissue-specific molecules in blood plays a vital role in the diagnosis and management of acute organ injury. Previous efforts to discover plasma markers of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) have focused on proteins and nucleic acids, but low sensitivity at early time points and poor correlation with injury severity have limited these approaches. We address the hypothesis that the most abundant molecules in the brain, lipids, appear in the plasma earlier after injury and correlate with severity. We focus on a specific lipid subset, sphingolipids (SL), as this subset is highly enriched in the brain compared to plasma. METHODS: We performed targeted lipid profiling using SL-specific extraction methods followed by HPLC-MS/MS in plasma collected after acute ischemic stroke in rodents. We validate our findings in a cohort of human patients presenting to the hospital emergently via the CODE STROKE protocol, by comparing SL levels in those ultimately diagnosed as stroke versus mimic. We construct a simple Sphingolipid Score, the summed plasma values of the top two performing SLs in the rodent stroke model, to improve the sensitivity of detection. RESULTS: In a rodent model of AIS, plasma collected at 24 hours after the injury revealed a dramatic increase in SL levels in the stroke compared to sham animals. Of the 45 SLs identified, 40 (89%) were elevated, on average 4 fold (max 60 fold). Top two performing species were SM 36:0 and Cer 42:1. Among 14 patients presenting via the CODE STROKE protocol, 8 (57%) were female, median age was 75 (range 41-89), NIHSS 14 (range 3-22), time from symptom onset to blood draw was 388 min (range 80-66). 44% were treated with IV tPA. Final diagnosis was MCA occlusion in 7 (50%), lacunar stroke in 2 (14%), and mimic (migraine, seizure, factitious disorder, Bell’s palsy) in the remainder. In patients with acute stroke, we identify significant increases in Sphingolipid Score for all patients (4.7 vs. 1.9, p<0.05) as well as those with blood draw within three hours of symptom onset (4.6 vs. 1.9, p<0.05). Sphingolipid score correlated linearly with DWI volume over a wide range from 1.5-236 mL (r2=0.7, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Targeted lipid profiling may yield clinically relevant plasma markers of acute brain injury.
On the behavior of an unsteady turbulent boundary layer

The term “unsteady turbulent flow” is applied to a turbulent flow field containing a well-defined, time-dependent, organized velocity component. Unsteady turbulent boundary layers occur in a variety of engineering applications. Boundary layers on the surface of a gas-turbine blade rotating in the wakes of stator vanes, on the surface of a helicopter rotor blade performing pitch oscillations, on the walls of a reciprocating-engine cylinder, and in nuclear-reactor components during transients are but a few examples where unsteadiness is imposed on a turbulent boundary layer.
The Cancer Genome Atlas Analysis Predicts MicroRNA for Targeting Cancer Growth and Vascularization in Glioblastoma

Using in silico analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we identified microRNAs associated with glioblastoma (GBM) survival, and predicted their functions in glioma growth and progression. Inhibition of two “risky” miRNAs, miR-148a and miR-31, in orthotopic xenograft GBM mouse models suppressed tumor growth and thereby prolonged animal survival. Intracranial tumors treated with uncomplexed miR-148a and miR-31 antagomirs exhibited reduced proliferation, stem cell depletion, and normalized tumor vasculature. Growth-promoting functions of these two miRNAs were, in part, mediated by the common target, the factor inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (FIH1), and the downstream pathways involving hypoxia-inducible factor HIF1α and Notch signaling. Therefore, miR-31 and miR-148a regulate glioma growth by maintaining tumor stem cells and their niche, and providing the tumor a way to activate angiogenesis even in a normoxic environment. This is the first study that demonstrates intratumoral uptake and growth-inhibiting effects of uncomplexed antagomirs in orthotopic glioma.
The Role of the Law in the Rule of Law of the New Oligarchies: A Latin American Feminist Perspective

As I think about the role that the law played in the preparation and execution of the military-civilian coup d‟etat in Honduras in June of 2009, I‟ve become more aware of the importance of the law for oligarchic rule under the new conditions of neoliberal global capitalism. This may have been always the case, but there is a particularity in the use of the law today that deserves our unrelenting attention. We can refer to the configuration of the indefinite detainee and the new modalities of imprisonment in Guatanamo of the Bush era that came about by the suspension and derealization of the law to create precisely the new juridical figure of the indefinite detainee. Judith Butler has been very eloquent in the description of this legal phenomenon in her book Precarious Life. Her reflections there helped me understand how the Pentagon and the Honduran oligarchy used the law and the supposed defense of the constitution to violently depose and deport the democratically-elected president of Honduras, institute a “constitutional succession” by naming an unconstitutional successor, and later call elections under a state of siege and the suspension of the law. Documents released by Wikileaks reveal the absolute knowledge of the US Embassy of the distortion of the law to carry out the coup. We, of course, have similar things occurring in Haiti, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
Decentralized Resource Allocation Mechanisms in Networks: Realization and Implementation

We discuss how decentralized network resource allocation problems fit within the context of mechanism design (realization theory and implementation theory), and how mechanism design can provide useful insight into the nature of decentralized network resource allocation problems. The discussion is guided by the unicast problem with routing and Quality of Service (QoS) requirements, and the multi-rate multicast service provisioning problem in networks. For these problems we present decentralized resource allocation mechanisms that achieve the solution of the corresponding centralized resource allocation problem and are informationally efficient. We show how the aforementioned mechanisms can be embedded into the general framework of realization theory, and indicate how realization theory can be used to establish the mechanisms’ informational efficiency in certain instances. We also present a conjecture related to implementation in Nash equilibria of the optimal centralized solution of the unicast service provisioning problem.
Maternal Underweight Status and Inadequate Rate of Weight Gain during the Third Trimester of Pregnancy Increases the Risk of Preterm Delivery

This study examines the differences in the pattern of weight gain according to trimesters of pregnancy for women who delivered term vs. preterm and analyzes the independent effect of prepregnancy weight status and rate of weight gain on delivering preterm. The differential effects of these variables on the etiological pathways of prematurity (preterm labor and preterm rupture of the amniotic membranes) were also examined. Data were collected prospectively from 7589 pregnant women receiving care in public health clinics in the West Los Angeles area. Eighty percent of women identified themselves as being of Hispanic origin. Multivariate logistic regression techniques were used to isolate the role of each nutritional variable from other factors that may influence birth outcome. Women who delivered preterm had patterns of weight gain similar to women delivering term infants. Underweight status (body mass index < 19.8 kg/m2) before pregnancy nearly doubled the likelihood of delivering preterm [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.33, 2.98). Inadequate weight gain in the third trimester defined as < 0.34, 0.35, 0.30 and 0.30 kg/wk for underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese women, respectively, increased the risk by a similar magnitude (AOR 1.91, 95% CI = 1.40, 2.61). Slight differentiation of these risk factors occurred when analyzing the etiological pathways of preterm birth. Preconceptional nutrition counseling and promotion of adequate weight gain during the third trimester of pregnancy should be components of public health programs designed to decrease the prevalence of preterm birth.
Pricing Effects on Food Choices

Individual dietary choices are primarily influenced by such considerations as taste, cost, convenience and nutritional value of foods. The current obesity epidemic has been linked to excessive consumption of added sugars and fat, as well as to sedentary lifestyles. Fat and sugar provide dietary energy at very low cost. Food pricing and marketing practices are therefore an essential component of the eating environment. Recent studies have applied economic theories to changing dietary behavior. Price reduction strategies promote the choice of targeted foods by lowering their cost relative to alternative food choices. Two community-based intervention studies used price reductions to promote the increased purchase of targeted foods. The first study examined lower prices and point-of-purchase promotion on sales of lower fat vending machine snacks in 12 work sites and 12 secondary schools. Price reductions of 10%, 25% and 50% on lower fat snacks resulted in an increase in sales of 9%, 39% and 93%, respectively, compared with usual price conditions. The second study examined the impact of a 50% price reduction on fresh fruit and baby carrots in two secondary school cafeterias. Compared with usual price conditions, price reductions resulted in a four-fold increase in fresh fruit sales and a two-fold increase in baby carrot sales. Both studies demonstrate that price reductions are an effective strategy to increase the purchase of more healthful foods in community-based settings such as work sites and schools. Results were generalizable across various food types and populations. Reducing prices on healthful foods is a public health strategy that should be implemented through policy initiatives and industry collaborations.
Benzene and Benzene Metabolites as Embryotoxic Agents: Effects on Cultured Rat Embryos

Benzene and several of its metabolites were investigated for dysmorphogenic and embryotoxic effects after direct exposures of cultured whole rat conceptuses. Benzene produced no statistically significant effects at concentrations up to 1.6 mM. Inclusion with 1.6 mM benzene of an hepatic xenobiotic-biotransforming system (S9) resulted in only minor decreases in embryonic growth parameters and no detectable dysmorphogenesis. Phenol, a major benzene metabolite, also elicited only minimal embryotoxicity at 1.6 mM concentrations. However, inclusion of an S9 system with phenol resulted in significant dysmorphogenic and embryotoxic effects at concentrations as low as 0.01 mM. For phenol bioactivation, S9 from phenobarbital-induced rats was the most effective, with induction by pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile, isopropanol, Aroclor 1254, no inducer, and 3-methylcholanthrene following in order of effectiveness. Bioactivating activity resided solely in the microsomal fraction. Metabolites coeluting on HPLC with hydroquinone and catechol were the major metabolites generated from phenol by each S9 system, but no significant correlation between specific metabolite generation and embryotoxicity was apparent. Of the benzene metabolites studied, trans, trans-muconaldehyde exhibited the highest embryotoxic potency but was not detectably generated by any of the S9 systems. Hydroquinone, catechol, and benzoquinone were approximately equipotent, each producing 100% lethality at 0.1 mM. Combined additions to the culture medium of hydroquinone together with phenol resulted in greater than additive effects, indicating a possible synergistic interaction between these metabolites and suggesting that peroxidase activity may be important to the mechanism of phenol-elicited embryotoxicity.
Does El Niño Affect Business Cycles

In this paper we test to see if the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon has an influence on national business cycles. If El Nino has any effect at all on business cycles and economic growth, one would expect it, at the very least, to affect small, undiversified economies highly dependent on agriculture and fishing. However, we find that while El Nino exhibits some influence on South Africa, Australia, and perhaps India, there is surprisingly little statistically significant effect on GDP growth or on price inflation in the other countries in our sample. Moreover, we see little significant El Nino effect on agricultural commodity prices.
Summary of “Toward a Global Media Ethics: Theoretical Perspectives”

This is a summary of “Toward a Global Media Ethics: Theoretical Perspectives,” which appeared in Ecquid Novi: African Journalism Studies, 29(2), 2008, 135–172. The article was written by Clifford G. Christians, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Shakuntala Rao, State University of New York-Plattsburgh; Stephen J. A. Ward, University of Wisconsin-Madison; and Herman Wasserman, University of Sheffield. It was the result of a workshop on global media ethics by the article's authors hosted by the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. The authors brought to the discussion the different perspectives of contractualism, communitarianism, and critical theory. The intention of the summary is to the draw the attention of scholars and ethicists outside the readership of Ecquid Novi to this leading-edge theoretical work. It is hoped the summary will stimulate comment and further work in global media ethics. The summary is not intended to replace the...
Solubilizing Action of Caffeine on Benzoic Acid

As a part of a study of the behavior of pharmaceuticals in solution, the reaction between benzoic acid and caffeine to form a complex was investigated. Experimental data were obtained supporting the existence of the complex in solution and the equilibrium constant for the reaction was determined.
An estimate of the outgassing of space payloads, their internal pressures, contaminations and gaseous influences on the environment

Experimentally measured outgassing as a function of time is presented for 14 space systems including several spacecraft instruments, spacecraft, the shuttle bay, and a spent solid fuel motor. The weights, volumes, and some of the scientific functions of the instruments involved are indicated. The methods used to obtain the data are briefly described. General indications on how to use the data to obtain the internal pressure versus time for a payload, its self-contamination, the gaseous flow in its vicinity, the column densities in its field of view, and other environmental parameters which are dependent on the outgassing of a payload are provided.
Direct determination of adp in hypoxic porcine carotid artery using 31p nmr

31P-NMR spectroscopy was performed on vascular smooth muscle (VSM; porcine carotid artery) superfused with a substrate-free high K(+)-PSS. Scans were collected before (control), during (hypoxia), and after (post-control) hypoxia, and chemical measurements of ATP (0.070 +/- 0.13 mumoles/g wet wt.) and creatine (2.04 +/- 0.14 mumol/g wet wt.) were made. During hypoxia, well-defined beta-ADP signals were consistently resolved. Their areas indicated that after 30, 60, and 90 min of hypoxia, free ADP was 0.05 +/- 0.01, 0.09 +/- 0.01, and 0.12 +/- 0.01 mumol/g wet wt., respectively. The apparent tissue equilibrium constant (Kck) for creatine kinase (CK) was calculated using 90 min hypoxic data and was 7.6 +/- 0.6 x 10(8) M-1. It was used to compute free ADP levels (mumol/g wet wt.) for control (0.028 +/- 0.002) and post-control (0.23 +/- 0.003) periods, since ADP signals could not be directly detected, and for the 30 and 60 min hypoxic periods (0.05 +/- 0.01 and 0.08 +/- 0.01, respectively). The Kck-dependent ADP values for the 30 and 60 min hypoxic periods periods were the same as the ADP values determined directly from the beta-ADP peak areas, suggesting that the CK reaction is in equilibrium in smooth muscle. These data show that 31P-NMR provides a means of directly measuring free ADP in hypoxic smooth muscle and a more accurate means of computing free ADP levels in normoxic VSM through the use of an in situ tissue Kck vs an assumed or in vitro Kck.
MPPT Scheme for Small Scale Photovoltaic Systems Using dSPACE

This paper presents a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) scheme for a small photovoltaic (PV) system. The algorithm for the proposed scheme has been formulated using the mathematical equations which describe the non-linear characteristics of a PV panel under different levels of insolation and temperature. The scheme uses only the open circuit voltage and short circuit current of the PV panel. The control strategy developed is simple and is implemented in Simulink using dSPACE. The scheme particularly suits small PV systems and is tested on a small PV panel illuminated by a sun-simulator assembly. The power-versus-voltage characteristics for the panel have been shown at different levels of insolation along with the tracked maximum power.
Characterization of Rocket-Plume Fluid-Dynamic Environment Using Numerical and Experimental Approaches

The fluid-dynamic environment in the plume of a specific rocket motor was characterized in the present study. Previously, a similar experimental study was conducted to collect pressure and temperature magnitudes at locations far downstream of the nozzle. The focus of this work was the characterization of the nozzle near field. To provide some flexibility for future analysis the primary goal was the development of a computational-fluid-dynamics model of the plume that could be probed for additional data of interest. To validate the model a series of experiments were conducted, some of which required custom hardware, to collect the pressure and temperature data at locations as close as 1.5 m from the nozzle. The predicted stagnation pressures were found to compare well with experimental results. To provide a measure of the temperature within the plume a multiwavelength pyrometer was used, and predicted results were also found to be in reasonable agreement.
Hepatitis C, cryoglobulinemia, and cirrhosis: A meta‐analysis

Approximately 40% of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection develop detectable serum cryoglobulins or cryoprecipitates (CP), although most do not show clinical or physical signs of syndromic cryoglobulinemia. Although association of HCV with the extrahepatic complications of cryoglobulinemia is widely recognized, the relationship of cryoglobulinemia with liver disease is unclear. We wished to study the relationship between CP and cirrhosis and to determine whether the development of CP is a true covariate for progressive liver disease or a confounding variable that impacts cirrhosis because of patient age, duration of disease, or differences in gender. We undertook a meta-analysis of 19 studies published between 1994 and 2001. The incidence of cirrhosis was compared in patients with and without CP after logistic regression adjustments for accepted risk factors for progressive liver disease, including age, gender, and estimated duration of disease (EDD). A total of 2,323 patients with chronic hepatitis C were identified, with 1,022 (44%) having detectable CP. Cirrhosis was present in 40% of patients with CP but only 17% of patients without CP (total Chi;(2) = 141.69, P <.001). After adjusting for age, gender, and estimated duration of disease by logistic regression, the combined odds ratio for incidence of cirrhosis in patients CP positive versus CP negative was 4.87, (95% CI: 3.32, 7.15), indicating a highly significant association between cirrhosis and cryoglobulinemia. In conclusion, cryoglobulins may be a useful prognostic indicator for increased risk of cirrhosis with chronic hepatitis C.
Metabolism of quinine.

Studies of the comparative pharmacology of quinine revealed that rabbits possessed an unusual ability to metabolize this drug. The metabolic derivative formed by rabbit liver in vitro was isolated in pure crystalline form and found to possess a lower toxicity and antimalarial activity than quinine. In collaboration with other laboratories, the structure of this new derivative was established and several analogues synthesized with blocking groups present at the site of oxidation. Certain of these compounds show considerable promise and are still under investigation.
An investigation of multicultural training practices in the restaurant industry: the training cycle approach

The restaurant industry is dealing with diversity in terms of its workforce, international customers and multinational business operations. Acknowledging diversity through multicultural training is beginning to appear in some restaurant companies. This study investigates how franchised restaurants utilize multicultural training programs from a training cycle approach. The findings indicate that high employee turnover rates are the primary reason that the majority of companies do not have a cultural diversity training program. Companies with a diversity training program report that such training is successful in improving interpersonal cross‐cultural skills.
Measurement of central venous pressure from a peripheral intravenous catheter following cardiopulmonary bypass in infants and children with congenital heart disease.

The current study evaluates the feasibility and accuracy of measuring central venous pressure from a peripheral intravenous catheter following cardiopulmonary bypass in infants and children. Central venous pressure was simultaneously measured from a right atrial catheter and from a peripheral intravenous cannula. The continuity of the peripheral intravenous cannula with the central venous system was evaluated by noting the change in the pressure during a sustained inspiratory effort and during occlusion of the vessel above (proximal to) the catheter. The cohort for the study included 29 infants and children. In 5 of the 29 patients (17%), there was no increase in the peripheral venous pressure in response to a Valsalva maneuver or occlusion of the extremity proximal to the intravenous site. The difference between peripheral venous pressure and central venous pressure in these patients was 11 ± 3 mm Hg versus 2 ± 1 mm Hg in the patients in whom the peripheral venous pressure increased with these maneuvers ...
Approximate formulas for the far field and gain of open-ended rectangular waveguide

Approximate formulas are derived for the far field and gain of standard, open-ended, rectangular waveguide probes operating within their recommended usable bandwidth. (Such probes are commonly used in making near-field antenna measurements.) The derivation assumes first-order azimuthal dependence for the fields, and an E -plan pattern given by the traditional Stratton-Chu integration of the transverse electric ( TE_{10} ) mode. The H -plane pattern is estimated by two different methods. The first method uses a purely E -field integration across the end of the waveguide. The second, more accurate method approximates the fringe currents at the shorter edges of the guide by isotropically radiating line sources. The amplitude of the line sources is determined by equating the total power radiated into free space to the net input power to the waveguide. Comparisons with measurements indicate that for X -band and larger waveguide probes, both methods predict on-axis gain to about 0.2 dB accuracy. The second method predicts far-field power patterns to about 2 dB accuracy in the region 90\deg off boresight and with rapidly increasing accuracy toward boresight.
Total Synthesis of (13Z)-Spata-13(15),17-diene, and the Formal Synthesis of Spatol

Abstract The total synthesis of (13Z)-spata-13(15),17-diene was achieved starting from 3-methyl-2-cyclopentenone (6) in 11 steps. The nucleus was constructed in novel fashion using a Pauson-Khand reaction of cyclobutene 9 with trimethylsilylncctylene. The appropriate sidechains were attached in a stereospecific manner taking advantage of the shape of the nucleus.
Species of Cryptosporidium detected in weaned cattle on cow–calf operations in the United States

To determine the species and distribution of Cryptosporidium in weaned beef calves in the United States, fecal specimens were collected from 819 cattle between 6 and 18 months of age from 49 operations in 20 states (Alabama, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wyoming). Fresh feces, collected either from the ground or directly from the rectum of each animal, were sieved and subjected to density gradient centrifugation to remove fecal debris and to concentrate oocysts. DNA extracted from each specimen was subjected to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers for the SSU rRNA gene. All PCR positive specimens were subjected to sequence analysis. Cryptosporidium was detected in 20.5% of the fecal samples. Cryptosporidium ryanae, C. bovis and C. andersoni were detected in 1.8, 4.8, and 14.0% of the 819 samples, respectively. California (number operations [n]=2), Iowa (n=3), and Nebraska (n=7) had the highest prevalence of infected weaned cattle with 44.4, 41.0 and 40.2% infected, respectively. Cryptosporidium was not detected in any weaned cattle from Alabama (number operations [n]=1), Georgia (n=2), New Mexico (n=1), South Dakota (n=1), Tennessee (n=1), or Texas (n=1). The zoonotic species, C. parvum, was not detected in any samples from 6- to 18-month-old cattle, a finding that parallels reports for dairy cattle of similar age in which less than 1% were found to harbor this species.
Factors Influencing Employee Association Members' Votes for Unionization

Abstract Unionization votes of 133 members of an employee association at a large, midwestem, American university were examined. General beliefs, specific beliefs, normative pressures (co-workers, family, and close friends), and dissatisfaction with the employee association influenced votes for unionization. Job satisfaction, age, race, and gender did not influence votes for unionization.
Pregnancy-specific modulatory role of mitochondria on adenosine 5'-triphosphate-induced cytosolic [Ca2+] signaling in uterine artery endothelial cells.

Vascular endothelial cells respond to extracellular ATP by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-mediated Ca2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum followed by Ca2+ influx and subsequent synthesis of vasodilators. In this study, the contribution of mitochondria in shaping the ATP-induced Ca2+ increase was examined in ovine uterine artery endothelial cells from nonpregnant and pregnant (late gestation) ewes (NP- and P-UAEC, passage 4). The mitochondrial protonophore carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) induced a rapid mitochondrial depolarization. CCCP also slowly increased cytosolic [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]c), which then gradually declined to 10–20 nm above resting level. Pretreatment with CCCP for 30 min significantly inhibited both ATP and thapsigargin-induced [Ca2+]c, with inhibition in NP-UAEC more effective than in P-UAEC. Pretreatment of mitochondrial permeability transition pore inhibitor cyclosporine A did not affect CCCP-induced mitochondrial depolarization, but delayed CCCP-induced [Ca2+]c for about 1...
Upper bounds for the solution of the discrete Riccati equation

Upper bounds for individual eigenvalues and for summations of eigenvalues including the trace of the solution of the discrete algebraic Riccati equation are presented. Some are new, and some supplement bounds in the literature. >
A Mythical Realist Orientation for Religious Education: Theological and Pedagogical Implications of the Mythical Nature of Religious Story

Abstract This article proposes a concept of “mythical realism” as a way of understanding important characteristics of religion and orienting religious education. The focus is on beliefs as one central aspect of religion. The author draws on recent cognitive studies in religion to illumine the “counterintuitive” and “mythic” character of religious belief, while also arguing that religious thinking should be and commonly is held together with “intuitive,” “scientific” understandings of experiential reality. A case is made for the enhancement of “mythical realist” religious understanding as a fundamental goal of religious education. Pedagogical suggestions are given for nurturing such mythical realist faith.
CONTEXT SPECIFICITY OF OPERANT DISCRIMINATION PERFORMANCE IN PIGEONS

In an experiment designed to investigate odors as potential retrieval cues in pigeons' memory (i.e., as conditional stimuli), 8 pigeons first learned to peck a red keylight (S+, reinforced) and not a blue one (S-, extinguished) in the presence of either a eucalyptus oil or isoamyl acetate odor. They were repeatedly switched between two chambers with the same odor to habituate any reaction to the switching that would be required for eventual testing for conditional control by the odors. Next, the birds learned the reversal (blue S+, red S-) in the presence of the alternative odor in one of these chambers. When the birds were then switched to the alternative chamber for additional training, although the odor was still appropriate to the reversal problem, behavior appropriate to the original training condition recurred. Testing indicated that reversal performance was specific to the one chamber in which it had been trained.
Totally unimodular Leontief directed hypergraphs

Abstract A Leontief directed hypergraph is a generalization of a directed graph, where arcs have multiple (or no) tails and at most one head. We define a class of Leontief directed hypergraphs via a forbidden structure called an odd pseudocycle. We show that the vertex-hyperarc incidence matrices of the hypergraphs in this class are totally unimodular. Indeed, we show that this is the largest class with that property. We define two natural subclasses of this class (one obtained by forbidding pseudocycles and the other obtained by forbidding pseudocycles and the so-called doublecycles), and we describe some structural properties of the bases and circuits of the members of these classes. We present examples of Leontief directed hypergraphs that are graphic, cographic, and neither graphic nor cographic.
Optimized isocratic conditions for analysis of catecholamines by high-performance reversed-phase paired-ion chromatography with amperometric detection

Abstract We studied high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of the catecholamines epinephrine, norepinephrine, 3,4-dihydroxybenzylamine and dopamine utilizing an isocratic aqueous mobile phase flowing over a bonded octadecylsilane (μBondapak C18) solid phase, with amperometric detection of the eluate. Separation was not dependent upon ionic strength of the mobile phase, while a definite dependence upon solvent pH was observed. Detector response showed a marked dependence upon both ionic strength and pH of the liquid phase, with optimum conditions for signal response occurring at pH 5.8 in an aqueous medium of 0.07-mole/l salt concentration. To achieve a baseline separation of the four catecholamines, inclusion of an aliphatic sulfonate as a paired ion was necessary. Heptanesulfonate was found to be the paired ion of choice. In the presence of the paired ion, a sensitivity was achieved which gave a peak more than ten times baseline noise when 100 fmoles of norepinephrine were injected on the column.
Sedative and analgesic actions of methoxylated 2-aminotetralins; involvement of α1- and α2-adrenoreceptors

Abstract Three 5,8-dimethoxylated derivatives of 2-aminotetralin (2-AT) were compared with clonidine, methoxamine and phenylephrine in tests for sedation (inhibition of exploratory activity) and analgesia. In both tests the 2-AT derivatives were less potent than clonidine, but more potent than methoxamine or phenylephrine. Antagonism of the 2-AT derivative, DR-31, and clonidine by yohimbine in both tests argues for the involvement of α 2 -adrenoreceptors in the mediation of these behavioral effects. α 1 -Adrenoreceptors also mediate an inhibition of exploratory activity since the inhibition induced by methoxamine was antagonized by phenoxybenzamine (POB) but not by yohimbine. The methoxylated 2-AT derivatives, which have previously been shown to exert potent peripheral α 1 -agonism are now demonstrated to have sedative and anlgesic effectscharacteristic of central α 2 -adrenergic stimulation.
Biologic and immunomodulatory properties of mesenchymal stromal cells derived from human pancreatic islets

Background aims Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have now been shown to reside in numerous tissues throughout the body, including the pancreas. Ex vivo culture-expanded MSC derived from many tissues display important interactions with different types of immune cells in vitro and potentially play a significant role in tissue homeostasis in vivo. In this study, we investigated the biologic and immunomodulatory properties of human pancreatic islet-derived MSC.
A human erythroleukemia cell line synthesizes a functionally active glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complex capable of binding fibrinogen.

Abstract The human erythroleukemia (HEL) cell line is known to express a number of platelet-megakaryocyte markers, including glycoproteins IIb and IIIa. Using [35S]methionine as well as monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to glycoprotein IIb and IIIa, we have demonstrated synthesis of these two glycoproteins by this cell line. When Triton X-100-solubilized membranes were subjected to cross immunoelectrophoresis in 1% agarose, using a mixture of polyclonal antibodies to glycoproteins IIb and IIIa, a single peak was seen in the presence of Ca2+, whereas two distinct peaks were seen in the presence of 5 mM EDTA. When these crossed immunoelectrophoreses were overlaid with 125I-labelled fibrinogen, binding of fibrinogen to the glycoprotein IIb and IIIa complex peak was observed. When either the electrophoresis or the subsequent overlay was done in the presence of 5 mM EDTA, no 125I-fibrinogen binding was observed. These studies demonstrate that HEL cells contain glycoproteins IIb and IIIa capable of forming a Ca2+-dependent complex and capable of binding fibrinogen in a Ca2+-dependent reaction. Nevertheless, glycoprotein IIb- and IIIa-specific fibrinogen binding, of the type observed in platelets, could not be demonstrated in ‘resting’ or ‘stimulated’ intact HEL cells. The mechanism giving rise to this difference is currently unknown.
Potential of long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in melanoma prevention.

The possible antineoplastic activity of dietary long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC n-3 PUFAs) has been supported by ample preclinical studies that have identified a number of molecular factors and pathways affected by these fatty acids and involved in cell growth, apoptosis, invasion, and angiogenesis. The aim of this critical review is to assess the current state of knowledge on the potential anticancer effects of LC n-3 PUFAs against malignant melanoma, one of the most common cancers among Western populations. The results of preclinical as well as human observational and interventional studies investigating the effects of LC n-3 PUFAs in melanoma were examined. Overall, the analysis of the literature reveals that, even though a large body of information is available, further effort is needed to identify the main molecular targets of LC n-3 PUFAs in melanoma. Moreover, additional well-designed human observational studies are essential to shed further light on the issue. The results of these studies could provide support and specific information for the development of clinical studies, especially those performed in combination with conventional or innovative antineoplastic therapies.