cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exercise Magnetic Resonance Imaging Is a Gas.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is particularly valuable in the assessment of diseases that affect the right heart. Concomitant physiological provocation may unmask latent pathology and provide incremental information to inform prognosis and guide therapy.1,2 For example, low-dose dobutamine stress MRI has been shown to unmask right ventricular dysfunction in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot.3 Better than pharmacological stress, exercise-induced changes may aid differentiation of WHO group 1 from group 2 pulmonary hypertension, identification of left heart disease not apparent at rest or inducible pulmonary arterial hypertension, and assessment of right ventricular contractile reserve. MRI permits highly reproducible and accurate measurements of right ventricular volumes and function even during exercise.4 See Article by Barber et al In this issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging , Barber et al5 elegantly present a new noninvasive cardiovascular assessment modality combining supine ergometer exercise with MRI and respiratory gas analysis. They apply the technique to 3 pediatric cohorts: healthy volunteers, patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, and patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot. This study is remarkable in several aspects. First, the study addresses the underserved pediatric population (mean age just over 12 years). Second, the authors make use of innovative …
The Effect of a Piperacillin/Tazobactam Shortage on Antimicrobial Prescribing and Clostridium difficile Risk in 88 US Medical Centers

Background Anti-infective shortages are a pervasive problem in the United States. The objective of this study was to identify any associations between changes in prescribing of antibiotics that have a high risk for CDI during a piperacillin/tazobactam (PIP/TAZO) shortage and hospital-onset Clostridium difficile infection (HO-CDI) risk in 88 US medical centers. Methods We analyzed electronically captured microbiology and antibiotic use data from a network of US hospitals from July 2014 through June 2016. The primary outcome was HO-CDI rate and the secondary outcome was changes in antibiotic usage. We fit a Poisson model to estimate the risk of HO-CDI associated with PIP/TAZO shortage that were associated with increased high-risk antibiotic use while controlling for hospital characteristics. Results A total of 88 hospitals experienced PIP/TAZO shortage and 72 of them experienced a shift toward increased use of high-risk antibiotics during the shortage period. The adjusted relative risk (RR) of HO-CDI for hospitals experiencing a PIP/TAZO shortage was 1.03 (95% confidence interval [CI], .85-1.26; P = .73). The adjusted RR of HO-CDI for hospitals that both experienced a shortage and also showed a shift toward increased use of high-risk antibiotics was 1.30 (95% CI, 1.03-1.64; P Conclusions Hospitals that experienced a PIP/TAZO shortage and responded to that shortage by shifting antibiotic usage toward antibiotics traditionally known to place patients at greater risk for CDI experienced greater HO-CDI rates; this highlights an important adverse effect of the PIP/TAZO shortage and the importance of antibiotic stewardship when mitigating drug shortages.
Comparison of techniques for measuring pulse-wave velocity in the rat

Mitchell, Gary F., Marc A. Pfeffer, Peter V. Finn, and Janice M. Pfeffer. Comparison of techniques for measuring pulse-wave velocity in the rat. J. Appl. Physiol. 82(1): 203–210, 1997.—We evaluated...
Axisymmetric Waves in Layered Anisotropic Fibers and Composites

The complicated morphology of the new generation of advanced fibrous composites gave further impetus to the study of the interaction of ultrasonic waves with multilayered concentric cylindrical systems. Typically, the fiber consists of a cylindrical core embedded in a cladding region followed by a distinct interface zone separating the fiber system from the host (matrix) region. In addition, the cladding region itself often consists of subregions which can be identified as distinct layers. Each individual layer can posses certain degree of microscopic anisotropy adding to the macroscopic anisotropy produced by the presence of layering and imperfect interfaces. Relatively few efforts have been spent upon the study of free and immersed homogeneous anisotropic rods [1–5]. These works are insufficient to model real situations encountered in materials characterization of advanced fibrous composites. In order to better model advanced fibrous composites at least three major effects need to be accounted for. These are the inhomogeneous nature of the structure as reflected in its multilayering, the inherent microscopic anisotropy of some of the constituents and finally the quality of the interfaces. In this paper we briefly describe a unified analytical treatment of wave propagation along the fiber direction of multilayered coaxial fibrous systems embedded in a host material. A more detailed discussion of this general treatment will be presented elsewhere [6]. Figure 1 shows typical geometric situations including (a) a single multilayered fiber, (b) a single multilayered fiber either immersed in an infinite fluid or embedded in an infinite solid, and an infinite composite material with periodically distributed multilayered fiber.
Abnormal Illness Behaviors

Abnormal illness behaviors describe maladaptive perceptions and experience of one's health status. All seven of the disorders that characterize abnormal illness behaviors present challenges to clinicians, who must determine the extent to which signs and symptoms reflect psychopathology. In diagnosing any disorder characterized by abnormal illness behaviors, a primary medical condition must be ruled out as an explanation of symptoms. As patients with abnormal illness behaviors frequently desire medical and physical explanations for their symptoms, they can be a challenge for medical teams. Involving psychiatric clinicians is often recommended.
The Mermaid's Wineglass

In common language, we describe the nucleus as the administrator of the cell. It shares two attributes with more familiar administrators: It tends to perpetuate its kind, and it defies so successfully all efforts to learn what it is doing that only by trying to get along without it can we satisfy ourselves that it is working at all.
Purification and characterization of the core-specific lectin from human serum and liver.

A lectin that displays specificity for the core region of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides (Man3GlcNAc2-Asn) was isolated from human serum and liver by affinity chromatography on mannan-Sepharose. The designation ‘core-specific lectin’ (CSL) is used to indicate its specificity. Selective elution of human CSL from mannan-Sepharose was accomplished with 50 mM-mannose. Two additional proteins that displayed Ca2+-dependent binding to mannan-Sepharose were eluted by mannose 6-phosphate or beta-glycerophosphate but not by mannose. The latter proteins were identified as C-reactive protein and serum amyloid protein. Human CSL isolated from liver was indistinguishable from serum CSL in its physicochemical properties, immunological properties and specificity. The N-terminal sequence of human CSL is homologous to that reported for ‘mannan-binding protein C’ (MBP-C) [Drickamer, Dordal & Reynolds (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 6878-6887]. The amino acid composition of human CSL is similar to that of rat MBP-C, including the presence of hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine residues. Collagen-like sequences with hydroxylated proline and lysine residues appear to be present in human CSL as well as in rat CSL. The collagen-like regions of human and rat CSL may play a role in assembly of CSL subunits into complexes consisting of nine subunits that display Ca2+-dependent carbohydrate-binding activity.
Maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy and offspring risk of childhood/adolescent depression: Results from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC).

Abstract Background Low maternal vitamin D levels [serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D)] during pregnancy have been linked to offspring neuropsychiatric outcomes such as schizophrenia and autism, but studies on depression are lacking. We examined the association between maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy and offspring depression during childhood and adolescence and investigated whether any associations were modified by offspring genetic risk for depression. Methods Mother-singleton birth offspring pairs in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) that had maternal 25(OH)D measurements, offspring genetic data, and offspring depression measures collected in childhood (mean age=10.6 years; n = 2938) and/or adolescence (mean age=13.8 years; n = 2485) were included in the analyses. Using multivariable logistic regression, we assessed associations between maternal vitamin D status and offspring polygenic risk score (PRS) for depression on childhood/adolescent depression risk. Results There was no evidence for an association between maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy and offspring depression in childhood (p = 0.72) or adolescence (p = 0.07). Offspring depression PRS were independently associated with childhood depression (p = 0.003), but did not interact with maternal vitamin D status. These results were robust to adjustments for potential confounders and different cut-offs for vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency. Limitations 25(OH)D measurements were only available at a single time point during pregnancy. Conclusion These findings suggest that maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy does not affect an offspring's risk for early life depression.
Seven Years of Haplo-Cord Transplantation: Immune Reconstitution and Outcomes Using Anti-Thymocyte Globulin

Introduction Haplo-cord transplantation – the co-infusion of a single cord unit with CD34-selected cells from a haplo-identical donor, provides an alternate stem cell source for patients lacking HLA-matched donors. Anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) is routinely used in haplo-cord preparative regimens to reduce graft failure, graft vs. host disease (GVHD) and graft vs. graft reactions. However, excessive depletion of cord lymphocytes may compromise immune reconstitution and graft vs. tumor (GVT) effects. Methods We reviewed lymphocyte recovery and outcome data for consecutive patients with hematologic malignancy who underwent haplo-cord transplantation at Weill Cornell Medicine between June 2012 and June 2019. All were conditioned using fludarabine and melphalan with or without total body irradiation (200-600cGy). All received rabbit ATG (Thymoglobulin), initially at a total dose of 6mg/kg (2012-2013) and later at a total dose of 4.5mg/kg (2013 onward). Data was collected as part of study 01810588 registered at clinicaltrials.gov. Probabilities of relapse and non-relapse mortality (NRM) were generated using cumulative incidence estimates to accommodate competing risks. Probabilities of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated using Kaplan-Meier estimates. Results Our study included 220 haplo-cord transplant recipients with a median age of 58 yrs (Range: 18 – 76 yrs). The majority had myeloid disease (AML – 54%, MDS/MPN – 19.5%, CML – 2%). Conditioning incorporated TBI for 120 patients (55%). ATG was dosed at 6mg/kg for 41 patients (19%). The median absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) at first ATG exposure was 0.4 × 10^9/L (IQR25-75: 0.2-0.7 × 10^9/L). The median patient weight was 75.5kg (IQR25-75: 65.4-89.9kg). Neutrophil and platelet engraftment occurred at a median of 12 days (IQR25-75: 10-16 days) and 22 days (IQR25-75: 17-35 days) respectively. Graft failure was observed in 16 patients (7%). Rapid early recovery of CD19+ lymphocytes, CD56+ natural killer cells and IgG levels was observed. T-cell recovery was delayed, with a gradual increase observed from Day 100 (Figure). Overall PFS and OS at 2 yrs were 30% (CI 24-37%) and 39% (CI 32-46%) respectively. The 2 yr cumulative incidence of NRM was 33% (+/- 3% SEM). The overall 2 yr incidence of relapse was 37% (+/- 3% SEM), however there was a significant difference in relapse incidence between patients treated with 6mg/kg ATG (54%) versus 4.5mg/kg (31.5%) (p=0.009). Conclusion Haplo-cord transplant facilitates early neutrophil engraftment with early normalization of B- and NK-lymphocytes. An observed delay in T-cell recovery may be due to the use of ATG in this platform and higher ATG doses result in a greater incidence of relapse. Our data supports the minimization or replacement of ATG in haplo-cord transplant. An analysis of GVHD incidence and viral reactivation events is ongoing and will be presented.
Recent Advances in Systemic Therapy for Malignant Melanoma

Malignant melanoma is a major contributor of skin cancer related mortality with increasing incidence and resistance to therapy. Advanced melanoma has a poor prognosis with a median overall survival of 8-10 months and a 5-year survival rate of 10%. A better understanding of melanogenesis and the tumor microenvironment has led to the development of several new therapies for metastatic melanoma. This review will provide a comprehensive overview of FDA approved novel systemic therapies for advanced melanoma and of other classes of molecules under clinical investigation. This paper will then look at the key signaling pathways these therapies target and briefly discuss the utility of biomarkers in guiding targeted therapy.
Hydrocarbon layer formation and removal studies on SiN films etched in halogen/hydrofluorocarbon plasmas

Plasma etch residue formation and its removal from silicon nitride (SiN) films deposited at 200oC, 480oC and 700oC is explored. X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) measurements showed that SiN contains more nitrogen (N) and less oxygen (O) with increasing deposition temperature. SiN films were etched in an Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) reactor in a halogen/hydrofluorocarbon (H:HFC) gas mixture; the carbon (C) containing species in the resulting residue films were studied as a function of the H:HFC ratio in the plasma. Post-plasma etch cleaning methods of the SiN surface were compared, these included: wet treatment with diluted hydrofluoric acid (dHF), sputtering with argon (Ar) plasma, and combined dHF and Ar plasma. After etch, Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (SIMS) and XPS data showed formation of fluorocarbon (FC) films on SiN. FC film thickness after etch was estimated from XPS to reach up to 2 nm. Ultimately the SiN etch rate was shown to drop with increasing deposited C thickness while the lower nitrogen content in the SiN film (i.e. 200oC) led to higher etch rate, which is in good agreement with literature. Ar plasma sputter turned out to be the most effective way of cleaning C residues: C surface content after Ar sputter was reduced to or below the reference data (unetched sample). In terms of wet treatment, an optimized chemistry was identified (AltChem) and post-RIE cleaning was more efficient than dHF in reducing C surface concentrations.
Atopy and pulmonary function among healthy-weight and overweight/obese children with asthma.

INTRODUCTION Epidemiologic studies have found low/absence of atopy in obese asthmatic children, but the association or lack thereof of atopy with disease morbidity, including pulmonary function, in obese asthma is not well understood. We sought to define the association of atopy with pulmonary function in overweight/obese minority children with asthma. METHODS In a retrospective chart review of 200 predominantly minority children evaluated at an academic Pediatric Asthma Center over 5 years, we compared the prevalence of atopy, defined as ≥ 1 positive skin prick test or serum-specific immunoglobulin E quantification to environmental allergens, and its association with pulmonary function in overweight/obese (body mass index [BMI] > 85th percentile) (n = 99) to healthy-weight children (BMI, 5th-85th percentile for age) (n = 101). RESULTS In a cohort comprised of 47.5% Hispanics and 39.5% African Americans, 81% of overweight/obese and 74% of healthy-weight children were atopic. While atopic healthy-weight children had lower percent-predicted forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1 ) (93 ± 13.6 vs 107% ± 33.2%, P = .03) and lower percent-predicted forced vital capacity (FVC) (93% ± 12.2% vs 104% ± 16.1%, P = .01) as compared to nonatopic children, atopy was not associated with FEV1 (P = .7) or FVC (P = .17) in overweight/obese children. Adjusting for demographic and clinical variables, atopy was found to be an independent predictor of FEV1 and FVC in healthy-weight (β = -2.4, P = .07 and β = -1.7, P = .04, respectively) but not in overweight/obese children (β = .6, P = .5 and β = .8, P = .3). CONCLUSIONS Atopy is associated with lower lung function in healthy-weight asthmatics but not in overweight/obese asthmatics, supporting the role of nonallergic mechanisms in disease burden in pediatric obesity-related asthma.
Radical abstraction vs. oxidative addition mechanisms for the activation of the S–H, O–H, and C–H bonds using early transition metal oxides

Quantum chemical calculations are performed to study the S–H, O–H, and C–H bond activation of H2S, H2O, and CH4 by bare and ligated ZrO+ and NbO+ units. These representative oxides bear low energy oxo and higher energy oxyl units. S–H and C–H bonds are readily activated by metal oxyl states (radical mechanism), but the O–H bond is harder to activate with either the oxyl or oxo states. Our results suggest that known practices for the C–H bond activation can be applied to S–H, but not to O–H bonds. The identified trends are rationalized in terms of the HS–H, HO–H, and H3C–H dissociation energies to the homolytic or heterolytic fragments. We also found that these dissociation energies drop to about half after coordination of H2S or H2O to the metal oxide unit. In addition, chlorine ligands are shown to stabilize the higher energy oxyl states of the transition metal oxygen unit enhancing the reactivity of the formed complexes.
Serum Bile Acid, Vitamin E, and Serotonin Metabolites Are Associated With Future Liver-Related Events in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Identifying patients at higher risk for poor outcomes from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains challenging. Metabolomics, the comprehensive measurement of small molecules in biological samples, has the potential to reveal novel noninvasive biomarkers. The aim of this study was to determine if serum metabolite profiles in patients with NAFLD associate with future liver-related events. We performed a retrospective single-center cohort study of 187 participants with biopsy-proven NAFLD. Metabolomic analysis was performed on serum using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. We identified liver-related events (variceal bleeding, ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatopulmonary or hepatorenal syndrome) by manual chart review between index biopsy (2007-2013) and April 1, 2018. Generalized linear models and Cox proportional hazards models were used to test the association of metabolites with liver-related events and time to first liver-related event, controlling for covariates and fibrosis stage. Over a mean ± SD follow-up of 6.9 ± 3.2 years, 11 participants experienced 22 liver-related events. Generalized linear models revealed 53 metabolites significantly associated with liver-related events (P < 0.05). In Cox proportional hazards modeling, 69 metabolites were significantly associated with time to future liver-related events (P < 0.05), seven of which met the false discovery rate threshold of 0.10: vitamin E metabolites gamma-carboxyethyl-hydroxychroman (gamma-CEHC) and gamma-CEHC glucuronide; primary bile acid metabolite taurochenodeoxycholate; serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetate; and lipid metabolites (i) 2-hydroxyglutarate, (ii) 3beta,17beta-diol disulfate 1, and (iii) eicosenoyl sphingomyelin. Conclusion: Metabolites of a primary bile acid, vitamin E, and serotonin were associated with future liver-related events. Our results suggest metabolite pathways may be useful for predicting which patients with NAFLD are at higher risk for hepatic decompensation.
Enhancing glucose metabolism via gluconeogenesis is therapeutic in a zebrafish model of Dravet syndrome

Energy-producing pathways are novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we focussed on correcting metabolic defects in a catastrophic paediatric epilepsy, Dravet syndrome which is caused by mutations in sodium channel NaV1.1 gene, SCN1A. We utilized a translatable zebrafish model of Dravet syndrome (scn1lab) which exhibits key characteristics of patients with Dravet syndrome and shows metabolic deficits accompanied by down-regulation of gluconeogenesis genes, pck1 and pck2. Using a metabolism-based small library screen, we identified compounds that increased gluconeogenesis via up-regulation of pck1 gene expression in scn1lab larvae. Treatment with PK11195, a pck1 activator and a translocator protein ligand, normalized dys-regulated glucose levels, metabolic deficits, translocator protein expression and significantly decreased electrographic seizures in mutant larvae. Inhibition of pck1 in wild-type larvae mimicked metabolic and behaviour defects observed in scn1lab mutants. Together, this suggests that correcting dys-regulated metabolic pathways can be therapeutic in neurodevelopmental disorders such as Dravet syndrome arising from ion channel dysfunction.
What Determines Parties’ Choice of Incumbent-Renomination Methods? the Case of the UK Labour Party, 1979–2019

The UK Labour Party changed its incumbent-renomination process six times between 1979 and 2019. Using Labour as an influential case, I propose a two-part theory explaining parties’ choice of incumb...
Response by Thomas J. Loredo

The choice of alternatives relevant for inference, and not the use of priors, is the fundamental distinguishing feature of Bayesian inference. Nevertheless, priors play an important role in inference, and I welcome Prof. West’s discussion of their influence on Bayesian results. Much can be said about this issue. Here I will only note that my paper discusses parameter estimation calculations, which are often very insensitive to prior information, whereas West discusses a model comparison calculation (deciding between models with and without the parameter s) which is more sensitive; in fact, such calculations use information about the prior range of parameters to implement an objective posterior, “Ockham’s razor,” for which there is only a meager and subjective frequentist counterpart (see, e.g., W.H. Jefferys and J.O. Berger, American Scientist 80. 64–72, 1992). A more extensive discussion of priors and of many of the examples in my paper can be found in the original longer draft, which I will gladly provide to interested readers.
Brute Rationality: Accounting for our actual normative judgments

In arguing for the theoretical need to distinguish the justifying and requiring roles of practical reasons, some of the work in the previous three chapters was devoted to arguing that we can take certain commonsense normative claims at face value. Among those claims were, for example, that being immoral is not necessarily irrational, but that making sacrifices for other people is not irrational either; that it is irrational to refuse to take medicine that will restore one to perfect health and a happy life, regardless of one's indifference to that prospect; that simply having a strong desire for things like pain or disability does not, by itself, give one the slightest reason to pursue them. This chapter will take these sorts of claims for granted. The point here is to argue in a more formal way against views that attribute a single strength value to practical reasons, and that go on to claim that the rational status of an action is dependent only on the strengths of the reasons that favor and oppose it. Once this is demonstrated, the second half of the chapter will then go on to argue that the justifying/requiring distinction explains the relevant phenomena better than do two other proposals: incommensurability of reasons, and a technical device called an ‘exclusionary permission.’ In this chapter, as in chapters 2 and 3, the arguments will be presented in terms of subjective rationality.
Orifice resistance for ejection into a grazing flow

To explain the decrease in orifice resistance with the addition of grazing flow, the flow from an orifice was modeled by using an inviscid analysis which is valid when the orifice flow total pressure is nearly the same as the free stream grazing flow total pressure. For steady outflow from an orifice into a grazing flow, the orifice flow can enter the main grazing flow in an inviscid manner without generating large eddies to dissipate the kinetic energy of the jet. From the analysis, a simple closed-form solution was developed for the steady resistance for ejection from an orifice into a grazing-flow field. The calculated resistance compare favorably with data for a flow regime where the total pressure difference between the grazing flow and the orifice flow is small.
Developing and completing a library mobile technology survey to create a user-centered mobile presence

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discover how many of the authors' own university students own internet-enabled mobile devices and how they use them. That information will be incorporated into the design of a user-centered library mobile web site. Design/methodology/approach – SurveyMonkey was used to create a web based survey which was distributed through a stable URL hosted on the Hunter College Libraries' web site. Findings – This study illustrates that Hunter College students are increasingly using their mobile devices for educational purposes. Students are reliant on these devices even when other internet-enabled devices such as laptops and desktops are available. Research limitations/implications – The principal tool used, SurveyMonkey, did not enable high level restrictions on potential participants. As a result, multiple demographic questions were used to establish a respondent profile. Practical implications – The findings of this study provide a framework for the creation of a mobile su...
Lessons from Chaco Canyon

Anasazi America Seventeen Centuries on the Road from Center Place. David E. Stuart. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, 2000. 265 pp. $29.95. ISBN 0-8263-2178-X. Paper, $15.95. ISBN 0-8263-2179-8. In this narrative account of the gradual rise and rapid decline of the Chaco Anasazi, Stuart highlights the potential implications for modern societies of the contrasting fates of the Anasazi and their Pueblo descendants.
Amyloid-β and Mitochondria in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease: Implications for Synaptic Damage and Cognitive Decline

This article reviews the role of amyloid-beta (Abeta) and mitochondria in synaptic damage and cognitive decline found in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent molecular, cellular, animal model, and postmortem brain studies have revealed that Abeta and mitochondrial abnormalities are key factors that cause synaptic damage and cognitive decline in AD. Abeta is reported to accumulate in subcellular compartments and to impair the normal function of neurons in AD patients. Further, recent studies using biochemical methods and electron microscopy have revealed that the accumulation of Abeta at nerve terminals affect synaptic activities, including the release of neurotransmitters and synaptic vesicles. Recent studies of the relationship between mitochondria and Abeta in AD patients suggest that in mitochondria, structural changes caused by Abeta result in increased mitochondrial fragmentation, decreased mitochondrial fusion, mitochondrial dysfunction, and synaptic damage. This paper discusses the latest research on Abeta, mitochondria, age-dependent factors of AD in the brain, and synaptic damage in AD. This paper also briefly discusses potential mitochondrial therapeutics in the treatment of patients with AD.
The knowledge base of certified internists. Relationships to training, practice type, and other physician characteristics.

• A written examination was used to assess the knowledge base of 183 practicing certified internists. Analyses of the examination scores showed that performance on the initial American Board of Internal Medicine certification examination taken 7.6 years previously was the major factor predicting current knowledge base. By developing regression models, the unique contribution of different variables to prediction of current examination scores was determined. Prior American Board of Internal Medicine certification examination performance accounted for 70.9% of the explained variance, and demographic and practice variables were responsible for 17.8%. Among the demographic and practice variables studied, community size and subspecialty practice were the only variables that contributed significantly to the regression equations. Examination scores were highest for certified internists practicing in smaller communities. General internists received higher scores than subspecialists. Although statistically significant, the apparent adverse influence of subspecialty practice and larger community size on examination performance was modest. Further study is needed to determine if longer periods in practice might produce different relationships between variables such as these and examination performance. (Arch Intern Med. 1989;149:2311-2313)
Excitation spectra of surface-enhanced Raman scattering on silver-island films

Both the spectral dependence and the magnitude of the excitation spectra of surface-enhanced Raman scattering are found to be quantitatively related to the absorption spectra for silver-island films. This relationship is maintained even when the local electromagnetic enhancement at the islands is varied by coating the film with a layer of absorbing dye molecules. The results illustrate a simple experimental way to determine independently the role of the electronic plasma resonances in the enhancement process on these films and shed new insights into the details of the electromagnetic interactions responsible for surface-enhanced Raman scattering.
A perspective on numerical analysis of the diffusion equation

Abstract The equation of transient groundwater motion is founded on the principle of mass conservation and can be mathematically described by the diffusion equation. Recently, powerful integral formulations have been developed for numerically solving the diffusion equation under complex conditions. In the literature, it is customary to formulate the integral equations by integrating point differential equations. Instead, in this paper, we shall employ a direct method of formulation, starting from the concepts of set and measure, the notion of partitions and the definition of set-averages. When the direct approach is applied to formulate the well-known finite element (FEM) equations, it is seen that the ‘Galerkin’ weighting function, which is mathematically treated as an artifice for weighting residuals, is but an appropriate spatial partition function. The logical framework of the direct approach is then applied to study the properties of ‘lumped’ and ‘consistent’ matrices arising in the use of the FEM. The lumped matrix, stemming naturally from the direct approach, seeks to conserve mass locally as well as globally, while the consistent matrix, which results only when the differential equation is integrated in a specific fashion, attempts only to preserve global mass balance. It is concluded that the direct approach is simple and complete and, in so far as the integral formulation is concerned, there is little to be gained in starting with the differential equation. Further, in formulating integral equations, it is common practice to evaluate only the time-dependent changes in the mass content of the system and ignore the evaluation of the mass content of the system at any given instant of time. In order to be complete in itself, a true integral approach should evaluate both the time-dependent changes in the mass content of the system as well as the instantaneous mass content at any given time.
An Analysis of Nonunderwritten Rights Offers: The Case of Closed‐END Funds

We study nonunderwritten rights offerings without subscription pre-commitments from large shareholders. The results indicate firms incur substantial indirect costs in the form of price concessions for raising equity capital this way. The data therefore support the selling cost explanation of the rights-offering paradox. Additionally, we describe how market participants collectively respond to intermediate such offerings.
Legislative choice of regulatory forms: Legal process or administrative process?

A paper like this does not lend itself to conclusions. The unifying theme of the paper is a question: when and why does Congress choose to modify social and/or economic behavior by establishing a regulatory agency rather than by writing a law to be enforced in the courts? This is a special case of the more general question of why politicians delegate their power to administrators. I have not sought to answer that question in any definite way; rather, I have tried to identify some of the potential answers, most of which are mutually compatible, all of which have some support in the literature, and few of which have been dealt with systematically by modern political economists. I have ignored certain answers that appear in the literature — the complexity of modern problems, the demands on legislator time, and so forth. These may have some effect on what Congress decides to delegate, but in the main I believe they are largely rationalizations which scholars are too quick to believe. Where politicians have the incentive, they manage to deal with complexity, and they find the time to do it. It is our job to identify those incentives and trace their implications for the formation of public policy in this country. Without denigrating the work that has been done, it is fair to say that our work is only beginning, despite the extravagant claims of some authors to the contrary.
Trends in elemental concentrations of fine particles at remote sites in the United States of America

Abstract The University of California at Davis has been monitoring particulate concentrations in remote sites throughout the United States of America since 1979 in networks operated for the National Park Service and the Environmental Protection Agency. Twelve sites in remote class I visibility areas have almost complete records from June 1982 to August 1992, seven in the southwest, three in the northwest, and two in the east. During this period, two samples of fine particles (0–2.5 μm) on Teflon filters were collected every week and analysed for elemental concentration by Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE). This paper will examine the historical trends for sulfur, zinc, lead, and the soil elements. Measurements during the past four years have verified that the sulfur is present as sulfate. In the southwest, 80% of the sulfur trends in spring, summer and fall decreased, while most of the winter trends increased. The annual trends decreased at six of the seven sites. The trends in the northwest increased slightly. The two eastern sites had the most important trends, with significant increases of almost 4% per year in summer, 1–3% increases in spring and fall, and 2% decreases in winter. The annual increases were between 2 and 3%. Generally there were no significant trends for zinc and the soil elements. Lead at all sites decreased sharply through 1986, corresponding to the shift to unleaded gasoline, but has since leveled off at around 18% of the 1982 means. The most important conclusion of this study is that through the use of stable sampling and analytical protocols, we have been able to determine statistically significant historical trends of as small as 1–2% per year for sites with 10-year records.
The Embodiment Thesis

In this essay I articulate and defend a thesis about the nature of morality called “the embodiment thesis”. The embodiment thesis states that moral values underdetermine the obligations and entitlements of individual persons, and that actual social institutions must embody morality by specifying these moral relations. I begin by presenting two thought experiments that elucidate and motivate the embodiment thesis. I then proceed by distinguishing the embodiment thesis from a Rawlsian doctrine about the nature of justice, from the doctrine of moral relativism, and from solutions to the coordination problem of rational choice theory.
OXIDATIVE PHOSPHORYLATION FROM EXOGENOUS PYRIDINE NUCLEOTIDES.

Abstract A beef-heart-muscle dialyzed supernatant fraction has been found necessary for the oxidative phosphorylation using exogenous nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide as substrate by mitochondria from beef heart, beef liver, and rat liver. Experiments show that the soluble fraction is heat-labile, but contains a stimulatory heat-stable component. The fraction is not capable of inducing mitochondrial swelling. Both NAD + and NADH can serve as substrates for the oxidative phosphorylation, but the NAD + is reduced extramitochondrially in the presence of the dialyzed soluble fraction from beef heart and the mitochondria. The soluble fraction itself cannot reduce the oxidase NAD. More oxidized NAD is found within the mitochondria in the presence of the dialyzed soluble fraction with both NAD + and NADH as substrate.
Systemic cancer presenting as diabetes insipidus. Clinical and radiographic features of 11 patients with a review of metastatic-induced diabetes insipidus.

Since computerized transaxial tomography (CTT) scanning at the Mayo Clinic (1974–1981), 25 cases of metastatic diabetes insipidus (DI) have been identified. Of 100 consecutive cases of DI of any cause, 14 were due to metastatic cancer. Diabetes insipidus was the initial presentation in 11 patients with systemic cancer. In the 11 patients, the most common sources metastatic to the posterior pituitary-hypothalamic region were lung (3) and the leukemia/lymphoma group (4). Although skull x-ray results were usually normal (9 of 11), CTT scanning results were abnormal in 5 of 11, including demonstration of pituitary stalk enlargement, suprasellar masses, or both. Metastases elsewhere in the nervous system were apparent in four patients. Anterior pituitary and visual system involvement occur in a minority group of patients. Cancer 52:2355-2358, 1983.
Scintigraphic evaluation of Tc‐99m‐low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) distribution in patients with Gaucher disease

Gaucher disease (GD) is frequently associated with reduced plasma levels of low density lipoproteins, presumably due to increased catabolism of LDL. The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution of Tc-99m LDL (Tc-LDL) in Gaucher patients, and compare the findings to bone marrow distribution. Four patients with non-neuropathic Gaucher disease (type 1) underwent baseline whole body imaging at 4 and 24 h after injection of dialyzed autologous LDL labeled with 10-20 mCi Tc-99m-pertechnetate. Three of the four patients were treated with macrophage-targeted alglucerase (Ceredase). The LDL studies were compared to concurrent bone marrow scans performed with 10 mCi Tc-99m sulfur colloid (Tc-SC). Follow-up Tc-LDL and Tc-SC scans were obtained 12-14 months later. Tc-LDL activity was abnormally increased in the spleen and long bones of the upper and lower extremities. Liver activity was also increased. Prominent blood pool activity 4 h after injection mostly cleared on the 24-hour images. The distribution of Tc-SC was congruent with Tc-LDL activity. All patients had mild-to-moderate hepatomegaly and peripheral bone marrow expansion. One patient had been previously splenectomized and the remaining three had moderate-to-severe splenomegaly. Two of the three treated patients showed regression of peripheral bone marrow activity with therapy, along with a comparable decrease in Tc-LDL uptake. Our study with Tc-LDL and Tc-SC suggests that in patients with Gaucher disease native LDL is taken up by the reticuloendothelial system (RES) of the spleen and bone marrow in addition to increased uptake by the liver. This abnormal uptake (presumably by macrophages of the RES) may account for accelerated LDL catabolism and reduced plasma levels of LDL. Serial LDL studies can be performed, allowing for longitudinal follow-up after drug or enzyme therapies.
Acceptability and Feasibility of Rapid HIV Testing in an Adolescent Clinic Setting: Youth Testing Attitudes, Knowledge, and Behaviors

Abstract Purpose To assess youths' attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors regarding rapid HIV testing (RHT) and measure acceptability and feasibility of RHT in an adolescent clinic setting. Methods A 2007–2008 project introduced free RHT at an urban, hospital-based adolescent and young adult clinic in Boston, MA. Patients and HIV testing clients were offered either free nonrapid tests or fingerstick RHT. An anonymous questionnaire assessed youths' testing attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors (N = 127). Ordinal logistic regression model was used to determine associations with youth demographic characteristics and testing experience. Results Most participants valued rapid results. A minority desired confidentiality from parents and insurance providers. Older youth were more likely to know about testing methods (OR: 1.25; CI: 1.04–1.51) and plan for follow-up (OR: 1.43; CI: 1.14–1.81). Age, gender, and race were unrelated to testing facilitators such as rapidity, confidentiality, and cost, although younger clients were more likely to prefer noninvasive methods. Individuals with previous testing experience were more likely to say that they would contribute to expenses and value rapidity over cost. Conclusion There was strong support for RHT among youth receiving HIV testing. Offering RHT to youth may facilitate routine testing. Future research should focus on increasing RHT access among diverse populations of youth.
Sir Victor Horsley (1857-1916): pioneer of neurological surgery

Immortalized in surgical history for the introduction of "antiseptic wax," Sir Victor Horsley played a pivotal role in shaping the face of standard neurosurgical practice. His contributions include the first laminectomy for spinal neoplasm, the first carotid ligation for cerebral aneurysm, the curved skin flap, the transcranial approach to the pituitary gland, intradural division of the trigeminal nerve root for trigeminal neuralgia, and surface marking of the cerebral cortex. A tireless scientist, he was a significant player in discovering the cure for myxedema, the eradication of rabies from England, and the invention of the Horsley-Clarke stereotactic frame. As a pathologist, Horsley performed research on bacteria and edema and founded the Journal of Pathology. Horsley's kindness, humility, and generous spirit endeared him to patients, colleagues, and students. Born to privilege, he was nonetheless dedicated to improving the lot of the common man and directed his efforts toward the suffrage of women, medical reform, and free health care for the working class. Knighted in 1902 for his many contributions to medicine, Sir Victor met an untimely death during World War I from heat stroke at the age of 59. An iconoclast of keen intellect, unlimited energy, and consummate skill, his life and work justify his epitaph as a "pioneer of neurological surgery."
Providing a sexual health service for young people in the school setting

This article describes how a sexual health service for young people can be provided in a school setting using a multi-agency drop-in approach.
Special Feature Exhaustive Cryptanalysis of the NBS Data Encryption Standard

For centuries, cryptography has been a valuable asset of the military and diplomatic communities. Indeed, it is so valuable that its practice has usually been shrouded in secrecy and mystery.
Retail replenishment models with display-space elastic demand

We study a single store multi-product inventory problem in which product sales are a composite function of shelf space. Since sales tend to deplete the amount of product on display, the effective shelf space assigned to the product diminishes with time unless replenishment occurs. We consider the problem of optimal replenishment times under these conditions. We assume a linear dependence of sales rate to effective shelf space in all our analysis. We present exact and approximate solutions for the single product and multi-product cases. For the single product case, we study the effect of space elasticity, cross elasticity and empty space elasticity on the optimal replenishment period. For the multi-product case we present a computationally attractive method using matrix exponentials and develop error bounds for this method.
A strain-energy-based non-linear failure criterion: comparison of numerical predictions and experimental observations for symmetric composite laminates

A strain-energy-based model to predict non-linear stress/strain response, failure onset and progression in composite laminates was presented by Wolfe and Butalia (Compos. Sci. Technol. 1998, 58, 1107). This paper focuses on some of the critical issues relating to the development of that model. Several of the assumptions made in the model are relaxed or modified. A variety of unidirectional and symmetric laminates are studied. A comparison of numerical results obtained from the model and published experimental data (Supplied by Soden, Kaddour and Hinton (Compos. Sci. Technol., in press) is presented for four different material systems. The strain energy based failure theory predictions agree very well with many of the experimental observations for the material systems investigated in this study.
Abstract 1330: p27 suppresses arsenite-induced Hsp27/Hsp70 expressions through inhibiting JNK2/c-Jun- and HSF-1-dependent pathways

p27 is an atypical tumor suppressor, which can regulate the activity of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and G 0 to S phase transitions. More recent studies reveal that p27 may also exhibit its tumor suppressive function through regulating many other essential cellular events. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these anti-cancer effects of p27 are largely unknown. In current studies, we found that depletion of p27 expression by either gene knockout or knockdown approaches resulted in upregulation of both Hsp27 and Hsp70 expressions at mRNA and promoter-derived transcription as well as protein levels upon arsenite exposure, indicating that p27 provided a negative signaling for regulating the expressions of Hsp27 and Hsp70. Consistently, arsenite-induced activation of JNK2/c-Jun and HSF-1 pathways was also markedly elevated in p27 knockout (p27-/-) and knockdown (shRNA p27) cells. Moreover, interfering the expression or function of JNK2, c-Jun and HSF-1, but not JNK1, led to dramatic inhibition of arsenite-induced Hsp27 and Hsp70 expressions. Collectively, our studies demonstrated that p27 suppressed Hsp27 and Hsp70 expressions at transcriptional level specifically through JNK2/c-Jun- and HSF-1-dependent pathways upon arsenite exposure, which provided additional important molecular mechanism for the tumor suppressive function of p27. Key words: Arsenite, p27, Hsp27, and Hsp70 Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1330. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1330