cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enzyme replacement therapy delays pupillary light reflex deficits in a canine model of late infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis.

Abstract Late-infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (CLN2 disease) is a hereditary neurological disorder characterized by progressive retinal degeneration and vision loss, cognitive and motor decline, seizures, and pronounced brain atrophy. This fatal pediatric disease is caused by mutations in the CLN2 gene which encodes the lysosomal enzyme tripeptidyl peptidase-1 (TPP1). Utilizing a TPP1−/− Dachshund model of CLN2 disease, studies were conducted to assess the effects of TPP1 enzyme replacement administered directly to the CNS on disease progression. Recombinant human TPP1 (rhTPP1) or artificial cerebrospinal fluid vehicle was administered to CLN2-affected dogs via infusion into the CSF. Untreated and vehicle treated affected dogs exhibited progressive declines in pupillary light reflexes (PLRs) and electroretinographic (ERG) responses to light stimuli. Studies were undertaken to determine whether CSF administration of rhTPP1 alters progression of the PLR and ERG deficits in the canine model. rhTPP1 administration did not inhibit the decline in ERG responses, as rhTPP1 treated, vehicle treated, and untreated dogs all exhibited similar progressive and profound declines in ERG amplitudes. However, in some of the dogs treated with rhTPP1 there were substantial delays in the appearance and progression of PLR deficits compared with untreated or vehicle treated affected dogs. These findings indicate that CSF administration of TPP1 can attenuate functional impairment of neural pathways involved in mediating the PLR but does not prevent loss of retinal responses detectable with ERG.
Magnetism in amorphous metals and alloys

Abstract In amorphous transition metal-metalloid alloys, nearest neighbor short range order about metalloid atoms, and to a lesser extent about transition metal atoms, is similar, at least in an average sense, to that in the corresponding crystalline intermetallic compounds. In amorphous transition metal-metalloid alloys which are strongly ferromagnetic, magnetic moments and Curie temperatures are only weakly affected by the absence of crystalline long range order or by dispersions in near neighbor configurations. Magnetic moments and ordering temperatures of amorphous rare earth metal-transition metal alloys RE Fe 2 and RE Co 2 differ significantly from those of the corresponding Laves phase crystalline RE TM 2 compounds, and X-ray and neutron scattering studies of several of the amorphous alloys indicate significant differences in nearest neighbor short range order between the Laves phase crystalline compounds and the amorphous alloys. These differences in short range order may be largely responsible for the observed changes in magnetic properties.
Approval Seeking, Social Cost, and Aggression: A Scale and Some Dynamics

Summary The two studies reported in this article concern the development of a scale measuring attitudes toward approval seeking and examine the relationship between approval seeking, social cost, and aggression. Validity problems of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale indicate the need to employ new methodological approaches. By means of responses by 408 male and female university students, 21 statements were selected for the final scale. The scale shows a satisfactory split-half correlation coefficient and significant relationships to self-esteem, competition, and aggression. The experimental study (N # 43 male and female undergraduates) yielded a significant interaction effect between approval seeking and social cost on aggression. High approval seekers showed low level of aggression toward high social cost frustrators and high levels toward low social cost frustrators. On the other hand, low approval seekers displayed approximately equal amounts of aggression in the two conditions. These resul...
Synthetic organic agrochemicals in the lower Mississippi River and its major tributaries--Distribution, transport and fate

The Mississippi River and its major tributaries transport herbicides and their degradation products from agricultural areas in the mid-western U.S.A. These compounds include atrazine and its degradation products (desethyl- and desisopropylatrazine), simazine, cyanazine, metolachlor, and alachlor and its degradation products (2-chloro-2′,6′-diethylacetanilide 2-hydroxy-2′,6′-diethylacetanilide and 2,6-diethylaniline). These compounds were identified and confirmed by gas chromatography-ion trap mass spectrometry. Loads of these compounds were determined during five sampling trips in 1987–1989. Stream loads of these compounds indicated that atrazine and metolachlor were relatively conservative in downstream transport. Alachlor and its degradation products were generated from point and non-point sources. Seasonal variations and hydrologic conditions controlled the loads of these compounds in the Mississippi River. Cross-channel mixing was slow downstream from major river confluences, possibly requiring several hundred kilometers of downriver transit for completion. The annual transport of these compounds into the Gulf of Mexico was estimated to be < 2% of the annual application of each herbicide in the Midwest.
DYNAMIC RESPIROMETRY OF DIVISION SYNCHRONIZED ASTASIA LONGA.

Abstract A dynamic respirometer has been developed and used to measure the respiration rates of temperature-synchronized Astasia longa. The instrument measures the respiration rate of cells in the synchronizing apparatus by evaluating the diffusion rate into the flask as a function of oxygen tension in the culture medium. Using this in conjunction with cell number, culture temperature, and oxygen tension, all of which are recorded electronically, respiration rates per cell have been calculated over the synchronous cycle. Two trends can be seen in the data. One, cultures which show an increase in the respiration rate per cell in the cold period show the best division synchrony, and, two, the respiration rate per cell declines near the onset of mitosis whenever good synchrony is obtained. This is most pronounced in cultures which show the highest overshoot of respiration rate at the onset of the warm period. These respiration characteristics are well correlated with the degree of division synchrony obtained. Proposals are made as to the possible origin of these phenomena.
Optimizing package IHS flatness & load for improved thermal/mechanical performance

Physically larger more complex server processors are creating or exacerbating thermal and mechanical challenges in platform design. The larger processors are due, in large part, to the ever increasing core count, increasing integration, and growing I/O performance requirements which pushes pin count demand upwards on the socket thus driving higher processor loading requirements. As a direct result of larger packages and higher loads, the flatness of the package Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS) can be negatively impacted thereby aggravating the current challenges in thermal performance, socket/processor low level contact resistance, and socket solder joint reliability. This paper explores the relationship between processor loading, package IHS flatness, and thermal/mechanical performance at both end of line and end of life. Fundamental learnings were uncovered through investigation of the thermal performance validation of Intel's next generation server processors and their corresponding cooling solutions coupled with historical processor thermal/mechanical test data and targeted mechanical sensitivity studies. Thermal degradation focused on IHS flatness quantification, identifying the main drivers triggering degradation post reliability stress, and optimizing key parameters. Utilizing a comprehensive approach encompassing diverse historical thermal data revealed there exists a complex interaction between multiple parameters which can result in a significant impact. It was demonstrated that when parameters were isolated, there was little impact but combining multiple parameters could result in significant thermal degradation. This was a critical and fundamental finding which corroborated that a design must comprehend and test the assembly as a whole to develop retention and cooling solutions that can eliminate or at least minimize both the end of line and end of life thermal resistance.
Measurement of soot morphology by integrated LII and elastic light scattering

A compact experimental setup that integrates laser-induced incandescence (LII) and one-angle elastic light scattering (1A-ELS) to measure the size of polydisperse soot aggregates is described. A 532 nm laser and a detection angle of 35 degrees were employed, which provided sensitivity for aggregate radius of gyrations (R g) of R g≤200 nm. Both lognormal and self-preserving distribution functions are compared with width parameters derived from both aggregation theory and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements. Using these distributions, mean aggregate sizes derived from the scattering measurements are compared. The LII+1A-ELS technique is validated with a two-angle elastic light scattering (2A-ELS) approach with an additional detection angle at 145 deg. Unlike LII+1A-ELS, the 2A-ELS technique has the advantage of not requiring knowledge of soot optical properties. Good agreement is found between the two techniques for a given distribution. A fundamental discrepancy exists between distributions derived from TEM and those according to aggregation theory, limiting the accuracy of both 2A-ELS and LII+1A-ELS. The dependence of both techniques on laser fluence and hence soot temperature is examined and discussed.
Femtosecond Laser Micromachining of Periodical Structures in Si

A frequency doubled femtosecond Ti: sapphire laser at a wavelength of 400 nm, a pulse width of 160 fs, and a repetition rate of 1 kHz was used with a computer controlled galvo head to write periodical structures in Si . Laser pulses of ~130 nJ were focused using an objective lens of 0.65 NA. Laser parameters were optimized for efficient submicron ablation, yielding 700 nm wide by 600 nm deep lines. 1-D and 2-D periodical structures of 5 and 5×5 micron periods, respectively, were fabricated and examined using optical and atomic force microscopy. The quality of the 1-D and 2-D structures was highly depended on the light polarization orientation with respect to micromachining direction. With optimized fs laser parameters, high quality 1-D and 2-D periodical structures were obtained, which would have applications in optical devices.
The Risk of Toxic Retinopathy in Patients on Long-term Hydroxychloroquine Therapy

Importance Hydroxychloroquine sulfate is widely used for the long-term treatment of autoimmune conditions but can cause irreversible toxic retinopathy. Prior estimations of risk were low but were based largely on short-term users or severe retinal toxicity (bull’s eye maculopathy). The risk may be much higher because retinopathy can be detected earlier when using more sensitive screening techniques. Objectives To reassess the prevalence of and risk factors for hydroxychloroquine retinal toxicity and to determine dosage levels that facilitate safe use of the drug. Design, Setting, and Participants Retrospective case-control study in an integrated health organization of approximately 3.4 million members among 2361 patients who had used hydroxychloroquine continuously for at least 5 years according to pharmacy records and who were evaluated with visual field testing or spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Exposure Hydroxychloroquine use for at least 5 years. Main Outcomes and Measures Retinal toxicity as determined by characteristic visual field loss or retinal thinning and photoreceptor damage, as well as statistical measures of risk factors and prevalence. Results Real body weight predicted risk better than ideal body weight and was used for all calculations. The overall prevalence of hydroxychloroquine retinopathy was 7.5% but varied with daily consumption (odds ratio, 5.67; 95% CI, 4.14-7.79 for >5.0 mg/kg) and with duration of use (odds ratio, 3.22; 95% CI, 2.20-4.70 for >10 years). For daily consumption of 4.0 to 5.0 mg/kg, the prevalence of retinal toxicity remained less than 2% within the first 10 years of use but rose to almost 20% after 20 years of use. Other major risk factors include kidney disease (odds ratio, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.44-3.01) and concurrent tamoxifen citrate therapy (odds ratio, 4.59; 95% CI, 2.05-10.27). Conclusions and Relevance These data suggest that hydroxychloroquine retinopathy is more common than previously recognized, especially at high dosages and long duration of use. While no completely safe dosage is identified from this study, daily consumption of 5.0 mg/kg of real body weight or less is associated with a low risk for up to 10 years. Knowledge of these data and risk factors should help physicians prescribe hydroxychloroquine in a manner that will minimize the likelihood of vision loss.
Method R Estimates of Additive Genetic, Dominance Genetic, and Permanent Environmental Fraction of Variance for Yield and Health Traits of Holsteins

Fractions of variance accounted for by additive genetic, dominance genetic, and permanent environmental effects for milk, fat, and protein yields; somatic cell score; and productive life were estimated from Holstein data used for national genetic evaluations. Contemporary group assignments were determined using the national procedure. Data included 1,973,317 milk and fat records for 812,659 cows, 1,019,421 protein records for 462,067 cows, 468,374 lactation average somatic cell score (SCS) records for 232,909 cows, and 735,256 cows with productive-life records. Variance components were estimated with the JAADOM program, which uses iteration on data and second-order Jacobi iteration for obtaining solutions to the mixed-model equations and Method R for estimation of variance components. Ten different random data subsets were used to estimate parameters for each trait. Estimated additive genetic, dominance genetic, and permanent environmental fractions of variance were 0.34, 0.05, and 0.10 for milk yield; 0.34, 0.05, and 0.11 for fat yield; 0.31, 0.05, and 0.10 for protein yield; and 0.17, 0.01, and 0.16 for lactation average SCS. Estimated additive genetic and dominance genetic fractions of variance were 0.12 and 0.06 for productive life. Mean empirical standard errors of additive genetic, dominance genetic, and permanent environmental variance fractions were 0.003, 0.006, and 0.006.
Best wavelet packet bases in a rate-distortion sense

A fast rate-distortion (R-D) optimal scheme for coding adaptive trees whose individual nodes spawn descendents forming a disjoint and complete basis cover for the space spanned by their parent nodes is presented. The scheme guarantees operation on the convex hull of the operational R-D curve and uses a fast dynamic programing pruning algorithm to markedly reduce computational complexity. Applications for this coding technique include R. Coefman et al.'s (Yale Univ., 1990) generalized multiresolution wavelet packet decomposition, iterative subband coders, and quadtree structures. Applications to image processing involving wavelet packets as well as discrete cosine transform (DCT) quadtrees are presented. >
ALTERATIONS OF MACROPHAGE FUNCTIONS BY MEDIATORS FROM LYMPHOCYTES

Sensitized lymphocytes were incubated in vitro with the specific antigen Supernatants from these cultures were chromatographed on Sephadex G-100 columns. Supernatant fractions containing MIF, chemotactic factor, and lymphotoxin, but free of antigen and antibody, were incubated with normal peritoneal exudate macrophages. Macrophage adherence, phagocytosis, spreading, motility, and direct hexose monophosphate oxidation were enhanced, while protein synthesis was unaffected. Thus, antigen-stimulated lymphocytes secrete a factor or factors which enhance certain macrophage functions. Implications for models of cellular immunity and cellular hypersensitivity are discussed.
Coping Strategies of University Students with Learning Disabilities

The purpose of this study was to investigate coping strategies of students with learning disabilities attending a large midwestern university with no special program for such students. Twenty-five students identified as learning disabled prior to entering the university volunteered to participate in the research. They were tested to determine their present cognitive and achievement profiles. They were then interviewed to determine their coping strategies. The testing indicated that they had persistent visual and auditory processing deficits and academic skills deficits. The findings indicated that they had developed coping strategies to bypass or compensate for their processing and skill deficits.
Matching learning and teaching styles: The jug and what's in it

(1984). Matching learning and teaching styles: The jug and what's in it. Theory Into Practice: Vol. 23, Matching Teaching and Learning Styles, pp. 35-43.
Persistent Auditory Language Deficits in Adults with Learning Disabilities

To the casual observer, learning disabled adults' oral language appears adequate. When they enter college, heavy demands are placed on both receptive and expressive oral language abilities, but typically only reading and written language abilities are assessed. Dr. Blalock describes below the auditory processing, receptive, and expressive language deficits she found in her study of 80 LD adults and how they themselves observed the effects of these deficits on their performance in a variety of settings; academic, social, and vocational. Because oral language is not evaluated consistently in LD adults entering college LD programs, her findings have significant implications for assessment and program development at the college level if inroads are to be made in the improvement of the most severe and widespread deficit in LD adults, namely, the deficit in written language.Of 80 young adults diagnosed as having learning disabilities, 63 were found to have oral language and/or auditory processing deficits. Thes...
Family Behavior Therapy for Substance Abuse and Other Associated Problems: A Review of Its Intervention Components and Applicability.

A comprehensive evidence-based treatment for substance abuse and other associated problems (Family Behavior Therapy) is described, including its application to both adolescents and adults across a wide range of clinical contexts (i.e., criminal justice, child welfare). Relevant to practitioners and applied clinical researchers, topic areas include its theoretical and empirical background, intervention protocols, methods of enhancing motivation for treatment, and future directions.
Routine Collection of Patient-Reported Outcomes in an HIV Clinic Setting: The First 100 Patients §

Background: Information from patient-reported outcomes (PROs) can enhance patient-provider communication and facilitate clinical research. However, there are barriers to collecting PROs within a clinic. Recent technological advances may help overcome these barriers. We examined the feasibility of using a web-based application on tablet PCs with touch screens to collect PROs in a busy, multi-provider, outpatient HIV clinical care setting. Methods: Patients presenting for routine care were asked to complete a touch-screen-based assessment containing 62 to 111 items depending on patient responses. The assessment included instruments measuring body morphology abnormalities, depression, symptom burden, medication adherence, drug/alcohol/tobacco use, and health-related quality of life Results: Of 136 patients approached to participate in the study, 106 patients (78%) completed the assessment, 6 (4%) started but did not complete it, and 24 (18%) refused. Of those who completed the assessment, the mean age was 48 years, and 29% reported a history of injection drug use. The median time to complete the assessment was 12 minutes. The prevalence of lipoatrophy was 51%, the prevalence of lipohypertrophy was 69%, and the prevalence of moderate or severe depression was 51%. We found that 25% of those receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy noted missing a dose of their antiretroviral medications in the prior 4 days. Results: Of 136 patients approached to participate in the study, 106 patients (78%) completed the assessment, 6 (4%) started but did not complete it, and 24 (18%) refused. Of those who completed the assessment, the mean age was 48 years, and 29% reported a history of injection drug use. The median time to complete the assessment was 12 minutes. The prevalence of lipoatrophy was 51%, the prevalence of lipohypertrophy was 69%, and the prevalence of moderate or severe depression was 51%. We found that 25% of those receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy noted missing a dose of their antiretroviral medications in the prior 4 days.
An analysis of the factors affecting strengthening in carbon nanotube reinforced aluminum composites

Abstract Tensile strength data of Al/CNT composites from the literature is analyzed to understand the effects of CNT dispersion, processing technique, degree of deformation and CNT–matrix interface on the elastic modulus, strength and toughness of composites. Strengthening can be divided in three regimes which show decreasing strengthening effect with an increasing CNT content. The strengthening is highest for CNT content less than 2 vol.%. The applicability of the micromechanics models in predicting the strength and elastic modulus of CNT reinforced metal matrix composites is also analyzed. The rule of mixtures is effective in predicting the elastic modulus of the Al/CNT composites for low CNT content (
Nitrogen and carbon stable isotope abundances support the myco‐heterotrophic nature and host‐specificity of certain achlorophyllous plants

Summary • Over 400 species of achlorophyllous vascular plants are thought to obtain all C from symbiotic fungi. Consequently, they are termed ‘myco-heterotrophic.’ However, direct evidence of myco-heterotrophy in these plants is limited. • During an investigation of the patterns of N and C stable isotopes of various ecosystem pools in two old-growth conifer forests, we sampled six species of mycoheterotrophic achlorophyllous plants to determine the ability of stable isotope ratios to provide evidence of myco-heterotrophy and host-specificity within these symbioses. • Dual-isotope signatures of the myco-heterotrophic plants differed from those of all other pools. They were most similar to the signatures of ectomycorrhizal fungi, and least like those of green plants. δ 15 N values of the myco-heterotrophic plants correlated strongly and positively with those of putative mycobionts. • Used in conjunction with other techniques, N and C stable isotope ratios can be used to demonstrate myco-heterotrophy and host-specificity in these plants when other ecosystem pools are well characterized. They also appear promising for estimating the degree of heterotrophy in photosynthetic, partially myco-heterotrophic plants.
Strain effects in large-scale atomistic quantum dot simulations

Atomistic computations of electronic properties for nanostructures with strain (such as self-assembled quantum dots) typically consist of two components - a calculation of the individual atomic positions and the eigenstates of interest in the resulting Hamiltonian. Such simulations ultimately require artificial boundary conditions either through a truncation of the simulation domain or by the imposition of periodic boundary conditions, which necessarily introduce inaccuracies in both components of the computation. In simulations that include up to about 20 million atoms, it is demonstrated that the simulation domain truncation has little impact on the direct computation of the electronic energies but causes considerable inaccuracies in the calculation of the atomic positions unless the simulation domain is made much larger than the central quantum dot structure. The long-range nature of the lattice distortions induced by lattice mismatch is consequently expected to significantly alter the electronic structure of nearby quantum dots.
Insulin-Stimulated Hydrogen Peroxide Increases Guanylate Cyclase Activity in Vascular Smooth Muscle

Insulin resistance is associated with vascular disease. Physiological concentrations of insulin inhibit cultured vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) contraction and migration by increasing nitric oxide (NO)-stimulated cGMP accumulation. The failure to do so in insulin-resistant states may aggravate vascular disease. We sought to determine the mechanism of insulin's increase in cGMP accumulation. Isobutylmethylxanthine, an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase activity, inhibited the decline in cGMP levels measured by immunoassay in cGMP-loaded cultured rat aortic VSMCs, but 1 nmol insulin did not. Thus, insulin's increase in cGMP accumulation is due to stimulated production, not inhibited hydrolysis and/or efflux. Insulin, which increases the NADH/NAD+ ratio in these cells, stimulated superoxide anion (O2-) accumulation measured by lucigenin luminescence to 256+/-25% (P<0.05) by a process that was blocked by the NADH oxidase inhibitor diphenyliodonium (DPI) and enhanced by the superoxide dismutase inhibitor diethyldithiocarbonate (DETCA). Insulin also stimulated hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation measured by horseradish peroxidase/luminol luminescence to 221+/-22% (P<0.05) by a DETCA-sensitive mechanism. H2O2 (100 micromol/L) in the absence of insulin increased NO-stimulated cGMP accumulation to 151+/-11% (P<0.05). Insulin alone increased NO-stimulated cGMP accumulation to 183+/-17% (P<0.05), and this was blocked by either DPI or DETCA. We conclude that insulin increases NADH oxidase-derived O2- production in cultured rat VSMCs. This did not cause the expected scavenging of NO resulting in the reduction of NO-stimulated guanylate cyclase activity, but enough O2- was metabolized to H2O2 to increase overall NO-stimulated cGMP production.
Correlation of P3 PCOA scores with future NAPLEX scores

Abstract Objective To determine whether a correlation exists between third-year professional (P3) Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students’ Pharmacy Curriculum Outcomes Assessment (PCOA) scores and their future National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) scores. Methods In 2009 and 2010, the PCOA was administered to P3 pharmacy students at North Dakota State University (NDSU). Students subsequently took the NAPLEX the following year and released their scores to the school. Parametric analysis of variance and Kruskal–Wallis tests were used to assess mean differences in PCOA scaled scores (total and subtopic domain) and NAPLEX scaled scores (total and by competency area). Pearson and Spearman analyses were used to assess the magnitude of the correlations between the PCOA and NAPLEX scores. Results Pearson correlations indicated that the PCOA total and all four subtopic domain scaled scores were significantly correlated with all NAPLEX scores (total and competency areas) with one exception. The PCOA social, behavioral, and administrative subtopic domain score was not significantly correlated with NAPLEX Competency Area 2. Conclusion NDSU pharmacy students in their P3 year who scored higher on the PCOA exam were more likely to score higher on the future NAPLEX exam. Students may be able to use formative assessment data from the PCOA to correct any possible deficiencies prior to taking the NAPLEX.
PS-385a Clinical Outcomes After Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (bipap) Treatment For Acute Asthma Exacerbations

Aims To examine whether bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) for children with acute asthma exacerbations not approaching respiratory failure (not meeting NIH and GINA guidelines for noninvasive ventilation) is associated with improved clinical outcomes. Methods We prospectively enrolled children 5–17 years with exacerbations not meeting respiratory failure guidelines for BiPAP use in a paediatric emergency department. We modelled propensity scores for BiPAP treatment then used propensity score matching to estimate the associations of BiPAP treatment with hospital admission; PICU admission; hospital length-of-stay; and time to Q4 hr albuterol as a metric of clinical improvement. Results Amongst 933 participants, median [IQR] age was 8.8[6.9,11.2] years, male 61%, and African-American 59%. BiPAP-treated participants (n = 45) had similar demographic characteristics to BiPAP-untreated participants in the matched analysis and significantly greater likelihood of hospital and PICU admission (Table ). Conclusions BiPAP treatment for paediatric patients with asthma exacerbations not meeting respiratory failure guidelines may be associated with greater resource utilisation without evidence of improved outcomes.
In vivo NMR detection of diet-induced changes in adipose tissue composition

We introduce an in vivo spectroscopic method to assess the effects of diet on fatty acid composition of the predominant chemical constituent of adipocytes in mice. To do this, we make use of a nonlinear NMR signal that, unlike a standard NMR signal, is intrinsically insensitive to local magnetic field inhomogeneities and which naturally suppresses the large water signal from nonfatty tissues. Our method yields fat composition information from fat depots distributed over large sample volumes in a single experiment, without requiring the use of tedious shimming procedures, voxel selection, or water suppression. Our results suggest that this method can reveal clear differences in adipose tissue composition of mice fed a standard chow diet compared with mice fed a diet rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. With further developments this method could be used to obtain information on human lipid composition noninvasively and to track changes in lipid composition induced by diet intervention, pharmaceutical drugs, and exercise.
Constructing a theory of impossible attempts

(1986). Constructing a theory of impossible attempts. Criminal Justice Ethics: Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 53-69.
Economic Custom in a Competitive Marketplace

Dyadic, reciprocal equilibrating relationships, such as trading partnerships in agrarian markets, have been reported from many societies. Data from a competitive marketplace in St. Louis, Missouri is analyzed in a multiple regression to test for the existence of such relationships between merchants and consumers. The interpretation of variables representing each firm's price level and consistency of stock reveals that economic custom is important even in this competitive marketplace. [economic behavior, industrialized marketplaces, U.S. economy]
Antibodies to the Ventral Disc Protein δ-giardin Prevent in Vitro Binding of Giardia lamblia Trophozoites

Abstract A cDNA coding for δ-giardin was cloned from Giardia lamblia trophozoites to localize the protein and to study its function in mediating surface attachment. Recombinant δ-giardin antigen was expressed in Escherichia coli as a poly-histidine fusion protein and was purified by affinity chromatography for production of antisera to δ-giardin. By immunoblotting analysis, antisera to recombinant δ-giardin antigen recognized a 31-kDa protein on G. lamblia trophozoites. Anti-recombinant δ-giardin was used to localize the native protein to the trophozoite ventral disk in both immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy assays. Pre-treatment of G. lamblia trophozoites with anti-δ-giardin sera caused morphological changes in the parasite and inhibited trophozoite binding to the surface of cell culture slides. Binding of antibodies to δ-giardin may provide a means of inhibiting attachment of G. lamblia trophozoites to the intestinal epithelium and thereby prevent clinical giardiasis.
Recursive dynamic node creation in multilayer neural networks

The derivations of a novel approach for simultaneous recursive weight adaptation and node creation in multilayer backpropagation neural networks are presented. The method uses time and order update formulations in the orthogonal projection method to derive a recursive weight updating procedure for the training process of the neural network and a recursive node creation algorithm for weight adjustment of a layer with added nodes during the training process. The proposed approach allows optimal dynamic node creation in the sense that the mean-squared error is minimized for each new topology. The effectiveness of the algorithm is demonstrated on several benchmark problems (the multiplexer and the decoder problems) as well as a real world application for detection and classification of buried dielectric anomalies using a microwave sensor. >
Ethylene bisdithiocarbamate pesticides Maneb and Mancozeb cause metal overload in human colon cells

Previous studies in our laboratory have shown that ethylene bisdithiocarbamate (EBDC) fungicides Maneb and Mancozeb are equipotent gastrointestinal toxicants that produce cell loss and metal accumulation within HT-29 and Caco2 colon cells. Nabam, MnCl2, CuCl2 and ZnCl2 exposure produced no loss of viability up to 200 μM and increases in metal levels were noted but not to the same extent as Maneb and Mancozeb. EBDC exposure caused increases in copper levels (20-200 μM). Maneb and Mancozeb treatment also caused increases in manganese and zinc concentrations (20-200 μM). Nabam plus MnCl2 and Nabam and MnCl2 plus ZnCl2 caused decreases in viability and increases in metal levels comparable to Maneb and Mancozeb. Decreases in the ratio of reduced glutathione to glutathione disulfide were observed with Maneb and Mancozeb (20-200 μM). Maneb and Mancozeb treatment results in intracellular metal accumulation leading to the oxidative stress. The metal moiety and the organic portion of EBDCs contribute to toxicity.
Fabrication of a Substituted Imidazolate Material 1 (SIM-1) membrane using post synthetic modification (PSM) for pervaporation of water/ethanol mixtures

Post synthetic modification (PSM) of metal organic frameworks (MOFs) is a useful tactic used amongst researchers to refine a MOF’s properties for an application of interest. In this report, we post synthetically modified a MOF known as Substituted Imidazolate Material 1 (SIM-1) to refine its molecular sieving potential. PSM of ethylenediamine, EDA, vapor was applied to a SIM-1 wafer. EDA cross-linked MOF crystals together through a Schiff base condensation reaction with SIM-1’s reactive aldehyde linker forming a free- standing SIM-1 membrane. The membranes were tested for the separation of water from water/ethanol mixtures at room temperature. Results show that only water was detected by GC for all SIM-1 membrane permeates; this was consistent over the course of three separation cycles, whereas SIM-1 wafers without PSM fall apart after one separation cycle.
Impotence in Diabetics

As documented in the preceding article by Ellenberg, the incidence of erectile failure in diabetic men is over 50%. While recognizing that diabetes can produce both neurological and vascular damage leading to loss of erectile capability, Renshaw emphasizes that at least some diabetic impotence is functional, not organic. In this chapter, Renshaw discusses the use of sex therapy in cases of diabetic erectile failure.
Recurrent Thrombotic Vasculopathy in a Former Cocaine User

We report a case of a 35-year-old female who presented to the emergency room (ER) complaining of a pruritic rash involving multiple areas of the body. She had a significant history of cocaine use in the past. She had first developed a similar rash in 2013 when she was diagnosed with cocaine-induced vasculitis. Her urine toxicology had been positive for cocaine in the past until July 2013. She was incarcerated and attended a drug rehabilitation program after which she quit cocaine use, which was consistent with negative urine toxicology on subsequent admissions. Further workup did not reveal any other, autoimmune or infectious, etiology of this clinical presentation. The patient underwent biopsy of the skin lesion that was consistent with thrombotic vasculopathy likely secondary to levamisole.
Twelve hours of heat stress induces inflammatory signaling in porcine skeletal muscle

Heat stress causes morbidity and mortality in humans and animals and threatens food security by limiting livestock productivity. Inflammatory signaling may contribute to heat stress-mediated skeletal muscle dysfunction. Previously, we discovered increased circulating endotoxin and intramuscular oxidative stress and TNF-α protein abundance, but not inflammatory signaling following 24 and 72 h of heat stress. Thus the purpose of this investigation was to clarify the role of inflammatory signaling in heat-stressed skeletal muscle. Crossbred gilts (n = 8/group) were assigned to either thermal neutral (24°C), heat stress (37°C), or pair-fed thermal neutral (24°C) conditions for 12 h. Following treatment, animals were euthanized, and the semitendinosus red (STR) and white (STW) were recovered. Heat stress did not alter inflammatory signaling in STW. In STR, relative heat shock protein abundance was similar between groups, as was nuclear content of heat shock factor 1. In whole homogenate, relative abundance of the NF-κB activator inhibitory κB kinase-α was increased by heat stress, although abundance of NF-κB was similar between groups. Relative abundance of phosphorylated NF-κB was increased by heat stress in nuclear fractions. Activator protein-1 (AP-1) signaling was similar between groups. While there were few differences in transcript expression between thermal neutral and heat stress, 80 and 56% of measured transcripts driven by NF-κB or AP-1, respectively, were increased by heat stress compared with pair-fed thermal neutral. Heat stress also caused a reduction in IL-6 transcript and relative protein abundance. These data demonstrate that short-term heat stress causes inflammatory signaling through NF-κB in oxidative, but not glycolytic, skeletal muscle.
Sterility and longevity of adult range caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) reared from irradiated field-collected pupae

Studies were conducted from 1976 through 1979 to evaluate the potential for use of the sterile insect technique as a management strategy for the range caterpillar, Hemileuca oliviae Cockerell. Nonirradiated females mated with males exposed as pupae to 50 krad gamma radiation produced eggs with 97.8–99.4% sterility. Females exposed as pupae to dosages ranging from 20 to 60 krad produced eggs with 96–100% sterility when mated with nonirradiated males. Neither adult emergence nor longevity appeared affected by the irradiation levels used on field-collected pupae. A preliminary study in 1979 on competitiveness of irradiated males was inconclusive, but indicated some mating advantage for normal males. These data indicate that sterility levels acceptable for field control uses could be achieved. If economical mass-rearing techniques could be developed to produce pupae of uniform age and normal males do not have too much of an advantage in mating, irradiation could be an important tool in managing this pest.
The Genodermatoses and Their Significance in Pediatric Dermatology

This article presents a detailed discussion of six genetic disorders with major cutaneous manifestations that might commonly be seen by the dermatologist or pediatrician. These include neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, xeroderma pigmentosum, incontinentia pigmenti, incontinentia pigmenti achromians, and Down's syndrome. The appearance of each disease at birth is described, and all manifestations of each entity are discussed in detail. Disorders with different inheritance patterns were chosen so that important genetic principles could be elucidated. The article concludes with a general discussion of genetic counseling, which draws upon the six genetic diseases for specific examples of important concepts.
The Evolution and Legitimacy of International Security Institutions

International institutions constitute the basis of global order. As they struggle to accommodate shifts in power and emerging threats, their legitimacy - their political authority and right to govern - often comes under fire, at times fuelling perceptions of crisis. Yet scholars seldom ask why some institutions are replaced while others are not. Blending theory with history, M. Patrick Cottrell examines some of the world's landmark security institutions, arguing that the possibility of replacement hinges on the sources of institutional legitimacy and the nature and timing of the challenges to it. The analysis not only reveals different pathways to replacement, but also offers a window into the future, including a potential dark side of too much legitimacy. Indeed, as global society becomes ever more dynamic, the fault lines of conflict with the most significant implications for order will not occur over territory, but rather over the legitimacy of international institutions.
Association between insurance status and patient safety in the lumbar spine fusion population

Abstract Background Context Lumbar fusion is a common and costly procedure in the United States. Reimbursement for surgical procedures is increasingly tied to care quality and patient safety as part of value-based reimbursement programs. The incidence of adverse quality events among lumbar fusion patients is unknown using the definition of care quality (patient safety indicators [PSI]) used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The association between insurance status and the incidence of PSI is similarly unknown in lumbar fusion patients. Purpose This study sought to determine the incidence of PSI in patients undergoing inpatient lumbar fusion and to quantify the association between primary payer status and PSI in this population. Study Design A retrospective cohort study was carried out. Patient Sample The sample comprised all adult patients aged 18 years and older who were included in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) that underwent lumbar fusion from 1998 to 2011. Outcome Measure The incidence of one or more PSI, a validated and widely used metric of inpatient health-care quality and patient safety, was the primary outcome variable. Methods The NIS data were examined for all cases of inpatient lumbar fusion from 1998 to 2011. The incidence of adverse patient safety events (PSI) was determined using publicly available lists of the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis codes. Logistic regression models were used to determine the association between primary payer status (Medicaid and self-pay relative to private insurance) and the incidence of PSI. Results A total of 539,172 adult lumbar fusion procedures were recorded in the NIS from 1998 to 2011. Patients were excluded from the secondary analysis if “other” or “missing” was listed for primary insurance status. The national incidence of PSI was calculated to be 2,445 per 100,000 patient years of observation, or approximately 2.5%. In a secondary analysis, after adjusting for patient demographics and hospital characteristics, Medicaid and self-pay patients had significantly greater odds of experiencing one or more PSI during the inpatient episode relative to privately insured patients (odds ratio 1.16, 95% confidence interval 1.07–1.27). Conclusions Among patients undergoing inpatient lumbar fusion, insurance status is associated with the adverse health-care quality events used to determine hospital reimbursement by the CMS. The source of this disparity must be studied to improve the quality of care delivered to vulnerable patient populations.
Minimally Invasive Treatment of Raynaud Phenomenon: The Role of Botulinum Type A

Although the mechanism is unknown, Btx-A injection may be an effective, localized, nonsurgical treatment option without addictive properties or systemic side effects for the treatment of ischemic digits. Clinical research supports the safety and efficacy of injection of Btx-A for the treatment of Raynaud phenomenon.
From affect to control: Functional specialization of the insula in motivation and regulation

The insula plays a key role in a wide range of brain processes, from viscerosensation and pain to motivation, emotion, and cognitive control. While human neuroimaging studies in all these domains report activations in the insula, little systematic attention is paid to anatomical subdivisions that may provide the basis for functional sub-regions. We conducted a meta-analysis of insular tasks across studies in four domains: emotion, pain, attention switching, and working memory. Using a priori subdivision of the insula based on anatomical studies, we provide evidence that different sub-regions are preferentially activated in different tasks. We suggest that the ventral anterior insula is most important for core affect, a term that describes broadly-tuned motivational states (e.g., excitement) with associated subjective feelings. The dorsal anterior insula, by contrast, may be critical for developing and updating motivational states with specific associated actions (i.e., goals). This region is activated by cognitive control tasks, pain, and some tasks that elicit affective processing. The posterior insula, including SII and portions of parietal operculum, is distinctly activated by pain, providing a double dissociation between pain and tasks that elicit emotions.
Values that Fathers Communicate to Sons about Sex, Sexuality, Relationships, and Marriage

African American males between ages 13 and 24 are disproportionately affected by unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV/AIDS; indeed, they account for 50% of HIV infections among all youth. Clear communication between parents and their youth about sex is associated with higher rates of sexual abstinence, condom use, and intent to delay initiation of sexual intercourse, which can prevent STIs and unintended pregnancy. However, barriers exist for parents to educate their youth about sexual health. The purpose of this article is to explore the values fathers communicate to their sons to prevent their risky sexual behaviors that lead to STIs, HIV, and adolescent parenthood. This was a qualitative study conducted from May and June 2015. African American fathers (N = 29) who had sons, ages 10 to 15 years, participated in five focus groups across metropolitan and rural North Carolina communities in barbershops. A qualitative content analysis revealed four themes regarding areas that fathers imparted their values onto their sons to protect them from sexual health risks: (a) sex, (b) sexuality, (c) relationships, and (d) marriage. The findings have implications for social work and public health practice.
Value of lymph node positivity in treatment planning for early stage pancreatic cancer

Background Multimodal therapy is recommended for early stage pancreatic cancer, although whether all patients benefit and the optimal timing of chemotherapy remain unclear. Methods Retrospective cohort study of patients aged 18–79 years with stage I-II pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in the National Cancer Database (2004–2012). Patients were grouped based on treatment strategy as surgery only, adjuvant, and preoperative. Accuracy of nodal staging and rate of nodal downstaging were ascertained using pretreatment clinical and postresection pathologic nodal status data. Association between overall risk of death and treatment strategy was evaluated with multivariable Cox regression. Results Among 19,031 patients, 31.1% underwent surgery only, 59.6% received adjuvant, and 9.3% preoperative therapy. Based on patients receiving upfront surgery, clinical nodal staging bore sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 46.2%, 95.7%, 95.1%, and 49.8%, respectively. Preoperative therapy downstaged 38% of cN1 patients to ypN0; 5-year overall survival for this group was 27.2% vs 12.3% for ypN1 patients ( P Conclusion Our data provide strong support for preoperative chemotherapy for patients with node-positive pancreatic cancer, one third of whom may be downstaged. Among those with seemingly node-negative disease, half will be understaged with current clinical staging modalities. These results should be considered when planning treatment for patients with early stage pancreatic cancer.