cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pragmatic development during study abroad: L2 intensifiers in spoken Spanish

Abstract The current investigation examined the development of second language (L2) intensifier use in spoken Spanish over a 6-week immersion program in Madrid (n = 45). Native Spanish speakers from Madrid (n = 10) served as a comparison group to represent the local ambient input or sociopragmatic norm to which L2 learners were exposed. Data were extracted from semi-structured interviews. Results exposed different developmental trends over the program for intensifier frequency, intensifier lexical diversity, and intensifier collocations. While learners already had a strong sense of which intensifiers were most frequent in Spanish and how to use them in appropriate linguistic environments at the beginning of the program, the immersion program had positive impacts on the development of intensifier frequency and intensifier lexical diversity. The findings also highlighted different intensifier frequency developmental trends among learners, which collectively suggested that learners adjusted to the sociopragmatic norm of intensifier use in Madrid over the immersion experience.
Efficacy and Safety of Nonvitamin K Oral Anticoagulants following Cardiac Valve Replacement.

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of nonvitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) and vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) following bioprosthetic cardiac valve replacement. Methods This was a retrospective analysis conducted at a community teaching hospital in the southeastern United States between August 2015 and August 2018. Patients 18 years of age and older who underwent cardiac valve replacement and were prescribed oral anticoagulation were screened for inclusion. Patients were excluded if they had a mechanical valve replacement, experienced a venous thromboembolism, cerebrovascular accident, or acute coronary syndrome within 1 month before valve replacement, changed oral anticoagulation during the study period, were lost to follow-up, or declined to participate in the follow-up survey. The primary outcome was a composite of thromboembolic events within 90 days following bioprosthetic cardiac valve replacement. The safety outcome was major bleeding within 180 days of bioprosthetic cardiac valve replacement. Results The primary outcome of a composite of thromboembolic events within 90 days following bioprosthetic cardiac valve replacement occurred in 1 patient (4.3%) in the VKA group and 4 patients (7.4%) in the NOAC group. Major bleeding occurred in 2 patients (8.7%) in the VKA group and 0 patients in the NOAC group. Conclusion Our study is the first to report the efficacy and safety of NOACs compared with VKA therapy following bioprosthetic cardiac valve replacement irrespective of an atrial fibrillation diagnosis. Notably, two of the thromboembolic events in the NOAC group occurred while therapy was held or inappropriately dosed; when these events are removed, the rate of thromboembolism is 3.8%. This rate is consistent with the VKA group. Our study adds to a small pool of literature regarding the use of NOACs following bioprosthetic cardiac valve replacement and suggests that NOACs may have similar efficacy and improved safety as compared with VKA therapy. Large randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm our observations.
Approximation of Functions in Besov Space

In the present paper, we establish a theorem on best approximation of a function g ∈ Bqλ(Lr) of its Fourier series. Our main theorem generalizes some known results of this direction of work. Thus, the results of [10], [26] and [27] become the particular case of our main Theorem 3.1.
A tree based approach for multi-class classification of surgical procedures using structured and unstructured data.

BACKGROUND In surgical department, CPT code assignment has been a complicated manual human effort, that entails significant related knowledge and experience. While there are several studies using CPTs to make predictions in surgical services, literature on predicting CPTs in surgical and other services using text features is very sparse. This study improves the prediction of CPTs by the means of informative features and a novel re-prioritization algorithm. METHODS The input data used in this study is composed of both structured and unstructured data. The ground truth labels (CPTs) are obtained from medical coding databases using relative value units which indicates the major operational procedures in each surgery case. In the modeling process, we first utilize Random Forest multi-class classification model to predict the CPT codes. Second, we extract the key information such as label probabilities, feature importance measures, and medical term frequency. Then, the indicated factors are used in a novel algorithm to rearrange the alternative CPT codes in the list of potential candidates based on the calculated weights. RESULTS To evaluate the performance of both phases, prediction and complementary improvement, we report the accuracy scores of multi-class CPT prediction tasks for datasets of 5 key surgery case specialities. The Random Forest model performs the classification task with 74-76% when predicting the primary CPT (accuracy@1) versus the CPT set (accuracy@2) with respect to two filtering conditions on CPT codes. The complementary algorithm improves the results from initial step by 8% on average. Furthermore, the incorporated text features enhanced the quality of the output by 20-35%. The model outperforms the state-of-the-art neural network model with respect to accuracy, precision and recall. CONCLUSIONS We have established a robust framework based on a decision tree predictive model. We predict the surgical codes more accurately and robust compared to the state-of-the-art deep neural structures which can help immensely in both surgery billing and scheduling purposes in such units.
Is New Product Development Impacted by the Manager’s Gender? The Case of Motion Pictures

The authors examine differences in movies directed by men versus women. Drawing from a broad sample of almost 5,000 movies, the authors conduct an in-depth thematic variation analysis, and also explore the differences in movies directed by men versus women by examining budgets, film length, and product quality. Results indicate that while men direct longer, higher budget movies that receive wider distribution, the differences in movie quality ratings are insignificant, suggesting that women directors may be more cost efficient in generating quality outcomes. While women directors are more likely to focus on genres that rely on the quality of the dialog and creativity (e.g., dramas and musicals), men are more likely to direct projects that rely on technical execution and special effects.
Eliciting Explanatory Models to Facilitate Improved Communication in Complex Patient Care

To navigate a difficult conversation with cultural and language barriers, Koutsouras, Eastwood, and Krishnamurthy (2021) rely on two interpreters and empathy to guide Mr. T’s family through a diffi...
Adherence Reduction of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli Strains to HEp-2 Cells by Mannan Oligosaccharides and a High-Molecular-Weight Component of Cranberry Extract.

Campylobacter infections are a leading cause of human bacterial gastroenteritis in the United States and are a major cause of diarrheal disease throughout the world. Colonization and subsequent infection and invasion of Campylobacter require that the bacteria adhere to the surface of host cells. Agents that inhibit adherence could be used prophylactically to reduce Campylobacter carriage and infection. Mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) have been used as a feed supplement in livestock animals to improve performance and to replace growth-promoting antibiotics. However, MOS and other nondigestible oligosaccharides may also prevent pathogen colonization by inhibiting adherence in the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, plant extracts, including those derived from cranberries, have been shown to have antiadherence activity against pathogens. The goal of this study was to assess the ability of MOS and cranberry fractions to serve as antiadherence agents against strains of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter col...
Ionosphere response to recurrent geomagnetic activity in 1974

[1] The 9 day variation of Earth's thermosphere neutral density in 2005 and 2006 is known to have been influenced by rotating solar coronal holes and the quasiperiodic solar wind high-speed streams (HSSs) and by the concomitant recurrent geomagnetic activity that they induce. The corresponding responses in ion temperature, ionospheric electron density, and total electron content have also been reported during the same period. In 1974, a significant 13.5 day periodicity in geomagnetic activity was created by the quasiperiodic HSS associated with two major solar coronal hole regions separated by about 180°. In the present paper, ionospheric F-region peak plasma density (NmF2) and height (hmF2) in the daytime and nighttime from 12 ionosonde stations are analyzed to delineate the responses to this epoch of HSS forcing of the geospace system. Results show that the ionospheric responses to this 13.5 day periodic forcing are similar in some ways to responses to the 9 day periodicity. For instance, in middle and high latitudes, daytime and nighttime NmF2 is mostly out of phase with the fluctuations in the daily mean Kp index ( Kp¯), while the daytime hmF2 are in phase with the Kp¯ fluctuations. Empirical model results confirm the important role of thermal expansion in connecting thermospheric and ionospheric changes driven by high-speed streams and recurrent geomagnetic activity. At low latitudes, the 13.5 day signatures are not as straightforward as those at middle and high latitudes, and significant spectral energy thought to be connected with planetary waves and perhaps other lower-atmosphere influences exists at periods of less than 13.5 days.
A polygonal line algorithm based nonlinear feature extraction method

We propose a polygonal line based principal curve algorithm for nonlinear feature extraction, in which the nonlinearities among the multivariable data can be described by a set of local linear models. The proposed algorithm integrates the linear PCA approach with the polygonal line algorithm to represent complicated nonlinear data structure. Statistical redundancy elimination for high dimensional data is also discussed for describing the underlying principal curves without much loss of information among the original data sets. The polygonal line algorithm can produce robust and accurate nonlinear curve estimation for different multivariate data types, and it is helpful in reducing the computation complexity for existing principal curve approaches when the sample size is large.
Dual‐Pump Support in the Inferior and Superior Vena Cavae of a Patient‐Specific Fontan Physiology

The implementation of simultaneous mechanical cavopulmonary assistance having blood pumps located in both of the vena cavae is investigated as an approach to treating patients with an ailing Fontan physiology. Identical intravascular blood pumps are employed to model the hemodynamic support of a patient-specific Fontan. Pressure flow characteristics, energy gain calculations, and blood damage analyses are assessed for each model. The performance of the dual-support scenario is compared to conditions of mechanical support in the inferior vena cava only and to a nonsupported cavopulmonary circuit. The blood pump in the superior vena cava generates pressures ranging from 1 to 22 mm Hg for flow rates of 1-4 L/min at operating speeds of 1250-2500 rpm. The blood pump in the inferior vena cava produces pressures at levels approximately 20% lower. The blood pumps positively augment the hydraulic energy in the total cavopulmonary connection circuit as a function of flow rate and rotational speed. Scalar stress levels and fluid residence times are at acceptable levels. Damage indices for the dual-support case, however, are elevated slightly above 3.5%. These results suggest that concurrent, mechanical assistance of the inferior vena cava and superior vena cava in Fontan patients has the potential to be beneficial, but additional studies are needed to further explore this approach.
Non-invasive Derivation of 3D Systolic Nonlinear Wall Stress in a Biventricular Model from Tagged MRI

We present a nonlinear finite element method to calculate the local myocardial wall stress in a reconstructed biventricular MRI model. Nonlinear formulations are utilized in order to describe the ventricular large deformation. Using incremental force computation, a dynamic model showing the change of myocardium wall stress during systolic contraction was established. The preliminary results show that in the normal human heart the local stress increases by a factor of 104 from the end of diastole to the end of systole. Furthermore, during the systolic process the left ventricle develops three times more inner wall stress than the right ventricle, and the peak inner wall stress areas in both ventricles are located at the apex.
Correlation between Dynamics and Atomic Structures in Cu-Zr Metallic Glasses

The atomic structures of metallic glasses (MGs) are very sensitive to the cooling rates. Most molecular dynamics (MD) simulations suffer from the ultrahigh cooling rates on the order of 1010–13 K/s, where the as-prepared models are hardly given enough time to relax. In this work, an extended sub-T g annealing up to 1.8 µs was applied to a Cu64.5Zr35.5 MG in order to reduce the effect of the high cooling rate used in MD simulations. The effective cooling rate after the sub-T g annealing is derived to be 2×108 K/s, which is about two orders of magnitude lower than the cooling rates used in conventional MD simulations. The icosahedral short-range order and the Bergman-type medium range order (BMRO) are significantly enhanced after the annealing. The interpenetrating, face-, edge- and vertex-sharing schemes of connections among icosahedra are found to be enhanced after annealing. The network formed by the interpenetrated ICO centers clearly shows a transition from string-like to star-like in morphology. The diffusing atoms are found to be outside icosahedral SRO and BMRO for most of the simulation time. Our result supports the scenario that there are both liquid- and solid-like regions in MGs. The solid-like regions form the backbone while the liquid-like regions provide diffusion channels of the glassy structure.
Concurrency Control in a Secure Multilevel Database via a Two-Snapshot Algorithm

We offer a concurrency conirol algorithm for replicated, secure, multilevel databases. We compare the algorithm with a multiversion approach and with the typical full-replication approach. In the full-replication approach, each security level maintains a container that holds a complete copy of data at lower security levels. In the approach described here, access to data at lower security levels is through shared, read-only snapshots, where a constant number of snapshots at each level  two, as it turns out  is sufficient. We derive necessary properties for snapshots, give a switching algorithm to assign read-downs to snapshots, specify a snapshot creation algorithm, demonstrate that the approach is free of indirect channels and starvation, and prove one-copy serializability on execution histories. In contrast to some comparable algorithms, our algorithm is correct for any security structure that is a partial order.
The cellular polypeptide p57 (pyrimidine tract-binding protein) binds to multiple sites in the poliovirus 5' nontranslated region.

Abstract Initiation of translation of poliovirus RNA by ribosomal entry into an internal segment of the 742-nucleotide (nt)-long 5' nontranslated region involves trans-acting factors, including p57, a 57-kDa polypeptide which has been identified as the pyrimidine tract-binding protein (PTB). A UV cross-linking assay was used to compare the RNA-binding properties of the p57 present in various mammalian cytoplasmic extracts with those of purified murine p57 and recombinant human PTB. Three noncontiguous p57-binding sites were located within the poliovirus 5' nontranslated region, between nt 70 and 288, and 443 and 539 (domain V), and 630 and 730. With the same assay, a novel 34-kDa polypeptide was identified that bound nt 1 to 629 specifically. A single A-->G substitution of nt 480 which attenuates poliovirus did not alter UV cross-linking of p57 to domain V. Although UV cross-linking of p57 to the internal ribosome entry site was specifically reduced by competition with poly(U) but not by competition with poly(C), poly(G), and poly(A) homoribopolymers, the presence of a polyuridine tract was not a sufficient determinant for binding of RNA to the p57 present in cytoplasmic extracts, nor was the polypyrimidine tract downstream of domain V necessary for binding to this site.
Influence of social networking site and user access method on social media evaluation

The Internet has expanded rapidly and shifted from being solely an information access tool to being an interaction tool used by individuals to discover and share content, opinions, and information. To develop information connections, individuals are using a variety of technologies to access content and join virtual communities on various social networking sites. Of interest to researchers and organizations is the individuals’ perception of social networking sites using the identified dimensions of ease-of-use, usefulness, information quality, feeling, and usage intention. In this Web-based study, 226 participants from a professional discussion group provided information regarding their perceptions of social networking sites and access tool usage. The differences in these perceptions based upon the various access methods and various social networking tools are analyzed and reported. The results from simple main effect tests showed that differences exist in both access methods and social networking tool usage. The usage patterns based upon the access methods can have an impact on the usage behavior of social network sites. High-usage groups have the highest mean values for the perception dimension of ease-of-use for both access method and social networking sites. This suggests that organizations should accommodate and energize mobile users and design changes to their social networking sites to facilitate interaction and information sharing. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Epidural Blood Patch in Leukemia Patient: A Case Report

Objective We present a case of a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) undergoing an epidural blood patch (EBP) for post-puncture dural headaches despite the risks of spreading cancer cells to the epidural space. Setting and Patient A 46-year-old male with a history of adult T-cell ALL presented with persistent positional headache and neutropenic fever 2 weeks after receiving multiple intrathecal methotrexate treatments. His symptoms were consistent with post-dural puncture headache. The patient underwent an EBP and experienced complete pain relief following the procedure. He had no evidence of central nervous system involvement of ALL on his last evaluation 3 months following the blood patch. Conclusion Post-dural puncture headache due to intrathecal administration of chemotherapy agents becomes increasingly recognized, and there are an increasing number of requests to anesthesiologists for EBP. A major concern in the patient population with hematological malignancies is the possibility of neuroaxial seeding of malignancies. Therein, flow cytometry was implemented to screen for blast cells in the circulating blood. Careful analysis and minimization of this potential risk is required to ensure the safety of the EBP in this specific patient population.
Student-defined needs during interprofessional learning: The role of faculty as facilitators

A limited theoretical foundation informs how faculty should facilitate interprofessional learning. This exploratory study sought to examine student needs for faculty facilitation in interprofessional learning. Qualitative methods were used to analyze the reflections of six health professions students who participated in an interprofessional quality improvement experience. Findings revealed essential moments for team formation and team performance. We described these moments as ‘critical junctures’. Some critical junctures could be predicted while others emerged from the work of the team. During these critical junctures, faculty members have important roles supporting interprofessional learning and team progress. Based on these findings, we propose a framework for faculty facilitation of interprofessional learning. Faculty, as individuals seeking to bridge two or more disciplines and encourage exchange of information, should act at critical junctures to guide experiential, interprofessional learning. This model may be useful for defining the role of faculty across other interprofessional learning contexts as well.
Patient preferences and health disparities.

Preference-based care is transforming the patient-clinician relationship. In a traditional management model physicians make treatment decisions, while in the preference-based paradigm patients choose the treatments that best conform to their values. The preference model fulfills a fundamental tenet of high-quality care—that the patient should be involved in decisions concerning the care process. In addition to respecting patient preferences, another key health care priority is the elimination of well-documented racial, ethnic, and sex disparities in use of health care resources. While preference-based care and health care disparities have received considerable attention over the last decade, there has been limited inquiry into how these issues relate to each other. Moreover, it is possible that preference-based care may reinforce the very inequities and disparities that health care policy makers have pledged to remedy.
A Physical Model for Metallic Glass Structures: An Introduction and Update

For many years, the atomic structure of metallic glasses eluded a simple physical description. Inspired by the efficient filling of space with atoms of different sizes, a model has been developed by constructing efficiently packed atomic clusters and then efficiently filling space with these clusters. This model gives a simple physical picture of the origin of short-range and medium-range order in metallic glasses, and also gives quantitative agreement with measurements that span length scales from nearest-neighbor atoms to global properties. A brief outline of the development and application of the efficient cluster packing model is given. Recent modifications to this model and remaining questions that form the basis of continued work are described.
Age-dependent changes in cat masseter nerve: an electrophysiological and morphological study

The present study was undertaken to determine the manner in which aging affects the function and structure of the masseter nerve in old cats. Electrophysiological data demonstrated a significant decrease in the conduction velocity of the action potential in old cats compared with that observed in adult cats. Light microscopic analyses revealed an age-dependent decrease in axon diameter. Electron microscopic observations of the masseter nerve in the aged cats revealed a disruption of the myelin sheaths and a pronounced increase in collagen fibers in the endoneurium and perineurium. These morphological changes are discussed and then related to the decrease in conduction velocity which was observed in the electrophysiological portion of this study.
Recent enhancements in MCNPX: Heavy-ion transport and the LAQGSM physics model

Abstract Calculations involving the transport of energetic heavy ions have recently received more attention from projects such as the Rare Isotope Accelerator (RIA) and from areas such as space radiation shielding. In these areas, the transport and reactions must be calculated for heavy ions such as 56Fe or 238U traveling at energies of ⩾1 GeV/nucleon. To serve these needs, recent upgrades to the particle transport code MCNPX have expanded the previously useful ion transport capability from a small suite of light ions (deuterons, tritons, 3He, and alpha particles) to a nearly complete list of those heavy and light ions that span the Table of Isotopes. To enable nuclear spallation from energetic collisions of these ions and targets, the LAQGSM physics model has been integrated into the MCNPX code. This physics model supplements the existing physics models already contained in the code, only one of which, ISABEL, could handle heavy-ion collisions (and then only over a limited range of masses and energies). The implementation of these new features now greatly expands the usefulness of MCNPX in energetic ion transport. The heavy-ion transport feature also allows the transport of residuals from all nuclear reactions that occur in the physics model regime, even when initiated by non-heavy ions. The implementation and use of heavy ions in MCNPX is explained. Also, computations with MCNPX are compared with benchmark experiments to show agreement with results.
A fluorometric method for measuring ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase activity by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography.

Abstract A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method that uses an on-line change in the protonation state of the nonfluorescent product to yield a fluorescent derivative that is detected by fluorometry was developed for the determination of 7-ethoxycoumarin O -deethylase activity. Tissue samples (1–20 μg protein) were incubated with 7-ethoxycoumarin, and 7-hydroxycoumarin metabolite was extracted in chloroform. Following drying under nitrogen, the extract was resuspended in methanol (10–100 μl) and an aliquot of 5–20 μl was directly injected into a C8 Nova-Pak column. Isocratic separation of hydroxycoumarin was achieved using a mobile phase consisting of methanol: 1% acetic acid, 35:65, v/v, pH 3.5, at a flow rate of 1 ml/min. Following chromatographic separation, samples were derivatized with 1.0 n NaOH prior to fluorescent measurements. The detection limit for 7-hydroxycoumarin was less than 1 pmol, with a mean recovery from the incubates of 96.4 ± 2.3%. This HPLC—fluorometric method was linear up to at least 400 pmol of 7-hydroxycoumarin and could accurately detect metabolite formation in incubates containing control liver microsomes with less than 0.05 μg total protein. The method also allowed determinations of cytochrome P450-dependent function in extrahepatic tissues of rats, including individual segments of gastrointestinal epithelium and brain, as well as in cultured cells, such as HepG2 cells, in which microsomal protein yield is very small. The wide range of linearity afforded by this method allows a reliable estimation of cytochrome P450-dependent function in samples containing varying concentrations of protein.
iWARP: Anatomy of a Parallel Computing System

iWarp overview logical channels pathways the processing agent the iWarp parallel system program development tool chain compilers runtime system communication styles communication operations applications iWarp project evolution of systolic computers instruction summary - system summary.
Short-term syntax learning and generalization effects

Two language therapy procedures - a structured, repetitive drill approach, and a story-based question and answer approach — were used to teach is and are to four language-impaired children aged 4;4 to 6;3, over a four-week period. Effectiveness was measured by three methods: within-therapy data, structured probe data, and at-home spontaneous probe data. While levels of correct productions were high in therapy, production on spontaneous probes remained low. Struc tured probe performance varied, but was generally substantially higher than spontaneous probe performance. Results indicate that syntax learning depends on how such learning is measured.
Dications of 3-phenyl-indenylidene dibenzo[a.d]cycloheptene: the role of charge in the antiaromaticity of cationic systems.

Dications of 9-(3-phenyl-1H-inden-1-ylidene)-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cycloheptene, 52+, were prepared by oxidation with SbF5 in SO2ClF, and their magnetic behavior was compared to dications of 9-(3-phenyl-1H-inden-1-ylidene)-9H-fluorene, 22+. The good correlation between the experimental 1H NMR shifts for the dications that were oxidized cleanly and the chemical shifts calculated by the GAIO method supported the use of the nucleus independent chemical shifts, NICS, to evaluate the antiaromaticity of the indenyl systems of 22+/52+ and their unsubstituted parent compounds, 62+ and 72+, as well as the antiaromaticity of the fluorenyl system of 22+/72+ and the aromaticity of the dibenzotropylium system of 52+/62+. Antiaromaticity was shown to be directly related to the amount of charge in the antiaromatic systems, with the antiaromatic systems more responsive to changes in the calculated NBO charge than the aromatic systems. The antiaromaticity was also shown to be directly related to the amount of delocalization in t...
Eisenhower: Turning Himself Toward Peace

In the months immediately following the end of World War II, General Dwight D. Eisenhower gave many speeches in which he bestowed symbolic meaning on the war and the ensuing peace. He urged a continuing struggle to protect civilization and achieve lasting global peace. These speeches were designed to boost the interests of the U.S. Army and the liberal internationalist elite. To this end, Eisenhower used several different concepts of peace, all rooted in his own religious ideology. All of them spoke of peace as order and stability, but all implied that civilization's war against disorder could never end. Therefore Eisenhower developed a new image of peace as a precarious order endlessly struggling to save itself from chaos. This was the image of peace he would employ as president, reshaping U.S. cold war discourse.
Distribution of uranium, plutonium, and 241Am in soil samples from Idaho National Laboratory

Soil materials used were collected in the early 1970s at Idaho National Laboratory near the Subsurface Disposal Area (SDA). Samples from a depth of 0–4 and 4–8 cm at two different sites located on the northeast corner of the SDA perimeter were analyzed. The concentration of 234U, 235U, 236U, and 238U in soil digests were measured by mass spectrometry. Uranium isotopic composition of the soil at the two sample sites and depths is compared to previously measured concentrations of 238Pu, 239Pu, 240Pu, 241Pu, and 241Am. Implications for remediation of contaminated soils surrounding the SDA are discussed.
The PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Scale in young adults: feasibility, reliability and validity in a University student population.

The PedsQL™ (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™) is a modular instrument designed to measure health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and disease-specific symptoms in children and adolescents ages 2–18. The PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale was designed as a generic symptom-specific instrument to measure fatigue in pediatric patients ages 2–18. Since a sizeable number of pediatric patients prefer to remain with their pediatric providers after age 18, the objective of the present study was to determine the feasibility, reliability, and validity of the PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale in young adults. The 18-item PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale (General Fatigue, Sleep/Rest Fatigue, and Cognitive Fatigue domains), the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales Young Adult Version, and the SF-8™ Health Survey were completed by 423 university students ages 18–25. The PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale evidenced minimal missing responses, achieved excellent reliability for the Total Scale Score (α = 0.90), distinguished between healthy young adults and young adults with chronic health conditions, was significantly correlated with the relevant PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales and the SF-8™ standardized scores, and demonstrated a factor-derived structure largely consistent with the a priori conceptual model. The results demonstrate the measurement properties of the PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale in a convenience sample of young adult university students. The findings suggest that the PedsQL™ Multidimensional Fatigue Scale may be utilized in the evaluation of fatigue for a broad age range.
Oxidative stress differentially modulates phosphorylation of ERK, p38 and CREB induced by NGF or EGF in PC12 cells☆ ☆

Abstract This study assessed if oxidative stress induced by treatment of PC12 cells with H2O2 modulated signaling cascades induced by nerve growth factor (NGF) or epidermal growth factor (EGF) because oxidative stress and impaired growth factor function are associated with aging and aging-associated diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and of p38 kinase was rapidly increased after treatment with NGF, EGF, or H2O2, with NGF causing more prolonged increases than the other agents. Pretreatment with H2O2 did not alter phosphorylation of ERK1/2 induced by either growth factor, but increased the phosphorylation of p38 kinase induced by treatment with NGF or EGF alone. CREB phosphorylation at SER 133 was rapidly increased by treatment with either NGF or EGF. Pretreatment with H2O2 reduced CREB phosphorylation induced by either growth factor. This seemed to be a direct effect because H2O2 also inhibited CREB phosphorylation induced by the adenylyl cyclase stimulator forskolin. These results demonstrate that oxidative stress can differentially modulate growth factor-initiated signaling cascades. Furthermore, because CREB is an evolutionarily preserved protein involved in the formation of long term memory, these results indicate a new target of oxidative stress that may be important in disorders involving impaired memory, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Evaluation of static liquefaction potential of silty sand slopes

The mechanism of instability in granular soils is explained and its requirement as a forerunner to the liquefaction of level or sloping ground is described. Case histories support the observation t...
Retinoic acids increase expression of GLUT4 in dedifferentiated and hypertrophied cardiac myocytes

Sufficient expression of the insulin-sensitive glucose transporter GLUT4 may be crucial for the survival of cardiac myocytes in situations of stress. Expression of GLUT4 in cardiac myocytes correlates with cell differentiation and is reduced in the hypertrophied and failing myocardium. Adult rat cardiomyocytes (ARC) in primary culture undergo dedifferentiation and reduction of GLUT4 expression. Depending on the culture condition partial redifferentiation and/or hypertrophy follows. All-trans (at) and 9-cis retinoic acids (RA) are morphogenetic agents important for cell differentiation. Both atRA and 9-cisRA restored GLUT4 expression in dedifferentiated ARC, while only 9-cisRA could increase GLUT4 expression in hypertrophic ARC. The effects of RA were associated with improved differentiation of the cardiac myocytes, as assessed from the expression of atrial natriuretic factor and the morphology of the contractile apparatus. In neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, 9-cisRA, but not atRA, stimulated transcription from the glut4 promoter. In conclusion, treatment with RA can restore the down-regulated expression of GLUT4 in cardiomyocytes in association with a partial improvement of the differentiated phenotype.
Heterogeneity of CYP3A isoforms metabolizing erythromycin and cortisol.

The N-demethylation of erythromycin and 6β-hydroxylation of Cortisol are both functions of the glucocorticoid-inducible CYP3A in human liver microsomes. To determine whether 6β-hydroxylation and erythromycin N-demethylation are catalyzed by similar or distinct CYP3A isoforms, erythromycin N-demethylase activity, as reflected by the recently described 14[C]-erythromycin breath test, was compared with urinary 6β-hydroxycortisol/cortisol ratios, a measure of Cortisol 6β-hydroxylase activity, in nine patients. Erythromycin N-demethylation varied fourfold and 6β-hydroxycortisol/cortisol ratios varied sevenfold among the subjects; no correlation was found between these activities (r2 = 0.065). New noninvasive tests of CYP3A strongly suggest Cortisol 6β-hydroxylation and erythromycin N-demethylation are performed by distinct CYP3A isoforms. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1992) 51, 18–23; doi:10.1038/clpt.1992.3
Pentoxifylline, pentifylline, and interferons decrease type I and III procollagen mRNA levels in dermal fibroblasts: evidence for mediation by nuclear factor 1 down-regulation.

Pentoxifylline (PTX) is a methylxanthine that exhibits multiple biologic activities, Including the inhibition of collagen synthesis by dermal fibroblasts, Because some PTX activities have recently been linked to transcription factor-mediated regulation of gene transcription, we have investigated if PTX acts to inhibit collagen synthesis at a transcriptional locus by measuring procollagen mRNA levels and by assaying for the presence of an activator of procollagen gene promoters, nuclear factor (NF)-1 The effects of another methylxanthine, pentifylline (PTF), shown herein to be a tenfold more potent inhibitor of collagen synthesis than PTX, and interferon-&, -β, and -γ were studied in parallel. Analysis of extracellular protein and RNA from 48-h-treated fibroblasts showed that PTX, PTF, and interferons decreased α1(I), α2(I), and α1(III) procollagens by reducing the steady-state levels of the corresponding procollagen mRNA transcripts. Reduction of procollagen mRNA levels appeared to be dependent on new protein synthesis, as it was prevented by treatment with cycloheximide. Assay for the presence of nuclear NF-1 by gel mobility shift analysis showed that extracts from interferon, PTX, and PTF-treated fibroblasts lacked proteins recognizing the consensus DNA binding sequence for NF-1. Taken together, these observations suggest interferons and methylxanthines may inhibit fibroblast collagen synthesis by a common mechanism requiring new protein synthesis that suppresses procollagen gene transcription through down-regulation of NF-1.
A study of protein secondary structure by Fourier transform infrared/photoacoustic spectroscopy and its application for recombinant proteins.

FT-IR/PAS (Fourier transform infrared/photoacoustic spectroscopy) was used to evaluate the secondary structure of proteins. Four well-studied proteins, concanavalin A, hemoglobin, lysozyme, and trypsin, which have different distributions of secondary structures, were used for assignments of the infrared bands and evaluating the accuracy of FT-IR/PAS methods. Secondary structure contents estimated from FT-IR/PAS and other physical methods (e.g., X-ray diffraction, CD, and traditional FT-IR) show good agreement. In addition, the secondary structure can be evaluated with as little as 0.5 micrograms of protein (concanavalin A), suggesting that FT-IR/PAS is a sensitive and useful technique that could be applied to studies of the folding of recombinant and mutant proteins where only small amounts of material are available. Recombinant phosphorylase kinase gamma 1-300 subunit expressed in Escherichia coli was found in the inclusion bodies. We found that renatured phosphorylase kinase gamma 1-300 subunit has two kinase forms: one has a 10-fold higher activity than the other one. Both fractions, however, are the same as judged from sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Differences in conformation were demonstrated by using the FT-IR/PAS method, which showed that the low-activity form has more beta-sheet structure than the form with high activity. Analysis of these kinase forms by CD confirms the interpretation made by the FT-IR/PAS method.
Embedded floating-point units in FPGAs

Due to their generic and highly programmable nature, FPGAs provide the ability to implement a wide range of applications. However, it is this nonspecific nature that has limited the use of FPGAs in scientific applications that require floating-point arithmetic. Even simple floating-point operations consume a large amount of computational resources. In this paper, we introduce embedding floating-point multiply-add units in an island style FPGA. This has shown to have an average area savings of 55.0% and an average increase of 40.7% in clock rate over existing architectures.
Immunocompetence and prognosis in patients with gynecologic cancer

Abstract An increasing amount of evidence now provides a firm basis for the concept that there is significant relationship between immunological capacity and human neoplastic disease. The presence of human tumor-associated antigens and the ability of the immunologically competent host to respond to them is well documented. Recent studies have indicated a correlation between the cell-mediated component of the immune system and clinical prognosis. Furthermore, the delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity reaction as demonstrated by reactivity to common skin antigens and contact allergens, has proved to be an excellent in vivo correlate of cell-mediated immunity. One hundred and twenty-five patients with various gynecologic cancers were studied using a battery of skin-test antigens and a contact allergen. It was found that those patients capable of displaying a normal delayed hypersensitivity reaction to standard skin test antigens and to DNFB (dinitrofluorobenzene) do indeed have a better prognosis, whereas, those who are anergic or who exhibit impaired reactivity experience a poor response to therapy, with an increased incidence of recurrent disease, metastasis, and eventual early death. This study suggests that, while derangement of the immunological defense system is not unequivocally necessary for a cancer to flourish, it does strongly imply a common framework for the progression of the neoplastic process. Thus, this study supports the concept that there is a highly significant relationship between host cellular immunity and clinical course in the patient with a gynecologic cancer.
Pain in Cancer Survivors

Pain is a common problem in cancer survivors, especially in the first few years after treatment. In the longer term, approximately 5% to 10% of survivors have chronic severe pain that interferes with functioning. The prevalence is much higher in certain subpopulations, such as breast cancer survivors. All cancer treatment modalities have the potential to cause pain. Currently, the approach to managing pain in cancer survivors is similar to that for chronic cancer-related pain, pharmacotherapy being the principal treatment modality. Although it may be appropriate to continue strong opioids in survivors with moderate to severe pain, most pain problems in cancer survivors will not require them. Moreover, because more than 40% of cancer survivors now live longer than 10 years, there is growing concern about the long-term adverse effects of opioids and the risks of misuse, abuse, and overdose in the nonpatient population. As with chronic nonmalignant pain, multimodal interventions that incorporate nonpharmacol...
Enthalpy and entropy changes for the intercalation of small molecules to DNA. I: Substituted naphthalene monoimides and naphthalene diimides

Calorimetric studies have been performed on the intercalation of a series of nitro and amino substituted naphthalene monoimide cations to calf thymus DNA. For comparison, we also included in the study the unsubstituted naphthalene diimide dication. All of the substituted naphthalene monoimides formed dimers at the concentrations used in the calorimetric titrations, and dimerization constants for these compounds were derived from spectroscopic studies and used in calculating the ΔH parameters from the calorimetric data. The dimerization constants increase in the order 3-NO2MI=4-NO2MI>3-NH2MI>4-NH2MI. For the unsubstituted naphthalene monoimide and 3-NO2MI and 4-NO2MI, the ΔH parameters are within experimental error equal to that found for the naphthalene diimide, i.e., −4.3 kcal-mol−1. Thus, changes in entropy cause the K B for the diimide to be 40 times larger than that for the monoimide. This observation is consistent with the current electrostatic theory for counterion binding to DNA: a dication should cause the release of more counterions than a monocation and produce a more positive ΔS . For the amino substituted naphthalene monoimides, the K B values are similar to the other monoimides, but ΔH =−6.7 kcal-mol−1. We propose that a hydrogen bond is responsible for the unusual enthalpy and entropy effects seen for 3-NH2MI and 4-NH2MI.
Ideology and Public Health Elements of Human Settlement Policies in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract This paper employs town planning policies to suggest that ideology and not objective science or a genuine desire to promote development is at the root of development policies in African countries. It identifies and discusses four ideologies: indigenous elitism (pre-colonial era – 1884); European racism (colonial era, 1884–1960s); modernism (1960–1980s); and globalism (1990s–present); that have been at the root of public health elements of town planning in Africa since the pre-colonial era. With the exception of indigenous elitism, all the ideologies are alien to Africa. The problems associated with ideology as the basis of development policy are magnified when the ideology is of the imported variety than when it is native. Planners in Africa are advised to either ‘Africanize’ received health elements of planning policies—that is, endow such policies with relevant attributes of African culture—or adopt only those policies that already possess such attributes.
Securing Zion? Policing in British Palestine, 1917–39

The British period in Palestine (1917–48) was fundamentally shaped by the commitment to promote the Jewish National Home (JNH) as originally stated in the Balfour Declaration (1917). The extent that that commitment shaped public-security policy in Palestine is examined in this article. While the need to reduce costs and the desire for a civilian (rather than military) force also shaped policy, the government's JNH policy was the key determinant in public-security policy in Palestine. It meant the police was specifically configured to protect the Jewish population and there were always a disproportionate number of British personnel in the force. This became more pronounced as British rule progressed. Following deadly riots in 1929, the number of British police was tripled; with the inception of the Arab Revolt (1936–39) that number more than quadrupled. Moreover, during the Arab Revolt the British increasingly relied on members of the Jewish community to assist with their protection. The majority of these ...
Soot suppression by ferrocene in laminar ethylene / air nonpremixed flames

An experimental investigation is presented on the origin of the soot suppressing role of ferrocene additive in laminar, coannular, ethylene/air nonpremixed flames. The conditions examined involve laminar flames operating above and below their smoke point. In-flame diagnostics are employed to discern the interaction between the soot matrix and additive combustion products. The data presented in a previous study, as produced by thermophoretic sampling, transmission electron microscopy and high-resolution microanalysis techniques, are supplemented by soot volume fraction, temperature, and soot primary size measurements to unravel the mechanisms through which ferrocene combustion products influence soot formation processes. Furthermore, Z-contrast scanning/transmission electron microscopy is used to examine the over-fire aerosol and, in turn, provide insight on the fine-scale dispersion of iron fragments within the carbonaceous soot matrix. It is shown that ferrocene seeding of the fuel stream accelerates the particulate inception mechanisms, but does not influence soot loadings when soot growth is dominant. Ferrocene is also found to enhance soot oxidation rates near the flame terminus. It is concluded that the fine-scale incorporation of iron compounds within the soot matrix is a primary factor for the soot suppressing role of ferrocene in nonpremixed flames.