cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Subthreshold depressions: clinical and polysomnographic validation of dysthymic, residual and masked forms

We summarize clinical and polysomnographic findings in support of the existence of a broad and prevalent spectrum of less than syndromal or subthreshold depressive conditions that constitute subeffective disorders. Many of these conditions were previously subsumed under such rubrics as 'neurotic,' 'characterological,' and 'existential' depressions. Prospective follow-up studies of neurotic depressions (defined by a predominance of the psychological features of, in most instances, less than syndromal depression) have demonstrated their transformation into moderate to melancholic or psychotic depressive, and even bipolar, disorders. Many characterological depressives (outpatients with early insidious onset and fluctuating chronicity of subthreshold manifestations falling short of full syndromal depression), were shown to have shortened REM latency, increased REM%, redistribution of REM to the first part of the night, classic diurnality, high rates of family history for mood disorders, positive response to antidepressants and sleep deprivation, and prospective follow-up course leading to major affective episodes. Shortened REM latency and related sleep neurophysiological disturbances have also been reported to characterize so-called 'borderline' personality disorder even when examined in the absence of concomitant major depression. Finally, among primary care referrals to a sleep disorders center, short REM latency was found in a large number of patients without subjective mood change but with somatic manifestations of depression (meeting Probable Feighner Depression and/or lesser subacute manifestations). Rather than being incidental, the REM disturbances in the foregoing studies appear consistently on consecutive nights of polysomnography in the subthreshold affective group; this was not the case for patients with non-affective personality and anxiety disorders. The findings overall tend to support a common neurophysiological substrate for subthreshold and melancholic depressions and, interpreted in the context of clinical observations, family history and follow-up course, uphold the validity of dysthymic, intermittent and subsyndromal depressions.
Can short courses of systemic corticosteroids truly cause osteonecrosis

One of the most feared complications of long-term corticosteroid therapy is osteonecrosis (avascular necrosis, aseptic necrosis). There is, no doubt, a causal role for systemic corticosteroids inducing osteonecrosis with such chronic therapy. The controversy involves whether short-term (<1 month) courses of systemic corticosteroids can truly induce osteonecrosis. This article presents both the biologic basis and statistical support for why such short-term courses of systemic corticosteroids rarely, if ever, truly induce osteonecrosis. Data from two very large populations (renal transplantation and systemic lupus erythematosus) with overall increased risk for osteonecrosis are carefully examined in view of the aforementioned controversy.
Influence of Echocardiographic Scan Plane Location and Number on the Accuracy of Three-Dimensional Left Ventricular Volume and Shape Determination

Abstract Quantitative 3-dimensional (3-D) echocardiography provides accurate assessment of left ventricular (LV) volume, shape, and function, but depends on manual endocardial border tracing. This study determined the minimal number of borders that need to be traced to obtain an accurate analysis of not only the volume of the left ventricle but also its shape, using the integrated methods for quantitative 3-D echocardiography developed by our laboratory. Transthoracic 3-D echocardiographic studies were obtained in 9 normal subjects and 6 patients with heart disease by freehand scanning. The LV endocardium was manually traced in 17 ± 5 imaging planes and reconstructed in 3 dimensions. The volume and shape of each reconstruction were compared with values measured from surfaces reconstructed from 8 subsets containing 2 to 7 borders; each subset was acquired from different combinations of spatially distributed parasternal and apical views. Accurate measurements were obtained from data sets having ≥5 borders, regardless of whether the image planes were predominantly apical or parasternal views. In conclusion, the LV border should be traced in ≥5 imaging planes to obtain accurate measurements of volume and shape. The piecewise smooth reconstruction method and freehand scanning using a magnetic field tracing system allow the borders to be acquired from whatever combination of acoustic windows and views provides optimal image quality.
Dental complications during and after tracheal intubation.

A survey of hospitals and a review of one hospital were conducted to determine the nature and frequency of the complications. Methods used to prevent, injuries and policies used to manage this problem are presented. Surveyed were 133 directors of training programs in anesthesiology. The directors reported an average incidence of 1:1,000 dental injuries during or after 1,135,212 tracheal intubations in 1 year. A well-documented dental evaluation before delivery of anesthetics and appropriate precautions and protective devices during intubation will prevent most dental trauma related to the delivery of general anesthetics. Also, early use of dental and risk management services often will ensure timely resolution of such problems.
FEMTOSECOND TRANSIENT HOLE-BURNING DETECTION OF INTEREXCITON-STATE RADIATIONLESS DECAY IN ALLOPHYCOCYANIN TRIMERS

In its trimeric aggregation state, the phycobiliprotein allophycocyanin contains the simplest possible system, an isolated pair of chromophores, in which delocalized excited states can be studied. By moving the pump wavelength across allophycocyanin's ground-state absorption band, we have obtained femtosecond time-resolved pump−probe spectra that evidence interexciton-state radiationless decay from the upper exciton state and vibrational relaxation in the lower exciton state. Direct evidence for interexciton-state radiationless decay is taken from the initial appearance of photobleaching/stimulated-emission holes displaced to the red with respect to the pump-pulse spectrum. The holes broaden on the 120-fs time scale owing to intramolecular vibrational redistribution and transient solvation and shift to the red on the 230-fs time scale owing to vibrational equilibration and transient solvation. We show that vibrational relaxation in the lower exciton state contributes to the decay of a shoulder in the 590−...
The roles of thermal transient receptor potential channels in thermotactic behavior and in thermal acclimation in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum.

Abstract To survive in variable or fluctuating temperature, organisms should show appropriate behavioral and physiological responses which must be mediated through properly attuned thermal sensory mechanisms. Transient receptor potential channels (TRPs) are a family of cation channels a number of which, called thermo-TRPs, are known to function as thermosensors. We investigated the potential role of thermo-TPRs that have been previously identified in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, in thermotaxis and thermal acclimation in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum. Phylogenetic analysis of the trp genes showed generally one-to-one orthology between those in D. melanogaster and in T. castaneum, although there are putative gene-losses in two TRP subfamilies of D. melanogaster. With RNA interference (RNAi) of T. castaneum thermo-TRP candidates painless, pyrexia and trpA1, we measured thermal avoidance behavior. RNAi of trpA1 resulted in reduced avoidance of high temperatures, 39 and 42 °C. We also measured the effects of RNAi on heat-induced knockout and death under a short exposure to high temperature (1 min at 52 °C) either with or without a 10-min acclimation period at 42 °C. Relatively short exposure to high temperature was enough to induce high temperature thermal acclimation. RNAi of trpA1 led to faster knockout at 52 °C. RNAi of painless showed lower recovery rates from heat-induced knockout after thermal acclimation, and RNAi of pyrexia showed lower long-term survivorship without thermal acclimation. Therefore, we concluded that trpA1 is important in high temperature sensing and also in enhanced tolerance to high-temperature induced knockout; painless plays a role in rapid acclimation to high temperature; and pyrexia functions in protecting beetles from acute heat stress without acclimation.
Racial inequality in active life among adult Americans

Is a shorter life with more years lived in poor health a defining attribute of the life cycle of disadvantaged groups? Based on the J990 5% Public Use Microdata Survey, we develop life table models of healthy (or active) life for the major racial groups, by sex, in the United States. The analysis underscores the complexity of the relationship between morbidity and mortality in the population. For Asians, longer life is associated with fewer years lived in poor health. In contrast, Native Americans’ relatively longer lives are accompanied by extended periods of chronic health problems. of all racial groups, blacks live the fewest years, and they live a high proportion of those years with a chronic health problem. Hispanics also live substantially fewer years, yet the period of life they spend with a health problem is relatively compressed. Racial differences in the link between morbidity and mortality point to the importance of investigating how chronic diseases and disease prevention and treatment are related to active life across the population subgroups.
Content Analysis of Television Advertising for Drugs That Switch From Prescription to Over-the-Counter Balancing Information and Appeals

This study explored the content of advertising for drugs that switched from prescription to over-the-counter (OTC). Unique advertisements from the Vanderbilt TV News Archive were selected for drugs that switched from prescription to OTC from 1996 through 2009 (98 ads for 3 products). Each advertisement was analyzed for the presence of 11 types of drug information and for repetition of 23 types of drug-specific advertising appeals. Prescription and OTC ads had 1 or 2 types of information, and all ads contained the name of the condition the drug is intended to treat. Each ad contained, on average, 7.75 drug appeals, and OTC ads had more appeals (9.1) than prescription ads (6.0). The most often used appeals were symptom control, convenience, and long-lasting. Almost one-third of OTC advertisements (31%) advertised the product had recently switched to OTC. The authors concluded that prescription ads did not contain more drug information than OTC ads, and OTC ads contained more appeals to consumers as to the benefits of the product.
High-quality parallel depth-of-field using line samples

We present a parallel method for rendering high-quality depth-of-field effects using continuous-domain line samples, and demonstrate its high performance on commodity GPUs. Our method runs at interactive rates and has very low noise. Our exploration of the problem carefully considers implementation alternatives, and transforms an originally unbounded storage requirement to a small fixed requirement using heuristics to maintain quality. We also propose a novel blur-dependent level-of-detail scheme that helps accelerate rendering without undesirable artifacts. Our method consistently runs 4 to 5x faster than an equivalent point sampler with better image quality. Our method draws parallels to related work in rendering multi-fragment effects.
Sex-specific expression of a HOX gene associated with rapid morphological evolution

Animal diversity is shaped by the origin and diversification of new morphological structures. Many examples of evolutionary innovations are provided by male-specific traits involved in mating and sexual selection. The origin of new sex-specific characters requires the evolution of new regulatory interactions between sex-determining genes and genes that control spatial patterning and cell differentiation. Here, we show that sex-specific regulation of the HOX gene Sex combs reduced (Scr) is associated with the origin and evolution of the Drosophila sex comb - a novel and rapidly diversifying male-specific organ. In species that primitively lack sex combs, Scr expression shows little spatial modulation, whereas in species that have sex combs, Scr is upregulated in the presumptive sex comb region and is frequently sexually dimorphic. Phylogenetic analysis shows that sex-specific regulation of Scr has been gained and lost multiple times in Drosophila evolution and correlates with convergent origin of similar sex comb morphologies in several independent lineages. Some of these transitions occurred on microevolutionary timescales, indicating that HOX gene expression can evolve with surprising ease. This is the first example of a sex-specific regulation of a HOX gene contributing to the development and evolution of a secondary sexual trait.
The sociological perspective and policy analysis: A case study approach

Case studies are widely used in law, medicine and business schools. In this paper an example of how the case method can be used in complex organization, industrial sociology or political sociology classes is presented. The case method also lends itself to an applied approach challenging the student to use a sociological perspective in policy analysis. The utility of the case method for instructors using an applied approach is demonstrated.
Schistosoma mansoni: characterization of excretory-secretory polypeptides synthesized in vitro by daughter sporocysts.

Abstract Excretory-secretory (ES) products of daughter sporocysts have been implicated in the modulation of snail host reproductive physiology. Because of the potentially important role of ES products in snail reproduction, newly synthesized ES polypeptides of in vitro-cultured Schistosoma mansoni daughter sporocysts were examined in pulse-chase studies using [35S]methionine followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), fluorography, and scanning densitometry. Fluorograms of SDS-PAGE-separated ES proteins revealed that sporocysts released a wide variety of polypeptides ranging in molecular weight from 17 to 200 kDa into supernatants during 6 days of in vitro culture at 26°C. Moreover, the general pattern of synthesis and release of daughter sporocyst polypeptides into culture supernatants differed from those ES components previously described from primary or mother sporocysts. Although quantitative densitometry revealed that total labeled ES protein released into culture supernatants was consistent for an three pulse-chase periods, there were significant differences in the quantities of individual polypeptide peaks. The dynamics of the synthesis and release of eight polypeptides chosen for further analysis varied over time. Several ES polypeptides (110, 95, and 25 kDa) were released in relatively constant amounts, while some (69 and 44 kDa) increased and others (38 and 35 kDa) decreased in quantity over the same period of culture. It is hypothesized that the 38- and 35-kDa polypeptides may be important candidate inhibitory molecules because of the correlation between their early release into culture supernatants and the inhibitory effect of Day 1-2 daughter sporocyst ES products on polysaccharide synthesis in the albumen gland of the snail host. This study firmly establishes that schistosome daughter sporocysts are able to regulate the synthesis and release of certain polypeptides into culture supernatants. The possible roles of secondary sporocyst ES products in altering various aspects of host-parasite physiological interactions are discussed.
Correspondence of Interactive Voice Response (IVR) Reports of Nicotine Withdrawal, Craving, and Negative Mood with Questionnaire Ratings

This study focuses on comparing reports of nicotine withdrawal, craving, and depressive symptoms obtained using an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system and several questionnaires. As part of a smoking cessation trial, daily reports of withdrawal, craving, and negative mood were collected using an IVR system for 7 days after participants attempted to quit smoking, and several pencil and paper questionnaires (i.e., the Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale, the Questionnaire on Smoking Urges, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression) were completed a week after the target quit date. The sample was composed of 378 daily smokers. Moderate to high correlations were found between the research questionnaires obtained at the end of the week and the corresponding daily IVR reports of nicotine withdrawal, craving, and depressive symptoms. However, the sample size decreased on each day of IVR reporting due to attrition. Thus, an appealing aspect of daily assessment using an IVR system is that it can provide additional data that are not obtained with paper and pencil assessments given once per week, but it will be important for future studies to concentrate on improving adherence with the IVR system in this population.
Descriptions of joint pain by American Indians: Comparison of inflammatory and noninflammatory arthritis

Objective To improve assessment of arthritis joint pain in American Indians by describing how symptoms are communicated. Method In-depth interviews were conducted with American Indians who experience chronic joint pain (n = 56), to elicit descriptions and self-reported ratings of pain, disability, and beliefs associated with the pain for affected joints (n = 326). Results Discrete sets of specific verbal descriptions distinguished inflammatory arthritis (n = 20 terms) from noninflammatory arthritis (n = 22 terms), and indicated levels of pain intensity. An additional set of 14 vague but commonly used verbal descriptors did not distinguish the type of joint disease or pain intensity. Conclusions Subtle pain complaints and vague verbal descriptions, such as “ache,” “hurt,” and “discomfort,” may reflect severe pain symptoms, disability, and more serious joint disease in American Indian patients. In addition, certain specific sensory descriptions used by American Indians suggest inflammatory arthritis and may warrant further evaluation.
The Fundamental Unity of the Conservative and Revolutionary Tendencies in Venezuelan Evangelicalism: The Case of Conjugal Relations

Social scientists generally analyse the coexistence of patriarchal and egalitarian tendencies within evangelical Protestantism as a case of assimilation of one tendency to a religion essentially characterized by the other, or as an ad hoc construction of strategic actors. Here the work of Ernst Troeltsch is used to theorize the fundamental unity of the ‘conservative and revolutionary tendencies’ within Christian social thought. Interviews conducted with Venezuelan evangelicals regarding conjugal relations show, through direct questioning, their understanding of authority and equality; and through a series of hypothetical situations, when an evangelical woman will submit to patriarchy and when she will assert her religious equality.
A Cognitive-Developmental Perspective on the Adolescent Self-Concept

The study of self-concept development within a cognitive-developmental framework has received increased attention in the recent self-concept literature. However, the effects of the transition from concrete to formal operations in adolescent self-concepts, the distinction between self-concept and self-esteen during adolescence, and the differentiation of age from cognitive-developmental level as independent variables have not been systematically explored. The present study considered these issues in an investigation of the cognitive-developmental basis of the self-concept during childhood, early and middle adolescence. Eight-, 12-, and 16-year-old-males and females were given the Twenty Statements Test (TST), the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory, and Piagetian measures of concrete and formal reasoning. Across all age groups, no significant effects due to cognitive-developmental level were found on the TST protocols. However, the variables of age and sex were significant for physical, concrete, introspecti...
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy: arrhythmias upstream and downstream.

By using a large research registry, Camm et al examined the prevalence and characteristics of atrial arrhythmias in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) and their relationship to demographics and disease severity. The results are reported in the current issue of the journal. All patients had been genotyped and fulfilled the 2010 Task Force Criteria. Atrial arrhythmia was defined as a narrow complex arrhythmia lasting at least 30 seconds, and it was subclassified into atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and other atrial arrhythmias. More than 90% (230 of 248) of the studied patients had an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). In brief, 14% (35 of 248) of the studied patients exhibited atrial arrhythmia during follow-up (median 5.8 years). Atrial fibrillation was the most common arrhythmia. Only a third of the arrhythmic episodes were detected by using conventional electrocardiography (ECG; the remainder being detected through ICD interrogation or Holter studies). The authors conclude that atrial arrhythmias are common in patients with ARVC, that atrial arrhythmias occur in younger patients compared to the general population, and that the presence of atrial arrhythmias was associated with atrial enlargement, increasing age and male sex. Atrial arrhythmias have previously been reported with ARVC. The primary contribution of this article is the large number of patients (n = 248) in the registry and the relatively unselected population. The first data indicating that atrial arrhythmia occasionally may be a part of the
Diffusion of a multi-component plasma

Abstract Diffusion in a weakly ionized plasma composed of negative ions as well as positive ions is examined using appropriate linearized fluid equations. For initial, electrically neutral, density perturbations of the form exp( ikx ) the diffusion process is characterized by electrical non-neutrality and by three stages or time scales. For equal positive and negative ion diffusion coefficients these stages are in general (1) equilibration of the electron gas so that pressure gradient and electric forces are balanced (2) ambipolar-like diffusion of all three species, and concluding with (3) free ion diffusion. The details of the process are governed by the product kλ e (wave number times electron Debye length) and the ambient ratio of negative ion to electron number density. Numerical and analytic results for separate positive and negative diffusion coefficients show added complexity which is briefly described. These results or the more complete numerical solutions find application to the lower D region of the ionosphere.
A Single Expression for the Solution of the One-Dimensional Transient Conduction Equation for the Simple Regular-Shaped Solids

For transient conduction in certain simple regular-shaped solids, a dimensionless geometric parameter {omega} can be defined and used for writing the governing equations for each case as a single equation. Analytical solutions for the infinite slab, for a very long cylinder, and for a sphere are well known and can be found in several references including Carslaw and Jaeger (1947), Arpaci (1966), and Ozisik (1993). The solutions given are specific to each geometric shape. This article gives a single solution which can be applied to each of the three basic geometries by a mere substitution of the appropriate value of the geometric parameter {omega}. The Heisler charts (Heisler, 1947) provide solutions for each of the three basic geometries in a graphical form and can be found in several undergraduate heat transfer textbooks. A definite advantage of the single solution is that an appropriate algorithm based on the generalized solution can be written and incorporated into a computer program for transient conduction analysis involving any of the three basic geometries as an alternative to the use of separate equations.
A remote monitoring and telephone nurse coaching intervention to reduce readmissions among patients with heart failure: study protocol for the Better Effectiveness After Transition - Heart Failure (BEAT-HF) randomized controlled trial

Heart failure is a prevalent health problem associated with costly hospital readmissions. Transitional care programs have been shown to reduce readmissions but are costly to implement. Evidence regarding the effectiveness of telemonitoring in managing the care of this chronic condition is mixed. The objective of this randomized controlled comparative effectiveness study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a care transition intervention that includes pre-discharge education about heart failure and post-discharge telephone nurse coaching combined with home telemonitoring of weight, blood pressure, heart rate, and symptoms in reducing all-cause 180-day hospital readmissions for older adults hospitalized with heart failure. A multi-center, randomized controlled trial is being conducted at six academic health systems in California. A total of 1,500 patients aged 50 years and older will be enrolled during a hospitalization for treatment of heart failure. Patients in the intervention group will receive intensive patient education using the ‘teach-back’ method and receive instruction in using the telemonitoring equipment. Following hospital discharge, they will receive a series of nine scheduled health coaching telephone calls over 6 months from nurses located in a centralized call center. The nurses also will call patients and patients’ physicians in response to alerts generated by the telemonitoring system, based on predetermined parameters. The primary outcome is readmission for any cause within 180 days. Secondary outcomes include 30-day readmission, mortality, hospital days, emergency department (ED) visits, hospital cost, and health-related quality of life. BEAT-HF is one of the largest randomized controlled trials of telemonitoring in patients with heart failure, and the first explicitly to adapt the care transition approach and combine it with remote telemonitoring. The study population also includes patients with a wide range of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Once completed, the study will be a rich resource of information on how best to use remote technology in the care management of patients with chronic heart failure. ClinicalTrials.gov # NCT01360203 .
Childhood Depression: Prevalence Using DSM-III Criteria and Validity of Parent and Child Depression Scales

Sur cinquante enfants d'une moyenne d'âge de dix ans, les auteurs ont evalue la frequence de la depression (selon les criteres du DSM-III) et ont montre la validite du PIC-D et du CDI
Childhood Abuse as a Risk Factor for Sleep Problems in Adulthood: Evidence from a U.S. National Study

Background Accumulating evidence indicates that stress impairs sleep quality. Few studies, however, have examined the extent to which early life stress can jeopardize sleep in adulthood.
Obstructions to deformations of d.g. modules

Let k be a field and n > 1. There exist a differential graded kmodule (V, d) and various approximations to a differential d + tdl + t2d2 + ... + tndn on V[[t]], one of which gives a non-trivial deformation, another is obstructed, and another is unobstructed at order n. The analogous problem in the category of k-algebras in characteristic zero remains a long-standing open question.
Fast Variation-Aware Statistical Dynamic Timing Analysis

A statistical dynamic timing analysis framework is presented to study the impact of catastrophic defects and process variation on the delay behavior of a digital circuit considering the effect of gate switching on delays. It uses object-oriented programming and levelized code generation techniques to achieve fast runtimes with linear time complexity as the number of gates increases. The generated functional delay model along with experiments and statistical modules are compiled to machine code before execution; and random transition vectors approximate the delay profiles useful for virtual speed grading and yield estimation.
Decisions at the end of life: have we come of age?

Decision making is a complex process and it is particularly challenging to make decisions with, or for, patients who are near the end of their life. Some of those challenges will not be resolved - due to our human inability to foresee the future precisely and the human proclivity to change stated preferences when faced with reality. Other challenges of the decision-making process are manageable. This commentary offers a set of approaches which may lead to progress in this field.
CD4+ T cell reconstitution, T cell activation, and memory T cell subset composition in blood and gut of HIV-negative and ART-suppressed HIV-positive patients: implications for HIV persistence in the gut

Background: HIV DNA and RNA levels in the gut exceed those in the blood up to 10-fold. The ileum and rectum differ in HIV levels and responses to intensification, suggesting that mechanisms of persistence may vary between sites. HIV persistence could be impacted by T cell activation, absolute CD4 levels, or composition of memory T cell subsets. Methods: Mucosal biopsies were obtained from the ileums and rectums of eight HIV-negative controls and 10 ART-suppressed HIV-positive patients. Isolated cells were analyzed for T cell composition (CD3, CD4, CD8), activation (CD38, HLA-DR), and memory subpopulations (CD45RO, CCR7, CCR5, CD27) using flow cytometry. CD4 numbers were also measured by immunohistochemistry. In two patients, HIV DNA was measured in sorted subpopulations of memory CD4+ T cells. Results: CD4 reconstitution appears to reach normal levels in the rectum (mean CD4%: HIV positive 51.9%; HIV negative 48.7%), but not the ileum (HIV positive 29.6%; HIV negative 44.2%). Ileal CD4 numbers appear normal in the lymphoid aggregates, but not the lamina propria. In both the ileum and rectum, T cell activation remains higher than in HIV-negative controls (Table ​(Table11) Table 1 Table 1 Mean T cell activation, by site and HIV status In three HIV-positive patients, the ileum harboured more effector memory (EM) CD4+ T cells (mean 41.6% of CD4+ T cells) than the PBMC (15.4%), but similar numbers of transitional memory (TM) CD4+ T cells (ileum: 11.2%; PBMC: 14.0%). HIV DNA concentrations in ileal EM (1 copy/2100 cells) were 25-fold higher than in blood EM (1 copy/54,000 cells). Conclusions: T cell reconstitution and activation differ between gut sites. The higher concentration of HIV DNA in the gut is not due to increased TM cell%, but could reflect differences in the rate of infection of memory subtypes. The abnormal immune activation and lack of CD4 reconstitution in the ileum could reflect ongoing replication or chronic virus production. Acknowledgements: PLUS Study Group Supplement: Workshop Report and Abstracts “Towards a Cure”: HIV Reservoirs and Strategies to Control Them Shirin Heidari, Marie-Capucine Penicaud, Celine Cheng, International AIDS Society http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1758-2652-13-S3-info.pdf Conference: International AIDS Society’s Workshop “Towards a Cure”: HIV Reservoirs and Strategies to Control Them 16–17 July 2010 Vienna, Austria (Published: 10 June 2010) doi:10.1186/1758-2652-13-S3-O1 Cite this article as: Yukl et al.: CD4+ T cell reconstitution, T cell activation, and memory T cell subset composition in blood and gut of HIV-negative and ART-suppressed HIV-positive patients: implications for HIV persistence in the gut. Journal of the International AIDS Society 2010 13(Suppl 3):O1. Full text: PubMed Central: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2999379/
An ab initio study of the structure and stability of Cl− · HOCl anionic complex

Abstract We report the results of an ab initio study of Cl − · HOCl complexes. Structures and harmonic vibrational frequencies are determined using second-order Moller-Plesset perturbation theory and coupled-cluster methods. Two conformers are found to be stable minima for the Cl − · HOCl complex. The minimum energy conformation corresponds to chlorine ion complexing through the hydrogen of HOCl. The calculated binding energy (including zero-point energy correction) is predicted to be 23.4 ± 2 kcal mol −1 .
Efficient Directional Gaussian Smoothers

Linear and nonlinear filters, including morphological operators, play a significant role in the processing of remote sensing imagery. In particular, smoothing filters have been extensively used for noise removal and image restoration. In applications where linear and shift-invariant filters can be effectively employed, filtering is computationally efficient if implemented in transform domains. Nevertheless, in remote sensing applications, it is essential that smoothing filters be capable of handling missing and erroneous data without loss of information. In such cases, filtering requires the involvement of logical operations in order to determine which pixels should be used for processing, and thus takes the form of a nonlinear operator. Hence, transform-based methods cannot be used. Still, in applications where large volumes of data need to be processed, it is greatly desired that fast filtering algorithms are used. This letter introduces a computationally efficient spatial-domain-based implementation which is partially separable and steerable. The technique is general, and its efficiency has been demonstrated on weather radar data. It is shown that the proposed filtering approach is significantly faster compared to a recently introduced separable filter implementation.
Psychotropic drugs in acute intermittent porphyria

Acute intermittent porphyria is one of a group of metabolic diseases called the porphyrias that may lead to symptoms of the central nervous system during an acute exacerbation. Certain drugs such as barbiturates are known to precipitate attacks of acute intermittent porphyria, but unfortunately there is little information regarding the safety of many psychotropic drugs in this disorder, especially the newer antidepressants and atypical antipsychotics. We report a case of an elderly patient with acute intermittent porphyria who was treated with a variety of psychotropic agents for a severe depression with psychotic features. Although many of the agents did not improve the psychiatric status of the patient, all the drugs were tolerated without precipitating an episode of acute intermittent porphyria. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the safe use of sertraline, venlafaxine, olanzapine, risperidone, clozapine, buspirone, trazodone, lorazepam, and clonazepam in a patient with documented acute intermittent porphyria. Our report also supports the safety of trifluoperazine. Although response and sensitivity to drugs may vary greatly among patients with this disorder, clinicians may want to consider the possibility of the above drugs to treat psychiatric symptoms in patients with acute intermittent porphyria.
Manufacture of amorphous alloy ribbons

Amorphous alloys are prepared in continuous ribbon form by rapid quenching directly from the melt. In particular, the process of chill block melt-spinning involves the continuous impingement of molten alloy against a rapidly moving substrate surface. Principles of chill block melt-spinning are presented with regard to the formation of continuous, rapidly-quenched amorphous alloy ribbon. The effects of numerous process variables on sample geometry and physical properties are examined through experimental results obtained by the author and by other researchers. Principles of narrow ribbon manufacture are extended to describe means of fabricating wide ribbon. Manufacturing problems unique to extended runs and potential solutions are cited. Effects of process parameters on magnetic and physical properties of as-cast samples are discussed.
Behaviour, physiology and experience of pathological laughing and crying in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Pathological laughing and crying is a disorder of emotional expression seen in a number of neurological diseases. The aetiology is poorly understood, but clinical descriptions suggest a disorder of emotion regulation. The goals of this study were: (i) to characterize the subjective, behavioural and physiological emotional reactions that occur during episodes of pathological laughing and crying; (ii) to compare responses during these episodes to those that occur when emotions are elicited under standard conditions (watching sad and amusing emotional films, being startled); and (iii) to examine the ability of patients with this disorder to regulate their emotions under standardized conditions. Twenty-one patients with pathological laughing and crying due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and 14 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis but no pathological laughing and crying were studied. Emotional measures included self-reported emotional experience, video recordings of facial reactivity and peripheral physiological responses (skin conductance, heart rate and somatic activity). Nineteen of the 21 patients with histories of pathological laughing and crying had at least one episode in the laboratory that they agreed constituted pathological laughing or crying (a total of 56 episodes were documented). Compared with viewing sad and amusing films, the episodes were associated with greater facial and physiological activation. Contrary to many clinical descriptions, episodes were often induced by contextually appropriate stimuli and associated with strong experiences of emotion that were consistent with the display. When instructed to regulate their facial responses to emotion-eliciting films, patients with pathological laughing and crying showed impairments compared with patients who did not have a history of this disorder. These findings support the idea that pathological laughing and crying represents activation of all channels of emotional responding (i.e. behavioural, physiological and subjective). Furthermore, they support previously advanced theories that, rather than being associated with general emotional hyperreactivity, this disorder may be due to dysfunction in frontal neural systems that support voluntary regulation of emotion.
Sexuality in the Nursing Home, Part 1: Attitudes and Barriers to Sexual Expression

Sexuality is a basic human need that begins at birth and continues throughout life. The sexual needs of the elderly are similar to those of the young, but with variations in frequency, intensity, and mode of expression. Regardless of age, every individual has a need for love, intimacy, and companionship. Unfortunately, however, stereotypical thinking, ignorance, and prejudice dominate Western society's view on sexuality in the elderly. In a youth-oriented culture, sexuality is attributed to the young, healthy, and beautiful, and the myth that the elderly are asexual beings predominates. Consequently, the sexual needs of the elderly are frequently overlooked and ignored. Nowhere is this more emphatic than in the nursing home setting. This article explores barriers to sexual expression in the nursing home setting and discusses strategies to overcome them.
Preventing teenage pregnancy.

The topic of preventing adolescent pregnancy in developed countries is introduced by noting that 1) adolescent pregnancy in the US the UK and Canada is associated with financial dependence on social services and with increased health risks for the mother and child; 2) these negative outcomes call for preventive efforts that target adolescents at risk and provide contraceptive information to adolescents at an early age; 3) poverty is the most prevalent risk factor; and 4) one screening technique dubbed HEADS considers home life education activities drug use sex behavior and suicidal tendencies. After recommending that primary care givers first emphasize abstinence and then give accurate and complete information about contraceptive methods the remainder of the article reviews the following methods: barrier methods IUDs oral contraceptives (OCs) Norplant injectable progesterone and postcoital (emergency) contraception. The text is illustrated with tables that 1) compare female barrier methods 2) describe OC contraindications 3) compare hormonal components in common OCs 4) list the contraindications to Norplant 5) show OC noncompliance rates among adolescents 6) show barrier method noncompliance rates among adolescents and 7) illustrate the failure rates of different contraceptive methods. The article concludes by recommending that counseling on prevention of sexually transmitted diseases should accompany contraceptive counseling and by noting that increased knowledge is not associated with increased sex behavior or decreased age of initial intercourse.
SOA Gate Array Recirculating Buffer for Optical Packet Switching

A compact recirculating buffer using an InP-based 2×2 switch with gain and a fiber delay line is demonstrated at 40 Gb/s. Packet throughput of 98% is measured for up to 8 circulations, or 0.18 μs.
Interlocking Directorates and Political Cohesion among Corporate Elites1

This study uses data on campaign contributions and methods of network analysis to investigate the significance of interlocking directorates for political cohesion among corporate elites. Using quadratic assignment procedure (QAP) regression, the author shows that social ties formed through common membership on corporate boards contribute more to similarity of political behavior than commonalities of economic interests, such as those associated with operating in the same industry or the same geographic region. Moreover, the politically cohesive effects of directorship ties remain robust even as one moves several links down the chain of indirect ties that connect top corporate officers to one another. The study thus provides empirical support for the thesis that social networks among corporate elites facilitate political cohesion within the business community.
Design of a Laminated Ceramic Composite for Improved Strength and Toughness

Adding aluminum titanate to alumina can result in dramatic improvements in toughness and R-curve properties. However, the improved toughness is offset by a significant reduction in strength at small flaw sizes. This problem can be overcome through the use of a laminated composite construction. By placing a thin layer of high-strength material on the surface of a high-toughness body, the toughness and flaw tolerance of the body material can be maintained without sacrificing small flaw strength. In this study, alumina + 20 vol% aluminum titanate (AAT20) was used for both the surface layer and the bulk material. The surface material was a homogeneous, fine-grained mixture of the two phases, while the bulk was an inhomogeneous mixture having a bimodal grain structure. In monolithic form, the homogeneous AAT20 displays a nearly P−1/3 indentation strength response, and the inhomogeneous material displays a flat strength response, indicative of R-curve behavior. The trilayer material shows a composite indentation strength response, with high strength throughout the entire range of starting flaw sizes. A method for predetermining the optimum surface layer thickness is presented. The processing and mechanical properties of these materials will be discussed.
Regulation of uterine and umbilical amino acid uptakes by maternal amino acid concentrations

We tested the hypothesis that decreased fetal amino acid (AA) supply, produced by maternal hypoaminoacidemia (low AA) during hyperglycemia (HG), is reversible with maternal AA infusion and regulate...
Improving Measurement via Item Response Theory Great Idea, But Hold the Rasch

In my reaction to the major contribution by Mallinckrodt, Miles, and Recabarren, I endorse their recommendation that the use of item response theory (IRT) be increased. Advantages of IRT are numerous, with most resulting from the fact that IRT models typically take a more realistic view of how item responses are related to underlying traits than classical test theory. However, I raise concerns regarding their advocacy of the Rasch IRT model, which arguably takes an overly simplistic view of how items and traits are related. Many alternative IRT models exist, including ones based on the ideal-point measurement philosophy (most IRT models use the dominance model). I recommend that researchers seek to determine which IRT model best fits their items—including the larger question of whether a dominance versus ideal-point approach is preferable—and avoid assuming that one model will always perform the best.
Bounded by Brands: An Information Network Approach to Trademarks

Trademarks are indeed about information, but trademark doctrine misunderstands trademarks’ information function. Trademark doctrine takes a broadcast view in a networked world. Rather than a world where a single source transmits messages to a passive public, we live in a world where many actors use trademarks to transmit data about a mark. Decisions are made based on data received, but trademark law’s broadcast model has a naive view of whether the data leads to good or bad decisions. This Paper explores what happens if trademarks are taken to be part of an information network. I show that by ignoring the information network nature of trademarks, current trademark doctrine favors herding and cascade problems, ensconces incumbents, and thwarts competition. One way to describe this situation is as one of bounded information and rationality. Although these concepts lie at the heart of the network theory and behavioral economics literature that explains herds, and at the heart of the law and economics approach to trademark law, the law and economics approach reaches conclusions about the implications if bounded information and rationality far different than the other disciplines. I argue that the law and economics conclusions are incorrect. They foster further bounded information and rationality problems that protect incumbent brand holders rather than enhancing consumer welfare. Furthermore, I argue that insights from information network and behavioral economics theory explain and enhance our understanding of how to correct these outcomes. In short, these theories better answer why recent calls favoring less trademark protection and increasing information available to consumers are correct.
Examining the Relationships Between Religiosity, Spirituality, Internalized Homonegativity, and Condom Use Among African American Men Who Have Sex With Men in the Deep South

The Sexual Health in Faith Traditions Study evaluated the relationships between religiosity, spirituality, internalized homonegativity, and sexual risk behaviors among a sample of African American ...
Simulation of the Behavior of Open Steel-Framed Structures under Fire

The development of fire standards that lead to safe and economical construction does not happen by chance. It is actually a complex process that requires a thorough understanding of the physical nature of fire and how it affects the behavior of structural systems. One way to do this is to conduct experimental research on full-scale or model systems and learn from their results. Although this can and has been done, it is, nevertheless, quite an onerous endeavor. This paper presents a methodology to simulate the behavior of an open steel frame (such as a parking structure) under the effect of fire using a specially designed computer tool. Upon definition of the geometry of the frame and location and intensity of the fire by the user, the spreadsheet based program evaluates the variations in temperature and their effects on the properties of the material using a constant time increment. Structural displacements are then computed and graphically presented.