cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Short-Term Executive Plus Intervention for Executive Dysfunction After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial With Minimization

Abstract Objective To determine whether the Short-Term Executive Plus (STEP) cognitive rehabilitation program improves executive dysfunction after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Design Randomized, waitlist controlled trial with minimization and blinded outcome assessment. Setting Community. Participants Participants with TBI and executive dysfunction (N=98; TBI severity 50% moderate/severe; mean time since injury ± SD, 12±14y; mean age ± SD, 45±14y; 62% women; 76% white). Intervention STEP program: 12 weeks (9h/wk) of group training in problem solving and emotional regulation and individual sessions of attention and compensatory strategies training. Main Outcome Measures Factor analysis was used to create a composite executive function measure using the Problem Solving Inventory, Frontal Systems Behavior Scale, Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome, and Self-Awareness of Deficits Interview. Emotional regulation was assessed with the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. The primary attention measure was the Attention Rating and Monitoring Scale. Secondary measures included neuropsychological measures of executive function, attention, and memory and measures of affective distress, self-efficacy, social participation, and quality of life. Results Intention-to-treat mixed-effects analyses revealed significant treatment effects for the composite executive function measure ( P =.008) and the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale ( P =.049) and Problem Solving Inventory ( P =.016). We found no between-group differences on the neuropsychological measures or on measures of attention, emotional regulation, self-awareness, affective distress, self-efficacy, participation, or quality of life. Conclusions The STEP program is efficacious in improving self-reported post-TBI executive function and problem solving. Further research is needed to identify the roles of the different components of the intervention and its effectiveness with different TBI populations.
A provable time and space efficient implementation of NESL

In this paper we prove time and space bounds for the implementation of the programming language NESL on various parallel machine models. NESL is a sugared typed λ-calculus with a set of array primitives and an explicit parallel map over arrays. Our results extend previous work on provable implementation bounds for functional languages by considering space and by including arrays. For modeling the cost of NESL we augment a standard call-by-value operational semantics to return two cost measures: a DAG representing the sequential dependence in the computation, and a measure of the space taken by a sequential implementation. We show that a NESL program with w work (nodes in the DAG), d depth (levels in the DAG), and s sequential space can be implemented on a p processor butterfly network, hypercube, or CRCW PRAM using O(w/p + d log p) time and O(s + dp log p) reachable space.1 For programs with sufficient parallelism these bounds are optimal in that they give linear speedup and use space within a constant factor of the sequential space.
Event-Related Potentials in Substance-Abusing Individuals After Long-Term Abstinence

Auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded in ten men, former cocaine and/or heroin addicts, who had been abstinent for 6 months or more, and in 33 control subjects matched for gender and age. Patients were found to have significantly lower P3 amplitude than controls. Within the population of substance abusers, a low P3 amplitude was significantly associated with a high score on the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. A low P3 amplitude, previously described in alcohol abusers, was thus also found in drug abusers. This P3 decrement could antedate substance abuse. Trends linking a lowP3 to poor impulse control similar to those observed by us in a larger population of alcohol abusers were found in this small sample of drug abusers.
Message defensiveness, efficacy, and health‐related behavioral intentions

This study examined the effects of (response and self) efficacy on defensive message processing and behavioral intentions. Hypothesized predictions were generated from the extended parallel process model (Witte, 1992). The results suggest that people with low self‐efficacy will engage in greater defensive message processing in the form of counter‐arguing. In addition, people with low response and self‐efficacy will have lower behavioral intentions than people with high efficacy. Implications and limitations are discussed.
Evaluation of the Late Nite Basketball Project

The author's research team evaluated the Late Nite Basketball Project, an innovative recreational gang diversion program. Data were collected from in-depth interviews of over 100 gang members, family members, and staff and then analyzed using qualitative methodology. Reported benefits included: fun, jobs and scholarships, skill-building workshops, reduction of inter-gang violence, and formation of new relationships. Key recommendations included: institutionalization; expansion of services to younger children, girls, and non-athletes; linkage to suburban leagues; establishment of peer-counseling; increased parental involvement; improved selection, training, and ongoing support for staff; and improved integration with other programs.
Prevention of Plasma Cholesterol Elevation and Atheromatosis in the Cholesterol-Fed Bird by the Administration of Dihydrocholesterol

The effect of the addition of dihydrocholesterol to a high cholesterol diet has been studied in the chicken. It is shown that in this species the elevated plasma cholesterol and resulting atherosclerosis can be reduced to normal levels by such a procedure.
Tongue-based biofeedback for balance in stroke: results of an 8-week pilot study.

Abstract Badke MB, Sherman J, Boyne P, Page S, Dunning K. Tongue-based biofeedback for balance in stroke: results of an 8-week pilot study. Objective To assess balance recovery and quality of life after tongue-placed electrotactile biofeedback training in patients with stroke. Design Prospective multicenter research design. Setting Outpatient rehabilitation clinics. Participants Patients (N=29) with chronic stroke. Interventions Patients were administered 1 week of therapy plus 7 weeks of home exercise using a novel tongue based biofeedback balance device. Main Outcome Measures The Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go (TUG), Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale, Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), and Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) were performed before and after the intervention on all subjects. Results There were statistically and clinically significant improvements from baseline to posttest in results for the BBS, DGI, TUG, ABC Scale, and some SIS domains (Mobility, Activities of Daily Living/Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, Social, Physical, Recovery domains). Average BBS score increased from 35.9 to 41.6 ( P P P =.002). Including the BBS, DGI, TUG, and ABC Scale, 27 subjects improved beyond the minimal detectable change with 95% certainty (MDC-95) or minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in at least 1 outcome and 3 subjects improved beyond the MDC-95 or MCID in all outcomes. Conclusions Electrotactile biofeedback seems to be a promising integrative method to balance training. A future randomized controlled study is needed.
Threshold voltage instability characteristics of HfO2 dielectrics n-MOSFETs

Abstract In this paper, the threshold voltage instability characteristics of HfO2 high-k dielectric are discussed. The results from various stress bias conditions including DC and AC with variations of frequency, duty cycle, and polarity provide additional insights into the intrinsic behavior and the trapping dynamics of high-k materials. A reduced threshold voltage shift was observed at higher frequency and lower duty cycle under AC positive unipolar stress compared to DC stress. Similarly, the degradation of maximum transconductance was also reduced with AC stress. However, subthreshold swing changes were found to be negligible and fairly independent of stress frequencies and duty cycles under AC positive unipolar stress. When different polarity of stress, such as positive, negative, and bipolar stress was applied, it was observed that frequency and duty cycle dependencies were still valid in all three conditions. In contrast to positive stress, negative stress showed a decrease in the threshold voltage shift. Bipolar stress resulted in the highest threshold voltage instability, but the degradation in transconductance and subthreshold swing was actually smaller than those in negative unipolar stress. The bulk trap of HfO2 dielectric, which is proportional to its physical thickness, is believed to be the primary factor for threshold voltage shift. AC unipolar operation would allow a higher 10-year lifetime operating voltage than the DC condition. In addition to experimental results, a plausible mechanism has been proposed.
Assessing the reliability of epidemiologic data obtained from medical records

We assessed the reliability of epidemiologic data extracted by three data technicians from the medical records of 102 patients in a case-control study. The collected data, which were extracted on two separate occasions, included such clinical and pharmaceutical features as history of lactation, hysterectomy, diabetes, and hypertension, type of menopause, and whether a women had ever used exogenous estrogens. Although we found high rates of intra- and interextractor agreement, some errors in excerpting and classifying data did occur, and were especially common in making distinctions between uncertain data (due to ambiguous or incomplete descriptions) and negative responses (indicating that a feature was truly absent). We were able to discern six distinctive sources of this variability, four in excerpting the data from the hospital record, and two in coding the excerpted data. As a result of these findings, strategies are proposed for improving the basic quality of data used in epidemiologic research.
1017-68 Influence of Platelet GP IIb/IIIa Receptor Inhibition with c7E3 on the Sequelae of Dissection During Percutaneous Coronary Revascularization

The EPIC Trial tested the efficacy of the c7E3 monoclonal antibody to the platelet GP IIbIIIa receptor in preventing ischemic events during “high-risk” PTCA or atherectomy by randomizing 2099 pts to receive placebo (PL), c7E3 bolus (BO), or c7E3 bolus + 12 hr infusion (BO + IN). BO + IN of c7E3 produced a 35% reduction in the 30-day composite primary endpoint (death, MI, urgent CABG, or re-PTCA) from 12.8% to 8.3% (p = 0.009) compared with placebo. Although c7E3 would not be expected to prevent the mechanical complication of coronary dissection, this agent may limit subsequent thrombus formation at dissection sites and thereby prevent progression to overt closure, embolization, or ischemic clinical events. The influence of c7E3 on adverse sequelae among pts who sustained dissection during EPIC was therefore investigated. Moderate (2–10 mm) or long (g 10 mm) dissections, as determined by Angiographic Core Laboratory analysis, occurred in 40.1%, 39,3%, and 42.5% of pts randomized to PL, BO, or BO + IN, respectively. Event PL (N = 278) BO IN = 273) BO + IN (N = 301) p-value Abrupt Closure 13% 7% 10% 0.080 Embolization l 1% 1% 1% 0.693 Primary Composite Endpoint 17% 12% 10% 0.025 Death 3% 1% 1% 0.510 Myocardial Infarction 12% 6% 7% 0.013 Emergency Re-PTCA 6% 5% 1% 0.002 Emergency CABG 5% 3% 3% 0.350 Although c7E3 did not significantly diminish the risk of abrupt closure or embolization among pts with moderate or long coronary dissections, potent reduction in the incidences of MI and emergency repeat revascularization may reflect ultimate stabilization of disrupted vascular segments during the post-procedural period. Further study is warranted to investigate a strategy of administration of c7E3 after coronary dissection has occurred.
Recurrent popliteal endoprosthesis thrombosis secondary to extrinsic compression.

Endovascular intervention to exclude popliteal artery aneurysms (PAA) achieves results comparable to surgical intervention with less associated morbidity and mortality. However, the biomechanical forces inherent to this region pose unique impediments that can limit successful endovascular exclusion. Herein, we present a case of recurrent thrombotic occlusion of a PAA endoprosthesis secondary to dynamic extrinsic compression from the excluded PAA in the absence of an endoleak. Multimodality imaging proved vital in elucidating this novel etiology and enabled an appropriate definitive intervention. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Rond-Point: Une perspective actionnelle. Édition nord-américaine edited by FLUMIAN, CATHERINE, JOSIANE LABASCOULE, CHRISTIAN LAUSE, & CORINNE ROYER Workbook/Lab Manual.

The article reviews the books "Rond-Point: Une perspective actionnelle. Edition nord-americaine" and the accompanying "Workbook/Lab Manual," by Catherine Flumian, Josiane Labas-Coule, Christian Lause, and Corinne Royer, adapted by Hedwige Meyer.
Mechanism of the bulk photovoltaic effect of ferroelectrics

The high-voltage bulk photovoltaic effect in ferroelectrics was theoretically and experimentally studied focusing on the nonlinear dielectric response. The steady current in the absence of applied voltage, called `photocurrent', is considered as a result of photocarriers and the asymmetric electromotive force induced by near-ultraviolet radiation. A model accounting for the generation of electric field acting as an effective dc field for the photocarriers was explained in terms of the photoinduced nonlinear polarization and the Lorentz field in dielectrics. Experimental results on electric photoconductivity, photocurrent and photovoltage of a PLZT ceramic were analyzed by using exponential functions based on the model. An adjustable parameter was introduced in relation to the incoherence of the illuminating light as an electromagnetic wave. It was found that the exponential functions by the present model can give better fitting to the experimental data than that by a linear function previously used.
Inactivation and recovery of sodium currents in cerebellar Purkinje neurons: evidence for two mechanisms.

We examined the kinetics of voltage-dependent sodium currents in cerebellar Purkinje neurons using whole-cell recording from dissociated neurons. Unlike sodium currents in other cells, recovery from inactivation in Purkinje neurons is accompanied by a sizeable ionic current. Additionally, the extent and speed of recovery depend markedly on the voltage and duration of the prepulse that produces inactivation. Recovery is faster after brief, large depolarizations (e.g., 5 ms at +30 mV) than after long, smaller depolarizations (e.g., 100 ms at -30 mV). On repolarization to -40 mV following brief, large depolarizations, a resurgent sodium current rises and decays in parallel with partial, nonmonotonic recovery from inactivation. These phenomena can be explained by a model that incorporates two mechanisms of inactivation: a conventional mechanism, from which channels recover without conducting current, and a second mechanism, favored by brief, large depolarizations, from which channels recover by passing transiently through the open state. The second mechanism is consistent with voltage-dependent block of channels by a particle that can enter and exit only when channels are open. The sodium current flowing during recovery from this blocked state may depolarize cells immediately after an action potential, promoting the high-frequency firing typical of Purkinje neurons.
Towards a semi-classical approximation of the non-linear σ-model

Abstract We consider the contribution of instantons of arbitrary topological charge to the expectation value of any observable in the CP 1 model defined on the sphere S 2 . We replace the integration over one of the parameters of the instantons by an integration over the group of isospin transformations and carry it out explicitly by using the isospin invariance. This allows us to express the result as the expectation value of an observable of a neutral gas of 2 species of particles, computed in the grand canonical ensemble. The interactions are complicated and involve multi-body forces (2 × k , k being the topological charge).
Behavioral perturbations in the vitamin K-deficient rat.

Anecdotal observations of the behavior of rats with a vitamin K-deficiency suggested that this deficiency was associated with hypoactivity, general malaise, and a lack of exploratory behavior. These observations were pursued by assessing locomotor activity in a circular photocell-monitored track, open-field activity, and radial-arm maze performance in rats rendered vitamin K-deficient by dietary depletion or by warfarin treatment. There was a significant reduction (approximately 25% at the median) in the locomotor activity of dietary vitamin K-deficient rats compared with rats fed a control diet. In the open-field, warfarin administration was associated with a significant shift from more exploratory behaviors to less exploratory behaviors. Consistent with these findings, radial-arm maze assessment showed a comparative reduction in locomotor activity in the dietary vitamin K-deficient rats with no alteration in performance, i.e., short-term memory. These animal behavioral studies suggest that sub-clinical and clinical vitamin K-deficiency may contribute to physical and psychiatric symptomatology.
On the optimal number of features in the classification of multivariate Gaussian data

Abstract We consider the classification problem in the context of two equiprobable multivariate Gaussian densities with a common covariance matrix. The use of Anderson's W statistic for classification results in the existence of an optimum number of features, p opt such that, for a given sample size, the average probability of misclassification decreases at first as the number of features are increased, attains a minimum at p opt and then starts increasing. We have examined this peaking phenomenon for several cases and provide expressions which relate p opt to the number of available training samples and the Mahalanobis distance between the two populations. We also show that to prevent peaking, each additional feature's contribution to the Mahalanobis distance must be a certain proportion of the accumulated Mahalanobis distance.
Supported catalysts prepared from mononuclear copper complexes: Catalytic properties

Abstract Model surfaces of copper on silica (Cab-O-Sil) were prepared and characterized by four probe reactions: methyl acetate hydrogenolysis, ethanol and methanol decomposition, and acetaldehyde hydrogenation. The model catalysts were prepared by thermal decomposition of copper acetylacetonate {Cu(acac) 2 } deposited on silica either as a monolayer or as multiple layers. The prior characterizations suggested that thermal decomposition of monolayer films of Cu(acac) 2 produced isolated copper species which could be oxidized and reduced up to 10 times without changing the dispersion of the copper. Thermolysis of the multiple layers of Cu(acac) 2 produced a copper surface of lower dispersions (ca. 70%) which decreased to 30% after only five oxidation/reduction cycles. These two surfaces were appropriate models to study the catalysis of oxygenates over Cu ensembles.
On the flux of water and sediment into the Northern Adriatic Sea

Abstract This paper focuses on the delivery of water and sediment to the northern Adriatic to better understand the short-term evolution of continental margin sedimentation under natural and human impact. For that reason, the Po and six Apennine rivers (Metauro, Musone, Potenza, Tronto, Chienti and Pescara) are investigated. The climate-driven hydrological model HydroTrend is used to simulate discharge and sediment loads where observational data are limited. The northern Apennine hinterland has a significant impact on the sediment flux leaving the Po River, contributing 56% of the sediment it delivers to the Adriatic Sea. The Po River experienced a strong decrease in its sediment load (17.2–6.4 Mt/yr) across 1933–1987, in contrast to a small increase in its water discharge. The rivers draining the southern Apennine hinterland contribute more than 50% of the sediment load entering the Adriatic Sea, and this is in spite of human modification of their discharge through numerous small reservoirs that invariably reduce a river's sediment load. As a result, hyperpycnal flows, which historically carried 20–40% of the sediment flux from these Apennine rivers, become rare. Sediment load reduction is also reflected by retreat of the Apennine coastline. Based on the ART model (used in HydroTrend), the total sediment load to the northern Adriatic is 43 MT/yr where the northern Alpine rivers contribute 8 MT/yr, the Po River 13 MT/yr and the Apennine rivers contribute 22 MT/yr.
Potential for Growth and Security in Internet File-Sharing: The VPN Concept of Gnutella

ABSTRACT The integration and use of the Internet and database management systems serve as a foundation for management of data flows for IT strategic purposes, such as using bar codes in distribution warehouses' informational and material flows. Although these trends are fairly common to B2B and C2B transactions, little research has been done on the concepts of Internet file sharing initiated on the consumers' side. Literature and conceptual research for this position paper were conducted to determine the potential for growth and security in Internet file sharing, namely the VPN concept of Gnutella. Internet file sharing is rapidly becoming a high priority issue in developing competitive advantage in customer service within an e-commerce environment. Management is finding the topic to be timely and interesting, especially with the recent press about music downloads and copyright infringement. The Internet coupled with near transparent automatic identification and data capture/collection systems, to ensure ...
Ethical Considerations in Pharmacotherapy of the Aged

Elderly people have a high usage of medications. In the United States, primary care physicians prescribe medication during morc than 80% of visits of those aged 65 years and over (German & Bunon 1989). More than 50% of the home-dwelling elderl y use medication and in some countries an average of7 medications are prescribed for long term care patients. For the elderl y who take prescription drugs, the mean number of prescription medications is 2 to 3 per patient (Nolan & O'Malley 1988). The high level of drug usage by the elderly calls for special attention to this group and makes consideration of the ethical aspects of drug usc imperative. This article outlines the major areas of ethical concern for physicians, pharmacists and other healthcare practitioners working with the elderl y.
Nanoscale Optical Dielectric Rod Antenna for On-Chip Interconnecting Networks

A nanoscale on-chip optical dielectric rod antenna is demonstrated in this paper. The antenna is designed and fabricated on a 200-mm silicon-on-insulator platform, using IMEC 193-nm-deep UV lithography. A 500-nm-thick polymer layer is designed and deposited to act as an asymmetric slab waveguide, confining the radiated wave within the layer. Full-wave analysis predicts antenna return loss above 25 dB, and end-fire gain greater than 9 dBi from 172 to 222 THz. Six antenna pairs with 1-, 3-, 5-, 7-, 12-, and 17- μm separations are fabricated. Corresponding transmissions are measured from 190 to 200 THz. Two on-chip optical signal hubs composed of 16 and 32 antennas designed for core-to-core interconnection for the next-generation multicore microprocessors are also demonstrated. Good agreement between the modeling and measurement is obtained.
Effectors of cyclic adenosine 5'-monophosphate up-regulating-oxytocin receptors in rabbit amnion cells: isoproterenol, parathyroid hormone-related protein, and potentiation by cortisol.

Forskolin (FSK ; an activator of adenylyl cyclase) and cortisol synergistically increase the concentration of oxytocin receptors (OTRs) in rabbit amnion cells. The aims of this study were to characterize potential physiological regulators of OTR concentrations acting through adenylyl cyclase and to clarify the mechanisms of potentiation by cAMP and cortisol. Both isoproterenol (ISO) and parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) elevated amnion cell cAMP levels and OTR concentrations. The effects of ISO and PTHrP on OTR were potentiated by cortisol. Cortisol had no effect on the ability of ISO or PTHrP to stimulate adenylyl cyclase activity, and cAMP did not affect the number or affinity of glucocorticoid receptors in whole cells or in cytosol. Adenylyl cyclase activation, however, caused conversion of mifepristone (RU486) from a glucocorticoid antagonist to agonist. Thus, mifepristone elevated OTR receptor concentrations in the presence of FSK. In contrast, a structurally related glucocorticoid antagonist, onapristone (ZK98 299), was unaffected by cAMP. Because glucocorticoid receptors bound to mifepristone are capable of interacting with DNA, whereas onapristone-occupied receptors are not, we conclude that cAMP affects glucocorticoid receptor-DNA interactions, accounting for the synergistic effects of cAMP and cortisol on OTRs.
Entropic and energetic elasticity in controlling catch-to-slip bonds in cell-adhesion molecules

We develop a physical model to describe the kinetic behavior in cell-adhesion molecules. Unbinding of non-covalent biological bonds is decomposed into entropic and energetic controlled debonding. Such a treatment on debonding processes is a space decomposition of bond breaking events. Entropy controlled dissociation under thermal fluctuation is non-directional in a 3-dimensional space, and its energy barrier to escape may be not influenced by a tensile force but the microstates which can lead to dissociation are changed by the tensile force; An applied force effectively lowers the energy barrier to escape along the force direction. Such energetic effect will accelerate dissociate mainly along directions parallel to the loading direction. The lifetime of the biological bond, due to the superimposition of two concurrent off-rates, may grow with increasing tensile force to moderate amount and decrease with further increasing load, as debonding events dominated by entropy transit to those controlled by an applied force. We hypothesize that a catch-to-slip bond transition is a generic feature in biological bonds. The model also predicts that catch bonds in compliant molecular structure have longer lifetimes and may be activated at lower forces [1].
Benign Anteromedial Plantar Nodules of Childhood: A Distinct Form of Plantar Fibromatosis

Plantar fibromatosis is a benign but sometimes locally aggressive proliferation of fibrous tissue that usually arises in adolescence or early adulthood. Pediatric presentation with asymptomatic, bilateral nodules on the anteromedial heel pad may be cause for cosmetic concern, but is otherwise harmless. Awareness and clinical diagnosis of benign anteromedial plantar nodules of childhood will prevent unnecessary and possibly unsuccessful surgery. We present a case of anteromedial plantar nodules and a brief review of the literature. We propose the term "benign anteromedial plantar nodules of childhood" to describe and define this clinically distinctive form of plantar fibromatosis.
Multiple microscopic techniques for the measurement of plasma membrane lipid structure during hypoxia

Alterations in plasma membrane structure and function are considered of primary importance in the pathogenesis of cell injury. Multiple microscopic techniques are employed to detail alterations in plasma membrane lipid structure during hypoxic injury in individual rat hepatocytes. Multiparameter digitized video microscopy, fluorescence quenching imaging, and fluorescence resonance energy transfer imaging are used to measure and monitor lipid domain formation and topography; laser tweezers are used to monitor the plasma membrane viscoelasticity. These microscopic techniques indicate that hypoxic injury in hepatocytes leads to alterations in plasma membrane lipid topography with the eventual formation of lipid domains. In concert with previous data generated with digitized fluorescence polarization microscopy and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), a model is proposed where formation of the distinct lipid domains promotes loss of the plasma membrane permeability barrier and cell death.
Who are the Entrepreneurs? Evidence from Taxpayer Data

The United States has experienced a revival of interest in entrepreneurs. While much of the public fascination has focused on "dot com" millionaires and similar high-profile phenomena, a coincident surge in research has focused on the economic foundations of this boom. In executing their research strategy, analysts are confronted with the interrelated issues of deciding "who is an entrepreneur" and identifying data sources suitable to analyze retrepreneurial behavior. In many instances, the focus has been on those individuals who identify themselves as self-employed in large cross-sectional data sets like the Census or Current Population Survey (CPS), or panel data sets such as the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), National Longitudinal Survey (NLS), or Health and Retirement Study (HRS).
The Jewish Exodus from the New South Africa: Realities and Implications

In the 1990s, the Jewish population of South Africa declined at an unprecedented rate in marked contrast to Jewish populations in other Englishspeaking countries. Possible explanations include fear of political instability and political violence, deteriorating economic conditions and prospects, fear of directly discriminatory government policies, rising violent crime rates, and more permissive immigration policies in desirable destination countries. All but the last of these factors appear to have played some role. However, only changes in violent crime rates provide an explanation for the unprecedented surge in net emigration, persisting even after a successful political and economic transition to majority black rule under moderate African National Congress governments. Changes in crime rates also provide the most satisfactory explanation for related changes in internal migration patterns.
Non-Kinematicity of the Dilation-of-time Relation of Einstein for Time-intervals

Light-pulses that are reflected recurrently to one another by two kinematically equivalent dynamically identical inertial systems moving collinearly and irrotationally with uniform relative velocity generate sequences of contiguous time-intervals in both. By means of clocks stationed in the two systems, each time-interval is both measurable locally and calculable non-locally in accord with basic requirements of special relativity theory. Their ratio yields the velocity dependent dilation-of-time relation of Einstein, but an equivalent spatially dependent version of it is obtained as well, because the time-intervals involved are actually determined by the distances that exist between the systems when the reflections occur. As a result, the Einstein relation involves no time-rates of clocks that are actually affected kinematically by the systems containing them.
Perspectives on Daptomycin Resistance, with Emphasis on Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections are becoming more frequent and less easily treated by means of currently recommended agents. Vancomycin has been associated with decreased susceptibility in staphylococci and with treatment failures. Daptomycin is rapidly bactericidal; a dosage of 4 mg/kg daily is approved for treatment of skin and soft-tissue infections, and a dosage of 6 mg/kg daily is approved for treatment of patients with S. aureus bacteremia and right-sided endocarditis. Findings of in vitro studies suggest a correlation between the minimum inhibitory concentrations of daptomycin and vancomycin. Clinical failure was associated with increasing minimum inhibitory concentrations in case reports and in a randomized study of persons with S. aureus bacteremia and endocarditis. Patients who did not respond to therapy had deep-seated infections that required but could not be or were not managed with adjunctive surgical therapy. No definitive resistance mechanism has been identified, although genetic mutations have been described. Clinically, prior vancomycin therapy has not been associated with failure of daptomycin therapy. Although clinical practitioners must monitor for daptomycin resistance, the available data support the use of daptomycin in the treatment of methicillin-resistant S. aureus bacteremia and endocarditis.
On the capacity of attention: Its estimation and its role in working memory and cognitive aptitudes.

Working memory (WM) is the set of mental processes holding limited information in a temporarily accessible state in service of cognition. We provide a theoretical framework to understand the relation between WM and aptitude measures. The WM measures that have yielded high correlations with aptitudes include separate storage-and-processing task components, on the assumption that WM involves both storage and processing. We argue that the critical aspect of successful WM measures is that rehearsal and grouping processes are prevented, allowing a clearer estimate of how many separate chunks of information the focus of attention circumscribes at once. Storage-and-processing tasks correlate with aptitudes, according to this view, largely because the processing task prevents rehearsal and grouping of items to be recalled. In a developmental study, we document that several scope-of-attention measures that do not include a separate processing component, but nevertheless prevent efficient rehearsal or grouping, also correlate well with aptitudes and with storage-and-processing measures. So does digit span in children too young to rehearse.
Machines, Faces, Neurons: Towards an Ethics of Dance

The final installment of a continuing series on choreography considering the mutual interrogation of philosophy and dance, the articles propose a tentative ethics of dance as a “practical philosophy” under the influence of Gilles Deleuze read through specific choreographic practices. Gerald Siegmund describes his private experience of Boris Charmatz's choreographic machine as a metaphor for the entrapment of theatre and as generative of new bodily subjectivities. Introducing anthropological applications of cognitive science to the particular strategies of choreographers working in Brazil, Christine Greiner argues for a political conception of self through dance. Examining the kinetics of the face in RoseAnne Spradlin's Survive Cycle, Victoria Anderson Davies meditates on the relationship of facial expression to language, to consciousness, and to movement.
Patients' Knowledge of Options at the End of Life Ignorance in the Face of Death

Context Effectiveness of legislation promoting advance directives and legalizing physician-assisted suicide depends on patients’ understanding their legal options about end-of-life care. However, outpatients’ understanding of their legal options at the end of life has not been studied. Objectives To estimate the percentage of outpatients who are informed about 4 areas relevant to end-of-life care: refusal and withdrawal of lifesaving treatments, physicianassisted suicide, active euthanasia, and double effect; and to determine whether authoring advance directives, experiencing illness, acting as a proxy for health care decisions, and caring for an ill loved one are associated with better knowledge in end-of-life care. Design Cross-sectional survey. Setting and Participants One thousand consecutive English-speaking, adult patients attending 1 university-based internal medicine clinic and 3 communitybased, university-affiliated, mixed internal medicine and family practice clinics in Oregon during May and June 1999. Main Outcome Measures Percentage of correct responses in the 4 topic areas and total knowledge score, adjusted for demographic (eg, age, race, educational level, income level, marital status) and experiential (eg, health, proxy decision making, advance directives, and death of a loved one) factors. Results Of the 1000 patients invited to participate, 728 (73%) consented and completed the questionnaire and were included in the analysis. A total of 69% of respondents answered correctly regarding refusal of treatment, 46% for withdrawal of treatment, 23% for assisted suicide, 32% for active euthanasia, and 41% for double effect. Sixty-two percent of respondents did not distinguish between assisted suicide and euthanasia. After adjustment for other covariates, better knowledge was significantly associated with white race (odds ratio [OR], 2.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-4.2), having at least a college degree (OR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.4-6.7), and having been a proxy for health care decisions (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.2-2.6). Personal experience with illness (OR, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.6-1.5), death or illness of a loved one (OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.0-2.7), and authoring an advance directive (OR,1.3; 95% CI, 0.9-2.0) were not associated with better knowledge. Conclusions A significant proportion of outpatients at university-affiliated clinics in Oregon appear to misunderstand options in end-of-life care. Our results suggest that greater public knowledge about end-of-life care is needed, and advance care planning must be preceded by education about options in end-of-life care. JAMA. 2000;284:2483-2488 www.jama.com
Consumers’ Attitudes Toward Medical Tourism

This paper identified demographic groups who are likely to participate in medical tourism and further identified three components (economic, treatment-related, travel-related) that explain their motivation to travel for treatment. We hypothesized that differences in consumer characteristics and their motivating factors would influence the consumer's attitudes toward medical tourism. We found that insurance, income, and age influence consumers' economic motivation to use medical tourism, as reflected in their attitudes toward economic incentives such as copayments and cash bonuses. Location and education influenced the travel-related motivation, as reflected in consumers' attitudes toward political stability, legal systems, infrastructure, and vacationing. The treatment-related motivation, as measured by attitudes toward quality of care, post-operative care, confidentiality, and hospital reputation, depended on a consumer's health status. This study can help medical tourism agents to refine their marketing strategies and the employers and insurance companies to better design appropriate economic incentives to encourage participation in medical tourism
Expression of p16 and Retinoblastoma Determines Response to CDK4/6 Inhibition in Ovarian Cancer

Purpose: PD-0332991 is a selective inhibitor of the CDK4/6 kinases with the ability to block retinoblastoma (Rb) phosphorylation in the low nanomolar range. Here we investigate the role of CDK4/6 inhibition in human ovarian cancer. Experimental Design: We examined the effects of PD-0332991 on proliferation, cell-cycle, apoptosis, and Rb phosphorylation using a panel of 40 established human ovarian cancer cell lines. Molecular markers for response prediction, including p16 and Rb, were studied using gene expression profiling, Western blot, and array CGH. Multiple drug effect analysis was used to study interactions with chemotherapeutic drugs. Expression of p16 and Rb was studied using immunohistochemistry in a large clinical cohort of ovarian cancer patients. Results: Concentration-dependent antiproliferative effects of PD-0332991 were seen in all ovarian cancer cell lines, but varied significantly between individual lines. Rb-proficient cell lines with low p16 expression were most responsive to CDK4/6 inhibition. Copy number variations of CDKN2A , RB , CCNE1 , and CCND1 were associated with response to PD-0332991. CDK4/6 inhibition induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, blocked Rb phosphorylation in a concentration-and time-dependent manner, and enhanced the effects of chemotherapy. Rb-proficiency with low p16 expression was seen in 97/262 (37%) of ovarian cancer patients and was independently associated with poor progression-free survival (adjusted relative risk 1.49, 95% CI 1.00–2.24, P = 0.052). Conclusions: PD-0332991 shows promising biologic activity in ovarian cancer cell lines. Assessment of Rb and p16 expression may help select patients most likely to benefit from CDK4/6 inhibition in ovarian cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 17(6); 1591–602. ©2011 AACR .
MARKET SEGMENTS AND OTHER REVELATIONS

Prudential is not exceptional at segmentation, target marketing, or positioning. In large part it doesn't need to be. The critical success factor for Prudential is not segmentation. Rather, its strength is in its size, its financial clout, its name recognition, and above all, its agency force, which covers the whole waterfront of possible market segments and is equipped with the broadest product line in the industry. It is upon this agency force that Prudential has always relied most heavily in positioning itself in the larger financial services arena.
Combination of bovine carbonic anhydrase with a fluorescent sulfonamide.

Abstract Bovine erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase forms a highly fluorescent complex with 5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulfonamide (DNSA). The binding, studied either by enhancement of ligand fluorescence or by the quenching of protein ultraviolet fluorescence, shows that only 1 mole of DNSA is bound per mole of protein; the dissociation constant at pH 7.4 is 2.5 x 10-7 m. The fluorescence of free DNSA in water has peak emission at 580 mµ and a quantum yield of only 0.055, but bound DNSA has an emission maximum at 468 mµ and a yield of 0.84. Arguments are presented to explain the large emission blue shift on the basis that the binding site is extremely hydrophobic and that the —SO2NH2 group of the ligand loses a proton upon binding to the enzyme. The binding appears specifically to involve the sulfonamide site known to exist in carbonic anhydrase; several other "fluorescent probe" compounds showed no evidence of binding to the enzyme. Calculation of the energy transfer efficiency gave the surprising result that 85% of the photons absorbed by the 7 tryptophan residues are transferred to the single bound DNSA molecule. The transfer efficiency is much higher than hitherto observed for a protein having only one 5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulfonyl group. Although the diameter of the protein is roughly 51 A, the bound DNSA group is probably within the critical transfer distance R0 (- 21.3 A) of all the tryptophans. The effective average distance between DNSA and tryptophan was found to be 16 A. The fluorescence properties of the complex were quite different from those of a conjugate prepared by reaction of 5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulfonyl chloride with carbonic anhydrase. Various considerations lead to the conclusion that the sulfonamide-binding site and the tryptophan residues are in the interior of the protein. The tryptophan fluorescence of the protein was 73% quenched by the binding of 1 DNSA molecule. Although large, this degree of quenching was less than the over-all efficiency of energy transfer of photons absorbed by the protein. This result indicates that the fluorescence efficiencies of the 7 tryptophans are different, and that DNSA is bound in such a way that energy transfer occurs with greater probability from those tryptophan residues which are relatively less fluorescent. DNSA inhibits the esterase activity of carbonic anhydrase as tested with the substrate, p-nitrophenyl acetate. Direct measurements of fluorescence decay times permitted calculation of the rotational relaxation time of carbonic anhydrase from depolarization of fluorescence data. The value of about 30 nsec for the relaxation time is consistent with a low degree of molecular asymmetry.
Predictors of airway intervention in angioedema of the head and neck.

OBJECTIVE: Records of patients presenting with angioedema of the head and neck were analyzed to determine clinical factors that predict the need for airway intervention.METHODS: A review of patients with angioedema of the head and neck over a 10-year period was conducted. Data were collected regarding demographics, cause of edema, and sites of involvement. A logistic regression model was used to ascertain whether any clinical variables were significant in predicting the need for airway intervention.RESULTS: Review of 138 charts with an admitting diagnosis of angioedema yielded 66 cases of angioedema of the head and neck in 48 patients. Twenty-three (34.8%) patients required airway intervention. Logistic regression identified increasing age and angioedema involving the oral cavity/ oropharynx as predictors of airway intervention; involvement of other sites, cause, and sex were not predictive.CONCLUSION: Location of edema and patient age predict which patients with angioedema of the head and neck are likely...
'Finish your soup': Counterproductive effects of pressuring children to eat on intake and affect

The authors examined whether pressuring preschoolers to eat would affect food intake and preferences, using a repeated-measures experimental design. In the experimental condition, children were pressured to eat by a request to finish their food. We collected intake data, heights and weights, child-feeding practices data, and children's comments about the food. Children consumed significantly more food when they were not pressured to eat and they made overwhelmingly fewer negative comments. Children who were pressured to eat at home had lower body mass index percentile scores and were less affected by the pressure in the lab setting than children who were not pressured at home. These data provide experimental evidence supporting previous correlational research indicating that pressure can have negative effects on children's affective responses to and intake of healthy foods.
Dimethyl Fumarate Protects Pancreatic Islet Cells and Non-Endocrine Tissue in L-Arginine-Induced Chronic Pancreatitis

Background Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a progressive disorder resulting in the destruction and fibrosis of the pancreatic parenchyma which ultimately leads to impairment of the endocrine and exocrine functions. Dimethyl Fumarate (DMF) was recently approved by FDA for treatment of patients with multiple sclerosis. DMF's unique anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties make it an interesting drug to test on other inflammatory conditions. This study was undertaken to determine the effects of DMF on islet cells and non-endocrine tissue in a rodent model of L-Arginine-induced CP.
Safety and efficacy of carotid angioplasty/stenting in 100 consecutive high surgical risk patients: immediate and long-term follow-up.

Background/purpose. This study analyzes the safety and efficacy of carotid angioplasty/stenting (CAS) with embolic protection devices in high surgical risk (HSR) patients. Patient population/methods. This study includes 100 consecutive HSR patients, who were followed prospectively, and had carotid duplex ultrasounds at 1 month and every 6 months thereafter. A Kaplan—Meier lifetable analysis was used to estimate survival rates, rates of freedom from stroke, and freedom from ≥50% in-stent restenosis. Results. Mean age was 69.6 years. There were 59 men and 41 women. Mean follow-up was 26.1 months (range, 1-50). Indications for CAS were symptomatic ≥50% stenosis in 47% and ≥80% asymptomatic stenosis in 53%. Procedure success rate was 100%. HSR includes 33% with restenosis and cardiac comorbidity, 21% with restenosis and cardiac/medical comorbidities, 13% with restenosis only, and 33% with cardiac/medical comorbidities. The 30-day perioperative stroke rate was 2% with no perioperative deaths or MI. Stroke-free...