cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determination of Metoprolol in Human Plasma by Liquid Chromatography Tandem-Mass Spectrometry

A high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed for the determination of Metoprolol in human plasma. Liquid-liquid extraction technique was employed to extract Metoprolol and the internal standard (IS) from the plasma. The separation was achieved on a unison US C18 column (50 x 4.6mm and 3.5μm) with isocratic elution by using a mobile phase consisting of 10mM ammonium acetate and acetonitrile. Electro spray ionization in multiple reactions monitoring mode was used to monitor the parent and the daughter ions of the analyte and the internal standard. The response was linear over a range of 5 to 500 ng/ml concentration with a correlation coefficient (r2) greater than 0.996. The validated method can be applied to pharmacokinetic and bioequivalence studies.
The Respiratory Chain of Plant Mitochondria XI. Electron Transport from Succinate to Endogenous Pyridine Nucleotide in Mung Bean Mitochondria

Energy-linked reverse electron transport from succinate to endogenous NAD in tightly coupled mung bean (Phaseolus aureus) mitochondria may be driven by ATP if the two terminal oxidases of these mitochondria are inhibited, or may be driven by the free energy of succinate oxidation. This reaction is specific to the first site of energy conservation of the respiratory chain; it does not occur in the presence of uncoupler. If mung bean mitochondria become anaerobic during oxidation of succinate, their endogenous NAD becomes reduced in the presence of uncoupler, provided that both inorganic phosphate (P(i)) and ATP are present. No reduction occurs in the absence of P(i), even in the presence of ATP added to provide a high phosphate potential. If fluorooxaloacetate is present in the uncoupled, aerobic steady state, no reduction of endogenous NAD occurs on anaerobiosis; this compound is an inhibitor of malate dehydrogenase. This result implies that endogenous NAD is reduced by malate formed from the fumarate generated during succinate oxidation. The source of free energy is most probably the endogenous energy stores in the form of acetyl CoA, or intermediates convertible to acetyl CoA, which removes the oxaloacetate formed from malate, thus driving the reaction towards reduction of NAD.In the absence of P(i) and presence of oligomycin, oxidation of succinate by the alternative cyanide-insensitive oxidase pathway, in the presence of sulfide to inhibit cytochrome oxidase, does not reduce endogenous NAD, either in the aerobic steady state or in anaerobiosis. Under these conditions, only the reversed electron transport pathway from succinate to endogenous NAD is active and ATP cannot interact with the respiratory chain. The source of energy for NAD reduction must come from the respiratory chain, and this result shows that oxidation of succinate through the alternate pathway does not provide this energy.
Atherosclerosis and Coronary Artery Disease: From Basics to Genetics

Despite the tremendous progress in primary and secondary prevention, coronary artery disease (CAD) is unfortunately among the leading causes of death globally. Atherosclerosis, the underlying pathology of CAD, is the result of multiple complex mechanisms, many of which still remain unclear. In order to prevent or treat atherosclerotic complications, it is imperative to clarify and comprehend the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis. The central role of lipoproteins and inflammation in atherosclerosis has been validated in many studies. Genome-wide association studies identified the first genetic loci associated with CAD, confirming the detrimental role of lipoproteins and underscoring the presence of unknown mechanisms. Further deciphering of the molecular and gene mechanisms that lead to atherosclerosis provided novel therapeutic targets such as proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor and mipomersen.
SMART coils for intracranial aneurysm embolization: Initial outcomes.

Abstract Objectives Endovascular technology for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms continues to rapidly evolve. The SMART coil (Penumbra Inc., Alameda, CA, USA) is a novel microcoil designed to enhance deliverability. The aim of this single-center, retrospective cohort study is to assess the initial outcomes after aneurysm embolization using SMART coils. Patients and methods We reviewed consecutive patients with intracranial aneurysms who underwent endovascular embolization using SMART coils from June 2016 to January 2017. Baseline and initial outcomes data were analyzed. Results The study cohort was comprised of 32 patients with 33 aneurysms. The mean age was 55.8 years. The majority (85%) of aneurysms were located in the anterior circulation. The mean aneurysm maximum diameter and neck width were 6.0 mm and 3.1 mm, respectively. Dome irregularity and fusiform aneurysm morphology were noted in 33% and 9% of aneurysms, respectively, and 15% presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage. No serious procedural complications occurred, including microcatheter prolapse, intraprocedural aneurysm rupture, or thromboembolism. Device malfunction occurred in one case (3%). The mean packing density was 25%, and the degree of immediate post-embolization aneurysm occlusion was a modified Raymond-Roy grade I, II, IIIa, and IIIb in 48%, 27%, 18%, and 6%, respectively. Conclusion Our preliminary findings suggest that the SMART coil has a favorable initial risk to benefit profile for the embolization of appropriately selected aneurysms. Additional studies of larger cohorts are necessary to determine the mid-term and long-term clinical and angiographic outcomes of aneurysm patients treated with the SMART coil.
Seizure prophylaxis in the neuroscience intensive care unit

Seizures are a considerable complication in critically ill patients. Their incidence is significantly high in neurosciences intensive care unit patients. Seizure prophylaxis with anti-epileptic drugs is a common practice in neurosciences intensive care unit. However, its utility in patients without clinical seizure, with an underlying neurological injury, is somewhat controversial. In this article, we have reviewed the evidence for seizure prophylaxis in commonly encountered neurological conditions in neurosciences intensive care unit and discussed the possible prognostic role of continuous electroencephalography monitoring in detecting early seizures in critically ill patients. Based on the current evidence and guidelines, we have proposed a presumptive protocol for seizure prophylaxis in neurosciences intensive care unit. Patients with severe traumatic brain injury and possible subarachnoid hemorrhage seem to benefit with a short course of anti-epileptic drug. In patients with other neurological illnesses, the use of continuous electroencephalography would make sense rather than indiscriminately administering anti-epileptic drug.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Prevention of Chronic Postsurgical Pain and Opioid Use in At-Risk Veterans: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract High levels of pain, significant anxiety, or depressive symptoms before surgery put patients at elevated risk for chronic pain and prolonged opioid use following surgery. The purpose of this preliminary study was to assess the efficacy of a 1-day Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) workshop in “at-risk” veterans for the prevention of chronic pain and opioid use following orthopedic surgery. In a randomized controlled trial, 88 at-risk veterans undergoing orthopedic surgery were assigned to treatment as usual (TAU; n = 44) or TAU plus a 1-day ACT workshop (n = 44). Pain levels and opioid use were assessed up to 3 months following surgery. Pain acceptance and values-based behavior were assessed at baseline and 3-month follow-up. Participants who completed the ACT workshop reached pain and opioid cessation sooner than those in TAU. Postoperative complications exhibited a moderating effect on these outcomes, such that the effects of ACT were greater in patients without complications. Increases in pain acceptance and values-based behavior, processes targeted in ACT, were related to better outcomes. These promising results merit further investigation in a larger clinical trial. Providing an intervention before surgery for at-risk veterans has the potential to change clinical practice from a focus on management of postoperative pain to prevention of chronic pain in at-risk individuals. Perspective This pilot study compared the effects of a 1-day preventive behavioral intervention (ACT) to TAU in at-risk veterans undergoing orthopedic surgery. Three months following the intervention, veterans receiving ACT exhibited quicker cessation of pain and opioid use. Focusing on preoperative pain management may help prevent chronic postsurgical pain.
Review of Linear Algebra

Linear algebra is about the simplification of matrices. Broadly speaking, there are two types of matrix simplifications. Matrices can be simplified through a method called elimination or matrices can be simplified through a process called spectral decomposition. Matrix simplification through elimination produces diagonal and triangular matrices and is used extensively in the solution of linear systems of the form $$ Ax = b. $$
Data and Process Models for Concurrent Engineering of Mechanical Systems

This paper presents a framework for computer aided engineering (CAE) that has been developed for Concurrent Engineering of mechanical system design and analysis. The framework integrates engineering software systems in a tool-workspace-subenvironment-environment hierarchy. A workspace or a subenvironment represents an engineering application or discipline. The paper discusses (1) an object-oriented tool integration method to integrate engineering applications, (2) global and local data models that are used to integrate product information at different hierarchical levels, and (3) an engineering process modeling method that expresses engineering activities as tool or workspace runstreams. The developments in these three aspects of the framework build a basis to develop activity coordination capabilities. Some considerations that are related to engineering activity coordination are discussed at the end of the paper. The CAE framework presented can be extended for computer aided manufacturing (CAM) applications also.
Learning to Care about Patient Safety.

When a physician’s mother was hospitalized, she leanred firsthand that not until safety is an emphasized part of everyone’s job description can we hope to reduce the great number of preventable errors taking place in our hospitals.
Bioremediation of Nitroglycerin: State of the Science

Nitroglycerin [glycerol trinitrate, GTN, C3H5(NO3)3] was discovered in 1847 by Asconio Sobrero, a student at the University of Turin (US Army 1984).
The Concept of “Community” in Catholic Parishes

This chapter analyzes data from a series of surveys of over 800 U.S. Catholic parishes conducted over a 10-year period by the Center for Applied Research at Georgetown University. She finds a curious outcome: the larger the parish the more likely parishioners were to evaluate the community and hospitality favorably, but parishes with little member turnover and more stability were less likely to evaluate community and hospitality as favorably. Members in the larger parishes, however, were also less likely actually to be involved in community-building and outreach activities. Wittberg thus raises questions about what this holds for the future of the American Catholic parish when almost three-fourths of American Catholics do not attend Mass (hence are not included in the surveys at all) and how to weigh the satisfaction of the quarter who do attend over against the larger body of non-attendees.
Filgrastim for Cladribine-Induced Neutropenic Fever in Patients With Hairy Cell Leukemia

Cladribine treatment of hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is complicated by neutropenic fever in 42% of patients despite documented infections being relatively uncommon. We performed a study of priming filgrastim followed by cladribine and then filgrastim again to determine if filgrastim would lead to a reduction of neutropenia and febrile episodes. Thirty-five patients received filgrastim and cladribine and were compared with 105 historic controls treated with cladribine alone. Cladribine was administered at 0.1 mg/kg/d by continuous infusion for 7 days. Filgrastim was administered at 5 micrograms/kg/d subcutaneously on days -3, -2, and -1 and then again after the completion of cladribine until the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) was >/=2 x 10(9)/L on 2 consecutive days (days +8, +9, etc). After filgrastim priming, the median ANC increased from 0.9 x 10(9)/L to 2.26 x 10(9)/L (2.5-fold increase), and after cladribine, the median nadir ANC in the filgrastim-treated group was 0.53 x 10(9)/L compared with 0.29 x 10(9)/L among historic controls (P =. 04). The median number of days to an ANC greater than 1.0 x 10(9)/L was 9 days in the filgrastim-treated group versus 22 days among historic controls (P < 10(-5)). The percentage of febrile patients, number of febrile days, and frequency of admissions for antibiotics were not statistically different in the two groups. Filgrastim regularly increases the ANC in patients with HCL and shortens the duration of severe neutropenia after cladribine. This phase II study, with comparison to historical controls, failed to detect any clinical advantage from the use of filgrastim and cladribine in the treatment of HCL. Accordingly, the routine adjunctive use of filgrastim with cladribine in the treatment of HCL cannot be recommended.
Computational Statistical Mechanics

In the last chapter, we showed that in many cases, the computation of properties of mechanical systems with many variables reduces to the evaluation of averages with respect to the canonical density \({e}^{-\beta H}/Z\). We now show how such calculations can be done, using the Ising model as an example.
Multicomponent Reaction Sequences Using Palladacyclic Complexes

Abstract Multicomponent reactions, defined as synthetic protocols that join together three or more substrates in a highly regio- and stereoselective manner to deliver structurally complex organic molecules, have seen a dramatic rise in applications in all fields of organic synthesis. Palladium catalysis encompassing number of historically significant Nobel prize-winning transformations have played a prominent role in the development of novel multicomponent reactions. An important subset of the palladium-catalyzed multicomponent reactions feature a cyclopalladated complex as the key component or reactive intermediate. In this review, we highlight most notable multicomponent reactions, including polymerizations, reported over the past decade (past 2008) that feature palladacycles in all different mechanistic roles, including: (i) multicomponent reactions using palladium catalyst with a cyclopalladated auxiliary ligand; (ii) multicomponent reactions involving in situ palladation of the substrate; (iii) multicomponent reactions with a stoichiometric cyclopalladated complex. Selected mechanistic studies that are relevant to elucidating the role played by cyclopalladated complexes in carbon-carbon bond formation are discussed where appropriate.
On the volume growth of Kähler manifolds with nonnegative bisectional curvature

Let $M$ be a complete Kahler manifold with nonnegative bisectional curvature. Suppose the universal cover does not split and $M$ admits a nonconstant holomorphic function with polynomial growth; we prove $M$ must be of maximal volume growth. This confirms a conjecture of Ni in “A monotonicity formula on complete Kahler manifolds with nonnegative bisectional curvature”, [J. Amer. Math. Soc. 17 (2004), 909–946, MR 2083471, Zbl 1071.58020]. There are two essential ingredients in the proof: the Cheeger–Colding theory on Gromov–Hausdorff convergence of manifolds, and the three-circle theorem for holomorphic functions in “Three circle theorems on Kahler manifolds and applications” by G. Liu [Arxiv: 1308.0710].
Anion photoelectron spectroscopy of the linear CnH2n+1O− (n = 1–9) alkoxides

Abstract The photoelectron spectra of the linear CnH2n+1O− (n = 1–9) alkoxide anions are presented, building on previous reports pertaining to n = 1–3. The vertical detachment energies (VDE) and electron affinities (EA) show a monotonic increase with carbon chain length and are used in thermochemical cycles in conjunction with previously reported gas phase acidities of their corresponding alcohols to determine the O H bond dissociation energies for these alcohols.
Pathways toward Change: Ideologies and Gender Equality in a Silicon Valley Technology Company:

Companies have devoted significant resources to diversity programs, yet such programs are often largely ineffective. Cultivating an organizational commitment to diversity is critical, but scholars ...
Safe Ground Transport of Pediatric COVID-19 Patients-A Single-Center First-Surge Experience.

Objectives The COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges to pediatric transport programs. The aims of this study were to describe the transport of pediatric patients with confirmed COVID-19 and to review the operational challenges that our transport system encountered. Methods A retrospective descriptive study was performed to review all COVID-19 pediatric transport performed over a 6-month period during the initial pandemic surge in 2020. Pediatric patients with a known positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction test at the time of transport were included. Patients' hospital records, including their transport record, were reviewed for demographics, diagnoses, transport interventions and complications, and admission disposition. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the patient cohort. Results Of the 883 transports performed between April and October 2020, 146 (16%) tested positive for COVID-19 during the initial surge in our geographical area. Patient acuity was diverse with 40% of children having a chronic complex medical condition. More than 25% of children required aerosol-generating procedures during transport. The most common medical diagnosis was respiratory compromise, and the most common surgical diagnosis was appendicitis. No adverse events occurred during transports, and no transport team members contracted COVID-19 because of workplace exposure. Transport program operational challenges ranged from rapidly changing system logistics/policies to educational and utilization of proper personal protective equipment. Conclusions Children with COVID-19 can be transported safely with adaption of transport program procedures. Change management and team stress should be anticipated and can be addressed with repeated education and messaging.
Do Investors Recognize Biases in Analysts' Forecasts?

This study presents direct evidence on the question whether investors recognize the widely documented biases in securities analysts’ earnings forecasts. The internal rate of return implied by current stock price and consensus earnings forecasts is found to be correlated with indicators of bias in a manner consistent with investors discounting optimistic earnings forecasts at higher rates of return and less optimistic forecasts at lower rates of return. In a departure from studies of excess returns, the evidence in implied returns indicates that investors recognize the biases in analysts’ earnings forecasts.
Operando Methods in Electrocatalysis

Electrocatalysis has been the cornerstone for enhancing energy efficiency, minimizing environmental impacts and carbon emissions, and enabling a more sustainable way of meeting global energy needs....
Left ventricular myocardial strain and tissue characterization by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in immune checkpoint inhibitor associated cardiotoxicity.

Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are highly effective in treating cancer; however, cardiotoxicity can occur, including myocarditis. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is useful for evaluation of myocarditis, although it has not been well studied in ICI cardiotoxicity. Methods We identified patients referred for CMR evaluation of ICI cardiotoxicity from September 2015 through September 2019. We assessed structural and functional parameters, feature tracking (FT) left ventricular and atrial strain, T2- weighted ratios and quantitative late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). We also applied the Updated Lake Louise Criteria for diagnosis of myocarditis. Results Of the 20 patients referred, the median left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 52.5% ± 19.1 and 50% had a normal LVEF (≥53%). FT strain analysis revealed an average abnormal global longitudinal strain (GLS) of -9.8%± 4.2%. In patients with a normal LVEF, the average GLS remained depressed at -12.3%± 2.4%. In all patients, GLS demonstrated a significant negative correlation with LVEF (rs = -0.64, p 0.002). Sixteen patients (80%) had presence of LGE (14 non-ischemic pattern and 2 ischemic). Percent LGE did not correlate with any CMR parameters and notably did not correlate with LVEF (rs = -0.29, p = 0.22) or GLS (rs = 0.10, p = 0.67), highlighting the value of tissue characterization beyond functional assessment. Nine patients (45%) met full Updated Lake Louise Criteria and 85% met at least one criterion, suggestive of myocarditis in the correct clinical context. Thirteen patients (65%) were treated for ICI-associated myocarditis and, of these, 54% (n = 7) had recovery of LVEF to normal. There was no correlation between LVEF (p = 0.47), GLS (0.89), or % LGE (0.15) and recovery of LVEF with treatment. Conclusion In patients with suspected ICI cardiotoxicity, CMR is an important diagnostic tool, even in the absence of overt left ventricular dysfunction, as abnormalities in left ventricular strain, T2 signal and LGE can identifying disease.
Feature-driven Economic Improvement for Network-constrained Unit Commitment: A Closed-loop Predict-and-optimize Framework

As an important application in the power system operation and electricity market clearing, the network-constrained unit commitment (NCUC) problem is usually executed by Independent System Operators (ISO) in an open-looped predict-then-optimize (O-PO) process, in which an upstream prediction (e.g., on renewable energy sources (RES) and loads) and a downstream NCUC are executed in a queue. However, in the O-PO framework, a statistically more accurate prediction may not necessarily lead to a higher NCUC economics against actual RES and load realizations. To this end, this paper presents a closed-loop predict-and-optimize (C-PO) framework for improving the NCUC economics. Specifically, the C-PO leverages structures (i.e., constraints and objective) of the NCUC model and relevant feature data to train a cost-oriented RES prediction model, in which the prediction quality is evaluated via the induced NCUC cost instead of the statistical forecast errors. Therefore, the loop between the prediction and the optimization is closed to deliver a cost-oriented RES power prediction for NCUC optimization. Lagrangian relaxation is adopted to accelerate the training process, making the C-PO applicable for real-world systems. Case studies with real-world data show that the proposed C-PO can effectively improve the NCUC economics as compared to the traditional O-PO.
Aquinas, Aristotle, and the Promise of the Common Good

Part I. Virtue, Law and the Problem of the Common Good: 1. Why Aquinas? Reconsidering and receiving the common good 2. Contemporary responses to the problem of the common good: three Anglo-American theories Part II. Aquinas's Social and Civic Foundations: 3. Unearthing and appropriating Aristotle's foundations: from three Anglo-American theorists back to Thomas Aquinas 4. Reinforcing the foundations: Aquinas on the problem of political virtue and regime-centered political science 5. Finishing the foundations and beginning to build: Aquinas on human action and excellence as social, civic, and religious Part III. Moral Virtues at the Nexus of Personal and Common Goods: 6. Remodeling the moral edifice (I): Aquinas and Aristotelian magnanimity 7. Remodeling the moral edifice (II): Aquinas and Aristotelian legal justice Part IV. Politics, Human Law, and Transpolitical Virtue: 8. Aquinas's two pedagogies: human law and the good of moral virtue 9. Theological virtue and Thomisitic political theory.
Enabling SCADA cluster and cloud for smart grid using hierarchical multicast; the PTMF framework

The increasing number of new devices and RTUs connecting to smart grid is complicating the scalability of entire control systems as they are more overloaded due to the number of connections, and even more, by the complex synchronization mechanism used between principal and emergency multisite systems. On this paper, we present how multicast protocols could be used on telecontrol front-ends of SCADA systems to reduce the number of connections, load and bandwidth, improving efficiency and reducing network costs. Applying multicast will provide the use of complete functional and operative distributed SCADA clusters along the enterprise, easily full multisite, plug and play, to be used on an active-active form by distributed control centers. Options to use a private cloud in an enterprise are presented too. Finally, we present PTMF, a hierarchical reliable multicast protocol and framework to be used in both environments one-to-many (1:N) as well as many-to-many (N:N). PTMF gets great scalability by organizing the members participating on hierarchical local groups. PTMF uses a hybrid reliable control technique, based on receiver and on sender, with an error control distributed among all members of each local group. The protocol can operate in four modes: Reliable, Late Reliable (it allows new members to join to the current connection), Unreliable and Sorted Unreliable. PTMF uses both multicast and unicast retransmissions, it has flow control and congestion avoidance features; it incorporates cypher and authentication of packets and allows control of bandwidth consumed by each multicast sender.
Evaluation of the updated YSU planetary boundary layer scheme within WRF for wind resource and air quality assessments

[1] In previous studies, the Yonsei University (YSU) planetary boundary layer (PBL) scheme implemented in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model was reported to perform less well at night, while performing better during the day. Compared to observations, predicted nocturnal low-level jets (LLJs) were typically weaker and higher. Also, the WRF model with Chemistry (WRF/Chem) with the YSU scheme was reported to sometimes overestimate near-surface ozone (O3) concentration during the nighttime. The updates incorporated in WRF version 3.4.1, include modifications of the nighttime velocity scale used in the YSU boundary layer scheme. The impacts of this update on the prediction of nighttime boundary layers and related implications for wind resource assessment and air quality simulations are examined in this study. The WRF/Chem model with the updated YSU scheme predicts smaller eddy diffusivities in the nighttime boundary layer, and consequently lower and stronger LLJs over a domain focusing on the southern Great Plains area, showing a better agreement with the observations. As a result, related overestimation problems for near-surface temperature and wind speeds appear to be resolved, and the nighttime minimum near-surface O3 concentrations are better captured. Simulated vertical distributions of meteorological and chemical variables for weak wind regimes (e.g., in the absence of LLJ) are less impacted by the YSU updates.
Addressing Sexual Minority Issues in Social Work Education: A Curriculum Framework

This paper will explore a curriculum framework that explicitly addresses the reduction of heterosexism as a means to produce students that are culturally competent of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community. Van Den Bergh and Crisp (2004) place great importance on addressing beliefs/attitudes, knowledge, and skills when broaching culturally competent practice with the LGBTQ population. Beliefs/attitudes, knowledge, and skills in an educational approach will be advocated in this paper. Specifically, the creation of a constructivist environment will be endorsed as a means for students to critically assess their own beliefs/attitudes, knowledge, and skills. A curriculum framework that utilizes classroom activities related to heterosexual privilege, policy, and practice role plays will be discussed. This curriculum framework is intended to prepare social work students to work with LGBTQ clients.
A Role for MRE11, NBS1, and Recombination Junctions in Replication and Stable Maintenance of EBV Episomes

Recombination-like structures formed at origins of DNA replication may contribute to replication fidelity, sister chromatid cohesion, chromosome segregation, and overall genome stability. The Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) origin of plasmid replication (OriP) provides episomal genome stability through a poorly understood mechanism. We show here that recombinational repair proteins MRE11 and NBS1 are recruited to the Dyad Symmetry (DS) region of OriP in a TRF2- and cell cycle-dependent manner. Depletion of MRE11 or NBS1 by siRNA inhibits OriP replication and destabilized viral episomes. OriP plasmid maintenance was defective in MRE11 and NBS1 hypomorphic fibroblast cell lines and only integrated, non-episomal forms of EBV were detected in a lympoblastoid cell line derived from an NBS1-mutated individual. Two-dimensional agarose gel analysis of OriP DNA revealed that recombination-like structures resembling Holliday-junctions form at OriP in mid S phase. MRE11 and NBS1 association with DS coincided with replication fork pausing and origin activation, which preceded the formation of recombination structures. We propose that NBS1 and MRE11 promote replication-associated recombination junctions essential for EBV episomal maintenance and genome stability.
Performance Evaluation of Radio Environment Map-Enabled Cognitive Spectrum-Sharing Networks

In recent years, cognitive radio (CR) has been introduced as a new paradigm for enabling much higher spectrum utilization by dynamically accessing and sharing the spectrum with incumbent radio devices. This paper proposes an innovative and practical spectrum-sharing approach and evaluates its performance. The goal is to minimize CR's harmful interference to incumbent primary users and to maximize the utility of spectrum-sharing networks by exploiting the proposed radio environment map (REM). REM-enabled CR adaptation algorithms are developed for various operational environments, namely, the open area and the dense urban area. This paper also compares the performance gain when using the Global REM and the Local REM, respectively. The impact of imperfect REM information due to node mobility and REM dissemination delay is simulated. By exploiting the REM information, CR can make situation-aware adaptations in transmit power, transmit timing, routing protocol, and topology, thereby reducing interference to primary users. More importantly, the painful hidden node or hidden receiver problem can be mitigated with the help of the Global REM. REM-enabled CR could be a cost-efficient and reliable approach to "waterfilling" underutilized spectrum in both space and time domains.
Barriers to Prevention: Ethnic and Gender Differences in Latino Adolescent Motivations for Engaging in Risky Behaviors

Using a sample from the Longitudinal Study of Adolescent health (Add health), we tested whether psychosocial motivation or health factors were the best predictors of sexual engagement by Latinos. The Latino sample (3,460) included sub samples of Mexican (n = 1587) Chicano (n = 137), Cuban (n = 501), Puerto Rican (n = 586), Central/South American (n = 367) adolescents and individuals self-identified as Hispanic other (n = 282). Our findings showed that most Latino adolescents understood that if they had unprotected sex they were at risk for HIV/AIDS and STI’s. Additionally, as we hypothesized, the motivation items were better predictors of sexual engagement than the health risk items. However, the motivation items were only significant for the females with one exception, the Mexican males. There were other subgroup differences as well. Our findings have important implications for prevention strategies.
Laparoscopic burch and paravaginal repair and incidence of lower urinary tract injury

Abstract Objective: This study was undertaken to determine the rate of injury to the lower urinary tract during laparoscopic Burch urethropexy and/or paravaginal repair. Methods: The charts of 159 consecutive patients from January 1997 to July 1999 who underwent laparoscopic Burch and/or paravaginal repair were reviewed. All patients had intraoperative transurethral video cystoscopy performed with intravenous injection of indigo carmine dye to assess potential injury to the bladder or ureter. Results: Lower urinary tract injury was diagnosed in 4 of 159 (2.5%) patients having laparoscopic Burch and/or paravaginal repair. All 4 injuries were cystotomies with 3 occurring during Burch urethropexy and 1 during a paravaginal repair. Two of these patients had previous open retropubic urethropexies (1 MMK and 1 prolene mesh urethropexy). No ureteral ligations or intravesical suture placement were diagnosed. No statistical differences in demographics or surgical parameters were found when comparing patients with and without injuries. Conclusions: Despite most patients in this study having both Burch urethropexy and paravaginal repair, the lower urinary tract injury rate of 2.5% is much lower than the reported injury rate of 10% for patients who have Burch urethropexy alone performed via laparotomy. The reported benefits of laparoscopy, including less blood loss and better visualization may explain the lower incidence of injury. The authors believe the laparoscopic approach, performed by experienced surgeons, may reduce lower urinary tract injury during anterior vaginal wall reconstruction.
Could the coculture of skeletal myoblasts and mesenchymal stem cells be a solution for postinfarction myocardial scar

Currently two lines of research have been proposed for treatment of heart failure in an attempt to address its main cause: skeletal myoblast (SM) transplants, which increase the contractile muscular mass, and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplants, which increase neoangiogenesis. The objective of this study was to establish methods whereby cocultures of SM and MSC proliferate and expand, making possible the interaction of these cell types prior to their transplantation to the myocardium. Seeking to support the survival of these cells after myocardial transplantation and achieve subsequent functional improvement, SM and MSC from 10 rats were isolated and cultivated in DMEM medium supplemented with 15% fetal calf serum, 1% ATB, and growth factors. Following plating in variable proportions of satellite cells/mononuclear cells namely 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, morphological observations were made regarding cell survival, adhesion to substrate, and confluence. After 48 hours nonadherent cells were aspirated from the flasks, leaving the adherent cells, SM, and MSC. The better level of cell proliferation was observed with the proportion 2:1 cocultivated at a concentration of 5 x 10(5)/mL for 14 days. The results were satisfactory; the cell production was up to 10(8), increasing the chances of transplant success after myocardial infarction. Transplants with this model are ongoing.
Seepage flow problems by variational inequalities: Theory and approximation

The theory of variational inequalities enables us to formulate and solve free boundary problems in fixed domains, while most other methods assume the position of the unknown domain in solving the problem. Here the problem of seepage flow through a rectangular dam with a free boundary is formulated as a vertical inequality following the ideas of Baiocchi. In order to demonstrate the essential ideas of extending the domain of the solution of problems with free boundaries, the problem of the deflection, of a string on a rigid support is first examined. Next, variational inequalities are derived which are associated with several cases of seepage problems. An approximation theory, including a priori error estimates, is developed using finite element methods, and an associated numerical scheme is given. It is shown that for linear and quadratic finite element methods, the rates of convergence are 0(h) and 0(h1.25-δ), 0 < δ < 0.25, respectively, if the permeability is constant.
Transmembrane Ion Distribution and Insulin Secretiona

The sodium dependence of insulin release was studied with the in vitro perfused principal islet of channel catfish. When extracellular sodium was replaced with choline, glucose-induced insulin release and glucose enhancement of arginine-induced insulin release were selectively abolished. Lowering the extracellular pH from 7.6 to 7.1 had a similar selective effect on glucose-induced insulin release. It is suggested that the Na:H antiport is responsible for the sodium dependence of insulin release and that a lowered cytosolic pH preferentially inhibits the glucose sensing mechanism.
An appropriate mesh representation for tetrahedral finite volume computations

The amounts of information used for the solution of three-dimensional partial differential equations in engineering applications is formidable. Part of the problem is that in unstructured meshes (adequate for advanced numerical techniques) the information is local in nature. An alternate representation of an unstructured tetrahedral mesh is proposed. Besides having some storage advantages over representations commonly used for finite volume computations, we show that preprocessing complexity is lower than in the conventional representation. The resulting simplified structure may result in significant gains for applications that go through a number of mesh refinement cycles.
Urinary androgen and corticoid levels in captive, male Western lowland gorillas (Gorilla g. gorilla): Age- and social group-related differences

Urinary androgen and corticoid levels were measured for 52 captive male Western lowland gorillas to examine age-related variance and potential differences resulting from various social situations. Significant diurnal variation was present in both hormones. Age-related differences in androgens revealed that males experienced two stages of androgen increase and one stage of decrease: increases occurred from juvenile (less than 10 yr of age) to subadult (between 10-13 yr) and subadult to young adult (14-20 yr), whereas decreases occurred from young adult to adult (> 20 yr). Age-related differences in corticoid levels varied depending on the time of day, but morning corticoids were greatest in juvenile males, followed by young adult males. The type of social grouping was associated with differences in corticoid levels, as animals housed socially (in either a heterosexual or all-male group) had similar corticoid levels, whereas solitary males showed greater corticoid levels than their socially-housed counterparts. The increased levels of corticoids in solitary-housed males suggest this management strategy might not be optimal, although more data are needed. Additionally, the significantly greater levels of androgens and corticoids in young adult male gorillas may present management challenges, and thus zoos may need to consider increasing the flexibility of their current management practices with respect to males.
Comparative Epidemiology of Four Deep Mycoses — a Review/Vergleichende Epidemiologie von vier tiefen (Organ‐) Mykosen — eine Übersicht

Summary: Coccidioidomycosis and histoplasmosis are two mycoses clearly identified as inhalation infection, originating from fungus-particle-containing dust. In blastomycosis and paracoccidioidomycosis, the chain of events, soil-lung, is suspected but less well documented. The incidence of the four diseases varies a great deal and so does overt disease. Soil is accepted as habitat of Coccidioides immitis and Histoplasma capsulatum; the role of bats in the propagation of histoplasmosis is discussed. No explanation is found for the existence of endemic areas for any of the four major mycoses nor for the essential limitation of the extent of the endemic areas. Zusammenfassung: Coccidioidomykose und Histoplasmose sind Mykosen, deren primare Infektion ohne Zweifel durch Einatmung von pilzhaltigem Staub (Erde) verursacht wird. Fur die Blastomykose und die Paracoccidioidomykose wird eine Entstehung auf diese Weise gleichfalls postuliert; sie ist aber weniger sicher erwiesen. Die Zahl der Erkrankungen durch Mykosen schwankt sehr. Die Erde wird als Habitat des Coccoidioides immitis und des Histoplasma capsulatum anerkannt. Die Rolle der Fledermause bei der Ausbreitung der Histoplasmose wird diskutiert. Es gibt keine eindeutige Erklarung fur die Existenz der endemischen Gegenden oder fur das umschriebene Vorkommen derselben.
Effects of Training with Knowledge of Results on Diagnosticity in Vigilance Performance

Making accurate diagnostic decisions about signal presence/absence is critical for success in many failure intolerant monitoring technologies requiring sustained attention or vigilance. This study examined the effects of training with knowledge of results (KR) on observer diagnosticity in a vigilance task. Diagnosticty was measured in terms of decision theory measures of positive predictive power (PPP) -precision in indicating when signals were actually present and negative predictive power (NPP) - precision when indicating signal absence. Initial training with KR enhanced observers' diagnosticity on a subsequent test task in terms of PPP but not NPP. The picture of performance efficiency reflected by both diagnostic measures differed from results indexed by signal detection theory (SDT) measures of perceptual sensitivity (d') and response bias (c). However as predicted from the computational mechanics of the decision theory and SDT measures, both diagnostic measures correlated positively with d' while NP...
Lessons from Adult Education: Identifying and Exploring Emerging Ethical Issues in Technologically Enhanced Performance

Technologically Enhanced Performance (TEP) is the application of technology to improve the performance of knowledge workers. TEP is both an intellectual and ideological complement to the field of Adult Education. As such, much can be learned about ethical issues associated with implementing TEP from the established research and literature base in Adult Education. The application of TEP in organizations brings to light at least six as-yet-unresolved ethical dilemmas that have been identified through empirical research of Adult Education/ Training and Development practitioners: Confidentiality, Ownership of Instructional Materials, Conflicts of Interest, Finance and Financial Issues, Evaluating Student Performance, and Professional Competence and Credentials (Gordon & Sork, 2001; McDonald & Wood, 1993). Essential to resolving these issues is a framework for effective ethical decision making. McDonald's model on ways to reconcile ethical dilemmas in practice proposes that individual characteristics, the organization's ethical environment, and the profession's views of ethics are key factors which can contribute to this framework for ethical decision making. As organizations wrestle with these ethical issues in TEP, they should consider how well they support ethical decision making.
web-based interactive data processing: application to stable isotope metrology.

To address a fundamental need in stable isotope metrology, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has established a web-based interactive data-processing system accessible through a common gateway interface (CGI) program on the internet site http://www. nist.gov/widps-co2. This is the first application of a web-based tool that improves the measurement traceability afforded by a series of NIST standard materials. Specifically, this tool promotes the proper usage of isotope reference materials (RMs) and improves the quality of reported data from extensive measurement networks. Through the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), we have defined standard procedures for stable isotope measurement and data-processing, and have determined and applied consistent reference values for selected NIST and IAEA isotope RMs. Measurement data of samples and RMs are entered into specified fields on the web-based form. These data are submitted through the CGI program on a NIST Web server, where appropriate calculations are performed and results returned to the client. Several international laboratories have independently verified the accuracy of the procedures and algorithm for measurements of naturally occurring carbon-13 and oxygen-18 abundances and slightly enriched compositions up to approximately 150% relative to natural abundances. To conserve the use of the NIST RMs, users may determine value assignments for a secondary standard to be used in routine analysis. Users may also wish to validate proprietary algorithms embedded in their laboratory instrumentation, or specify the values of fundamental variables that are usually fixed in reduction algorithms to see the effect on the calculations. The results returned from the web-based tool are limited in quality only by the measurements themselves, and further value may be realized through the normalization function. When combined with stringent measurement protocols, two- to threefold improvements have been realized in the reproducibility of carbon-13 and oxygen-18 determinations across laboratories.
Deblurring using joint transform processor

Abstract By generating a blur function as the reference object, the phase of the spectrum of the blur function is automatically canceled in the joint transform spectrum. A reference function is then utilized to compensate the amplitude variation of the blur spectrum in order to restore the original object. Experimental results are given.
Couple-Based HIV Counseling and Testing: a Risk Reduction Intervention for US Drug-Involved Women and Their Primary Male Partners

To help reduce the elevated risk of acquiring HIV for African-American and Latina women drug users in primary heterosexual relationships, we developed a brief couple-based HIV counseling and testing prevention intervention. The intervention was based on an integrated HIV risk behavior theory that incorporated elements of social exchange theory, the theory of gender and power, the stages-of-change model, and the information-motivation-behavior skills model. In this article, we describe the development, content, and format of the couple-based HIV testing and counseling intervention, and its delivery to 110 couples (220 individuals) in a randomized effectiveness trial, the Harlem River Couples Project, conducted in New York City from 2005 to 2007. Components of the couple-based intervention included a personalized dyadic action plan based on the couple’s risk profile and interactive exercises designed to help build interpersonal communication skills, and facilitated discussion of social norms regarding gender roles. The couple-based HIV testing and counseling intervention significantly reduced women’s overall HIV risk compared to a standard-of-care individual HIV testing and counseling intervention. Experiences and perceptions of the intervention were positive among both clients and interventionists. The study was the first to demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of delivering a brief couple-based HIV counseling and testing intervention to reduce risk among drug-using heterosexual couples in high HIV prevalent urban communities in the USA. The intervention can be expanded to include new HIV prevention strategies, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis. Further research is needed to evaluate cost-effectiveness and implementation of the intervention in clinical settings.
Lessons on the Role of Fun/Playfulness from a Geology Undergraduate Summer Research Program

This paper examines past and current experiences with fun and playfulness of participants in two summers of an NSF funded summer research experiences for undergraduates (REU) geosciences program. T...