cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of systemic therapy efficacy in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: Systematic review and frequentist network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

293Background: Several systemic agents are approved for use in the first line and second line treatment settings for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC). However, choosing among available opti...
Bio-inspired incorporation of phenylalanine enhances ionic selectivity in layer-by-layer deposited polyelectrolyte films

The addition of a common amino acid, phenylalanine, to a Layer-by-Layer (LbL) deposited polyelectrolyte (PE) film on a nanoporous membrane can increase its ionic selectivity over a PE film without the added amino acid. The addition of phenylalanine is inspired by detailed knowledge of the structure of the channelrhodopsins family of protein ion channels, where phenylalanine plays an instrumental role in facilitating sodium ion transport. The normally deposited and crosslinked PE films increase the cationic selectivity of a support membrane in a controllable manner where higher selectivity is achieved with thicker PE coatings, which in turn also increases the ionic resistance of the membrane. The increased ionic selectivity is desired while the increased resistance is not. We show that through incorporation of phenylalanine during the LbL deposition process, in solutions of NaCl with concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 100 mM, the ionic selectivity can be increased independently of the membrane resistance. Specifically, the addition is shown to increase the cationic transference of the PE films from 81.4% to 86.4%, an increase on par with PE films that are nearly triple the thickness while exhibiting much lower resistance compared to the thicker coatings, where the phenylalanine incorporated PE films display an area specific resistance of 1.81 Ω cm2 in 100 mM NaCl while much thicker PE membranes show a higher resistance of 2.75 Ω cm2 in the same 100 mM NaCl solution.
Adopting Killer Ignatian Apps for Facebook: Employing Jesuit Pedagogy to Enrich Student Involvement in Social Media

Social researchers Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa recently reported that nearly half of undergraduates today “showed almost no gains in learning in their first two years of college.” Two sources of the problem emerged in the study: “instructors…more focused on their own faculty research than teaching younger students, who in turn are more tuned in to their social lives.” While few would argue that the social dimension is not an important element of the student’s learning experience, students’ absorption in social media too often reflects a mere frittering and twittering away of their time. Why not meet students where they socialize and encourage them to explore the deeper implications of such social media? This essay seeks to bridge this divide by applying such “killer apps” as St. Ignatius’ discernment and the examen. Facebook already offers a “platform” for such apps. Often consulting their Facebook pages several times a day, students already practice, pro forma at least, a ritualized set of behaviors. Loyola’s Examen (examination of conscience), can be employed by asking students to inventory how they use Facebook in their daily lives. The concept of “status updates” can be enlarged here as well: What is the nature of the on-line personae or avatars that they exhibit? In what ways do they differ from their off-line selves? How does Facebook shape (and limit) their identity? What potentials for growth are there?
Characteristics of Creatively Gifted Children

Personality and biographical traits of creative individuals are summarized and some assessment instruments are reviewed. Special attention is given to GIFT, an instrument for identifying creatively talented elementary school children.
OB 490 Becoming a Global Change Agent

This is the syllabus for a course I teach on change agentry and social entrepreneurship. I have taught the class for over a decade, and out of it my students and I have designed and implemented a number of projects which linked theory with real world problems. Some 16 of these became social enterprises or NGOs, mostly doing microfinance in Third World nations. Students learn organizational behavior concepts, action research, project design skills, change theories, and start-up tools, as well as management and growth strategies for new systems with which to build civil society. From these projects we have mobilized, trained and sent overseas some 600 college students, mostly from BYU, but others from Stanford, Washington, Boston College, VA Tech, Arizona State, and a number of other universities as social entrepreneurs. While much of our work focuses on microcredit to empower the poorest of the poor, we have also engaged in other interventions: literacy, healthcare, square-foot gardening and other appropriate technologies, worker-owned cooperatives, rebuilding houses after floods and earthquakes, teaching small farming methods, anti-HIV/AIDS training, sustainability, and various humanitarian methods for use in health clinics, orphanages, and services for street children throughout the developing world. In 2007 alone our largest 16 NGOs spun off from BYU as an incubator over the years raised $28 million, trained more than 200,000 microentrepreneurs, and grew to a global microfinance client base of 3 million families.
Differential Clinical Characteristics of Older Black and White Nursing Home Residents: A Pilot Study

Older black patients have higher levels of medical morbidity yet utilize nursing home services at lower rates than white persons. The authors hypothesized that older patients residing in nursing homes may differ clinically by race in ways that suggest new hypotheses about these differences. They compared clinical characteristics of a biracial, inner-city nursing home sample. No racial differences were found in prevalence of dementia-spectrum diagnoses. Depression was typically diagnosed more than twice as often in white patients, whereas black patients showed higher chronic medical illness burden. These results suggest that cognitive, medical, and psychiatric disabilities may interact differently in black and white patients to affect nursing home placement.
Wideband coplanar stripline to double-sided parallel-strip line transition

A novel wideband transition between the coplanar stripline and the double-sided parallel-strip line is presented. The simple transition consists of two tapered lines, one located on the top layer and one tapered line on the bottom layer. Through the proposed transition, horizontally distributed electric fields of the coplanar stripline become rotated by 90° to match the vertically distributed fields of the double-sided parallel-strip line. Simulated and measured results of a back-to-back transition show good agreement.
Ethics Blind Spots in Organizations: How Systematic Errors in Person Perception Undermine Moral Agency

Moral agency in work organizations is vulnerable to systematic patterns of person perception. Employing cognitive structuralism and drawing upon cases of corporate wrongdoing, it is argued that common perceptual frames create ethics blind spots that undermine moral agency. By focusing on the possibility of others’ moral transgressions, employees overlook virtuous acts and morally admirable propensities. Their frame makes them especially critical of the morality of organizational officials. Exacerbating this tendency are the blind spots evident among officials who disregard the need to communicate their moral priorities and who pay little attention to the moral actions of their subordinates. Since perceptual frames are shaped in part by volition, ethics blind spots can be corrected by a self-improvement regimen.
Particle occupation factors without large number approximations

Abstract New derivations of particle occupation factors that are based on mean values and do not require large number approximations (LNA) are provided for fermions, bosons, and Boltzmann particles. The derivations are closely related to traditional combinatorial approaches, so the physical content of the latter is preserved without recourse to most probable values or LNA. The approach is based on the use of eigenvalues of the density matrix as probabilities entering into the Shannon entropy. The degeneracies of the eigenvalues of the density matrix can be identified with Boltzmann enumeration factors. Problems associated with steepest descent procedures, limit theorem techniques, and the Boltzmann thermodynamic probability are avoided. In addition, since the approach is based on the eigenvalues of the density matrix, the concept of ensembles is not required.
Arrange-A-Space: tabletop interfaces and gender collaboration

Collaborative technologies, such as shared tabletop interfaces, are becoming increasingly pervasive. Meanwhile, social dynamics have long been a major area of inquiry in HCI and CSCW. With a few notable exceptions, little has been done that addresses the roles gender identities play in shaping collaborative work. In this paper, we make the case for a deeper consideration of gender in our field through a study that investigates issues surrounding gendered collaboration around a tabletop interface. We report our findings and conclude with recommendations for future work in this area.
A High-Q Tunable Interior-Ridge Microring Filter

A tunable interior-ridge microring filter is demonstrated with a high quality factor of 1.5t105, while achieving a thermal tuning efficiency of 5.5mW/GHz. The filter demonstrates a record low insertion-loss l0.05dB over an uncorrupted 4-THz free-spectral-range.
Open reduction and internal fixation of a distal clavicle fracture using a clavicle hook plate

Historically, fractures of the clavicle have been treated nonoperatively. However, it is becoming much more common for orthopedic surgeons to treat clavicle fractures with open reduction and internal fixation–particularly fractures of the lateral clavicle with high rates of nonunion, such as the Neer type II. Several techniques and devices are currently being used for clavicle fixation. We present a case of a recently developed and increasingly popular fixation device called a clavicle hook plate, used to repair a Neer type II clavicle fracture.
Modeling the Niger Delta Insurgency

Abstract Nigeria's oil guarantees its role in the global economy; however, the state's overwhelming weaknesses perpetuate a high level of volatility vis-a-vis the potential for an immediate disruption of the national, regional, and global environment. This study presents a current qualitative analysis of Nigeria to produce a model that characterizes current conditions in the state and the state response to the nefarious acts in the delta region. This model will serve as a baseline for a significant iteration of the model that reflects the delta region counter-insurgency at various levels of strength: a what-if scenario of the region with an increase of state security over southern separatists, insurgents seeking to gain control of the oil assets. The conjectured model serves to inform/educate decision and policy makers in developing proactive, effective strategies to counter existent and potential threats in the Niger Delta.
Development of Combined Dual-Pump Vibrational and Pure-Rotational Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (DPVCARS and PRCARS) System

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) [1,2] is a spatially-resolved, time-resolved spectroscopic technique for quantitative measurements in reacting flows [3 – 6]. This work demonstrates a combination of N2/O2/CO2 dual-pump vibrational coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (DPVCARS) system and two-beam pure-rotational coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (PRCARS) system. It is based on the previous development of combined VCARS and PRCARS system which was used to obtain temperature measurements in non-premixed H2-air flames. The new combined system will be used to measure the temperature profiles and major species concentrations such as N2/O2/CO2 in laminar counter-flow non-premixed (CH4/Air) and partiallypremixed (CH4/H2/Air) flames. The new system is being characterized in H2/Air diffusion flames stabilized over a Hencken burner. CO2 will be added to the oxidizer stream for the system to assess the precision of the system while performing concentration measurements. The new combined system has shown good precision temperature using PRCARS (better than 3%) and N2/O2 mole-fraction ratio (better than 5%) using DPVCARS.
Development of a Real-Time Corneal Birefringence Compensated Glucose Sensing Polarimeter

Background: As is well known, in order to optimally manage diabetes mellitus, monitoring blood glucose levels several times daily is recommended so appropriate actions can be taken to maintain thes...
Positron annihilation in neutron-irradiated copper crystals

Abstract Measurements of the angular correlation of positron annihilation radiation from neutron-irradiated copper crystals showed a distinct enhancement of the peak counting rate as a function of dose between 1016 – 1019 nvt (number density of neutrons × velocity × time). A comparison with the predictions of the trapping model shows that if the trapping rate for dislocation loops is assumed to be smaller than that for straight dislocations, the data are compatible with determinations of defect densities from electron microscopy.
Stochastic ordering of folded normal random variables

Horn (1988) proved a necessary and sufficient condition for the stochastic ordering of an arbitrary folded normal variable and a standard folded normal variable. This paper studies the more general case and presents the necessary and sufficient conditions for the stochastic ordering of two arbitrary folded normal variables.
Commentary on “Blastic Natural Killer Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma Presenting as Overt Leukemia”

B-cell and T-cell malignancies can be definitively diagnosed by demonstrating clonal rearrangements of their antigen-receptor genes. In contrast, natural killer (NK) cells do not have antigen-receptor genes, making unequivocal assignment of tumors to NK-cell lineage more problematic. Normal NK cells are classically defined functionally as a subset of receptornull lymphocytes that have cytotoxic activity in the absence of prior stimulation. CD56 and CD16 are expressed at variable levels by most normal NK cells and are two of the more commonly used diagnostic markers. However, CD16 is expressed on subsets of myeloid and T cells as well as some myeloid leukemias and T-cell tumors. CD56 expression is a feature of a subset of B-cell and T-cell lymphomas, monocytic leukemias, and approximately 10% of poorly differentiated myeloid leukemias. 1,2 Despite their lack of sensitivity and specificity, CD56 and CD16 remain the most commonly used diagnostic markers for NK-cell tumors. Although more specific markers of NK cells are now available, they are not yet in routine diagnostic use. 3 Recently, immunostaining for cytotoxic granule proteins (eg, TIA-1, perforin, and granzyme B) has become common. The diagnostic value of these markers is unclear given that many types of T-cell tumors (anaplastic large-cell lymphoma and mycosis fungoides) and some B-cell tumors show cytoplasmic immunoreactivity with these antibodies. In everyday practice, NK-cell lineage is commonly assigned to all lymphoid-appearing tumors that show expression of CD2 and/or cytoplasmic CD3 in the absence of T-cell–specific findings, such as surface expression of CD3 or clonal Tcell–receptor gene rearrangements. Using these criteria, a range of NK-cell tumors have been described that exhibit a wide spectrum in their clinical presentation and behavior. These tumors of proposed NKcell origin are summarized in Table 1. Traditionally, these tumors have been divided into lymphomas (ie, those presenting primarily in tissue sites such as the sinonasal area, skin, and gastrointestinal tract) and leukemias. However, many NK-cell lymphomas show a propensity for leukemic involvement and widespread extranodal dissemination leading to the designation of NK-cell lymphoma/leukemia.
Coherence and weak global dimension of R[[X]] when R is von Neumann regular

dimension of R. Very little is known about what can occur except that the weak global dimension must increase by at least one and does increase by exactly one when R[[X]] is coherent. This paper attempts to cast some light on this problem and the closely related question of the stability of coherence under the formation of the power series ring. It is devoted to determining necessary and sufficient conditions on a commutative (von Neumann) regular ring R for the power series ring R[[X]] to b e coherent (equivalently, semihereditary) and also conditions for R[[X]] t o h ave weak global dimension one. Surprisingly, it turns out that R[[X]] h as weak global dimension one precisely when R[[X’j] is a B&out ring so that property is characterized as well. Each of these properties is characterized in several ways both in terms of internal conditions on R and conditions that involve the category of R-modules. Perhaps the conditions which can be most readily verified for a specific ring are expressed in terms of a natural partial order z< which is defined on R by a < b if and only if ab = a2 for a, b in R. For example, it is shown that R[[X]] is coherent if and only if every countable subset of R that forms a chain in the partial order < on R has a least upper bound in R. As further illustrations of our results we mention that R[[Xj] h as weak global dimension one precisely in case R satisfies either of two limited forms of self-injectivity and also in case R satisfies a restricted type of algebraic compactness. These results permit us to give an example that shows R[[X]] can have weak global dimension one without being coherent even when R is a Boolean ring. This settles a question raised by Jensen [7]. Another example is included to illustrate the added complexity that occurs in arbitrary regular rings as compared with Boolean rings. This example also provides a pair of regular rings R contained in S, and hence a faithfully flat extension, such that R[[X]] is not pure in S[[X]]. Thus it gives a negative
TRANSPLANTATION OF RABBIT OVIDUCT TO THE CHEEK POUCH OF THE SYRIAN HAMSTER.

IN our laboratory, it was thought that work being done on oviduct physiology could be fostered by observing segments of oviduct under the influence of hormones and autonomic drugs. As transplants, the oviduct segments would not be influenced by a variable nerve supply. The hamster has very few histocompatibility genes, but these are capable of producing an antigen–antibody reaction that results in as strong a rejection of tissue as is produced by animals having innumerable histocompatibility genes. It is probably the structure of the cheek pouch, itself, which allows foreign tissue to be accepted.
Impact of doubled CO2 on the interaction between the global and regional water cycles in four study regions

Results from a suite of 30-year simulations (after spin-up) of the fully coupled Community Climate System Model version 2.0.1 are analyzed to examine the impact of doubling CO2 on interactions between the global water cycle and the regional water cycles of four similar-size, but hydrologically and thermally different study regions (the Yukon, Ob, St Lawrence, and Colorado river basins and their adjacent land). A heuristic evaluation based on published climatological data shows that the model generally produces acceptable results for the control 1× CO2 concentration, except for mountainous regions where it performs like other modern climate models. After doubling CO2, the Northern Hemisphere receives significantly (95% confidence level) more moisture from the Southern Hemisphere during the boreal summer than under 1× CO2 conditions, and the phase of the annual cycle of net moisture transport to areas north of 60°N shifts to a month later than in the reference simulation. Precipitation and evapotranspiration in the doubled CO2 simulation increase for the Yukon, Ob, and St Lawrence, but decrease, on average, for the Colorado region compared to the reference simulation. For all regions, interaction between global and regional water cycles increases under doubled CO2, because the amount of moisture entering and leaving the regions increases in the warmer climate. The degree of change in this interaction depends on region and season, and is related to slight shifts in the position/strength of semi-permanent highs and lows for the Yukon, Ob, and St Lawrence; in the Colorado region, higher temperatures associated with doubling CO2 and the anticyclone located over the region increase the persistence of dry conditions.
Speciation and unusual reactivity in PuO2+x.

Pu L 3 XAFS measurements show that the excess oxygen in single phase PuO 2 + x occurs as oxo groups with Pu-O distances of 1.83-1.91 A. This distance and the energy of the edge (via comparison with a large number of related compounds) are more consistent with a Pu(IV/V) than a Pu(IV/VI) mixture. Analogous to Pu(IV) colloids, although the Pu-Pu pair distribution remains single site even when it shows substantial disorder, the Pu-O distribution can display a number of additional shells at specific distances up to 3.4 A even in high fired materials when no oxo groups are present, implying intrinsic H + /OH - (/H 2 O). The number of oxo atoms increases when samples are equilibrated with humid air at ambient temperature, indicating that the Pu reactivity in this solid system differs notably from that of isolated complexes and demonstrating the importance of nanoscale cooperative phenomena and total free energy in determining its chemical properties.
Nonsecreted Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein-3 (IGFBP-3) Can Induce Apoptosis in Human Prostate Cancer Cells by IGF-independent Mechanisms without Being Concentrated in the Nucleus

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), a secreted protein, has the intrinsic ability to induce apoptosis directly without binding insulin-like growth factors. Previous studies suggested that IGFBP-3 must be secreted to exert its biological functions. IGFBP-3 contains a nuclear localization signal (NLS), and exogenous IGFBP-3 is translocated into the nucleus, suggesting that both secretion and nuclear localization may play important roles in IGFBP-3 action. To address these questions, we fused yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) to mature IGFBP-3 lacking its signal peptide so that it would remain intracellular and mutated the C-terminal NLS of IGFBP-3, 228KGRKR232, to MDGEA. Following transfection of PC-3 human prostate cancer cells with these constructs, Western blots indicated that YFP-IGFBP-3 lacking a signal peptide was cell-associated and not present in the extracellular media. Moreover, the fusion protein was not N-glycosylated, indicating that it had not entered the secretory pathway. Confocal imaging showed that intracellular YFP-MDGEA-IGFBP-3 was predominantly cytoplasmic. Transient transfection of nonsecreted YFP-wild-type IGFBP-3 decreased cell viability, as assessed by staining with annexin V followed by flow cytometry. Induction of cell death was caspase-dependent, indicative of apoptosis. Apoptosis also was induced by the nonsecreted NLS mutant (YFP-MDGEA-IGFBP-3) alone and when the IGF-binding site also had been mutated. These results indicate that IGFBP-3 can induce apoptosis in an IGF-independent manner without being secreted or concentrated in the nucleus.
A globally convergent method for computing the electron density of a partially ionized plasma

Abstract A stable, globally convergent method for computing the equilibrium electron density of a partially ionized plasma is presented. Since the Newton-Raphson method is used, the convergence is quadratic. In addition, global convergence is guaranteed in local thermodynamic equilibrium. The applicability of the method to non-LTE plasmas is discussed.
Novel N-Halamine Disinfectant Compounds

A new series of N-halamine compounds has been synthesized and tested for stability in aqueous solution and efficacy in inactivating several species of bacteria and algae. The compounds, which are N,N′-dihalo-4-imidazolidinones, are inexpensive to synthesize and appear to have considerable potential as general-purpose disinfectants. They have greater stability in the laboratory, as well as outdoors in direct sunlight, than do current commercial swimming pool biocides. They also are efficient at sterilizing hard surfaces (stainless steel) and could thus be useful for a variety of household and medical disinfection applications.
Electrochemical detection of low-copy number salivary RNA based on specific signal amplification with a hairpin probe

We developed a technique for electrochemical detection of salivary mRNA employing a hairpin probe (HP). Steric hindrance (SH) suppresses unspecific signal and generates a signal-on amplification process for target detection. The stem-loop configuration brings the reporter end of the probe into close proximity with the surface and makes it unavailable for binding with the mediator. Target binding opens the hairpin structure of the probe, and the mediator can then bind to the accessible reporter. Horseradish peroxidase is utilized to generate electrochemical signal. This signal-on process is characterized by a low basal signal, a strong positive readout and a large dynamic range. The SH is controlled via hairpin design and electrical field. By applying electric field control to HPs, the limit of detection of RNA is about 0.4 fM, which is 10 000-fold more sensitive than conventional linear probes. Endogenous Interleukin-8 mRNA is detected with the HP, and good correlation with the quantitative PCR technique is obtained. The resultant process allows a simple setup and by reducing the number of steps it is suited for the point-of-care detection of specific nucleic acid sequences from complex body fluids such as saliva.
The ACCE method: an approach for obtaining quantitative or qualitative estimates of residual confounding.

Background: Nonrandomized studies typically cannot account for confounding from unmeasured factors. Method: A method is presented that exploits the recently-identified phenomenon of “confounding amplification” to produce, in principle, a quantitative estimate of total residual confounding resulting from both measured and unmeasured factors. Two nested propensity score models are constructed that differ only in the deliberate introduction of an additional variable(s) that substantially predicts treatment exposure. Residual confounding is then estimated by dividing the change in treatment effect estimate between models by the degree of confounding amplification estimated to occur, adjusting for any association between the additional variable(s) and outcome. Results: Several hypothetical examples are provided to illustrate how the method produces a quantitative estimate of residual confounding if the method’s requirements and assumptions are met. Previously published data is used to illustrate that, whether or not the method routinely provides precise quantitative estimates of residual confounding, the method appears to produce a valuable qualitative estimate of the likely direction and general size of residual confounding. Limitations: Uncertainties exist, including identifying the best approaches for: 1) predicting the amount of confounding amplification, 2) minimizing changes between the nested models unrelated to confounding amplification, 3) adjusting for the association of the introduced variable(s) with outcome, and 4) deriving confidence intervals for the method’s estimates (although bootstrapping is one plausible approach). Conclusions: To this author’s knowledge, it has not been previously suggested that the phenomenon of confounding amplification, if such amplification is as predictable as suggested by a recent simulation, provides a logical basis for estimating total residual confounding. The method's basic approach is straightforward. The method's routine usefulness, however, has not yet been established, nor has the method been fully validated. Rapid further investigation of this novel method is clearly indicated, given the potential value of its quantitative or qualitative output.
Disposing of Excess Plutonium

Secretary of Energy Hazel O'Leary announced on 9 December that the Department of Energy (DOE) will pursue two technologies for disposing of excess military plutonium. The first is to mix the plutonium with highly radioactive waste and to “vitrify” that mixture into massive logs. The other is to
Neuropathology of primary restless leg syndrome: Absence of specific τ‐ and α‐synuclein pathology

The neuroanatomical substrate for restless legs syndrome (RLS) is unknown. We identified 4 patients with idiopathic RLS who came to post-mortem examination, where brain and spinal cord tissue were available for neuropathological assessment. Lewy bodies were not identified and alpha-synuclein immunohistochemistry was uniformly negative. Neurofibrillary tangle pathology was variable and nonspecific. These findings suggest that tau- or alpha-synuclein brain pathology is not a component of primary RLS. Although chronic ischemic changes were found in all 4 cases, these were probably incidental. The absence of diagnostic microscopic brain or spinal cord pathology suggests that the pathologic substrate may be neurochemical or receptor based.
Using Equity-Based Performance Measures to Build a Community-Based Brand

AbstractDespite competition, newspapers still have a potentialcompetitive advantage as a community resource and leader. Therefore, if newspapers want to succeed, they need to position themselves as “community assets.” This research establishes the current measures of circulation and penetration as weak indicators of community service, and presents a simple and straightforward measure of how well a given newspaper serves its entire community using a summary statistical measure of inequality, the Gini coefficient.
The Ideal of Conversation in the Study of Mass Media

Social scientists who study the mass media share a widely held "ideal of conservation" which assumes that face-to-face interpersonal communication is characterized by continuous feedback between participants, multichannel communication, spontaneous utterance, and egalitarian norms. Compared to this image of what face-to-face conversation is like, communication by mass media seems inferior. It is argued, however, that this "ideal of conversation" does not correspond closely to most actual conversations. It is argued further that the rise of the mass media is itself responsible for the development of an ideal of conversation and is responsible for making ideal conversations more often realized in practice. The contribution of the mass media to face-to-face conversation has been to make conversation, particularly between men and women and between adults and children, more egalitarian and to enlarge the possibility of spontaneous conversation. It is suggested, finally, that research on the mass media will be ...
The influence of aging on basal and secretin stimulated pancreatic exocrine secretion in the unanesthetized rat

We explored the effect of aging on basal and secretin stimulated pancreatic exocrine secretion because of clinical reports of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency in aging individuals. We studied conscious rats, 3, 4, 13, 24 and 27 months of age, with external drainage of pancreatic secretions, unobstructed bile flow, and complete diversion of gastric secretions. Pancreatic juice was measured for volume, and assayed for bicarbonate, protein content, and amylase activity.
Analysis of a multigrid method for a transport equation by numerical Fourier analysis

Abstract In this paper, we perform Fourier analysis for a multigrid method with two-cell μ-line relaxation for solving isotropic transport equations. Our numerical results show that the Fourier analysis prediction for convergence rates is more accurate than that previously found by matrix analysis.
Basilar Membrane and Tectorial Membrane Stiffness in the CBA/CaJ Mouse

The mouse has become an important animal model in understanding cochlear function. Structures, such as the tectorial membrane or hair cells, have been changed by gene manipulation, and the resulting effect on cochlear function has been studied. To contrast those findings, physical properties of the basilar membrane (BM) and tectorial membrane (TM) in mice without gene mutation are of great importance. Using the hemicochlea of CBA/CaJ mice, we have demonstrated that tectorial membrane (TM) and basilar membrane (BM) revealed a stiffness gradient along the cochlea. While a simple spring mass resonator predicts the change in the characteristic frequency of the BM, the spring mass model does not predict the frequency change along the TM. Plateau stiffness values of the TM were 0.6 ± 0.5, 0.2 ± 0.1, and 0.09 ± 0.09 N/m for the basal, middle, and upper turns, respectively. The BM plateau stiffness values were 3.7 ± 2.2, 1.2 ± 1.2, and 0.5 ± 0.5 N/m for the basal, middle, and upper turns, respectively. Estimations of the TM Young’s modulus (in kPa) revealed 24.3 ± 25.2 for the basal turns, 5.1 ± 4.5 for the middle turns, and 1.9 ± 1.6 for the apical turns. Young’s modulus determined at the BM pectinate zone was 76.8 ± 72, 23.9 ± 30.6, and 9.4 ± 6.2 kPa for the basal, middle, and apical turns, respectively. The reported stiffness values of the CBA/CaJ mouse TM and BM provide basic data for the physical properties of its organ of Corti.
The Bureau of Land Management OCS Environmental Studies Program - A Decisionmaking Orientation

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has been conducting a multidisciplinary, multimillion dollar environmental studies program designed to determine the impact of Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas, exploration, development, and production activities. Data derived from this program are put into the minerals management decision-making process at many different levels. This paper briefly describes the objectives and rationale behind the design and implementation of those studies, and serves as an introduction to subsequent papers dealing with specific BLM-sponsored studies.
The GIS-Based Human-Interactive TAZ Design Algorithm: Examining the Impacts of Data Aggregation on Transportation-Planning Analysis

An aggregate approach (traffic analysis zones, TAZs) has been used to conduct conventional transportation-planning analysis. The impact of a TAZ (sizes and boundaries) on traffic demand estimates and evaluation of transportation systems, however, has not been addressed adequately in the literature. In this paper I will attempt to examine the impact of spatial data aggregation on transportation by generating TAZ alternatives and building linkages among land use, transportation, and GIS. This paper consists of two major components. In the first, attention is focused on the discussion of the GIS-based interface system which links land use, transportation, and GIS. The GIS-based interface system also includes a GIS-based human-interactive TAZ design algorithm that generates TAZ alternatives. In the second, I concentrate on the examination of the impact of TAZs on transportation. This is conducted by simulations, which create TAZ alternatives and report final estimates of traffic demand and evaluation of trans...
Neurotransmitter phenotype plasticity: an unexpected mechanism in the toolbox of network activity homeostasis.

The transmitter phenotype of a neuron has long been thought to be stable for the lifespan. Much as eyes have one color and do not change it over time, neurons have been thought to have one neurotransmitter and retain it for their lifetime. Both principles, exclusivity and stability, are challenged by recent data. More and more neurons in different regions of the brain appear to coexpress two or more neurotransmitters. Moreover, the profile of neurotransmitter expression of a given neuron has been shown to change over time, both during development and in response to changes in activity. The present review summarizes recent studies of this neurotransmitter phenotype plasticity (NPP). Homeostatic mechanisms of plasticity are aimed at maintaining the system within a functional range. They appear to be critical for optimal network operations and have been thought to operate largely by regulating intrinsic excitability, synapse number and synaptic strength. NPP provides a new and unexpected level of regulation of network homeostasis. We propose that it provides the basis for NT coexpression and discuss emerging issues and new questions for further studies in the coming years.
Parvalbumin immunoreactivity in the rat retina

The distribution of the Ca2+ binding protein parvalbumin was studied in the rat retina with immunocytochemistry using a mouse monoclonal antibody. Specific parvalbumin immunoreactivity was identified within a subpopulation of ganglion cells and a subpopulation of amacrine cells. The topographical data provided by the present study may serve as a basis for a functional characterization of parvalbumin's role in the nervous system.
Proteasome inhibition sensitizes non-small-cell lung cancer to gemcitabine-induced apoptosis.

Abstract Background My colleagues and I have previously shown that chemotherapy activates the antiapoptotic transcription factor nuclear factor (NF)-κB in non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We hypothesized that inhibition of NF-κB by using the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (Velcade) would sensitize NSCLC to gemcitabine-induced apoptosis. Methods Tumorigenic NSCLC cell lines (H157 and A549) were treated with nothing, gemcitabine, bortezomib, or both compounds. NF-κB activity was determined by nuclear p65 protein levels, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of the NF-κB–regulated genes interleukin-8, c-IAP2 , and Bcl-xL . The p21 and p53 protein levels were determined in similarly treated cells. Cell-cycle dysregulation was assessed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. Cell death and apoptosis were quantified by clonogenic assays, caspase-3 activation, and DNA fragmentation. NSCLC A549 xenografts were generated and treated as noted previously. Tumor growth was assessed over a 4-week treatment period. Statistical analysis was performed with analysis of variance. Results Gemcitabine enhanced nuclear p65 levels, NF-κB binding to DNA, and transcription of all NF-κB–regulated genes. Bortezomib inhibited each of these effects. Combined gemcitabine and bortezomib enhanced p21 and p53 expression and induced S-phase and G 2 /M cell-cycle arrests, respectively. Combined treatment killed 80% of the NSCLC cells and induced apoptosis, as determined by caspase-3 activation ( p = 0.05) and DNA fragmentation ( p = 0.02). NSCLC xenografts treated with combination therapy grew significantly slower than xenografts treated with gemcitabine alone ( p = 0.02). Conclusions Bortezomib inhibits gemcitabine-induced activation of NF-κB and sensitizes NSCLC to death in vitro and in vivo. This combined treatment strategy warrants further investigation and may represent a reasonable treatment strategy for select patients with NSCLC given the current clinical availability of both drugs.
Placement and orientation of individual DNA shapes on lithographically patterned surfaces

Artificial DNA nanostructures show promise for the organization of functional materials to create nanoelectronic or nano-optical devices. DNA origami, in which a long single strand of DNA is folded into a shape using shorter 'staple strands', can display 6-nm-resolution patterns of binding sites, in principle allowing complex arrangements of carbon nanotubes, silicon nanowires, or quantum dots. However, DNA origami are synthesized in solution and uncontrolled deposition results in random arrangements; this makes it difficult to measure the properties of attached nanodevices or to integrate them with conventionally fabricated microcircuitry. Here we describe the use of electron-beam lithography and dry oxidative etching to create DNA origami-shaped binding sites on technologically useful materials, such as SiO_2 and diamond-like carbon. In buffer with ~ 100 mM MgCl_2, DNA origami bind with high selectivity and good orientation: 70–95% of sites have individual origami aligned with an angular dispersion (±1 s.d.) as low as ±10° (on diamond-like carbon) or ±20° (on SiO_2).
Heparin Reduces Neuroinflammation and Transsynaptic Neuronal Apoptosis in a Model of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) can lead to disabling motor, cognitive, and neuropsychological abnormalities. Part of the secondary injury to cerebral tissues associated with SAH is attributable to the neuroinflammatory response induced by blood. Heparin is a pleiotropic compound that reduces inflammatory responses in conditions outside the central nervous system. Using a model of SAH devoid of global insult, we evaluated the effect of delayed intravenous (IV) infusion of heparin, at a dose that does not produce therapeutic anticoagulation, on neuroinflammation, myelin preservation, and apoptosis. Adult male rats underwent bilateral stereotactic injections of autologous blood (50 μL) into the subarachnoid space of the entorhinal cortex. The rats were implanted with mini-osmotic pumps that delivered either vehicle or unfractionated heparin (10 U/kg/h IV) beginning 12 h after SAH. No mechanical or hemorrhagic injury was observed in the hippocampus. In vehicle controls assessed at 48 h, SAH was associated with robust neuroinflammation in the adjacent cortex [neutrophils, activated phagocytic microglia, nuclear factor-kappa B, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-1beta] and neurodegeneration (Fluoro-Jade C staining and loss of NeuN). In the hippocampus, a muted neuroinflammatory response was indicated by Iba1-positive, ED1-negative microglia exhibiting an activated morphology. The perforant pathway showed Fluoro-Jade C staining and demyelination, and granule cells of the dentate gyrus had pyknotic nuclei, labeled with Fluoro-Jade C and showed upregulation of cleaved caspase-3, consistent with transsynaptic apoptosis. Administration of heparin significantly reduced neuroinflammation, demyelination, and transsynaptic apoptosis. We conclude that delayed IV infusion of low-dose unfractionated heparin may attenuate adverse neuroinflammatory effects of SAH.
Factors leading to early recurrence of carotid plaque after carotid endarterectomy

BACKGROUND Carotid endarterectomy to remove atherosclerotic plaque restores blood flow and reduces the risk of cerebral ischemia. In some patients, however, postoperative plaque recurrence reduces the clinical benefit of carotid endarterectomy. METHODS Using duplex ultrasound scanning, we evaluated carotid artery restenosis in 63 endarterectomy patients followed for an average of 26.6 months after surgery. RESULTS During follow-up, two-thirds of the patients showed some observable vessel wall thickening. A negative correlation was found between years since smoking cessation and recurrence of carotid plaque. Maximum benefit was seen when smoking cessation occurred at least 1 year before endarterectomy. The least benefit was seen when smoking continued or when cessation occurred within 1 year of endarterectomy. CONCLUSIONS Smoking status was the only cardiovascular risk factor independently and significantly associated with recurrent plaque thickness.
Trends In Retail Prescription Expenditures

At the Intersection of Health, Health Care anddoi: 10.1377/hlthaff.9.3.131€Health Affairs, 9, no.3 (1990):131-145Trends in retail prescription expendituresS W Schondelmeyer and J Thomas IIICite this article as: €ion http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/9/3/131.citatupdated information and services, is available at: The online version of this article, along with€For Reprints, Links & Permissions: s.php http://healthaffairs.org/1340_reprintl http://content.healthaffairs.org/subscriptions/etoc.dtE-mail Alerts : shtml http://content.healthaffairs.org/subscriptions/online.To Subscribe:
Theory vs. experiment: A holistic philosophy of physics

We present a holistic description of physical systems and how they relate to observations. The “theory” is established (geometrically) as a “classical random field theory.” The basic system variables are related to Lie group generators: the conjugate variables define observer parameters. The dichotomy between system and observer leads to acommunication channel relationship. The distortion measure on the channel distinguishes “classical” from “quantum” theories. The experiment is defined in terms that accommodate precision and unreliability. Information theory methods permit stochastic inference (this includes “inverse scattering”) and prediction based on realistic data.
Openness to Experience and Completed Suicide Across the Second Half of Life

Personality data gathered in a psychological autopsy study indicate that completed suicides obtain higher neuroticism scores than age- and gender-matched controls. Older suicide victims obtained lower openness to experience (OTE) scores than both younger suicide victims and normal controls. Although the role of neuroticism and negative affect in psychopathology has been discussed extensively, OTE has been accorded relatively little attention in the psychiatric literature. The apparent role of OTE in completed suicide warrants its closer examination. In this article, I offer the testable hypotheses that persons low in OTE are at risk for taking their own lives because their affective dampening, cognitive certainty, diminished behavioral repertoire, and rigidly defined self-concept have decreased their capacity to adapt to the expectable age-associated changes in role, health, and function that accumulate over time. Concrete thinking and excessive focus on proximal, low-level goals place them at risk for descending into states of suicidal meaninglessness in times of stress or crisis. This state of awareness increases the desirability of suicide as an action-oriented solution to the stressors of aging. Other lines of investigation are suggested. These include research on OTE and the neurobiology of suicidal behavior; OTE and gender differences in suicidal behavior; and clinical intervention designed to increase the degree to which one is open to experience.
Effect of topical nasal azelastine on the symptoms of rhinitis, sleep, and daytime somnolence in perennial allergic rhinitis.

Background Recent data suggested that daytime somnolence in patients with allergic rhinitis was secondary to disrupted sleep caused by nasal congestion. Medications, which decreased congestion, would be expected to improve sleep and daytime somnolence. Previously, we demonstrated that nasal steroids improved all three symptoms. The effect of topical nasal antihistamines on these symptoms has yet to be studied. Objective The objective of this 8-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to determine whether topical nasal azelastine was effective at decreasing congestion, daytime somnolence, and improving sleep. Methods We recruited 24 subjects with perennial allergic rhinitis and randomized them in a double-blinded, crossover fashion, to receive placebo or azelastine two sprays BID, using Balaam's design. Questionnaires, daily diary, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale were used as tools. The last 2 weeks of each 4-week treatment period were summarized, scored, and compared by PROC MIXED in SAS. Results The analysis of the Rhinitis Severity Score showed significant improvement only of rhinorrhea in the azelastine group ( P = .03). The symptom severity of nasal congestion and daytime somnolence was not significantly different between placebo and azelastine. Subjects considered azelastine effective at improving their sleep ( P = .04), but daytime somnolence ( P = .06) and congestion ( P = .09) were not statistically improved. Conclusion Azelastine is effective in reducing rhinorrhea and improving sleep quality. We were unable to demonstrate that azelastine can significantly reduce the severity of congestion or daytime somnolence.