cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Computational discovery and analysis of metabolic pathways

Finding novel or non-standard metabolic pathways, possibly spanning multiple species, has important applications in fields such as metabolic engineering, metabolic network analysis, and metabolic network reconstruction. Traditionally, this has been a manual process, but the large volume of metabolic data now available has created a need for computational tools to automatically identify biologically relevant pathways. This thesis presents new algorithms for automatically finding biologically meaningful linear and branched metabolic pathways in multi-genome scale metabolic networks. These algorithms utilize atom mapping data, which provides the correspondence between atoms in the substrates to atoms in the products of a chemical reaction, to find pathways which conserve a given number of atoms between desired start and target compounds. The first algorithm presented identifies atom conserving linear pathways by explicitly tracking atoms during an exploration of a graph structure constructed from the atom mapping data. The explicit tracking of atoms enables finding branched pathways because it provides automatic identification of the reactions and compounds through which atoms are lost or gained. The thesis then describes two algorithmic approaches for identifying branched metabolic pathways based upon atom conserving linear pathways. One approach takes one linear pathway at a time and attempts to add branches that connect loss and gain compounds. The other approach takes a group of linear pathways and attempts to merge pathways that move mutually exclusive sets of atoms from the start to the target compounds. Comparisons to known metabolic pathways demonstrate that atom tracking causes the algorithms to avoid many unrealistic connections, often found in previous approaches, and return biologically meaningful pathways. While the theoretical complexity of finding even linear atom conserving pathways is high, by choosing the appropriate representations and heuristics, and perhaps due to the structure of the underlying data, the algorithms in this thesis have practical running times on real data. The results also demonstrate the potential of the algorithms to find novel or non-standard pathways that may span multiple organisms.
Nuclear Production of Hydrogen as an Appropriate Technology

AbstractThe National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) recognized the need to balance growth of industrial development with consideration of its effect on the environment. One of the major factors under NEPA consideration is appropriate technology with respect to use of appropriate energy resources for large-scale generation of electricity and transportation fuel. To reduce dependence on petroleum-based transportation fuels, some combination of renewable and nuclear energy will be required for a sustainable electricity and fuel supply. Specific energy of available fuels is a useful parameter for selecting the appropriate technologies for large-scale applications. At least three methods are available for producing hydrogen fuel with nuclear technology.
Robotic-assisted or minithoracotomy incision for left ventricular lead placement: a single-surgeon, single-center experience.

OBJECTIVE Left ventricular (LV) resynchronization with epicardial lead placement after failed coronary sinus cannulation can be achieved with minimally invasive robotic-assisted (RA) or minithoracotomy (MT) incisions. We evaluated early outcomes and costs after RA and MT epicardial LV lead implantation at our academic center. METHODS From 2005 to 2010, 24 patients underwent minimally invasive RA or MT epicardial LV lead placement for resynchronization. Patient characteristics, electrophysiologic features, outcomes, and costs were analyzed. RESULTS Ten patients underwent RA and 14 underwent MT minimally invasive LV lead placement, with no 30-day mortality in either group. Younger patients underwent RA epicardial lead placement (63.8 ± 15.4 vs 75.6 ± 10.0 years; P = 0.03). In addition, although both groups had comparable body surface areas, RA patients had significantly higher body mass index versus MT patients (44.4 ± 17.5 vs 26.9 ± 7.1 kg/m, respectively; P = 0.003). Premorbid risk and cardiovascular profiles were similar across groups. Importantly, pacing threshold, impedance, and postoperative QRS interval were equivalent between groups. Significantly, both operating room and mechanical ventilation durations were higher with RA epicardial placement (P < 0.001). Despite equivalent outcomes, incision-to-closure interval was 48 minutes shorter with MT (P = 0.002). Absolute differences in direct costs between groups were negligible. Despite these differences, resource utilization and lengths of stay were equivalent. CONCLUSIONS Epicardial LV lead placement is efficacious with either approach. Early outcomes and mortality are equivalent. Greater tactile feedback during operation and equivalent short-term outcomes suggest that MT minimally invasive LV lead placement is the more favorable approach for epicardial resynchronization.
LOW FLAMMABILITY FOAM-LIKE MATERIALS BASED ON EPOXY, TANNIC ACID, SODIUM MONTMORILLONITE CLAY

Aerogels based on sodium montmorillonite clay, epoxy polymer, and tannic acid as a flame retardant additive were fabricated through a simple, environmentally friendly freeze-drying process in which water is used as solvent. A one-step coating method using a coordination complex of natural polyphenols and Fe(III) ions was examined. Both the blended and the coated aerogels exhibit low flammabilities (the parameters measured are the time to ignition, the critical heat flux for ignition, and the heat release rate); the effects of tannic acid upon the aerogel compressive mechanical properties are reported.
14 INCREASING QUARTILES OF OBESITY ARE ASSOCIATED WITH A MORE ATHEROGENIC PROFILE.

Introduction Adipocytokines affect numerous atherogenic processes including endothelial function, coagulation, and inflammation. Obese individuals have a proatherogenic adipocytokine profile. We measured the effects of increasing obesity on the adipocytokine profile. We hypothesize that increasing degrees of obesity are associated with a more atherogenic profile. Methods and Results We evaluated 23 overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes. Labs were drawn at baseline and following a standard test meal. The data were analyzed using Student9s paired t-tests, and ANOVA. Subjects were grouped by BMI into quartiles. Subjects in the highest BMI quartile had significantly higher PAI-1 and lower adiponection concentrations compared to subjects in the lowest BMI quartile. There was a trend of increased hsCRP and fibrinogen with increasing BMI quartiles. Additionally, PAI-1 was elevated during the postprandial period in the highest BMI quartile compared to all other quartiles. Conclusion Increasing quartiles of obesity lead to a more atherogenic, adipocytokine profile. Additionally, increasing adiposity blunts the normal diurnal decrease in PAI-1. These data suggest that atherogenic risk may increase in parallel to increases in adiposity.
Three-fold Strategy of the U.S. Computer TakeBack Campaign

In this article,an examination was made on the history of the U.S.Computer TakeBack Campaign,and it was concluded that the movement's remarkable achievements can be attributed to its use of the economic,political and discursive opportunity structures.Also,a discussion on the possible inspiration of this campaign on the environmental movement in China was made.
BNP levels had high sensitivity but moderate specificity for detecting congestive heart failure in the emergency department.

Source Citation Maisel AS, Krishnaswamy P, Nowak RM, et al., for the Breathing Not Properly Multinational Study Investigators. Rapid measurement of B-type natriuretic peptide in the emergency diagn...
Mechanisms of nonlinear disposition kinetics of sulfamethazine.

Five healthy male subjects received oral doses of 10 and 40 mg/kg of sulfamethazine (SMZ) approximately 14 days apart in a nonrandomized crossover study. Blood and urine samples were collected for at least 24 and 72 hr, respectively. All samples were assayed by the Bratton-Marshall procedure for SMZ and apparent N-acetylsulfamethazine (NSMZ). Recovery of total drug (SMZ + NSMZ) in urine was 88.9% following the low and 79.5% following the high dose. The low and high dose plasma concentration time curves were not readily superimposable (i.e., nonlinear kinetic behavior was observed). The data suggest that several mechanisms contribute to the nonlinearity. Specifically, a dose-dependent decrease in absorption rate displaced the plasma concentration-time curve to the right in some subjects, whereas apparent metabolic clearance (Clm) decreased with increasing dose (estimated assuming dose = amount of SMZ + NSMZ in urine to 72 hr) in all subjects (0.35 ml/min/kg for the low and 0.23 for the high dose). Still greater dose-dependent effects were found when apparent Clm of unbound drug was determined, since free fraction rose from 0.11 to 0.30 over the observed plasma concentration range. Renal clearance (ClR) of Smz appeared to be a complex function of time. In the low dose study it ranged from an average of 0.071 ml/min/kg at 2 hr to 0.146 ml/min/kg at 6 hr after drug. After the high dose comparable values were 0.083 and 0.128. Interindividual variability and pronounced nonlinear kinetics of SMZ after 40 mg/kg suggest that this dose is probably a poor choice for the determination of acetylator phenotype.
Abnormalities of the intestinal immune system in AIDS.

SUMMARY Significant abnormalities in the distribution of lymphocyte subsets have been noted in the intestinal mucosa of ARC and AIDS patients. Abnormalities are most striking among the CD4 helper-inducer T-cell subset and likely reflects the direct effects of HIV infection of those cells. A deficiency in CD4-positive T cells in the intestinal mucosa potentially could result in significant abnormalities in mucosal immune function, including defects both in cell-mediated immunity and in the secretory IgA system. Such alterations in mucosal immunity and mucosal defense may render AIDS and ARC subjects susceptible to enteric infections and systemic infections in which the intestinal tract is the portal of entry.
An Automatic Information System For Self-Learning

In any self-learning program, there seems to be no substitute for the printed word. Reported here is the development of an automatic quality information system for science, which reduces the quantity of scientific journal literature on any given topic to a few highly relevant items of quality. This system can thus be an effective dissemination mechanism in a self-learning program.
Enumeration of aerobic plate count and E. coli during blue crab processing by standard methods, Petrifilm and Redigel

Blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) samples were collected from commercial processing plants in Louisiana and examined for microbiological quality. The major processing steps were evaluated for effects on aerobic plate count (APC) and for sources of E. coli. The reliability of simple in-plant rapid microbiological methods (Redigel™, Petrifilm™ standard plate count, and Petrifilm™ E. coli) was compared with that of standard methods. The APC increased significantly during overnight cooling prior to picking, and no consistent patterns of E. coli contamination were observed. There were no significant differences (p < 0.05) between the rapid and standard APC methods, and the rapid E. coli method appeared to be more sensitive for detecting E. coli than the standard method.
An 8-bit 1.25GS/s CMOS IF-sampling ADC with background calibration for dynamic distortion

An 8-bit, 1.25-GS/s subsampling ADC with digital background calibration for frequency-dependent distortion is presented in this paper. The derivative-based dynamic distortion model is extended to linearize the ADC frontend including the input buffer and the T/H. A low sampling rate auxiliary ADC is included on chip to acquire real-time, high-linearity reference samples to enable continuous background calibration. The digital post-distortion (applied off chip) enables SFDR improvements of 10 dB for 2.5 GHz inputs. Temperature sweeps from 10°C to 80°C confirm the scheme's robustness.
Hepatitis C Virus-Induced Autophagy and Host Innate Immune Response

Autophagy is a catabolic process that is important for maintaining cellular homeostasis. This pathway in hepatocytes is stimulated and controlled by the hepatitis C virus (HCV)—upon infection—to promote its own replication. HCV induces autophagy indirectly and directly through different mechanisms and temporally controls the autophagic flux. This enables the virus to maximize its replication and attenuate the innate immune responses that it activates. In this review, we discuss the relationship between HCV and autophagy, and the crosstalk between HCV-induced autophagy and host innate immune responses.
Unfurling Rigor: On Continuity and Change in Qualitative Inquiry:

This article urges qualitative researchers to understand the work they do as inspired by practical concerns rather than by its ontological and/or cognitive status as science. It is time to let go a...
Lars Valerian Ahlfors: Collected Papers, Volume I, 1929–1955, Volume II, 1954–1979. Edited by Gian-Carlo Rota

(1985). Lars Valerian Ahlfors: Collected Papers, Volume I, 1929–1955, Volume II, 1954–1979. Edited by Gian-Carlo Rota. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 92, No. 5, pp. 366-368.
Maximizing Aggregate Throughput in 802.11 Mesh Networks with Physical Carrier Sensing and Two-Radio Multi-Channel Clustering

Spatial reuse in a mesh network allows multiple communications to proceed simultaneously, hence proportionally improving the overall network throughput. To maximize spatial reuse, the MAC protocol must enable simultaneous co-channel transmitters to maintain a separation distance that is sufficient to avoid interference. Within that distance, a set of orthogonal channels is employed by different links. This paper demonstrates that physical carrier sensing enhanced with a tunable sensing threshold is effective at avoiding co-channel interference in 802.11 mesh (static + multi-hop) networks. Moreover, for multi-channel mesh networks, an architecture for channel clustering based on two-radio nodes is proposed. Distributed clustering is achieved using the Highest-Connectivity Cluster (HCC) algorithm. All inter-cluster communications are performed on a common channel using the default radio, while intra-cluster communications use the secondary radio with channel selection based on a new Minimum Interference Channel Selection (MIX) algorithm that minimizes the co-channel interference (CCI). Backward compatibility is guaranteed by allowing legacy single-channel devices to connect to the new two-radio devices through the common default radio. Simulation results for large-scale 802.11b and 802.11a networks demonstrate the significant improvement in one-hop aggregate throughput. Specifically, the new two-radio multi-channel mesh solution increases the aggregate through-put by more than twice w.r.t. the traditional single-radio single-channel mesh.
Bayesian Quantum Measurement of a Single-Cooper-Pair Qubit

An interesting and important question is what happens to a single-Cooper-pair qubit during the measurement of its state, for example, by a single-electron transistor. If the measurement is sufficiently fast (to neglect other evolutions) and complete (so that the result is unambiguous), then the answer to this question is given by the standard collapse postulate of “orthodox” quantum mechanics [1]. However, this case is hardly realizable in practice. The reason is realistically weak coupling between the qubit and the detector and also finite noise of the detector (that requires some time before the signal-to-noise ratio becomes sufficiently large). In this case the measurement should be considered as a continuous process rather than instantaneous event and the simple collapse postulate cannot be applied. So, what happens to qubit state during such realistic measurement process? This question can be answered using recently developed Bayesian formalism [2] which essentially describes how the collapse process develops in time.
Brownian Motion and the Hardy Spaces Hp

Our aim here is to describe, particularly in the context of Hardy spaces, some of the interplay of Brownian motion and analytic functions. We shall begin with a little of the historical background and introduce some of the key ideas along the way.
From Spatial Pattern in the Distribution and Abundance of Species to a Unified Theory of Ecology: The Role of Maximum Entropy Methods

A central focus of ecological research is to understand the distribution and abundance of species (DAS) across a range of spatial and temporal scales. Such knowledge is critical to our ability to design sustainable ecological reserves, to predict extinction rates under habitat loss or climate change, to estimate species diversity from incomplete census data, and to decipher the fundamental forces shaping ecosystems [16, 25, 44]. Moreover, it is increasingly becoming evident that the spatial structure of populations influences the potential for coexistence of species and the likelihood that cooperative phenomena will emerge in the face of selfish or competitive behaviors [33, 36].
Weighted Irrigation Plans

We model an irrigation network where lower branches must be thicker in order to support the weight of the higher ones. This leads to a countable family of ODEs, one for each branch, that must be solved by backward induction. Having introduced conditions that guarantee the existence and uniqueness of solutions, our main result establishes the lower semicontinuity of the corresponding cost functional, w.r.t. pointwise convergence of the irrigation plans. In turn, this yields the existence of an optimal irrigation plan, in the presence of these additional weights.
Developing a cancer-specific trigger tool to identify adverse events using administrative data.

238Background: “Trigger tools” identify complications of care and potential patient safety hazards. However, attempts to create triggers that flag treatment-related complications in oncology have b...
Pollinator niche partitioning and asymmetric facilitation contribute to the maintenance of diversity

Abstract: Mechanisms that favor rare species are key to the maintenance of diversity. One of the most critical tasks for biodiversity conservation is understanding how plant–pollinator mutualisms contribute to the persistence of rare species, yet this remains poorly understood. Using a process-based model that integrates plant–pollinator and interspecific pollen transfer networks with floral functional traits, we show that niche partitioning in pollinator use and asymmetric facilitation confer fitness advantage of rare species in a biodiversity hotspot. While co-flowering species filtered pollinators via floral traits, rare species showed greater pollinator specialization leading to higher pollination-mediated male and female fitness than abundant species. When plants shared pollinator resources, asymmetric facilitation via pollen transport dynamics benefited the rare species at the cost of the abundant ones, serving as an alternative diversity-promoting mechanism. Our results emphasize the importance of community-wide plant–pollinator interactions that affect reproduction for biodiversity maintenance.
Complete resolution of chronic pain, sensory impairment, and motor dysfunction following percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic decompression in a failed back surgery syndrome patient-a case report

Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) is an increasingly common problem that presents a clinical challenge. Though usual treatments may improve pain for some period of time, they do not provide clinically significant recovery of subjective numbness and weakness. We describe a case of a 48-year-old female with FBSS, who presented to the pain clinic with a 29-year history of low back pain, and a 7-year history of sensory and motor dysfunction of her left lower extremity, ever since a left hemi-laminectomy. At the time of presentation, she was wheelchair bound with intense pain, 4/5 strength in her left lower extremity proximally, and 3/5 strength distally. She had previously failed conservative management including medications, physical therapy, and epidural and facet injections. During percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic decompression, her transiting left L5 nerve root was found to be encased in thick scar tissue. The entirety of this scar tissue entrapping her L5 nerve was able to be released, resulting in not only complete resolution of pain but full return of sensory and motor function; in fact, the patient was able to walk out of the post anesthesia care unit without any assistive devices. Despite long-standing damage from many years of nerve entrapment, this patient's sensory and motor function was able to be restored simply by freeing her nerve of scar tissue. Thus, if nerve entrapment in scar tissue is the cause of FBSS, transforaminal endoscopic decompression may offer not only pain relief, but also return of sensory and motor function.
Melodies of the mind: moving from inkblots to digitized music as projective test and as adjunctive therapy

a violin seen in a dream promises: something will touch the stringsof your soul and will find a response in your heart.-Astrological saying Music is highly evocative. At times melodies can trigger ...
Aberrant renal hilar pelvic anatomy in a malrotated kidney.

Understanding variations in uretero–pelvic anatomy is of paramount importance from a surgical, radiological and academic perspective. We report an unheard renal hilar pelvic anatomy where the renal pelvis presented as the most anterior hilar structure. We believe an embryologic event in the renal ascent and rotation can account for this unusual presentation.
Carbon monoxide poisoning

Abstract Carbon monoxide poisoning continues to result in significant morbidity and mortality. It is produced from the incomplete combustion of carbon and can be colorless, odorless, and difficult to detect. It results in systemic toxicity by interfering with oxygen binding to hemoglobin as well as by inhibiting cytochrome oxidase that results in oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. Carbon monoxide poisoning results in various systemic symptoms; however, neurologic symptoms tend to predominate. Diagnosis is made by measuring arterial or venous carboxyhemoglobin concentrations; however, illness severity does not always correlate with carboxyhemoglobin concentrations. Treatment involves removal from the exposure and administration of 100% high-flow oxygen. Hyperbaric oxygen may also be considered to enhance elimination, as well as, attenuate neurologic oxidative stress. Many patients recover completely but permanent neurologic sequelae are possible.
Frequency Of Generic Drug Price Spikes And Impact On Medicaid Spending

Although generic drugs are typically inexpensive, rising prices among some generic drugs in recent years have raised concern. Using Medicaid data, we found that one in five generic drugs sold in th...
Identifying actionable strategies: using Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR)-informed interviews to evaluate the implementation of a multilevel intervention to improve colorectal cancer screening.

Many evidence-based interventions (EBIs) found to be effective in research studies often fail to translate into meaningful patient outcomes in practice. The purpose of this study was to identify facilitators and barriers that affect the implementation of three EBIs to improve colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in an urban federally qualified health center (FQHC) and offer actionable recommendations to improve future implementation efforts. We conducted 16 semi-structured interviews guided by the Consolidation Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to describe diverse stakeholders’ implementation experience. The interviews were conducted in the participant’s clinic, audio-taped, and professionally transcribed for analysis. We used the five CFIR domains and 39 constructs and subconstructs as a coding template to conduct a template analysis. Based on experiences with the implementation of three EBIs, stakeholders described barriers and facilitators related to the intervention characteristics, outer setting, and inner setting. Implementation barriers included (1) perceived burden and provider fatigue with EHR (Electronic Health Record) provider reminders, (2) unreliable and ineffectual EHR provider reminders, (3) challenges to providing health care services to diverse patient populations, (4) lack of awareness about CRC screening among patients, (5) absence of CRC screening goals, (6) poor communication on goals and performance, and (7) absence of printed materials for frontline implementers to educate patients. Implementation facilitators included (1) quarterly provider assessment and feedback reports provided real-time data to motivate change, (2) integration with workflow processes, (3) pressure from funding requirement to report quality measures, (4) peer pressure to achieve high performance, and (5) a culture of teamwork and patient-centered mentality. The CFIR can be used to conduct a post-implementation formative evaluation to identify barriers and facilitators that influenced the implementation. Furthermore, the CFIR can provide a template to organize research data and synthesize findings. With its clear terminology and meta-theoretical framework, the CFIR has the potential to promote knowledge-building for implementation. By identifying the contextual determinants, we can then determine implementation strategies to facilitate adoption and move EBIs to daily practice.
Sphere-Rod Morphogenesis in Arthrobacter crystallopoietes I. Cell Wall Composition and Polysaccharides of the Peptidoglycan

Cell walls of Arthrobacter crystallopoietes were prepared from cells grown as spheres and from peptone- and succinate-induced rod stage cells. Undegraded polysaccharide backbones of the peptidoglycans were isolated from myxobacter AL-1 protease digests by ECTEOLA cellulose and Sephadex G-50 chromatography. The polysaccharide backbones of the sphere cell wall peptidoglycan are heterogeneous in their size, and average less than 40 hexosamines per chain. Those of the rod cell walls are homogeneous in size and average 114 to 135 hexosamines per chain.
Preparation and characterization of two isozymes of choline acetyltransferase from squid head ganglia: II. Self-association, molecular weight determinations, and studies with inactivating antisera

Abstract The two isozymes of choline acetyltransferase (Acetyl-CoA:choline O -acetyltransferase, EC 2.3.1.6) from head ganglia of Loligo pealei have been examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, gel chromatography, and equilibrium sedimentation in the ultracentrifuge. Inactivating antisera, prepared to both native and dithiothreitol-treated isozymes I and 2 of squid choline acetyltransferase, were used to demonstrate the immunologic identity of isozymes 1 and 2. Each isozyme appeared to contain two non-identical catalytically active subunits, with molecular weights of approx. 37 000 and 56 000. A staining method was developed to visualize choline acetyltransferase activity in acrylamide gels. The method is based on the formation of a precipitate of manganese ferrocyanide at sites where free coenzyme A is released. By this method, and by analysis of gel slices, it was found that each of the isozymes can form aggregates of several different sizes. The formation of immune precipitates with the aggregates showed the identity of the multiple bands of enzyme protein resolved on disc gel electrophoresis. Isozyme I was most active as a small aggregate, whereas isozyme 2 was most active as a large aggregate. Both chromatography on Sephadex G-200 and isoelectric focusing yielded a number of active species with molecular weights ranging from 35 000 to 300 000. In addition, we demonstrated the dissociation of enzyme protein in the presence of 1.0 · 10 −2 M dithiothreitol, the formation of multiple precipitin bands by aged enzyme, and the identity of the different isoelectric fractions of each of the isozymes.
Competition and Strategic Information Acquisition in Credit Markets

We investigate the interaction between banks' use of information acquisition as a strategic tool and their role in promoting the efficiency of credit markets when a bank's ability to gather information varies with its distance to the borrower. We show that banks acquire proprietary information both to soften lending competition and to extend their market share. As competition increases, investments in information acquisition fall, leading to lower interest rates but also to less efficient lending decisions. Consistent with the recent wave of bank acquisitions, we also find that merging for informational reasons with a competitor is an optimal response to industry consolidation.
Work in progress - Cybersecurity curriculum development initiated by public interests

The investigators are engaged in developing Cybersecurity curriculum and tutorial material that illuminate this essential issue from the public interest point of view. This concerns needs, priorities, and specific relevant technologies, based on sources published by the Federal government and public organizations. As a whole, the material will cover a complete 500-level (graduate, open to undergraduates) 3 credit-hours course, with a limited prerequisite in computer networks. The work mainly consists of compiling slides, to be downloaded by interested instructors from a dedicated Website developed by the investigators. The material was organized in a way that also facilitates the use of various parts of it as supplementary material to courses in business and management, computer science, electrical engineering and information systems. It is further intended to address a wide range of students' populations and education institutes, including continuing education and institutes granting associate degrees
Self‐care in women with heart failure and the effectiveness of nurse‐led educational interventions: a review of the literature

stamp kd (2011) Journal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness 3, 339–351 Self-care in women with heart failure and the effectiveness of nurse-led educational interventions: a review of the literature Aims and objectives. The purpose of this review of the literature is to evaluate the research on self-care behaviours of women heart failure patients and whether self-care is improved by the patient’s knowledge of the disease, symptoms and treatments. Second, to determine whether nurse-led educational interventions influence self-care behaviours in women. Background. In the past, clinical research has sampled mostly white, male populations, and the results have been generalised to the population. Less is known about self-care behaviours in women with heart failure constituting a gender disparity in knowledge for effective management. Design. Review of the literature. Methods. A search of the English language literature was conducted using CINAHL, Ovid MEDLINE, Cochrane and PubMed databases and supplemented by a hand search of relevant reference lists from 1998 through 2010. Results. Potentially relevant articles were identified (n = 56) by the literature search. A total of 33 articles were excluded because of lack of explanation of gender differences or non-nurse-led educational interventions; 23 original studies were included in the review. Conclusions. There was inadequate research to determine whether nurse-led education improves self-care behaviours in women; however, the evidence shows that many women exhibit poor self-care practices. There is a need for nurse researchers to address this deficit. Relevance to clinical practice. Heart failure symptoms seriously impinge on a woman’s ability to live her life, as she would like, regardless of her country of abode. Understanding women’s knowledge deficits about heart failure and their self-care behaviours nationally and internationally will aid in developing appropriate nurse-led interventions to increase adherence to proven efficacious regimens, thus improving quality of life and decreasing the morbidity and mortality of women diagnosed with heart failure.
Enforcing forward-edge control-flow integrity in GCC & LLVM

Constraining dynamic control transfers is a common technique for mitigating software vulnerabilities. This defense has been widely and successfully used to protect return addresses and stack data; hence, current attacks instead typically corrupt vtable and function pointers to subvert a forward edge (an indirect jump or call) in the control-flow graph. Forward edges can be protected using Control-Flow Integrity (CFI) but, to date, CFI implementations have been research prototypes, based on impractical assumptions or ad hoc, heuristic techniques. To be widely adoptable, CFI mechanisms must be integrated into production compilers and be compatible with software-engineering aspects such as incremental compilation and dynamic libraries. This paper presents implementations of fine-grained, forward-edge CFI enforcement and analysis for GCC and LLVM that meet the above requirements. An analysis and evaluation of the security, performance, and resource consumption of these mechanisms applied to the SPEC CPU2006 benchmarks and common benchmarks for the Chromium web browser show the practicality of our approach: these fine-grained CFI mechanisms have significantly lower overhead than recent academic CFI prototypes. Implementing CFI in industrial compiler frameworks has also led to insights into design tradeoffs and practical challenges, such as dynamic loading.
Freedom of the Press in the United States

This essay stressed that many basic questions about the press in the United States are not resolved, and some are still to be addressed. It emphasized the gap or chasm between the bold commitment to a robust and free press and the somewhat drearier reality of newspaper life today. While there is no typical newspaper, there is a growing trend toward single-newspaper communities. The publisher is often an absentee owner of a chain of newspapers. Reporters and editors frequently enjoy special, cozy relationships with those who are powerful or well-connected. At times, there is a significant gap between the demands of courageous journalism and the limited way in which the law actually protects reporters and editors.
Akumal's reefs: stony coral communities along the developing Mexican Caribbean coastline.

Fringing coral reefs along coastlines experiencing rapid development and human population growth have declined worldwide because of human activity and of natural causes. The “Mayan Riviera” in Quintana Roo, Mexico, attracts large numbers of tourists in part because it still retains some of the natural diversity and it is important to obtain baseline information to monitor changes over time in the area. In this paper, the condition of the stony corals in the developing coastline of the Akumal-area fore reefs is characterized at the start of the new millennium at two depths, and along an inferred sedimentation gradient. Transect surveys were conducted in five fringing reefs starting at haphazardly chosen points. with respect to species composition, live cover, colony density, relative exposure to TAS mats and, for one species (Diploria strigosa, Dana, 1848), tissue regression rates in the presence of TAS mats. Fish population density and herbivory rates are also assessed. Data from line intercept transects (n=74) show that live stony coral cover, density and relative peripheral exposure of colonies to turf algal/sediment (TAS) mats were inversely related to an inferred sediment stress gradient at 13m. In 2000, live stony coral cover had decreased by 40-50% at two sites studied in 1990 by Munoz-Chagin and de la Cruz- Aguero (1993). About half of this loss apparently occurred between 1998 and 2000 during an outbreak of white plague disease that mostly affected Montastraea faveolata, and M. annularis. At a 13 m site, where inferred sedimentation rates are relatively high, time series photography of tagged Diploria strigosa, (n=38) showed an average loss of 70 cm2 of live tissue/coral/year to encroachment by TAS mats during the same period. Whereas densities of carnivorous fishes and herbivores (echinoids, scarids, acanthurids and Microspathodon chrysurus) in 2000 were low in belt transects at 10-19 m (n=106), turf-algal gardening pomacentrids were relatively common on these reefs.
The RXRalpha gene functions in a non-cell-autonomous manner during mouse cardiac morphogenesis

Germline mutation in mice of the retinoic acid receptor gene RXRalpha results in a proliferative failure of cardiomyocytes, which leads to an underdeveloped ventricular chamber and midgestation lethality. Mutation of the cell cycle regulator N-myc gene also leads to an apparently identical phenotype. In this study, we demonstrate by chimera analysis that the cardiomyocyte phenotype in RXRalpha-/- embryos is a non-cell-autonomous phenotype. In chimeric embryos made with embryonic stem cells lacking RXRalpha, cardiomyocytes deficient in RXRalpha develop normally and contribute to the ventricular chamber wall in a normal manner. Because the ventricular hypoplastic phenotype reemerges in highly chimeric embryos, we conclude that RXRalpha functions in a non-myocyte lineage of the heart to induce cardiomyocyte proliferation and accumulation, in a manner that is quantitatively sensitive. We further show that RXRalpha is not epistatic to N-myc, and that RXRalpha and N-myc regulate convergent obligate pathways of cardiomyocyte maturation.
The influence of microsomal and cytosolic components on the oxidation of myoglobin and lipid in vitro

Muscle microsomes were isolated from beef, pork and tuna and combined with oxymyoglobin to study oxymyoglobin and lipid oxidation interactions. Tuna muscle microsomes contained higher concentrations of long chain fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids, and a lower α-tocopherol content than microsomes from the other two species (P < 0·05). Oxymyoglobin and lipid oxidation were greater in tuna followed by pork and beef (P < 0·05). The influence of high (HMW) and low molecular weight (LMW) cytosolic fractions from muscles of these species on oxymyoglobin and lipid oxidation was studied in an oxymyoglobin-phosphatidylcholine-liposome system. In each species, the LMW fraction resulted in greater OxyMb and lipid oxidation than the HMW fraction (P < 0·05). Within a given fraction type, there was no difference between species (P < 0·05). In lamb liver oxymyoglobin-microsomes, oxymyoglobin and lipid oxidation were delayed with increased microsomal α-tocopherol content (P < 0·05). These results suggest that differences in oxymyoglobin and lipid oxidation in vitro were more strongly influenced by oxidative stability of membrane components rather than cytosolic components.
Bioequivalence of racemic drugs.

Although pharmakokinetic and pharmacodnynamic differences between the enantiomers of a chiral drug have been known or suspected for many years, racemate drugs have frequently been developed and approved without clinical pharmacologic consideration of their chiral compjonents. In the late 2970s, the technology to isolate, manufacture, and detect pure enantiomers of racemate drugs became generally available. This availability has created new demands on both pharmaceutical firms and regulatory agencies
Glycogen synthase kinase-3β/β-catenin promotes angiogenic and anti-apoptotic signaling through the induction of VEGF, Bcl-2 and survivin expression in rat ischemic preconditioned myocardium

Ischemic preconditioning (IP) enhances vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Bcl-2 and survivin expression after myocardial infarction (MI). Mechanisms of angiogenic and anti-apoptotic effects due to IP still remain unclear. The present study attempts to address whether GSK-3beta-beta-catenin signaling in turn interacts with T-cell transcription factor/lymphoid-enhancer binding factor (TCF/LEF) and regulates these genes in the ischemic preconditioned myocardium. In a rat MI model with permanent occlusion of left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), IP (four cycles of 4-min of ischemia and 4-min of reperfusion) significantly phosphorylated and inhibited GSK-3beta and accumulated beta-catenin in the cytosol and nucleus. Wortmannin, a PI-3 kinase inhibitor, repressed this effect in our model. We examined whether pretreatment with GSK-3beta inhibitor lithium or SB216763, mimicked IP-mediated angiogenesis and cardioprotection. Lithium- or SB216763- treated rats revealed accumulation of cytosolic and nuclear beta-catenin. This was followed by increased TCF/LEF transcriptional activity and the upregulation of VEGF, Bcl-2 and survivin mRNA expression accompanied by reduction of apoptotic cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells and increased capillary density after MI. The results of this study demonstrate, first time that inhibition of GSK-3beta followed by accumulation of beta-catenin in the cytosol and nucleus has potent anti-apoptotic and angiogenic effects after MI and that the PI3-kinase/GSK-3beta/beta-catenin signaling pathway plays an important role in IP.
Appendiceal abscess masquerading as acute urinary retention in children

Two boys with acute urinary retention were found to have a persistent pelvic mass after bladder decompression. Evaluation in each disclosed a large pelvic abscess secondary to a ruptured appendix. The diagnosis of appendicitis may be difficult and appendiceal abscess presenting with acute urinary retention in children has been reported previously in only 7 instances. History, physical examination, laboratory studies, and radiographic and ultrasonic evaluations should lead to the correct diagnosis, and surgical intervention restores normal voiding.
Developmental neurotoxicity of organophosphates targets cell cycle and apoptosis, revealed by transcriptional profiles in vivo and in vitro.

Abstract Developmental organophosphate exposure reduces the numbers of neural cells, contributing to neurobehavioral deficits. We administered chlorpyrifos or diazinon to newborn rats on postnatal days 1–4, in doses straddling the threshold for barely-detectable cholinesterase inhibition, and evaluated gene expression in the cell cycle and apoptosis pathways on postnatal day 5. Both organophosphates evoked transcriptional changes in 20–25% of the genes in each category; chlorpyrifos and diazinon targeted the same genes, with similar magnitudes of change, as evidenced by high concordance. Furthermore, the same effects were obtained with doses above or below the threshold for cholinesterase inhibition, indicating a mechanism unrelated to anticholinesterase actions. We then evaluated the effects of chlorpyrifos in undifferentiated and differentiating PC12 cells and found even greater targeting of cell cycle and apoptosis genes, affecting up to 40% of all genes in the pathways. Notably, the genes affected in undifferentiated cells were not concordant with those in differentiating cells, pointing to dissimilar outcomes dependent on developmental stage. The in vitro model successfully identified 60–70% of the genes affected by chlorpyrifos in vivo, indicating that the effects are exerted directly on developing neural cells. Our results show that organophosphates target the genes regulating the cell cycle and apoptosis in the developing brain and in neuronotypic cells in culture, with the pattern of vulnerability dependent on the specific stage of development. Equally important, these effects do not reflect actions on cholinesterase and operate at exposures below the threshold for any detectable inhibition of this enzyme.
Parenting Behaviors Among Anxious and Non-Anxious Mothers: Relation with Concurrent and Long-Term Child Outcomes

ABSTRACT The present study addressed two specific questions: (1) Are there differences in parenting behaviors between anxious and non-anxious mothers? and (2) Are parenting behaviors within these two groups associated with adverse outcomes in children (i.e., internalizing and externalizing symptoms)? The above questions were examined concurrently (when children were in first grade) and at a six-year follow-up among a predominately African American community-based high-risk sample. Twenty-five anxious and matched non-anxious (N = 50) mothers were videotaped with their children (mean age 5.8 years) engaging in a challenging task. Blind raters coded parent behaviors. Parents and children completed measures of anxiety and/or externalizing symptoms at both time points. Contrary to expectations, results indicated no group differences in parenting behaviors in the first grade and no relation between parenting behaviors and concurrent levels of anxiety or externalizing symptoms. At the six-year follow-up, however...
Effects of social anxiety, attention, and extraversion on the acoustic startle eyeblink response☆

Abstract Konorski's ( Conditioned Reflexes and Neuron Organization , 1948) biphasic theory of emotion suggests that emotions are organized into two oppositional motivational systems, one of which is responsible for hunger, sexual drive, and curiosity (approach), while the opposing system is responsible for fear (avoidance). Lang and colleagues have proposed that this model explains the pattern of acoustic startle eyeblink responses seen when subjects are probed during the processing of differentially emotionally valenced slides. The two studies presented here suggest that, in the case of negative affect involving social anxiety, the response pattern may be more complex. Experiment 1 replicated earlier findings that a social encounter attenuates the startle response, and provided evidence that this effect is independent of habituation. Experiment 2 found a significant interaction of extraversion and social encounter for startle response amplitude, suggesting that the effect of a social encounter on the startle response is personality dependent. Ohman's (1986, Psychophysiology, 23 , 123–145) model of intraspecific vs interspecific fears seems to be an appropriate framework in which to view the effect of social situations on emotional responding.
Politics And Social Change In Latin America: Still A Distinct Tradition?

Preface Introduction: Interpreting Latin America's Politics on It's Own Terms by Howard J. Wiarda and Margaret Macheish Mott The Political Culture Framework Patterns of Continuity in Latin American Society: Political and Historical Perspectives by Roland H. Ebel Two Cultures and Political Behavior in Latin America by Glen Caudill Dealy Historical Factors The Latin American Tradition by Roland H. Ebel and Raymond Taras Spanish American Past: Enemy of Change by Donald E. Worcester Science, Technology, and Hispanic America by Irving A. Leonard Claims of Political Tradition by Richard M. Morse Historical Determinants of the Latin American State: The Tradition of Bureaucratic-Patrimonialism, Corporatism, Centralism, and Authoritarianism by Howard J. Wiarda Politics and Social Change The Tradition of Higher Laws in Latin America by Margaret MacLeish Mott Latin America and Democracy by Octavio Paz From El Cid to El Hugo: The Hero and the Mystique of Liberation in Latin America by Dolores Moyano Martin Latin America's Magical Liberalism by Tina Rosenberg The News About Religion in Latin America by Daniel Levine Foreign Policy Implications On Democracy and Democratization by Peter H. Smith Consensus Found, Consensus Lost: Disjunctures in U.S. Policy Toward Latin America in the New Millennium by Howard J. Wiarda Conclusion Suggested Readings Index About the Contributors
Have southern Texas savannas been converted to woodlands in recent history

At savanna woodland sites in southern Texas, discrete clusters of woody plants form in herbaceous clearings following the invasion of mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa), an arborescent ...