cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract # 1777 Differential mechanisms of cancer- versus cancer therapy-related fatigue in patients with acute myeloid leukemia

Fatigue is a common, debilitating symptom in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Several mechanisms of AML-related fatigue have been proposed including inflammation. However, it is unclear whether these mechanisms pertain to cancer- or cancer therapy-related fatigue. We aimed to identify the relative contribution of inflammation to fatigue before and during remission induction chemotherapy for AML and to study the predictive value of clinical factors, stress, and microbiome factors for fatigue. Weekly fatigue and stress reports, blood, and stool samples were obtained from patients (max n = 94) before (baseline) and during chemotherapy (week 2–4). Within every time point, fatigue was associated with stress (r’s = .33–.87) and with markers of inflammation (baseline: IL-6, TNF-alpha; week 2: IL-6, IL-7; week 3: IL-7, IL-15; week 4: IL-6, IL-15, VCAM-1; r’s = .33–.56. Microbiome diversity and abundance of specific microbiome strains were not associated with fatigue. Multiple regression models for inflammation predicting fatigue showed increased explained variances during chemotherapy: baseline: 21%, week 2–4: 29–49%. Adding stress increased explained variances with 17% and 8% at baseline and week 2, without changing the contribution of inflammation. In week 3 and 4, the contribution of stress was decreased (9% and 29%) when compared to correlational analyses (31% and 76%). In conclusion, stress is a predictor of fatigue at every phase while inflammation is mostly an important driver of chemotherapy-related fatigue in AML, possibly mediated by stress.
2004-6-16 to 2014-8-15: The birth and death of a work by Gu Dexin

Conservators who work with contemporary materials are experiencing a paradigm shift that affects not only their role, but also the decision-making process associated with each unique work. Importantly, such actions sometimes contradict established preservation doctrine. This paper describes the challenging preservation efforts associated with a large-scale sculpture/installation produced in 2004 by Gu Dexin. Those efforts contradicted many of the standards and ethics of conservation, particularly considerations related to compromising the life of a given work. Ultimately, the decision made in this case led to the demise of that object. This paper will include information obtained from the various stakeholders — including the donor and the artist — and a compendium of the exhaustive considerations that facilitated the final decision.
The behavior of ascending chain conditions on submodules of bounded finite generation in direct sums

We construct a ring R which has the ascending chain condition on n-generated right ideals for each n ≥ 1 (also called the right pan-acc property), such that no full matrix ring over R has the ascending chain condition on cyclic right ideals. Thus, the right pan-acc property is not a Morita invariant. Moreover, a direct sum of (free) modules with pan-acc does not necessarily even have 1-acc.
Infusion of exogenous cholecystokinin-8, gastrin releasing peptide-29 and their combination reduce body weight in diet-induced obese male rats.

We hypothesized that exogenous gastrin releasing peptide-29 (GRP-29), cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8) and their combination reduce body weight (BW). To test this hypothesis, BW was measured in four groups of diet-induced obese (DIO) male rats infused in the aorta (close to the junctions of the celiac and cranial mesenteric arteries) with saline, CCK-8 (0.5 nmol/kg), GRP-29 (0.5 nmol/kg) and CCK-8+GRP-29 (0.5 nmol/kg each) once daily for a total of 23 days. We found that CCK-8, GRP-29 and CCK-8+GRP-29 reduce BW relative to saline control. In conclusion, CCK-8, GRP-29 and their combination reduce BW in the DIO rat model. If infused near their gastrointestinal sites of action CCK-8, GRP-29 and their combination may have a role in regulating BW.
Role of the Health Department in Tuberculosis Prevention and Control-Legal and Public Health Considerations

Because tuberculosis is caused by an infectious organism that is spread from person to person through the air, public health measures are essential to control the disease. There are three priority strategies for tuberculosis prevention and control in the United States: (i) identifying and treating persons who have tuberculosis disease; (ii) finding persons exposed to infectious tuberculosis patients, evaluating them for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and disease, and providing subsequent treatment, if appropriate; and (iii) testing populations at high risk for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and treating those persons who are infected to prevent progression to disease. These strategies for prevention and control of tuberculosis are discussed in a framework containing the following important topics: historical and epidemiological context of tuberculosis control, organization of public health tuberculosis control programs, legal basis for public health authority, conducting overall planning and development of policy, identifying persons who have clinically active tuberculosis, evaluation of immigrants, managing persons who have or who are suspected of having disease, medical consultation, interjurisdictional referrals, identifying and managing persons infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, providing laboratory and diagnostic services, collecting and analyzing data, and providing training and education. This chapter describes the role of the health department in the context of these components. This discussion is primarily applicable to tuberculosis prevention and control programs in the United States.
Cancer Incidence Among Patients of the U.S. Veterans Affairs Health Care System: 2010 Update

ABSTRACT Introduction: Nearly 50,000 incident cancer cases are reported in Veterans Affairs (VA) Central Cancer Registry (VACCR) annually. This article provides an updated report of cancer incidence recorded in VACCR. Materials and Methods: Data were obtained from VACCR for incident cancers diagnosed in the VA health care system, focusing on 2010 data. Cancer incidence among VA patients is described by anatomical site, sex, race, stage, and geographic location, and was compared to the general U.S. cancer population. Results: In 2010, among 46,170 invasive cancers, 97% were diagnosed among men. Approximately 80% of newly diagnosed patients were white, 19% black, and less than 2% were other minority races. Median age at diagnosis was 65 years. The three most frequently diagnosed cancers among VA were prostate (29%), lung/bronchus (18%), and colon/rectum (8%). Melanoma and kidney/renal pelvis tied for fourth (4%), and urinary bladder tied for sixth with liver and intrahepatic bile duct (3.4%). Approximately ...
Control and detection of Majorana bound states in quantum dot arrays

We study the low-energy physics of a one-dimensional array of superconducting quantum dots realized by proximity coupling a semiconductor nanowire to multiple superconducting islands separated by narrow uncovered regions. The effective electrostatic potential inside the quantum dots and the uncovered regions can be controlled using potential gates. By performing detailed numerical calculations based on effective tight-binding models, we find that multiple low-energy subgap states consisting of partially overlapping Majorana bound states emerge generically in the vicinity of the uncovered regions. Explicit differential conductance calculations show that a robust zero-bias conductance peak is not inconsistent with the presence of such states localized throughout the system, hence, the observation of such a peak does not demonstrate the realization of well-separated Majorana zero modes. However, we find that creating effective potential wells in the uncovered regions traps pairs of nearby partially overlapping Majorana bound states, which become less separated and acquire a finite gap that protects the pair of Majorana zero modes localized at the ends of the system. This behavior persists over a significant parameter range, suggesting that proximitized quantum dot arrays could provide a platform for highly controllable Majorana devices.
An explanation for the gap in the Gaia HRD for M dwarfs

We show that the recently discovered narrow gap in the Gaia Hertzsprung - Russell Diagram near MG =10 can be explained by standard stellar evolution models and results from a dip in the luminosity function associated with mixing of 3He during merger of envelope and core convection zones that occurs for a narrow range of masses.
Expression of CSF-1 and its receptor CSF-1R in non-hematopoietic neoplasms.

In 1984, long before anyone had even conceived of the possibility of DNA microarray analyses of gene expression in histologic sections, we employed a rather cumbersome and laborious in situ hybridization analysis of cDNAs to tissue RNA in serial sections of ovarian, endometrial, and breast carcinomas (in which autoradiographic grains were counted and data calculated in terms of cDNA hybrids/square micron of tissue). Our purpose was to ascertain whether the levels of transcript expression of any of 20 genes under study correlated with tumor grade and clinical stage (which even in the year 2000 remain the best overall predictors of prognosis in patients with these three neoplasms). Out of over 20 genes studied, only the levels of the transcript of the fms oncogene, which had at that time recently been shown to encode the receptor for CSF-1 (CSF-1R) correlated strongly with both grade (p < 0.001) and stage (p < 0.04) and thus, indirectly, with clinical outcome [1].
A study on Pd distribution effect on the reliability of Au coated PCC wire bonding

Copper (Cu) wire has been widely used in semiconductor packaging for more than 15 years with several advantages such as lower cost, higher electrical conductivity and slower Cu/Al intermetallic compound (IMC) growth than those of Au wire. Furthermore, recently industry requires severe reliability test condition for automotive device so that Cu wire bonding is being highlighted.However, one of disadvantages in Cu wire bonding is Cu/Al IMC can be easily attacked by moisture and sometimes we observe open failure at the interface of bonded ball and bond pad due to IMC corrosion at unbiased highly accelerated stress test (u-HAST) or biased highly accelerated stress test (b-HAST). Many studies have been performed to delay those failures and we come to know that Pd distribution of free air ball (FAB) and bonded ball in Pd coated wire bonding is one of important factors. Our expectation is wide & uniform Pd surrounding on FAB & bonded ball will give us delay in failure. In this evaluation, we tried to find out optimum Electronic Frame Off (EFO) condition such as EFO current & time and to have wide Pd layer distribution to cover whole bonded ball surface because we believe Pd is generally known to protect moisture or halogen attack at reliability test.In this experiment, Amkor standard test die was attached on a laminated substrate and wire bonded using various Au coated PCC wires and encapsulated with epoxy molding compound (EMC). The reason that we selected Au coated PCC is that this wire is Amkor’s first recommendation among Cu wires. Optimum EFO condition was verified through Pd distribution result. Parts were undergone u-HAST (130’C/85% RH) up to 800hrs until we see massive failures and failure analysis was done by SEM/EDX mapping to find out the root cause and understand the failure mechanism.Through this study, we could find out optimum EFO condition to have uniform & wide Pd distribution and finally we could pass very severe reliability test criteria over than industry requires. This guideline will be very helpful for Cu wire bonding to the industry.
Plasma-Liquid Interaction For Treatment Of Hydraulic Fracturing Wastewater

Reactive species produced through plasma-liquid interaction is investigated for treatment of hydraulic fracturing wastewater. Unconventional shale gas and oil extraction has resulted in over 1.74 trillion liters of combined wastewater between 2005 and 2014, most of which has been injected into Class II disposal wells and removed from the water cycle 1. High total dissolved solid (TDS) concentrations that can exceed 260,000 mg/L limit the viability of contemporary treatment technologies due to intensive energy requirements and low throughputs, leading to the prominence of deep-well injection for wastewater management. Local water scarcity and seismic concerns motivate the need for a feasible treatment option that allows for wastewater recycling.
A Graph Database of Yelp Dataset Challenge 2018 and Using Cypher for Basic Statistics and Graph Pattern Exploration

In this paper, we use Neo4j, a popular graph database, to store the Yelp Dataset for 2018 Challenge, which is a real-world dataset. The graph database provides persistent availability for users to retrieve data using Neo4j Graph Query Language called cypher, for many applications. Users can use Neo4j clients such as Python and R together with cypher and server plugins such as APOC and graph algorithm library to explore the dataset. We explain the basic concepts and applications of cypher graph pattern language. To demonstrate how the database can be used, we use cypher to obtain basic statistics of the dataset and use cypher with graph algorithm library to explore interesting graph patterns such as bipartite and connected components.
Big data cohort extraction for personalized statin treatment and machine learning

The creation of big clinical data cohorts for machine learning and data analysis require a number of steps from the beginning to successful completion. Similar to data set preprocessing in other fields, there is an initial need to complete data quality evaluation; however, with large heterogeneous clinical data sets, it is important to standardize the data in order to facilitate dimensionality reduction. This is particularly important for clinical data sets including medications as a core data component due to the complexity of coded medication data. Data integration at the individual subject level is essential with medication-related machine learning applications since it can be difficult to accurately identify drug exposures, therapeutic effects, and adverse drug events without having high-quality data integration of insurance, medication, and medical data. Successful data integration and standardization efforts can substantially improve the ability to identify and replicate personalized treatment pathways to optimize drug therapy.
Association between Ready-to-Eat Cereal Consumption and Nutrient Intake, Nutritional Adequacy, and Diet Quality among Infants, Toddlers, and Children in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015–2016

Ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal is a popular food among children. However, there are no recent data on the associations between RTE cereal consumption and dietary outcomes in the U.S. Therefore, we sought to investigate how RTE cereal was associated with nutrient and food group intakes and overall dietary quality among children aged 0.5 to 17 years using the latest data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2015–2016). Thirty-six percent of children reported consuming RTE cereal. RTE cereal eaters consumed the same number of calories as non-eaters but had higher intakes of total carbohydrates, total sugar, fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin D, as well as lower intakes of total fat and saturated fat (p ≤ 0.0007). We also found that children who consumed RTE cereal had 29% higher total dairy intake (p < 0.0001) and 61% higher whole grain intake (p < 0.0001). Lastly, children who ate RTE cereal had higher diet quality than the children that did not eat RTE cereal, as shown by Healthy Eating Index 2015 total score (52.6 versus 47.7, p < 0.0001). Therefore, consumption of whole-grain fortified RTE cereals should be encouraged as part of healthy dietary patterns for children.
Semiological Features of Nonepileptic Paroxysmal Events in Infancy

Purpose: Nonepileptic paroxysmal events (NPEs) are common in infancy and may be misinterpreted as epileptic seizures. With a knowledge of common NPEs,...
34 – The Plastic Piping Industry in North America

Publisher Summary Of all thermoplastics, PVC is by far the most widely used in piping applications. Overall, it has excellent basic properties, may be easily processed, and is very economic in cost. PVC is a thermally sensitive thermoplastic to which various ingredients must be added to stabilize it and allow it to be processed. Heat stabilizers are required as well as lubricants, fillers, processing aids, pigments, and impact modifiers. Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (U-PVC) has excellent chemical resistance, which, combined with the smooth surfaces of the interior pipe wall, minimizes scaling and gives excellent flow characteristics, which remain constant during the pipe's service life. Polyethylene is the second most widely used thermoplastic in piping applications. Similar to PVC, it has excellent basic properties, may be easily processed, and is economic in cost. PE is more thermally stable than the PVC, but does require stabilizers to prevent damage during processing and in service. Polyethylene has excellent chemical resistance to both acidic and basic chemicals as well as organic chemicals. PE is much more flexible than PVC and in smaller diameter piping can be coiled. Thus the major thermoplastic piping materials used are PVC and high-density polyethylene. These materials constitute more than 90% of the total market.
Peace Management and Conflict Resolution: A Practitioner’s Perspective

This chapter provides a firsthand perspective on the broad issues of prevention and mediation of conflicts, with special reference to two conflict environments outside Africa—Cyprus, Myanmar—and one at its heart (Darfur), where the author was deployed as a senior envoy of the United Nations Secretary General. The aim is to provide a global view on best practice for peacebuilding in Africa against the backdrop of three fundamental shifts in conflict in the post-Cold War era: from inter- to intra-state war; from primarily state-based to non-state actors; and from largely mono- to multi-causal understandings of why wars begin and end. It provides key recommendations on improving mediation, strengthening relations between the UN and NGOs, and dealing with spoilers
Response to Comment on Piccinini and Bergman The Measurement of Insulin Clearance. Diabetes Care 2020;43:2296-2302.

We thank Dr. Gastadelli and colleagues for their interest in our review article (1) and their comments (2) on the limitations of different approaches to assessing insulin clearance in humans and putative limitations of the hypothesis (3) that lower insulin clearance might cause type 2 diabetes (T2D). In fact, many of their comments relate to a series of articles from our group, and in addition to the article they refer to (1), several others (4–6) are also relevant to their comments. Concerning the Polidori/Bergman model (4), they are correct that the approach used by Polidori et al. (4) assumes either linear or saturable hepatic insulin extraction and chooses the model that best fits the data. We believe these are reasonable assumptions and that there is little support for the claim by Gastadelli et al. (2) that a saturable model of hepatic insulin extraction is not justified based on experimental data. The articles they cite claiming that hepatic insulin extraction does not reach saturability until insulin concentrations are in the 300–500 mU/L range are based on comparisons between groups of …
Measurement Invariance of the Readiness to Change Questionnaire Among Injured Patients Who Received a Brief Intervention for Alcohol Use.

We tested measurement invariance of the Readiness to Change Questionnaire (RCQ) to evaluate its utility in assessing the stages of change in the context of brief intervention for alcohol use in opp...
Case Report: Rare Presentation of Dentin Abnormalities in Loeys-Dietz Syndrome Type I

Loeys Dietz Syndrome Type 1 (LDS1) is caused by a mutation in the transforming growth factor-beta receptor 1 (TGFBR1) gene. We previously characterized the oral and dental anomalies in a cohort of individuals diagnosed with LDS and showed that LDS1 had a high frequency of oral manifestations, and most affected individuals had enamel defects. However, dentin anomalies were not apparent in most patients in the cohort. In our cohort, we had identified dentin anomalies in a patient with LDS1, harboring mutation TGFBR1 c.1459C>T (p.Arg487Trp), and in this report, we present clinical and radiographic findings to confirm the dentin anomaly. The proband had gray-brown discoloration of most teeth typical for dentinogenesis imperfecta. Radiographic exam revealed obliterated or very narrow pulp canals, with maxillary anterior teeth being affected more than the posterior teeth. The proband’s son, who also has the same mutation variant, had a history of dentinogenesis imperfecta affecting the primary teeth, however, his permanent teeth were normal in appearance at the time of exam. TGFBR1 has been shown to be expressed by odontoblasts throughout tooth development and deletion of Tgfbr1 in mouse models is known to affect dentin development. In this report we present a rare case of abnormal dentin in 2 individuals with LDS1. These dental anomalies may be the first obvious manifestation of a life-threatening systemic disease and demonstrate the variable and multi-organ phenotypic effects in rare diseases.
Procedural Due Process and Reputational Harm: Liberty as Self-Invention

The question addressed in this article is whether state-imposed reputational harm, in itself, should be deemed a deprivation of liberty sufficient to trigger procedural due process protection. In a sense, this is an odd question to ask. The Supreme Court, more than thirty years ago, clearly responded in the negative, requiring that state-caused stigmatic harm be accompanied by some more tangible loss for a procedural due process claim to arise. Despite much critical commentary in the wake of that decision, the Court has since not only affirmed but extended its stigma-plus doctrine. This article suggests that the stigma-plus standard should be reconsidered for two reasons. First, the Court has been working with impoverished conceptions of reputation and liberty in constructing its stigmatic harm doctrine. This article, relying especially on insights from social labeling theory, urges a closer connection between the values of reputation and liberty, suggesting that reputation be conceptualized as a critical site for autonomous identity formation. Liberty, in turn, here is characterized in intrinsic, as opposed to the Court's instrumental, terms as comprising individual self-invention. In this way, we can see that state-imposed reputational harm, in itself, deprives affected persons of the freedom maximally to define individual self-concepts and social identities. Second, the stakes are higher now than they have been in decades. The cases that gave rise to the stigma-plus doctrine involved the government labeling individuals as shoplifters and drunkards. Today, under the stigma plus standard, the state is free to stigmatize its citizens as potential terrorists, gang members, sex offenders, child abusers, and prostitution patrons, to list just a few, all without triggering due process analysis. The final section of this article addresses these contemporary contexts, applying the theories of reputation and liberty developed in prior sections, and suggesting the need for reform of the Court's reputational harm doctrine.
Estrogen increases brain expression of the mRNA encoding transthyretin, an amyloid β scavenger protein

Estrogen replacement therapy in postmenopausal women is associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The multiple mechanisms by which estrogen protects against AD are still unknown. To conduct a broad screen for estrogen-regulated AD-related genes in the brain, we used cDNA array assays of brain mRNA samples from ovariectomized (ovx) adult female mice treated with either 17beta-estradiol or vehicle at 1 or 5 weeks post-ovx. The gene encoding transthyretin (TTR), which has been reported to scavenge amyloid beta peptides and reduce amyloid plaque formation, is increased by estradiol treatment at both 1 and 5 weeks post-ovx. Northern blot analyses and RNase protection assays performed on whole brain samples obtained from estradiol- or vehicle-treated mice confirmed the cDNA array assays showing a significant increase in TTR mRNA with estradiol treatment. Qualitative in situ hybridization or immunocytochemistry performed on brain sections demonstrated that TTR mRNA is expressed only in choroid plexus and leptomeninges, and that both estrogen receptor proteins, alpha and beta, are present in choroid plexus cells. These novel findings suggest that estrogen may reduce the risk of AD by acting on choroid plexus cells to increase TTR gene expression, leading to enhanced sequestration and reduced aggregation of amyloid beta peptides.
Advantages of disadvantages expected and reported by cochlear implant patients

An open-ended questionnaire was administered to 20 patients using the Nucleus multichannel cochlear implant and 21 patients using the Ineraid multichannel cochlear implant. Before surgery, they were asked to list the advantages and disadvantages that they expected from their cochlear implant. Advantages were expected in the categories of: (1) speech perception when speechreading can be used (65%); (2) environmental sound perception (58%); (3) psychological effects (14%); (4) speech perception when speechreading cannot be used (49%); (5) lifestyle and social effects (42%); and (6) speech production (5%). Disadvantages were expected in: (1) equipment malfunction (42%); (2) environmental sound perception (28%); (3) speech perception when speechreading can be used (7%); (4) psychological effects (24%); (5) speech perception when speechreading is not used (7%); and (6) lifestyle and social effects (7%). Concerns were also raised about the risk of surgery (9%). After several months (4-60 mo) of using their implant, patients were asked to list the advantages and disadvantages that they actually experienced. Advantages were reported in the categories of: (1) speech perception when speechreading can be used (86%); (2) environmental sound perception (79%); (3) psychological effects (49%); (4) speech perception when speechreading cannot be used (56%); (5) lifestyle and social effects (40%); (6) speech production (14%); and (7) the reduction of tinnitus (7%). Disadvantages were reported in: (1) equipment malfunction (54%); (2) environmental sound perception (53%); (3) speech perception when speechreading can be used (26%); (4) psychological effects (12%); (5) speech perception when speechreading is not used (21%); and (6) lifestyle and social effects (9%). Concerns were also noted about the cost of surgery (14%). Thirty patients had tinnitus preoperatively. Without hearing sound through the implant, 70 percent of these indicated that the cochlear implant had a positive effect on their tinnitus. When listening to speech through the implant, 83 percent reported that their tinnitus was reduced.
Formal analysis of dynamic, distributed file-system access controls

We model networked storage systems with distributed, cryptographically enforced file-access control in an applied pi calculus. The calculus contains cryptographic primitives and supports file-system constructs, including access revocation. We establish that the networked storage systems implement simpler, centralized storage specifications with local access-control checks. More specifically, we prove that the former systems preserve safety properties of the latter systems. Focusing on security, we then derive strong secrecy and integrity guarantees for the networked storage systems.
Wakeup under Read/Write Atomicity

We study the wakeup problem in an asynchronous system of anonymous processes that are identically coded. Informally, a protocol solves wakeup if, in all infinite fair runs of the protocol, every process eventually learns that every process has executed at least one step and is therefore ‘awake’[FMRT90]. We study this problem in the context of two models of shared memory communication. In the first model, each word of shared memory may be read and written by every process. In the second model, each process has a register which only that process may write, but all processes may read. We show that wakeup is not solvable in the first model. For the second model, we derive matching lower and upper bounds on the amount of shared memory necessary to solve wakeup. We also study the feasibility of leader election and consensus in the above two models.
ANTHROPOLOGIST AND GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE: A DESCRIPTION OF CAREER PATHS TO BECOMING AN APPLIED ANTHROPOLOGIST WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS

The U.S. government is the largest employer of anthropologists, with an increasing presence in the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). However, there has been limited discussion of the path from graduate school to an applied career. This article describes the motivations and trajectories of anthropologists employed by VA. Interviewees described their VA work as embodying the principles of anthropology and the ability to see the results of their work as deeply gratifying.
A New Framework for Social History

Iam Going to talk about historical comparison along a time axis in connection with the problem of a new framework for social history. Lest I be thought to aim at heights of egomania never before scaled, let me hastily add, however, that the full title of my remarks would not be “Comparison along the Time Axis: A New Framework for Social History! Come and get It!” It might rather be “Comparison along the Time Axis: A New Framework for Social History? Can Anything be Done with It?”
Prospective evaluation for respiratory pathogens in children with sickle cell disease and acute respiratory illness

Background Human rhinovirus (HRV), human coronavirus (hCoV), human bocavirus (hBoV), and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infections in children with sickle cell disease have not been well studied.
SUBTOTAL PANCREATECTOMY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SEVERE PERSISTENT IDIOPATHIC HYPOGLYCEMIA IN CHILDREN

Twelve cases of severe persistent idiopathic hypoglycemia of infancy treated by partial pancreatectomy since 1950 are reviewed. Eleven of these maintained normal blood sugars postoperatively. Six patients of this group required medical supportive treatment for various periods of time in addition to the surgery. A total of 45 other operative cases are reviewed and presented in table form. Overall, 89% of these cases were able to achieve acceptable control of their hypoglycemia. Subtotal pancreatectomy in an infant is a technically simple procedure and should not be equated with the formidable procedure of pancreatectomy in adults. It is concluded that partial pancreatectomy deserves a role in the treatment of severe persistent idiopathic hypoglycemia of infancy. Subtotal pancreatectomy should not be considered as an alternative to a medical regimen. It should not be entered into lightly but should be considered as one of several means which may have to be used, often simultaneously, in the vigorous treatment of these children.
Activation of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors induces long-term depression of excitatory synaptic transmission in the substantia nigra pars reticulata.

Abstract Activation of group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlu2 and mGlu3) has been implicated as a potential therapeutic strategy for treating both motor symptoms and progressive neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD). Modulation of excitatory transmission in the basal ganglia represents a possible mechanism by which group II mGlu agonists could exert antiparkinsonian effects. Previous studies have identified reversible effects of mGlu2/3 activation on excitatory transmission at various synapses in the basal ganglia, including the excitatory synapse between the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr). Using whole-cell patch clamp studies of GABAergic SNr neurons in rat midbrain slices, we have found that a prolonged activation of group II mGlus by the selective agonist LY379268 induces a long-term depression (LTD) of evoked excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC) amplitude. Bath application of LY379268 (100 nM, 10 min) induced a marked reduction in EPSC amplitude, and excitatory transmission remained depressed for at least 40 min after agonist washout. The effect of LY379268 was concentration-dependent and was completely blocked by the group II mGlu-preferring antagonist LY341495 (500 nM). To determine the relative contributions of mGlu2 and mGlu3 to the LTD induced by LY379268, we tested the ability of LY379268 (100 nM) to induce LTD in wild type mice and mice lacking mGlu2 or mGlu3. LY379268 induced similar LTD in wild type mice and mGlu3 knockout mice, whereas LTD was absent in mGlu2 knockout mice, indicating that mGlu2 activation is necessary for the induction of LTD in the SNr. These studies suggest a novel role for mGlu2 in the long-term regulation of excitatory transmission in the SNr and invite further exploration of mGlu2 as a therapeutic target for treating the motor symptoms of PD.
Photoassisted heterogeneous catalysis: the degradation of trichloroethylene in water

The complete mineralization of trichloroethylene (Cl2CCClH), in dilute aqueous solutions, to HCl and CO2 is demonstrated with heterogeneous photoassisted catalysis using illuminated titanium dioxide (TiO2). An intermediate, dichloroacetaldehyde, is identified, and a photoassisted reaction sequence is proposed. A simple Langmuirian rate equation satisfactorily represents both the disappearance of initial reactant, trichloroethylene, and intermediate, dichloroacetaldehyde, as well as the inhibitory influence of product HCl. The present paper and two related reports (A. L. Pruden and D. F. Ollis, Environ. Sci. Technol., in press; C.-Y. Hsiao, C.-L. Lee, and D. F. Ollis, J. Catal. 82, 418 (1983)) establishing mineralization of chloromethanes, indicate some potential for removal of the two most common chlorocarbon contaminants from water via heterogeneous photocatalysis.
The role of microtubules in the response of macrophages to MIF.

Abstract The role of the microtubular system in the response of macrophages to migration inhibitory factor (MIF) was investigated using agents which affect microtubule assembly. Microtubule-disrupting agents such as colchicine or vinblastine decrease or abolish the effect of MIF on macrophages. On the other hand, deuterium oxide enhances the effect of MIF on the macrophage. The presence of deuterium oxide during the first hour of interaction of MIF with macrophages is sufficient to increase the MIF response, whereas a pulse of D 2 O during the first hour and subsequent addition of MIF had no effect. These results indicate that the state of the microtubule system during the initial period of macrophage-MIF interaction determines the response to MIF.
Effects of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides on intracellular Ca2+ in human eosinophils: activation of purinergic P2Y receptors.

Abstract Background: Extracellular adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) increases human eosinophil intracellular Ca 2+ concentration; the mechanism of action is not fully known. ATP, a physiologic regulator, acts through 2 purinergic receptor types: cation channels (P2X) and G protein–coupled receptors (P2Y). Objective: This study is aimed at identifying the functional purinergic receptors in human eosinophils. Methods: The relative potency of ATP, uridine (UTP), cytidine (CTP), and inosine (ITP) 5′-triphosphates (P2Y agonists); 2-methylthio-ATP (P2Y 1 agonist); and 2 P2X agonists, α,β-methylene-ATP and β,γ-methylene-ATP on intracellular Ca 2+ concentration was examined in Ca 2+ -sensitive Fura-2–labeled human eosinophils. For comparison, ATP effects were similarly studied in human neutrophils. P2X/P2Y mRNA expression in cells was examined by reverse transcription and PCR. Results: The nucleotide potency order was UTP ≥ ATP > ITP >>> 2-methylthio-ATP > α,β-methylene-ATP = β,γ-methylene-ATP = CTP=0 in eosinophils. Pertussis toxin (500 ng/mL) pretreatment abolished the effect of lower (10 –6 mol/L) but not higher (10 –5 mol/L) concentrations of ATP in eosinophils, whereas it attenuated the effects of 10 –4 mol/L ATP in neutrophils. The phospholipase C inhibitor U73122 (2 μmol/L) partially inhibited the effect of ATP in eosinophils but totally blocked it in neutrophils. Both cells constitutively express mRNA for P2X 1 , P2X 4 , P2X 5 , P2Y 1 , and P2Y 2 , but not P2X 7 , with much weaker expressions of P2X 4 and P2X 5 in neutrophils. Eosinophils cultured with the T H 1 cytokine, IFN-γ, expressed mRNA for P2X 7 , a receptor linked to apoptosis. Conclusions: These results suggest that the P2 purinergic receptor signal transduction pathways in eosinophils and neutrophils are different and are mediated by more than 1 subtype of functional P2Y receptors. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2001;107:849-55.)
Attractive interactions between steps.

Motivated by recent scanning-tunneling-microscopy results for vicinal copper surfaces by Ibach and co-workers, we consider theoretically possible sources of {ital attractive} interactions between monatomic height steps on crystal surfaces. For steps with a mean separation of {ital l}, a mechanism driven by surface-stress relaxation in the vicinity of each step can, in some circumstances, lead to an attractive interaction which varies as {ital l}{sup {minus}2}. An alternative indirect mechanism mediated by conduction electrons leads to an oscillatory interaction energy which decays as {ital l}{sup {minus}9/2}. The relevance of these model calculations to real materials is discussed.
Supramolecular Polymerizations and Main-Chain Supramolecular Polymers

The past few decades have seen a significant growth in the field of supramolecular polymerizations, in which (reversible) noncovalent interactions (e.g., hydrogen bonding, metal−ligand coordination, π−π stacking, etc.) between (macro)monomeric units are utilized to build polymeric assemblies. These polymeric aggregates can exist in an equilibrium state between low and high molecular weight species, which in turn opens the door to a new matrix of properties. For example, such supramolecular polymers are potentially an interesting class of stimuli- or environmentally responsive, “smart” materials. Additionally, the establishment of an equilibrium during the assembly process imparts on the system the ability to “proofread” assemblies and, depending on the nature of the (macro)molecules, can allow efficient access to controlled, well-defined nanostructures. This Perspective will focus on the basic concepts of such supramolecular polymerizations, such as mechanism of assembly growth, and the effects of growth ...
Why We Need Renaissance Engineers: Golden Gate Bridge Seismic Retrofit Phase II Case Study

In today’s world of specialization, civil engineers may benefit from a return to an earlier period when breadth of knowledge, skills, and attitudes were appreciated: the Renaissance era. A broad set of skills is especially important in meeting the challenges of restoring deteriorating infrastructure and working with restricted financing. This paper presents the case of the Golden Gate Bridge Seismic Retrofit Phase II Project to illustrate how important it is for civil engineers to possess solid technical expertise coupled with a cross-disciplinary knowledge of design and construction to achieve project success. These qualities allowed the engineers to integrate construction knowledge into the design process and design knowledge into the construction process, in spite of the project’s traditional design-bid-build delivery method. Of equal importance to the success were the engineers’ commitment, integrity, and persistence. The Phase II Project involved modifying the 70-year-old bridge’s five south approach...
Ermittlung von satisfiers, dissatisfiers und criticals in der zufriedenheitsforschung

Ein weithin in der Forschung zur Zufriedenheit von Kunden oder von Mitarbeitern diskutiertes Thema betrifft die Klassifikation von Produkt- oder Arbeitsplatz-Merkmalen in Satisfier, Dissatisfier und Criticals. In der Literatur werden fur diese Aufgabe verschiedene Verfahren vorgeschlagen: die Critical-Incident-Technique, die Kano-Methode und die Penalty-Reward-Contrast-Analyse. In diesem Beitrag wird zunachst diskutiert, welche Antezedenzbedingungen mit Merkmalen, die unterschiedlichen Klassen zugeordnet werden, verbunden sein mussten. Anschliesend werden die Methoden vorgestellt. In drei Studien wird untersucht, ob die Methoden zu gleichen Ergebnissen fuhren und ob die Klassifikationsergebnisse mit den theoretisch erwarteten Antezedenzbedingungen stimmig sind. Die Ergebnisse zeigen jedoch keine Konsistenz der Befunde. Stellt man sich letztendlich die Frage nach dem praktischen Nutzen derartiger Klassifikationsversuche, so wird deutlich, dass es sinnvoller erscheint, bei der Entscheidung uber die Frage, welche Merkmale zur Erhohung der Zufriedenheit verbessert werden sollten, auf attributspezifische Zufriedenheitsurteile und Positionierungsentscheidungen zuruckzugreifen.
How do you get there from here? Mental representations of route descriptions

In two experiments, participants received a spatial description relating a route through an environment. Descriptions differed in terms of the spatial perspective presented, either route or survey, and the degree to which spatial information was determined, either indeterminate, determinate, or overdeterminate. In Experiment 1, participants read the description and in Experiment 2 they listened to the description and took notes for later use. Results indicated that perspective and determinacy influenced memory and the contents of participants' notes. More specifically, perspective influenced the integration of information. The effect of determinacy depended on degree. Indeterminacy influenced use of a mental representation, in particular during wayfinding. Overdeterminacy stressed working memory, thereby influencing many aspects of performance, In summary, perspective and determinacy, which commonly vary in spatial descriptions, influence the ability to efficiently use descriptions.
Microbial Inhibitors of Cranberries

An ethanolic extract of Cranberry exerted a significant antimicrobial effect on Saccharomyces bayanus and Pseudomonas fluorescens. The antimicrobial properties of cranberries were due to a number of factors. First, the low pH (2.6) inhibited many microorganisms per se, and its effect on the dissociation of benzoic acid made the inhibition more drastic. Secondly, after raising the pH to 5.2, cranberry juice still did not support the growth of S. bayanus. Growth did occur at pH 5.2 after 0.3% yeast nitrogen base was added. Thirdly, proanthocyanidins and flavonols were found to be the major microbial inhibitors other than benzoic acid. The results showed that proanthocyanidins provided 21.3% of the inhibition, the flavonols 18.5% and benzoic acid 15.6%.
Propagation of ELF electromagnetic waves and project sanguine/seafarer

Electromagnetic waves at extremely low frequency (ELF) have a remarkable ability to propagate with very low attenuation in the space between the earth's surface and the ionosphere. The resulting fields also are able to propagate to moderately great depths in the ocean in spite of the high conductivity of sea water. The principal drawback in the use of such signals for communication is the inherent inefficiency of the transmitting antenna. But indeed the waves do penetrate to deeply submerged submarines when all other methods fail. This has been the principal motivation of the U.S. Navy's controversial Project Sanguine that envisages a huge antenna facility that could cover an area of 100 by 100 km. This project, now called Seafarer, has stimulated a great deal of research on how ELF waves (in the range from about 1- 1000 Hz) propagate. We review here some of the fascinating developments in this field. Actually, the early investigations of Nicola Tesla have a striking similarity to Project Sanguine. Tesla's prophetic lectures and articles provide an interesting historical perspective to the later developments that have spanned over 70 years. After sketching some of the early history of the subject, we outline the theoretical and physical bases of the propagation phenomena. While the basic concept of the earth-ionosphere waveguide is relatively simple, the physics of the interaction with the ionospheric plasma is complicated, particularly during disturbed conditions.
The Culture of Mediocrity.

Select groups and organizations embrace practices that perpetuate their inferiority. The result is the phenomenon we call “mediocrity.” This article examines the conditions under which mediocrity is selected and maintained by groups over time. Mediocrity is maintained by a key social process: the marginalization of the adept, which is a response to the group problem of what to do with the highly able. The problem arises when a majority of a group is comprised of average members who must decide what to do with high performers in the group. To solve this problem, reward systems are subverted to benefit the less able and the adept are cast as deviant. Marginalization is a resolution of two tensions: marginalization of the adept for their behavior, and protection from the adept for the mediocre. The American research university is used as an example to describe the phenomenon and to formulate a theoretic argument. The forms and consequences of marginalization are discussed. Marginalizing the adept illustrates an anti-meritocratic behavioral pattern which serves to sustain social systems on which all people, however able, depend.
Ab initio study of the structural properties of magnesium

Abstract Structural properties of magnesium in the hcp structure are calculated using the ab initio pseudopotential method within the local-density-functional formalism. The calculated lattice constants, cohesive energy, bulk modulus, and Poisson's ratio are in good agreement with experimental values. A comparison with the results of beryllium is also discussed.
1,1,12,12-Tetra-n-butyl[1.1]stannaferrocenophane: Preparation and crystal and molecular structure

Abstract The compound 1,1,12,12-tetra-n-butyl[1.1]stannaferrocenophane, C 36 H 52 Fe 2 Sn 2 , was obtained from the reaction of 1,1′-dilithioferrocene-tetramethylethylenediamine with di-n-butyltin dichloride. The crystal is triclinic with a = 10.217(3), b = 10.748(4), c = 10.173(3) A , α = 116.34(3), β = 90.21(2), γ = 116.35(2)°, V = 868.7 A 3 . The structure was solved by conventional three-dimensional Patterson heavy-atom methods using 4013 unique reflections having intensities greater than 3δ. Refinement was carried out by a full-matrix least-squares technique to a final R of 0.046. The molecule consists of two ferrocene moieties linked to each other through tin atoms. Bond distances and angles are regular. One butyl group on each tin atom is disordered.
Effects of recombination parameters in p+n indium phosphide solar cells

Abstract This work, using a numerical code PC-1D, describes the effects of surface and bulk recombination on the performance of p + n indium phosphide solar cells. It is shown that surface recombination velocity and minority carrier diffusion lengths play a dominant role in controlling the efficiency of p + n cells. In order to have an acceptable series resistance, a p + n cell must have an emitter that is thicker than a n + p cell emitter. Consequently the performance of a p + n cell is more sensitive to the front surface recombination velocity. Improved surface and bulk recombination parameters can lead to cell efficiencies in excess of 24% AMO at 25°C.