cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Wave Propagation in the Human Brain and Skull Imaged in vivo by MR Elastography

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are common, and often lead to permanent physical, cognitive, and/or behavioral impairment. TBI arises in vehicle accidents, assaults, athletic competition, and in battle (due to both impact and blast). Despite the prevalence and severity of TBI, the condition remains poorly understood and difficult to diagnose. Computer simulations of injury mechanics offer enormous potential for the study of TBI; however, computer models require accurate descriptions of tissue constitutive behavior and brain-skull boundary conditions. Lacking such data, numerical predictions of brain deformation remain uncertain. Brain tissue is heterogeneous, anisotropic, nonlinear, and viscoelastic. The viscoelastic properties are particularly important for TBI, which usually involves rapid deformation due to impact.
Viewpoint invariant object features attract overt visual attention

Biederman, I. (1987). Recognition-by-components: A theory of human image understanding. Psychological Review, 94, 115-147. Geusebroek, J., Burghouts, G. J., & Smeulders, A. W. M. (2005). The Amsterdam library of object images. International Journal of Computer Vision, 61(1), 103-112. Itti, L., Niebur, E., & Koch, C. (1998). A model of saliency-based fast visual attention for rapid scene analysis. IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, 20(11), 1254-1259. Lowe, D. G. (1999, September). Object recognition from local scale-invariant features. Paper presented at the International Conference on Computer Vision, Corfu, Greece, 1150-1157. Parkhurst, D., Law, K., & Niebur, E. (2002). Modeling the role of salience in the allocation of overt visual attention. Vision Research, 42, 107-123. Wolff, T., Still, J. D., Parkhurst, D. J. & Dark, V. J. (2007, May). Invariant Features Detected with Computer Vision Allow Better Human Object Recognition in Photographs. Poster presented at the meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association, Chicago, IL. Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT)
Macro Principles of the Efficiently Adaptable Organization

The development of the theory for the organizational hologram has been constructive as it proceeded from definitions and assumptions to propositions, principles, holonomic processes, major and desired organizational characteristics and the holonomic cube. The construction is, however, not yet complete. There is yet another level which puts the top on the analytical pyramid for the theory. There are some macro properties which need to be explained. In this chapter, four new principles and one more proposition are derived which tie together, at the macro or organizational level, the properties of the efficiently adaptable organization. The first is the Holonomic Cube Principle which binds together the holonomic cubes of each interdependent organizational unit with that of the organization as a whole. The second is the Principle of the Organizational Hologram which requires that the twelve holonomic processes need to be working everywhere and simultaneously if the organization is to be efficiently adaptable. The third is the New Associate Principle which makes it both a right and a responsibility to ensure that these holonomic processes are operating. The fourth is the Congruency Enhancement Principle which links combined congruency to the successful operation of the twelve holonomic processes. Finally, there is the proposition linking the twelve holonomic processes to maximum productivity.
A phase II trial of cabozantinib and erlotinib for patients with EGFR and c-Met co-expressing metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

e16764Background: Both EGFR and the c-MET receptors are overexpressed in a majority of PDACs. Inhibition of both receptors simultaneously may be required for anti-tumor activity. Erlotinib, an EGFR...
A citation history of measurements of Newton’s constant of gravity

We created and analyzed a citation history of papers covering measurements of Newton’s constant of gravity from 1686 to 2016. Interest concerning the true value of the gravitational constant was most intense in the late 90s to early 2000s and is gaining traction again in the present. Another network consisting of the same papers was created using citations from databases to display the prominence of papers on Newton’s constant in the wider scientific community. In general, papers that were important in one network remained important in the other while papers that had little importance in one network remained unimportant in the other. The US contributes the most to literature on the topic both in where journals were published and where the work was done; however, many other countries, such as China, Russia, France, Germany, Switzerland, and the UK also provide many papers on Newton’s G. Work done within certain countries tends to be considered more important and cited more often within that country. Recent efforts promoting international collaboration may have an impact on this trend.
An Unlikely Beginning: A Fortunate Life

Elizabeth A. Bernays grew up in Australia and studied at the University of Queensland before traveling in Europe and teaching high school in London. She later obtained a PhD in entomology at London...
Use of mechanical valve prostheses in adults with tetralogy of Fallot.

Abstract Background There are limited data about the outcomes mechanical prostheses in adults with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). The purpose of the study was to describe the incidence of mechanical valve related adverse events (MVRAE), reoperation and all-cause mortality in TOF patients with mechanical valve prostheses. Methods We reviewed the MACHD (Mayo Adult Congenital Heart Disease) database and identified all adult TOF patients with mechanical valve prostheses, 1990–2017. MVRAE was defined as valve thrombosis, endocarditis, embolic stroke or major bleeding complications. Results A total of 44 prostheses were implanted in 29 patients (age 44 ± 13 years; men 18 [62%]), and 10 (36%) patients received multiple mechanical prostheses. The median number of prior sternotomies was 3 (range 2–7). Target intentional normalized ratio (INR) was 2.0–3.0 for patients with isolated mechanical aortic prostheses (n = 12, 41%), 2.5–4.0 for mechanical prostheses in non-aortic positions. There were no surgical deaths, and 10 MVRAE (endocarditis [n = 4], major bleeding complications [n = 5] and valve thrombosis [n = 1]) occurred in 7 (24%) patients during a median follow-up of 11 (5 18) years. The 10-year survival and freedom from reoperation were 87% and 95% respectively. Conclusions Surgical mortality and valve thrombosis for mechanical valve prostheses are low presumably due to appropriate patient selection and meticulous anticoagulation. Endocarditis and bleeding complications are major concerns. Further studies are required to determine the appropriate target INR that provides the optimal balance between preventing valve thrombosis and avoiding major bleeding complications mechanical valve prostheses in different positions.
Notable Names in Anaesthesia

At first glance, an uncharitable observer may wonder whether historical figures from anaesthesia are notable. But some of the names do ring bells immediately: Apgar, Ringer, and Trendelenberg are names that should have meaning for most clinical students. Why should this not just be yet another exercise in train spotting? You may disagree, but many find that a knowledge of the …
Uneven land of opportunity: US regional employment futures

This paper augments our understanding of the geography of work and opportunity in the United States, examining employment projections for a set of occupations deemed to have a particularly ‘bright ...
A temperature-dependent conformational shift in p38α MAPK substrate–binding region associated with changes in substrate phosphorylation profile

Febrile-range hyperthermia worsens and hypothermia mitigates lung injury, and temperature dependence of lung injury is blunted by inhibitors of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Of the two predominant p38 isoforms, p38α is proinflammatory and p38β is cytoprotective. Here, we analyzed the temperature dependence of p38 MAPK activation, substrate interaction, and tertiary structure. Incubating HeLa cells at 39.5 °C stimulated modest p38 activation, but did not alter tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα)-induced p38 activation. In in vitro kinase assays containing activated p38α and MAPK-activated kinase-2 (MK2), MK2 phosphorylation was 14.5-fold greater at 39.5 °C than at 33 °C. By comparison, we observed only 3.1- and 1.9-fold differences for activating transcription factor-2 (ATF2) and signal transducer and activator of transcription-1α (STAT1α) and a 7.7-fold difference for p38β phosphorylation of MK2. The temperature dependence of p38α:substrate binding affinity, as measured by surface plasmon resonance, paralleled substrate phosphorylation. Hydrogen–deuterium exchange MS (HDX-MS) of p38α performed at 33, 37, and 39.5 °C indicated temperature-dependent conformational changes in an α helix near the common docking and glutamate:aspartate substrate-binding domains at the known binding site for MK2. In contrast, HDX-MS analysis of p38β did not detect significant temperature-dependent conformational changes in this region. We observed no conformational changes in the catalytic domain of either isoform and no corresponding temperature dependence in the C-terminal p38α-interacting region of MK2. Because MK2 participates in the pathogenesis of lung injury, the observed changes in the structure and function of proinflammatory p38α may contribute to the temperature dependence of acute lung injury.
Synthesis and thermodynamics of transition metal oxide based sodium ion cathode materials

Abstract While finding sustainable renewable energy sources is of high priority, it is equally important to develop solutions for energy storage. Advances in lithium ion batteries (LIB) indeed represent a great step in this direction. However, lithium is scarce and expensive, Batteries based on more earth-abundant elements such as sodium are attractive replacements. Layered transition metal oxides with sodium in the interlayer are promising battery cathode materials. Here we report the synthesis of a series of NaMO2 (M = Mn, Fe, Co and Ni) materials and analysis of their thermodynamic stability using high temperature oxide melt solution calorimetry. Their formation enthalpies from corresponding binary oxides are highly exothermic. The NaMO2 materials are thermodynamically more stable than their LiMO2 counterparts owing to higher electropositivity of Na+ over Li+. The formation enthalpies become less exothermic in the sequence Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, a trend seen in many other ternary transition metal oxides.
A Model Millet? Ottoman Jewish Citizenship at the End of Empire

In 1856, Ottoman Jews were emancipated by an Islamic empire under semi-colonial circumstances. It is perhaps no wonder that Ottoman Jews’ path to emancipation has yet to be properly integrated into narratives of modern Jewish history. Scholarship in the field has long focused on Jews’ experiences of citizenship in Western and Central European nation-states rather than the empires to their east. This essay suggests that turning our gaze to this story’s unfolding in Ottoman territory opens up new vistas, both challenging our assumptions about the centrality of the “Jewish Question” in post-emancipation landscapes and exposing neglected similarities between Ottoman and other Jewish experiences in the modern era.
Complication rates and resource utilization after total hip and knee arthroplasty stratified by body mass index.

Abstract Over 295,000 patients from 2016 to 2018 in a national database were grouped into normal weight (BMI 18.5 to
Benzodiazepine-induced photosensitivity reactions: A compilation of cases from literature review with Naranjo causality assessment.

Objective Benzodiazepines have been reported to cause photosensitivity reactions. We characterized the clinical presentation and diagnosis of benzodiazepine-associated photosensitivity and adjudicated these cases for a causal association with benzodiazepines. Methods A literature search on PubMed's "MeSH" search feature and CINAHL (1964 to 2019) was performed using search terms: benzodiazepine, photosensitivity, and photosensitivity disorders/chemically induced. We applied the Naranjo scale, a standardized causality assessment algorithm, to identified cases. Results We identified 8 published cases, with 50% of patients being female with a mean age of 46.3 years. Alprazolam, tetrazepam, clobazam, and clorazepate induced phototoxic reactions. Chlordiazepoxide induced one photoallergic reaction. Photosensitivity occurred between 1-3 days (37.5%), 7-14 days (25%), and >14 days (25%). Photosensitivity resolved after drug discontinuation within 2 weeks (62.5%). Benzodiazepine rechallenge confirmed photosensitivity in 75% of cases. Photopatch testing was negative in two patients; however, these patients had positive oral provocation testing. However, an oral photoprovocation test, an ideal diagnostic test, was not administered to several patients. Despite these challenges, the Naranjo scale identified 5 cases as definite benzodiazepine-induced photosensitivity. Conclusion Five benzodiazepines induced photosensitivity reactions. Five patients showed a definite association with the Naranjo scale. Reporting to pharmacovigilance databases may help identify other benzodiazepines causing photosensitivity reactions.
Testing Equality Under the Local Broadcast Model.

In the multiparty equality problem, each of the n nodes starts with a k-bit input. If there is a mismatch between the inputs, then at least one node must be able to detect it. The cost of a multiparty equality protocol is the total number of bits sent in the protocol. We consider the problem of minimizing this communication cost under the local broadcast model for the case where the underlying communication graph is undirected. In the local broadcast model of communication, a message sent by a node is received identically by all of its neighbors. This is in contrast to the classical point-to-point communication model, where a message sent by a node to one of its neighbors is received only by its intended recipient.
Augmentation of Plasma-Based Impulse Generation with Rapid Chemical Reactions

The use of a chemical explosive mixture to augment the vaporizing foil actuator (VFA) and laser impact welding (LIW) processes is introduced in this study. A liquid explosive known as Picatinny liquid explosive (PLX) was used to augment the capabilities of both the VFA and LIW processes. The 304 stainless steel flyers 3 mm thick driven by PLX augmented VFA and unaugmented VFA are compared. Similarly, 0.442 mm thick Al3003 flyers driven by laser impact and PLX augmented laser impact are compared. In all cases, a photon Doppler velocimetry (PDV) system was used to collect the velocity–time profiles of the flyers. All PLX augmented experiments showed increases in both flyer acceleration and peak velocity over the same time scales as the unaugmented experiments. This indicates that the PLX-provided impulse occurs at the same time as the VFA/laser impulse. The augmented VFA experiments showed a 28% velocity increase over the unaugmented experiments at 10 kJ input energy. The augmented laser impact process exhibited peak flyer velocities 236% higher than laser impact using only the laser. Here we demonstrate that chemical augmentation is capable of significantly increasing flyer velocities for both VFA and LIW at the same input energies and under similar conditions. This development should expand the repertoire of flyer materials and thicknesses that can be impact welded by VFA and LIW.
Plasma hollow cathodes

Hollow cathode plasma discharges are a fundamental part of a large variety of applications in industry, academia, and space. From surface processing and coatings deposition to plasma–surface interaction research and electric propulsion, advances in hollow cathode modeling and performance are critically important to the progress and evolution of these and other areas of technology. This paper describes perspectives on the progress that has been made in recent years in the capabilities and modeling of hollow cathodes used in plasma discharges. While many of the developments have been driven by the demanding requirements of electric propulsion applications, the information provided applies to all thermionic hollow cathodes and their applications. In the paper, we describe the status of 2D global simulations of hollow cathode plasmas, hollow cathode plume instabilities, and the development of higher current cathodes and low-current heaterless cathode technologies. Advances in our understanding and technology in these areas and some of the challenges that still need to be addressed and solved are discussed.
Water: A Limit on Our Earth’s Carrying Capacity

Water is the essence of life. Water hydrates humans, sustains agriculture and animal husbandry that feed the Earth’s growing populations, is the medium that supports personal hygiene and for sanitation systems that are the keystone to public health, and is basic to industrial development. Although there is enough water on our planet to serve the needs of all populations, it is irregularly distributed geographically. The result is water stress that increases with growing populations and intensifies per capita for billions of people in water deficit regions. In some instances, water stress can be eased by desalination that can disrupt ecosystems and in other cases with aqueduct systems, but not for all. These topics and others related to water transference to sustain populations in areas under water stress are considered in the following paragraphs.
Host plant control of symbiotic N2 fixation in grain legumes

A successful legume-rhizobial symbiosis implies that a beneficial plant response occurs in the form of increased N2 fixation. The criteria used to measure this response should include: total N2 fixed per plant, percentage of total plant N from fixation, and plant biomass and/or seed yield resulting from fixed N2. Estimation of these criteria is done most effectively using direct measurements, but because of high cost and the technical requirements of most direct methods, indirect measures of fixation variables have been used. The addition of highly effective rhizobial strains in differentiating among plant genotypes that vary in their ability to fix N2, and the availability of improved plant genotypes provide greater opportunity to realize the full value of improved rhizobia in the field. Several breeding strategies for selecting plants able to fix more N2 have been used, and depending on the legume species, the rhizobial population and edaphic factors common to the production system, improved plants have resulted from selection.
On the Central Limit Theorem for Triangular Arrays of ϕ-Mixing Sequences

Publisher Summary The goal of this paper is to survey the Central Limit Theorem (CLT) for non stationary φ mixing sequences and to provide a new sufficient condition for CLT. The sequences considered have finite first moment, and a tail condition is required. No assumption about the speed of convergence to 0 of the φ mixing coefficients is made. This paper surveys and further studies the CLT for a triangular array of weakly dependent sequence of random variables. The main feature of the new result is the fact that one does not assume the existence of moments higher than 1.
Short-Term Memory for Verbal and Graphic Route Information

As road systems become more tortuous, traffic signs giving the necessary short-distance route information become more complex, and place increasing demands on the drivers' short-term memory. An experiment designed initially to study drug effects on drivers' memory for route information revealed that unmedicated, control subjects were able to navigate short routes previously learned as lists of verbal directions, but were unable to navigate completely similar routes previously learned as maps. It was further found that verbal recall of maps, while not perfect, was better than recall by vehicle navigation whether the subject drove or was a passenger, and that the difficulty appeared to involve the spatial nature of maps compared with the “linear” nature of verbal directions. Results from laboratory studies suggest that the difficulty may be due partly to competition between the maps and the driving task for a spatial memory system, and partly to incompatibility between the subjective heading of the driver a...
Hypermethylation-associated inactivation indicates a tumor suppressor role for p15INK4B

The recently identified cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p15INK4B is localized to a region on chromosome 9p21 frequently deleted in human tumors. Previous evidence has pointed to a related gene, p16INK4A, as the principal target of this deletion. We report that in gliomas and, to a striking degree, in leukemias, the p15 gene is commonly inactivated in association with promoter region hypermethylation involving multiple sites in a 5'-CpG island. In some gliomas and all of the primary leukemias, this event occurs without alteration of the adjacent gene, p16INK4A. In other tumors, including lung, head and neck, breast, prostate, and colon cancer, inactivation of p15INK4B occurs only rarely and only with concomitant inactivation of p16. Aberrant methylation of p15INK4B is associated with transcriptional loss of this gene. Treatment with the demethylating agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine leads to re-expression of p15 mRNA. In selected leukemia cell lines, p15 inactivation correlates with known resistance to the growth-suppressive effects of transforming growth factor-beta. These results suggest that p15INK4B is inactivated selectively in leukemias and gliomas and seems to constitute an important tumor suppressor gene loss in these neoplasms.
Surface-independent Acceleration of Factor XII Activation by Zinc Ions. I. Kinetic Characterization of the Metal Ion Rate Enhancement

The effect of zinc ions (Zn(II)) on the activation of factor XII in the absence of a procoagulant surface was investigated by initial velocity kinetic studies at I = 0.15, pH 7.4, and 25 degrees C. Zinc ions at concentrations greater than 160 microM potentiated 99-fold the kcat/KM for the activation of factor XII by kallikrein and, at an optimum concentration of 110 microM, accelerated 140-fold the apparent kcat/KM for factor XII autoactivation. High molecular weight kininogen had no effect on either metal-potentiated reaction. Analysis of the factor XII concentration dependence of initial activation rates revealed that Zn(II), at levels that saturate the effect, accelerates kallikrein activation of factor XII by lowering KM (from 52 to 7.3 microM) and raising kcat (from 2.6 to 31 min-1). For the autocatalytic activation reaction of factor XII in the presence of optimal Zn(II), apparent KM and kcat values of 2.4 microM and 0.041 min-1, respectively, were determined, but these parameters were not resolvable in the absence of the metal ion. Zinc ions minimally affected kallikrein enzymatic activity and inhibited factor XIIa enzymatic activity with KI values of 20-40 microM, suggesting that the rate-enhancing effects of the metal ion are due to interactions with the substrate (factor XII) rather than with the enzyme. The Zn(II) inhibition of factor XIIa enzymatic activity accounted for a decreased Zn(II) enhancement of factor XII autoactivation at high metal ion concentrations (> 110 microM). The Zn(II) concentration dependence of the acceleration of factor XII activation reactions were sigmoid and characterized by Hill coefficients of 3.3-4.3, suggesting that cooperative binding of at least four zinc ions to factor XII was responsible for the Zn(II) potentiating effect. The Zn(II) enhancement of the rates of factor XII activation decreased both above and below pH 7.4 with midpoint pH values of 6.5-7.0 and 8.0, consistent with histidine and possibly water ligands mediating Zn(II) binding to the protein. Despite an apparent weaker binding of Zn(II) to factor XII at pH 6.5, indistinguishable maximum accelerating effects of the metal ion were observed at saturation at this pH, indicating that the increased positive charge of factor XII resulting from protonation at the lower pH did not mimic the effect of Zn(II) binding. These results imply that zinc ions induce a conformational change in factor XII that makes it a better substrate for its enzyme activators.
Direct Reference and Implicature

Suivant la position de Recanati et la formulation de la theorie naive modifee par Salmon, l'A. defend la theorie de la reference directe definie comme theorie de l'implication selon Grice. Soulignant l'incapacite de celle-ci a rendre compte de la resiliation des jugements des locuteurs ordinaires concernant les phrases attitudinales et le discours rapporte, l'A. montre que la theorie de l'implication implique une confusion entre les implications pragmatiques et le contenu litteral des phrases dans certains cas specifiques, mais que ceux-ci precisement ne sont pas postules par la theorie. L'A. explique ainsi l'insuffisance de la theorie de l'implication face aux contre-exemples qui menacent la theorie de la reference directe
Philosophy of Molecular Biology

The revolution in molecular biology has made the debate between reductionism and antireductionism in the philosophy of biology a pressing concern among biologists. The adoption of either of these two positions has important implications for the research programme of biology. Keywords: reductionism; antireductionism; explanation; methodology; physicalism
Cognitive contributors to resilience in youth from underserved populations: A brief report

Purpose – The study is a preliminary attempt to identify cognitive factors (e.g., executive functions and intelligence) promoting resilience in youth in an underprivileged population. Sample consisted of 26 adolescents (seven female, 19 male) between the ages of 13 and 19 years (M=16.62, SD=1.53) from an underserved population who live in circumstances of poverty and family dysfunction and who had experienced multiple traumas. Design/methodology/approach – Resilience was measured with the Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM)-28. Intelligence, working memory, and information processing speed were the cognitive factors of interest. Socioeconomic status was the environmental factor in interest. Findings – The protective factors (i.e. individual skills, relationship with caregivers and contextual factors) promoting resilience were correlated with cognitive factors. Further analyses yielded gender differences in these relations. Originality/value – Long-held beliefs that intelligence is positively associa...
Analysis of metabolites of 2-acetylaminofluorene generated in an embryo culture system: Relationship of biotransformation to teratogenicity in vitro

Abstract 2-Acetylaminofluorene (AAF) produced abnormal, open neural tubes in cultured whole rat embryos only in the presence of an added, NADPH-dependent monooxygenase system. Reactive intermediary metabolites, including N-hydroxy-AAF, N-hydroxy-2-aminofluorene, 2-nitrosofluorene and N-acetoxy-AAF, each elicited embryonic malformations under culture conditions, but a statistically significant increase in the incidence of abnormal neurulation was not observed. Using [ 14 C]AAF and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation techniques, the biotransformation of AAF was studied under conditions in which embryos and the monooxygenase system were coincubated. The major metabolites produced cochromatographed with 5-hydroxy-AAF, 7-hydroxy-AAF, 9-hydroxy-AAF and 3-hydroxy-AAF. Other metabolic products also were detected. The embryonic effects of these major AAF metabolites were tested singly and in combination in the embryo culture system. Addition of 7-hydroxy-AAF to the embryo culture system resulted in open neural tubes in the absence of an added monooxygenase system. Other individual ring-hydroxylated metabolites produced retarded growth, but neurulation appeared normal. Ring-hydroxylated metabolites, added to the embryo culture system in combination in the same proportions as were formed during biotransformation in culture, also produced a marked increase in incidence of neural tube defects in the absence of an exogenous (added) biotransforming system. In combination with 3-, 5- and 9-hydroxy-AAF, 7-hydroxy-AAF exposure (86 μM) resulted in a 47% incidence of abnormal, open neural tubes. When tested individually, higher concentrations of 7-hydroxy-AAF (104μM) produced a lower percentage of malformed embryos (13%). The results suggested that 7-hydroxy-AAF was principally responsible for the neural tube defects caused by AAF following monooxygenase-dependent bioactivation, but that other metabolites also appeared to contribute to the observed effect.
Solid-phase synthesis of oligosacchapides

Abstract The solid phase method has been applied to the synthesis of di- and tri-saccharides using a simple alcoholysis of 6- O - p -nitrobenzoyl- and 6- O - p -methoxybenzoyl-2,3,4-tri- O -benzyl-α- D -glucopyranosyl bromides. High coupling yields were obtained with high monomer-to-resin ratios and in the presence of a small amount of 2,6-dimethylpyridine as acid acceptor. Cleavage of the completed oligomers by ozonolysis gave good yields of di- and tri-saccharides as glycosides of hydroxyethanol. All the cleaved disaccharides, irrespective of the monomer coupling sequence used in their preparation, had approximately the same optical rotation indicating that the reaction had not proceeded with the steric control characteristic of methanolysis of the same monomers.
Gaps in doctor-patient communication. 1. Doctor-patient interaction and patient satisfaction.

Eight hundred patient visits to the walkin clinic of the Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles were studied by means of tape recording the doctor-patient interaction and by follow-up interview. Seventy-six percent of the patient visits resulted in satisfaction on the part of the patient9s mother; in 24% there was dissatisfaction. A number of communication barriers between pediatrician and patient9s mother were found to contribute significantly to patient dissatisfaction: notably lack of warmth and friendliness on the part of the doctor, failure to take into account the patient9s concerns and expectations from the medical visit, lack of clearcut explanation concerning diagnosis and causation of illness, and use of medical jargon.
The Trial Transcript as Political Theory: Penn-Mead in Anglo-American Political Thought

One of the most exciting developments in the field of political theory in recent years has been the increasing attention to issues of form and genre. No longer content to analyze abstract principles of justice, political theorists have embraced an interdisciplinary approach that is increasingly sensitive to the ways in which political texts “work” not only in narrowly political but in broader cultural, social, and rhetorical ways. This paper draws on such an expanded view of political theory, exploring an important text in the legal tradition and its consequences for Anglo-American political theory and practice. The People’s Ancient and Just Liberties Asserted (1670), a purported transcript of the trial of young William Penn and his colleague William Mead for unlawful preaching, not only gave rise to important principles of jury nullification (despite repeated threats and punishments from the judge, the jury refused to convict the defendants); it also spawned a contentious public and polemical exchange about the principles of common law, popular liberties, and the rights of conscience. Although Penn denied authorship of the article, he did endorse its basic account of his trial and defended the work against those who denounced it. The Penn-Mead trial entered the mythos of the maturing Quaker movement and Penn’s own political career, which led to his insistence on the right of jury trial for his colony’s inhabitants.But such legacies do not always remain neatly within the mythic boxes that political actors attempt to construct for them. Ten years after the founding of Pennsylvania, a schism rocked the colony, and dissident Quakers were brought before civil courts on charges of sedition. One result of those trials (aside from the convictions) was a publication entitled New England’s Spirit of Persecution Transmitted to Pennsylvania, purporting to present a transcript of the trials. The work, written by George Keith, one of the defendants, was self-consciously modeled on the early transcript of the Penn-Mead trial, and thus sought to cast Keith in the role of Penn, and to associate the colonial authorities with English persecutors. This paper explores the ways in which these trial transcripts represent serious works of political theory: they present a vision of social order and an argument about the nature of liberty and authority, and engage in a spirited engagement with rival views of the good. Considering both the rhetorical and performative strategies on the one hand, and the substantive arguments on the other – and, perhaps most importantly, the interconnections between the two – gives political theorists new tools in the attempt to understand the many ways in which political ideas are shaped, articulated, and communicated.
Reducing unwanted traffic in a backbone network

This paper studies the techniques a backbone ISP can employ to reduce unwanted traffic on its network. For this purpose, we extract likely sources of exploit (thus unwanted) traffic from packet traces collected on backbone links using an Internet traffic behavior profiling methodology we developed earlier. We first study the characteristics of exploit traffic from several aspects, such as network origins and severity. Based on these characteristics, we propose several heuristic rules that an ISP may pursue for reducing unwanted traffic, and evaluate their cost and performance. Using packet traces collected from backbone links, we demonstrate that simple blocking strategies could potentially reduce substantial exploit traffic in a backbone network.
Photochemical hydrogenolysis of the phosphorus-cyclopentadienyl bond of [cyclic] (CO)4MnMo(CO)3[.eta.5-C5H4P(C6H4Me-p)2] and formation of the phosphido-bridged metal hydride complex (CO)4Mn[.mu.-P(C6H4Me-p)2](.mu.-H)Mo(CO)2(C5H5)

Formation du complexe cite par decarbonylation sous H 2 . Par deprotonation formation d'un cycle a 3 chainons. Spectres RMN 1 H
Intralesional interferon-α and zidovudine in epidemic Kaposi's sarcoma

Background: Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is the most common neoplasm in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). To date, no therapy has proved to be consistently effective. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of intralesional interferon- α in patients with epidemic KS who were taking zidovudine. Methods: Up to five lesions in each of 14 patients entered into the study were injected with 1 million U of interferon- α three times weekly for 6 weeks. Sterile water was used as a placebo control. The median zidovudine dose was 500 mg/day. The median CD4 count was 23/ μ l. Results: Of 14 patients evaluated, 13 of 14 (93%) showed a clinical complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) to therapy. Of 54 lesions injected, 41 (76%) showed a CR and 5 (9%) showed a PR, which resulted in an overall response rate of 85%. Conclusion: Intralesional interferon- α produced a high response rate in injected lesions of KS, but it failed to demonstrate superior efficacy over the placebo.
Microbial populations and phenolic acids in soil

Abstract Populations of bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes in Portsmouth A 1 - and B,-soil material were affected in different ways by repeated enrichment with ferulic, p -coumaric, p -hydroxybenzoic or vanillic acids. Responses varied with type of soil material and phenolic acid, phenolic acid concentration, and inorganic nutrient status of the soil. Populations changed more frequently in B 1 - than in A 1 -soil material. Phenolic acids were readily metabolized by microorganisms, sometimes without detectable population changes, when adequate mineral nutrients were present. Induction of enzymes or selection of organisms capable of degrading individual phenolic acids were clearly evident. Results imply that microbial activity in bioassay systems should be defined for allelopathic studies, particularly when results from various bioassay systems are to be compared
The placenta as a cell source in fetal tissue engineering.

Abstract Purpose: This study was aimed at determining whether fetal tissue constructs can be engineered from cells derived from the placenta. Methods: A subpopulation of morphologically distinct cells was isolated mechanically from specimens of human placenta (n = 6) and selectively expanded. The lineage of these cells was determined by immunofluorescent staining against multiple intermediate filaments and surface antigens. Cell proliferation rates were determined by oxidation assays and compared with those of immunocytochemically identical cells derived from human amniotic fluid samples (n = 6). Statistical analysis was by analysis of variance (ANOVA). After expansion, the cells were seeded onto a polyglycolic acid polymer/poly-4-hydroxybutyrate scaffold. The resulting construct was analyzed by both optical and scanning electron microscopy. Results: The immunocytochemical profile of expanded placental cells was consistent with a nontrophoblastic, mesenchymal origin. Their proliferation rate in culture was not significantly different when compared with mesenchymal fetal cells isolated from human amniotic fluid; however, it was greater than previously reported rates for similar cells obtained from postnatal or adult tissues. Construct analysis showed dense layers of cells firmly attached to the scaffold without evidence of cell death. Conclusions: Subpopulations of nontrophoblastic, mesenchymal cells can be isolated consistently from the human placenta. These cells proliferate as rapidly as fetal mesenchymal amniocytes in vitro and attach firmly to polyglycolic acid scaffolds. The placenta can be a valuable and practical source of cells for the engineering of select fetal tissue constructs. J Pediatr Surg 37:995-999. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Risk factors for benign prostatic hyperplasia

This review summarizes recent findings regarding risk factors for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), including new data on hormonal factors, growth factors, comorbid conditions and lifestyle, diet, and exercise as they relate to BPH. In addition, it addresses the design and measurement issues that influence the inference that can be drawn from those studies. Most of the population-based studies on BPH have provided only modest insight into risk factors for BPH. The relationships with circulating levels of steroid hormones and growth factors are still unclear, whereas the association between sexual function and BPH is fairly consistent. Whether this represents a cause and effect relationship or is due to some unobserved confounding factor remains uncertain. There are few data on lifestyle factors that may be amenable to intervention. As future studies aim to address these issues, they should be carried out with rigorous methods, bypassing as many of the methodologic shortcomings of past studies as possible.
The development and laboratory testing of low Z refractory coatings for fusion reactor limiters

Abstract A materials development program for low Z ( Z ) coated tokamak limiters is described. A variety of refractory coatings applied by chemical vapor deposition, plasma spraying, and chemical conversion to graphite and copper substrates have been evaluated. The results of laboratory testing for low energy hydrogen ion erosion, arc erosion, and thermal fatigue by pulsed electron beam heating are reported. The 250-V hydrogen ion erosion data, analysed in terms of the effect on plasma radiation losses from resultant contaminants, indicates near equivalence of the very low Z (B and B4C, for example) and the moderate Z (e.g. TiB2) coatings. Thermal fatigue testing has identified several candidate materials which can survive 1000, 3 kJ/cm2 pulses of electron beam heating. The development of prototype limiters of TiB2, TiC, and B coated graphite for testing in the ORNL ISX-B tokamak is described.
Weaving Public Health with the Basic Sciences in the Preclinical Curriculum

The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health has created Integrative Cases that weave together public health, clinical medicine and basic science in the preclinical curriculum. Student evaluations indicate that Integrative Cases help students make connections across these domains and expand their view of medicine and public health.
STATISTICAL PROPERTIES OF SQUEEZED KERR STATES

We study the statistical properties of squeezed Kerr states generated by squeezing, with a two-photon parametric process, the output of a Kerr medium whose input is coherent light. The squeezing has the effect of allowing the photon statistics to depend on the Kerr nonlinearity. Without the squeezing the statistics are Poissonian, but after squeezing they may be either sub-Poissonian or super-Poissonian. We also study the Q-function quasiprobability distribution for these states and related distributions associated with the quantum-mechanical phase. Finally, we show that quadrature squeezing can be enhanced and that squeezing and sub-Poissonian statistics can coexist.
Atomic Force Microscopy reveals Diversity of Serpin Polymers

Polymerization of a mutated form of antitrypsin is postulated to cause serpinopathy, a rare and incurable genetic disease. Antitrypsin is the canonical member of the serpin superfamily of structurally homologous proteins with metastable native structures. Most of serpins, including antitrypsin, are regulators of serine and cysteine protease cascades, and protect tissues from excessive actions of extracellular proteolytic enzymes. Polymerization of the mutant Z variant of antitrypsin results in the “loss of function” proteolytic damage of lungs, or in the “gain of function” degeneration of liver cells, loaded with toxic polymers. The understanding of polymerization mechanism holds the key to disease prevention, diagnostics and cures. However, metastability of serpins and complexity of their polymers makes structural studies a difficult task. There are several models of polymerization, based on in vitro studies and molecular modeling, however their relevance to in vivo polymerization and disease etiology has not been established. Here we employed atomic force microscopy (AFM) to compare topography of in vitro and in vivo formed antitrypsin polymers and oligomers. We found that commonly used in vitro methods to induce polymerization result in formation of topographically a very diverse population of oligomers. Most, if not all classes of the in vitro formed oligomers corresponded to similar classes of oligomers isolated from liver. The in vitro polymerization, however did not produce long strands of polymerized antitrypsin. The presence of such strands is the most striking feature in liver cells of human serpinopathy patients and in a mouse model. Here, we report results of our scanning probe microscopy structural analysis of long serpin polymers and propose the mechanism of their formation.
Mass spectrometric identification of Mirex residues in crude extracts and in the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls.

Mass spectrometry using 10 eV electron impact was employed in the analysis of Mirex residues in the presence of PCB's. Low voltage MS is a useful complementary tool for positive identification of both Mirex and PCB residues in organic extracts.
Diabetes Self-Management and Hospitalization

This descriptive survey sought to determine the desires, concerns and experiences of persons with diabetes regarding retention of self-management during potential and prior hospitalization. Seventy-three members of an American Diabetes Association chapter completed a questionnaire consisting of both closed-ended and open-ended items. Although the subjects were generally self-managing and compliant at home, they held a diversity of beliefs about self-management during hospitalization. Those who had been hospitalized had most diabetes care activities performed by the staff members. Assessing desires, competence and readiness of persons with diabetes for self-management during hospitalization and possible nursing and hospital system changes are suggested to support self-management when indicated.
The Human Nature of the Economic Mind

This paper provides a historical overview of cognitive psychology and computational theories in cognitive science. Critiques of the computational model are discussed. The perspective of the evolution of mind and brain provides an alternative model such as that presented by Merlin Donald in terms of the “Hybrid Mind.” This “naturalist” model is also consistent with what we know of cognitive development in childhood. It provides a better understanding of cognition in situated context than the computational alternatives and is a better fit as a model of mind for the social sciences, including for economic decision making.
The reproduction of culture and personality: Critique of Christopher Lasch

Following in the theoretical tradition of the Frankfurt School, Christopher Lasch contends that the narcissistic personality has become the modal personality type in the United States. According to Lasch, the narcissistic personality is nurtured in the contemporary nuclear family and sustained by a culture that promotes immediate gratification and a preoccupation with the self. The central aim of this paper is to critically analyze Lasch's argument. The paper will show that Lasch's perspective rests on the unfounded psychoanalytic assumption that the adult personality is crystallized during childhood socialization and remains largely resistant to change. It will further be shown that Lasch's Freudianism is at odds with his Marxist politics, and that his conceptualization of culture and personality rests upon a functionalist bias in his theoretical perspective. The conclusion of this paper is that Lasch does not provide any reliable evidence for the existence of a narcissistic personality type in contempor...
During stepwise cue deletion, rat place behaviors correlate with place unit responses.

The place behaviors of intact rats, and of those receiving fornix lesions, were examined in the radial-arm maze. A cue-restricted environment was constructed wherein the location of arms with food rewards were identifiable only by their position in relation to an intermittently rotated 4-cue set. Food obtainment was measured during a procedure in which either 1,2 or 3 of the cues were removed during a block of test sessions. Control animals demonstrated place navigation abilities robust to the deletion of any 1 or 2 cues. The performance of lesioned rats declined in a manner consistent with the number of absent stimuli. The results indicate that the behavioral expressions of place knowledge relate to the responsiveness of hippocampal place cells.