cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of insurance status and race on receipt of treatment for acoustic neuroma: A national cancer database analysis

Acoustic neuroma (AN) management involves surgery, radiation, or observation. Previous studies have demonstrated that patient race and insurance status impact in-hospital morbidity/mortality following surgery; however the nationwide impact of these demographics on the receipt of each treatment modality has not been examined. The National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) from 2004 to 2013 identified AN patients. Multivariate analysis adjusted for several variables within each treatment modality, including patient age, race, sex, income, primary payer for care, tumor size, and medical comorbidities. Patients who were African-American (OR=0.7; 95%CI=0.5-0.9; p=0.01), elderly (minimum age 65) (OR=0.4; 95%CI=0.4-0.6; p<0.0001), on Medicare (OR=0.6; 95% CI=0.4-0.7; p=0.0005), or treated at a community hospital (OR=0.4; 95%CI=0.2-0.7; p=0.007) were less likely to receive surgery. Patients on Medicaid (OR=1.2; 95%CI=0.8-1.8; p=0.04) or treated at an integrated network (OR=1.2; 95%CI=0.9-1.6; p=0.0004) were more likely to receive surgery. Patients who were elderly (OR=2.2; 95%CI=1.7-2.9; p<0.0001) or treated in a comprehensive cancer center (OR=1.5; 95%CI=1.3-1.9; p=0.02) were more likely and Medicaid patients (OR=0.8; 95%CI=0.5-1.2; p=0.04) were less likely to receive radiation. Patients who were elderly (OR=2.2; 95%CI=1.7-2.7; p<0.0001), African-American (OR=1.5; 95%CI=1.1-2.0; p=0.01), on Medicare (OR=1.8; 95%CI=1.4-2.3; p=0.0003), or treated in a community hospital (OR=3.0; 95%CI=1.6-5.6; p=0.0007) were more likely to receive observation. Patients on Medicaid (OR=0.8; 95%CI=0.5-1.2; p=0.04) or treated in an integrated network (OR=0.8; 95%CI=0.6-1.0; p=0.0001) were less likely to receive observation. African-American race, elderly age, and community hospital treatment triaged towards observation/away from surgery; age also triaged towards radiation. Conversely, integrated networks triaged towards surgery/away from observation; comprehensive cancer centers triaged towards radiation. Medicaid insurance triaged towards surgery/away from radiation/observation; this may be detrimental since lack of private insurance is a known risk factor for increased in-hospital postoperative morbidity.
Molecular Basis of Olfactory Chemoreception in the Common Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius

As one of the most notorious ectoparasites, bed bugs rely heavily on human or animal blood sources for survival, mating and reproduction. Chemoreception, mediated by the odorant receptors on the membrane of olfactory sensory neurons, plays a vital role in their host seeking and risk aversion processes. We investigated the responses of odorant receptors to a large spectrum of semiochemicals, including human odorants and plant-released volatiles and found that strong responses were sparse; aldehydes/ketones were the most efficient stimuli, while carboxylic acids and aliphatics/aromatics were comparatively less effective in eliciting responses from bed bug odorant receptors. In bed bugs, both the odorant identity and concentrations play important roles in determining the strength of these responses. The odor space constructed based on the responses from all the odorant receptors tested revealed that odorants within the same chemical group are widely dispersed while odorants from different groups are intermingled, suggesting the complexity of odorant encoding in the bed bug odorant receptors. This study provides a comprehensive picture of the olfactory coding mechanisms of bed bugs that will ultimately contribute to the design and development of novel olfactory-based strategies to reduce both the biting nuisance and disease transmission from bed bugs.
Under Pressure: Intraluminal Filling Pressures of Postpartum Hemorrhage Tamponade Balloons.

Objective Uterine tamponade by fluid-filled balloons is now an accepted method of controlling postpartum hemorrhage. Available tamponade balloons vary in design and material, which affects the filling attributes and volume at which they rupture. We aimed to characterize the filling capacity and pressure-volume relationship of various tamponade balloons. Study Design Balloons were filled with water ex vivo. Intraluminal pressure was measured incrementally (every 10 mL for the Foley balloons and every 50 mL for all other balloons). Balloons were filled until they ruptured or until 5,000 mL was reached. Results The Foley balloons had higher intraluminal pressures than the larger-volume balloons. The intraluminal pressure of the Sengstaken-Blakemore tube (gastric balloon) was initially high, but it decreased until shortly before rupture occurred. The Bakri intraluminal pressure steadily increased until rupture occurred at 2,850 mL. The condom catheter, BT-Cath, and ebb all had low intraluminal pressures. Both the BT-Cath and the ebb remained unruptured at 5,000 mL. Conclusion In the setting of acute hemorrhage, expeditious management is critical. Balloons that have a low intraluminal pressure-volume ratio may fill more rapidly, more easily, and to greater volumes. We found that the BT-Cath, the ebb, and the condom catheter all had low intraluminal pressures throughout filling.
Exploring a wider range of Mg–Ca–Zn metallic glass as biocompatible alloys using combinatorial sputtering

In order to bypass the limitation of bulk metallic glasses fabrication, we synthesized thin film metallic glasses to study the corrosion characteristics of a wide atomic% composition range, Mg(35.9-63%)Ca(4.1-21%)Zn(17.9-58.3%), in simulated body fluid. We highlight a clear relationship between Zn content and corrosion current such that Zn-medium metallic glasses exhibit minimum corrosion. In addition, we found higher Zn content leads to a poor in vitro cell viability. These results showcase the benefit of evaluating a larger alloy compositional space to probe the limits of corrosion resistance and prescreen for biocompatible applications.
The fine needle aspiration of translocation sarcomas

Introduction Soft tissue sarcomas comprise a heterogeneous group of clinically aggressive cancers that are often hard to classify on limited cytological samples. “Translocation sarcomas” (TS) are a diverse subset of such cancers, different from pleomorphic sarcomas, and characterised by unique single chromosomal translocations in each sarcoma subtype. Interestingly, despite their high-grade biological behaviour, TS have deceptively monotonous and bland cytomorphology, therefore creating diagnostic issues on limited samples. Materials and methods A retrospective search was conducted of the cytopathology archives of The Johns Hopkins Hospital revealing 147 translocation sarcoma cases over a 25-year period. Results The common morphological denominators for most translocation sarcomas were: hypercellularity, cellular monotony, mostly discohesive and single cells, round-to-oval or short spindled cells and a lack of necrosis. The exceptions were an inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour, in which cellular monotony was not present owing to the prominence of lymphocytes and plasma cells, and low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma, in which the specimens were generally hypocellular. Ancillary testing, especially immunoperoxidase staining, was often required for primary lesions. Conclusion Distinct morphological clues and subsequent ancillary testing (particularly immunoperoxidase staining) provide an accurate diagnosis on cytological interpretation of both, primary and recurrent/metastatic lesions.
Tumor Microenvironment may Shape the Function and Phenotype of NK Cells Through the Induction of Split Anergy and Generation of Regulatory NK Cells

Cytotoxic function of NK cells is suppressed in the tumor microenvironment by a number of distinct effectors. Furthermore, decreased peripheral blood NK cell cytotoxicity has been documented in cancer patients. We have previously demonstrated evidence for the role of NK cells in specific elimination of stem cells and not their differentiated counterparts. In this regard, NK cells were found to mediate significant cytotoxicity against primary oral squamous carcinoma stem cells (OSCSCs) as compared to their more differentiated oral squamous carcinoma cells (OSCCs). In addition, human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) and induced human pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) were all significantly more susceptible to NK cell mediated cytotoxicity than their differentiated counterparts or parental cells from which they were derived. There is also a stage wise susceptibility to NK cell mediated cytotoxicity in pancreatic tumors in which case the poorly differentiated tumors are lysed much more than their moderately differentiated tumors. The well differentiated pancreatic tumors were lysed the least when compared to either the moderately differentiated tumors or to poorly differentiated tumors. We have also reported that inhibition of differentiation or reversion of cells to a less-differentiated stage by blocking NF-κB or gene deletion of COX2 significantly augmented NK cell cytotoxicity against both transformed and healthy cells. Therefore, we propose that the two stages of NK cell maturation namely CD16 + CD56dimCD69-NK cells are important for the selection of stem cells whereas the CD16dim/-CD56dim/+ CD69 + NK cells are important for differentiation and eventual regeneration of the tissues and the resolution of inflammation, thus serving as regulatory NK cells (NK reg ). The concept of split anergy in NK cells and generation of NK reg and its contribution to cell differentiation, tissue repair and regeneration and in tumor resistance will be discussed in this chapter.
Meaningful Use and Electronic Laboratory Reporting: Challenges Health Information Technology Vendors Face in Kentucky

Objectives: To explore the challenges Health Information Technology (HIT) vendors face to satisfy the requirements for Meaningful Use (MU) and Electronic Laboratory Reporting (ELR) of reportable diseases to the public health departments in Kentucky. Methodology: A survey was conducted of Health Information Exchange (HIE) vendors in Kentucky through the Kentucky Health Information Exchange (KHIE). The survey was cross-sectional. Data were collected between February and March 2014. Participants were recruited from KHIE vendors. Participants received online survey link and by email and asked to submit their responses. Vendors’ feedback were summarized and analyzed to identify their challenges. Out of the 55 vendors who received the survey, 35(63.64%) responded. Results: Of the seven transport protocol options for ELR, vendors selected virtual private network (VPN) as the most difficult to implement (31.7%). Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) was selected as preferred ELR transport protocol (31.4%) . Most of the respondents, 80% responded that they do not have any challenge with the Health Level 7 (HL7) standard implementation guide required by MU for 2014 ELR certification. Conclusion: The study found that the most difficult transport protocol to implement for ELR is VPN and if vendors have preference, they would use SFTP for ELR over KHIE choice of VPN and Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP). KHIE vendors do not see any variability in what is reportable by different jurisdiction and also it is not difficult for them to detect what is reportable from one jurisdiction verse the other
Adherence and retention of African Americans in a randomized controlled trial with a yoga-based intervention: the effects of health promoting programs on cardiovascular disease risk study

Objectives: Sedentary lifestyle is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Few alternative lifestyle interventions, such as yoga practice, focus on African Americans (AA), the population mo...
Insights into Macrophage Heterogeneity and Cytokine-Induced Neuroinflammation in Major Depressive Disorder

Over 350 million individuals suffer from depression, a psychiatric illness classified as major depressive disorder (MDD) with symptoms that include a loss of interest or pleasure in life accompanied by depressed mood. The present understanding of major depressive disorder does not encompass a systematic characterization of the neurobiological processes that drive the behavioral physiology in patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Psychiatric illness is a complex intersection between genetics, physiology, immunology and environmental stress. The increased attention to the relevance of depression has led to new discoveries that highlight the biological significance of ‘neuroinflammation’ and immunity underlying a spectrum of psychiatric illnesses. The process of neuroinflammation involves sentinel immune cells in the central nervous system (CNS). The activation and polarization of microglia, CNS-resident macrophages, modulates the production and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines implicated in the etiology of major depressive disorder, and this phenomenon has been aptly titled the ‘macrophage theory of depression’. Of particular interest are three hallmark cytokines, IL-6, TNFα and IL-1β, which have been studied extensively in basic research, cell-receptor signaling and drug development. The field of inflammasome-mediated neuroinflammation is an emerging area of MDD research that is providing new cellular insight into how macrophages mechanistically support cytokine-associated neuropathology, particularly in the case of IL-1β-associated inflammation in MDD. With the increasing number of individuals identified with depression, a comprehensive understanding of macrophage-cytokine signaling pathways in the CNS in depression is necessary for developing effective anti-depressant therapeutics.
A Note on Disjoint Covering Systems-Variations on a 2002 AIME Problem

SummaryA covering system is a system of k arithmetic progressions whose union includes all integers. It is a disjoint covering system (or exact covering system) if the progressions are also pairwise disjoint, so that each integer is covered exactly once. This paper presents upper bounds on the number of consecutive integers which need to be checked to determine whether a covering system is a disjoint covering system. The bounds depend only on the number of congruences in the system. The results provide an analog of a theorem by R. B. Crittenden and C. L. Vanden Eynden from 1969 and are presented as solutions to some variations of a 2002 AIME Problem about painting a picket fence.
Wisdom, Foolishness, and Toxicity in Human Development

Socialization of young people today especially emphasizes cognitive and academic-skills development. Although these skills are important, society is making a serious mistake in underestimating the importance of wisdom-based skills. As a result, we are raising a generation of individuals who may be smart but may also be foolish, or even worse, toxic to themselves and others. This article newly contributes a discussion of toxicity. The author discusses what schools can do to place more emphasis on education for wisdom.
Using SIMD and SIMT vectorization to evaluate sparse chemical kinetic Jacobian matrices and thermochemical source terms

Abstract Accurately predicting key combustion phenomena in reactive-flow simulations, e.g., lean blow-out, extinction/ignition limits and pollutant formation, necessitates the use of detailed chemical kinetics. The large size and high levels of numerical stiffness typically present in chemical kinetic models relevant to transportation/power-generation applications make the efficient evaluation/factorization of the chemical kinetic Jacobian and thermochemical source-terms critical to the performance of reactive-flow codes. Here we investigate the performance of vectorized evaluation of constant-pressure/volume thermochemical source-term and sparse/dense chemical kinetic Jacobians using single-instruction, multiple-data (SIMD) and single-instruction, multiple thread (SIMT) paradigms. These are implemented in pyJac, an open-source, reproducible code generation platform. Selected chemical kinetic models covering the range of sizes typically used in reactive-flow simulations were used for demonstration. A new formulation of the chemical kinetic governing equations was derived and verified, resulting in Jacobian sparsities of 28.6–92.0% for the tested models. Speedups of 3.40–4.08 × were found for shallow-vectorized OpenCL source-rate evaluation compared with a parallel OpenMP code on an avx2 central processing unit (CPU), increasing to 6.63–9.44 × and 3.03–4.23 × for sparse and dense chemical kinetic Jacobian evaluation, respectively. Furthermore, the effect of data-ordering was investigated and a storage pattern specifically formulated for vectorized evaluation was proposed; as well, the effect of the constant pressure/volume assumptions and varying vector widths were studied on source-term evaluation performance. Speedups reached up to 17.60 × and 45.13 × for dense and sparse evaluation on the GPU, and up to 55.11 × and 245.63 × on the CPU over a first-order finite-difference Jacobian approach. Further, dense Jacobian evaluation was up to 19.56 × and 2.84 × times faster than a previous version of pyJac on a CPU and GPU, respectively. Finally, future directions for vectorized chemical kinetic evaluation and sparse linear-algebra techniques were discussed.
The Ontogeny of Human Self-Consciousness:

Self-consciousness is an essential characteristic of what it means to be human and is arguably a unique adaptation of our species. Human self-consciousness is construed here as the propensity to pe...
Effects of Na2O/SiO2 molar ratio on properties of aggregate-paste interphase in fly ash-based geopolymer mixtures through multiscale measurements

Abstract This paper presents a multiscale experimental study on the influence of different Na2O/SiO2 molar ratios on the mechanical and microstructural characteristics of the aggregate-paste interphase in fly ash-based geopolymer mixtures. By analyzing the scanning electron microscope images, the solid phases present in the microstructure were identified, and the frequency of occurrence of each phase was quantified. In addition, the porosity and pore size distribution of geopolymer specimens were measured by mercury intrusion porosimetry. By conducting nanoindentation tests on a large array of indentations and subsequent statistical analysis of the test results, the elastic moduli of individual phases were extracted. The bond behavior between aggregate and paste was also investigated by conducting the three-point bending test of single edge notched beam specimens. Integration of test results in different length scales showed that interphase region generates more sodium aluminosilicate hydrate (i.e., N-A-S-H) gel than the adjacent paste region regardless of the Na2O/SiO2 ratios used in this study. In addition, the mixture prepared with the higher Na2O/SiO2 molar ratio exhibited more N-A-S-H gel in the interphase zone, which led to increased bonding strength between aggregate and paste.
Young Adults’ Conversational Strategies During Negotiation and Self-Disclosure in Same-Gender and Mixed-Gender Friendships

Actor gender and partner gender effects on conversational strategies were investigated among young adult friends during assigned negotiation and self-disclosure tasks. The sample comprised 146 same- or mixed-gender friendship pairs (age range = 17–23) of U.S. undergraduates from diverse ethnic-racial backgrounds (52% White, 19% Latinx, 17% Asian, 18% other). Pairs of same-gender friends or mixed-gender friends were assigned a negotiation task and a self-disclosure task while their conversations were video-recorded. Dyadic analyses were conducted using hierarchical linear modeling to assess actor gender and partner gender effects on conversational strategies. During the negotiation task, women were more likely than men were to use affiliative strategies (requests, indirect suggestions, justifications); in contrast, men were more likely to use self-emphasizing strategies (direct suggestions). In the self-disclosure task, women were more likely than men to express self-disclosing statements and to provide reflective listening responses to friends’ disclosures (e.g., elaborations, backchannel interjections) especially in same-gender pairs. In contrast, men were more likely to use distancing responses (e.g., negative comments). Most effect sizes were small. Finally, participants’ ratings of conflict in the friendship were related to the likelihood of some speech strategies in both tasks. Findings highlight the contexts of gender-related variations in language use among young adult friends.
Percutaneous Interventional Technique for Intra-arterial Chemoembolization

Transarterial chemoembolization techniques for hepatocellular carcinoma have been developed over the last couple of decades due to poor response from systemic chemotherapy in patients with liver tumors. In this chapter, the authors describe various aspects of intra-arterial chemoembolization starting with patient selection and preparation. Relevant normal and variant arterial anatomy is outlined. Catheterization techniques including advanced techniques are discussed. Embolization agents along with new horizons in treatment are highlighted. Complications from the procedure are also discussed.
Switching-Synchronized Sampled-State Space Modeling and Digital Controller for a Constant Off-Time, Current-Mode Boost Converter

The effective modeling and high-speed digital control of variable frequency power converters have been a longstanding challenge. In this paper, we extend and analyze with proofs for stability and performance along with calculations for robustness, a switching-synchronized sampled-state space framework for a current-mode boost converter with constant off-time. We demonstrate a controller in this framework in both simulation and real-world hardware.
Sharing the Wealth

Abstract Although rooted in many indigenous systems of forest management, community forestry has only recently emerged as a national forest management strategy. It has spawned both new processes of forest management decision-making and new institutions empowered with the authority to protect and control the use of common forest resources. To explore the distribution of benefits from community management, two organizational approaches were examined: the Forest User Group (FUG) in Nepal, and the Share Holding Integrated Forest Tenure (SHIFT) system in southern China. Village management groups must share with all stakeholders the monetary and material benefits derived from any harvest. Incentives are needed for the continuance and expansion of community forestry. Community forestry organizations and their decision-making processes will have to adapt and change as the resources increase in value, and needs of the stakeholders evolve.
Sepse aguda pós‐operatória simulando sintomatologia suspeita para hipertermia maligna: relato de caso

Resumo Justificativa A sepse e uma disfuncao orgânica fatal com caracteristicas clinicas inespecificas que podem imitar outras condicoes clinicas com quadro hipermetabolico, como a hipertermia maligna. Os cenarios sao extremamente desafiadores para a anestesia perioperatoria e requerem intervencao urgente. Objetivo Ilustrar a necessidade de intervencao e consulta precoces para uma assistencia adicional na abordagem e exclusao de hipertermia maligna e outras possiveis causas durante tal cenario. Relato de caso Paciente do sexo masculino, 63 anos, submetido a cistoscopia eletiva com cistoscopio flexivel e biopsia transretal da prostata guiada por ultrassom sem intercorrencias. No pos‐operatorio, o paciente desenvolveu sintomas que levantaram a suspeita de hipertermia maligna. O protocolo de hipertermia maligna foi imediatamente iniciado, inclusive a administracao de dantrolene e uma consulta pela linha direta da associacao de hipertermia maligna, juntamente com outros diagnosticos e manejos intervencionistas com vistas ao aprimoramento do paciente. Enquanto a administracao precoce de dantrolene ajudou na estabilizacao hemodinâmica do paciente, a consulta com outros anestesistas e com a Associacao de Hipertermia Maligna, juntamente com repetidos exames fisicos e laboratoriais, ajudou a excluir a hipertermia maligna como o possivel diagnostico. O paciente recuperou‐se mais tarde na unidade de terapia intensiva, onde recebeu tratamento para a bacteremia detectada em suas hemoculturas. Conclusoes A sepse compartilha sintomas clinicos que mimetizam a hipertermia maligna. Enquanto a sepse progride rapidamente para lesoes secundarias, a hipertermia maligna e uma ameaca a vida. Proporcionar o tratamento ideal requer um bom julgamento clinico e um alto nivel de suspeita quanto aos cuidados oportunos e apropriados, como a administracao precoce de dantrolene e a consulta pela linha direta da Associacao de Hipertermia Maligna para assistencia adicional, que podem resultar em desfechos positivos.
THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS OF THE NCCN PRACTICE GUIDELINES

Physicians concerned about being sued for medical malpractice for following (or deviating from) a clinical practice guideline written by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) or otherreputable group should keep in mind one general principle: "Good medicine is good law." In other words, if a physician follows a course of action in line with the professional standard of care, regardless of whether or not he or she adheres to a particular guideline, that individual has little to worry about with regard to malpractice liability. The standard of care against which malpractice liability is measured is defined informally as "what a similar doctor would do under similar circumstances." Thus, if most oncologists observe the NCCN guidelines (or if their practice already comports with them), the guidelines will serve as the professional standard against which all oncologists' conduct will be measured. If oncologists ignore the NCCN guidelines, the malpractice standard will continue to reflect the way oncologists actually treat cancer patients.
Mapping the Scottish Reformation: Tracing Careers of the Scottish Clergy, 1560-1689

This article introduces readers to Mapping the Scottish Reformation, a digital prosopography of ministers who served in the Church of Scotland between the Reformation Parliament of 1560 to the Revolution in 1689. By extracting data from thousands of pages of ecclesiastical court records held by the National Records of Scotland, Mapping the Scottish Reformation (MSR) tracks clerical careers, showing where they were educated, how they moved between parishes, their age, their marital status, and their disciplinary history. This early modern data drives a powerful mapping engine that will allow users to build their own searches to track clerical careers over time andspace. In short, Mapping the Scottish Reformation puts clerical careers – and, indeed, Scottish religious history more generally – quite literally on the map.
Relationship between Cancer Diagnosis and Complications Following Pancreatoduodenectomy for Duodenal Adenoma

Pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) for duodenal adenoma (DA) resection may be associated with excessive surgical risk for patients with potentially benign lesions, given the absence of pancreatic duct obstruction. We examined factors associated with final malignant pathology and evaluated the postoperative course of patients with DA versus pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We retrospectively analyzed patients with DA who underwent PD from 2008 to 2018 and assessed the accuracy rate of preoperative biopsy and factors associated with final malignant pathology. Complications for DA patients were compared with those of matched PDAC patients. Forty-five consecutive patients who underwent PD for DA were identified, and the preoperative biopsy false negative rate was 29. Factors associated with final malignant pathology included age over 70 years, preoperative biliary obstruction, and common bile duct diameter > 8 mm (p < 0.05). Compared with patients with PDAC (n = 302), DA patients experienced more major complications (31% vs. 15%, p < 0.01), more grade C postoperative pancreatic fistulas (9% vs. 1%, p < 0.01), and greater mortality (7% vs. 2%, p < 0.05). Propensity score matched patients with DA had more major complications following PD (32% vs. 12%, p < 0.05). Preoperative biopsy of duodenal adenomas is associated with a high false-negative rate for malignancy, and PD for DA is associated with higher complication rates than PD for PDAC. These results aid discussion among patients and surgeons who are considering observation versus PD for DA, especially in younger patients without biliary obstruction, who are less likely to harbor malignancy.
Turning Right or Standing Still? Virginius Dabney and the New Deal in Virginia, 1930–1942

Abstract At the onset of the Depression, Virginius Dabney, editorial writer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, advocated state solutions to the South's ills. He soon realized that extreme conditions called for federal interference. At first, Dabney enthusiastically supported President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal measures and attacked anyone who opposed them. After the court-packing incident of 1937, Dabney became critical of the president and the New Deal. He came to see Roosevelt and his policies as too radical and returned to his belief that state control was best. His shift from support to criticism of the New Deal fits with historians' descriptions of southern liberals' reaction to New Deal measures. Even so, because Dabney's actions did not fit with certain aspects of his own definition of liberalism, it seems that he never was firmly on the left. The extreme circumstances of the Depression pushed him to a more progressive stance than he was comfortable holding, which accounts for his constant wav...
A Study of the Diffusion, Acceptance and Marketing of Credit Cards in the Middle East

The rise of Islamic banking and its restrictions on the use of credit and interest represent a challenge to the continued expansion of the leading international credit card companies. In this paper, the implications of Islamic banking are briefly surveyed. Then attention is turned to aspects of consumer behavior as they relate to the diffusion, acceptance and marketing of credit cards in North Africa and the Middle East. Finally, a case study on Morocco is presented featuring the introduction of Visa and Carte Blanche.
Angler: The Cheney Vice Presidency – By Barton Gellman

Being vice president, said Richard B. Cheney's predecessor Jack Garner, is “not worth a bucket of warm piss,” though given the mores of the time it was often reported as “spit.” The author of this ...
Intergeneric Complementation of Anthranilate Synthase Subunits

Partially purified subunits of anthranilate synthase were prepared from Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The large component from B. subtilis (IB) complements well with the small component from P. aeruginosa (IIP) to reconstitute a glutamine-reactive anthranilate synthase. This interaction can be demonstrated with crude extracts from a B. subtilis trpX mutant and a P. aeruginosa trpA mutant. Complementation was also observed with the large component from P. aeruginosa (IP) and the small subunit from B. subtilis (IIB). At saturation the heterologous complex IBIIP has 93% of the activity of the homologous complex IBIIB, whereas the hybrid IPIIB is only 22% as active as the homologous complex IPIIP.
Tubulin Is a Neuronal Target of Autoantibodies in Sydenham’s Chorea

Sydenham's chorea is a CNS disorder and sequela of group A streptococcal infection where deposition of Abs in brain may result in movement and neuropsychiatric abnormalities. We studied human mAbs 24.3.1, 31.1.1, and 37.2.1 derived from chorea and selected for cross-reactivity with group A streptococci and brain Ags. Our novel findings reveal that Sydenham's chorea mAbs target a 55-kDa brain protein with an N-terminal amino acid sequence of MREIVHLQ corresponding to beta-tubulin. Chorea mAb specificity for purified brain tubulin was confirmed in ELISA and Western immunoblot, and significant levels of anti-tubulin IgG were found in acute chorea sera and cerebrospinal fluid. Lysoganglioside G(M1) inhibited binding of chorea mAbs to tubulin and mAb reactivity with human caudate and putamen brain sections was blocked by anti-tubulin mAb. The chorea mAbs labeled both intra- and extracellular Ags of a neuronal cell line providing evidence suggesting mimicry between intracellular brain protein tubulin and extracellular lysoganglioside. In addition, chorea mAb 24.3.1 and acute chorea sera induced calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II activity in human neuronal cells. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the chorea mAb V(H) genes revealed that mAb 24.3.1 V(H) gene was encoded by the V(H)1 germline gene family which encodes other anti-ganglioside V(H) genes associated with motor neuropathies. mAb recognition of tubulin and the neuronal cell surface with initiation of cell signaling and dopamine release supports an emerging theme in autoimmunity whereby cross-reactive or polyreactive autoantibodies against intracellular Ags recognize cell surface epitopes potentially leading to disease.
The Mechanisms of Mitochondria-Mediated Apoptosis in Cancer Chemotherapy

Cell metabolism and signal transduction has usually been considered independent processes. Interestingly mitochondria is an intracellular organelle that perform energy production to fuel the cell to carry out its normal functions, however, in certain circumstances, its components can also carry out programmed cell destruction via its resident proteins. In this review, the role of mitochondria and its component proteins in inducing apoptotic programmed cell death is discussed. The role of Bcl-2 family proteins that set up the mitochondria induced apoptotic threshold is also described. Further, how the metabolic stress leads to mitochondrial dysfunction via increased generation of reactive oxygen species are discussed. This article is a part of a special issue on mitochondria summarizes the induction of intracellular pathways that converge on mitochondria and ultimately impact the success of chemotherapeutic interventions.
Characterization of novel sequences containing 3-O-sulfated glucosamine in glomerular basement membrane heparan sulfate and localization of sulfated disaccharides to a peripheral domain.

Abstract Fragmentation of the heparan sulfate chains from bovine glomerular basement membrane (GBM) by hydrazine/nitrous acid treatment followed by NaB3H4-reduction yielded a mixture of six sulfated disaccharides containing D-glucuronic (GlcUA) or L-iduronic acid (IdUA) and terminating in 2,5-anhydro[3H]mannitol (AnManH2), in addition to the nonsulfated component GlcUA beta 1----4AnManH2. Among these products two novel disaccharide units were identified as IdUA alpha 1----4AnManH2(3-SO4) and IdUA(2-SO4)alpha 1----4AnManH2(3-SO4); these accounted for 22% of the total sulfated species indicating that there are 2-3 residues of 3-O-sulfated glucosamine/heparan sulfate chain. The disulfated disaccharide was shown through its release by direct nitrous acid treatment to be situated in a GlcNSO3-IdUA(2-SO4)-GlcNSO3(3-SO4) sequence which is distinct from that in which 3-O-sulfated glucosamine is located in the antithrombin-binding region of heparins. Analyses of heparan sulfate from lens capsule, a nonvascular basement membrane, indicated the absence of sequences containing 3-O-sulfated glucosamine, although otherwise the sulfated disaccharides produced by hydrazine/nitrous acid/Na-B3H4 treatment (GlcUA beta 1----4AnManH2(6-SO4), IdUA alpha 1----4AnManH2(6-SO4), IdUA(2-SO4)alpha 1----4AnManH2 and IdUA(2-SO4)alpha 1----4AnManH2(6-SO4] were the same as from GBM. Examination of the GBM heparan sulfate domains after nitrous acid treatment indicated that the O- as well as N-sulfate groups are clustered in an iduronic acid-rich 10-disaccharide peripheral segment, while the internal region (approximately 20 disaccharides) is composed primarily of repeating GlcUA beta 1----4GlcNAc units. The localization of chain diversity to the outer region may facilitate interactions of the heparan sulfate with other macromolecular components.
Resource efficient redundancy using quorum-based cycle routing in optical networks

In this paper we propose a cycle redundancy technique that provides optical networks almost fault-tolerant point-to-point and multipoint-to-multipoint communications. The technique more importantly is shown to approximately halve the necessary light-trail resources in the network while maintaining the fault-tolerance and dependability expected from cycle-based routing. For efficiency and distributed control, it is common in distributed systems and algorithms to group nodes into intersecting sets referred to as quorum sets. Optimal communication quorum sets forming optical cycles based on light-trails have been shown to flexibly and efficiently route both point-to-point and multipoint-to-multipoint traffic requests. Commonly cycle routing techniques will use pairs of cycles to achieve both routing and fault-tolerance, which uses substantial resources and creates the potential for underutilization. Instead, we intentionally utilize redundancy within the quorum cycles for fault-tolerance such that almost every point-to-point communication occurs in more than one cycle. The result is a set of cycles with 96.60% – 99.37% fault coverage, while using 42.9% – 47.18% fewer resources.
Admittance Dependence of the Infinite Cylindrical Antenna Upon Exciting Gap Thickness

The admittance of an infinite cylindrical antenna is calculated as a function of exciting frequency and exciting gap thickness. The results obtained show that an asymptotic analytical expression derived for the susceptance by Chen and Keller and also later by Fante, is strictly valid only in the limit of "Vanishing gap thickness. An altenate analYtical. form is presented-for die susceptance, which removes this restriction and which gives good agreement with the correct susceptance values obtained in this study. 1. lntrodudion The admittance of a cylindrical antenna of finite or infinite length, fed by a circumferential voltage gap, is a subject which has received a great deal of atten· tion. A solution for the antenna current can be exactly obtained only for the infinite antenna, the finite antenna current being determined by an integral equation. The reason for this is the reflected current waves. which are set up by the ends of the finite antenna, but which are absent from the infinite antenna. While the current, and thus the admittance, of the infinite and finite antennas may be very different, they do have in common the feedpoint singularity associated with an infinitesimal (delta function) exciting gap in the ou~ward traveling current wave. As a result, the change m antenna susceptance that results from. changing the gap thickness might be expected to be similar for both antennas. Whether or not the· depend­ ence of the susceptance upon gap thickness is sig­ nificant will depend upon the relative importance of other determining parameters such as antenna radius, and in addition for the finite antenna, the antenna length. The purpose of the work, which is discussed here, is to investigate, using a numerical approach, the admittance variation of the infinite antenna as a function of the gap thickness, as well as the excitation frequency. It will be demonstrated from some numerical results to be presented that a condition for the asymptotic form derived for the antenna susceptance by Chen and Keller (1962) and also subsequently, by Fante (l966a), to be valid is that a~ 0 rather than k8 ~ l,. where k is the wave number and 8 the gap thickness. In addition, the numerical analysis here is not re­ stricted to finding an average gap current in the
Cytosolic energy reserves determine the effect of glycolytic sugar phosphates on sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release in cat ventricular myocytes

Localization of glycolytic enzymes in close proximity to Ca2+ transport systems of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) in cardiac cells suggests an important functional role for glycolysis in intracellular [Ca2+] regulation and, consequently, excitation–contraction coupling. Here, we investigated the mechanisms of regulation of SR Ca2+ release by glycolytic sugar phosphate intermediates in cat ventricular myocytes. Experiments with permeabilized myocytes revealed that with normal cytosolic energy reserves (mm: ATP 5, ADP 0.01, phosphocreatine (CrP) 10) fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP; 1 mm) and fructose-6-phosphate (F6P; 1 mm) caused a transient increase of Ca2+ spark frequency by 62 and 42%, respectively. This effect of sugar phosphates was associated with a 13% decrease in SR Ca2+ load. Pretreatment of the cells with an inhibitor of glycolysis, iodoacetate (IAA; 0.5 mm), did not prevent the effects of FBP and F6P on Ca2+ sparks. Recording of single ryanodine receptor (RyR) channel activity indicated that FBP and F6P significantly increased RyR open probability. Reduction of cytosolic energy reserves decreased Ca2+ spark activity. Increasing [ADP] to 0.4 mm or removal of CrP ([ATP] was kept constant) caused a slowly developing decrease of Ca2+ spark frequency by 29 and 42%, respectively. Changing [ADP] and [CrP] simultaneously decreased Ca2+ spark frequency by 66%. This inhibition of Ca2+ sparks was associated with a 40% decrease in SR Ca2+ load. The subsequent addition of FBP (1 mm) partially restored Ca2+ spark frequency and SR Ca2+ load. This recovery of Ca2+ sparks was blocked completely by IAA. These data suggest that at physiological ATP, ADP and CrP levels accumulation of sugar phosphates from glycolysis can stimulate SR Ca2+ release. This effect does not require the activity of downstream glycolytic enzymes, but rather is the result of direct activation of RyRs. However, under conditions associated with depletion of cellular energy reserves (e.g. myocardial ischaemia), ATP generated from glycolysis may play an important role in maintaining myocardial Ca2+ homeostasis by improving SR Ca2+ uptake.
Reciprocal policy diffusion: the regulation of executive compensation in the UK and the US

Because of popular and political pressure, governments have been compelled to regulate ‘excessive’ executive compensation and search both a policy and political solution. In this paper, I seek to establish the mechanisms of policy learning, competition, and emulation by examining American and British regulatory policies of executive compensation that show evidence of reciprocal diffusion, i.e. from the US to the UK and vice versa. The evidence suggests that during the past two decades, the extent of reciprocal policy diffusion varied and was primarily driven by policy learning. Using published government reports, press releases, public hearings, newspaper articles, and interviews, I demonstrate that reciprocal learning occurred because one country's policymakers and practitioners explicitly discussed and/or referred to the practices in the other country when deciding to adopt a specific policy solution to the problem of excessive executive pay. I discuss the implications for the literature on diffusion and point out avenues for future research. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Surface Morphology of Peritoneal Macrophages During the Attachment of Brucella melitensis

When macrophages from immunized rabbits are in the act of phagocytosis of the homologous organism, the macrophages are seen by scanning electron microscopy to possess undulating membranes and microvilli at various stages of formation and spatial relationships to the organisms.
Effect of ion-neutral collision mechanism on the trapped-ion equation of motion: a new mass spectral line shape for high-mass trapped ions

Abstract The decay amplitude envelope of an ICR time-domain signal determines its corresponding Fourier transform mass spectral line shape. The commonly accepted FT-ICR frequency-domain unapodized Lorentzian spectral line shape originates from the Langevin ion-neutral collision model, in which an ion is treated as a point charge that induces an electric dipole moment in a neutral collision partner. The Langevin model provides a good description of reactions of low-energy collisions of low-mass positive ions with neutrals. However, the Langevin model is inappropriate for collisions of high-mass gas-phase biopolymer ions with low-mass neutrals. Here, we examine ion trajectories for both Langevin and hard-sphere ion-neutral collision models. For the Langevin model, collision frequency is independent of ion speed, leading to a linear differential equation of ion motion with a frictional damping term linearly proportional to ion velocity. For the hard-sphere model, collision frequency is proportional to ion speed and the frictional damping term is proportional to the square of ion velocity. We show that the resulting (non-linear) equation of ion motion leads to a non-exponential time-domain ICR signal whose amplitude envelope has the form, 1 (1 + σt) , in which σ is a constant. Dispersion-vs-absorption (DISPA) line shape analysis reveals that the ‘hard-sphere’ spectral line shape resembles that of overlaid narrow and broad Lorentzians. We discuss several important implications of the new ‘hard-sphere’ line shape for ICR spectral analysis, ICR signal processing, collision-based ion activation, and ion axialization. Finally, in the hard-sphere limit, a non-linear frictional damping term will also apply to ions in a Paul trap.
μ-η2:η2-Peroxodicopper(II) Complex with a Secondary Diamine Ligand: A Functional Model of Tyrosinase

The activation of dioxygen (O2) by Cu(I) complexes is an important process in biological systems and industrial applications. In tyrosinase, a binuclear copper enzyme, a μ-η2:η2-peroxodicopper(II) species is accepted generally to be the active oxidant. Reported here is the characterization and reactivity of a μ-η2:η2-peroxodicopper(II) complex synthesized by reacting the Cu(I) complex of the secondary diamine ligand N,N‘-di-tert-butyl-ethylenediamine (DBED), [(DBED)Cu(MeCN)](X) (1·X, X = CF3SO3-, CH3SO3-, SbF6-, BF4-), with O2 at 193 K to give [{Cu(DBED)}2(O2)](X)2 (2·X2). The UV−vis and resonance Raman spectroscopic features of 2 vary with the counteranion employed yet are invariant with change of solvent. These results implicate an intimate interaction of the counteranions with the Cu2O2 core. Such interactions are supported further by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analyses of solutions that reveal weak copper−counteranion interactions. The accessibility of the Cu2O2 core to exogenous...
THE VALUE OF A SECOND TRANSURETHRAL RESECTION IN EVALUATING PATIENTS WITH BLADDER TUMORS

AbstractPurpose: The role of a routine second transurethral resection in evaluating and managing bladder tumors is defined.Materials and Methods: From January to October 1998, 150 patients with new or recurrent bladder tumors underwent repeat transurethral resection within 2 to 6 weeks after the initial resection, and the results, including the presence of residual tumor and tumor stage, were compared.Results: Of the 150 cases 36 (24%) had no and 114 (76%) had residual tumor on repeat transurethral resection. Of 96 cases with superficial (Ta, Tis, T1) bladder tumors 72 (75%) had residual noninvasive tumor and 28 (29%) were up staged to invasive tumor. Among 54 patients with a muscle invasive tumor 12 (22%) had no residual tumor on repeat transurethral resection. Results of the second resection changed tumor treatment in 50 patients (33%).Conclusions: Many patients with bladder tumors have tumor present after an initial transurethral resection. Routine repeat resection is advised to control noninvasive tum...