cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cost-effectiveness of physician peer leader education and practice-based redesign in managed care: The pediatric asthma care PORT-II trial

Abstract Rationale A decision to implement innovative disease management interventions in health plans often requires evidence of clinical benefit and financial impact. The Pediatric Asthma Care PORT II trial evaluated the outcomes of two asthma care strategies in children (ages 3 – 17) – a peer leader based physician behavior change intervention (PLE) and a practice-based redesign (Planned Asthma Care Intervention (PACI)). The purpose of this study is to estimate the cost-effectiveness of the interventions. Methods This was a three-arm cluster randomized trial conducted in 41 primary care practices within 3 managed care organizations. 638 children with mild to moderate persistent asthma were observed for up to two years. Practices were randomized to PLE (N=226), PACI (N=213) or usual care (N=199). The primary outcome was average symptom-free days (SFD) estimated from GEE models. Costs for the interventions, asthma-related hospitalizations, ED visits, office visits and medications were included. Non-medical costs were excluded. Results Mean annual costs per patient were: PACI=$1436, PLE=$970 and Usual Care=$388. The incremental difference in annual SFD for the interventions compared to usual care was 6.5 (95% CI −3.6 to 16.9 days) for PLE and 13.3 (95% CI 2.1 to 24.7 days) for PACI. Compared to usual care the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was $90 per SFD gained for PLE and $79 per SFD gained for PACI. In subgroup analyses, ICERs varied by child's age and baseline medication use. Conclusions The cost-effectiveness ratios of these interventions are greater than those of other asthma interventions tested in other settings.
Catecholamine neurotransmitters and synthetic enzymes in the spinal cord of the rat.

Abstract Total catecholamines, norepinephrine and small amounts of dopamine were measured in the spinal cord of rats by sensitive radiometric enzymatic assays. There was a considerable disparity between levels of NE and those of total CA suggesting the presence of significant amounts of another catecholamine in spinal cord. The demonstration of the presence of specific phenylethanolamine-N-methyl transferase activity in spinal cord suggested that the catecholamine could be epinephrine. The presence of epinephrine in spinal cord was confirmed by quantitative mass fragmentography. Pretreatment with intracisternal and intracerebroventricular 6-hydroxydopamine markedly reduced the contents of total catecholamines, no norepinephrine and dopamine-β-hydroxylase activity when compared to vehicle treated controls. In contrast, the levels of dopamine only fell to 50% of controls after 6-hydroxydopamine. Thus, in addition to descending noradrenergic tracts, adrenergic neurons appear to be present in the spinal cord.
Aqueous Reversed-Phase HPLC/FT-IR Using Diffuse Reflectance Detections

Solvent-elimination HPLC/FT-IR has become a viable combination of two important techniques, and we have been developing a system which is adaptable to both normal and reversed-phase liquid chromatography. The interface involves the deposition of HPLC eluites onto a KCI-laden train with subsequent analysis via diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and with minor modifications, the system can be used with microbore and analytical columns. With aqueous solvents, the water is converted to methanol and acetone in a post-column reaction with 2,2-dimethoxypropane before the eluites are deposited. A number of different samples have been used to demonstrate the interface and its flexibility. Steroids, analgesics, and other pharmaceutical preparations have been separated with reverse-phase solvents and identified by their infrared spectra. For some of the compounds studied, different infrared spectra of a given compound have been found to exhibit intensity variations, which arise from different crystalline states. The differences can be concentration dependent and may be useful in obtaining semi-quantitative information from the infrared spectra. Applications involving both gradient elution and isocratic separations have been successful. The former provides the same advantages for HPLC/FT-IR as one finds in conventional HPLC. More recent work has been applied to the use of buffers such as those frequently used in bioanalytical separations. In trying to simplify the post-column reaction with water, we have immobilized dehydration reagents onto silica particles and packed these materials into a column which is inserted in-line after the analytical column. Of the reagents utilized to date, 3,3-dimethoxypropyltrimethoxysilane has been found to perform most efficiently. It has advantages over the simpler reagents because it can be regenerated in the reaction column. Results and the efficiency of the dehydration process and its relation to the type of reagent and its coverage will be discussed.
BEM and penalty FEM models for viscous incompressible fluids

Abstract In the present paper, the analogy between the Navier's equations of elasticity for compressible solids and the penalty function formulation of viscous incompressible fluids is utilized in a boundary element model to analyze problems of viscous incompressible flows in two dimensions. The equations of the penalty formulation of fluid flow are the same as those of the compressible elasticity with the Lame's constant λ equal to the penalty parameter, γ. The incompressibility condition is realized by setting the Poisson's ratio, ν, to 0.5. The fundamental solution of incompressible elasticity can be used, in conjunction with the boundary element method (BEM), to study the problem of viscous incompressible fluids. The resulting boundary element model does not suffer from numerical difficulties that the penalty finite element model is known to experience. Numerical results are presented to compare the penalty FEM and BEM solutions for a number of fluid problems. It is found that the boundary element model gives accurate solutions and it does not suffer from numerical difficulties.
Japan’s Bilateral FTAs: No Obstacle to Progress in the Doha Round

This paper examines Japan’s FTAs with Mexico and the Philippines in the context of parallel negotiations in the Doha Round. Although the limited results produced by these FTAs represent an inferior outcome to what might be achieved with multilateral trade liberalization, there is no evidence that these agreements have weakened the political will of Japanese export interests to push ahead with trade liberalization in the WTO or increased the leverage of protectionist interests in opposing that goal. The greatest hope for increased Japanese flexibility in WTO agricultural talks lies in accelerated reform of domestic farm policy rather than reduced emphasis on pursuit of FTAs.
Evolving an artificial neural network classifier for condition monitoring of rotating mechanical systems

We present the results of our investigation into the use of genetic algorithms (GAs) for identifying near optimal design parameters of diagnostic systems that are based on artificial neural networks (ANNs) for condition monitoring of mechanical systems. ANNs have been widely used for health diagnosis of mechanical bearing using features extracted from vibration and acoustic emission signals. However, different sensors and the corresponding features exhibit varied response to different faults. Moreover, a number of different features can be used as inputs to a classifier ANN. Identification of the most useful features is important for an efficient classification as opposed to using all features from all channels, leading to very high computational cost and is, consequently, not desirable. Furthermore, determining the ANN structure is a fundamental design issue and can be critical for the classification performance. We show that a GA can be used to select a smaller subset of features that together form a genetically fit family for successful fault identification and classification tasks. At the same time, an appropriate structure of the ANN, in terms of the number of nodes in the hidden layer, can be determined, resulting in improved performance.
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in AIDS: a clinicopathologic study and review of the literature

We reviewed the clinical, radiographic, and pathologic features of 15 patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Brain tissue from 10 autopsy and 6 biopsy specimens was studied using: in situ hybridization (ISH) for JC virus (JCV), immunohistochemistry for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) p24 antigen, and electron microscopy. Thirteen patients presented with focal neurologic deficits, while 2 presented with a rapid decline in mental status. PML was commonly the initial opportunistic infection of AIDS and produced hemiparesis, dementia, dysarthria, cerebellar abnormalities, and seizures. Magnetic resonance imaging was more sensitive than computed tomography in detecting lesions, and often showed multifocal areas of PML. CD4+ T-cell counts were uniformly low (mean 84/mm3), except in 1 patient who improved on 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT). PML involved the cerebral hemispheres, brain stem, cerebellum, and cervical spinal cord. The distribution of brain involvement was consistent with hematogenous dissemination of the virus. In 2 brain specimens, multiple HIV-type giant cells were present within the regions involved by PML. When co-infection by HIV and papovavirus was present, PML dominated the pathological picture. ISH for JCV showed virus in the nuclei of oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. Occasionally there was staining for JCV in the cytoplasm of glial cells and in the neuropil, the latter possibly a correlate of papovavirus spread between myelin sheaths, as seen by electron microscopy. ISH demonstrated more extensive foci of PML than did routine light microscopy.
Social distance in the clinical encounter: Interactional and sociodemographic foundations for mistrust in physicians

Although many observers have drawn attention to the low levels of trust in physicians among members of racial/ethnic minorities and those of lower socioeconomic status, the reasons for this mistrus...
Mexican women managers: An emerging profile

There is a striking absence of information on women managers in Latin America despite the fact that, in the past decade, studies of women managers in non-English speaking countries have proliferated. This study offers a preliminary analysis of Mexican women managers. Our exploratory study locates women managers within the context of gender relations and managerial ideology in Mexico and analyzes several factors that enable a select group of senior-level Mexican women to hold influential positions. The findings suggest that women have a nontraditional Mexican management style and successfully manage the work–family interface. Nevertheless, women still encounter obstacles to their advancement such as discrimination and stereotyping. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
CD38 expression labels an activated subset within chronic lymphocytic leukemia clones enriched in proliferating B cells

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells are thought to have diminished cell-cycling capacity, a view challenged by their phenotypic resemblance to activated human B lymphocytes. The present study addresses the cell-cycling status of CLL cells, focusing on those leukemic cells expressing CD38, a molecule involved in signaling and activation that also serves as a prognostic marker in this disease. CD38+ and CD38− members of individual CLL clones were analyzed for coexpression of molecules associated with cellular activation (CD27, CD62L, and CD69), cell-cycle entry (Ki-67), signaling (ZAP-70), and protection from apoptosis (telomerase and Bcl-2). Regardless of the size of the CD38+ fraction within a CLL clone, CD38+ subclones are markedly enriched for expression of Ki-67, ZAP-70, human telomerase reverse transcriptase, and telomerase activity. Although the percentage of cells (approximately 2%) entering the cell cycle as defined by Ki-67 expression is small, the absolute number within a clone can be sizeable and is contained primarily within the CD38+ fraction. Despite these activation/proliferation differences, both CD38+ and CD38− fractions have similar telomere lengths, suggesting that CD38 expression is dynamic and transient. These findings may help explain why high percentages of CD38+ cells within clones are associated with poor clinical outcome.
Design and synthesis of a DNA-cleaving metallopeptide

Abstract A structured 14-residue peptide containing (1) a proposed intercalative DNA- binding domain consisting of tyrosine residues connected by tandem β-turns and (2) a redox-active Cu(II)-binding domain was synthesized and shown to readily cleave ΦX174 plasmid DNA under appropriate conditions of activation.
Gibbs Energy Changes during Cobalt Complexation: A Thermodynamics Experiment for the General Chemistry Laboratory

By adding a large quantity of Cl− to an aqueous solution of CoCl2·6H2O, a mixture containing a red octahedral cobalt complex and a blue tetrahedral complex is produced. When the solution temperature is modified, the equilibrium constant, Keq, of the complexation reaction is shifted and the proportion of the two colored forms altered correspondingly. Absorbance spectrophotometry is utilized to determine the concentration of each cobalt species, allowing Keq and the change in Gibbs energy, ΔG°, values to be found at each temperature tested. By plotting ΔG° versus temperature, the changes in entropy and enthalpy for the reaction can be determined.
Detection of HSV-1 proteins prior to the appearance of infectious virus in mouse trigeminal ganglia during reactivation of latent infection.

Abstract Following corneal inoculation of mice HSV-1 produces an acute infection and establishes a latent infection in trigeminal ganglia. The latent virus can be reactivated in vitro by explantation of ganglionic tissue. Viral protein expression was studied in trigeminal ganglia during acute infection of mice and explant reactivation of latent infection. HSV-1 proteins were detectable by immunoprecipitation and immunostaining, in mouse ganglia only from 3–5 days post infection. Although during expiant reactivation it has been demonstrated that at 24 h post-explant the trigeminal ganglia are all infectious virus negative (Spivack, O'Boyle II and Fraser (1987) J. Virol. 61, 3288–3291), we have found that three HSV-1 proteins, of 175 kDa, 110 kDa and 90 kDa, are present in latently infected trigeminal ganglia as early as 6–21 h post explantation. Initially, only neuronal cells were positive by immunostaining with anti HSV-1 polyclonal serum for HSV-1 antigens, but at later times HSV-1 antigens were seen in non neuronal cells as well. These proteins may play a role in the initial stages of the reactivation process.
A high P–T cell assembly for neutron diffraction up to 10GPa and 1500 K

Abstract We present the design of a cell assembly for neutron diffraction experiments capable of performing simultaneous high-pressure (P) and high-temperature (T) conditions up to 10GPa and 1500 K. The high P-T cell assembly, designed for a Paris-Edinburgh (PE) toroidal anvil press, consists of a ceramic gasket, a cylinder/disk furnace, a confining ring, two thermocouples, and platinum wires which serve as electrodes for ohmic heating of the sample. The properties of mechanical strength, yield strength for plastic deformation, thermal/electric insulation, and neutron transparency of the gasket materials are the keys to the success of the cell assembly. The high P-T neutron diffraction experiments conducted at the HIPD beam-line at LANSCE using this cell assembly have produced high quality data and with stable, uniform temperature and sustained hydrostatic pressure.
Semiquantitative assessment of focal cartilage damage at 3 T MRI: A comparative study of dual echo at steady state (DESS) and intermediate-weighted (IW) fat suppressed fast spin echo sequences

Abstract Purpose The aim of the study was to compare semiquantitative assessment of focal cartilage damage using the dual echo at steady state (DESS)- and intermediate-weighted (IW) fat suppressed (fs) sequences at 3 T MRI. Methods Included were 201 subjects aged 35–65 with frequent knee pain. MRI was performed with the same sequence protocol as in the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI): sagittal IW fs, triplanar DESS and coronal IW sequences. Cartilage status was scored according to the WORMS system using all five sequences. A total of 243 focal defects were detected. In an additional consensus reading, the lesions were evaluated side-by-side using only the sagittal DESS and IW fs sequences. Lesion conspicuity was graded from 0 to 3, intrachondral signal changes adjacent to the defect were recorded and the sequence that depicted the lesion with larger diameter was noted. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, controlled for clustering by person, were used to examine differences between the sequences. Results 37 (17.5%) of the scorable lesions were located in the medial tibio-femoral (TF), 48 (22.7%) in the lateral TF and 126 (59.7%) in the patello-femoral compartment. 82.5% were superficial and 17.5% full-thickness defects. Conspicuity was superior for the IW sequence ( p p p Conclusions The IW fs sequence detected more and larger focal cartilage defects than the DESS. More intrachondral signal changes were observed with the DESS.
Purification of the STB enterotoxin of Escherichia coli and the role of selected amino acids on its secretion, stability and toxicity.

Summary The methanol-insolouble heat-stable enterotoxin of Escherichia coli (STB) was purified and characterized by automated Edman degradation and tryptic peptide analysis. The amino-terminal residue, Ser-24, confirmed that the first 23 amino acids inferred from the gene sequence were removed during translocation through the E. coli inner membrane. Tryptic peptide analysis coupled with automated Edman degradation revealed that disulphide bonds are formed between residues Cys-33 and Cys-71 and between Cys-44 and Cys-59. Oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis performed on the STB gene demonstrated that disulphide bond formation does not precede translocation of the polypeptide through the inner membrane and that disulphide bridge formation is a periplasmic event; apparently, elimination of either of two disulphides of STB renders the molecule susceptible to periplasmic proteolysis. In addition, a loop defined by the Cys-44—Cys-59 bond contains at least two amino acids (Arg-52 and Asp-53) required for STQ toxic activity.
Surface interaction of H and O2 on thin PbSe epitaxic films

Abstract Thin PbSe films were evaporated onto NaCl substrates and the effect of various ambient gases on their electrical properties investigated. Oxygen was found to make the films p-type, while atomic hydrogen made them n-type. Electrical resistivity measurements indicated that the oxygen uptake by the films follows a loget time dependence, while atomic hydrogen uptake follows a (t) 1 2 time dependence and was also temperature dependent. Hall coefficient (RH) and electrical resistivity (ϱ) measurements were made on the films as a function of exposure to oxygen and atomic hydrogen. An attempt was made at fitting these RHvs. ϱ experimental curves to a computer calculated curve with the result that a surface model for film-gas interaction appears to be inadequate since oxygen and atomic hydrogen diffuse onto the film. The experimental data can be explained quite well by a phenomenological two-layer model for the film which consists of a bulk region and a surface region which is affected by gas ambients. Oxygen and atomic hydrogen charge transfer within the film is explained in terms of Se and Pb vacancy occupation, respectively.
COFDM for digital ATV terrestrial distribution over 6 MHz channels

In the United States, the Grand Alliance has selected a single carrier modulation scheme, 8 level vestigial sideband (8-VSB), for digital advanced television (ATV) terrestrial broadcasting within a 6 MHz channel. In Europe, on the other hand, the Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) project has chosen a multi-carrier modulation scheme, Coded Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (COFDM), for terrestrial distribution over 8 MHz channels. The Communications Research Centre (CRC) conducted analytical studies and computer simulations to compare the two schemes. Furthermore, CRC is participating in the work of American, Canadian, and Brazilian broadcasters for evaluating the performance of a 6 MHz COFDM transmission system for terrestrial ATV distribution. The studies, which are reported in this paper, involved the determination of appropriate parameters sets of COFDM for operation in North America such as channel coding, data throughput, carrier spacing, and guard interval duration. Possibilities of a single frequency network operation are also examined.
Balsalazide disodium for the treatment of ulcerative colitis

5-aminosalicylates remain the first-line treatment for patients with ulcerative colitis. A number of formulations are available for the treatment of active ulcerative colitis, including encapsulated mesalazine and mesalazine in combination with other molecules. Balsalazide is an aminosalicylate prodrug that releases mesalazine in the colon, thus exerting its multiple anti-inflammatory effects in areas of colitis. This review will examine the pharmacological and therapeutic features of balsalazide as an anti-inflammatory agent in ulcerative colitis. The introduction of novel aminosalicylate formulations and an appreciation of their molecular mode of action, has renewed interest in these agents in both maintenance of disease remission and cancer prevention.
CONTROL OF STEADY-STATE INTRACELLULAR PH IN INTACT PERFUSED FERRET HEARTS

Abstract To elucidate the role of bicarbonate-dependent mechanisms and Na + /H + exchange in maintenance of physiological intracellular pH (pH i ) under various steady-state conditions, phosphorus NMR spectra were taken in isovolumically-contracting, perfused ferret hearts. Switching the perfusate from HCO 3- /CO 2 to HEPES buffer significantly decreased pH i from the control value of 7.14 ± 0.01 (mean ± S.E., n = 4) to 7.08 ± 0.01 ( P -4 M) a blocker of anion exchange (7.12 ± 0.01 in control, 7.07 ± 0.02 with SITS, n = 6, P i . Ethylisopropylamiloride (EIPA: 10 -6 M), a blocker of the Na + /H + exchange, induced a decrease in pH i (7.17 ± 0.01 in control, 7.11 ± 0.01 with EIPA, n = 5, P - ] in the perfusate (7.14 ± 0.02 in control, 7.09 ± 0.03 with low-[Cl] 0 perfusate, n = 5, P i , perhaps by a non-bicarbonate-dependent mechanism. These results indicate that both bicarbonate-dependent mechanisms and Na + /H + exchange contribute significantly and additively to the maintenance of physiological pH i in isovolumically contracting, perfused hearts.
FPGA based detailed real-time simulation of power converters and electric machines for EV HIL applications

Real time simulation can play a fundamental role in the design and validation of hardware and software for power electronic converters and electric drives. In this paper, an FPGA based real time platform for simulation of power converters and electric machines is presented. Strategies for modeling power electronic devices are explained and compared. In addition, a Thevenin based equivalent model of a switch is enhanced to model the on characteristics of these devices. By using these on properties, an algorithm for electro-thermal modeling of converters is presented. With respect to electric machines, different methods for modeling of the saturation characteristics are evaluated for their use in real time simulation. Lastly, a Hardware in the Loop (HIL) model of an Electric Vehicle (EV) drive is presented.
Effects of acute and chronic treatments with carbutamide (BZ-55) on obese-hyperglycemic mice and their lean littermates.

The acute administration of carbutamide was found to have a hypoglycemic effect in fasted normal mice, while it had no definite effect on the already low blood sugar levels of fasted obese hyperglycemic mice. Chronic oral treatment with carbutamide did not modify the food intake and weight increases of either type of mice during the seven weeks treatment. In obese-hyperglycemic mice no improvement of the “diabetes” was observed, both in fed and fasted states. Lean littermates, whether fasted or fed, showed a reversal of the direction of effect of a single dose. These animals were, rather paradoxically, rendered paradiabetic after four weeks of treatment, and responded to glucagon and growth hormone with a reaction similar to that seen in untreated obesehyperglycemic mice.
Vapor shield protection of plasma facing components under incident high heat flux

Disruption damage to plasma facing components has been found to be a limiting design constraint in ITER and other large fusion devices. A growing data base is confirming the role of the vapor shield in protecting ablated surfaces under disruption-like conditions, which would imply longer lifetimes for plasma facing components. We present new results for exposure of various material surfaces to high heat fluxes up to 70 GW/m 2 over 100 μs (7 MJ/m 2 ) in the SIRENS high heat flux test facility. Tested materials are graphite grades, pyrolytic graphite, refractory metals and alloys, refractory coatings on copper substrates, boron nitride and preliminary results of diamond coating on silicon substrates. An empirical scaling law of the energy transmission factor through the vapor shield has been obtained. The application of a strong external magnetic field, to reduce turbulent energy transport in the vapor shield boundary, is shown to decrease f by as much as 35% for fields of 8 T.
Encountering The Divine Mother In Hindu And Christian Hymns

In Divine Mother, Blessed Mother , the book from which the following excerpts are drawn, I ask about what Christians are to do with the invitation and the powers of sacred Hindu hymns addressed to the Divine Mother, Divine Consort, the Supreme Goddess, particularly in relation to the tradition of Mary available to Catholicism. The book's third chapter explores how texts from the Tantric tradition, such as the Saundarya Lahari , can assist in awakening our Catholic religious and inter-religious imaginations. In the passages excerpted below, I approach this question by setting my reflections on the Saundarya Lahari ("Flood of Bliss, Flood of Beauty") side-by-side with my reading of the Stabat Mater , a medieval hymn to Mary ("Flood of Sorrow, Flood of Love"). Since my reading of the Saundarya Lahari cannot be reproduced here in full, due to spatial restrictions, I refer the reader to the book itself for a more detailed exegesis of the Hindu hymn.
Ethnic appeal: A self-defense tool for Kenyan politicians

Abstract So far, analyses of apologetic rhetoric strategies as used by individuals or organizations to respond to accusations of wrongdoing have been concentrated in the West. An analysis of political apologia in an African setting – in this case Kenya – reveals that while Kenyan politicians have used denial, victimization, mortification, and counterattacking among other self-defense strategies, one particular strategy emerges as the most commonly used by Kenyan politicians – ethnic appeal.
Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II: An Unforgettable Kinase

Since the time neuroscientists first recognized that biochemical events inside neurons could influence the function of the brain, there have been people looking for “memory molecules.” This elusive ion, small molecule, protein, or nucleic acid would be the keystone on which memory was built;
Systems of freeways in a uniform city

A UNIFORM CITY, THAT IS, ONE THAT IS INFINITE IN EXTENT AND SUCH THAT THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE NUMBER OF TRIPS ORIGINATING FROM OR ENDING IN A UNIT AREA OF THE CITY IS THE SAME FOR ALL PARTS OF THE CITY HAVING UNIT AREA, IS CONSIDERED AND THE COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THE THREE UNIFORM FREEWAY SYSTEMS, NAMELY HEXAGONAL, SQUARE AND TRIANGULAR, ARE INVESTIGATED. IT IS FOUND, AS EXPECTED, THAT THE TRIANGULAR SYSTEM IS SUPERIOR IN TERMS OF TRAVEL TIME BUT LITTLE ELSE. OF PARTICULAR INTEREST IS THE DESIGN OF INTERCHANGES AND THIS PROBLEM IS CONSIDERED IN DETAIL. /RRL/A/
HIV and CKD Epidemiology

Nephrologists can serve many important functions for HIV-infected patients, including identifying risks for developing kidney disease, detecting and diagnosing kidney disease, distinguishing antiretroviral-induced kidney injury from kidney disease in the setting of antiretroviral therapy, comanaging the clinical course and complications of CKD, and preparing patients for dialysis and/or transplantation. The epidemiology of kidney disease in HIV informs us for these functions by describing the natural history of disease, its frequent occurrence in high-risk communities, and its potential causes. Risk factors that drive CKD in HIV are black race, hypertension, diabetes, HIV viral replication with low CD4 cell counts, high viral load or acquired immune deficiency syndrome–defining conditions, and antiretroviral agents with nephrotoxic potential. The prevalence of these risk factors in any population determines the magnitude of the problem, which can range from as low as 2% to as high as 30%. Recent research focuses on kidney health in HIV. Important links between HIV viral replication and glomerular filtration rate, even in patients with normal kidney function, are now being reported. A review of these data provides the foundation for a better understanding of kidney disease and, hopefully, better treatment for patients with HIV.
A general approach to spontaneous imbibition

Spontaneous imbibition occurs in a porous medium when, driven by capillary forces, a wetting fluid such as water displaces a nonwetting fluid like oil or air. This is a common phenomenon, relevant to many processes such as groundwater contamination, steam migration in geothermal systems, carbon dioxide sequestration, and oil recovery. Statistical physics indicates how the position of the leading edge of the water scales with time. However, although the phenomenon has been studied for more than 90 years, not even simple questions like the influence of viscosities on spontaneous imbibition were well understood.
Toddlers’ Understanding of Peers’ Emotions

The second year of life sees dramatic developments in infants' ability to understand emotions in adults alongside their growing interest in peers. In this study, the authors used a social-referencing paradigm to examine whether 12-, 18-, and 24-month-old children could use a peer's positive or negative emotion messages about toys to regulate their own behavior with the toys. They found that 12-month-olds decreased their play with toys toward which a peer had expressed either positive or negative emotion compared with play following a peer's neutral attention toward a toy. Also, 18-month-olds did not respond systematically, but 24-month-old children increased their toy play after watching a peer display negative affect toward the toy. Regardless of their age, children with siblings decreased their play with toys toward which they had seen a peer display fear, the typical social-referencing response. The authors discuss results in the context of developmental changes in social understanding and peer interaction over the second year of life.
Acculturation, perceived social support, and self-esteem in primigravida Puerto Rican teenagers.

The purpose of this study was to explore acculturation, perceived social support, and self-esteem in 63 primigravida adolescents of Puerto Rican background living in the mainland United States. Although more teenagers of Puerto Rican background become pregnant than do those of all other Hispanic mainland groups, few studies have viewed pregnancy within this subculture. Mainland acculturation was not related to either perceived social support or self-esteem among the study sample. The study elucidates the importance of recognizing the dual cultural influence on mainland-dwelling adolescents of Puerto Rican background. The studyfindings suggest that exploration be continued beyond acculturation, as measured in this study, to understand the differences in adolescent pregnancy rates among the specific cultures of the Hispanic megaculture of the United States.
Forced flow evaporative cooling of a volumetrically heated porous layer

Abstract In this paper, the temperature rise and pressure drop experienced by an evaporating coolant flowing through a volumetrically heated porous layer have been studied experimentally. Experimental data for the temperature distribution and the two-phase pressure drop along the direction of flow is obtained for water flowing through layers of inductively heated steel particles. Spherical steel particles varying in size from 590 to 4763 μm are used to form porous layers in 5 and 10 cm dia. glass jars. In these experiments the data are obtained for layer depths varying from 9 to 81 cm, volumetric heat generation rate varying from 1.44 to 44.0 W/cm3 and the mass flow rate of water varying from 510 to 18200 kg/m2 h. A theoretical model for the temperature profile in the liquid region and the two phase region has been made and is found to compare well with the measurements. Vapor channels are observed to form in porous layers of particle diameter less than 1600 μm. Separate semi-theoretical models have been developed for the two phase pressure drop in particles with diameter less than and greater than 1600 μm.
Role of a Subdominant H-2Kd-Restricted SV40 Tumor Antigen Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Epitope in Tumor Rejection

Abstract SV40-transformed mKSA cells ( H-2 d ) readily induce progressively growing tumors in adult syngeneic BALB/c mice while expressing the full complement of H-2 d MHC class I antigens. BALB/c mice previously immunized with SV40, soluble SV40 T antigen, or irradiated SV40-transformed syngeneic, allogeneic, or xenogeneic cells reject an mKSA tumor challenge even though these mice have been considered low- or nonresponders to T antigen due to difficulty in demonstrating SV40 T antigen-specific CTL. We have investigated the role of H-2 d -restricted CTL in the rejection of SV40 tumors in BALB/c mice. Immunization of BALB/c mice with SV40 induced T antigen-specific CTL which were largely H-2L d -restricted. However, following repeated in vitro restimulation with mKSA cells, CTL emerged which recognized a subdominant H-2K d -restricted epitope corresponding to T antigen residues 499–507. Immunization of BALB/c mice with a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the T 499–507 epitope provided partial protection against a challenge of syngeneic mKSA tumor cells and induced the generation of T 499–507 -specific CTL. These results indicate that a subdominant H-2K d -restricted CTL epitope can participate in the rejection of SV40 tumors in BALB/c mice.
Bcl-2 facilitates recovery from DNA damage after oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress is a major factor affecting the brain during aging and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Understanding the mechanisms by which neurons can be protected from oxidative stress, therefore, is critical for the prevention and treatment of such degeneration. Previous studies have shown that bcl-2 expression is increased in neurons with DNA damage in AD and bcl-2 has an antioxidant effect. The goal of this study is to document the effects of oxidative insults on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA in PC12 cells and determine the extent to which bcl-2 prevents damage or facilitates repair. Using extralong PCR to amplify nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, the time course of DNA damage and repair was determined. Within minutes after exposure of cells to low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and peroxynitrite, significant mitochondrial and nuclear DNA damage was evident. Mitochondrial DNA was damaged to a greater degree than nuclear DNA. Expression of bcl-2 in PC12 cells inhibited nitric oxide donor (sodium nitroprusside)- and peroxynitrite-induced cell death. Although oxidative insults caused both genomic and mitochondrial DNA damage in cells expressing bcl-2, recovery from DNA damage was accelerated in these cells. These results suggest that neuronal up-regulation of bcl-2 may facilitate DNA repair after oxidative stress.
Alterations in the functional expression of receptors on cirrhotic rat hepatocytes

Reduced hepatic uptake and clearance of macromolecules in liver cirrhosis is due to two major factors: increased diffusional barriers, resulting primarily from the deposition of excessive connective tissue in the space of Disse, and hepatocellular dysfunction, manifested by receptor and/or postreceptor defects. To probe the mechanisms underlying hepatocellular dysfunction in liver cirrhosis, we have investigated receptor-ligand interactions for asialoorosomucoid, insulin and epidermal growth factor in hepatocytes isolated from the livers of rats chronically exposed to phenobarbital and carbon tetrachloride for up to 12 weeks. Viable cells were allowed to attach at 37°C and the high-affinity cell surface binding sites for each ligand were assessed at 4°C in the presence of [125I]-ligand. In parallel incubations, digitonin (0.055%) was added to the binding medium to assess total cellular binding sites. Results demonstrated that chronic treatment of rats with phenobarbital increased hepatocyte asialoorosomucoid surface receptor affinity (p < 0.05) but had no affect on the number of asialoglycoprotein binding sites. Treatment with CCl4 and phenobarbital significantly reduced the number of surface binding sites for asialoorosomucoid (p < 0.05) and epidermal growth factor (p < 0.02), although this treatment had no effect on either the binding affinity or the number of binding sites for insulin. The decrease in cell surface binding sites for asialoorosomucoid and epidermal growth factor was not due to a redistribution of the surface sites to intracellular locations, since the total number of cellular binding sites also was reduced. These results indicate that cirrhosis induced by phenobarbital and CCl4 results in a differential effect on one parameter of hepatocellular function: receptor-ligand interaction.
Complexity of genetics in the athlete phenotype: A commentary on Adrenergic-beta(2) receptor polymorphism and athletic performance.

Complexity of genetics in the athlete phenotype: A commentary on Adrenergic-β 2 receptor polymorphism and athletic performance
Analysis of concrete from corroded sewer pipe

Abstract The microbial populations in the loose outer corrosion layer (OCL) and the bound inner corrosion layer (ICL) of concrete from a corroded sewage collection system were enumerated. Chemical and physical studies were performed to determine the mineralogical composition strength of the samples. The average number of acidophilic sulphur-oxidizing microorganisms (ASOM) found were 14,500 and 16,000 MPN/g (OCL) and 12,500 and 100 MPN/g (ICL) at the crown and springline. The average numbers of neutrophilic sulfur-oxidizing microorganisms (NSOM) found were 108,000 and 114,000 MPN/g (OCL), and 5 and 300 MPN/g (ICL) at the crown and the springline. The average compressive strength of the concrete undergoing corrosion was reduced by 20%. The results suggest that an initial ecological succession occurred on the concrete surface and that the progression of the corroding front into the concrete was controlled by the penetration of acid produced by ASOM followed by the ASOM themselves. NSOM did not appear to penetrate the concrete.
Virtual-pion fluctuations around the bare skyrmion

Abstract Pion fluctuations around the skyrmion are quantized by Dirac's method. In the large- N c limit, where N c is the number of colors, the O( N c 0 ) quantum correction to the skyrmion mass that comes from the virtual-pion fluctuations is shown to be negative. A perturbative expansion using the usual Feynman-Dyson technique but with noncovariant pion propagators is developed to evaluate the quantum correction. As a result of delicate cancellations, it is a good approximation to keep just the leading-order terms in the perturbation series. This approximation gives rise to the pion decay constant F π = 172 MeV, to be compared with the experimental value of 186 MeV. The axial coupling constant g A is also improved considerably. An application of the method to the (1 + 1)-dimensional kink model and sine-Gordon model supports our results.
Cyanate and sickle-cell anemia

Abstract The treatment of sickle-cell patients with cyanate represents the first attempt to overcome the effects of a deleterious mutation by direct chemical modification of the mutant gene product. Human trials have revealed that oral administration of cyanate is unsafe; complications arise that were not uncovered in animal studies.
STUDY OF ITERATIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF CONVECTIVE-DIFFUSIVE AND CONJUGATE HEAT TRANSFER PROBLEMS

Abstract Iterative characteristics of convective-diffusive equations can be substantially different from the results obtained from analyzing diffusive equations. This study investigates the convergence characteristics of both a single-phase convective-diffusive equation and a conjugate heat transfer problem represented by a combined pair of convective-diffusive and purely diffusive equations. A diagonal enhancement technique has been devised that improves the stability for both problems while substantially broadening the range of relaxation factors allowable by the iterative algorithm. An illustration is also presented on how nonlinear thermal conductivities can destabilize a line iterative procedure, with the usefulness of the diagonal enhancement method demonstrated. Furthermore, poor convergence rates can arise from constant heat flux boundary conditions if the ratio of thermal conductivities between the solid and fluid is greater than 0(l). In such cases a method employing nonuniform grid spacing is s...
Green Dioxythiophene-Benzothiadiazole Donor-Acceptor Copolymers for Photovoltaic Device Applications

With the perspective of producing power-generating displays of various colors based on π-conjugated semiconducting polymers, we have developed a synthetic design aimed at addressing color states commonly difficult to attain. Herein, we report on the structure−property relationships and performance in photovoltaic devices of a series of green-colored donor−acceptor (DA) π-conjugated polymers comprised of electron-rich 3,4-dioxythiophenes (DOTs) and the electron-deficient 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (BTD). In particular, the synthesis and chemical polymerization of two DOT-BTD regiosymmetric oligomers (pentamers M2 and M3), that can be chemically oxidized to yield two-band absorbing polymers with a transmission window in the 480−560 nm range hence reflecting/transmitting the color green (P2 and P3), is reported. The optical and electrochemical properties of P2 and P3 are described and compared to those of a blue-colored parent polymer (P1) obtained via the polymerization of a smaller DOT-BTD oligomeric precursor...
Total Neutron Cross Section of Deuterium below 1000 keV

Total neutron cross sections of deuterium have been measured from less than 1 keV to 1000 keV. We also performed a three-body calculation of $n\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{D}$ total scattering cross sections, using separable potentials. The theoretical and experimental results show good agreement. A marked increase in cross section is observed for decreasing energy below 300 keV. We discuss the implications of the results with respect to discrepancies in previously measured $n\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{D}$ scattering lengths.
Malignant melanoma arising in a nevus of Nanta

Papillomatous fleshy facial nevi have a low risk of malignant transformation. In addition, they may undergo ossification in their depths; a nevus with bone is known as a nevus of Nanta. Such a nevus in a 60-year-old female gave rise to a malignant melanoma.
Handling noise in soliton systems for ultrahigh speed transmission over unlimited distances

The early 1980’s was a period of acceleration in such aspects of nonlinear fiber optics as fiber Raman and Brillouin amplification, four wave mixing (four photon mixing), self phase modulation, and optical solitons.
Discovery of Ne VII in the Winds of Hot Evolved Stars

We show that a strong P Cygni feature seen in the far-UV spectra of some very hot (Teff 85 kK) central stars of planetary nebulae (CSPN), which has been previously identified as C III λ977, actually originates from Ne VII λ973. Using stellar atmosphere models, we reproduce this feature seen in the spectra of two [WR] PG 1159-type CSPN, A78 and NGC 2371, and in one PG 1159 CSPN, K1-16 (the "[WR]" nomenclature denotes a CSPN with spectral features similar to those of Wolf-Rayet stars). In the latter case, our analysis suggests an enhanced neon abundance. Strong neon features in CSPN spectra are important because an overabundance of this element is indicative of processed material that has been dredged up to the surface from the intershell region in the "born-again" scenario, an explanation of hydrogen-deficient CSPN. Our modeling indicates that the Ne VII λ973 wind feature may be used to discern enhanced neon abundances for stars showing an unsaturated P Cygni profile, such as some PG 1159 stars. We explore the potential of this strong feature as a wind diagnostic in stellar atmosphere analyses for evolved objects. For the [WR] PG 1159 objects, the line is present as a P Cygni line for Teff 85 kK and becomes strong for 100 Teff 155 kK when the neon abundance is solar, and can be significantly strong beyond this range for higher neon abundances. When unsaturated, i.e., for very high Teff and/or very low mass-loss rates, it is sensitive to and very sensitive to the neon abundance. The Ne VII classification is consistent with recent identification of this line, seen in absorption in many PG 1159 spectra.
New market creation through transformation

Is new market creation a search and selectionprocess within the theoretical space of all possible markets? Or is it the outcome of a process of transformation of extant realities into new possibilities? In this article we consider new market creation as a process involving a new network of stakeholders. The network is initiated through an effectual commitment that sets in motion two concurrent cycles of expanding resources and convergingconstraints that result in the new market. The dynamic model was induced from two empirical investigations, a cognitive science-based investigation of entrepreneurial expertise, and a real time history of the RFID industry.
Factors Influencing Metabolic Activity of Bull Spermatozoa. III. pH

Summary Bull semen was diluted 1: 4 with a solution containing Na, K, and Mg chlorides, and the buffer composed entirely of Na phosphates combined to provide a pH range from 5 to 8. pH per se did not influence the respiratory quotients obtained, nor was there a marked effect of pH on oxygen uptake of the sperm cells, though it tended to be highest at the higher pH levels. However, pH did influence markedly aerobic fructolysis; the higher the pH, the greater the rate and the greater the lactic acid produced in excess of fructose utilization. A highly significant pH × ejaculate interaction was found for each of the metabolic measures, except for the R.Q. values, a large part of the variance of which was associated with the individual ejaculates.