cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 259: A Microrna Pathway That Promotes Cardiomyocyte Proliferation And Cardiac Regeneration By Inhibiting Hippo Signaling

In contrast to lower vertebrates, the mammalian heart has limited capacity to regenerate after injury in part due to ineffective reactivation of cardiomyocyte proliferation. While evidence exists for a low level of cardiomyocyte proliferation in the adult heart, it remains unclear whether increasing the rate could be used to therapeutically promote cardiac regeneration. In this study, we show that the microRNA cluster miR302-367 is important for cardiomyocyte proliferation during development and is sufficient to induce cardiomyocyte proliferation in the adult and promote cardiac regeneration. Loss of miR302-367 leads to decreased cardiomyocyte proliferation during development. In contrast, increased miR302-367 expression leads to a profound increase in cardiomyocyte proliferation, in part through repression of the Hippo signal transduction pathway. Postnatal re-expression of miR302-367 leads to reactivation of the cell cycle in cardiomyocytes resulting in reduced scar formation after infarction. However, long-term expression of miR302-367 leads to cardiomyocyte de-differentiation and dysfunction, suggesting that persistent reactivation of the cell cycle in postnatal cardiomyocytes is not desirable. Importantly, this limitation can be overcome by transient systemic application of miR302-367 mimics, leading to increased cardiomyocyte proliferation and mass, decreased fibrosis, and improved function after injury. Our data demonstrate the ability of microRNA based therapeutic approaches to promote cardiac repair and regeneration through the transient activation of cardiomyocyte proliferation.
Therapeutic Communication In Mental Health Nursing: Aesthetic And Metaphoric Processes In The Engagement With Challenging Patients

Shira BirnbaumNew York, NY: RoutledgeISBN: 978-1-138-24429-0Much of the training in psychotherapy offered to psychiatric nurses is talk-based, and these approaches are not ideal for all individuals...
The Folate Cycle As a Cause of Natural Killer Cell Dysfunction and Viral Etiology in Type 1 Diabetes

The folate pathway is critical to proper cellular function and metabolism. It is responsible for multiple functions, including energy (ATP) production, methylation reactions for DNA and protein synthesis and the production of immunomodulatory molecules, inosine and adenosine. These play an important role in immune signaling and cytotoxicity. Herein, we hypothesize that defects in the folate pathway in genetically susceptible individuals could lead to immune dysfunction, permissive environments for chronic cyclical latent/lytic viral infection, and, ultimately, the development of unchecked autoimmune responses to infected tissue, in this case islet beta cells. In the context of type 1 diabetes (T1D), there has been a recent increase in newly diagnosed cases of T1D in the past 20 years that has exceeded previous epidemiological predictions with yet unidentified factor(s). This speaks to a potential environmental trigger that adversely affects immune responses. Most research into the immune dysfunction of T1D has focused on downstream adaptive responses of T and B cells neglecting the role of the upstream innate players such as natural killer (NK) cells. Constantly, surveilling the blood and tissues for pathogens, NK cells remove threats through direct cytotoxic responses and recruitment of adaptive responses using cytokines, such as IL-1β and IFN-γ. One long-standing hypothesis suggests viral infection as a potential trigger for the autoimmune response in T1D. Recent data suggest multiple viruses as potential causal agents. Intertwined with this is an observed reduced NK cell enumeration, cytotoxicity, and cytokine signaling in T1D patients. Many of the viruses implicated in T1D are chronic latent/lysogenic infections with demonstrated capacity to reduce NK cell response and number through mechanisms that resemble those of pregnancy tolerance. Defects in the folate pathway in T1D patients could result in decreased immune response to viral infection or viral reactivation. Dampened NK responses to infections result in improper signaling, improper antigen presentation, and amplified CD8+ lymphocyte proliferation and cytotoxicity, a hallmark of beta cell infiltrates in patients with T1D onset. This would suggest a critical role for NK cells in T1D development linked to viral infection and the importance of the folate pathway in maintaining proper NK response.
SERVICE-LEARNING: A HISTORY OF SYSTEMS

From an historical perspective, service-learning is a relatively new phenomenon in American higher education. The term was first coined in 1967, in reference to an internship program that was sponsored by the Southern Regional Education Board and through which college students gained academic credit and/or federally funded financial remuneration for work on community projects (Sigmon, 1979). As a pedagogical practice in higher education, service-learning was limited to a small group of participants until the mid 1980s. By the late 1980s, service-learning was gaining in prominence and was clearly distinguished from community service by its attention to the integration of service with academic study (Hollander, Saltmarsh, & Zlotowski, 2001). The 1990s have witnessed tremendous growth in service-learning, such that it is now regarded as a “vital force in educational change” (Liu, 1999, p. xi). Colleges and universities have espoused a renewed commitment to civic responsibility, with service-learning as a central vehicle for fulfilling this commitment (Ehrlich, 2000).
Complications of Polydioxanone Foil Use in Nasal Surgery: A Case Series.

Polydioxanone (PDS) foil is widely recognized as a septal cartilage replacement during rhinoplasties and is thought to be completely resorbable and biodegradable. Since its United States Food and Drug Administration approval in 2010, PDS foil has drawn significant enthusiasm and many surgeons consider it an ideal implantable biomaterial as reflected in numerous studies highlighting its benefits. However, scant literature exists highlighting relevant complications of PDS plates that may potentially lead to cavalier overuse. This descriptive case series assesses the outcomes of PDS foil usage in three patients seen for septoplasty at two independent institutions over the past 5 years. Our results demonstrate that PDS plate usage can lead to septal cartilage loss and resultant saddle nose deformity associated with prolonged postoperative edema and inflammation. To our knowledge, this is the largest case series of this reported phenomenon.
Vehicle criteria pollutant (PM, NO x , CO, HCs) emissions: how low should we go?

Over the past 30–40 years, vehicle tailpipe emissions of particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and hydrocarbons (HCs) have decreased significantly. Advanced emission after-treatment technologies have been developed for gasoline and diesel vehicles to meet increasingly stringent regulations, yielding absolute emission reductions from the fleet despite increased vehicle travel. As a result of mobile and stationary source emission controls, air quality has generally improved substantially in cities across the US and Europe. Emission regulations (such as Tier 3 in the US, LEV III in California, and Euro 6 rules in the EU) will lead to even lower vehicle emissions and further improvements in air quality. We review historical vehicle emission and air quality trends, discuss the future outlook for air quality, and note that modern internal combustion engine vehicles typically have lower exhaust emissions than battery electric vehicle upstream emissions. As vehicle manufacturers and city officials grapple with questions about future mobility in cities, we raise the question “how low should we go?” for future vehicle criteria emissions. The answer to this question will have profound implications for automotive and fuel companies and for the future economic and environmental health of urban areas.
Stromatolitic Mats in Antarctic Lakes

Stromatolitic microbial mats composed primarily of bacteria, cyanobacteria, eukaryotic algae are found in the cold, dimly-lit, perennially ice-covered antarctic lakes of southern Victoria Land, Antarctica (77°32-43’S, 161° 33’ -163°7’ E). The morphology of a particular mat results from a combination of biological, geochemical, and sedimentological processes, some of which may be unique to ice-covered lakes. Prostrate, lift-off, columnar, and pinnacle mats are trapping, binding and/or precipitating carbonates and various other minerals forming organosedimentary structures. The ice-covered lakes of Antarctica may serve as an important model for understanding the formation of stromatolites in cold environments. Studies of antarctic stromatolitic mats enhance our understanding of the range of environmental conditions capable of supporting stromatolite formation, particularly cold facies including those present during the Precambrian.
The P, M and K Streams of the Primate Visual System: What Do They Do for Vision?

In the past few years the visual neuroscience community has shown a keen interest in the properties and functions of the various cell populations that make up the early visual system of primates, including humans. I shall present here a brief summary of the major findings related to these cell populations, findings that led to the widely accepted parallel streams view of how these neuronal populations contribute to vision. In the last section, I present a critical evaluation of the validity of the parallel streams hypothesis, based on the current state of our knowledge.
Graceful Degradation of Low-Criticality Tasks in Multiprocessor Dual-Criticality Systems

According to the conventional mixed-criticality (MC) system model, low-criticality tasks are completely discarded in high-criticality system mode. Allowing such loss of low-criticality tasks is controversial and not obviously necessary. We study how to achieve graceful degradation of low-criticality tasks by continuing their executions with imprecise computing or even precise computing if there is sufficient utilization slack. Schedulability conditions under this Variable-Precision Mixed-Criticality (VPMC) system model are investigated for partitioned scheduling and fpEDF-VD scheduling. It is found that the two scheduling methods in VMPC retain the same speedup factors as in conventional MC systems. We develop a precision optimization approach that maximizes precise computing of low-criticality tasks through 0-1 knapsack formulation. Experiments are performed through both software simulations and Linux prototyping with consideration of overhead. The results show that schedulability degradation caused by continuing low-criticality task execution is often very small. The proposed precision optimization can largely reduce computing errors compared to constantly executing low-criticality tasks with imprecise computing in high-criticality mode. The prototyping results indicate that partitioned scheduling in VPMC outperforms the latest work based on fluid model.
Operating leases, operating leverage, operational inflexibility and sticky costs

Abstract We show that a firm's operating lease expenses are the major driver of measures of a firm's operating leverage, operational inflexibility, and sticky costs. Moreover, we show that these expenses are an important determinant of a firm's asset volatility, and therefore has implications for the pricing of different securities.
The Luck of the Draw: A Programmatic Description of a Game Designed to Promote Student Engagement and Critical Thinking Skills

We describe a game and teachers’ experiences using it in their middle and high school science courses. The game, which is called “Luck of the Draw”, was designed originally to engage medical students and later adopt-ed for middle school, high school, and college students in genetics, and to encourage critical thinking about is-sues such as genetic engi¬neering. We introduced the game to high school science teachers attending a summer workshop and asked them to describe their initial impressions of the game and how they might use it in their classes. We also asked middle and high school stu¬dents about their experiences playing the game. Results indicated that teachers and students enjoyed the game and identified positive outcomes, including greater engagement and critical thinking. Further, the few potential problems that teachers initially thought might be encountered appeared to occur infrequently; ways to minimize these problems are discussed.
Place and Privilege in Shakespeare Scholarship and Pedagogy

Place is everywhere in Shakespeare—an enduring fascination for the playwright himself and for critics studying his work. While here “place” primarily refers to geographic place, so too in this word is the echo of Shakespeare’s other most frequent use of the term, to refer to one’s familial, political, or social stature. This essay focuses on the intersection of these two meanings for teacher-scholars of Shakespeare, who often find themselves wrestling with how their geographic place influences their place within the firmament of Shakespeare studies. Considering how proximity to research libraries, rare book collections, and theatrical spaces influences scholarly and pedagogical choices, this essay reveals the ways in which the field’s past, present, and future is particularly inflected by concerns of place.
Bidirectional and co-developing associations of cognitive, mathematics, and literacy skills during kindergarten

Abstract This study of children from two U. S. states examined associations among four cognitive and academic skills: executive function (EF), visuo-motor integration, mathematics assessed with applied problems, and letter-word knowledge. Before (T1) and after (T2) kindergarten, children (N = 555) were assessed using the Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders (HTKS) EF task, the Beery-Buktenica test of Visuo-motor Integration (Beery VMI), and Woodcock-Johnson subtests of Applied problems and Letter-word identification. Bidirectional analyses showed that all T1 skills predicted at least one other skill, with T1 HTKS and T1 Applied problems predicting all skills. In addition, improving from T1 to T2 in Applied problems was associated with improvements in all skills using random effects analyses, based on differences between children nested in kindergarten classrooms. This overall pattern of results was confirmed using fixed effects analyses, which examined only within-child variability. We conclude that multiple skills undergird early mathematics learning and vice versa.
Patient Perspectives on Osseointegration: A National Survey of Veterans with Upper Limb Amputation.

Introduction Osseointegrated (OI) prostheses have a unique benefit-risk profile among prosthetic alternatives and have been marketed in the United States under a Humanitarian Device Exemption since 2015. Information about upper limb prosthesis user perspectives on benefits and risks, prosthesis-user subpopulations for whom OI is most acceptable, and outcomes that matter most to patients could help inform clinical and regulatory decision-making. Recent 21st Century Cures legislation expanded the role of patient experience data in the decision-making process of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, recognizing that patient perspectives may be informative to regulators. Objective To better understand prosthesis user perspectives about the benefits and risks associated with upper limb OI prostheses. Design Patient perspective survey. Setting Telephone administration. Participants National sample of veterans with upper limb loss. Interventions NA MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Benefit-risk survey developed for this study. Results Twenty-eight percent of unilateral and 13% of bilateral amputees were willing to consider osseointegration surgery. Multivariate logistic regression models [OR; 95% CI] showed that transhumeral amputation level [OR 1.40; 1.01-1.98] was associated with greater willingness to consider surgery, whereas older age [OR 0.17; 0.09-0.32] and higher VR-12 Mental Component Summary [OR 0.53; 0.35-0.81] were associated with less willingness. Having a durable/reliable device, the ability to do more activities, and having a comfortable device were rated as very important or somewhat important by 98% or more for every risk condition. Conclusions Persons who were older, had transradial amputation (compared to transhumeral), and those who had better mental functioning were less willing to consider this surgery. Respondents who were willing to consider surgery indicated that the most important potential benefits were obtaining a durable/reliable device, the ability to do more activities, and having a comfortable device. Most were willing to accept one or more risks of surgery, with long-term risks including chronic pain, loss of nerve function, or device failure considered the most unacceptable. Level of evidence III.
Calculation and Application of Impedance Matrices for Vacuum Electronic Devices

We present a computationally efficient method for the calculation of impedance (Z-) matrices for a large class of standing- and traveling-wave structures used in klystrons, traveling-wave tubes, and other RF vacuum electronic devices. We apply joining formulas by which the Z-matrix of a structure can be constructed from the Z-matrices of its component parts without a full-scale finite-element (FE) electromagnetic (EM) simulation of the whole structure. For the inverse operation, we apply subtraction formulas that define the Z-matrix of a structure from which a selected section has been removed. New Z-matrix modification equations are derived which determine the Z-matrix of a modified structure, without recomputing the entire structure Z-matrix. The approach and examples are extended to multibeam RF structures. The obtained Z-matrices are suitable for the large-signal 1-D and 2-D beam-wave interaction codes CHRISTINE-CC and TESLA-Z. Application of the techniques described here greatly facilitates the accurate calculation of Z-matrices and optimization of large, complex circuits that are difficult to model whole in a single FE simulation.
Simulation-Based Reduction of Operational and Cybersecurity Risks in Autonomous Vehicles

The expected adoption of fully autonomous vehicles has raised concern about possible operational and cybersecurity risks associated with their safety. This research studies the use of a virtual autonomous vehicle in a simulation environment as a method to reduce such risks. In doing so this research contributes the process and development of a virtual model that mirrors a previously built prototype of an autonomous vehicle. It also contributes the design of the operational simulation environment for the model. Through the comparison of the physical and virtual model’s machine learning training data, it is shown that the virtual model can act as a valid substitution for the physical model allowing for a greater potential for risk reduction.
The hypocalcemic disorders: differential diagnosis and therapeutic use of vitamin D.

Publisher Summary Hypocalcemia refers to an abnormally low concentration of ionized calcium in extracellular fluid, almost invariably sampled from the bloodstream. Hypomagnesemia or hyperkalemia may present with findings similar to those caused by hypocalcemia, which can be exacerbated in the setting of hypocalcemia. Conversely, hypermagnesemia or hypokalemia can mask symptoms in a hypocalcemic individual. Furthermore, a mineralization defect, distinct from rickets, has been described in hypoparathyroidism; however, these skeletal consequences appear to be more prevalent in normal individuals living in conditions of endemic calcium deficiency, where secondary hyperparathyroidism develops. A number of clinical guidelines have been suggested to correct for the effect of a reduced serum albumin on total serum calcium concentration. One commonly cited rule of thumb is to add 0.8 mg/dl to the total serum calcium for every 1g/dl decline in serum albumin below 4.0 g/dl. However, these estimates have been shown to be somewhat inaccurate under many circumstances, and it is preferable to directly determine the ionized calcium concentration in the setting where the total serum calcium measure is thought to not accurately reflect the concentration of ionized calcium.
Cementless Tritanium Baseplate Total Knee Arthroplasty: Survivorship and Outcomes at 5-Year Minimum Follow-Up.

Background Newer generation cementless total knee arthroplasty (TKA) designs have provided stronger osteointegration between the implant and bone. Despite excellent survivorship and outcomes with cemented TKAs, areas of concern within the bone–cement interface remain a concern and necessitate studies on alternative constructs. This study assesses: (1) implant survivorship; (2) clinical outcomes; and (3) complications with radiographic outcomes at a 5-year minimum follow-up of cementless highly porous titanium-coated baseplates in TKAs. Methods Part of this study has been reported. We retrospectively reviewed a prospectively collected database at a single high-volume institution between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014 for patients who underwent a primary TKA using cementless highly porous titanium-coated baseplate implants. Patients were evaluated clinically at postoperative follow-up visits at a minimum of 5 years. To calculate the survivorship, Kaplan–Meier analysis was performed to determine all-cause, aseptic, and septic implant survivorship at each final follow-up for all patients. Results A total of 228 TKAs were performed and followed for a minimum of 5 years (range, 5–6 years). As of the latest follow-up, one case of septic loosening of the patellar button and one case of patellar dislodgment secondary to physical manipulation were recorded and revised. Overall, the cohort displayed implant survivorship of 99.5% at 5-year minimum follow-up. Improvements were seen in both Knee Society pain and function scores and were 37 points (range, 17–60 points) and 28 points (range, 15–47 points), respectively. The mean improvement in flexion was 17.8 (range, –20 to 40 degrees) and mean improvement in extension was –5.5 (range, –30 to 5 degrees). Discussion Cementless TKAs serve as strong alternative choice to cemented TKAs. Although cemented fixation is commonly known as the gold standard, results of this study confirm the findings of previous investigations on the survivorship of cementless TKA implants. Therefore, patients who undergo primary TKA with a cementless tritanium baseplate can expect excellent clinical outcomes at a 5-year minimum follow-up.
Not so strange bedfellows: new thoughts on King Philip I of Francia’s marriage to Bertrada of Montfort

Too often, scholars have followed the analysis of reforming clerics in assessing the second marriage of King Philip I of Francia (1060–1108). Thus the union is termed ‘adulterous’ or ‘bigamous’, an...
Microbial electrolysis cell recovery after inducing operational failure conditions

Abstract Microbial Electrolysis Cells (MECs) are often documented for their ability to produce hydrogen through new sources and new configurations. However, few studies attempt to document the recovery of the bioanode after being exposed to operational failure conditions. This study attempted to compare the behavior and recovery of MECs after being exposed to four operational failure conditions: acidification, aeration, osmotic shock, and voltage reversal. For each failure condition, three time points were tested: before failure, immediately after failure, and after recovery efforts. Of the modes tested, acidification caused the largest loss in performance and operational efficiency, while osmotic shock caused the second largest loss in performance. Aeration and voltage reversal caused negligible losses in performance immediately after failure conditions and after the recovery period. Aeration and voltage reversal had a minimal effect on the removal of individual compounds. However, acetate accumulated after acidification, and propionic acid accumulated after osmotic shock. These findings could be useful for determining if failure will require more significant repair efforts in commercially deployed devices. While acidification created permanent losses to performance, if device failures like aeration, osmotic shock, and voltage reversal are caught early (less than 15 min), full recovery without bioanode replacement is likely.
Using Quality Improvement to Increase Access to Palliative Care

PURPOSE:As part of a larger effort to integrate palliative care into a cancer center, we identified barriers to palliative care referral for patients with breast or gynecologic cancer and developed...
Framework for a Growth Mindset Classroom

A growth mindset encourages the development of intelligence, in contrast to a fixed mindset, which considers intelligence to be fixed and unable to be changed. Within computer science education, there is an awareness of a growth mindset, but resources to support the use of a growth mindset in the computer science classroom are limited, and faculty development in the use of growth mindset in the classroom is rare. Researchers have developed a framework for a computer science growth mindset classroom, which includes faculty development, lesson plans, and vocabulary for use with students. In addition, the faculty have formed a community of practice which identifies areas where growth mindset techniques can be used and has implemented these strategies in their classrooms. The framework and materials developed are presented here, with early results from this ongoing work. The objective is to determine if faculty development on growth mindset and active use of the framework for a growth mindset classroom results in superior academic outcomes in CS0 and CS1. Preliminary results are for faculty in both face-to-face and virtual classroom environments.
Tumors of the Central Nervous System

The first significant histologic classification of tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) was proposed by Bailey and Cushing in 1926. Thereafter, several major revisions were introduced, and numerous consensus conferences were held. The grading of CNS tumors is an integral part of these revisions and is routinely applied to primary intracranial and spinal tumors. The most widely accepted grading system is the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of tumors, last updated in 2007. Recently the prognostic values of several genetic markers have been validated in several CNS tumors, and the importance of testing them in paraffin-embedded tissue is growing [1]. Rare tumors, lymphomas, paraganglioma, and pituitary adenomas will not be discussed in this concise chapter.
Special Education Teachers in Residence

Rural schools face unique challenges recruiting teachers. Rural school administrators report difficulties finding qualified applicants. Unique challenges rural special education teachers face, e.g., working with a more diverse group of students including those with significant disabilities, heighten the difficulties rural administrators experience when recruiting and retaining qualified special education teachers. Leveraging university/rural school partnerships, e.g., resident teacher university/school partnerships, can help rural schools recruit and retain qualified special education teachers. This article describes the Teachers College Special Education Fellowship Program (TCSEFP), a virtual residency in teaching program. This program established virtual partnerships between the university and numerous rural school districts throughout the state. The article includes a description of the program, evaluation data, and implications for other virtual university/school residency in teaching programs.
Fundamentals of digital communication

This is a concise presentation of the concepts underlying the design of digital communication systems, without the detail that can overwhelm students. Many examples, from the basic to the cutting-edge, show how the theory is used in the design of modern systems and the relevance of this theory will motivate students. The theory is supported by practical algorithms so that the student can perform computations and simulations. Leading edge topics in coding and wireless communication make this an ideal text for students taking just one course on the subject. Fundamentals of Digital Communications has coverage of turbo and LDPC codes in sufficient detail and clarity to enable hands-on implementation and performance evaluation, as well as 'just enough' information theory to enable computation of performance benchmarks to compare them against. Other unique features include space-time communication and geometric insights into noncoherent communication and equalization.
EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS ENABLED BY IMPROVED AIRPORT SURFACE OPERATIONS

Capacity constraints in the United States national airspace system (NAS) have coupled with the growth in air traffic to increase congestion in airways, terminal areas and on the airport surface. In this paper, we discuss the growth in aviation emissions from ground operations in the United States from 1995 to 2000 and investigate the potential for emissions reductions under 3 scenarios: improved operations, single-engine taxiing, and use of tow trucks to move aircraft to and from runways. Emissions estimates, unlike with previous models, are based on actual mission times and aircraft types from the Airline Service Quality Performance (ASQP) data, compiled by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) from information provided by the ten largest US carriers. Results indicate that surface emissions have been growing faster than airborne operations or total mission time in domestic US aviation, and may therefore become a constraint on airport expansion. The potential for emissions reductions through improved ...
Epidemiology of Hamstring and Quadriceps Injury

Hamstring and quadriceps injuries are common to athletes and patients of all age ranges, genders, sports, and levels of competition. Due to the common nature of these injuries, there is a large amount of epidemiologic data looking at the incidence of this occurrence. Particular groups of athletes, such as professional soccer, football, rugby, track athletes, dancers, and water skiers, have received the most attention in evaluating the rate of hamstring injuries. Quadriceps injuries have been extensively evaluated in similar groups of athletes and patients. Specific focus has been on soccer, football, and rugby athletes with regard to strain of the quadriceps musculature. Additionally, the incidence of quadriceps tendon rupture and quadriceps contusions has been established, but less specific information is known about these entities. The following is an in-depth review of the current epidemiologic data concerning the occurrence of hamstring and quadriceps injuries amongst all categories of athletes.
Risk and Predictability of Drug Interactions in the Elderly

The issue of drug-drug interactions is particularly relevant for geriatric patients with epilepsy because they are often treated with multiple medications for concurrent diseases such as cardiovascular disease and psychiatric disorders (e.g., dementia and depression). The antidepressants with the least potential for altering antiepileptic drug (AED) metabolism are citalopram, escitalopram, venlafaxine, duloxetine, and mirtazapine. The use of established AEDs with enzyme-inducing properties, such as carbamazepine, phenytoin, and phenobarbital, may be associated with reductions in the levels of drugs such as donepezil, galantamine, and particularly warfarin. Carbamazepine, phenytoin, and phenobarbital have been reported to decrease prothrombin time in patients taking oral anticoagulants, although with phenytoin, an increase in prothrombin time has also been reported. Drugs associated with increased risk of bleeding in patients taking oral anticoagulants include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (especially fluoxetine), gemfibrozil, fluvastatin, and lovastatin. Other drugs affected by enzyme inducers include cytochrome P450 3A4 substrates, such as calcium channel blockers (e.g., nimodipine, nilvadipine, nisoldipine, and felodipine) and the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors atorvastatin, lovastatin, and simvastatin. Although there have been no reports of AEDs altering ticlopidine metabolism, ticlopidine coadministration can result in carbamazepine and phenytoin toxicity. Also, there is a significant risk of elevated levels of carbamazepine when diltiazem and verapamil are administered. In addition, there are case reports of phenytoin toxicity when administered with diltiazem. Drugs with a lower potential for metabolic drug interactions include (1) cholinesterase inhibitors (although the theoretical possibility of a reduction in donepezil and galantamine levels by enzyme-inducing AEDs should be considered) and the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist memantine and (2) antihypertensives such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, hydrophilic beta-blockers, and thiazide diuretics. There is a moderate risk that enzyme-inducing AEDs will decrease levels of lipophilic beta-blockers. Newer AEDs have a lower potential for drug interactions. In particular, levetiracetam and gabapentin have not been reported to alter enzyme activity. In summary, there is a significant potential for drug interactions between AEDs and drugs commonly prescribed in geriatric patients with epilepsy.
A Linear Robustly Convergent Interpolatory Algorithm For System Identification

This paper presents a linear, robustly convergent interpolatory algorithm for system identification in the presence of bounded noise. The proposed algorithm converges to the actual, but unknown system in frequency domain in the noise free case and maintains the robust convergence result in the face of bounded noise. This robustness property distinguishes the proposed linear algorithm from other existing linear schemes.
Interference of barbiturates with pyrimidine incorporation—II: Structural specificity of the inhibition of orotate uptake inBacillus cereus

Abstract The structural specificity of the previously observed selective inhibition by amobarbital of the uptake of 2-14C- or 6-14C-orotate into exponentially growing cells of Bacillus cereus was examined. The effect of the drug was specific for the uptake of orotate and was not demonstrated for other labeled organic acids. None of several normal metabolites competed with orotate for transport into the cell. A series of other barbiturates, all at 1 mM, inhibited the orotate uptake system without concomitantly affecting the incorporation of uracil into cellular pyrimidines. Phenobarbital, barbital, thiopental, pentobarbital and amobarbital were most active in the model system, as was the convulsant 5(1,3 dimethylbutyl)-5-ethylbarbituric acid. Barbituric acid itself was inactive and N-substitution, as in hexobarbital, reduced activity. Certain substitutions in the phenobarbital molecule led to loss of activity in the system, indicating structural requirements for interference with the uptake system. Attempts to relate the relative loss of activity to the extent of ionization and lipid solubility were only partially successful. The closely related hydantoin derivative, phenylethylhydantoin, was extremely active. Diphenylhydantoin also interfered with orotate uptake, whereas pheneturide, an open chain derivative, was completely inactive. It is concluded that these drugs, many of which have important sedative or anticonvulsant properties, inhibit the transport system for orotate in the bacteria. The structural components apparently required for activity in the system have been described.
Set Theoretic Adaptor Control Systems

In this paper, we propose a direct robust adaptive control scheme based on the L2 ellipsoidal bounding set membership concept associated with recent control-oriented identification motivated by progress in H? control. The proposed scheme, called Set Theoretic Adaptor Control (STAC), identifies directly the controller parameters that yield desired performance. It eliminates the need for separate identification of plant parameters. Users of STAC Systems can employ weightings to specify closed-loop plant (not the closed-loop model) performance as in the synthesis of H? controllers. Provided certain "persistent excitation" conditions are satisfied, STAC systems guarantee robust achievement of such performance within finite time. The robustness properties of STAC systems are at least as good as nonadaptive robust controllers designed to handle the worst possible situation. Furthermore, restrictions on conventional direct adaptive control schemes such as knowledge of sign of high frequency gain or upper bound of relative degree and minimum phase requirement are not needed for STAC systems, the only restriction being that within the apriori known parameter set there exist controllers that produce the specified performance.
Agricultural pesticide exposure and perinatal mortality in central Sudan.

Abstract Hospital- and community-based studies were conducted in central Sudan to investigate the association between pesticide exposure and perinatal mortality. The cases were 197 stillbirths in the hospital and 36 perinatal deaths in the community; the controls were 812 liveborn, normal-birth-weight infants in the hospital, and 1505 liveborn infants who survived for the first 7 days after birth in the community. The odds ratio (OR) of perinatal death associated with pesticide exposure was estimated using multiple logistic regression. There was a consistent and significant association between pesticide exposure and perinatal mortality in the hospital (adjusted OR = 1.9; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3-2.8) and the community populations (adjusted OR = 2.7; 95% CI: 1.1-6.4). The OR was significantly higher among women engaged in farming (3.6; 95% CI: 1.6-8.0), but not among women in nonfarming occupations (1.6; 95% CI: 0.8-3.3). The estimated attributable risks of perinatal death owing to pesticide exposure were 22.6% for hospital stillbirths and 15.7% for community perinatal deaths; but among women engaged in farming in the hospital population the attributable risks were substantially higher (34.5%).
Role of M cells in initial antigen uptake and in ulcer formation in the rabbit intestinal loop model of shigellosis.

Strains of Shigella flexneri with different invasive and pathogenic potentials were inoculated into the intestinal lumen of acutely ligated loops in nonimmune rabbits. After 90 min, tissues processed for ultrastructural as well as light microscopy showed that the bacilli were phagocytosed by M cells over lymphoid follicles of Peyer9s patches and carried in vacuoles into the epithelium. Nonpathogenic as well as pathogenic strains were readily taken up regardless of the presence of the 140-megadalton virulence plasmid. More virulent than avirulent shigellae were found in M cells at 90 min, reflecting replication or preferential uptake of the virulent strains. Heat-killed shigellae of the virulent strain were taken up by M cells to the same degree as the avirulent strains. Incubation of the bacteria for 18 h resulted in surface ulceration which was limited to epithelium overlying lymphoid follicles (M cell areas) in acute loops exposed to the virulent shigellae. Villus epithelium adjacent to the ulcerated follicular domes was intact, although there was mucus depletion. In the present study, we found that pathogenic shigellae appear to replicate in the M cells, escape from the phagocytic vesicles, and thereby initiate the ulcerations in this experimental model of dysentery. While initial antigen processing in the gut for a mucosal immune response may require uptake of luminal microorganisms by M cells, this may pose a threat under some circumstances. Images
Initial value problem for magnetic fields in heavy ion collisions

When the quark-gluon plasma emerges in the wake of a heavy-ion collision, a magnetic field created by the valence charges has already permeated the entire interaction region. Evolution of this ``initial'' field in the plasma is governed by the Maxwell equations in an electrically conducting medium. As the plasma expands, external valence charges induce a magnetic field that also contributes to the total magnetic field in the plasma. I solve the initial value problem describing these processes and argue that the initial magnetic field often dominates over the one induced by the valence charges. In particular, it grows approximately proportional to the collision energy, unlike the induced component, which is energy independent. As a result, the magnetic field has a significant phenomenological influence on the quark-gluon plasma at CERN Large Hadron Collider energies over its entire lifetime.
"Silent" osseous metastases in renal cell carcinoma: value of computerized tomography.

Abstract Osseous metastases are common in renal cell carcinoma. They are lytic, usually associated with a large soft tissue component, and frequently not identified by conventional x-ray film or bone scan. We have used computerized tomography (CT) in 12 patients with this disease and found it to be helpful in diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment planning.
Acylated β-Caseins: Electrostatic Interactions and Aggregation

Abstract β -Casein was both acetylated and succinylated, to investigate alterations of selected properties brought about by removal of positive charges and, in the case of succinylated β -casein, addition of negative charges. The results were used to evaluate the role of electrostatic interactions in the aggregation of β -casein. Mobility during alkaline polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of both derivatives was greater than β -casein, succinylated β -casein having the greatest mobility. Succinylated β -casein and acetylated β -casein, in that order, required a higher concentration of NaCl than did β -casein for elution from DEAE-cellulose at pH 7.0. The calcium ion senstivity of acetylated β -casein was decreased in comparison to β -casein. Succinylated β -casein was insensitive to calcium ions at pH 7 in 0.1 m CaCl 2 at a 0.3% concentration. Sedimentation patterns at pH 6.86, 20C, revealed that succinylated β -casein did not form a fast-sedimenting peak, usually associated with aggregation. The fast-sedimenting peak of acetylated β -casein had a lower sedimentation coefficient than did β -casein. These alterations of the above properties of β -casein are interpreted to result from an increase in the net negative electrostatic charge of the modified protein in neutral solution. For succinylated β -casein, the net negative electrostatic charge is sufficient to prevent precipitation by calcium ions and to prevent aggregation under conditions that favor aggregation of β -casein.
Dendritic spine density in multisensory versus primary sensory cortex

In sensory areas, neuronal dendritic spines receive sensory-specific inputs whose net activity drives neuronal spiking responses to effective external stimuli. Previous studies indicate that neurons in primary sensory cortical areas, which largely receive inputs from a single sensory modality, exhibit an average of 0.5-1.4 dendritic spines/μm, depending on species. In higher-order, associational cortices, inputs converge from multiple sensory sources onto individual, multisensory neurons. This raises the question: when inputs from two different modalities converge onto individual neurons, how are the dendritic spines apportioned to subserve the generation of robust spiking responses to each modality? As inputs arrive from two different sensory sources, it might be expected that neurons in multisensory areas exhibit approximately double the spine density of neurons in areas that receive just one sensory input. The present study examined this possibility in Golgi-stained neurons from ferret primary auditory (A1) and somatosensory (S1) cortices, as well as from regions in which inputs from two different sensory modalities converge: the lateral rostral suprasylvian sulcus (LRSS) and the rostral posterior parietal (PPr) areas. Dendritic spine density (spines/μm) was measured for pyramidal neurons in layers 2-3 and layers 5-6 for each cortical area from three animals using light microscopy. Primary sensory regions A1 and S1 showed remarkably similar average spine densities (A1 = 1.27 spines/μm ± 0.3 s.d.; S1 = 1.14 spines/μm ± 0.3), but average spine densities from the multisensory areas were lower (LRSS = 0.98 ± 0.3; PPr = 1.04 ± 0.3). Thus, for a given cortical area, dendritic spine density appears to be determined by factors other than the levels of sensory modality convergence.
Evaluating patient experience in online health communities: implications for health care organizations.

BACKGROUND Online communities that focus on health-related matters have rapidly increased in number in the last several years or so. The increasing demand from health consumers for such forums have led several leading health care organizations (HCOs), including Kaiser Permanente and Johns Hopkins, to establish online communities/discussion forums as part of their patient-support services. Patients' interactions in such HCO-led online health communities potentially add another important dimension to the overall patient experience. However, there has been limited research focus on measuring or evaluating patients' experience in such online health communities. PURPOSES The objective of this study was to evaluate patients' online community experience (OCE) and examine its impact on patients' attitude toward the HCO and its services. METHOD The data collection was conducted using an online questionnaire sent to consumers/patients who participated in the online health communities of three large academic medical centers: the Johns Hopkins Pathology discussion board, run by the pathology department at Johns Hopkins University; the MD Anderson Cancer survivor board, run by MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas; and the Joslin Discussion Board, run by Joslin Diabetes Center affiliated with Harvard Medical School. Confirmatory factor analysis was done to validate the four dimensions of OCE. Linear regression technique was used to validate the impact of OCE on patient attitudes. FINDINGS The results provide support for four dimensions of patients' OCE: pragmatic, empathic, sociability, and usability. Furthermore, all these four dimensions of OCE had a positive impact on patient's attitudes toward the HCO and its services. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS An understanding of the four dimensions of patient experience in online health communities and its implications on patient attitudes could help HCOs to design, deploy, and manage such online health communities more effectively.
Idealism or Pragmatism? An Operational Code Analysis of Yitzhak Rabin andShimon Peres

policy were then compared through analyses of variance, both to each other and across time. Three main trends were found in the results. First, both leaders' conception of their political environment changed over time, from basically conflictual in the 1970s to essentially neutral in the 1990s. Second, the remainder of Rabin's operational code, including a surprisingly strong predisposition to approach politics in a cooperative manner, was generally constant across time. Third, unlike Rabin, several other components ofPeres 's operational code underwent acute fluctuations, seemingly in response to the perceived different situational context. On the basis of these results and the operational code construct in general, a typology was created that classifies leaders according to their predisposition to pursue either cooperative or conflictual strategies and their level of responsiveness to their political environment.
Distributed multiuser detection for the TDMA cellular uplink

A method for performing multiuser detection using observations from multiple base stations is proposed. Log-likelihood ratio estimates of the data are calculated at each base station and combined to form the final decision statistic. The proposed architecture is applied to the time division multiple access (TDMA) cellular uplink, and it is shown that heavily overloaded systems can perform remarkably well.