cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Underdiagnosis of Dementia: an Observational Study of Patterns in Diagnosis and Awareness in US Older Adults

Many older adults living with dementia have not been formally diagnosed. Even when clinicians document the diagnosis, patients and families may be unaware of the diagnosis. Knowledge of how individual characteristics affect detection and awareness of dementia is limited. To identify characteristics associated with dementia diagnosis and awareness of diagnosis. Cross-sectional observational study. Five hundred eighty-five adults aged ≥ 65 in the National Health and Aging Trends Study who met assessment-based study criteria for probable dementia in 2011 and had 3 years of continuous, fee-for-service Medicare claims prior to 2011. Using multivariable logistic regression, we compared participants with undiagnosed versus diagnosed dementia (based on Medicare claims) on demographic, social/behavioral, functional, medical, and healthcare utilization characteristics. Among those diagnosed, we compared characteristics of participants unaware versus aware of the diagnosis (based on self or proxy report). Among older adults with probable dementia, 58.7% were either undiagnosed (39.5%) or unaware of the diagnosis (19.2%). In adjusted analyses, individuals who were Hispanic (OR 2.48, 95% CI 1.19, 5.14), had less than high school education (OR 0.54 for at least high school education, 95% CI 0.32, 0.91), attended medical visits alone (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.11, 3.51), or had fewer functional impairments (OR 0.79 for each impairment, 95% CI 0.69, 0.90) were more likely to be undiagnosed. Similarly, among those diagnosed, having less education (OR 0.42), attending medical visits alone (OR 1.97), and fewer functional impairments (OR 0.72) were associated with unawareness of diagnosis (all ps < 0.05). The majority of older adults with dementia are either undiagnosed or unaware of the diagnosis, suggesting shortcomings in detection and communication of dementia. Individuals who may benefit from targeted screening include racial/ethnic minorities and persons who have lower educational attainment, any functional impairment, or attend medical visits alone.
Behavior-Aware Mobile Social Networking

The next frontier in sensor networks is sensing the human society. Human interaction, with technology and within mobile communities provides enormous opportunities to provide new paradigms of user communication. Traditionally, communication in computer networks has focused on delivering messages to machine identities. Each host is uniquely addressed, and network protocols aim to find routes to a given machine identity efficiently. While this framework has been proven successful in the past, it is questionable whether it will be sufficient in the era of social networking and mobility. As we envision the emergence of mobile terminals tightly coupled with their users and thus reflect the behavior and preferences of the users, it is beneficial to consider an alternative (and complementary) framework: Could user behavior be collected and summarized as a representation of the user’s interest, and be leveraged as a way to guide message delivery? In this chapter, we elaborate on this possibility, discussing user behavior trace collection, representation, and pioneering works on behavior-aware mobile network protocols.
Neural Network Alignment for Sentential Paraphrases.

We present a monolingual alignment system for long, sentence- or clause-level alignments, and demonstrate that systems designed for word- or short phrase-based alignment are ill-suited for these longer alignments. Our system is capable of aligning semantically similar spans of arbitrary length. We achieve significantly higher recall on aligning phrases of four or more words and outperform state-of-the- art aligners on the long alignments in the MSR RTE corpus.
Dihydroartemisinin inhibits indoxyl sulfate (IS)-promoted cell cycle progression in mesangial cells by targeting COX-2/mPGES-1/PGE 2 cascade.

Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) is a semisynthetic derivative of artemisinin and has been used as an antimalarial drug. Recently, roles of artemisinin and its derivatives in treating diseases besides antimalarial effect were documented. Thus, this study was undertaken to investigate the role of DHA in indoxyl sulfate (IS)-promoted cell cycle progression in glomerular mesangial cells, as well as the potential mechanisms. Under the basal condition, DHA significantly retarded the cell cycle progression as shown by decreased cell percentage in S phase and increased cell percentage in G1/G0 phases in line with reduced cell cycle proteins cyclin A2 and cyclin D1. Interestingly, DHA also inactivated the COX-2/mPGES-1/PGE2 cascade which has been shown to play a critical role in promoting the mesangial cell cycle progression by our previous studies. Next, we investigated the role of DHA in IS-triggered cell cycle progression in this mesangial cell line. As expected, DHA treatment significantly retarded IS-induced cell cycle progression and inhibited the activation of COX-2/mPGES-1/PGE2 cascade induced by IS. In summary, these data indicated that DHA inhibited the cell cycle progression in glomerular mesangial cells under normal condition or IS challenge possibly through the inhibition of COX-2/mPGES-1/PGE2 cascade, suggesting a potential of DHA in treating glomerular diseases with mesangial cell proliferation.
Resource recovery from wastewater by bioelectrochemical systems

Abstract Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) are an emerging treatment concept that have been extensively studied for energy-efficient wastewater treatment. Several valuable resources can be recovered during BES-based treatment, including energy, nutrient, and water. These processes are driven by microorganisms, generated electricity, osmotic pressure, and ionic migration. Technique integration into BES-based treatment could further improve the resource recovery efficiency. This chapter was to comprehensively introduce the working mechanisms and recent development of BES application, and give details about the development of system integration on energy, nutrient, and water recovery, respectively. Energy recovery needs uniform parameters to achieve mutual comparison and reduction of energy consumption to increase the energy recovery. Nutrient recovery mainly focuses on recycling valuable contaminants back from the wastewater, and nitrogen and phosphorus are key components to be recycled. BES technique integration could migrate nitrogen and phosphorus ions to be recovered. Water recovery could be achieved by combining BES and membrane-related techniques together, to drive water osmosis for water recovery. This chapter summarizes the recent technique update and gives outlook for the future development as valuable guideline.
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation and protein during bed rest increases CD11b+ skeletal muscle macrophages but does not correspond to muscle size or insulin sensitivity.

With this cohort, we previously demonstrated preservation of thigh lean tissue with neuromuscular electrical stimulation combined with protein supplementation (NMES+PRO) treatment during bed rest i...
Impact of Technology-Based Interventions on Patient-Reported Outcomes in Asthma: A Systematic Review.

Background Technology-based interventions (TBIs) can improve asthma management by facilitating patient education, symptom monitoring, environmental trigger control, comorbid condition management, and medication adherence. Collecting patient-reported outcomes (PROs) can identify effective interventions and ensure patient-centered care, but it is unclear which TBIs have been formally evaluated using PROs. Objectives We aim to: (1) identify the TBIs that have been evaluated in clinical trials using PROs; (2) identify the most commonly used PROs in these trials; and (3) determine the impact of TBIs on PROs in the management of chronic asthma. Methods We searched the PubMed and Clinicaltrials.gov databases for studies published in English between January 2000 and February 2020 using the following search criteria: "asthma," "IT-based interventions," "information technology," "technology," "dyspnea," "patient reported outcomes," "PROs," "telehealth," "telemedicine," and "mobile devices." Two independent reviewers screened the studies and determined study inclusion. Studies were examined for the types of interventions used, the types of PROs collected, and outcomes. Results The final analysis included 14 clinical trials with either 1, 2, or 3 arms. Five different types of TBIs were identified, most commonly involving multimedia education. Four different categories of PROs were identified, most commonly involving treatment self-efficacy. Positive outcomes in at least 1 PRO domain were reported in 12 of 14 studies. Pooled meta-analysis was not possible due to the heterogeneity of PRO instruments across studies. Conclusion TBIs improve PROs overall in patients with asthma. Future trials investigating TBIs should include standardized PROs as endpoints to better clarify this relationship.
Scalping in Ecommerce: Ethics and Impacts

Scalping is a mixture of price gouging and market manipulation, and in some cases, they can be looked at as being the same thing. These three terms, while having different names, describe the actions taken by a person or group of people in order to make a profit. From these actions, the people and or businesses interested in said product will have to pay a large amount of money to get an item that they were originally unable to obtain when it was released.
Regional Long-term and Short-term Unemployment and Education in Transition: The Case of Poland

Abstract This paper examines regional disparities in long-term (LTU) and short-term (STU) unemployment in Poland paying particular attention to the role of education. It analyses how: 1) LTU and STU vary across regions; and 2) differences in LTU and STU are affected by the type and level of education of the unemployed, as well as by other economic and structural variables. Regional variations in STU and LTU are much greater than for overall unemployment. Using regression analysis, we find that human capital as measured by type and level of education, as well as several other variables, is significantly related to regional unemployment rates. Coefficients and significance levels often differ depending on whether we are looking at LTU, STU or total U.
Specificity of resistance to oxidative stress

Two clonal nerve-like cell lines derived from HT22 and PC12 have been selected for resistance to glutamate toxicity and amyloid toxicity, respectively. In the following experiments it was asked if these cell lines show cross-resistance toward amyloid beta peptide (Abeta) and glutamate as well as toward a variety of additional neurotoxins. Conversely, it was determined if inhibitors of oxytosis, a well-defined oxidative stress pathway, also protect cells from the neurotoxins. It is shown that both glutamate and amyloid resistant cells are cross resistant to most of the other toxins or toxic conditions, while inhibitors of oxytosis protect from glutathione and cystine depletion and H2O2 toxicity, but not from the toxic effects of nitric oxide, rotenone, arsenite or cisplatin. It is concluded that while there is a great deal of cross-resistance to neurotoxins, the components of the cell death pathway which has been defined for oxytosis are not used by many of the neurotoxins.
Abstract B83: Cannabinoids as an adjuvant therapy for pancreatic cancer

In over 20 states, cancer patients have access to cannabinoids (aka medical marijuana) to treat symptoms of chemotherapy, such as nausea and lack of appetite. However, new evidence, both scientific and empirical, suggests that higher doses of cannabinoids may be an effective adjuvant alongside traditional chemotherapy agents, such as Gemcitibine. While daily dosages of 10 to 40mg are commonly used to control nausea, pancreatic cancer cells are known to over express the endo-cannabinoid receptor CB1 one hundred fold, requiring much higher dosages. Cannabinoids target different receptors than traditional chemotherapy agents with low combinatorial toxicity, and as such present a class of new treatments. In an n=1 study of a patient with stage IV pancreatic adeno-carcinoma, we augmented the standard Gemcitibine chemotherapy with balanced initial doses of 50mg THC and 50mg CBD that increased over a four week period to achieve a 12.5 mg/kg total cannabinoid dosage. Curiously, after ten days the patient stopped presenting signs of cannabinoid use, such as red eyes, slurred speech and clumsiness. However, the patient’s CA-19-9 marker increased from 8,800 ul/L at diagnosis to 25,500. Over the next four weeks, dosage of CBD was held constant and THC was increased to 1050mg daily for a combined dosage of 20mg/kg. At week 6, the CA-19-9 marker began decreasing and cannabinoid dosage was leveled off, although a higher dosage was planned for weeks 8-12. At week 15, CA-19-9 markers dropped to pre-diagnosis levels and a CAT scanned revealed shrinkage of the tumor. Rate of decrease in CA-19-9 exceeded previously published rates for patients with positive outcomes from Gemcitibine alone. Although many pancreatic cancer patients have access to cannabinoids, issues such as potency, purity and bio-availablity will impact future adjuvant cannabinoid therapies. We have addressed these issues with existing technology in the hopes of supporting large scale trials that will examine the efficacy of Gemcitibine + cannabinoid adjuvants in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Citation Format: Andy D. Hospodor. Cannabinoids as an adjuvant therapy for pancreatic cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Innovations in Research and Treatment; May 18-21, 2014; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(13 Suppl):Abstract nr B83.
Cardiac radar for biometric identification using nearest neighbour of continuous wavelet transform peaks

This work explores the use of cardiac data acquired by a 2.4 GHz radar system as a potential biometric identification tool. Monostatic and bistatic systems are used to record data from human subjects over two visits. Cardiac data is extracted from the radar recordings and an ensemble average is computed using ECG as a time reference. The Continuous Wavelet Transform is then computed to provide time-frequency analysis of the average radar cardiac cycle and a nearest neighbor technique is applied to demonstrate that a cardiac radar system has some promise as a biometric identification technology currently producing Rank-1 accuracy of 19% and Rank-5 accuracy of 42% over 26 subjects.
Operationalizing the essential role of the information technology artifact in information systems research: gray area, pitfalls, and the importance of strategic ambiguity

In this paper we argue that a large gray area of information systems research exists, whose relevance to the information technology artifact is subject to significant debate even among IS scholars who support the essential role of the IT artifact. As we explain, not explicitly addressing this gray area can have negative, although often inadvertent, effects on the innovative nature of IS research; we explore this danger through three pitfalls. We then propose a stance of strategic ambiguity to deal with the gray area. Strategic ambiguity calls for deliberately withholding judgment on the relevance of research in the gray area and acceptance of gray-area research provided it meets the excellence required by professional journals. We believe that strategic ambiguity benefits innovative IS research without harming the essential role of the IT artifact.
Temperature Dynamics in Dimictic Lakes

Daily water temperature profiles in temperature lakes are predicted from time-variable meteorological conditions and lake morphology. A total energy concept which includes wind energy is used. The method of analysis is derived and illustrated through case studies. Agreement of predicted and measured water temperatures in two lakes throughout the summer season is good. The prediction of daily water temperature distributions in temperate lakes under the effect of variable meteorologic conditions throughout a season is possible using the total energy concept. Heat energy input (or output) into a lake includes shortwave (solar) radiation, long wave (atmospheric) radiation, back radiation, evaporation, and convection. Mechanical energy input is by wind. Although energy inputs and losses are computed separately, step by step, the method of analysis recognizes and incorporates the mutual interdependence (feedback) between different forms of energy input. In the sample computations conducted, the sequence was found to be irrelevant if a time step of 1 day was used.
Inhibition of Host Deoxyribonucleic Acid Synthesis by T4 Bacteriophage in the Absence of Protein Synthesis

The requirement for phage protein synthesis for the inhibition of host deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis has been investigated by using a phage mutant unable to catalyze the production of any phage deoxyribonucleic acid. It has been concluded that the major pathway whereby phage inhibit host syntheses requires protein synthesis. The inhibition of host syntheses by phage ghosts is not affected by inhibitors of protein synthesis.
Diffusion of green supply chain management: Examining perceived quality of green reverse logistics

Purpose – Extant research has yielded conflicting results regarding the relationship between adoption of green supply chain management (GSCM) practices and competitive advantage. The purpose of this paper is to further investigate this relationship by examining the case of green reverse logistics (GRL).Design/methodology/approach – Through the lens of diffusion of innovation and resource‐advantage theory, the authors examine whether or not consumers perceive products made via GRL practices to be equivalent to brand‐new products in terms of quality. A survey method is used to gather data from a diverse sample of 533 participants. Data are analyzed via ANOVA to test the hypotheses.Findings – The findings suggest that consumers perceive products made via some GRL practices to be inferior to brand‐new products in terms of quality. However, participants indicated no perceived quality difference between products made with recycled materials and brand‐new products.Research limitations/implications – The findings...
Degradation kinetics of acid-sensitive hydrogels

Abstract Dimethacrylate or divinyl-functionalized acetal-based crosslinkers were synthesized as building elements of acid-sensitive crosslinked hydrogels. Each crosslinker was prepared under catalytic acidic conditions with different functional groups installed at the acetal position. The hydrophilicity of the crosslinkers was tuned to control acidic-hydrolysis rate. We report the synthesis of hydroxyethyl dimethacrylate-functionalized dimethyl ketal (CL1), meta- or para-methoxybenzaldehyde based acetals (CL2m and CL2p), poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate-functionalized dimethyl ketal-based crosslinker (CL3), and divinyl-functionalized meta-methoxybenzaldehyde-based acetal crosslinker (V-CL2m). An examination of acetal hydrolysis kinetics of the monomers was performed in aqueous buffer solutions using 1H NMR (proton nuclear magnetic resonance) and UV–Vis (ultraviolet–visible) spectroscopy at various pH ranges. The hydrolysis rates were strongly dependent on the structure of the acetal. Network films containing CL2m were prepared by thermally initiated polymerization with either hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) or methylmethacrylate (MMA). A study of the hydrolysis kinetics of these crosslinked films was performed using GC–MS (gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy) to understand the effect of monomer hydrophilicity, crosslinking density, and polymerization mechanism at different pHs. The crosslinked films composed of the hydrophilic monomer, HEMA, show faster hydrolysis than those containing more hydrophobic monomers (e.g. MMA). The hydrolysis rate decreases as the crosslinking density increases. In the case of thiol-ene networks formed by reacting pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptopropionate) and V-CL2m, each repeating unit is composed of an acid-degradable acetal-moiety. Hydrolysis of the thio-ene network films results in depolymerization into two lower molecular weight components, pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-(6-hydroxyhexylthio)propanoate) and meta-methoxybenzaldehyde.
Dihydroceramide Desaturase Knockdown Impacts Sphingolipids and Apoptosis after Photodamage in Human Head and Neck Squamous Carcinoma Cells

Background: Dihydroceramide desaturase 1 (DES) is the enzyme responsible for converting dihydroceramide into ceramide in the de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis pathway. Dihydroceramide can inhibit ceramide channel formation to interfere with apoptosis. We have shown that following ceramide synthase knockdown, photodynamic therapy (PDT), a cancer treatment modality, is associated with decreased levels of ceramides and dihydroceramides in cells that are resistant to apoptosis. Aim: Here we investigated the effect of DES knockdown on the sphingolipid profile and apoptosis in human head and neck squamous carcinoma cells after PDT with the silicon phthalocyanine Pc 4. Materials and Methods: Following siRNA transfection and PDT treatment, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction for quantification of DES mRNA, immunoblotting for protein expression, mass spectrometry for sphingolipid analysis, spectrofluorometry for caspase 3-like (DEVDase) activity, flow cytometry for apoptosis detection, and trypan blue assay for cell viability evaluation, were performed. Results: Down-regulation of DES led to a substantial increase in levels of dihydroceramides without affecting ceramide levels. PDT-induced accumulation of individual dihydroceramides and global ceramides was increased by DES knockdown. Concomitantly, mitochondrial depolarization, DEVDase activation, late-apoptosis and cell death were attenuated by DES knockdown. Early apoptosis, however, was enhanced. Conclusion: Our findings support the following: (i) dihydroceramide reduces pro-apoptotic effects of ceramide; (ii) cells adapt to DES knockdown to become more sensitive to ceramide and early-apoptosis; (iii) DES is a potential molecular target for regulating apoptotic resistance to PDT.
RECOVER evidence and knowledge gap analysis on veterinary CPR. Part 2: Preparedness and prevention

Objective To systematically examine the evidence on the effect of prevention and preparedness measures on outcomes in veterinary cardiopulmonary resuscitation and to determine knowledge gaps. Design Standardized, systematic evaluation of the literature, categorization of relevant articles according to level of evidence and quality, and development of consensus on conclusions for application of the concepts to clinical practice. Relevant questions were answered on a worksheet template and reviewed by the Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation (RECOVER) prevention and preparedness domain members, by the RECOVER committee, and opened for comments by veterinary professionals for 3 months. Setting Academia, referral practice, and general practice. Results Nine worksheets were prepared to determine the extent to which preparation of the environment (charts, visual aids, etc) and personnel (training, debriefing, etc) are beneficial in improving return of spontaneous circulation. Conclusions Of the questions evaluated, only the association between anesthesia-related cardiopulmonary arrest and better outcomes was supported by strong evidence. There is some evidence from the human literature that the use of cognitive aids, standardized didactic, and hands-on training with high-fidelity simulators, team and leadership training, and post-cardiac arrest debriefing improve adherence to cardiopulmonary resuscitation guidelines and, in some cases, patient outcomes. Veterinary studies investigating these issues are lacking, and development of initial guidelines is a crucial first step.
Technology aspects of the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) program

Discusses the NSBRI program, a consortium project of several leading universities who are conducting research for NASA's program plans to send man on extended flights into space in the 21st Century. The medical aspects and effects on astronauts in a long-duration space flight are being studied by leading biomedical scientists to determine the feasibility and survival risk of such flights. The program began in 1997. Features reported include technology projects and the initial organization of the institute and its members. Current progress and future plans are highlighted.
Evaluation of various antibiotics for induction of L forms from Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from bovine mastitis.

Forty-five strains of Staphylococcus aureus were treated with 11 antibiotics and tested for induction to L forms. Thirty-seven strains were induced to L forms with at least one antibiotic, while eight strains produced no L forms under the conditions used. L forms were induced only with beta-lactam antibiotics and with a combination of penicillin and streptomycin. Novobiocin induced no true L forms but induced intermediate forms from seven strains. Strains resistant to penicillin yielded L forms only with beta-lactam antibiotics active against penicillin-resistant organisms. Strains failing to yield L forms were susceptible to the antibiotics used, and resistance appeared to play no role in the induction of L forms with these strains. Images
Initial Transcription by RNA Polymerase Proceeds Through a DNA-Scrunching Mechanism

Using fluorescence resonance energy transfer to monitor distances within single molecules of abortively initiating transcription initiation complexes, we show that initial transcription proceeds through a “scrunching” mechanism, in which RNA polymerase (RNAP) remains fixed on promoter DNA and pulls downstream DNA into itself and past its active center. We show further that putative alternative mechanisms for RNAP-active-center translocation in initial transcription, involving “transient excursions” of RNAP relative to DNA or “inchworming” of RNAP relative to DNA, do not occur. The results support a model in which a stressed intermediate, with DNA-unwinding stress and DNA-compaction stress, is formed during initial transcription, and in which accumulated stress is used to drive breakage of interactions between RNAP and promoter DNA and between RNAP and initiation factors during promoter escape.
Isoelectric Focusing of Superoxide Dismutase: Report of the Unique SOD A*2 Allele in a US White Population

An isoelectric focusing procedure in an ultranarrow pH range (5.0–5.5) poly-acrylamide gel is described for the determination of superoxide dismutase (SOD) phenotypes. The occurrence of the rare <i
Subjective and objective sleep indices in women with irritable bowel syndrome

Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) commonly report sleep disturbances. This study examined self-report (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory) sleep quality and polysomnography (PSG) sleep variables in 18 women with mild-to-moderate IBS, 18 with severe IBS and 38 with age- and gender-matched controls. All women were studied on two consecutive nights in a sleep research laboratory where PSG data were collected. Retrospective and daily measures were obtained of self-reported sleep quality, psychological distress and gastrointestinal symptoms across one menstrual cycle. Self-report measures of psychological distress and sleep quality were significantly worse in the IBS-severe (IBS-S) group compared with controls. Rapid eye movement (REM) latency was higher in the two IBS groups on Night 1 than the control group (P = 0.06). Percentage time in REM was highest in the IBS-S on Night 2. All groups demonstrated greater sleep disruption on Night 1 (adaptation) when compared with Night 2. These results highlight the importance of considering the 'first-night effect' in those with IBS and the lack of concordance between self-report and objective indices of sleep in women with IBS.
Roles for NF-κB in nerve cell survival, plasticity, and disease

Here we review evidence of roles for NF-kappaB in the regulation of developmental and synaptic plasticity, and cell survival in physiological and pathological settings. Signaling pathways modulating NF-kappaB activity include those engaged by neurotrophic factors, neurotransmitters, electrical activity, cytokines, and oxidative stress. Emerging findings support a pivotal role for NF-kappaB as a mediator of transcription-dependent enduring changes in the structure and function of neuronal circuits. Distinct subunits of NF-kappaB may uniquely affect cognition and behavior by regulating specific target genes. NF-kappaB activation can prevent the death of neurons by inducing the production of antiapoptotic proteins such as Bcl-2, IAPs and manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD). Recent findings indicate that NF-kappaB plays important roles in disorders such as epilepsy, stroke, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, as well as oncogenesis. Molecular pathways upstream and downstream of NF-kappaB in neurons are being elucidated and may provide novel targets for therapeutic intervention in various neurological disorders.
Cityscapes and contact zones: Christianity, Candomblé, and African heritage tourism in Brazil

In this article the author explores the ways in which Catholic, evangelical, and Candomble actors produce competing framings that shape encounters taking place in the city of Cachoeira in the Brazilian state of Bahia. The framing of Cachoeira as a site of heritage tourism – one where local religious practices are read as part of the African heritage and attractions for African American ‘roots tourists’ – obscures as much as it reveals. This is not to suggest that this framing is entirely inaccurate or to deny that many visitors themselves describe their trips to Bahia this way. But I contend that the ‘heritage frame’ masks key issues that complicate diasporic encounters in Cachoeira, particularly different understandings of heritage and religion and their relationship to black identity that African Americans and Afro-Brazilians bring to these encounters.
Three-Dimensional Model for Erosion of a Hall-Effect Thruster Discharge Channel Wall

The erosion of the channel wall in Hall-effect thrusters limits the maximum thruster operating lifetime. Hall-effect thruster channel wall materials are often binary composites of BN and SiO2. The heterogeneity of the material drives the development of complex surface features and roughness during the erosion process. A three-dimensional model of the atomic sputtering of a heterogeneous material is developed. The model investigates, through a ray-tracing technique and empirical erosion rate models of each phase, the interaction between the plasma and the material microstructure. Simulated surface profiles are compared with experimental data collected from the eroded channel wall of the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory/University of Michigan P5 Hall-effect thruster. The channel wall is composed of M26, a BN-SiO2 composite material. Simulated surface features and roughnesses for an ion incidence angle of 30 deg resemble those observed through scanning electron microscopy and optical profilometry of the P5...
Clinical risk associated with appointment noncompliance in heart transplant recipients.

This study examined the prevalence of appointment noncompliance in 101 heart transplant recipients and how appointment noncompliance is related to patient profile and clinical risk. Appointment noncompliance was defined as patients not showing up at 1 or more planned clinic appointments (at a minimal frequency of every 3 months) during the previous year. Clinical variables were collected from medical files. Psychosocial variables were measured using established instruments. Medication noncompliance was assessed using electronic event monitoring. Paired t test, Wilcoxon 2-sample test, chi-square test, or Fisher exact test were used for statistical analysis as appropriate. The prevalence of appointment non-compliance was 7%. Appointment noncompliers were significantly younger, were less likely to live in a stable relationship with a partner, were more depressed, perceived their health as poorer, experienced more symptom distress, and had significantly more drug holidays. Fifty-seven percent of the appointme...
Signaling events required for transforming growth factor-β stimulation of connective tissue growth factor expression by cultured human lung fibroblasts

It is possible that many of the fibrogenic effects of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) are mediated by connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). In the present work, we show that TGF-beta1 produces a 5- to 6-fold increase in CTGF expression by cultured human lung fibroblasts that is due mainly to increased transcription. The half-life of CTGF mRNA is 1.96 h, consistent with its role as a cytokine. In addition to requiring Smad activity, based upon the effects of specific inhibitors, the TGF-beta intracellular signaling pathway requires the activity of a phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C, a protein kinase C, and one or more tyrosine kinases. It is also likely that the pathway requires a member of the Ras superfamily of small GTPases, but not trimeric G proteins. Pharmacologic inhibition of TGF-beta stimulation of CTGF expression may be an effective therapeutic approach to a variety of undesirable fibrotic reactions.
Intracellular calcium and the mechanism of anodal supernormal excitability in langendorff perfused rabbit ventricles.

Background: Anodal stimulation hyperpolarizes the cell membrane and increases the intracellular Ca2+ (Cai) transient. This study tested the hypothesis that the maximum slope of the Cai decline (-(dCai/dt)max) corresponds to the timing of anodal dip on the strength-interval curve and the initiation of repetitive responses and ventricular fibrillation (VF) after a premature stimulus (S2). Methods and Results: We simultaneously mapped the membrane potential (Vm) and Cai in 23 rabbit ventricles. A dip in the anodal strength-interval curve was observed. During the anodal dip, ventricles were captured by anodal break excitation directly under the S2 electrode. The Cai following anodal stimuli is larger than that following cathodal stimuli. The S1-S2 intervals of the anodal dip (203±10ms) coincided with the -(dCai/dt)max (199±10ms, P=NS). BAPTA-AM (n=3), inhibition of the electrogenic Na+-Ca2+ exchanger current (INCX) by low extracellular Na+ (n=3), and combined ryanodine and thapsigargin infusion (n=2) eliminated the anodal supernormality. Strong S2 during the relative refractory period (n=5) induced 29 repetitive responses and 10 VF episodes. The interval between S2 and the first non-driven beat was coincidental with the time of -(dCai/dt)max. Conclusions: Larger Cai transient and INCX activation induced by anodal stimulation produces anodal supernormality. The time of maximum INCX activation is coincidental to the induction of non-driven beats from the Cai sinkhole after a strong premature stimulation. (Circ J 2011; 75: 834-843)
Thoreau's Body: Towards an Embodied Environmental History

Henry David Thoreau's body figured centrally in his efforts to immerse himself in the world beyond his skin. Nowhere did he express this wish more strongly than in a journal entry of August 23, 1853. A thriving field of purple poke stems incited a passionate affirmation from Thoreau of the mental and material ties between nature and an embodied self. "Live in each season as it passes," he admonished, in August live on berries, not dried meats and pemmican, as if you were ... making your way through ... a northern desert." "Open all your pores and bathe in all the tides of Nature." Thoreau went on to imagine "all Nature" -inside and outside-"doing her best each moment to make us well." This more inclusive and healing "Nature" lay in neither the extra human world nor the human body alone but in their interrelations. "Why, 'nature' is but another name for health," Thoreau exclaimed, "and the seasons are but different states of health."i As Donald Worster noted decades ago, what drove Thoreau outdoors into fields and forests was a corporeal quest: a "search for sensuous contact, for a visceral sense of belonging to the Earth and its organisms."2 Since Worster wrote these words, entire new literatures and perspectives have blossomed for understanding Thoreau's and other human bodies as artifacts of time and circumstance. Meanwhile, for all the fresh insights that environmental history lhas opened up into the cultural construction of nonhuman nature, our field has largely assumed that the "nature" we can most persuasively "place in human history" encompasses nonhuman actors such as wildlife, insects, germs, water, trees, and dust storms.34 More than ever, our field requires a more searching and historicizing approach to this most paradigmatic site where our humanity entangles with a nature at once "us" and "other" from US.5 In our own time as in medieval and early modern periods, scholars in other fields have seized upon this most human piece of nature not just out of a narrow and deluded anthropocentricism but as a way of intimating larger wholes.6 These wholes can be social as well as cosmological: bodily experiences, however private,
Isolation and characterization of a trypsin inhibitor from lima beans

Abstract 1. 1. The purification of a lima bean protein fraction of high trypsin-inhibiting activity is described. The active protein was freed from inert crystallizable protein. 2. 2. The inhibitor shows remarkably high sulfur (5.5%) and cystine (16%) contents. Preliminary amino acid analyses are presented. 3. 3. The inhibitor is relatively resistant to denaturing conditions. It is not attacked by pepsin or papain. 4. 4. The average molecular weight of the concentrate was approximately 10,000 by osmotic pressure and ultracentrifugal analysis. 5. 5. The inhibitor is not inactivated by extensive esterification of its carboxyl groups, or by iodination and coupling of its phenolic and imidazole groups. Blocking of part of the amino and amide or guanidyl groups, sulfation of the hydroxyl groups, or extensive reduction of the disulfide bonds destroys its activity. 6. 6. Marked differences exist between the properties and essentiality of groups of the lima bean inhibitor and those of ovomucoid and the soybean inhibitor.
Linear stochastic models for mineral liberation

Abstract This paper provides a clearly defined procedure for the calculation of the liberation spectrum that can be expected when any two-phase or porphyry three-phase ore is comminuted in a ball mill or an open-circuit continuous mill. All the data that are required by the model are readily obtained by suitable image analysis of the original ore. The model accommodates both random and non-random fracture patterns although, in the latter case, the model is not entirely predictive at present and requires some measurements to be made on the comminuted ore. A linear stochastic process is used to characterize the mineralogical texture of the ore. This model of the ore texture can be used to predict the liberation spectrum in particles of any size after comminution of the ore. The model is parameter-free and is not limited to textures having convex grain structures nor to convex particles. The model is extended to include the effects of different brittleness of the mineral components and fracture along the grain boundaries which lead to non-random fracture patterns. The model predicts that modest amounts of grain-boundary fracture will not increase liberation in minerals having exponentially distributed linear intercept lengths in each phase. The model is extended to multicomponent ores. Example calculations are given for a binary ore having exponentially distributed linear intercepts through both phases. An exponentially distributed porphyry ore with two valuable mineral phases is analyzed up to the calculations of the linear grade distribution as a function of particle size. The calculated distribution of linear grades for this three-phase ore cannot be stereologically transformed to the distribution of volumetric grades because no suitable transformation kernel has yet been determined.
IV. Lord Clarendon's Attempt at Franco-Prussian Disarmament, January to March 1870

On 26 January 1870 die Marquis de La Valette, French ambassador to London, read to the British Foreign Secretary, Lord Clarendon, ‘a long and able letter’ from Count Daru, the French Foreign Secretary. In this letter Daru suggested that Clarendon recommend to the Prussian Government some measure of reciprocal French and Prussian disarmament. Daru's proposal was immediately taken up. Clarendon wrote to the queen the same day informing her of his intention to do so and to his friend Lord Lyons, the British ambassador at Paris, saying that Count Daru could be sure he would do everything possible ‘to meet his views’. As one might expect from so easy a reception the idea of disarma- ment, especially of Franco-Prussian disarmament, was not a new one to Lord Clarendon. In his letter to Lord Lyons he described it as a subject he had ‘long had at heart’; and he informed Lyons that during the previous summer, whilst he and the Russian Foreign Secretary Gortchakoff had been at a German watering place, he had unsuccessfully proposed that Gortchakoff take up die matter with Prussia. But one must note straightaway that, however warmly Clarendon accepted the idea that he suggest disarmament to Prussia, he did not expect to be successful, i.e. he did not expect Prussia to make any move to disarm in any measure. In his letter to the queen Clarendon says that he feels failure is certain with the king of Prussia. He has some faint hopes with the Crown Prince, Queen Victoria's son-in-law, but he does not dwell on them. In his letters both to Lyons and to the queen, Clarendon says, in almost identical phrases, that while the king of Prussia does not desire war,’… far from it, his army is his idol and he will not be an iconoclast’. It is most unlikely, he continues, that the king will countenance any proposal to reduce the size of his army or to alter the Prussian system of recruitment.
Optical associative processor with variable nonlinearities in filter plane

An optical associative processor that employs variable nonlinearity in the filter plane of the conventional-filter-based optical associative memory is described. It is shown that for severe compression types of nonlinearity, the performance of the associative processor in the areas of retrieval quality, convergence rate, and light efficiency is improved significantly. The nonlinearity in the filter plane is implemented using a nonlinearly transformed filter to store the associative images such that nonlinear correlations between the input image and the stored images are obtained. Two methods are described to construct the nonlinearly transformed filter. One method applies uniform nonlinear transformations to the filter function containing all associative signals. The second method applies controlled nonlinear operations on the filter function. Analysis and computer simulations are presented to illustrate the importance of applying nonlinear transformations in the filter plane of the optical associative processor.
Communication disorders and emotional/behavioral disorders in children and adolescents.

Recent research in child psychiatry has demonstrated a high prevalence of speech, language, and communication disorders in children referred to psychiatric and mental health settings for emotional ...
Radio frequency glow discharge and solid-phase lactoperoxidase-glucose oxidase beads as methods for etching ultra-thin plastic sections for immunoelectron microscopy.

Abstract Etching technique to prepare ultra-thin sections for immunolectron microscopy have incorporated a variety of reagents to expose antigenic sites. In this paper involving 2 techniques for surface etching prior to immunoelectron microscopy, radio frequency glow discharge (RFGD) and solid-phase lactoperoxidase-glucose oxidase beads (Enzymobeads) are compared to conventional peroxide etching techniques. Measuring such parameters as intensity of granule disposition and titers antibody resulting in detectable staining, RFGD and Enzymobeads were both superior to the conventional peroxide methodology. Non-specific absorption by ferritin under the conditions utilized was not a problem with Enzymobeads or RFGD method. In addition, RFGD may be useful in situations where peroxide susceptible antigens are under study.
Caudal anesthesia for vascular access procedures in two extremely small premature neonates

With advances in neonatology, there is an increasing need for central vascular access in extremely small (<1,000 g) premature infants. Although the use of peripherally inserted central venous lines have become common practice, surgeons still frequently perform central venous line placements via cut-down in difficult access patients. The advantages of general anesthesia for vascular access procedures are obvious for optimal pain control and ideal operative exposure; however, extremely premature infants are at significant risk for prolonged endotracheal intubation with postoperative apneas. We report two cases where regional caudal anesthesia with bupivacaine and clonidine without intubation was successfully utilized at bedside during central venous line placements in premature infants weighing <600 g. The operative field was ideal with adequate motor and sensory block with caudal anesthesia and both infants received only oxygen by nasal cannula.
ATPase, peroxidase and lipoxygenase activity during post-harvest deterioration of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) root tubers

Abstract Alterations in the activity of ATPases, peroxidases and lipoxygenases were studied during early stages of post-harvest deterioration of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz cv. Oyolu) root tubers. The peak activities of Ca2+-ATPase, (Ca2++Mg2+)-ATPase, Na++K+-ATPase, Mg2+-ATPase and peroxidases were observed after the first 24 h and thereafter decreased. The activity of lipoxygenase was biphasic, probably depicting two distinct isoforms expressed during deterioration. The results indicate that ATPases and peroxidases have a role in the post-harvest deterioration of cassava tuber, but the participation of lipoxygenases seems unlikely.
Crystallization Kinetics of Alpha‐Lactose Monohydrate in a Continuous Cooling Crystallizer

The crystallization of alpha-lactose monohydrate in a continuous cooling crystallizer was investigated at various temperatures and super-saturations. The population balance model was used to analyze the product crystal size distribution as determined by the Coulter Multi-Sizer for each condition studied. Nucleation and growth values were thereby determined for each temperature and supersaturation. Kinetic models were then developed for both nucleation and growth to demonstrate the effects of the operating parameters. The results showed that the nucleation process had a temperature dependence with an activation energy of 17.0 kcal/mole and that nucleation increased with the 1.9 power of supersaturation and the 1.0 power of the suspension density (mass of crystals). The growth process was found to have a temperature dependence with an activation energy of 22.1 kcal/mole and to be a second order function of the supersaturation.