cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ASSOCIATION OF DRUG INJECTION PATTERNS WITH ANTIBODY TO HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS TYPE 1 AMONG INTRAVENOUS DRUG USERS IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

During 1988 and 1989, intravenous drug users recruited through extensive community outreach efforts in Baltimore, Maryland, were interviewed about drug injection and sex practices in the prior 11 years, with screening for antibody to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Neither interviewers nor subjects were aware of HIV-1 serostatus until 2 weeks after the interview. Among 2,616 intravenous drug users who last injected drug within the same calendar year as screening, HIV-1 seroprevalence was 30.1% for those with any use of shooting galleries, 23.3% for those who shared needles but did not use shooting galleries, and 16.3% for drug users who denied both needle-sharing and gallery use between 1977 and 1987. Among 608 drug users who reported persistent use of shooting galleries since 1977 or subsequent initiation into drug use, there was a tendency for HIV-1 seroprevalence to increase with more recent onset of an injection career. Combined with a milder but similar tendency among 739 drug users who reported persistent sharing of needles, and a seroprevalence of 15.1% among participants who had just started injecting drugs in the 18 months prior to baseline, these data provide indirect evidence that a high risk for HIV-1 infection might occur early during a drug injection career.
Proposed system for hydrogen production from methane hydrate with sequestering of carbon dioxide hydrate

Methane hydrate exists in huge amounts in certain locations, in sea sediments and the geological structures below them, at low temperature and high pressure. Production methods are in development to produce the methane to a floating platform. There it can be reformed to produce hydrogen and carbon dioxide, in an endothermic process. Some of the methane can be burned to provide heat energy to develop all needed power on the platform and to support the reforming process. After separation, the hydrogen is the valuable and transportable product. All carbon dioxide produced on the platform can be separated from other gases and then sequestered in the sea as carbon dioxide hydrate. In this way, hydrogen is made available without the release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, and the hydrogen could be an enabling step toward a world hydrogen economy.
The Charlson comorbidity index is adapted to predict costs of chronic disease in primary care patients

Abstract Objective (1) To determine chronic illness costs for large cohort of primary care patients, (2) to develop prospective model predicting total costs over one year, using demographic and clinical information including widely used comorbidity index. Study Design and Setting Data including diagnostic, medication, and resource utilization were obtained for 5,861 patients from practice-based computer system over a 1-year period beginning December 1, 1993, for retrospective analysis. Hospital cost data were obtained from hospital cost accounting system. Results Average annual per patient cost was $2,655. Older patients and those with Medicare or Medicaid had higher costs. Hospital costs were $1,558, accounting for 58.7% of total costs. In the predictive model, individuals with higher comorbidity incurred exponentially higher annual costs, from $4,317 with comorbidity score of two, to $5,986 with score of three, to $13,326 with scores greater than seven. To use an adapted comorbidity index to predict total yearly costs, four conditions should be added to the index: hypertension, depression, and use of warfarin with a weight of one, skin ulcers/cellulitis, a weight of two. Conclusion The adapted comorbidity index can be used to predict resource utilization. Predictive models may help to identify targets for reducing high costs, by prospectively identifying those at high risk.
Reply: Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Modifiers of EF5 Uptake and Binding

REPLY: We thank Drs. Koch and Evans for their insightful comments on our recent article on the hypoxia imaging agent 18F-EF5 (2-(2-nitro-1 H -imidazol-1-yl)- N -(2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl)-acetamide) ([1][1]). In their letter, Koch and Evans have suggested possible reasons for the significant
Esophagectomy After Chemoradiation: Who and When to Operate

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation is the standard of care for locally advanced esophageal cancer. After completion of chemoradiotherapy, deciding which patients benefit from surgery remains a challenge. For patients who decide on surgery, the optimal timing is unknown. The complexity of these questions requires an individualized approach, taking into account the expertise of the surgeon, the condition of the patient, and the biology of the tumor.
Self-Reports of Studying Practices and Course Achievement: Is There a Relationship?

(1990). Self-Reports of Studying Practices and Course Achievement: Is There a Relationship? Journal of College Reading and Learning: Vol. 23, No. 1, pp. 20-28.
Effects of Flight on Gene Expression and Aging in the Honey Bee Brain and Flight Muscle.

Honey bees move through a series of in-hive tasks (e.g., “nursing”) to outside tasks (e.g., “foraging”) that are coincident with physiological changes and higher levels of metabolic activity. Social context can cause worker bees to speed up or slow down this process, and foragers may revert back to their earlier in-hive tasks accompanied by reversion to earlier physiological states. To investigate the effects of flight, behavioral state and age on gene expression, we used whole-genome microarrays and real-time PCR. Brain tissue and flight muscle exhibited different patterns of expression during behavioral transitions, with expression patterns in the brain reflecting both age and behavior, and expression patterns in flight muscle being primarily determined by age. Our data suggest that the transition from behaviors requiring little to no flight (nursing) to those requiring prolonged flight bouts (foraging), rather than the amount of previous flight per se, has a major effect on gene expression. Following behavioral reversion there was a partial reversion in gene expression but some aspects of forager expression patterns, such as those for genes involved in immune function, remained. Combined with our real-time PCR data, these data suggest an epigenetic control and energy balance role in honey bee functional senescence.
Antidepressant Use in Black and White Populations in the United States

Objective: The study objective was to estimate the prevalence and correlates of antidepressant use by black and white Americans. Methods: Data from the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys (CPES) were analyzed to calculate nationally representative estimates of pastyear antidepressant use by black and white Americans ages 18 years and older (N=9,723). Results: Among individuals with depressive and anxiety disorders in the past year (N=516), black respondents (14.6%) had significantly lower (p<.001) antidepressant use than white respondents (32.4%). Depression severity was significantly associated with higher antidepressant use for white but not for black respondents. Psychiatric disorders and vascular disease significantly increased the odds of past-year antidepressant use. The increased prevalence of antidepressant use associated with vascular disease was independent of diagnosable psychiatric disorders. Among respondents not meeting criteria for depressive and anxiety disorders in the past year, lifetime depressive and anxiety disorders and vascular disease significantly increased the odds of antidepressant use. Conclusions: Few white and fewer black Americans with depressive and anxiety disorders received antidepressant treatment. Higher depression severity was associated with more antidepressant use for white but not for black respondents. Antidepressant use was associated with medical conditions related to vascular disease, and these medical conditions were independent of coexisting psychiatric conditions. The results also indicate that many antidepressants are used for maintenance pharmacotherapy for depressive and anxiety disorders as well as common medical conditions associated with vascular disease. (Psychiatric Services 59:1131–1138, 2008)
Reliability of fixation preference testing in diagnosing amblyopia.

• We evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of standard fixation preference testing and the 10-prism diopter (PD) fixation test in 427 patients. Standard fixation preference testing showed good sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing amblyopia of three lines or more in patients with deviations greater than 10 PD. Patients with small angle tropias, however, had a high false-positive rate, with 40% of nonamblyopic patients inappropriately responding with strong fixation preference. The 10-PD fixation test reduced this high false-positive rate and showed only 1.5% false-positive results. Unfortunately, this shift to equal fixation preference was also seen in some patients with amblyopia, as five of 19 patients with three or more lines difference alternated fixation with the 10-PD fixation test. Retesting disclosed that, although these children would briefly alternate to the amblyopic eye while viewing a stationary target, they would not hold fixation with the amblyopic eye through smooth pursuit. Our conclusion is that standard fixation preference testing can be used to diagnose moderate to severe amblyopia in patients with tropias greater than 10 PD. Patients with small angle deviations or straight eyes should be examined with the 10-PD fixation test, with the criterion for equal vision being the ability to hold fixation well with either eye through smooth pursuit.
Confronting Anthropology, Education, and Inner‐City Apartheid

Les ethnographies sur la vie des rues succombent souvent a un apartheid ethnique et de classe et evitent de confronter les politiques de misere sociale dans les rues des villes americaines. L'A. utilise des dialogues ethnographiques avec des dealers de crack de l'Est d'Harlem pour s'interroger sur la relation entre l'anthropologie, l'education et l'analyse de l'extreme souffrance sociale. La resistance et l'auto-destruction de la culture de rue est contextualisee dans des enfances passees aux intersections de la violence institutionnelle, personnelle et de categorie de sexe a l'ecole et dans les familles ainsi que dans les rues
Bone density issues in the adolescent gynecology patient.

Because adolescence is a critical period for acquisition of peak bone mass, adolescent gynecology clinicians can play an important role in promoting and reinforcing skeletal health. Efforts should be focused on maximizing nutrition, exercise, and a normal sex steroid status during these formative years. Close attention should also be given to factors that jeopardize the attainment of peak bone mass: amenorrhea, malnutrition (e.g., anorexia nervosa), use of medications with deleterious effects on bone, and underlying medical conditions that may predispose a young woman to early bone loss. This review places special emphasis on a patient commonly seen in the adolescent and gynecology practice, the female athlete.
A component model for internet-scale applications

This paper describes a component model where the overall semantics of a component is included in the interface definition. Such a model is necessary for future computing where programs will run at Internet-scales and will employ a combination of web services, grid technologies, peer-to-peer sharing, autonomic capabilities, and open source implementations. The component model is based on packages and supports static and dynamic objects, interfaces, structures, and exceptions. The interface definitions provide a practical approach to defining functional semantics and include appropriate extensions to provide semantics for security, privacy, recovery, and costs. The component model has been implemented in a prototype framework and demonstrated in an Internet-scale example.
Viscoelastic Behavior of Human Connective Tissues: Relative Contribution of Viscous and Elastic Components

Stress-relaxation tests were performed at successive strain levels on strips of human aorta, skin, psoas tendon, dura mater, and pericardium. The elastic fraction, the equilibrium force divided by the initial force, was calculated at each strain increment. In the aorta, the elastic fraction decreased with strain and was modeled as the transfer of stress from elastic to collagen fibers, while in skin it increased with strain, probably due to the rearrangement of individual collagen fiber orientations, resulting in an aligned collagen network at high strains. The strain-independent elastic fractions for tendon, dura mater, and pericardium were similar, and approximately equal to the values found for aorta and skin at high strains. It was hypothesized that the elastic fraction is related to the type of fiber loaded, and the tissue geometry. This analysis may be useful in studying disease-induced changes in the mechanical properties of connective tissues.
Sphenopalatine ganglion block for the treatment of myofascial pain of the head, neck, and shoulders

Background and Objectives This study examined the effectiveness of sphenopalatine ganglion block (SPGB) for myofascial pain syndrome of the head, neck, and shoulders using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study design with comparison to an internal standard consisting of trigger point injections (TPI). Methods Patients (n = 23) were randomly assigned to receive either: (1) SPGB with 4% lidocaine, then TPI with 1% lidocaine, and finally SPGB with saline placebo or (2) SPGB with saline placebo, then TPI with 1% lidocaine, and finally SPGB with 4% lidocaine. Each respective treatment within each protocol was given sequentially at 1-week intervals for both groups. Prior to the first treatment, all patients assessed their average intensity of pain and pain at that particular moment using a visual analog pain scale. Pain intensity and pain relief were reassessed 30 minutes after each treatment and at 6 hours, 24 hours and 1 week using visual analog pain and pain relief scales. Pain intensity and pain relief data were transformed into natural logarithm units, and the statistical significance of SPGB with 4% lidocaine versus SPGB with placebo, SPGB with 4% lidocaine versus TPI, and TPI versus SPGB with placebo were tested by mixed-model analysis of variance. The magnitude of the differences in pain intensity and pain relief ratings were also compared via computation of 95% confidence intervals. Results The analgesic effect of SPGB with 4% lidocaine was no better than placebo. Mixed-model analysis of variance revealed improved analgesia with administration of TPIs as compared to SPGB with 4% lidocaine and placebo over the entire week of observations (pain relief scores). Conclusions This study suggests that SPGB with 4% lidocaine is no more efficacious than placebo and less efficacious than administration of standard trigger point injections in the treatment of myofascial pain of the head, neck, and shoulders.
Homogeneous one-dimensional optical lattice generation using a digital micromirror device-based high-precision beam shaper

A homogeneous one-dimensional optical lattice is demonstrated by using a high-precision beam shaper based on a digital micromirror device (DMD) with an imaging system containing a pinhole low-pass filter (LPF). This system is capable of producing a high-quality flattop beam profile to form a standing-wave optical lattice with a 50×50 μm2 flattop region. The periodic potential generated by the optical lattice confines ultracold atoms in Bose-Einstein condensate experiments. We conducted beam shaping tests at several wavelengths by implementing various coherent and incoherent light sources in the visible and infrared wavelength ranges. Experiments produced flattop and other well-controlled beam profiles with 0.2% to 0.26% root-mean-square (RMS) error after applying a digital LPF and nearly flat phase. Several concerns for the system design are presented. First, the energy requirement was determined by power conversion analysis and DMD diffraction efficiency simulation. In addition, a LabVIEW program was written to accelerate the speed of the iterative process for beam profile refinement. Finally, various camera calibrations improved the measurement accuracy. We achieved a 1.25% RMS error flattop beam with diameter of 70.4 μm at the atoms' plane. Other beam profile measurements in different diagnostic planes demonstrated a good intensity uniformity of the optical lattice.
Cocaine-associated hemoperitoneum following atraumatic splenic rupture: a case report and literature review

Introduction Splenic hematoma or rupture of the spleen is rare in the absence of trauma. This case report with a brief review of the literature is intended to raise awareness of splenic bleeding as an etiology of abdominal pain; it highlights the importance of a detailed social history.
Radio Images of the Planets

Observations at radio wavelengths make possible detailed studies of planetary atmospheres, magnetospheres, and surface layers. The paper addresses the question of what can be learned from interferometric radio images of planets. Results from single-element radio observations are also discussed. Observations of both the terrestrial and the giant planets are considered.
Understanding Intergroup Anxiety: Are Some People More Anxious than Others?

Theory suggests that individuals who are more prejudiced or who have had less intergroup contact are more likely to experience intergroup anxiety. Although prior research has supported those proposals, it is weakened by the use of abstract (and therefore often ambiguous) intergroup encounters. The present research provided better evidence by measuring participants' anxiety in well-specified situations. This research also extended past work by studying intergroup anxiety in the context of groups defined by sexual orientation. Study 1 participants reported greater anxiety in imagined interactions with a gay than a heterosexual person, but only if the person was of the same gender. This anxiety was especially strong for participants who were high in prejudice, had less prior contact with gays, or were high in Right-Wing Authoritarianism. Study 2 provided a partial replication of these results when participants were anticipating a real interaction.
Luminescence dating of Middle Stone Age deposits at Die Kelders.

Luminescence dating of sediments has not been used extensively for dating Middle Stone Age deposits in South Africa, despite its potential for contributing to a poorly dated record. Such deposits at Die Kelders cave, on the southern South African coast, consist of narrow bands of occupation debris separated by thicker layers of aeolian sands containing much less evidence of occupation. Homogeneous, aeolian sediments are usually considered ideal for luminescence dating. Here we report luminescence analyses of five samples from these sands that demonstrate sufficient bleaching prior to burial to validate dating and that yield ages of about 60-70 ka, in agreement with other evidence from sedimentology, archaeology and electron spin resonance. Lack of significant differences in the ages suggests the deposits accumulated fairly rapidly during the early part of the Last Glaciation.
Assessment of Degree of Disorder (Amorphicity) of Lyophilized Formulations of Growth Hormone Using Isothermal Microcalorimetry

When determining the degree of disorder of a lyophilized cake of a protein, it is important to use an appropriate analytical technique. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X‐ray powder diffraction (XRPD) are the most commonly used thermo‐analytical techniques for characterizing freeze‐dried protein formulations. Unfortunately, these methods are unable to detect solid‐state disorder at levels < 10%. Also, interpretation of DSC results for freeze‐dried protein formulations can be difficult, as a result of the more complex thermal events occurring with this technique. For example, proteins can inhibit the thermally induced recrystallization of the lyophilized cake, resulting in potential misinterpretation of DSC degree of disorder results. The aim of this investigation was to study the use of isothermal microcalorimetry (IMC) in the assessment of degree of solid‐state disorder (amorphicity) of lyophilized formulations of proteins. For this purpose, two formulations of growth hormone were prepared by ...
An Impulse Interference Blanker for Communications Receivers

The necessity for adequate and reliable communications for military operations has always existed. Today, with the trend toward everincreasing specializations of military forces and the continued growth of complex systems of radar, fighter control, etc. , this requirement has become more urgent. Since items of communication apparatus are often in close physical proximity to facilitate coordination, the equipment has almost invariably been subjected to detrimental effects from mutual interference. When communications receivers are placed close to radars, impulse interference may occur, which is at times severe enough to cause complete loss of intelligibility. Such interference may be introduced into a receiver through various channels: a. Shock excitation of the tuned circuits of the receiver by the large modulatorgenerated d-c pulses. b. Direct pick-up of the radiated r-f radar pulses. c. Feed-back through common power supplies. d. Non-linear detection of the r-f pulse. As a remedial measure, the ground communications equipment has often been located as far as one-half mile from the radar sites. Such physical separation naturally increases the problems of remoting, maintenance, real estate procurement, additional buildings, heating, etc. Where airborne equipment is involved, such remoting possibilities obviously cannot be plausibly considered. Therefore, as the most effective method of reducing the effects of pulse interference to a minimum or negligible value, the impulse interference blanker for communications receivers was developed. Study and investigation by engineers of the Interference Analysis and Control Section of the General Engineering Laboratory, RADC, has shown that (a) above is the most common type of interference. However, the impulse interference blanker as developed will eliminate impulse interference no matter how it is introduced into the receiver. The blanker facilitates close-in operation of communications receivers with high-power pulsed equipments of present and projected design. It is so synchronized with the interfering pulse that it generates a blanking gate which is applied to the local oscillator of the affected receiver. Such a measure greatly attenuates the interfering impulse.
Interaction between dietary levels of iron and vitamin C on growth, hematology, immune response and resistance of channel catfish Ictalurus / punctatus to Edwardsiella ictaluri challenge

Abstract Nine egg-white-based diets supplemented with three levels of vitamin C from l -ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (0, 50 and 3000 mg/kg) for each of the three levels of iron from iron methionine (0, 30 and 300 mg/kg) were each fed to juvenile channel catfish in triplicate aquaria twice daily to apparent satiation for 14 weeks. Fish fed with iron-deficient diets had decreased weight gain, feed conversion and survival. Supplementation of ascorbic acid to the iron-deficient diets further decreased weight gain and survival. Feed conversion was not significantly affected by dietary level of vitamin C or iron and vitamin C interaction. No gross signs of vitamin C deficiency were observed. Total cell count (TCC), red blood cell count (RBC), hematocrit (HCT) and hemoglobin (Hb) were significantly lower for fish fed the iron deficient diet. TCC and RBC significantly increased when 3000 mg of vitamin C/kg was added. However, in the absence of dietary iron, supplementation of ascorbic acid resulted in significant decrease in HCT and Hb values. Hepatic iron concentration increased with increasing dietary level of iron. Supplementation of high level of ascorbic acid to the diet containing 300 mg/kg of supplemental iron significantly increased the liver iron content. Liver ascorbate increased with increasing dietary level of ascorbic acid. Dietary level of iron and the interaction between iron and vitamin C had no effect on liver content of vitamin C. Mean macrophage migration in the absence or presence of Edwardsiella ictaluri exoantigen was significantly higher for fish fed the iron supplemented diets. The significant effect of vitamin C was obtained only when high level (3000 mg/kg) was used. Neither dietary levels of iron nor vitamin C or their interaction influenced survival of juvenile channel catfish against E. ictaluri 14-day post challenge. However, the onset of mortality was earlier for fish fed the iron-deficient diet.
Caught in the Ground Wars: Mobilizing Voters during a Competitive Congressional Campaign

This project examines the effectiveness of a nonpartisan voter mobilization drive in Indiana’s fiercely contested Second Congressional District. A student-based, non-partisan voter mobilization coalition conveyed nonpartisan get-out-the-vote messages through door-to-door canvassing in three South Bend precincts on the weekend before the November 2002 election. These get-out the vote efforts took place during a competitive election season—one that included door-to-door partisan campaign efforts by interest groups, political parties, and candidate campaigns. While the nonpartisan mobilization campaign did little to increase the likelihood of voting among older voters, it had a strong effect on voters younger than thirty—the voters least likely to be contacted by partisan campaigns.
Uncertainty-aware visualization and proximity monitoring in urban excavation: a geospatial augmented reality approach

This research aims to improve the urban excavation safety by creating an uncertainty-aware, geospatial augmented reality (AR) to visualize and monitor the proximity between invisible utilities and digging implements. Excavation is the single largest cause of utility strikes. Utility strikes could be prevented if the excavator operator were able to “see” buried utilities and excavator movement, and judge the proximity between them in real time. Geospatial augmented reality (AR) is an enabling technology for such knowledge-based excavation. It synergizes the geospatial utility locations and the excavator movement into a real-time, three-dimensional (3D) spatial context accessible to excavator operators. The key to its success is the quality of the utility location data. This paper describes a dynamic approach to incorporate positional uncertainties of buried utilities into an uncertainty-aware, geospatial-AR system for real time visualization and proximity analysis. Uncertainties are modeled as probability bands (e.g. spatial bands with certain probabilities of enclosing the “true” location of utilities). Positional uncertainties are derived in real time by referring to its determinant, data lineage, the genesis and processes used to collect and interpret data. A computational framework, and a generic data model and its XML-format implementation are developed and tested. A method is developed to analyze the proximity in the context of positional uncertainties of both the utilities and the excavator movement. This newly created approach is expected to contribute to the safety in urban excavation via the integration of Geoinformatics and construction informatics into an uncertainty-aware, geospatial-AR, with real time visualization and analytical capabilities.
Food-Induced “Dose-Dumping” from a Once-a-Day Theophylline Product as a Cause of Theophylline Toxicity

Three slow-release preparations of theophylline have received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for "once-daily" dosing indications, amid controversy regarding the appropriateness of this decision. Because of specific concerns regarding data submitted to the FDA in support of the first of these products to be approved, Theo-24, we examined the absorption characteristics of this newly marketed formulation. Eight healthy volunteers received, in a crossover manner, single doses of a theophylline reference solution and Theo-24, taken both fasting and after a breakfast of bacon and eggs. The concentrations of theophylline were measured up to 60 hours after the dose. Absorption of Theo-24 after an overnight fast was very slow, with only 71 +/- 6 percent (mean +/- SE) of the dose ultimately absorbed. In contrast, food caused precipitous "dose-dumping," resulting in dose-normalized peak levels in the serum that averaged 2.3 times higher than after a fasting dose. About half of the dose was absorbed in a four-hour period, generally beginning six to eight hours after the postprandial dose, and complete absorption was then attained within 24 hours (p less than 0.001). Toxic effects of theophylline occurred in four subjects when they took the dose with food whereas no toxic effects occurred during the fasting regimen. Consequently, doses of Theo-24 that would have attained a predicted peak concentration of 15 micrograms/ml after multiple dosing taken without food would, if taken with food, have resulted in larger fluctuations and in peak concentrations in the potentially toxic range for six of the eight subjects.
Electrolyte Effects on Micellar Catalysis

In classifying chemical reactions, it is convenient to define the mechanism in terms of the molecularity of the slow, rate limiting, step. If only the substrate is undergoing covalency changes in this step, the reaction is considered to be unimolecular, i. e., it follows a dissociative mechanism, but if both substrate and an external reagent undergo covalency changes in this step, the reaction is considered to be bimolecular, i. e., it follows an associative mechanism. This nomenclature system is used extensively, and has been discussed in detail in numerous monographs [1, 2, 3].
Generation of Diversity in the Adaptive Immune Response

The adaptive immune system responds specifically to a large number of different antigenic determinants. F. Macfarlane Burnet proposed the clonal selection theory of antibody formation in 1959. One postulate of this theory is that antibody-forming lymphocytes (and by extension T lymphocytes) respond to a single antigen and that the specificity of these lymphocytes is determined during development prior to interaction with antigen. The mechanism by which lymphocytes generate this extensive repertoire of specificities remained an enigma until amino acid sequences and the molecular genetics of the formation of B and T lymphocyte receptors were determined. In the mid-1960s, William Dreyer and J. Claude Bennett hypothesized that immunoglobulin chains are coded for by two separate genes. Amino acid data confirmed that heavy and light chains had variable (V) and constant (C) regions. By 1976, Susumu Tonegawa and colleagues demonstrated that gene rearrangement involving separate genes coding for the V, diversity (D), joining (J), and C regions occurs during B lymphocyte development. Once the mechanism of gene rearrangement was understood for B lymphocytes, a similar mechanism in T lymphocytes was described. This process of gene rearrangement provides the lymphocyte with a unique set of specificities that are randomly determined and that allow the host to interact with virtually any antigen found in its environment.
Talking About Religion

Shouldn't we theorize more about public administration (PA) in its religious context? Isn't this a good time? Shouldn't we engage in such thinking more than, and different from, the existing literature? A trouble with traditional PA theorizing, despite belief in its porous na ture, is that it thinks in too much isolation from its context. I think it's delightful that, thanks in part to many members of PAT-Net, post-tradi tional PA has explored bureaucracy and governance within larger intel lectual contexts like critical theory, postmodernism and the rest. Religion is part of PA's context, especially in places like the United States and Iran.
Incorporating signal history into transfer logic for two-path echo cancelers

Two-path echo cancelers offer an effective mechanism to deal with the double-talk problem. A fixed foreground (FG) filter cancels echo while an adaptive background (BG) filter learns the echo path response. The coefficients of the BG filter are transfered to the FG filter when a set of fitness conditions are satisfied. Whereas previous works used memoryless metrics in the coefficient transfer logic, this paper demonstrates that historical information gives a more complete picture about the convergence and non-convergence of the BG filter. History- based transfer logic yields robust performance during double- talk and barge-in events.
Patterns of fungal communities that inhabit rodent food stores: effect of substrate and infection time

We studied the spatial diversity of micro- fungal communities through time in the food stores of three rodent species at two climatically different locations. Although the microfungal species compo- sition and environmental conditions differed consid- erably among the rodents' food stores, microfungal diversity was very similar when assessed on one stan- dardized substrate (sorghum seeds) placed in food stores of all three rodent species. This suggests that changes in the chemistry and composition of food items are largely responsible for controlling most of the fungal diversity within a food store. Newly stored food items placed within the dens were quickly in- fected by an array of transient microbial species that were, in turn, gradually replaced by a few competi- tively dominant species. Increases in microfungal di- versity appeared to follow a change or disturbance of microbial resources (e.g., seasonal rains, restocking of food stores). The variability and abundance of re- sources, and disturbance events may be the principal reason that rodent dens are hot spots for microbial
Mobilizing Latino Voters The Impact of Language and Co-Ethnic Policy Leadership

Building on evidence that Latino voters participate at higher rates when co-ethnic candidates appear on the ballot, we report the results from a field experiment examining whether co-ethnic policy leadership can produce similar mobilization in direct democracy elections. The study features a direct-mail campaign conducted during California’s 2010 statewide primary election aimed at mobilizing Latino voters. The experiment included variation in the language of the message sent to voters and the extent to it emphasized the pivotal role played by a prominent Latino official in placing the policy on the ballot. We find that mobilization messages are most effective when they target voters using their preferred language, at least for English-dominant Latinos. By contrast, our experiment yielded no evidence that co-ethnic policy leadership increased voter turnout, although we do show that female voters participate at higher rates when the mobilization campaign prominently features a high-profile female official....
Blood proteins and their distribution in rats with parabiosis intoxication; determined by paper electrophoresis.

SummaryRats which have developed parabiosis intoxication show, in addition to the other hematologic aberrations which characterize the condition, changes in the blood proteins. Anemic partners have a low plasma protein level and polycythemic animals an elevated plasma protein titre. The partitions which albumin and the respective globulins contribute toward the total serum proteins average the same in both anemic and polycythemic twins, although as compared to control levels there is a diminished serum albumin and an elevated α2-globulin component in each.
O que é autor de telenovela

This paper discusses concepts of author, authorship, co-authorship, text-work-creation and collaborative writing and model viewer in the field of soap operas produced in Brazil. Thus, based on Umberto Eco works The Reader Model (1969), Walter Benjamin The Author as Producer (1994), Roland Barthes The Death of the Author (1984), Antonie Campagnon The author (1999), Motter Fiction and reality: Construction Of Daily Life in the Soap Opera (2003), among others, and also based on the Brazilian Copyright Law (2011), it analyzes the concepts of originality and adaptation of the literary work for television drama. The discussion of the concepts suggests later studies, as is not limited to what has been considered here.
Stories from the Homefront: Perspectives of Asian American Parents with Lesbian Daughters and Gay Sons.

(1994). Stories from the Homefront: Perspectives of Asian American Parents With Lesbian Daughters and Gay Sons. Amerasia Journal: Vol. 20, No. 1, pp. 19-32.
The Effect of the Platelet Content of Blood Stem Cell Grafts on GVHD.

Blood-derived stem cell grafts contain large quantities of platelets. Platelets contain cytokines which could contribute to GVHD. However, the role of the number of infused platelets in GVHD has never been explored. Platelet dose data were available for 61 patients (27–66 y, median 52) undergoing submyeloablative HSCT from HLA-matched sib (n=35), 10/10 allele-matched unrelated donors (n=19), or 1-locus/allele mismatched donors (n=7) for hematologic malignancies from 9/01 to 5/04 (minimum follow-up >1 y). The conditioning comprised 100 mg/m 2 melphalan with (n=42; no prior autograft) or without (n=19; prior autograft) 50 mg/kg cyclophosphamide. GVHD prophylaxis comprised cyclosporine-mycophenolate with HLA-matched sibs and tacrolimus-mycophenolate with the rest. G/GM-CSF were not administered post-transplant. Supportive care was uniform. The platelet dose was 21–236 (median 77) x 10 8 /kg ideal body weight. The CD3+ cell dose was 0.9–14.9 (median 3) x 10 8 /kg ideal body weight. The table shows the cumulative incidence and relative risk of acute and chronic GVHD with 95% CI by the number of platelets infused. There was strong correlation between the platelet dose and the T cell dose (r=0.62; P 100 platelets compared with 18 of 31 receiving ≥3 CD3+ cells (P=0.001). Since higher CD3+ cell numbers can be associated with more acute GVHD, Cox analysis was undertaken to determine the independent contribution of the platelet dose. When both platelet and CD3+ cell numbers were analyzed as categoric variables (in addition to several other factors potentially likely to affect GVHD), a platelet dose >100 was the only factor independently associated with any grade of acute GVHD (RR 2.5; 95% CI 1.3–4.8; P=0.008), and a CD3+ cell dose ≥3 the only factor associated with grade III–IV acute GVHD (RR 10.0; 95% CI 2.3–43.5; P=0.002). When both were analyzed as continuous variables, the relationship was similar with higher platelet doses being associated with a higher risk of any grade of acute GVHD (P=0.006) and higher CD3+ cell doses being associated with a higher risk of grade III–IV acute GVHD (P The number of platelets infused had no effect on the incidence of chronic GVHD, transplant-related mortality, relapse rates, and disease-free or overall survival. This novel observation needs to be confirmed in a larger series of patients as well as the relative contribution of the T cell dose and the platelet dose to the occurrence of GVHD better defined. If confirmed, reducing the platelet content of blood stem cell grafts may represent a simple way to reduce the risk of acute GVHD partially.
Total harmonics distortion reduction using adaptive, Weiner, and Kalman filters

Total harmonics distortion (THD) is one of the main problems in power systems due to its effects in generating undesirable issues in power quality. These effects include heating (in transformers, capacitors, motors, and generators), disoperation of electronic equipment, incorrect readings on meters, disoperation of protective relays, and communication interference. Besides these problems, harmonics affect the power quality in both transmission and distribution systems. Different techniques have been used to mitigate the effects of harmonics. These techniques include; passive filters, active power filter, artificial intelligent, and adaptive selective harmonics reductions. Each method has some advantages and disadvantages. This paper presented new models of total harmonics distortion reduction using adaptive, Weiner, and Kalman filters. In order to test the performance of the presented methods, the output current of a single phase inverter circuit was used as a study case. The new models reduced the total harmonics distortion from by more than 50% however Kalman filters give the best performance as compared to adaptive and Weiner filters.
An Empirical Examination of the Information Content of Ohlson and Aier’s Modified Cash Flows

Ohlson and Aier (2009) propose a model of modified cash accounting (MCA) for analyzing and evaluating a firm’s cash flows. They suggest that MCA cash earnings provide a better measure of earnings than GAAP’s measure, and that the MCA bottom line is more informative because it identifies earnings due to operations on a cash- and approximate cash-equivalent basis. However, there is no empirical test for the information content of MCA cash earnings proposed by Ohlson and Aier (2009). This study empirically examines the incremental information content of MCA cash earnings compared with cash flow from operations (CFO) and GAAP earnings per share (EPS) using stock returns as the benchmark for firms’ performance during the 2001–2011 period. We find that MCA cash earnings provide incremental information content beyond CFO and EPS.
Going Beyond the One-Shot: Spiraling Information Literacy Across Four Years

ABSTRACTMany institutions overwhelm the first year seminar with “one-shot” library instruction sessions, which are not necessarily linked to any form of assignment or assessment. So how can librarians maintain information literacy instruction throughout a student's academic career? Data collected by the Rivier University librarians showcases the ability to implement information literacy more effectively by streamlining and leveling it out over a four-year period.
Simultaneous conversion of gastric band to sleeve gastrectomy is associated with increased postoperative complications: an analysis of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) has gained popularity for the treatment of morbid obesity as gastric banding (BAND) has fallen out of favor. As a result, simultaneous conversion (CONV) of BAND to LSG is commonly performed. We hypothesized that CONV is associated with higher 30-day risk-adjusted serious morbidity. Preoperative characteristics and 30-day outcomes from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Participant Use Files 2010–2014 were selected for patients who underwent LSG. Patients undergoing CONV were identified. Descriptive comparisons were performed using Chi-square and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests as appropriate. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess the association between CONV and a composite measure of 30-day serious morbidity and mortality. Overall, 35,307 patients met criteria for inclusion, of which 943 (2.7%) underwent CONV. The median age of patients undergoing CONV was higher (46 vs 44 years, p < 0.001) and a greater percentage of CONV patients was female (84.8 vs 77.9%, p < 0.001) than LSG patients. CONV patients had lower rates of common comorbidities, including diabetes (14.9 vs 23.1%, p < 0.001), hypertension (41.9 vs 48.6%, p < 0.001), and tobacco use (7.2 vs 9.8%, p < 0.001), as well as lower median BMI (41 vs 44, p < 0.001). Individual unadjusted outcomes of serious 30-day complications were similar between both groups, as was a composite measure of serious morbidity (CONV 4.3% vs LSG 3.6%, p = 0.1). However, after controlling for demographics, comorbidities, and concurrent band removal, CONV was associated with increased odds of serious 30-day morbidity (1.44, 95% CI 1.03–1.97) (c-statistic: 0.60). Serious morbidity following LSG is uncommon; however, CONV is associated with a modest increase in risk-adjusted adverse 30-day outcomes. Patients being evaluated for CONV should be counseled about the added risks versus LSG alone. Further research is warranted to identify whether the incremental risks of CONV may be modifiable.
Local Capitalism and Civic Engagement: The Potential of Locally Facing Firms

The twin forces of globalization and devolution have created administrative circumstances that strain the problem-solving capacity of local governments and increase the importance of nongovernmental processes and institutions. The literature suggests that locally owned firms are more likely to engender higher levels of civic engagement critical to buttressing that problem-solving capacity. This research adds an additional dimension, investigating to whom those firms sell and through which supply channels. Using survey results from hundreds of local firms across five study sites, this research demonstrates that locally facing firms—that is, firms that intentionally interface with community members and other local businesses—are associated with greater levels of civic and political engagement compared with locally owned firms that sell their products to customers elsewhere. Findings suggest that local governments should look beyond the local/nonlocal ownership binary to consider how private firms can be partners in serving and supporting their communities.
Integrated HIV care is associated with improved engagement in treatment in an urban methadone clinic.

Persons living with HIV and unhealthy substance use are often less engaged in HIV care, have higher morbidity and mortality and are at increased risk of transmitting HIV to uninfected partners. We developed a quality-improvement tracking system at an urban methadone clinic to monitor patients along the HIV care continuum and identify patients needing intervention. To evaluate patient outcomes along the HIV Care Continuum at an urban methadone clinic and explore the relationship of HIV primary care site and patient demographic characteristics with retention in HIV treatment and viral suppression. We reviewed electronic medical record data from 2015 for all methadone clinic patients with known HIV disease, including age, gender, race, HIV care sites, HIV care visit dates and HIV viral load. Patients received either HIV primary care at the methadone clinic, an HIV specialty clinic located in the adjacent building, or a community clinic. Retention was defined as an HIV primary care visit in both halves of the year. Viral suppression was defined as an HIV viral load <40 copies/ml at the last lab draw. The population (n = 65) was 63% male, 82% age 45 or older and 60% non-Caucasian. Of these 65 patients 77% (n = 50) were retained in care and 80% (n = 52) were virologically suppressed. Viral suppression was significantly higher for women (p = .022) and patients 45 years or older (p = .034). There was a trend towards greater retention in care and viral suppression among patients receiving HIV care at the methadone clinic (93, 93%) compared to the HIV clinic (74, 79%) or community clinics (62, 62%). Retention in HIV care and viral suppression are high in an urban methadone clinic providing integrated HIV services. This quality improvement analysis supports integrating HIV primary care with methadone treatment services for this at-risk population.