cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estimating Feature-Label Dependence Using Gini Distance Statistics

Identifying statistical dependence between the features and the label is a fundamental problem in supervised learning. This paper presents a framework for estimating dependence between numerical features and a categorical label using generalized Gini distance , an energy distance in reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces (RKHS). Two Gini distance based dependence measures are explored: Gini distance covariance and Gini distance correlation . Unlike Pearson covariance and correlation, which do not characterize independence, the above Gini distance based measures define dependence as well as independence of random variables. The test statistics are simple to calculate and do not require probability density estimation. Uniform convergence bounds and asymptotic bounds are derived for the test statistics. Comparisons with distance covariance statistics are provided. It is shown that Gini distance statistics converge faster than distance covariance statistics in the uniform convergence bounds, hence tighter upper bounds on both Type I and Type II errors. Moreover, the probability of Gini distance covariance statistic under-performing the distance covariance statistic in Type II error decreases to 0 exponentially with the increase of the sample size. Extensive experimental results are presented to demonstrate the performance of the proposed method.
Motor module generalization across balance and walking is impaired after stroke.

This is the first work to simultaneously examine neuromuscular control of walking and standing reactive balance in stroke survivors. We show that motor module generalization across these behaviors ...
Hydraulic fracture propagation in naturally fractured reservoirs: Complex fracture or fracture networks

Abstract All reservoirs are fractured to some degree. Depending on the density, dimension, orientation and the cementation of natural fractures and the location where the hydraulic fracturing is executed, pre-existing natural fractures can impact hydraulic fracture propagation and the associated flow capacity. Understanding the interactions between hydraulic fracture and natural fractures is crucial in estimating fracture complexity, stimulated reservoir volume (SRV), drained reservoir volume (DRV) and completion efficiency. However, what hydraulic fracture looks like in the subsurface, especially in unconventional reservoirs, remain elusive, and many times, field observations contradict our common beliefs. In this study, a global cohesive zone model is presented to investigate hydraulic propagation in naturally fractured reservoirs, along with a comprehensive discussion on hydraulic fracture propagation behaviors in naturally fractured reservoirs. The results indicate that in naturally fractured reservoirs, hydraulic fracture can turn, kink, branch and coalesce, and the fracture propagation path is quite complex, but it does not necessarily mean that fracture networks can be created, even under low horizontal stress difference, because of strong stress shadow effect and flow-resistance dependent fluid distribution. Perhaps, ‘complex fracture’, rather than ‘fracture networks’, is the norm in most unconventional reservoirs.
A parent-report scale of behavioral inhibition: Validation and application to preschool-age children who do and do not stutter.

Abstract Purpose This two-part (i.e., Study 1, Study 2) study investigated behavioral inhibition (BI) in preschool-age children who do (CWS) and do not (CWNS) stutter. The purpose of Study 1 was to develop the Short Behavioral Inhibition Scale (SBIS), a parent-report scale of BI. The purpose of Study 2 was to determine, based on the SBIS, differences in BI between CWS and CWNS, and associations between BI and CWS’s stuttering frequency, stuttering severity, speech-associated attitudes, and stuttering-related consequences/reactions. Method Participants in Study 1 were 225 CWS and 243 CWNS with the majority of them being included in Study 2. In Study 2, a speech sample was obtained for the calculation of stuttering frequency and severity, and the parents of a subset of CWS completed the Communication Attitude Test for Preschool and Kindergarten Children Who Stutter ( Vanryckeghem & Brutten, 2007 ), and the Test of Childhood Stuttering Disfluency-Related Consequences Rating Scale ( Gillam, Logan, & Pearson, 2009 ). Results Study 1 analyses indicated that SBIS is a valid and reliable tool whose items assess a single, relatively homogeneous construct. In Study 2, CWS exhibited greater mean and extreme BI tendencies than CWNS. Also CWS with higher, compared to CWS with lower, BI presented with greater stuttering frequency, more severe stuttering, greater stuttering-related consequences, and more negative communication attitudes (for CWS older than 4 years of age). Conclusion Findings were taken to suggest that BI is associated with early childhood stuttering and that the SBIS could be included as part of a comprehensive evaluation of stuttering.
Benign Chiari I Malformation

A benign Chiari I malformation (CM I) is one with minimal or no classical symptoms at presentation and no imaging evidence of syringomyelia, hydrocephalus, or spinal cord signal change. Published literature about this entity is limited and based primarily on retrospective cohort studies. Benign CM I likely represents about 40% of all CM I and has a favorable clinical course. In the available literature, rate of new syrinx development is about 2%, while 9% of patients worsen clinically, and 4% of patients require posterior fossa decompression. We recommend clinical and radiographic follow-up of patients with benign CM I.
Sex differences in nicotine-induced impulsivity and its reversal with bupropion in rats:

Background:Enhancement in cognitive impulsivity and the resulting alterations in decision making serve as a contributing factor for the development and maintenance of substance-use disorders. Nicot...
Starvation as Siege Tactics: Urban Warfare in Syria

Famine is on the rise across conflict zones worldwide. Yet in Syria – unlike other contemporary wars – the phenomenon is concentrated in urban areas, and intensified significantly after 2015. To ex...
23.4% Sodium Chloride Versus Mannitol for the Reduction of Intracranial Pressure in Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study.

BackgroundIntermittent doses of mannitol or hypertonic saline are recommended to treat elevated intracranial pressure (ICP). However, it is unclear if one agent is more effective than the other. Pr...
A Textbook Analysis to Uncover the Hidden Contributors of Science and Mathematics

Science and mathematics are universal endeavors. However, the historical perspective of science and mathematics has been westernized across the curriculum in the USA. There is a limited number of textbook analyses centered on exploring the representation of science and mathematics under a historical standpoint. This research seeks to discuss the dominated historical viewpoints presented in the textbooks and uncover the untold historical perspectives of science and mathematics contributors from non-western regions. A discourse analysis of eleven science and mathematics textbooks published over the course of 10 years was examined under an ethnocentric and cultural imperialistic lens with a focus on the hidden curriculum. The findings reflect that science and math textbooks continue to exhibit male Eurocentric representations. This research offers counter-hegemonic discourses in the history of science and mathematics not present in the analyzed textbooks with the purpose of diversifying the scientific and mathematic historical content knowledge. By offering teachers and students with diverse perspectives of the history of science and mathematics, the curriculum becomes enriched with accurate knowledge that serves and represents all learners.
How and Why We Should Argue with Angry Uncle: A Defense of Fact Dumping and Consistency Checking

How should we talk to Angry Uncle, or attempt to persuade any very ignorant audience? This paper discusses several strategies, including fact dumping, consistency checking, pandering, and just bein...
Lying in Persuasion

How does an option to lie impact persuasion? We develop a model that departs from standard Bayesian persuasion by giving the persuading party an option to lie. The conditions under which the option to lie is exercised are surprisingly restrictive: the risk that the lie will be exposed must be neither too small nor too large and the audience must be ex ante sufficiently inclined to do what the persuader is asking -- lying is used to nudge, not to push. However, the option to lie impairs persuasion even when, and especially when, it is not exercised, because it motivates the audience to be instrumentally skeptical and to disbelieve the persuader who is telling the truth. We apply the model to articulate the sources of news bias in partisan media and to assess the role of fact-checking in curtailing disinformation.
Cannabinoid Receptor II engagement promotes ILC2 expansion and enhances ILC2-dependent airway hyperreactivity

Abstract: Background Cannabinoids modulate the activation of immune cells and physiological processes in the lungs. Group-2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2)s are central players in type-2 asthma, but how cannabinoids modulate ILC2 activation remains to be elucidated Objective Our goal is to investigate the effects of cannabinoids on ILC2s and their role in asthma. Methods A combination of Cannabinoid receptor (CB)2 KO mice, CB2 antagonist and agonist were used in the mouse models of IL-33, IL-25 and Alternaria alternata ILC2-dependent airway inflammation, and RNA sequencing was performed to assess transcriptomic changes in ILC2s. Humanized mice were used to assess the role of CB2 signaling in human ILC2s. Results We here provide evidence that CB2 signaling in ILC2s is important for the development of ILC2-driven airway inflammation in both mice and human. We showed that both naive and activated murine pulmonary ILC2s express CB2. CB2 signaling did not affect ILC2 homeostasis at steady state, but strikingly stimulated ILC2 proliferation and function upon activation. As a result, ILC2s lacking CB2 induced lower lung inflammation, as we made similar observations using a CB2 antagonist. Conversely, CB2 agonism remarkably exacerbated ILC2-driven airway hyperreactivity and lung inflammation. Mechanistically, transcriptomic and protein analysis revealed that CB2 signaling induced CREB phosphorylation in ILC2s. Human ILC2s expressed CB2, as CB2 antagonism and agonism showed opposing effects on ILC2 effector function and development of airway hyperreactivity in humanized mice. Conclusion Collectively, our results define CB2 signaling in ILC2s as an important modulator of airway inflammation.
CRIMES AND OFFENSES Controlled Substances: Revoke Licenses for Drug Offenses

The Act mandates sanctions against individuals licensed to conduct a business or practice a profession who are convicted of offenses involving controlled substances of marijuana. The Act requires licensed persons to report their convictions to the granting authority which must either suspend or revoke the license. The Act also provides for license reinstatement upon successful completion of an approved drug rehabilitation program.
Acute phase responses of pigs challenged orally with Salmonella typhimurium.

This study evaluated responses of the systemic endocrine stress (cortisol) and growth (IGF-I, GH) axes, as well as those of inflammatory mediators (prostaglandin E2 [PGE2] and tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNFalpha]), to active infection with Salmonella typhimurium. Eighteen crossbred barrows were penned individually with ad libitum access to feed and water. After an acclimation period, jugular catheters were placed in all animals. Control pigs received sterile broth orally (CON, n = 7), whereas the treated pigs (S.TYP, n = 11) received 3 x 10(9) cfu of S. typhimurium orally. Plasma was collected at 6-h intervals from -48 to 120 h. Body weights, feed intake, and rectal temperatures also were monitored. Rectal temperatures were elevated in S.TYP pigs (P < .01) relative to CON pigs by 12 h, peaked at 42 h (P < .001), and remained elevated throughout the remainder of the study. Feed intake was reduced maximally in S.TYP pigs at 48 h (P < .001) and remained reduced through 120 h after the challenge. Daily body weight gain also was reduced during the 2 wk following infection (P < .001). Plasma cortisol concentrations increased (P < .05) at 18 h after the challenge in S.TYP pigs and remained elevated generally until 60 h after infection. A marked suppression of plasma IGF-I occurred in S.TYP pigs beginning at 30 h after infection (P < .001), and it remained lower through 108 h. Plasma GH was not affected consistently by treatment, nor did infection alter plasma TNFalpha and PGE2. Taken together, the results reveal that infectious processes produce profound alterations in the endocrine stress and the somatotropic axis, and this may occur in the absence of significant changes in systemic proinflammatory mediators.
The Ties That Divide: Bonding Social Capital, Religious Friendship Networks, and Political Tolerance among Evangelicals*: THE TIES THAT DIVIDE

Previous research has overwhelmingly found that Evangelical Protestants are generally less tolerant of outsiders than those of other religious traditions such as Catholics or Mainline Protestants. Using data from the 2005 Baylor Religion Survey, I examine the extent to which political tolerance is related to a bonding type of social capital that is typical of Evangelical Protestantism. Findings support most of the previous research into the relationship between religion and political tolerance, and support the hypothesis that social embeddedness within one’s congregation predicts intolerance among Evangelical Protestants, but not among those of other religious traditions. Implications for research into religious friendship networks and their potential dysfunctions are discussed.
A formal language toward the unification of model checking and performance evaluation

There are currently a variety of logics used to describe properties of discrete-state systems, such as linear temporal logic (LTL) and computation tree logic (CTL), and of discrete-state stochastic systems, such as probabilistic CTL (PCTL) and continuous stochastic logic (CSL). While powerful, these logics are by definition limited to producing only true or false responses. In this work, we introduce a query language, CTML, that operates on real-valued quantities to reason over probabilistic systems. CTML is inspired by, and evolves from stochastic logic. It extends until and weak until with arithmetic operations on real values, while still preserving their conventional semantics of temporal logic. We derive mathematical algorithms for computing each of the operators, show how any PCTL property can be expressed in CTML, and illustrate the expressiveness of CTML with some example performance-related queries.
Tunable FBG Dispersion Compensator with Double Ring Structure

A tunable FBG dispersion compensator with a simple double ring structure is proposed. The tunable range from 750 to 2000 ps/nm has been achieved without the center wavelength shift by temperature change of 44degC
Evolution of the fittest ends in tragedy.

New findings indicate that the primate lentiviruses SIV and, by analogy, HIV become more virulent upon in vivo evolution, with accelerated progression to AIDS ( pages 535–541 ).
Disruption of gene function using antisense morpholinos.

Publisher Summary The chapter discusses the properties of morpholinos and the reasons behind their having significant advantages over other antisense and loss-of-function approaches. Current methods for using morpholinos and for analyzing their effects on the development of basal deuterostome embryos are described. The chapter also reviews the kinds of information that are gained from loss-of-function morpholino approaches and considers other possible applications of this technology. The most important approaches for determining the function of genes during development are either mis/overexpression or loss-of-function assays. In lower deuterostome embryos—principally, the sea urchins and the tunicates—the use of morpholinos has revolutionized the analysis of gene function during development. In addition to demonstrating the developmental roles of individual genes, this approach has allowed investigations of the epistatic relationships among gene regulatory factors and signaling pathways, which has led to the elucidation of gene regulatory networks that control cell fate specification and differentiation. The mechanism of morpholino-mediated antisense interference is fundamentally different from that of other antisense approaches. It does not require degradation of target mRNAs by cellular RNase H activity but instead physically blocks translation or access to the splicing apparatus.
Retinoic Acid Stimulates Early Cellular Proliferation in the Adapting Remnant Rat Small Intestine after Partial Resection

Following loss of small bowel surface area, the remnant intestine undergoes a remarkable adaptive response. To define more fully the underlying molecular mechanisms, we have identified genes that are specifically induced in the adapting remnant after partial small bowel resection. Several of these, including cellular retinol binding protein II (CRBP II) and apolipoprotein (apo) AI, participate in vitamin A and lipid trafficking. The CRBP II and apo A-I promoters contain response elements for the nuclear retinoid X receptor RXR-alpha. It is well established that vitamin A is essential for normal cell growth, differentiation and maintenance of epithelial tissues and that CRBP II functions to facilitate intestinal vitamin A absorption and metabolism. On the basis of these considerations, changes in CRBP II and apo A-I mRNA levels could reflect a role for retinoids in modulating the intestinal adaptive response. To explore this hypothesis, we used a rat resection model of intestinal adaptation to examine the temporal patterns of CRBP II, apo A-I and RXR-alpha expression postresection. CRBP II and apo A-I mRNA levels were increased in the remnant intestine in distinct temporal patterns, whereas RXR-alpha expression was unchanged. To address directly the effects of vitamin A in adaptation, retinoic acid or vehicle was administered intravenously to rats immediately after 70% small bowel resection. Compared with vehicle, all-trans-retinoic acid significantly stimulated crypt cell proliferation in the adapting remnant intestine by 6 h after surgery. These data suggest that retinoic acid acts to modulate intestinal proliferation in the adapting small intestine after loss of functional small bowel surface area.
Trypanosomes in wild California sandflies, and extrinsic stages of Trypanosoma bufophlebotomi.

SYNOPSIS. Trypanosomes were found in 94 of over 1,600 wild Lutzomyia vexatrix occidentis, a common phlebotomine sandfly in central California; 25% of the infected sandflies harbored T. bufophlebotomi, identifiable by its peculiar kinetoplast and body structure. The toad trypanosome was cultured from insect isolates and freeze-preserved. Growth in culture occurred at 23 C, but not at 15 C or 30 C. The other 75% of trypanosomes from wild sandflies remain unidentified, altho some were probably T. scelopori or T. gerrhonoti of lizards.
Providing digital opportunities through public libraries: the Canadian example

This article describes the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s work in providing grants to public libraries in low‐income communities above the 60th parallel in Canada. Through its Canadian Partnership program, the foundation granted $18.2 million to 1,466 libraries throughout the country, funding the purchase of over 4,000 computers, 27 training labs, and 16 laptop training labs. The area described in the article includes some of Canada’s most remote regions and required unique efforts to bring Internet access and information technology to low‐income communities in the territories of the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. The computers helped many residents with literacy skills, increased job opportunities, and provided a host of other advantages. The foundation’s experience proved that the long‐range benefits to communities are only truly seen when such initiatives are community‐driven.
Summertime advection of low salinity surface waters into Onslow Bay

Low salinity plumes have been observed to emanate from the southwestern corner of Onslow Bay, North Carolina near Cape Fear and to extend northeasterly towards Cape Lookout. The length of these plumes is 100–120 km, roughly two-thirds the southwest to northeast extent of the Bay. They influence as much as 20% of the surface area of the Bay with fresh-water volumes ranging from 0·69 to 0·86 km 3 . This corresponds to at least 15% of the freshwater volume of the entire Bay. The freshwater flux as the plumes cross Frying Pan Shoals ranges from 2·25×10 2 to 4·05×10 2 m 3 s −1 . These plumes dominated the surface salinity structure over the inner half of the shelf in Onslow Bay during 14–15 July and 21–23 July 1976. In addition, a southwesterly flow of waters from Raleigh Bay into Onslow Bay was also observed during the same period. Both flows appear to result from wind-induced circulation.
An imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis revealed by use of 3-T proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Importance A lack of neuroinhibitory function may result in unopposed excitotoxic neuronal damage in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Objective To determine whether there are reductions in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels and elevations in glutamate-glutamine (Glx) levels in selected brain regions of patients with ALS by use of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Design Case-control study using short echo time and GABA-edited proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 3 T with regions of interest in the left motor cortex, left subcortical white matter, and pons; data analyzed using logistic regression, t tests, and Pearson correlations; and post hoc analyses performed to investigate differences between riluzole-naive and riluzole-treated patients with ALS. Setting Tertiary referral center. Participants Twenty-nine patients with ALS and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Exposure Fifteen patients were taking 50 mg of riluzole twice a day as part of their routine clinical care for ALS. Main Outcomes and Measures Levels of GABA, Glx, choline (a marker of cell membrane turnover), creatine (a marker of energy metabolism), myo-inositol (a marker of glial cells), and N -acetylaspartate (a marker of neuronal integrity). Results Patients with ALS had significantly lower levels of GABA in the motor cortex than did healthy controls ( P N -acetylaspartate in the motor cortex ( P P P P P P P P P ≤ .05 for both comparisons) than did riluzole-treated patients with ALS and healthy controls. Riluzole-naive patients with ALS had higher levels of N -acetylaspartate in the motor cortex than did riluzole-treated patients with ALS ( P Conclusions and Relevance There are reduced levels of GABA in the motor cortex of patients with ALS. There are elevated levels of Glx in riluzole-naive patients with ALS compared with riluzole-treated patients with ALS and healthy controls. These results point to an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters as being important in the pathogenesis of ALS and an antiglutamatergic basis for the effects of riluzole, although additional research efforts are needed.
Production of two recognins related to malignin: recognin M from mammary MCF-7 carcinoma cells and recognin L from lymphoma P3G cells.

From the first two non-brain cancer cell types examined, mammary cancer cells (MCF-7) and lymphoma cells (P3G), two new acidic polypeptides of approximately 10,000 M.W. each have been produced, called recognin M and recognin L, respectively. These are very closely related in amino acid composition and in immunological reactions to the first two cancer recognins, astrocytin from human gliomas in vivo and malignin from malignant glial cells grown in vivo. Together with earlier findings, these observations suggest that the cancer polypeptide recognins may be produced from members of a closely related family of substances characteristic of malignant cells.
Social context, singular focus

In the Computer Science Department at the University of Michigan (UM), we have spent the past five years building social context into several courses in the traditional computer science (CS) curriculum. Specifically, freshman- and senior-level, project-based classes have been designed to both teach significant and appropriate academic content, while also building software games and apps for children with cognitive and/or physical disabilities within the university's associated hospital. Children with disabilities provide the context for these courses, while the content remains representative of a traditional curriculum. The cadence of the course(s) is typically: propose, pitch, form groups, design, build, test, and improve. Each student submits a written proposal for the project. A group of experts read all of the proposals, and choose the ‘best’ for pitching to the other students in the course. Groups are formed, using student preferences, based upon the pitches. The newly formed groups follow an engineering process that includes gathering requirements and designing the software system. Student groups partition the work, and implement three iterations (alpha, beta, final) of their designs. Groups are re-formed, and the newly formed groups test code from each other's groups. Finally, original development groups have the ability to make final improvements to their code. Student groups are offered the opportunity to continue work on promising projects through subsequent independent studies or internships. If the software project is ‘minimally viable’, the groups are encouraged to continue development and work with the university's Center for Entrepreneurship or Office of Technology Transfer toward eventual commercialization. During the past academic year (2013–2014), one of the senior-level courses had the singular focus of developing software apps and games for a 13 year old girl with athetoid cerebral palsy. Her family was actively involved in the course, filtering project ideas and offering suggestions for improvement. Some of the most promising apps are currently installed in the family's house for methodical review and eventual improvement. This paper will discuss the general process that is used in this style of course, the specific approach that was used during the 2013–2014 academic year, and offer general suggestions for implementation in disciplines other than computer science.
Correlation of the rheological behavior of egg albumen to temperature, pH, and NaCl concentration.

Rheological parameters of viscosity, gel strength, and elasticity were determined on heat-set egg albumen gels over various treatment combinations ranging from 65-90°C, pH 6.4-9.6, and NaCl concentrations of 0.0-0.1M added NaCl. Maximum viscosity was measured at a treatment combination of 77.5°C, pH 8.00, and 0.1M NaCl. Elasticity and gel strength were highest in gels with a treatment combination of 85.2°C, pH 9.0, and 0.08M NaCl. Temperature had the greatest effect on all three rheological parameters. Gels heated above 80°C were of unusual character, exhibiting syneresis and shrinkage.
The Nerve Growth Factor Receptor on PC 12 Cells: Interconversion Between Two Forms with Different Binding Properties

: PC 12 cells possess two classes of nerve growth factor (NGF) receptors on their surfaces which can be distinguished by kinetic criteria. The majority class binds and releases 125I-NGF at a relatively rapid rate and has been called fast. The second class of receptors has been called slow because of relatively slower rates of binding and release of 125I-NGF, and also may be distinguished from fast receptors by their cytoskeletal association and resistance to trypsin. PC 12 cell plasma membranes were prepared and shown to have only the fast class of receptors. These membranes were fused to receptorless 3T3 cells with polyethylene glycol. The resultant fused cells were shown to possess NGF receptors, essentially all of which behave like slow receptors. Immunofluorescence microscopy was used to monitor the introduction of PC 12 cell membrane and NGF receptorsinto 3T3 cells. Results obtained with C10-2, a monoclonal antibody specific for a major PC12 cell-surface antigen, show that up to 90% of 3T3 cells receive PC 12 membrane and that the PC 12 membrane becomes integrally incorporated into the 3T3 cell plasma membrane. It is suggested that an association of receptors with cytoskeleton may be involved in the conversion of fast to slow receptor behavior, and that the differing proportion of fast and slow NGF receptors in PC 12 and 3T3 cells reflects the differing cytoskeletal organization of these cells.
Chronotropic incompetence, beta‐blockers, and functional capacity in advanced congestive heart failure: Time to pace?

Background: Chronotropic incompetence (CI) is often seen in subjects with chronic congestive heart failure (CHF). The prevalence of CI, its mechanisms and association with beta-blocker use as well as exercise capacity have not been clearly defined. Methods and results: Cardiopulmonaryexercisetolerancetestingdatafor278consecutivepatientswithsystolicCHFwasanalyzed.CI,defined as the inability to reach 80% of maximally predicted heart rate was present in 128 of 278 subjects (46%). The prevalence of CI was highest in those with most impaired exercise capacity (72, 48, and 24% for subjects with a VO2 of b14.0, 14.0–20.0, and N20.0 ml/kg/min respectively; p=0.001). While subjects with CI had lower peak exercise heart rate (114 vs. 152 bpm), and lower peak VO2 (15.4 vs. 19.9 ml/kg/min), they were equally likely to be on chronic beta-blocker therapy (74% vs. 71%; p=0.51). Heart rate and norepinephrine (NE) levels were measured during exercise in a separate cohort of 24 subjects with CHF. There was no difference in beta-blocker dose between subjects with and without CI, however, exercise induced NE release and Chronotropic Responsiveness Index, a measure of post-synaptic beta-receptor sensitivity to NE, were lower in subjects with CI (1687±911 vs. 2593±1451 pg/ml p=0.08; CRI 12.7±5.7 vs. 22.1±4.7, p=0.002). Conclusions: CI occurs in N70% of subjects with advanced systolic CHF irrespective of beta-blocker use and is associated with a trend toward impaired NE release, post-synaptic beta-receptor desensitization and reduced exercise capacity.
An Assessment of Consumer Protection and Consumer Empowerment in Costa Rica

The present exploratory study aims to describe and assess Costa Rica’s regime for protecting and empowering consumers. As the general framework, this study used research conducted in the USA, in Europe—specifically studies conducted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) partners—and studies sponsored by the European Union (EU) in Central America. This paper, however, is not intended to provide an exhaustive analysis or to answer all questions and issues related to consumer protection in Costa Rica; rather, it is to identify the main components of the consumer protection framework, its strategies, consumer redress mechanisms, remedies, and consumer protection challenges faced by the country. The last section outlines a conclusion and presents recommendations for improvement.
Population of 0 + States in Actinide and A~190 Nuclides by the (p,t) Reaction

The ($p,t$) reaction has been studied for targets of $^{230,232}\mathrm{Th}$, $^{234,236,238}\mathrm{U}$, $^{242,244}\mathrm{Pu}$, $^{248}\mathrm{Cm}$, $^{182,184,186}\mathrm{W}$, and $^{196}\mathrm{Pt}$. Uniformly strong (\ensuremath{\sim}15% of ground-state cross section) transitions were found to populate excited ${0}^{+}$ states in all of the actinide nuclides. The observed ${0}^{+}$ states were previously known for five of the actinide nuclei, and in these cases the states were characterized by small $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-decay hindrance factors and large $E0$ matrix elements. They have been previously classified as $\ensuremath{\beta}$ vibrations. The strong excitation of the ${0}^{+}$ states in the ($p,t$) reactions, combined with all other available evidence, suggests that throughout the actinide mass range these ${0}^{+}$ states represent a stable collective excitation different in character from both the $\ensuremath{\beta}$ vibration and the most common formulation of the pair vibration. No such excitations were seen in the W-Pt region.
Trandolapril: a newer angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor.

Abstract Background: Trandolapril is a newer angiontensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor that is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of hypertension and for use in stable patients who have evidence of left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction or symptoms of chronic heart failure within the first 2 days after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The fixed-dose combination of trandolapril and verapamil extended release (ER) is approved for the treatment of hypertension only. Objective: The purpose of this article was to review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, and safety profile of trandolapril as monotherapy and in fixed-dose combination with verapamil ER. Methods: Relevant studies were identified through a MEDLINE/PubMed search of the English-language literature published between January 1983 and August 2002 and a review of the bibliographies of identified articles. Results: Trandolapril has a sufficient duration of inhibition of plasma ACE activity to allow once-daily dosing. It is converted by esterases to the active trandolaprilat metabolite, with mean terminal disposition half-lives of Conclusions: Based on the literature, trandolapril is a well-tolerated and effective antihypertensive agent, whether used alone or in combination with verapamil ER. These products may be valuable in patients with LV systolic dysfunction after AMI, although the combination product is approved for the management of hypertension only.
Determination of the absolute stereochemistry of chiral biphenanthryls in solution phase using chiroptical spectroscopic methods: 2,2′‐Diphenyl‐[3,3′‐biphenanthrene]‐4,4′‐diol

Although the exciton coupling model has been widely used in the literature to suggest the absolute configuration using electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra, chiral biphenanthryl systems are one group of molecules where the application of the exciton model yields ambiguous conclusions. The use of 2,2′-diphenyl-[3,3′-biphenanthrene]-4,4′-diol, known as VAPOL, as a chiral ligand for enantioselective catalysis necessitates the reliable determination of its absolute configuration. Based on the X-ray diffraction data of its phosphoric amide derivative, the configuration of VAPOL has been determined in the literature to be (+)-(aS). The experimental vibrational circular dichroism, ECD and optical rotatory dispersion spectra, and corresponding quantum mechanical predictions of VAPOL are used in this manuscript to independently determine its absolute configuration. Chirality, 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Deletion of cell division cycle 2-like 1 gene locus on 1p36 in non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Our laboratories have documented a significantly high occurrence of chromosome 1p36 rearrangements in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The cell division cycle 2-like 1(CDC2L1) (also known as TP58 or PITSLRE) gene, a protein kinase implicated in apoptotic signaling, is located at the very distal region of chromosome 1p36 and is likely to be disrupted by structural rearrangements involving 1p36. To determine the molecular consequences of the recurrent involvement of the 1p36 region, we examined metaphases containing 1p36 abnormalities from 31 specimens derived from 26 patients for the possible deletion of CDC2L1 by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using the TP58clk-1 DNA probe. Twenty-three cases exhibited the loss of CDC2L1 from the abnormal chromosome 1. In 2 of 26 cases, the gene locus was translocated to the partner chromosome, and in four specimens, all derived from one case, CDC2L1 was not deleted. This pilot investigation suggests that 1p36 rearrangements, and consequently the loss of the CDC2L1 gene locus, is important in NHL. This work also opens avenues for further molecular studies and prognostic correlations.
The amino-terminal domain of CCR2 is both necessary and sufficient for high affinity binding of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1. Receptor activation by a pseudo-tethered ligand.

High affinity binding of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) requires the presence of the amino-terminal domain of CCR2, the MCP-1 receptor. Here we report that the 35 amino-terminal residues of CCR2, expressed as a membrane-bound fusion protein, bound MCP-1 with an affinity similar to that of the intact, wild-type receptor. Furthermore, the amino-terminal fusion protein enhanced,in trans, agonist-dependent activation of a CCR2 variant that was engineered to lack the high affinity binding sites for MCP-1. Mutation of highly conserved cysteines in the amino-terminal domain and third extracellular loop of CCR2, but not in the fusion protein, resulted in a dramatic loss of MCP-1 binding, suggesting the existence of a critical intramolecular disulfide bond that positions the amino-terminal protein for ligand interaction. These data indicate that the amino-terminal region of CCR2 is both necessary and sufficient for the high affinity binding of MCP-1 and provide the first direct evidence for activation of a chemokine receptor by a pseudo-tethered ligand. In this model, high affinity binding by the relatively short amino-terminal domain of CCR2 serves to tether MCP-1 and enhance low affinity interactions with distal regions of the receptor.
Principles and techniques of blood pressure measurement

The gold standard for clinical blood pressure measurement continues to be readings taken by a physician using a mercury sphygmomanometer, but this is changing as mercury is gradually being phased out. The oscillometric technique, which primarily detects mean arterial pressure, is increasingly popular for use in electronic devices. Other methods include ultrasound (used mainly to detect systolic pressure) and the finger cuff method of Penaz, which can record beat-to-beat pressure noninvasively from the finger. The preferred location of measurement is the upper arm, but errors may occur because of changes in the position of the arm. Other technical sources of error include inappropriate cuff size and too rapid deflation of the cuff. Clinic readings may be unrepresentative of the patient's true blood pressure because of the white coat effect, which is defined as the difference between the clinic readings and the average daytime blood pressure. Patients with elevated clinic pressure and normal daytime pressure are said to have white coat hypertension. There are three commonly used methods for measuring blood pressure for clinical purposes: clinic readings, self-monitoring by the patient at home, and 24-hour ambulatory readings. Self-monitoring is growing rapidly in popularity and is generally carried out using electronic devices that work on the oscillometric technique. Although standard validation protocols exist, many devices on the market have not been tested for accuracy. Such devices can record blood pressure from the upper arm, wrist, or finger, but the arm is preferred. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory monitoring has been found to be the best predictor of cardiovascular risk in the individual patient and is the only technique that can describe the diurnal rhythm of blood pressure accurately. Ambulatory monitoring is mainly used for diagnosing hypertension, whereas self-monitoring is used for following the response to treatment. Different techniques of blood pressure measurement may be preferred in certain situations. In infants the ultrasound technique is best, whereas in pregnancy and after exercise the diastolic pressure may be hard to measure using the conventional auscultatory method. In obese subjects it is important to use a cuff of the correct size.
Health Maintenance in Older Adults: Combining Evidence and Individual Preferences

There is increasing interest in maintaining health and delaying disability for older adults as this population segment expands. And instead of focusing on a traditional disease-specific approach to health maintenance, there is an ongoing shift to a patient-centered approach, and defining outcomes based on the older adults' goals. In this approach, their goals and preferences are central, and other factors such as their health status and prognosis help determine which goals may be realistic. These subjective goals and objective characteristics are then balanced with the risks, benefits, and harms of established evidence-driven health-maintenance recommendations. Hence, older adults share their goals and preferences with clinicians; while clinicians share information on risks, benefits, harms, and uncertainties of existing health-maintenance recommendations, and help guide the older adult through how existing evidence can respond to their health goals and preferences. In this article, the concept of patient-centered care in the context of health maintenance for older adults is discussed; and health maintenance recommendations for older adults are reviewed.
Sustainability Ethics: 5 Questions

Ryne Raffaelle, Wade Robinson & Evan Selinger, Copenahagen, Automatic Press, 2010, 296 pp., paper $32.00, ISBN 8792130143 In Sustainability ethics: 5 questions, the editors Ryne Raffaelle, Wade Rob...
Gender and Job Satisfaction in Urban China: The Role of Individual, Family, and Job Characteristics

This study examines gender differences in job satisfaction in urban Chinese, whether individual achieved status, family and household characteristics, and job characteristics explain these differences, and whether these factors are associated with men’s and women’s job satisfaction differently using a national representative sample of 1,641 men and 1,375 women from the 2006 Chinese General Social Survey. Urban Chinese women are less satisfied with their jobs than urban Chinese men. This gender difference is largely explained by women’s underrepresentation in the Chinese Communist Party and their inferior jobs. Family and household characteristics have stronger impact on women’s job satisfaction than on men’s, but achieved status and job characteristics have similar associations with job satisfaction for men and women. These findings suggest that persistent gender inequality is detrimental to women’s well-being at the workplace.
Immediate titanium mesh cranioplasty for treatment of postcraniotomy infections.

Objective Postcraniotomy infections have generally been treated by debridement of infected tissues, disposal of the bone flap, and delayed cranioplasty several months later to repair the resulting skull defect. Debridement followed by retention of the bone flap has also been advocated. Here we propose an alternative operative strategy for the treatment of postcraniotomy infections. Methods Two patients presenting with clinical and radiographic signs and symptoms of postcraniotomy infections were treated by debridement, bone flap disposal, and immediate titanium mesh cranioplasty. The patients were subsequently administered antibiotics, and their clinical courses were followed. Results The patients treated in this fashion did not have recurrence of their infections during 3-year follow-up periods. Conclusions Surgical debridement, bone flap disposal, and immediate titanium mesh cranioplasty may be a suitable option for the treatment of postcraniotomy infections. This treatment strategy facilitates the eradication of infectious sources and obviates the risks and costs associated with a second surgical procedure.
High-throughput flow cytometric DNA fragment sizing.

The rate of detection and sizing of individual fluorescently labeled DNA fragments in conventional single-molecule flow cytometry (SMFC) is limited by optical saturation, photon-counting statistics, and fragment overlap to ∼100 fragments/s. We have increased the detection rate for DNA fragment sizing in SMFC to ∼2000 fragments/s by parallel imaging of the fluorescence from individual DNA molecules, stained with a fluorescent intercalating dye, as they passed through a planar sheet of excitation laser light, resulting in order of magnitude improvements in the measurement speed and the sample throughput compared to conventional SMFC. Fluorescence bursts were measured from a fM solution of DNA fragments ranging in size from 7 to 154 kilobase pairs. A data acquisition time of only a few seconds was sufficient to determine the DNA fragment size distribution. A linear relationship between the number of detected photons per burst and the DNA fragment size was confirmed. Application of this parallel fluorescence ...
Experience of Forced Sex and Subsequent Sexual, Drug, and Mental Health Outcomes: African American and Hispanic Women in the Southeastern United States

ABSTRACT. Objectives: This cross-sectional study examined African American and Hispanic women's (N = 1,509) self-reports of unwanted forced sex and its association with behavioral and mental health outcomes after the event. Methods: Twenty percent of the women had experienced forced sex (1st occurrence at age 15 years or younger for 10%, 1st occurrence at older than 15 years of age for 10%). Results: Regardless of when forced sex 1st occurred, women were more likely to have engaged in unprotected vaginal and anal sex, to have had multiple unprotected sex partners, to have sexually transmitted infections, to have reported binge drinking and illicit drug use, and to exhibit distress and have received mental health counseling. Conclusions: Forced sex may have wide-ranging behavioral and mental health consequences years later.
Interaction of job‐limiting pain and political skill on job satisfaction and organizational citizenship behavior

Purpose – Job‐limiting pain (JLP) is an increasingly relevant topic in organizations. However, research to date has failed to examine the stress‐inducing properties of pain and its effects on job satisfaction and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). To address this gap, the purpose of this paper is to examine the interactive relationship between JLP and political skill (PS) on job satisfaction (Studies 1 and 2) and OCB (Study 2).Design/methodology/approach – In the first study, data are gathered from 143 employees of a product distribution company in the Southeastern USA. In Study 2, the independent and dependent variables are collected two months apart (and matched) from 237 members of a state agency located in the Southeastern USA, who are participating in developmental exercises.Findings – PS is supported as a neutralizer of stress brought on by JLP. Job satisfaction and organizational citizenship scores decline as pain increases for those with low levels of PS. Increased JLP has little effect on...