cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ethics of Treating Family Members

Physicians complete their training and licensing to be able to treat patients within their specialty. But, could treating one’s own family members be fraught with unintended complications and harm? It is important that physicians provide their patients autonomy, provide beneficence to each and to do no harm. However, these may be compromised by a physician-patient relationship. This chapter examines the ethical issues surrounding the treatment of family members and serves to help understand the conflicts and compromise that may occur when treating a family member through several case scenarios.
Ensuring the Safety of Maternal Immunization

* Abbreviation: Tdap — : tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis, adsorbed Over the past decade, the acceptance and implementation of maternal vaccination strategies has bourgeoned.1 There are several reasons that immunizing pregnant women is an attractive vaccination strategy. First, by immunizing the pregnant woman, there is the potential to prevent the targeted infection in the woman and her infant. Second, there is a window of susceptibility in infants before the initiation of the primary infant immunization series. Maternal immunization can help bridge this window of susceptibility. Finally, pregnant women are often more adherent to medical care during their pregnancies than at other times in their lives, thus making vaccine administration more efficient. However, although we have made significant progress in the implementation of maternal-immunization programs, the uptake of maternal immunization in the United States for influenza and tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis, adsorbed (Tdap) vaccine hovers between 50% and 70%.2,3 When pregnant women are asked why they do not receive a vaccine, one of the more commonly reported reasons is concern about safety for the fetus and the long-term adverse risks to the infant.2 … Address correspondence to Kathryn M. Edwards, MD, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, D-7221 Medical Center North, Nashville, TN 37232. E-mail: kathryn.edwards{at}vumc.org
Progression to Glenohumeral Arthritis after Arthroscopic Posterior Stabilization in a Young and High Demand Population

Objectives: Shoulder instability is a common cause of shoulder pain and dysfunction, particularly in young and active individuals. While anterior instability remains the most common type, recent literature shows that posterior instability occurs more frequently than previously thought. As opposed to its anterior counterpart, posterior instability most often presents with pain, particularly in active individuals involved in dynamic posterior loading of the shoulder resulting in repetitive microtrauma of the posterior capsulolabral structures. While arthroscopic stabilization for posterior glenohumeral instability has shown excellent success preventing recurrent instability and allowing return to sport, eventual progression to glenohumeral arthritis remains a concern in these patients. However, the rate of and risk factors for arthritis post-surgery in young and high demand populations have not been described in the literature and may be important in guiding decision making when treating the young patient with posterior shoulder instability. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the rate of progression to glenohumeral arthritis and identify potential risk factors after arthroscopic posterior stabilization in a young and high demand population.
Diffusion MRI Metrics and their Relation to Dementia Severity: Effects of Harmonization Approaches

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) is sensitive to microstructural changes in the brain that occur with normal aging and Alzheimers disease (AD). There is much interest in which dMRI measures are most strongly correlated with clinical measures of AD severity, such as the clinical dementia rating (CDR), and biological processes that may be disrupted in AD, such as brain amyloid load measured using PET. Of these processes, some can be targeted using novel drugs. Since 2016, the Alzheimers Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) has collected dMRI data from three scanner manufacturers across 58 sites using 7 different protocols that vary in angular resolution, scan duration, and in the number and distribution of diffusion-weighted gradients. Here, we assessed dMRI data from 730 of those individuals (447 cognitively normal controls, 214 with mild cognitive impairment, 69 with dementia; age: 74.1{+/-}7.9 years; 381 female/349 male). To harmonize data from different protocols, we applied ComBat, ComBat-GAM, and CovBat to dMRI metrics from 28 white matter regions of interest. We ranked all dMRI metrics in order of the strength of clinically relevant associations, and assessed how this depended on the harmonization methods employed. dMRI metrics were associated with age and clinical impairment, but also with amyloid positivity. All harmonization methods gave comparable results while enabling data integration across multiple scanners and protocols.
Displacement and Preemption of Climate Nuisance Claims

New York City and other municipalities have filed state-law-based nuisance suits against fossil fuel companies seeking compensatory damages for the consequences of climate change. Previous nuisance claims, filed under federal common law, were held to be displaced by federal environmental statutes. Defendants have argued that state-law-based claims should likewise be preempted. Yet while the enactment of federal regulatory statutes displaces federal common law actions for interstate pollution, such enactments do not necessarily preempt state common law actions, even where pollution crosses state boundaries, as it is more difficult to preempt state common law than it is to displace federal common law. In City of New York v. Chevron Corp., however, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit concluded the government plaintiffs may not “utilize state tort law to hold multinational oil companies liable for the damages caused by global greenhouse gas emissions.” While there may be strong policy arguments for this result, the legal basis for this conclusion is weak. This article provides background on the use of common law suits to address pollution concerns and the history of state-level pollution control measures, before describing the current doctrines of displacement and preemption, and explaining why the legal arguments for preempting state-law-based climate suits are insufficient to justify dismissing these cases, even if equivalent federal common law actions would be properly displaced.
The Roman Forum: A Reconstruction and Architectural Guide

Part I. Architecture in the Roman Forum during the Empire: A Brief History: 1. The Augustan Reconstruction 2. From the Tiberius to Phocas (14-608 CE) Part II. The Monuments: 3. The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina 4. The Temple of Caesar (Aedes divi Iuli) 5. The Basilica Aemilia 6. The Curia 7. The Arch of Septimius Severus 8. The West Rostra 9. The Temple of Concord 10. The Temple of Vespasian 11. The Tabularium 12. Portico of the Dei Consentes 13. The Temple of Saturn 14. The Basilica Julia 15. The Arch of Tiberius 16. The Schola Xanthi 17. The Diocletianic Honorary Columns 18. The Temple of Castor and Pollux 19. The Parthian Arch of Augustus 20. The Temple of Vesta Part III. Conclusions.
Properties of nuclease-resistant fragments of calf thymus chromatin.

Abstract Nuclease-resistant chromatin fragments have been isolated on the basis of their insolubility in 0.15 m NaCl after limited digestion of calf thymus chromatin with micrococcal nuclease. Such fragments exhibit an unusual circular dichroism spectrum in the range from 260 to 300 nm, which is unlike that of B form DNA or undigested chromatin and most closely resembles that of C form DNA. Electric dichroism and sedimentation velocity measurements suggest that the DNA in these fragments is folded into a compact, perhaps superhelical, configuration. The average A258 nm: A230 nm ratio for six preparations was 1.27 ± 0.02, indicating a well defined composition of approximately 1.85 mg of protein per mg of DNA.
The effects of climate model similarity on probabilistic climate projections and the implications for local, risk‐based adaptation planning

Approaches for probability density function (pdf) development of future climate often assume that different climate models provide independent information, despite model similarities that stem from a common genealogy (models with shared code or developed at the same institution). Here we use an ensemble of projections from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 to develop probabilistic climate information, with and without an accounting of intermodel correlations, for seven regions across the United States. We then use the pdfs to estimate midcentury climate-related risks to a water utility in one of the regions. We show that the variance of climate changes is underestimated across all regions if model correlations are ignored, and in some cases, the mean change shifts as well. When coupled with impact models of the hydrology and infrastructure of a water utility, the underestimated likelihood of large climate changes significantly alters the quantification of risk for water shortages by midcentury.
A Search for Trace Amounts of Hydrogen in DB Stars

A search for trace amounts of hydrogen in DB stars revealed no hydrogen in a sample of four objects. Upper limits are considerably lower than the quantities of hydrogen found in the DBA stars, stars with He-dominated photospheres and trace quantities of H. This search was designed with some care to serve as an experiment to decide whether the H in the DBA stars was produced from accretion or from mixing. These results suggest that the H comes from accretion.
Heme A of cytochrome c oxidase. I. Isolation from bovine heart.

Abstract A new procedure for the isolation of the green a-type heme from bovine heart muscle is described. The heme is extracted with a pyridine-chloroform mixture and separated from lipids and other hemes chromatographically. The product is obtained in nearly quantitative yield, either as a pyridine iron(II) complex or as a disodium salt of a hydroxo iron(III) complex. No evidence was found to suggest that the cytochrome a and a3 components of cytochrome c oxidase have hemes of different structure, nor was a cryptohemin component detected. A previously undetected group of approximate composition C6H12NO4 was isolated as a part of the green heme, and for this reason the hemes isolated by the procedure described here have been designated heme A derivatives to distinguish them from heme a or cytohemin derivatives obtained by other workers with the Warburg and Gewitz procedure.
Iodine and IFN-γ Synergistically Enhance Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 Expression on NOD.H2h4 Mouse Thyrocytes

NOD.H2(h4) mice spontaneously develop autoimmune lymphocytic thyroiditis that mimics human Hashimoto's thyroiditis, a disease where iodine, IFN-gamma, and adhesion molecules have all been implicated in the pathogenesis. To study how iodine and IFN-gamma modulate the expression of ICAM-1, we analyzed NOD.H2(h4) thyrocytes in baseline conditions (day 0) and at several time points following supplementation of iodine in the drinking water. On day 0, a small percentage ( approximately 10%) of thyrocytes constitutively expressed ICAM-1. The expression gradually increased to 13, 25, and 41% on days 7, 14 and 28, respectively, returning to baseline (9%) on day 35. The initial ICAM-1 kinetics was paralleled by thyroidal infiltration of CD45(+) hemopoietic cells, which increased from an average of 4% on day 0 to an average of 13, 21, and 24% on days 14, 28, and 35, respectively. To distinguish whether the observed ICAM-1 increase was a direct effect of iodine or a consequence of the immune infiltrate, we treated mouse primary thyrocyte cultures with 0.01 mM sodium iodine and showed a 3-fold increased ICAM-1 expression. To assess interaction between IFN-gamma and iodine, we analyzed CD45 and ICAM-1expression on thyrocytes from NOD.H2(h4) wild-type and NOD.H2(h4) thyr-IFN-gamma transgenic littermates. Strikingly, IFN-gamma interacted synergistically with iodine to enhance ICAM-1 expression on thyrocytes. These findings suggest that iodine and IFN-gamma cooperate to promote thyroidal expression of ICAM-1 in this mouse model of thyroiditis, highlighting the complex interplay present in the pathogenesis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
Abstract T MP40: A Home-Based Telerehabilitation System for Patients With Stroke

Evidence suggests that greater duration and intensity of rehabilitation therapy improves outcomes for patients with stroke. Delivery of care is often limited, however, e.g., due to systems of care delivery, cost, rural location, or difficulty travelling. The current study addressed this unmet need by examining the feasibility of a home-based telerehabilitation system. Entry criteria included age >18 yrs, 12-26 wk post stroke, and arm motor deficits (Fugl-Meyer (FM) score 22-55) that were stable. Each subject received 28 d of daily home-based telerehabilitation using a fixed system that we delivered/assembled. Each day consisted of 1 structured hour (testing, BP check, individualized exercises and games, and stroke prevention education) plus up to 1 hour of free play on dozens of games. Each week, subjects had a 1 videoconference with a licensed therapist and 1 with a research assistant; subjects could also phone the lab for technical support if needed. Enrollees were 54±17 yr (mean±SD), 6M/6F, with baseline FM=39±12 (range 23-55). Compliance was excellent, with subjects engaging in therapy 329 of 336 (97.9%) assigned days. Arm motor status improved (FM change 4.8±3.8 points from baseline to 1 mo post-therapy, p=0.0015). Although scores on tests of computer literacy declined with age (r = -0.90 to -0.92, p<0.0001), as expected, the arm motor gains derived from use of this system did not vary with age. The stroke education module was associated with significant gains in stroke prevention knowledge. BP was recorded by the patient, and results automatically transmitted to lab, on 97.9% of assigned days. Therapist videoconferences detected PHQ-2 scores consistent with depression in 3/12 patients. Therapists were able to review patient performances and upload revised therapy settings to the patient’s home system without difficulty at any time of day. Results of this pilot study support the utility of a home-based system to effectively deliver telerehabilitation, improve patient education, screen for complications of stroke, and as well as to provide a means for patient interaction with medical personnel. The use of a computer-based interface offers many opportunities to monitor and improve the health of patients after stroke.
Time Varying Fundamental Constants,Extra Dimensionsand the Renormalization Group

Time varying fundamental constants find a natural setting in the cosmol- ogy of extra space-time dimensions. Changes in the sizes of additional compact spatial dimensions manifest themselves as modifications of coupling strengths and masses in our effective low energy four-dimensional world. Those variations and their intercon- nection are best studied using the renormalization group equations of the Standard Model or its supersymmetric and grand unified extensions. A generic analysis predicts that time changes in the fine structure constant, α, are relatively suppressed by vac- uum polarization effects while the QCD coupling variation is relatively enhanced due to asymptotic freedom. The latter effect suggests that time changes in the proton to electron mass ratio, mp/me may be a particularly sensitive probe of the physics of extra dimensions, with the sign (+/−) of the variation relative to other changing quantities differentiating possible cosmologies.
Statistical Modeling of Human Fecundity

Human fecundity is of great interest to reproductive scientists, as well as to couples trying to conceive. It is measured by the probability of pregnancy in a menstrual cycle for a sexually active couple who is not contracepting. Reproductive epidemiologists are interested in models for human fecundity to identify the determinants and to identify preventable causes of reproductive dysfunction. There is also suspicion that various environmental factors negatively affect the human fertility. Motivated by these issues, there has been considerable interest in developing biologically precise statistical models for human fecundity. This chapter begins with a brief discussion of various biological and behavioral factors that potentially impact pregnancy. Furthermore, emphasis is made on various biological and behavioral factors that impact pregnancy but are not measurable. Next, we review various statistical models for pregnancy that are available in literature, with emphasis on models that are biologically relevant. We also indicate some outstanding issues that need to be addressed to build stronger statistical models that are biologically valid. We conclude with an analysis of the New York Anglers Cohort Prospective Pregnancy study. Keywords: Conception; Bayesian models; Heirarchical data; censoring; discrete survival
Manufacturing Naxi’s original ecological culture in contemporary China

For over a decade, original ecological (yuanshengtai原生态) has contested ethnic (minzu) as an influential framework in representing minority folk culture in Chinese official and popular media. This article explores the ideological implications of such a shift in the context of state-minority relationships. By examining Han elites’ invention of the neologism and Naxi elites’ adaptations, I argue that YST transforms local ethnic categories into a transethnic, translocal, and transnational concept, and therefore allows both the nation state and the minority groups to promote their own versions of ethnic identities. Compared to the antagonistic model between state domination and minority resistance, YST reflects a shift from minority political self-determination to cultural self-representation in the drastically changing global environments.
Regulation of the alternative pathway of complement modulates injury and immunity in a chronic model of dextran sulphate sodium-induced colitis

Summary The role of complement in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been studied primarily using acute models, and it is unclear how complement affects processes in more relevant chronic models of IBD in which modulation of adaptive immunity and development of fibrosis have pathogenic roles. Using mice deficient in C1q/mannose-binding lectin (MBL) or C3, we demonstrated an important role for these opsonins and/or the classical pathway C3 convertase in providing protection against mucosal injury and infection in a model of chronic dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. In contrast, deficiency of the alternative pathway (fB–/– mice) had significantly less impact on injury profiles. Consequently, the effect of a targeted inhibitor of the alternative pathway was investigated in a therapeutic protocol. Following the establishment of colitis, mice were treated with CR2-fH during subsequent periods of DSS treatment and acute injury (modelling relapse). CR2-fH significantly reduced complement activation, inflammation and injury in the colon, and additionally reduced fibrosis. Alternative pathway inhibition also altered the immune response in the chronic state in terms of reducing numbers of B cells, macrophages and mature dendritic cells in the lamina propria. This study indicates an important role for the alternative pathway of complement in the pathogenesis and the shaping of an immune response in chronic DSS-induced colitis, and supports further investigation into the use of targeted alternative pathway inhibition for the treatment of IBD.
Finite elements for modeling frequency-dependent material damping using internal state variables

New developments in a method of modeling frequency-dependent material damping and modulus in structural dynamics analysis are reported. The fundamental feature of the general method is the introduction of augmenting thermodynamic fields (ATF) to interact with the mechanical displacement field of continuum mechanics. These ATF are directly motivated by the "internal state variables" of materials science. The coupled partial differential equations that govern the dynamic behavior of a uniaxial rod are numerically solved within the computational framework of the finite element method, resulting in "ATF-damped" finite elements. Previous work in the development of this modeling technique is characterized by the use of a single augmenting field, with application to lightly-damped rods, beams, and truss structures. New developments include: (1) demonstration of the ability to model the behavior of high-damping materials; and (2) the use of multiple augmenting fields to model materials whose behavior departs significantly from that of standard anelastic solids.
Microphotometric Analysis of Movietone Sound Records

IN a letter published in a recent number of NATURE (July 19, p. 93), Dr. Louis V. King announced a method of microphotometric analysis of movietone sound records. Evidently Dr. King has overlooked that this method was described by me seven years ago in a paper, “Photographic Recording and Photoelectric Reproduction of Sound”, published in the Transactions of the Society of Motion Picture Engineers, No. 16, 1923. On page 113 of the paper, Fig. 24 serves to illustrate this method of sound analysis. A comparative study of analysis of sound records by means of Moll's thermoelectric microphotometer and Koch's photoelectric microphotometer was made in 1927. A brief report thereof was published in the Bulletin of the American Physical Society, vol. 4, p. 2, April 1929, and also in the Physical Review, vol. 33, p. 1094, 1929, under the title “Application of Microphotometers for the Analysis of Photographic Sound Records”.
Experimental infection of human vascular endothelial cells by pathogenic and nonpathogenic hantaviruses

To investigate whether the hantaviruses replicate in endothelial cells, we inoculated human umbilical vein endothelial cells with several pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains of hantavirus. Intracytoplasmic, virus-specific granular fluorescence was detected initially at three days postinoculation and nearly 100% of cells contained viral antigen at 10 days. Cytopathic effect or inclusion bodies were not observed. The in vitro demonstration of the susceptibility of endothelial cells to hantaviruses corroborates in vivo findings, and suggests that endothelial cells may serve as target cells in hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.
Syntactical encoding in short-term memory.

Subjects learned and recalled lists of nonsense words presented without sentence structure, or the same words embedded in key syntactical positions in active, passive, or interrogative voice sentences, for three trials. On Trial 4, all S s learned and recalled nonsense words presented in an active voice snetence. In all conditions (active, passive, interrogative, word list) recall decreased, PI (proactive inhibition) increased, from Trial 1 to Trial 3. On Trial 4, the group continuing with active voice showed further PI. The word list group showed a high degree of recovery from PI. The passive and interrogative groups showed intermediate amounts of recovery from PI. The recovery from PI when sentence structure was introduced, or was changed from one voice to another, is taken to indicate use of syntax as an encoding cue for recall.
Time and the External Validity of Experiments.

Abstract Time is a major consideration in the external validity of both randomized and naturalistic experiments. Major threats to external validity are: (1) time unit of analysis; (2) seasonal and cyclical variation in subjects; (3) dynamic covariation; (4) cross-time intervention effects; (5) subject-time sampling problems (6) time-personological interactions; and (7) effect size changes over time. Problems associated with sampling and randomization efficacy over time are discussed.
The effect of pressure and cooling rate on spermatoza, kidney tissue, and the whole kidney.

Abstract Application of high hydrostatic pressure as a cryoprotective was evaluated for the bovine sperm cell, kidney tissue, and the whole kidney. Spermatozoa samples were pressurized between 172 and 1724 bar for various lengths of time. The effect of pressure and cooling at 5 °C/min, 35 °C/min, and 55 °C/min to −60 °C was investigated. Application of pressure to sperm cells resulted in extensive damage, as shown by a decrease in motility, an increase in morphological a bnormalities, and the release of enzymes. Freezing of sperm cells, kidney tissue, and the whole kidney under high pressure was significantly more damaging than freezing at the same rates at atmospheric pressure. Pressure did not act as a cryoprotective agent but instead led to gross cellular damage, either when applied at 4 °C or during freeze-thaw procedures.
The Love of Jesus Never Disappoints: Reconstituting Female Personhood in Urban Madagascar 1

Abstract Drawing from extensive fieldwork in east Madagascar, this article examines the role of Pentecostal churches in assuaging gendered suffering among middle-aged women who have become vulnerable to social exclusion. It focuses particularly on two techniques that women use to manage their relationships with husbands and children: cultivated passivity and the creation of a relationship with Jesus through prayer and small acts of exchange. It argues that conversion and the practice of Pentecostal Christianity helps women less by changing their husband’s behavior than by offering them an alternative source of authority and a new set of practices through which to build valued personhood.
Correlation of enzyme activities and metabolic pathways with growth rate of hepatomas

Summary The properties of phosphoglucomutase and the behavior of malic dehydrogenase, the malic enzyme and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase were examined in a spectrum of liver tumors of different growth rates. Previous work on the classification of metabolic parameters according to their relation to the growth rate of hepatomas was summarized in the light of recent results. 1. The nature of the decrease in phosphoglucomutase activity in hepatomas was examined. This enzyme was activated in the various hepatomas to the same extent as in the normal liver. In kinetic studies it was shown that the Km in the slow-growing hepatomas was the same as that of the liver enzyme. In contrast, the Km values in the rapidly-growing tumors were higher than that found for the corresponding normal liver enzyme. It appears that the rapidly-growing hepatomas synthesize a malformed enzyme with a decreased affinity for the substrate. 2. The malic enzyme activity did not correlate with the growth rate of the liver enzymes. Malic dehydrogenase activity, however, whether it was measured from oxalacetate to malate or reverse, showed a gradual decrease in tumors of increasing growth rate. 3. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase was normal or moderately decreased in the slow-growing hepatomas but was nearly absent in the rapidlygrowing tumors. The behavior of this strategic enzyme was closely similar to that previously described in other key gluconeogenic enzymes, glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1,6-diphosphatase. 4. The behavior of various enzymes and pathways of carbohydrate metabolism and incorporation of amino acids into protein were classified according to their correlation with the growth rate in a spectrum of liver tumors.
Non‐mosaic trisomy 20 in amniotic fluid cultures with minor anomalies in the fetus

A non-mosaic trisomy 20 was discovered in all cells in two separate cultures from an age-related genetic amniocentesis. Karyotypes of cells obtained via amniocentesis at the time of termination and of cells cultured from the placenta gave the same unambiguous results. However, the fetus, under macro- and microscopic analysis, showed only two minor anomalies: left simian crease and low-set ears. These findings are more suggestive of a normal or at most mosaic trisomy 20 state. The significance of this finding for prenatal diagnosis is discussed.
Policy Design, Social Regulation, and Theory Building: Lessons from the Traffic Safety Policy Arena

This study seeks to advance understanding of social regulatory policy tools by assessing their potential as a vehicle for developing midrange theories of policy design. Analysis of Michigan traffic safety data indicates that those pursuing policy design research should anticipate that: (1) enforcement effects vary across regulatory tools; (2) attributes such as "birth order" and "precision of targeting" can condition the impact of various types of social regulatory tools differently; (3) success is conditioned not only by implement attributes, but also by implementation styles, contexts, and target populations; and (4) the comparative advantage of any tool can be assessed accurately only by considering its interaction with other implements across these disparate styles, contexts, and target populations.
Numerical simulations of jump phenomena in stable Duffing systems

Abstract In this paper the jump phenomena in quasilinear Duffing systems under sinusoidal and narrow band random excitations are examined by numerical simulations. The simulation results for sinusoidal excitations agree very well with analytical solutions obtained by the equivalent linearization method. The results showing the sensitivity of the periodic responses to the initial conditions are believed to be the first published in the literature. The simulation results for narrow band random excitations confirm that multi-level mean square responses can occur for mono-level excitations, but only for very narrow bandwidth excitations. The multi-level random responses are also sensitive to initial conditions. As the bandwidth of the excitation broadens, the multi-level responses merge into a single level one.
Further Characterization of LSXSS Recombinant Inbred Strains of Mice: Activating and Hypothermic Effects of Ethanol

Lines of mice selected for differential initial sensitivity to the anesthetic effects of ethanol also differ in their locomotor responses to lower doses of ethanol. Sixteen recombinant inbred strains of mice derived from long-sleep (LS) and short-sleep (SS) selected lines as well as inbred LS and SS mice were used in a genetic correlational study to investigate possible associations between high-dose and low-dose indices of initial sensitivity to ethanol. Measurements of high-dose (4.1 g/kg) effects of ethanol were hypothermia, sleep time, and blood ethanol content at regaining of righting response, and the index of low-dose (1.875 g/kg) sensitivity was distance traveled during a 5-min period immediately following intraperitoneal injection with ethanol. The results indicated wide genetic variation in hypothermia and ethanol-induced locomotor activation in a manner consistent with polygenic influence. Furthermore, correlations between low-dose locomotor activity and hypnotic dose effects tended to be low and nonsignificant, indicating independence of inherited mechanisms underlying high- and low-dose ethanol sensitivity.
Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins Regulate Pre-TCR and TCR Signaling through Modulation of Rel/NF-κB Activities

E2A and HEB are basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors essential for T cell development. Complete inhibition of their activities through transgenic overexpression of their inhibitors Id1 and Tal1 leads to a dramatic loss of thymocytes. Here, we suggest that bHLH proteins play important roles in establishing thresholds for pre-TCR and TCR signaling. Inhibition of their function allows double-negative cells to differentiate without a functional pre-TCR, while anti-CD3 stimulation downregulates bHLH activities. We also find that the transcription factor NF-kappaB becomes activated in transgenic thymocytes. Further activation of NF-kappaB exacerbates the loss of thymocytes, whereas inhibition of NF-kappaB leads to the rescue of double-positive thymocytes. Therefore, we propose that E2A and HEB negatively regulate pre-TCR and TCR signaling and their removal causes hyperactivation and apoptosis of thymocytes.
An evaluation of intergeneric hybridization of Fragaria spp. X Potentilla spp. as a means of haploid production.

Unidirectional intergeneric crosses using octoploid and hexaploid Fragaria species as a female parent and diploid and tetraploid Potentilla species as a male parent were performed, producing in toto 1345 fruits with an estimated 46089 seeds. The germinating seeds obtained by using P. anserina mostly perished at the cotyledon stage, a few developing into matroclinous octoploid seedlings. The seeds obtained by using P. fruiticosa produced two types of seedlings: matroclinous octoploids and genuine intergeneric hybrids. It is considered that the matroclinous octoploids resulted from contamination during the emasculation process. A great majority of the hybrid seedlings were slow in growth and development and perished before reaching the flowering stage. No haploids have been recovered. Possible reasons for absence of haploid genotypes in the progenies of these intergeneric crosses are considered. Among the seedlings of F. x ananassa cv. Tioga x P. fruiticosa, a seedling of an unusual phenotype was noticed, which upon chromosome determination, proved to be 2n=9x=63. This genotype displayed complete male and female sterility. The implication of the sterility of this seedling for bridging of the two genera is discussed.
Total laryngectomy with tracheoesophageal conduit

Total laryngectomy is a debilitating but occasionally necessary procedure that produces an enduring set of social and functional limitations. Creation of a small passage for air to pass from the trachea to the pharynx facilitates restoration of a human-sounding voice that has become the method of choice for the majority of laryngectomy patients. The procedure can be performed at the time of laryngectomy or at any point thereafter. The availability of tracheoesophageal prosthetic voice contributes to a higher quality of life for patients who require surgery for advanced or recurrent laryngeal cancer. An intriguing paradox pertains to patients who face total laryngectomy (TL) for treatment of laryngeal malignancy. Although TL is perhaps the most notorious and undesirable operation in the armamentarium of the head and neck surgical oncologist, it is among the easiest of the major head and neck procedures from which to recover, with many patients resuming premorbid levels of activity and social functioning. In large part, the surprisingly favorable outcome for the laryngectomee may be attributed to a simple, reliable, and effective means of voice restoration through the creation of a tracheoesophageal conduit. That TL is viewed by the public at large, and especially by individuals with laryngeal cancer, with fear is both undeniable and understandable. In a survey of firefighters and executives, healthy individuals were asked to estimate the relative value of quality and quantity of life supposing that they developed laryngeal cancer. If they could choose to live with a natural voice for a shorter period of time or live after laryngectomy for a longer period, how much time would they trade for retention of natural voice? The authors concluded that for this group, 7 years of survival with normal
Discrimination, Acculturation, Acculturative Stress, and Latino Psychological Distress: A Moderated Mediational Model

Prior research has found that perceived discrimination is associated with adverse mental health outcomes among Latinos. However, the process by which this relationship occurs remains an understudied area. The present study investigated the role of acculturative stress in underlying the relationship between perceived discrimination and Latino psychological distress. Also examined was the ability of acculturation to serve as a moderator between perceived discrimination and acculturative stress. Among a sample of Latino adults (N = 669), moderated mediational analyses revealed that acculturative stress mediated the perceived discrimination-psychological distress relationship, and that the link between perceived discrimination and acculturative stress was moderated by Anglo behavioral orientation but not Latino behavioral orientation. The findings are discussed within a stress and coping perspective that identifies the psychological consequences associated with perceived discrimination and acculturative stress.
Demography: Past, Present, and Future

(2000). Demography: Past, Present, and Future. Journal of the American Statistical Association: Vol. 95, No. 450, pp. 670-673.
Cardiovascular mortality in Hispanics compared to non-Hispanic whites: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the Hispanic paradox

Abstract Background Hispanics, the largest minority in the U.S., have a higher prevalence of several cardiovascular (CV) risk factors than non-Hispanic whites (NHW). However, some studies have shown a paradoxical lower rate of CV events among Hispanics than NHW. Objective To perform a systematic review and a meta-analysis of cohort studies comparing CV mortality and all-cause mortality between Hispanic and NHW populations in the U.S. Methods We searched EMBASE, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus databases from 1950 through May 2013, using terms related to Hispanic ethnicity, CV diseases and cohort studies. We pooled risk estimates using the least and most adjusted models of each publication. Results We found 341 publications of which 17 fulfilled the inclusion criteria; data represent 22,340,554 Hispanics and 88,824,618 NHW, collected from 1950 to 2009. Twelve of the studies stratified the analysis by gender, and one study stratified people by place of birth (e.g. U.S.-born, Mexican-born, and Central/South American-born). There was a statistically significant association between Hispanic ethnicity and lower CV mortality (OR 0.67; 95% CI, 0.57–0.78; p Conclusion These results confirm the existence of a Hispanic paradox regarding CV mortality. Further studies are needed to identify the mechanisms mediating this protective CV effect in Hispanics.
Middleware object query processing with deferred updates and autonomous sources

This paper presents a query processing algorithm called DECAF for use in middleware object query systems that are based on the use of an object cache. The DECAF algorithm is designed to work correctly even in the presence of updates to the underlying databases that don't go through the object cache (i.e., even for autonomous data sources that can be updated through legacy applications that do not perform their updates through the middleware object layer). DECAF's query results are consistent with updates performed by such transactions; its results are also consistent with any deferred updates that are present in the object cache but not yet committed at the database server. The DECAF algorithm attempts to push down query predicates to the underlying DBMSs to take advantage of the query processing capabilities of these systems and to reduce the amount of data transferred from these systems to the object cache.
Quantitative investigation of compartmentalized dynamics of ErbB2 targeting gold nanorods in live cells by single molecule spectroscopy.

Understanding the diffusion dynamics and receptor uptake mechanism of nanoparticles in cancer cells is crucial to the rational design of multifunctional nanoprobes for targeting and delivery. In this report, for the first time, we quantify the localization and evaluate the diffusion times of Herceptin-conjugated gold nanorods (H-GNRs) in different cell organelles by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and examine the endocytic diffusion of H-GNRs in live ErbB2 overexpressing SK-BR-3 cells. First, by colocalizing H-GNRs in different cellular organelles depicted by the respective markers, we demonstrate that H-GNRs colocalize with the endosome and lysosome but not with the Golgi apparatus. Our study shows that Herceptin-conjugated GNRs have similar intracellular localization characteristics as Herceptin−ErbB2 complex, with a higher concentration found in the endosome (72 ± 20.6 nM) than lysosome (9.4 ± 4.2 nM) after internalization. The demonstrated approach and findings not only lay the foundations...
High level extracellular secretion of thermostable α-amylase of Bacillus stearothermophilus in Escherichia coli

Bacillusstearothermophilus BR135 (ATCC 29609)amy gene was cloned in pBR322 from its plasmid DNA and was subcloned in a vector useful both forB.subtilis andE.coli.E.coli HB101 harboring the plasmid pSS099 when grown in L medium in presence of 5. μg/ml chloramphenicol produces 70 units/ml of extracellular α-amylase. This is nearly twice that ofE.coli cells harboring pSSO76, a plasmid havingamy ofB.stearothermophilus BR135 atHindIII site of pBR322. Characteristically the protein was a 58 kd protein and cross reacted with antiserum developed against purified α-amylase of BR135.
Scaling of Strain-induced Mobility Enhancements in Advanced CMOS Technology

Mobility enhancement by strain is a critical element in today?s CMOS technology, and enables continued performance scaling. By modulating fundamental material properties, various strained Si techniques boost device and circuit performance independent of geometric and power supply scaling. Challenges for strained Si in aggressively scaled technology demand new ideas and materials.
Search and selection processes in implicit and explicit word-stem completion performance in young, middle-aged, and older adults

In the present investigation, we sought to (1) replicate previous reports of impaired word-stem completion (WSC) priming and cued recall performance in older adults, (2) gain a better understanding of the differential roles of search and selection processes in implicit and explicit WSC, and (3) determine the particular aspects of WSC performance that are influenced by age. Experiment 1 demonstrated that older adults primed and recalled fewer items on a WSC task than middle-aged adults did, who in turn primed and recalled fewer itmes than young adults did. A series of item analyses indicated that choice of a stem completion is influenced by two independent sources of information: the familiarity of the completion reflected by word frequency and the cue-specific match between the stem and the completion word based on the common pronunciation of the stem. Experiment 2 demonstrated that older adults utilized cue-specific matching to the same degree as young and middle-aged adults. However, the impact of target familiarity changed across the lifespan. Older adults produced and recalled high-frequency targets as well as young adults but produced and recalled fewer low-frequency targets than did young participants. The results are consistent with the view that older adults rely on familiarity to a greater degree than do young adults.
The pion-nucleon interaction in a relativistic Hartree-Fock theory of nuclear matter☆

Abstract Relativistic Hartree-Fock equations for nuclear matter are solved for both pseudoscalar and pseudovector pion-nucleon couplings. Results are very sensitive to the form of the interaction due to the relativistic nature of the self-consistent baryon spectrum. Pseudoscalar models yield unrealistic results for normal nuclear matter in this approximation.
Compact Hankel operators on weighted harmonic Bergman spaces

We prove the compactness of certain Hankel operators on weighted Bergman spaces of harmonic functions on the unit ball in R n .
Imposing no Boundary Condition at Outflow: why does it Work?

In recent work on outflow boundary conditions for Navier-Stokes equations by Papanastasiou et al., a choice has been proposed which can formally be described as imposing no boundary condition at all. This of course leads to an underdetermined problem at the level of the partial differential equations. However, it yields a well-defined problem at the discrete level and it has been documented that this choice of outflow conditions performs in a way which is superior to more 'standard' artificial boundary conditions. We analyse a one-dimensional model problem. We shall show that the 'free' boundary condition of Papanastasiou et al. actually imposes an effective boundary condition. This effective boundary condition is identified and its advantages are discussed.
Glacial climates in the eastern tropical South Pacific

RECENT attempts to explain the glacial aridity at upper elevations in the Galapagos Islands have failed to take into account either concurrent events in neighbouring areas1–6 or modern causes of climate. Yet, any reconstruction of the glacial climatology of the South Pacific must be consistent with all these data. Recognised glacial features of the region that must be taken into consideration and the empirical evidence which supports them include: increased upwelling along the equatorial divergence (enhanced plankton production7, simultaneous build up of guano8), upper elevation (650 m) aridity relative to the present in the Galapagos Islands (dated palaeomicrofloras1); increased precipitation above 2,000 m along the western slopes of the Peruvian Andes (deposits of oxides9,10, traces of humid cycle stream cutting and scouring of alluvium9–11, remains of sheet flooding at the base of the mountains9,10 a disproportionate lowering of the west facing glacial snowline12, relics of formerly more continuous plant and animal distributions13,14); continuous aridity throughout the Pleistocene along the Peruvian coast (unbroken sequence of arid cycle processes9–11); and exposure of large areas of the western Indo–Australian region following the 100–120 m sea level drop16 (fossil terraces16,17). It can be deduced from the position of this exposed land that the modern pattern of vernal mixing of water from the eastern and western Pacific could not have taken place17 and that the eastern Pacific anticyclone did not, therefore, weaken in the glacial summer17. Thus, the pressure gradients between the two sides of the ocean would have remained fixed throughout the year and the eastern anticyclone and the south-east trade winds would have retained high intensity in both summer and winter.
Agreement between patient report and medical record review for medications used for rheumatoid arthritis: the accuracy of self-reported medication information in patient registries.

Objective With the growth in patient registries in rheumatic disease research, it is important to validate the collected information. We examined the convergent validity of self-reported medication use for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods In the setting of the Brigham Rheumatoid Arthritis Sequential Study (BRASS), a large registry of patients with RA, we examined the agreement between patients' self-report of current and past RA medication use and information from medical records. For a sample of patients in BRASS, these 2 sources of information were compared using the kappa statistic as well as the percent agreement. Results The 91 patients selected for assessment were typical of a prevalent RA cohort: >80% were women and the mean disease duration was 16 years. The agreement for current medication use was excellent, ranging from 0.71 for sulfasalazine to 0.96 for methotrexate. However, for past medication use agreement was lower, ranging from 0.13 for methotrexate to 0.74 for aurothioglucose. The weighted kappa for cumulative oral glucocorticoid dose was 0.67. Conclusion Self-report of current medication use and cumulative oral glucocorticoid dose appears to have moderate to excellent validity. However, self-report of past medication use may not be valid.