cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inflammatory flaccid myelitis in a patient with both anti-CRMP-5 IgG and CNS HIV escape

Anticollapsin-responsive mediator protein 5 (CRMP-5) IgG is an antibody generally associated with small-cell lung cancer, which is known to cause paraneoplastic neurological syndromes, including encephalitis, myelitis and neuropathy. HIV escape is a phenomenon in which a patient with low or undetectable levels of HIV RNA in plasma is found to have elevated levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). We present a case of a 58-year-old HIV-positive woman with undetectable plasma viral load who developed a subacute flaccid paraparesis. Over the course of 4 months, she had a broad inflammatory and infectious workup that was unrevealing until repeat imaging showed an inflammatory myelitis. Workup was notable for elevated HIV RNA copies in CSF, as well as anti-CRMP-5 autoantibodies in serum. Despite changing her antiretroviral therapy and multiple modalities of immunomodulation, the patient failed to respond adequately to treatment. This case illustrates a complex clinical picture with a unique presentation of anti-CRMP-5 myelitis.
Local low-intensity vibration improves healing of muscle injury in mice.

Recovery from traumatic muscle injuries is typically prolonged and incomplete. Our previous study demonstrated that whole-body low-intensity vibration (LIV) enhances healing in a mouse laceration model. We sought to determine whether locally applied LIV (a) improves muscle repair following injury in mice and (b) is directly transduced by cultured muscle cells, via increased IGF-1 activity. C57BL/6J mice were subjected to laceration of the gastrocnemius muscle and were treated with LIV applied directly to the lower leg for 30 min/day or non-LIV sham treatment (controls) for 7 or 14 days. LIV was also applied to differentiating myotubes in culture for 30 min/day for 3 or 6 days. Compared with control mice, LIV increased myofiber cross-sectional area, diameter, and percent area of peripherally nucleated fibers, and decreased percent damaged area after 14 days of treatment. In cultured myotubes, LIV increased fusion and diameter compared with controls after 6 days of treatment. These LIV-induced effects were associated with increased total Akt on day 7 in injured muscle and on day 3 in myotubes, whereas phosphorylated-to-total Akt ratio increased on day 14 in injured muscle and on day 6 in myotubes but were not associated with increased IGF-1 levels at any time point. These changes were also associated with LIV-induced suppression of FOXO1 and Atrogin-1 gene expression at day 7 in injured muscle. These findings demonstrate that muscle cells can directly transduce LIV signals into increased growth and differentiation, and this effect is associated with increased Akt signaling.
The Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Online Learning (SeQoL).

The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Online Learning (SeQoL; Shen et al., 2013). Using two samples of college students, this s...
Peak cubes in service operations: Bringing multidimensionality into decision support systems

Abstract Companies like Ritz Carlton, Disney and Verizon are among many who have invested in analytics to improve their customers' service experiences with the firms. Extensive data are collected on all aspects of how customers interact or experience the products or services. Research has shown the importance of the “peak-end” rule in service design; that is, providing a customer with good “peak” service levels and “ending” the service experience with high quality can enhance customer satisfaction and build loyalty. However, previous studies have examined this phenomenon only in contexts with unidimensional service levels. We introduce peak cubes, which enable service designers and scholars to pinpoint prominent service levels in multidimensional service experience profiles—thereby extending current research on behavioral economics and service design to more general settings. Results indicate the potential of multidimensional peak-end models to better predict customer satisfaction in various service scenarios. Using Shapley values in coalitional game theory, the resulting models can also inform service designers about the quality dimensions that are critical from the perspective of multidimensional peak-end heuristic and customer satisfaction. Our research contributions and proposed methodology will enhance decision support systems with multidimensional capabilities and have applications to fields as diverse as service operations and healthcare.
Effect of Average Blood Glucose Greater Than 140 mg/dL on Adverse Patient Outcomes in Adult Medical/Surgical Patients

Background In hospitalized patients, hyperglycemia is defined as blood glucose greater than 140 mg/dL. Hyperglycemia can lead to the development of nosocomial infections as well as cardiovascular events. Despite these risks, current guidelines recommend blood glucose be maintained between 140-180 mg/dL. Previous studies have shown that elevated blood glucose levels are associated with increased patient mortality. However, these studies assessed blood glucose at a single point in time. Objective The primary objective of this study is to determine the impact of average blood glucose >140 mg/dL on a composite outcome of intensive care unit transfer, death, length of stay > 4 days, development of nosocomial infection, or new cardiovascular event (myocardial infarction [MI], ischemic stroke, deep vein thrombosis [DVT], pulmonary embolism [PE], or new onset heart failure) occurring during patient admission. Methods This single centered, randomized, case-control, retrospective chart review sorted adult medical/surgical patients into two groups, average blood glucose ≤140 mg/dL or >140 mg/dL, of 120 patients each. Results Forty-seven (39.2%) patients in the >140 mg/dL group experienced the primary composite outcome versus 27 (22.5%) patients in the ≤140 mg/dL group (p=0.005). Secondary outcomes found that patients with diabetes in the >140 mg/dL group were more likely to experience the primary outcome than those in the ≤140 mg/dL group (41 (48.8%) vs 3 (13.6%) p=0.003). Conclusions This study found that medical/surgical patients with an average blood glucose >140 mg/dL may be at an increased risk of developing adverse patient outcomes.
A review of infant cry analysis and classification

This paper reviews recent research works in infant cry signal analysis and classification tasks. A broad range of literatures are reviewed mainly from the aspects of data acquisition, cross domain signal processing techniques, and machine learning classification methods. We introduce pre-processing approaches and describe a diversity of features such as MFCC, spectrogram, and fundamental frequency, etc. Both acoustic features and prosodic features extracted from different domains can discriminate frame-based signals from one another and can be used to train machine learning classifiers. Together with traditional machine learning classifiers such as KNN, SVM, and GMM, newly developed neural network architectures such as CNN and RNN are applied in infant cry research. We present some significant experimental results on pathological cry identification, cry reason classification, and cry sound detection with some typical databases. This survey systematically studies the previous research in all relevant areas of infant cry and provides an insight on the current cutting-edge works in infant cry signal analysis and classification. We also propose future research directions in data processing, feature extraction, and neural network classification fields to better understand, interpret, and process infant cry signals.
Robotic Posterior Retroperitoneal Adrenalectomy: Patient Selection and Long-Term Outcomes

Recently, efficacy of laparoscopic posterior retroperitoneal adrenalectomy (PRA) for pheochromocytoma and malignancy has been questioned. Although robotic technique using wristed instruments may improve limitations of laparoscopic PRA, the worldwide experience with robotic PRA is limited. This study aimed to describe patient characteristics, surgical technique, and long-term outcomes of robotic PRA from a 12-year single-center experience. This analysis was an institutional review board-approved retrospective study. In this study, PRA was performed robotically, with intraoperative ultrasound and indocyanine green imaging guidance. Long-term outcomes and predictors of operative time (OT) were assessed using descriptive and regression analyses. Using OT as a surrogate for difficulty of procedure, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to quantify anthropometric thresholds that would predict a more challenging procedure. Altogether, 112 robotic PRA procedures were performed. Three cases (3%) were converted to a lateral approach, and one case (1%) was converted to open surgery. The morbidity rate was 2%. Microscopic capsular disruption occurred for one patient. No patient experienced persistent disease or local recurrence from pheochromocytoma or malignant adrenal tumors during the follow-up period (median, 48 months). Operating time was independently predicted by perirenal fat thickness, with 18.5 mm as the critical threshold. In this study, favorable PRA outcomes were achieved with careful patient selection and meticulous surgical technique that used robotic articulation guided by intraoperative imaging.
Simulating the impact of vaccination rates on the initial stages of a COVID-19 outbreak in New Zealand (Aotearoa) with a stochastic model (preprint)

Aim: The August 2021 COVID-19 outbreak in Auckland has caused the New Zealand government to transition from an elimination strategy to suppression, which relies heavily on high vaccination rates in the population. As restrictions are eased and as COVID-19 leaks through the Auckland boundary, there is a need to understand how different levels of vaccination will impact the initial stages of COVID-19 outbreaks that are seeded around the country. Method: A stochastic branching process model is used to simulate the initial spread of a COVID-19 outbreak for different vaccination rates. Results: High vaccination rates are effective at minimizing the number of infections and hospitalizations. Increasing vaccination rates from 20% (approximate value at the start of the August 2021 outbreak) to 80% (approximate proposed target) of the total population can reduce the median number of infections that occur within the first four weeks of an outbreak from 1011 to 14 (25th and 75th quantiles of 545-1602 and 2-32 for V=20% and V=80%, respectively). As the vaccination rate increases, the number of breakthrough infections (infections in fully vaccinated individuals) and hospitalizations of vaccinated individuals increases. Unvaccinated individuals, however, are 3.3x more likely to be infected with COVID-19 and 25x more likely to be hospitalized. Conclusion: This work demonstrates the importance of vaccination in protecting individuals from COVID-19, preventing high caseloads, and minimizing the number of hospitalizations and hence limiting the pressure on the healthcare system.
Night School in Beirut and the Public Sphere: Student Civic Action Rooted in Liberal Secularism

Critics define public sphere as sites where individuals deliberate on issues of civic importance, intervene to promote the common good, and assert authority that serves as a check on the state’s power. Universities in the West and Middle East have promoted healthy public spheres by engaging students in service learning and volunteerism and teaching the civic literacy skills necessary to take part in activism and advocacy. Western contexts often assume a secular public sphere, but scholars in the Arab world debate whether “public” identities rooted in religious affiliation constrict the health of the public sphere or foster identity and engagement. Using rhetorical–ethnographic methods, the present study examines a community literacy initiative in Beirut wherein undergraduates embodied a liberal-secular spirit and asserted a particular model of public-sphere activism that reflected that spirit. I pay special attention to the language the undergraduates used to articulate civic values and ideals. Themes that emerged include the undergraduates’ sophisticated understanding of and experience with civic work and their resistance to perceived institutional and dominant cultural values such as sectarianism.
Chengwei Ventures and the hdt* Investment (TN)

SUBJECT AREAS: Entrepreneurship, Mergers, Venture capital CASE SETTINGS: China; Internet & online services industries; RMB 12 million revenues; 70 employees; 2001 Bo Feng, cofounder and principal in Chengwei Ventures, one of the first sovereign venture capital firms in China, is trying to decide on the proper business model for hdt, the product of a merger between two portfolio companies. This case discusses the best way for the new company, which designs Web sites and provides customer relationship management and ad-serving software, to prosper in China's changing market.
Minimizing occupational exposure to pesticides: Epidemiological overview

By way of introduction we will give a little background as to how this seminar-workshop entitled “Minimizing occupational exposure to pesticides” came about.
The role of thrust faulting in the formation of the eastern Alaska Range: Thermochronological constraints from the Susitna Glacier Thrust Fault region of the intracontinental strike‐slip Denali Fault system

Horizontal-slip along restraining bends of strike-slip faults is often partitioned into a vertical component via splay faults. The active Susitna Glacier Thrust Fault (SGTF), as shown by its initiation of the 2002 M7.9 Denali Fault earthquake, lies south of, and intersects the dextral strike-slip Denali Fault. Geochronology and thermochronology data from samples across the SGTF constrain the region's tectonic history and the role of thrusting in the formation of the eastern Alaska Range south of the Denali fault. U-Pb zircon ages indicate intrusion of plutons in the footwall (~57 Ma) and hanging wall (~98 Ma). These U-Pb zircon ages correlate to those from the Ruby Batholith/Kluane Terrane ~400 km east along the Denali Fault, supporting geologic correlations and hence constraints on long-term slip rates. 40Ar/39Ar mica and K-feldspar data from footwall and hanging wall samples (~54 to ~46 Ma) reflect cooling following magmatism and/or regional Eocene metamorphism related to ridge subduction. Combined with apatite fission track data (ages 43–28 Ma) and thermal models, both sides of the SGTF acted as a coherent block during the Eocene and early Oligocene. Contrasting apatite (U-Th)/He ages across the Susitna Glacier (~25 Ma footwall, ~15 Ma hanging wall) suggest initiation of faulting during the middle Miocene. Episodic cooling and exhumation is related to thrusting on known or hypothesized faults that progressively activate due to varying partition of strain along the Denali Fault associated with changing kinematics and plate interaction (Yakutat microplate collision, flat-slab subduction and relative plate motion change) at the southern Alaskan plate margin.
No Meat, Less Meat, or Better Meat: Understanding NGO Messaging Choices Intended to Alter Meat Consumption in Light of Climate Change

This paper examines the factors shaping non-governmental organization (NGO) messaging decisions on how meat consumption should be altered in light of climate change. In particular, we sought to understand the relative absence of messages promoting meat-free diets and the decision of some NGOs to pair meat reduction messages with messages encouraging consumers to switch to meat from ruminant grass-fed animals. Interviews were conducted with 27 staff members from environmental, food-focused, and animal protection NGOs from the USA, Canada, and Sweden. While strategic considerations consistently led to the use of modest messages for meat reduction, NGO missions were also key to shaping the specifics of messaging goals. The relatively low personal comfort levels that some NGO staffers held toward meat-free diets also led to the use of more modest requests for meat reduction. Findings highlight the complex nature of the factors underlying the environmental communication messages of NGOs.
Automatic indexing of oscillation images

The first step in indexing an oscillation diffraction pattern is to determine the position of diffraction maxima and to record their coordinates on the detector relative to the camera axes. These coordinates can then be transformed into reciprocal-lattice coordinates assuming a zero rotation angle. These positions are then projected onto a vector emanating from the crystal position. If this radius vector is chosen perpendicular to a principal set of reciprocal-lattice planes for the given crystal setting, then a plot of the frequency of the projected reflections onto the vector will show a regular set of equally spaced maxima. These will correspond to the intersection of reciprocal-lattice planes with the selected radius vector. All possible directions, separated from each other by small incremental angles, are tested. One-dimensional Fourier inversion of each of the frequency plots identifies those directions that intersect widely spaced reciprocal-lattice planes, corresponding to principal reciprocal axial directions. Thus the orientation and lattice repeats of the crystal axes will have been determined relative to the camera axes. These parameters can be converted into a 3 × 3 crystal-setting matrix, [A], which relates Miller indices to reciprocal-lattice coordinates.
EMPLOYMENT OF THE LARGE COIL TEST FACILITY IN TOROIDAL FIELD COIL DEVELOPMENT

The international Large Coil Task (LCT), involving EURATOM, Japan, Switzerland, and the United States, is developing competing concepts of superconducting toroidal field coils. Six different coils will be tested together in the Large Coil Test Facility (LCTF). All Participants are collaborating in planning and will share all test data.
INTUITION IN INTERIOR DESIGN

Intuition enables individuals to develop an understanding of the structure of complex systems. In interior design many decisions are reached intuitively even though the process of formulating solutions may be argued rationally. Intuition is intrinsically intertwined with our collateral experiences, memories, and implicit thought. Design intuition draws on our entire experience, not only on what we consciously isolate as relevant information. In education we prohibit students from relying on their intuition and require solutions based on pure reason. The author of this paper argues for bringing intuitive decision making back into interior design as a legitimate design tactic.
The Diffusion Equation

In its protean form, the diffusion equation is one of the simplest partial differential equations: $$\frac{{\partial u}}{{\partial t}} = \lambda \frac{{{\partial ^{2}}u}}{{\partial {x^{2}}}} $$ (11.1) .
A neuro-wavelet model for the short-term forecasting of high-frequency time series of stock returns

We propose a wavelet neural network (neuro-wavelet) model for the short-term forecast of stock returns from high-frequency financial data. The proposed hybrid model combines the capability of wavelets and neural networks to capture the non-stationary and non-linear attributes embedded in bulky sets of microstructure market data. The model is able to decompose and analyze the complex signal depicted by the data resulting from the interaction of short-term and long-term memory processes. A comparison study was performed on the predictive power of two econometric models and four recurrent neural network topologies. Several statistical measures were applied to the predictions and standard errors to evaluate the modeling and forecasting performance of all six models. A Jordan net that used as input the coefficients resulting from a non-decimated Haar wavelet-based multi-resolution decomposition of an exogenous signal showed a consistent superior forecasting performance. Reasonable forecasting accuracy for the one, three, and five step-ahead horizons was achieved by the proposed hybrid model. The model validation process included scenarios of extreme market operation conditions such as the market crash of 2008. The methodology used to build the neuro-wavelet model is reusable and can be applied to any high-frequency financial series to specify the model characteristics associated with that particular series.
Perturbative analysis of electromagnetic homogenization near the Γ-point in higher bands

The behavior of electromagnetic waves in periodic structures near the Γ-point in the first band has been examined thoroughly over the years. In particular, it can be proved rigorously that (i) the dispersion relation is linear and positive (Tsukerman, JOSA B 25, 927, 2008), and (ii) if both the dispersion relation and the impedance of the medium are considered, then the only valid homogeneous description of the medium is obtained by assigning the medium a trivial magnetic permeability µ = 1 (Markel & Schotland, PRE 85, 066603, 2012). For propagating waves with the wave vector q = qn, q being a complex wave number and n being a unit vector of direction, one has (for µ = 1) Im (q · q) = Im q2 = 2 Re q Im q = (w/c)2 Im e > 0. This relation means that the direction of phase velocity and the direction of spatial decay of a wave always coincide. The more complicated case of waves with more general wave vectors propagating in anisotropic media is considered by Markel & Schotland (J. Opt. 12, 015104, 2010). In any case, all such phenomena are consistent with the linearity and positivity of the slope of all dispersion curves near the Γ-point in the first band. We can refer to this propagation regime as to the homogenization limit.
EDITORIAL COMMENT: Blood Stasis, Thrombosis and Fibrinolysis

Blood stasis is a very common occurrence associated with many of our daily activities. Prophylaxis against development of thrombosis in high-risk conditions is well established. In this issue of Hematology/Oncology Clinics of North America, international experts present new and provocative information on the basic mechanisms, diagnosis, and management of blood stasis, thrombosis, and fibrinolysis. Reviews of pertinent topics by three physicians in training also are included. I hope that the information provided will expand our understanding of this interesting subject.
Macroinvertebrate response to marsh management strategies in Utah

We examined the response of aquatic macroin vertebrates to three marsh management strategies. The three management practices compared were conventional full pool management, full pool management with carp(Cyprinus carpio) control, and controur furrowing (also with carp control). Significant differences in standing crops (both numbers and biomass) of invertebrates were observed among the three management strategies. The contour furrowed area had the highest standing crops of water column invertebrates, followed by the carp-controlled full pool area, while the conventionally managed area had the lowest standing crops. In the benthos, the two full pool areas (with and without carp) had higher standing crops than the contour furrowed area. Significant differences were noted in seasonal abundance, with all management practices having lowest densities of invertebrates in April and May. Implications for management include indications of the negative impacts of carp and winter drawdowns on invertebrates in managed marshes.
You can't get there from here: the tortuous road to basic research.

Basic researchers are on the defensive as pressures increase for them to translate their findings into palpable amelioration of the human condition. Yet recognition of the need and importance of practical applications hardly leads to a quick consensus about solutions; indeed, some proposed solutions appear to threaten the practice of basic science, especially those that favor focusing less on curiosity-driven research and more on application-oriented “quick-fix” research. Whatever solutions are developed, they must not weaken the basic science approach, which is essential. To illustrate this opinion, the author discusses one field of biomedical research, the various attempts to treat human cancers, specifically breast cancer. Such attempts have been launched in the face of an almost total ignorance of why cancer cells grow uncontrollably. For that reason, the author and many others believe that the best hope for breakthroughs in cancer treatment lies in greater understanding of the molecular and genetic mechanisms responsible for cell growth. The record shows that the knowledge only recently gained about these mechanisms came unexpectedly from several areas of curiosity-driven research having no apparent connection with the problem of human cancer. No one could have planned those investigations in a way that could anticipate, let alone guarantee, the important insights into cancer that resulted. Also, because these cell-growth mechanisms are used for other biological processes in the body, research on cancer cells often has yielded understanding about other non-malignant diseases (e.g., aspects of autoimmune disease, diabetes, hypertension, and nerve-cell dysfunction). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Models and meanings: Therapist effects and the stories we tell

Two studies, same data set, opposite conclusions. Therapist effects are either vital or virtually nonexistent. Previous research either supports the importance of therapist effects or provides litt...
Oligomeric structure of hepatic lipase: evidence from a novel epitope tag technique.

Abstract The subunit structure of purified rHL (rHL) was determined by gel filtration chromatography, density gradient ultracentrifugation studies and a novel approach using epitope-tagged rHL. By gel filtration studies, native rHL had an apparent molecular weight of 179 kDa whereas enzyme treated with 6 M guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) for 22 h at room temperature gave a protein peak at 76 kDa. Using milder conditions for denaturation of rHL, such as 1 M GuHCl for 2 h, rHL eluted in two distinct peaks, one at 179 kDa and the other at 76 kDa. In addition, both protein peaks produced under mild denaturing conditions possessed detectable catalytic activity. Consistent with studies on lipoprotein lipase, the denatured rHL eluted from heparin-Sepharose at a lower salt concentration of 0.42 M NaCl than the native rHL which eluted at 0.72 M NaCl. By density gradient ultracentrifugation studies, the estimated molecular weight of native rHL was determined to be 113 kDa. Together, the data suggest that native rHL exists as a dimer that can be denatured into monomers by GuHCl and that a fraction of the denatured enzyme has detectable enzyme activity. To confirm these results, we designed two different rHL constructs that were epitope-tagged with either the myc or flag epitope and transfected them into 293 cells. The addition of the tag was shown not to alter enzyme secretion rate or specific activity of the lipase. Partially purified lipase from media of cotransfected cells was used to establish a dimer assay which employed a sandwich ELISA. This assay firmly established the presence of a rHL species which contained both the myc and flag tags, supporting an oligomeric subunit structure for rHL. Furthermore, the data using the epitope-tagged enzyme shows that this method could be a useful tool not only in identifying the region of the lipase responsible for dimer formation but also to study other protein–protein interactions.
Daily exercise improves memory, stimulates hippocampal neurogenesis and modulates immune and neuroimmune cytokines in aging rats

We tested whether daily exercise modulates immune and neuroimmune cytokines, hippocampus-dependent behavior and hippocampal neurogenesis in aging male F344 rats (18mo upon arrival). Twelve weeks after conditioned running or control group assignment, the rats were trained and tested in a rapid water maze followed by an inhibitory avoidance task. The rats were BrdU-injected beginning 12days after behavioral testing and killed 3weeks later to quantify cytokines and neurogenesis. Daily exercise increased neurogenesis and improved immediate and 24h water maze discrimination index (DI) scores and 24h inhibitory avoidance retention latencies. Daily exercise decreased cortical VEGF, hippocampal IL-1β and serum MCP-1, GRO-KC and leptin levels but increased hippocampal GRO-KC and IL-18 concentrations. Serum leptin concentration correlated negatively with new neuron number and both DI scores while hippocampal IL-1β concentration correlated negatively with memory scores in both tasks. Cortical VEGF, serum GRO-KC and serum MCP-1 levels correlated negatively with immediate DI score and we found novel positive correlations between hippocampal IL-18 and GRO-KC levels and new neuron number. Pathway analyses revealed distinct serum, hippocampal and cortical compartment cytokine relationships. Our results suggest that daily exercise potentially improves cognition in aging rats by modulating hippocampal neurogenesis and immune and neuroimmune cytokine signaling. Our correlational data begin to provide a framework for systematically manipulating these immune and neuroimmune signaling molecules to test their effects on cognition and neurogenesis across lifespan in future experiments.
An energy‐mobility beach classification system as a basis for the management of beach resources

Abstract The successful implementation of structural and nonstructural solution to problems of shoreline erosion is greatly facilitated if the accumulation and analysis of data sets are accomplished within a design framework which has both theoretical validity and practical application. An inventory of beach resources based upon breaking‐wave energy and beach mobility is presented as a basis for a beach classification system. This method should be used with existing inventories compiled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A simplified means of determining changes in beach position and slope is suggested; this will facilitate gathering data in a daily time series at numerous locations by a minimum number of people. Examples of how the inventories may be conducted and a sample classification system are presented for selected portions of the shoreline of New Jersey.
INDICATOR-DILUTION CURVES IN SYSTEMIC ARTERIOVENOUS FISTULAS.

Abstract Eight patients with systemic arteriovenous fistulas have been studied with special emphasis on systemic arterial and multiple right heart indicator-dilution curves with indocyanine green. Seven patients were studied preoperatively; 4 subjects were restudied after surgical intervention. One patient was catheterized only after surgical correction of the fistula. Five subjects were investigated before and during acute occlusion of the fistula. Cardiac output was determined by indocyanine green in all patients; the Fick principle was also employed in 4 patients to determine cardiac output. The cardiac index was elevated before surgery; occlusion of the fistula resulted in a decreased cardiac index. Surgical correction of the fistula also led to a fall in cardiac index. The indocyanine indicator-dilution curves were utilized to demonstrate and localize the left to right extracardiac shunts. After surgical correction, physiologic evidence of the shunt was no longer evident.
A scar is born: Origins of fibrotic skin tissue

Tissues rely on fibroblasts to produce and distribute extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins that provide crucial structure and organization for other resident cells. Although their presence is imperative to normal tissue morphogenesis and maintenance, these mesenchymal cells are frequently overlooked as “merely” ubiquitous supportive cells or uniformly vilified because of their role in aberrant connective tissue deposition that can occur during wound healing or reactive fibrosis. Consequently, the study by Rinkevich et al. on page 302 of this issue ( 1 ), teasing apart the embryonic origins, molecular profiles, and functional capacities of discrete fibroblast lineages within adult skin, turns a thought-provoking spotlight on these unassuming cells and paves the way for future studies with potentially important clinical implications.
Export promotion in a regional context: Central America and Southern Africa

Abstract This article examines the export-led growth model currently proposed for developing countries by major lending institutions, such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and US Agency for International Development (USAID), from a regional perspective. It focuses on Costa Rica and Zimbabwe within the context of regional cooperation in Central America and Southern Africa, respectively. The findings suggest that problems resulting from this model can be reduced if the promotion of nontraditional exports is addressed within the context of broader development strategies and regional cooperation.
Efficient expression of tyrosine-sulfated proteins in E. coli using an expanded genetic code

Tyrosine sulfation is an important post-translational modification that occurs in higher eukaryotes and is involved in cell-cell communication, viral entry and adhesion. We describe a protocol for the heterologous expression of selectively tyrosine-sulfated proteins in Escherichia coli through the use of an expanded genetic code that co-translationally inserts sulfotyrosine in response to the amber nonsense codon, TAG. The components required for this process, an orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase specific for sulfotyrosine and its cognate orthogonal tRNA that recognizes the amber codon, are encoded on the plasmid pSUPAR6-L3-3SY, and their use, along with a simple chemical synthesis of sulfotyrosine, are outlined in this protocol. Specifically, the gene for a protein of interest is mutated such that the codon corresponding to the desired location of tyrosine sulfate is TAG. Co-transformation of an expression vector containing this gene and pSUPAR6-L3-3SY into an appropriate E. coli strain allows the overexpression of the site-specifically sulfated protein with high efficiency and fidelity. The resulting protein contains tyrosine sulfate at any location specified by a TAG codon, making this method significantly simpler and more versatile than competing methods such as in vitro enzymatic sulfation, chemical sulfation and peptide synthesis. Once the proper expression vectors are cloned, our protocol should allow the production of the desired sulfated proteins in <1 week.
Notes on Negro Jazz: 1920–1950; The Use of Biographical Materials in Sociology

(1968). Notes on Negro Jazz: 1920-1950; The Use of Biographical Materials in Sociology. The Sociological Quarterly: Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 332-342.
Arsenic Exposure and Hypertension: A Systematic Review

Background: Environmental exposure to arsenic has been linked to hypertension in persons living in arsenic-endemic areas. Objective: We summarized published epidemiologic studies concerning arsenic exposure and hypertension or blood pressure (BP) measurements to evaluate the potential relationship. Data sources and extraction: We searched PubMed, Embase, and TOXLINE and applied predetermined exclusion criteria. We identified 11 cross-sectional studies from which we abstracted or derived measures of association and calculated pooled odds ratios (ORs) using inverse-variance weighted random-effects models. Data synthesis: The pooled OR for hypertension comparing the highest and lowest arsenic exposure categories was 1.27 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09, 1.47; p-value for heterogeneity = 0.001; I2 = 70.2%]. In populations with moderate to high arsenic concentrations in drinking water, the pooled OR was 1.15 (95% CI: 0.96, 1.37; p-value for heterogeneity = 0.002; I2 = 76.6%) and 2.57 (95% CI: 1.56, 4.24; p-value for heterogeneity = 0.13; I2 = 46.6%) before and after excluding an influential study, respectively. The corresponding pooled OR in populations with low arsenic concentrations in drinking water was 1.56 (95% CI: 1.21, 2.01; p-value for heterogeneity = 0.27; I2 = 24.6%). A dose–response assessment including six studies with available data showed an increasing trend in the odds of hypertension with increasing arsenic exposure. Few studies have evaluated changes in systolic and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP, respectively) measurements by arsenic exposure levels, and those studies reported inconclusive findings. Conclusion: In this systematic review we identified an association between arsenic and the prevalence of hypertension. Interpreting a causal effect of environmental arsenic on hypertension is limited by the small number of studies, the presence of influential studies, and the absence of prospective evidence. Additional evidence is needed to evaluate the dose–response relationship between environmental arsenic exposure and hypertension.
Structure of low-density nanoporous dielectrics revealed by low-vacuum electron microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering.

Aerogels (AGs) are ultralow-density nanoporous solids that have numerous potential applications. However, as most AGs are strong insulators with poor mechanical properties, direct studies of the complex nanoporous structure of AGs by methods such as atomic force and conventional scanning electron microscopy (SEM) have not proven feasible. Here, we use low-vacuum SEM to image directly the ligament and pore size and shape distributions of representative AGs over a wide range of length scales (∼100−105 nm). The structural information obtained is used for unambiguous, real-space interpretation of small-angle X-ray scattering curves for these complex nanoporous systems. Low-vacuum SEM permits imaging of both cross-sections and skin layers of AG monoliths. Images of skin layers reveal the presence of microcracks, which alter the properties of cast monolithic AGs.
A model for fire-induced sediment yield by dry ravel in steep landscapes

Sediment flux from hillslopes to channels commonly increases following wildfires, with implications for the carbon cycle, river habitats, and debris-flow hazards. Although much of this material is transported via dry ravel, existing ravel models are not applicable to hillslopes with gradients greater than the angle of repose, which can constitute the majority of mountainous terrain. To fill this knowledge gap, we develop a continuity model for sediment storage by vegetation dams on steep hillslopes to predict sediment yields following wildfire. The maximum volume of sediment stored prior to wildfire is set to be a function of vegetation density, the capacity of plants to impound sediment, and the contributing hillslope area. Time is required after fire to establish vegetation and replenish hillslope sediment storage, which introduces vegetation regrowth rate, soil production rate, and fire recurrence interval as important variables that affect ravel yield. Model results for the San Gabriel Mountains, California, predict that sediment yield can increase by several orders of magnitude following fire. These results are consistent with field data of ravel yield (~30 mm per contributing area of hillslope in 5 months) we collected following the 2009 Station Fire, as well as postfire sediment flux recorded by 93 debris basins. In contrast to previous work, our model shows that heightened postfire sediment yields can be explained by a change in hillslope sediment storage independent of major changes in the soil production rate and landscape form over geomorphic timescales.
Uptake of catecholamines into serotonergic nerve cells as demonstrated by fluorescence histochemistry.

Die histochemische Fluoreszenzmethode wird zum Studium der Nervenzellen des Gehirnstammes der Ratte angewandt. Die erhebliche Zunahme des Dopamins, hervorgerufen durch die Injektion eines peripher wirkenden Dekarboxylase-Hemmstoffes zusammen mitl-DOPA, wird im Gehirn verfolgt und gefunden, dass serotonergische Neuronen imstande sind, Catecholamine aufzunehmen.
A bang-bang theorem for optimization over spaces of analytic functions

Etude d'un probleme d'optimisation sur les espaces de fonctions analytiques. Proprietes qualitatives d'une fonction optimisante
Anal trauma and foreign bodies

Although anal trauma is rare, iatrogenic injury is not uncommon. Immediate recognition is vital to a successful outcome and may obviate the need for a diverting stoma. Evaluation must include a search for involvement of other structures and an evaluation of the anal sphincters. Foreign bodies most often do not cause significant anorectal injuries. Extraction of these diverse objects requires ingenuity. Superficial injuries may be left open or sutured closed. There are number of options for repair of anal sphincter injuries, either immediately or in a delayed fashion. A review of the clinical environment will dictate the procedure chosen.
Sexually dimorphic regulation and induction of P450s by the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR).

The constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) is a xenosensing nuclear receptor and regulator of cytochrome P450s (CYPs). However, the role of CAR as a basal regulator of CYP expression nor its role in sexually dimorphic responses have been thoroughly studied. We investigated basal regulation and sexually dimorphic regulation and induction by the potent CAR activator TCPOBOP and the moderate CAR activator Nonylphenol (NP). NP is an environmental estrogen and one of the most commonly found environmental toxicants in Europe and the United States. Previous studies have demonstrated that NP induces several CYPs in a sexually dimorphic manner, however the role of CAR in regulating NP-mediated sexually dimorphic P450 expression and induction has not been elucidated. Therefore, wild-type and CAR-null male and female mice were treated with honey as a carrier, NP, or TCPOBOP and CYP expression monitored by QPCR and Western blotting. CAR basally regulates the expression of Cyp2c29, Cyp2b13, and potentially Cyp2b10 as demonstrated by QPCR. Furthermore, we observed a shift in the testosterone 6α/15α-hydroxylase ratio in untreated CAR-null female mice to the male pattern, which indicates an alteration in androgen status and suggests a role for androgens as CAR inverse agonists. Xenobiotic-treatments with NP and TCPOBOP induced Cyp2b10, Cyp2c29, and Cyp3a11 in a CAR-mediated fashion; however NP only induced these CYPs in females and TCPOBOP induced these CYPs in both males and females. Interestingly, Cyp2a4, was only induced in wild-type male mice by TCPOBOP suggesting Cyp2a4 induction is not sensitive to CAR-mediated induction in females. Overall, TCPOBOP and NP show similar CYP induction profiles in females, but widely different profiles in males potentially related to lower sensitivity of males to either indirect or moderate CAR activators such as NP. In summary, CAR regulates the basal and chemically-inducible expression of several sexually dimorphic xenobiotic metabolizing P450s in a manner that varies depending on the ligand.
Examination of the antiglycemic properties of vinegar in healthy adults.

Background: Vinegar reduces postprandial glycemia (PPG) in healthy adults. This study investigated the vinegar dosage (10 vs. 20 g), timing (during mealtime vs. 5 h before meal) and
Lower bounds on volumes of hyperbolic Haken 3-manifolds

We prove a volume inequality for 3-manifolds having [C o] metrics ``bent'' along a surface and satisfying certain curvature conditions. The result makes use of Perelman's work on the Ricci flow and geometrization of closed 3-manifolds. Corollaries include a new proof of a conjecture of Bonahon about volumes of convex cores of Kleinian groups, improved volume estimates for certain Haken hyperbolic 3-manifolds, and a lower bound on the minimal volume of orientable hyperbolic 3-manifolds. An appendix compares estimates of volumes of hyperbolic 3-manifolds drilled along a closed embedded geodesic with experimental data.
Simulated degradation of glyceryl ethers by hydrous and flash pyrolysis

Abstract Hydrous and flash pyrolysis were carried out on phytanyl ethers isolated from a methanogen (Methanosarcina barkeri), a haloalkaphile (Haloalkaphile sp.) and a thermoacidophile (Sulfolobus sulfotaricus). No thermal alteration products of the intact ether lipids were observed below 150°C. From 150–300°C, slight pyrolysis of the intact glyceryl ethers was observed, although recovery of the parent compounds averaged >95%. As pyrolysis temperature increased, the alcohol and aldehyde were the first products formed following direct cleavage of the ether bond. At 600°C, the corresponding alkene also became a dominant flash pyrolysis product. With increases in pyrolysis temperature to 900°C, increasing amounts of volatile alkenes were produced. Based on the observed fragmentation patterns, we suggest that phytanol is first cleaved from the intact glyceryl ethers, followed by degradation of the phytanol to the corresponding alkanes or shorter chain components. In addition, as shown by other investigators, the alteration products may also be directly incorporated into higher molecular weight fractions.
Hydrogel Nanocomposite as a Synthetic Intra‐Ocular Lens Capable of Accommodation

A hydrogel nanocomposite was designed, synthesized, and evaluated for use as an auto-focusing intra-ocular lens. The hydrogel scaffold was composed of a monomer-free, thiol that contained polyacrylamide (5%), which was allowed to gel in the presence of nanoparticles at pH 7.4, 25° C. The nanoparticles consisted of a proteo-mimetic polyacrylamide nanogel (∼42 nm), bovine serum albumin (BSA) (∼6 nm), and hydrophilized silica (∼3 nm). The extent of nanoparticle loading increased with decreasing particle size. The elastic modulus increased with increasing loading of the proteo-mimetic nanogels and BSA, and it decreased with hydrophilized silica. In this investigation, the hydrogel that contained silica was the most promising class of nanocomposite hydrogels with properties comparable to that of a young porcine lens. A nanocomposite that consisted of 10% hydrogel scaffold and 24% hydrophilized silica (elastic [E] modulus of ∼1.0 kPa and refractive index [RI] of 1.42) was injected into a pre-evacuated porcine lens capsular bag. The composite lens was evaluated in a custom-designed four-arm radial stretcher, and its force-time spectrum was characterized by time constants of 60 ± 8.9 and 800 ± 32 ms. These results were comparable to a young porcine lens (E Modulus of 1.2 kPa; Rl of 1.4105; time constants of 48.3 ± 0.58 and 668 ± 24.6 ms, respectively).
Empirical estimate of Coulomb matrix element of relevance to superconductivity

Abstract A part of the Coulomb interaction between eletrons in solids, describing a charge density multiplying a hopping term, has recently been proposed to play a fundamental role in superconductivity. We discuss here an empirical estimate of the magnitude of this interaction in a tight-binding model of hydrogen atoms and show that it can be large enough to overcome the density—density Coulomb repulsion and lead to superconductivity.
Use of Psychotropic Medication Guidelines at Child-Serving Community Mental Health Centers as Assessed by Clinic Directors

This study assessed the proportion of large, child-serving community mental health centers that used medication guidelines. Two hundred clinic directors from across the country completed an hour-long semi-structured interview, and 152 of these directors answered whether or not medication guidelines were used at their clinics. Half of these clinics' directors reported that their prescribers followed any form of medication guidelines. Governmental agencies and professional medical societies were among the most common sources of information regarding which specific guidelines to follow. Utilization of standardized child outcome measures, but not the employment of a child psychiatrist, was related to following medication guidelines. Despite the mental health field's recent emphasis on disseminating evidence-base practice, many directors reported their clinics did not use any pediatric medication guidelines.