cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Successful Treatment of Hypotension Associated With Stunned Myocardium with Oral Midodrine Therapy

Myocardial stunning, a reversible decrease in the contractile function of the myocardium after an ischemic insult, often leads to hypotension that requires therapy with intravenous inotropes. We used the oral agent midodrine to treat hypotension that complicated myocardial stunning after successful revascularization with percutaneous coronary intervention in the setting of myocardial infarction and ischemia. Oral midodrine may offer a useful substitute to intravenous inotropic therapy and can shorten the duration of intensive care unit and hospital stay in this setting.
Molecular simulation of water adsorption in silicalite: Effect of silanol groups and different cations

Using GCMC and MD simulations we investigated the effect of silanol groups and extraframework cations on water adsorption, diffusion and the structure of water in silicalite. The adsorption of water was enhanced with the introduction of defects. In the case of cations this enhancement was much more significant. Below the saturation pressure of water no filling of pores by water molecules was observed. Introduction of silanol nests did not result in significant changes in water structure and self diffusion. On the other hand, the presence of cations decreased self diffusivity of water and changed the water structure observed in the defect-free silicalite. Silanol nests were found to be weak defects and have a limited effect on water adsorption. The model we used in this study satisfactorily predicted adsorption isotherms and heats of adsorption, however, self diffusion coefficients of water were underestimated which is attributed to the rigid treatment of the silicalite lattice.
Motion Picture Studio of Brigham Young University

After five years of research and planning, the new motion-picture studio for the Department of Motion Picture Production of the Brigham Young University began operation in the Fall of 1958. With the aim to produce pictures of highest quality at reasonable cost, for the University and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Morman) the studio was designed to carry an idea through from script to screen. The basic unit of this new facility is an 80 by 100-ft soundstage. Adequate space is provided for all activities relating to motion-picture production such as animation, art department, set construction, set storage, sound recording and dubbing. Included are separate offices for writers and production personnel. Modern equipment was selected for suitability and to meet the highest standards of perfection.
Special Considerations in Vascular Anomalies: Operative Management of Upper Extremity Lesions

The past 3 decades has seen a steady, almost exponential, increase in knowledge of vascular anomalies. A useful biologic classification system has evolved. A careful physical examination augmented with refined imaging will yield an accurate diagnosis and set the stage for treatment. A multidisciplinary team can offer treatment options with some degree of predictability. One option is surgery, which can be fraught with numerous complications. This article focuses on surgical principles and technical pearls in the treatment of these unique problems involving the upper limb. If incorporated into routine management, these suggestions will improve surgical outcomes.
The hypothesis of locality in relativistic physics

Abstract The standard extension of any Lorentz-invariant theory to arbitrary frames of reference as well as gravitational fields id based on the assumption that an observer is momentarily equivalent to a comoving inertial observer. This hypothesis of locality is indispensable to the interpretation of the results of experiments in physics. The origin, significance, and the limitations of the hypothesis of locality are discussed.
Policy, the Public, and Priorities in Alternative Medicine Research

The political and social dynamics around unconventional or complementary and alternative medical practices has shifted from marginalization to a struggle for control of definitions and priorities. These practices have arisen because of public rather than professional or scientific interest. Conventional medicine has made significant gains in health care for acute disease, translating basic science into diagnostic and therapeutic value, and improving public health. These gains have been accompanied by high costs, depersonalization, and side effects. Complementary medicine has aligned with public preferences for more natural, lower-cost, and more holistic health care practices. Attempts to integrate the concepts and practices of complementary and alternative medicine into biomedicine present significant challenges for determining how language, funding, and standards of evidence are established. The author outlines some of the issues that arise in the struggle to integrate these practices into biomedicine an...
A randomized clinical trial of a standard versus vegetarian diet for weight loss: the impact of treatment preference.

With obesity rampant, methods to achieve sustained weight loss remain elusive. To compare the long-term weight-loss efficacy of 2 cal and fat-restricted diets, standard (omnivorous) versus lacto–ovo–vegetarian, and to determine the effect of a chosen diet versus an assigned diet. A randomized clinical trial was conducted with 176 adults who were sedentary and overweight (mean body mass index, 34.0 kg/m2). Participants were first randomly assigned to either receive their preferred diet or be assigned to a diet group and second, were given their diet of preference or randomly assigned to a standard weight-loss diet or a lacto–ovo–vegetarian diet. Participants underwent a university-based weight-control program consisting of daily dietary and exercise goals plus 12 months of behavioral counseling followed by a 6-month maintenance phase. Percentage change in body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, low- and high-density lipoprotein, glucose, insulin and macronutrient intake. The program was completed by 132 (75%) of the participants. At 18 months, mean percentage weight loss was greater (P=0.01) in the two groups that were assigned a diet (standard, 8.0% (s.d., 7.8%); vegetarian, 7.9% (s.d., 8.1%)) than in those provided the diet of their choice (standard, 3.9% (s.d., 6.1%); vegetarian, 5.3% (s.d., 6.2%)). No difference was observed in weight loss between the two types of diet. Over the 18-month program, all groups showed significant weight loss. Participants assigned to their dietary preference did not have enhanced treatment outcomes. However, all groups lost weight with losses ranging from 4 to 8% at 18 months.
Maharam spectra of Loeb spaces

We characterize Maharam spectra of Loeb probability spaces and give some applications of the results.
On finite population sampling theory under certain linear regression models

SUMMARY Problems of estimating totals in finite populations, when auxiliary information regarding variate values is available, are considered under some linear regression, 'super-population', models. Optimal strategies involving linear estimators are derived under certain variance assumptions and compared under various assumptions. For a model which seems to apply in many practical problems, the conventional ratio estimator is shown to be, in a certain natural sense, optimal, but for all models considered, the optimal sampling plans are purposive, i.e. nonrandom. With a squared error loss function, the strategy of using a probability proportional to size sampling plan and the Horvitz-Thompson estimator is shown to be inadmissible in many models for which the strategy seems 'reasonable' and in a particular model for which it is, in one sense, optimal. Some of the results concerning purposive sampling and the ratio estimator are supported by an empirical study.
C240: THE MOST CHEMICALLY INERT FULLERENE?

Abstract The reactivity of the fullerenes is primarily a function of their strain, as measured by the pyramidalization angle or curvature of the conjugated carbon atoms. The development of faceting in the structure of large icosahedral fullerenes leads to a minimum in the value of the maximum fullerene pyramidalization angle that lies in the vicinity of C 240 . On this basis it is argued that C 240 will be the most chemically inert fullerene. This observation explains the production of [10,10] single-walled nanotubes because a C 240 hemisphere is required for the nucleation of such tubes.
Variation in time of mercury anomalies at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

MERCURY concentrations vary markedly from place to place in the world ocean1,2, we report here variations with time in bottom waters over the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at the FAMOUS area. Three sets of water samples from the axial rift valley have been examined since our original report of anomalous Hg in that region3. In 17 months Hg concentrations varied from 1,100 to 70 ng l−1 (Table 1; Fig. 1).
Optimal level of fraudulent disclosure when litigation is costly

In this article, we show that the effects of a legal system depend on the cost of litigation. For very low levels of legal costs, an equilibrium exists where the manager always fraudulently reports firm quality (i.e., always reports “good news”) and the investors bring suit any time firm earnings are low. For an intermediate range of legal costs, there exists an equilibrium where the frequency of fraudulent reporting is an increasing function of the costs of litigation. In this equilibrium, investors will follow a mixed strategy of bringing suit. With high legal costs, the manager always issues fraudulent disclosures and the investors never bring suit. When legal costs are not high, the threat of lawsuits removes moral hazard and adverse selection problems. The dead-weight loss from lawsuits creates a demand for auditing and may cause the manager to manipulate the amount of retained ownership.
Stress-intensity factors for 3-D dynamic loading of a cracked half-space

A half-space containing a surface-breaking crack of uniform depth is subjected to three-dimensional dynamic loading. The elastodynamic stress-analysis problem has been decomposed into two problems, which are symmetric and antisymmetric, respectively, relative to the plane of the crack. The formulation of each problem has been reduced to a system of singular integral equations of the first kind. The symmetric problem is governed by a single integral equation for the opening-mode dislocation density. A pair of coupled integral equations for the two sliding-mode dislocation densities govern the antisymmetric problem. The systems of integral equations are solved numerically. The stress-intensity factors are obtained directly from the dislocation densities. The formulation is valid for arbitrary 3-D loading of the half-space. As an example, an applied stress field corresponding to an incident Rayleigh surface wave has been considered. The dependence of the stress-intensity factors on the frequency, and on the angle of incidence, is displayed in a set of figures.
Retracing the Evolutionary Path that Led to Flea-Borne Transmission of Yersinia pestis

Yersinia pestis is an arthropod-borne bacterial pathogen that evolved recently from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, an enteric pathogen transmitted via the fecal-oral route. This radical ecological transition can be attributed to a few discrete genetic changes from a still-extant recent ancestor, thus providing a tractable case study in pathogen evolution and emergence. Here, we determined the genetic and mechanistic basis of the evolutionary adaptation of Y. pestis to flea-borne transmission. Remarkably, only four minor changes in the bacterial progenitor, representing one gene gain and three gene losses, enabled transmission by flea vectors. All three loss-of-function mutations enhanced cyclic-di-GMP-mediated bacterial biofilm formation in the flea foregut, which greatly increased transmissibility. Our results suggest a step-wise evolutionary model in which Y. pestis emerged as a flea-borne clone, with each genetic change incrementally reinforcing the transmission cycle. The model conforms well to the ecological theory of adaptive radiation.
Spatial analysis of bladder, kidney, and pancreatic cancer on upper Cape Cod: an application of generalized additive models to case-control data

In 1988, elevated cancer incidence in upper Cape Cod, Massachusetts prompted a large epidemiological study of nine cancers to investigate possible environmental risk factors. Positive associations were observed, but explained only a portion of the excess cancer incidence. This case-control study provided detailed information on individual-level covariates and residential history that can be spatially analyzed using generalized additive models (GAMs) and geographical information systems (GIS). We investigated the association between residence and bladder, kidney, and pancreatic cancer on upper Cape Cod. We estimated adjusted odds ratios using GAMs, smoothing on location. A 40-year residential history allowed for latency restrictions. We mapped spatially continuous odds ratios using GIS and identified statistically significant clusters using permutation tests. Maps of bladder cancer are essentially flat ignoring latency, but show a statistically significant hot spot near known Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR) groundwater plumes when 15 years latency is assumed. The kidney cancer map shows significantly increased ORs in the south of the study area and decreased ORs in the north. Spatial epidemiology using individual level data from population-based studies addresses many methodological criticisms of cluster studies and generates new exposure hypotheses. Our results provide evidence for spatial clustering of bladder cancer near MMR plumes that suggest further investigation using detailed exposure modeling.
Residual moveout in anisotropic angle-domain common-image gathers

I develop the fundamental concepts for quantitatively relating perturbations in anisotropic parameters to the corresponding reflector movements in angle-domain common-image gathers (ADCIGs) after anisotropic wavefield-continuation migration. The proposed theory potentially enables the application of residual moveout (RMO) analysis of ADCIGs to velocity estimation in realistic anisotropic conditions. I demonstrate that linearization of the relationship between anisotropic velocity parameters and reflector movements can be derived by assuming stationary raypaths. This assumption leads to a fairly simple analytical derivation. I then apply the general method to the particular case of RMO analysis of reflections from flat reflectors in a vertical transverse isotropic (VTI) medium. This analysis yields expressions to predict RMO curves in migrated ADCIGs. These RMO expressions are functions of both the phase aperture angle and the group aperture angle. Several numerical examples demonstrate the accuracy of the RMO curves predicted by my kinematic analysis. The synthetic examples also show that approximating the group angles with the phase angles in the application of the RMO expressions may lead to substantial errors for events reflected at wide aperture angles. The results obtained by migrating a 2D line extracted from a Gulf of Mexico 3D data set confirm the accuracy of the proposed method. The RMO curves predicted by the theory match the RMO function observed in the ADCIGs computed from the real data.
Assembly of human frataxin is a mechanism for detoxifying redox-active iron.

Mitochondrial function depends on a continuous supply of iron to the iron−sulfur cluster (ISC) and heme biosynthetic pathways as well as on the ability to prevent iron-catalyzed oxidative damage. T...
Tagging Biomedical Information

This article discusses the benefits and problems associated with tagging biomedical information. Tagging is considered in relationship to online and open access information, as well as with a library's traditional cataloging system. The discussion includes background information on tagging and social classification, as well as a comparison of natural language and controlled vocabulary. Success stories of biomedical tagging are shared and possible solutions to the problems caused by tagging are examined.
Evaluation and Management of Pediatric Febrile Seizures in the Emergency Department

Febrile seizures are common in children, who are often brought to the nearest emergency department (ED). Patients who meet the case definition of simple febrile seizure are not at higher risk for serious bacterial illness than clinically similar febrile children who have not experienced a convulsion. Children who have had complex febrile seizures must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and treated with diagnostic and therapeutic measures based on the differential diagnosis. Round-the-clock prophylactic administration of antipyretics has not been demonstrated to affect recurrence of simple febrile seizure. Parents should be informed that recurrence is common, and that these convulsions are benign with an excellent prognosis. Care-givers should be informed that the risk of developing epilepsy after a simple febrile seizure is low, but that complex febrile seizures carry a significantly higher risk.
Damage detection using self-sensing concepts:

Self-sensing refers to the structural material sensing itself. Real-time self-sensing of damage in carbon fibre polymer-matrix composites by electrical resistance measurement is reviewed. The resistance changes irreversibly upon damage, as shown for damage inflicted by flexure, tension, fatigue, and impact. Delamination increases the through-thickness resistance. Fibre breakage increases the longitudinal resistance. The oblique resistance, as measured at an angle between the longitudinal and through-thickness directions, is particularly sensitive. Minor flexural damage causes the oblique resistance in the unloaded state to decrease. Current spread- ing enables the sensing of localized damage by measurement away from the damage, though it reduces the spatial resolution of the sensing. The resistance method is more sensitive than the potential method. Two-dimensional sensing is complicated by the anisotropic spreading of the current. Thermal damage and through-thickness (fastening) compression effect are indi- cated by the contact resistivity of the interlaminar interface. The through-thickness compression effect is alternately indicated by the longitudinal volume resistivity. The condition of a composite fastening joint is indicated by the contact resistivity of the joint interface.
Adrenal cortico-medullary function in arteriosclerotic (breeder) and non-arteriosclerotic (virgin) rats.

Abstract Measurement of the total catecholamine excretion (24 hr) of male and female non-arteriosclerotic, virgin rats compared with male and female, arteriosclerotic, repeatedly-bred rats demonstrated a considerable increase in catecholamine excretion in the arteriosclerotic, breeder rats. Both the male and female arteriosclerotic rats excreted extra amounts of norepinephrine and female breeders, which manifested the most severe, calcific aortic sclerosis, excreted significantly greater quantities of epinephrine. Similarly, the arteriosclerotic subjects had higher adrenal gland phenylethanolamine-N-methyl transferase (PNMT) enzymatic activity. PNMT catalyzes the conversion of norepinephrine to epinephrine. The adrenal catecholamine levels of the arteriosclerotic subjects were also elevated. Adrenal corticoids exert a permissive effect on PNMT activity as they pass from the cortex through the medulla. Earlier investigations demonstrated that adrenal and serum corticosterone levels are first increased and then decreased in arteriosclerotic, breeder rats. Histopathologic examination of the arteriosclerotic animals demonstrated early fibrotic atheromata progressing to elastolytic and calcific lesions, adrenocortical infarction, medullary pleomorphism and pheochromocytomas as well as histochemical evidence indicative of increased catecholamine production, hepatic steatosis, and beta cell degranulation concomitant with the abnormal cortico-medullary activity in the arteriosclerotic rats. It is suggested that these preliminary findings of abnormal catecholamine and corticosteroid activity could be related to the abnormal lipid and carbohydrate metabolism as well as the abnormal connective tissue ground substance, elastolytic and cartilaginous changes found in the aortae of the arteriosclerotic animals.
Projective unitary positive-energy representations of Diff (S1)

Abstract Let D be the group of orientation-preserving diffeomorphisms of the circle S1. Then D is Frechet Lie group with Lie algebra (δ∞)R the smooth real vector fields on S1. Let δR be the subalgebra of real vector fields with finite Fourier series. It is proved that every infinitesimally unitary projective positive-energy representation of δR integrates to a continuous projective unitary representation of D . This result was conjectured by V. Kac.
Sex differences in caffeine neurotoxicity following chronic ethanol exposure and withdrawal.

Aims: Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant that produces its primary effects via antagonism of the A1 and A2A adenosine receptor subtypes. Previous work demonstrated a sex difference in neurotoxicity produced by specific adenosine A1 receptor antagonism during ethanol withdrawal (EWD) in vitro that was attributable to effects downstream of A1 receptors at NMDA receptors. The current studies were designed to examine the effect of non-specific adenosine receptor antagonism with caffeine during ethanol withdrawal on hippocampal toxicity in cultures derived from male and female rats. Methods: At 5 days in vitro (DIV), half of the male and female organotypic hippocampal slice cultures were exposed to 50 mM ethanol (EtOH) in culture media for 10 days before exposure to caffeine (5, 20 and 100 μM) for the duration of a 24 h EWD period. In keeping with this timeline, the remaining ethanol-naive cultures were given media changes at 10 and 15 DIV and exposed to caffeine (5, 20 and 100 μM) for 24 h at 15 DIV. Cytotoxicity was assessed by fluorescent microscopy and quantification of propidium iodide (PI) uptake in the pyramidal cell layers of the CA1 and CA3 regions and the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus (DG). A two-way (sex × treatment) ANOVA was conducted within each hippocampal region. Results: Twenty-four-hour withdrawal from 10-day exposure to 50 mM ethanol did not produce increased PI uptake in any hippocampal region. Caffeine exposure (5, 20 and 100 μM) in ethanol-naive cultures did not produce toxicity in the DG or CA1 region, but 20 μM caffeine produced modest toxicity in the CA3 region. Exposure to 20 μM caffeine during EWD produced cytotoxicity in all hippocampal regions, though toxicity was sex-dependent in the DG and CA1 region. In the DG, both 5 and 20 μM caffeine produced significantly greater PI uptake in ethanol-exposed female cultures compared to ethanol-naive female cultures and all male cultures. Similarly, 20 μM caffeine caused markedly greater toxicity in female cultures as compared to male cultures in the CA1 region. Conclusions: Twenty-four-hour exposure to caffeine during EWD produced significant toxicity in the pyramidal cell layer of the CA3 region in male and female cultures, though toxicity in the granule cell layer of the DG and pyramidal cell layer of the CA1 region was observed only in female cultures. Greater sensitivity of the female slice cultures to toxicity upon caffeine exposure after prolonged ethanol exposure is consistent with previous studies of effects of a specific A1 receptor antagonism during EWD on toxicity and indicate that this effect is independent of the hormonal milieu. Together, these data suggest that the A1 receptor subtype is predominant in mediating caffeine's neurotoxic effects during EWD. These findings demonstrate the importance of considering gender/sex when examining neuroadaptive changes in response to ethanol exposure and withdrawal.
Plasma C-reactive protein levels are associated with improved outcome in ARDS.

Background C-reactive protein (CRP) has been studied as a marker of systemic inflammation and outcome in a number of diseases, but little is known about its characteristics in ARDS. We sought to examine plasma levels of CRP in patients with ARDS and their relationship to outcome and measures of illness severity. Methods We measured CRP levels in 177 patients within 48 h of disease onset and tested the association of protein level with 60-day mortality, 28-day daily organ dysfunction scores, and number of ventilator-free days. Results We found that CRP levels were significantly lower in nonsurvivors when compared with survivors (p = 0.02). Mortality rate decreased with increasing CRP decile (p = 0.02). An increasing CRP level was associated with a significantly higher probability of survival at 60 days (p = 0.005). This difference persisted after adjustment for age and severity of illness in a multivariable model (p = 0.009). Multivariable models were also used to show that patients in the group with higher CRP levels had significantly lower organ dysfunction scores (p = 0.001) and more ventilator-free days (p = 0.02). Conclusions Increasing plasma levels of CRP within 48 h of ARDS onset are associated with improved survival, lower organ failure scores, and fewer days of mechanical ventilation. These data appear to be contrary to the established view that CRP is solely a marker of systemic inflammation.
Caspase Inhibitors Attenuate Oxyhemoglobin-Induced Apoptosis in Endothelial Cells

Background and Purpose —Our recent study showed that oxyhemoglobin (OxyHb) induces apoptosis in cultured endothelial cells. Apoptosis requires the action of various classes of proteases, including a family of cysteine proteases known collectively as the caspases. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of 2 caspase inhibitors, Z-VDVAD-FMK and Z-DEVD-FMK, in the protection of endothelial cells from OxyHb-induced apoptosis. Methods —Cultured bovine brain microvascular endothelial cells (passages 5 to 9) were exposed to OxyHb (10 μmol/L) for 24 to 72 hours with and without caspase inhibitors. Cell attachment, DNA ladder, Western blotting of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and caspase activities were measured to confirm the cytotoxic effect of OxyHb and the protective effect of the caspase inhibitors. Results —(1) OxyHb produced cell detachment in a time-dependent manner. (2) OxyHb increased caspase-2 and -3 activities, produced DNA ladders, and cleaved PARP in endothelial cells. (3) Z-VDVAD-FMK and Z-DEVD-FMK (100 μmol/L) attenuated OxyHb-induced cell detachment, reduced caspase-2 and -3 activities, abolished OxyHb-induced DNA ladders, and prevented OxyHb-induced cleavage of PARP. Conclusions —OxyHb activates caspase-2 and -3 in cultured brain microvessel endothelial cells. Caspase inhibitors attenuated the cytotoxic effect of OxyHb.
Porous-coated total hip arthroplasty in rheumatoid arthritis

Thirty-five porous-coated total hip arthroplasties were implanted in 25 patients with juvenile-onset or adult-onset rheumatoid arthritis and prospectively followed for a mean of 4.5 years (range, 3-6.5 years). Using the Harris hip rating, the mean hip score at the final follow-up evaluation was 91, and 86% of the hips had a good or excellent result. Thirty-one hips had no hip or thigh pain, while four had occasional slight pain. After surgery, 10 patients were employed and the remainder were ambulatory. There were no early or late deep infections. There was one reoperation for recurrent dislocation of the hip, but the components were not removed. Radiographic evaluation of the acetabular component showed that only one component had a complete radiolucent line in all three zones. Three femoral components had nonprogressive subsidence. At this intermediate-term follow-up period, porous-coated total hip arthroplasty is a promising technique that is likely to be successful in young patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Methods and feasibility of collecting occupational data for a large population-based cohort study in the United States: the reasons for geographic and racial differences in stroke study

Coronary heart disease and stroke are major contributors to preventable mortality. Evidence links work conditions to these diseases; however, occupational data are perceived to be difficult to collect for large population-based cohorts. We report methodological details and the feasibility of conducting an occupational ancillary study for a large U.S. prospective cohort being followed longitudinally for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Current and historical occupational information were collected from active participants of the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study. A survey was designed to gather quality occupational data among this national cohort of black and white men and women aged 45 years and older (enrolled 2003–2007). Trained staff conducted Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI). After a brief pilot period, interviewers received additional training in the collection of narrative industry and occupation data before administering the survey to remaining cohort members. Trained coders used a computer-assisted coding system to assign U.S. Census codes for industry and occupation. All data were double coded; discrepant codes were independently resolved. Over a 2-year period, 17,648 participants provided consent and completed the occupational survey (87% response rate). A total of 20,427 jobs were assigned Census codes. Inter-rater reliability was 80% for industry and 74% for occupation. Less than 0.5% of the industry and occupation data were uncodable, compared with 12% during the pilot period. Concordance between the current and longest-held jobs was moderately high. The median time to collect employment status plus narrative and descriptive job information by CATI was 1.6 to 2.3 minutes per job. Median time to assign Census codes was 1.3 minutes per rater. The feasibility of conducting high-quality occupational data collection and coding for a large heterogeneous population-based sample was demonstrated. We found that training for interview staff was important in ensuring that narrative responses for industry and occupation were adequately specified for coding. Estimates of survey administration time and coding from digital records provide an objective basis for planning future studies. The social and environmental conditions of work are important understudied risk factors that can be feasibly integrated into large population-based health studies.
Book Review: Death Zones and Darling Spies: Seven Years of Vietnam War Reporting, by Beverly Deepe Keever

Death Zones and Darling Spies: Seven Years of Vietnam War Reporting. Beverly Deepe Keever. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2013. 360 pp. $26.95 pbk.More than four decades after leaving South Vietnam, Beverly Deepe Keever looks back on her seven years as a reporter covering the early years of American involvement in the Vietnam War, from 1962 to 1969. She draws upon memories, photographs, clippings, and copies of communications with her editors in the United States and United Kingdom to re-create one reporter's attempt to make sense of the war by trying to understand the soldiers who fought it and the civilians whose lives were turned upside down.There is much here to distinguish Death Zones and Darling Spies from other journalists' memoirs of the Vietnam War. For starters, Deepe spends comparatively little time analyzing strategy and tactics. Instead of, say, Homer Bigart's keen military analysis or David Halberstam's indignation, Deepe gives a calm, fact-filled, eyewitness narrative of the war on the ground, as it affected ordinary families. In this sense, her memoir follows the traditions of the sorority that sprang up around Martha Gellhorn, Ruth Cowan, and Dickey Chapelle: To wit, women war correspondents, more so than their male counterparts, have covered the civilians more than the soldiers.Deepe brought to Vietnam her master's degree in journalism from Columbia University along with an unusual skill for a journalist in the 1960s: public opinion polling techniques she could adapt to give accurate measures of attitudes toward the South Vietnamese government and Viet Cong-accurate, at least, to the extent respondents felt comfortable responding on the record. ("If I talk openly, my head leaves my neck," a South Vietnamese soldier told her when she questioned him about his country's government.) Deepe arrived a twenty-six-year-old naif, one of only eight full-time Western journalists when she landed in Saigon with expectations to stay two weeks, but grew in her understanding until she was both wise and skeptical upon her departure, seven years later, as the longest-serving war correspondent in Vietnam to that point.As with other memoirs about the Vietnam War, Deepe takes the reader through the United States' early high hopes for success, the crushing of optimism through South Vietnam's failure to offer a viable, popularly supported alternative to communism, and the tenacity of the Viet Cong to fight unconventionally until victory. New and significant to the history of the war and war correspondence are the details of her routines, and her recounting of many interviews in the countryside with peasants and ordinary soldiers, captured in anecdotes and telling vignettes.For one example, Deepe recounts a U.S. plan to win support of peasants by distributing free pigs of a variety that would grow faster and fatter than the locals' alternative. …
Inpatient resource utilization, disease severity, mortality and insurance coverage for patients hospitalized for hepatitis C virus in the United States.

Summary Although the incidence of new hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has fallen, HCV-related complications are on the rise. Our aim was to assess and describe the 2005–2009 national inpatient mortality and resource utilization trends for patients with HCV. Data from the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) and the National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) between 2005 and 2009 were analyzed. Included were all adult hospital discharges with HCV-related ICD-9 codes. Incremental hospital charge, in-hospital mortality and length of stay (LOS) were estimated using n = 1000 bootstrap replicates clustered by unique hospital identifier. A total of 123 939 (0.38%) discharges were related to HCV (primary or secondary diagnosis). In-hospital mortality increased from 1.7% (2005) to 2.6% (2009) (P < 0.001). Inflation-adjusted charges increased 2% annually from 2005 ($16 455 ± $570) to 2009 ($17 532 ± $1007, P = 0.029). This increase occurred despite the average LOS (5 days) and hospital costs ($6500) remaining stable while at the same time, hospital-to-hospital transfer admissions and disposition to home health care increased. HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma predicted longer hospital stay and death; older age predicted death; and receiving more procedures predicted higher hospital costs. The percentage of patients with private insurance significantly decreased (4.7%), while government-sponsored insurance and uninsured increased by 2.5% and 2.1%, respectively (P < 0.05). Uninsured patients had a 49%–72% greater chance of dying during hospitalization than those with government-sponsored insurance. HCV-related inpatient mortality and resource utilization have increased. HCC was the largest predictor for mortality and resource utilization. These data are consistent with the rising clinical and societal burden of chronic hepatitis C in the United States.
MERIT40 Is an Akt Substrate that Promotes Resolution of DNA Damage Induced by Chemotherapy

Resistance to cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs, including doxorubicin, is a significant obstacle to the effective treatment of breast cancer. Here, we have identified a mechanism by which the PI3K/Akt pathway mediates resistance to doxorubicin. In addition to inducing DNA damage, doxorubicin triggers sustained activation of Akt signaling in breast cancer cells. We show that Akt contributes to chemotherapy resistance such that PI3K or Akt inhibitors sensitize cells to doxorubicin. We identify MERIT40, a component of the BRCA1-A DNA damage repair complex, as an Akt substrate that is phosphorylated following doxorubicin treatment. MERIT40 phosphorylation facilitates assembly of the BRCA1-A complex in response to DNA damage and contributes to DNA repair and cell survival following doxorubicin treatment. Finally, MERIT40 phosphorylation in human breast cancers is associated with estrogen receptor positivity. Our findings suggest that combination therapy with PI3K or Akt inhibitors and doxorubicin may constitute a successful strategy for overcoming chemotherapy resistance.
Differences between the background, attitude, functioning, and mood of drug addicts, alcoholics, and orthopedic patients.

Over a one-year period 52 alcoholics, 24 heroin addicts, and 16 orthopedic patients individually were interviewed by a social worker in the V.A. Hospital in order to: (1) assess the patients' family histories and drug-taking behavior; (2) measure their attitudes toward their parents and themselves, using Osgood's Semantic Differential; (3) evaluate their current social functioning according to the Social Dysfunction Rating Scale; and (4) determine their mood on a 4-point, 18-adjective scale. Analysis of variance revealed that alcoholics and drug addicts differed from orthopedic patients in that they more often expressed the belief that alcohol/drugs helped them to feel mentally alert (p < 0.002), gave a poorer evaluation of themselves and their fathers (p < 0.001; p < 0.03), and had poorer social functioning (p < 0.001). No significant multivariate difference between the groups was found for mood.With the apparent acceleration of drug abuse in this country, recent studies have been focusing on the addict....
Digital design using erasable PLDs

The author considers the impact of the newer generations of PLDs (programmable logic devices) on digital design. Particular attention is given to the features of the AND-OR-structured PLDs. It is concluded that the variety of PLDs on the market has given a novel perspective to digital system design. Gate capacities are increasing continuously and reprogrammable architectures are being proposed. Coupled with the dramatic improvements in bipolar and CMOS processes, PLDs now offer greater density, higher speed, and lower power consumption. >
How oversight improves member-maintained communities

Online communities need regular maintenance activities such as moderation and data input, tasks that typically fall to community owners. Communities that allow all members to participate in maintenance tasks have the potential to be more robust and valuable. A key challenge in creating member-maintained communities is building interfaces, algorithms, and social structures that encourage people to provide high-quality contributions. We use Karau and Williams' collective effort model to predict how peer and expert editorial oversight affect members' contributions to a movie recommendation website and test these predictions in a field experiment with 87 contributors. Oversight increased both the quantity and quality of contributions while reducing antisocial behavior, and peers were as effective at oversight as experts. We draw design guidelines and suggest avenues for future work from our results.
In vivo treatment of rats with monoclonal anti-T-cell antibodies. Immunohistochemical and functional analysis in normal rats and in experimental allergic neuritis.

The effects of intraperitoneal injection of monoclonal anti-rat T-lymphocyte antibodies were evaluated immunohistochemically and functionally in normal rats and in rats with experimental allergic neuritis. In the normal animals a single injection of OX8 antibodies, reactive with suppressor/cytotoxic T cells, completely eliminated OX8-reactive cells from peripheral lymphoid organs and from circulation, whereas the ‘pan’ T-cell-reactive W3/13 antibodies and the helper T-cell-reactive W3/25 antibodies only caused a partial elimination of their respective target cells. Injection of the W3/13 and W3/25 antibodies but not of OX8 antibodies led to a diminished responsiveness to allogeneic stimulation in vitro for spleen cells obtained from the treated rats, whereas the OX8 injection caused a complete elimination of the in vitro cytotoxic response to allogeneic cells in the mixed lymphocyte reaction-activated spleen cell population. When Lewis rats were injected with peripheral nerve myelin and Freund's adjuvant for the induction of EAN, treatment with W3/13 antibodies completely prevented the onset of disease, whereas treatment with the OX8 antibodies exaggerated the disease symptoms.
Conventional Religion and Political Participation in Postwar Rural Japan

This exploratory study examined the relation between conventional everyday shrine/temple/ church religion and politics among a random sample of rural Japanese. In contrast to the conventional wisdom previously assumed by many Western and Japanese social scientists, presence/absence of religious identification was found to be positively associated with presence/absence of political party preference, religiosity was positively correlated with several modes of political participation, and significant differences in rates of political participation were discovered between two types of Buddhism analogous to the Western Protestant-Catholic division. Social structural factors in the community, rather than theological or doctrinal elements, are suggested as accounting for the latter findings. Comparative political sociology has confirmed religious identification and religiosity as important correlates of political participation and partisan choice in many Western nations. (See, for example, Finland-Allardt and Pesonen; Italy-Dogan; Hazelrigg; France-Dogan; Norway-Rokken; West Germany-Linz, and for Anglo-American countries, the United States, Australia, Canada, and Great Britain in studies by Alford; Converse; Knoke, a, b; Lenski; Lipset; Olsen; Verba and Nie.) Indeed, speaking specifically of the United States, Knoke has maintained, "Excepting perhaps only race and social stratification. . . . no other variable accounts for as much variation in party identification and voting behavior as religious membership" (b, 51). In light of such evidence from Western nations, it seems warranted to inquire into the existence of similar relationships in a non-Western society of comparable technological development. The relation of the religious identities and related activities of postwar Japanese to their political participation has been little examined. This paper poses four questions directed at conventional, everyday religion and politics in postwar rural Japan: (1) Is there a basic association between partisan and religious identifications? (2) What is the relationship of religiosity to involvement in the political system? (3) Is there within Buddhism a division of orientations analogous to Christianity's Protestant-Catholic one that discriminates between levels of political involvement? and (4) What explanations can be offered for the presence or absence of any relationships? Several studies (Dator; Ikado; McFarland; Moos; White) have considered the political orientations of more sensational denominations and sects of Buddhism *The author wishes to thank Edward Norbeck, Lawrence E. Hazelrigg, and David Knoke for comments on an earlier draft of this paper and is indebted to the faculty and staff of the Agricultural Policy Laboratory, Shimane University, Japan, for their valuable advice and assistance during the field research for this project.
Hybrid Integration of Photonic Crystal Membrane Lasers via Postprocess Bonding

Photonic crystal (PhC) lasers in InGaAsP membranes are bonded after fabrication to a sapphire substrate. The processed devices are held to the sapphire by van der Waals forces and do not require a high temperature anneal. PhC H2 defect cavity devices are found to lase continuous wave and line defect heterostructure devices lase pulsed, both under optical excitation. Postprocess bonding allows extensive fabrication on the native substrate before being transferred to a new substrate, which may be useful for making more complex nanophotonic devices and/or electrically injected devices.
Human Auditory Brainstem Response to Temporal Gaps in Noise

Gap detection is a commonly used measure of temporal resolution, although the mechanisms underlying gap detection are not well understood. To the extent that gap detection depends on processes with...
Toward a Redefinition of Military Strategy in International Relations

In a period of search for politico-military detente between the major nuclear powers, one cannot avoid the question of whether the theories and categories for the analysis of international relations, especially those involving the role of military force, are appropriate and clarifying. Although they strive to make use of timeless categories, social scientists, especially when analyzing international relations, must take into consideration the changing historical context. In this paper I will attempt to reassess the well-known issue of the limits of military intervention in international relations by advanced industrial societies. I will seek to extend and formulate the ideas which, in The Professional Soldier: A Social and Political Portrait, were vaguely expressed in the notion of a constabulary.
Intravascular Photoacoustic Imaging

Intravascular photoacoustic (IVPA) imaging is a catheter-based, minimally invasive, imaging modality capable of providing high-resolution optical absorption map of the arterial wall. Integrated with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging, combined IVPA and IVUS imaging can be used to detect and characterize atherosclerotic plaques building up in the inner lining of an artery. In this paper, we present and discuss various representative applications of combined IVPA/IVUS imaging of atherosclerosis, including assessment of the composition of atherosclerotic plaques, imaging of macrophages within the plaques, and molecular imaging of biomarkers associated with formation and development of plaques. In addition, imaging of coronary artery stents using IVPA and IVUS imaging is demonstrated. Furthermore, the design of an integrated IVUS/IVPA imaging catheter needed for in vivo clinical applications is discussed.