cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 310: Role of Cardiac Fibroblast in Cardioprotective Effects of Prior Transient ACE Inhibition

Prior treatment with the ACE inhibitor enalapril followed by washout protects against nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (L-NAME) induced fibrosis, cellular proliferation, and cardiac dysfunction. The present study investigated i) whether in vivo L-NAME administration induces a change in cardiac fibroblast phenotype that persists in vitro, ii) whether prior ACE inhibition protects against L-NAME induced changes in cardiac fibroblasts. SHR were divided into 3 groups: Control, L-NAME (C+L: 7d), enalapril+L-NAME (E+L: 14d enalapril + 14d washout + 7d L-NAME). MAP was measured by radiotelemetry (n=5-9), injury assessed by histology (n=6-10), and heart weight to body weight (HW/BW) was determined after 0 or 7 days of L-NAME in C+L and E+L (n=6-10). In separate rats cardiac fibroblasts were isolated after 7 days of L-NAME (C+L, E+L) or placebo (Con) and cultured to passage 1 (n=10-12). Gene expression was measured by quantitative real-time PCR. L-NAME increased MAP in C+L (22±4.1%) and E+L (21±3.6%) rats. Prior enalapril induced a persistent 13% reduction in HW/BW. L-NAME increased heart mass in E+L (7%) but not C+L; however, HW/BW remained 8% lower than C+L at sacrifice. L-NAME induced infarct in 70% of C+L and 40% of E+L hearts. Cardiac fibroblasts demonstrated a significant increase in proliferation rate in C+L, but not E+L, relative to control (C+L: 1.75-fold vs. con; E+L 1.09-fold vs. con). Fibroblasts from C+L hearts tended to have increased Collagen I and III gene expression. Despite hypertension, cardiac injury, and increased HW/BW; fibroblasts isolated from E+L proliferated at the same rate as those from control. In contrast, those isolated from C+L were hyperproliferative with a tendency toward increased capacity for collagen production. It may be that the fibroblast phenotype from E+L hearts would protect against infarct expansion and account, in part, for the previously reported cardioprotection in these rats.
Clinical application of a cancer genomic profiling assay to guide precision medicine decisions.

Aim: Develop and apply a comprehensive and accurate next-generation sequencing based assay to help clinicians to match oncology patients to therapies. Materials & methods: The performance of the CANCERPLEX® assay was assessed using DNA from well-characterized routine clinical formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimens and cell lines. Results: The maximum sensitivity of the assay is 99.5% and its accuracy is virtually 100% for detecting somatic alterations with an allele fraction of as low as 10%. Clinically actionable variants were identified in 93% of patients (930 of 1000) who underwent testing. Conclusion: The test's capacity to determine all of the critical genetic changes, tumor mutation burden, microsatellite instability status and viral associations has important ramifications on clinical decision support strategies, including identification of patients who are likely to benefit from immune checkpoint blockage therapies.
Recent Patterns in Genetic Testing for Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk in the U.S.

Introduction Mutations in BRCA genes are strongly associated with increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer, and it is recommended that women at high risk for these mutations be referred for genetic counseling and testing. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) provision implemented in 2010 eliminated cost sharing for BRCA genetic testing for privately insured women with family history of BRCA-related cancers. Methods Using a nationally representative sample from the National Health Interview Survey, this study examined trends in genetic testing for breast and ovarian cancer risk from 2005 to 2015 among women by family history and insurance status. To assess the impact of the ACA provision, a difference-in-differences strategy was used to compare changes in genetic testing after ACA implementation between women with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer and those with a family history of other cancers, stratified by insurance type. Analyses were conducted in 2016. Results Genetic testing for breast and ovarian cancer risk increased among women with private or public insurance, but not among uninsured women. Among privately insured women, those with family history of breast or ovarian cancer experienced a net increase of 2.9 percentage points (p=0.001) over those with a family history of other cancers, but no significant difference was observed among women with public insurance, suggesting a positive effect of the ACA provision. Conclusions This study underscores the continued need to improve access to care for all populations. Future work should monitor the impact of policy on genetic testing among the high-risk population.
Earth Ethics and Creaturely Cohabitation

In this chapter, Kelly Oliver develops an ethics of earth based on terraphilia, or loving the earth, that gives rise to connectedness beyond the autonomous moral subject, beyond humanism, and beyond recognition. Terraphilia is grounded on belonging to the earth as the home that we share with all living creatures. Oliver argues that this ethos of the earth can provide the grounds for a nontotalizing, nonhomogenizing earth ethics, if we can imagine a dynamic ethics based on the response-ability of biosociality and biodiversity rather than on universal moral principles that may close down the possibility of response. Oliver argues that earth ethics opens rather than closes the possibility of response and response-ability. In this way, earth ethics operates like Heidegger’s poiesis or Derrida’s poetic as if in order to open onto the alterity of earth rather than use it up in one totalizing worldview.
Management of Common Medical Conditions by Office-Based Psychiatrists.

Objective:This study examined the extent of psychiatrists’ involvement in general medical management activities for their patients.Methods:With data from the 2006–2013 U.S. National Ambulatory Medi...
Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos in Arms Race Models

We discuss several nonlinear generalizations of the classical arms race models of L.F. Richardson. We consider models with discrete time evolutions and economic constraints. For two nation models one can find chaotic solutions in perfectly symmetric cases. For three nation models and the possibility of alliance formation, we can find large stable regions for simple approaches to arms-control fixed points separated by control surfaces at which critical changes of alliances occur. In a more specific arms race model which involves three different strategic weapons systems we discuss different types of stable and unstable solutions of scenarios related to the introduction of strategic defense (SDI) systems. Armsraces between two nations in which decisions are based on the power distribution within each of the nations are simulated in a discrete generalization of Kadyrov models of two coupled cusp control surfaces.
Absenteeism Interventions: An Approach for Common Definitions in Statewide Program Evaluations

Chronic absenteeism is related to poor academic performance, delinquency, and other high-risk behaviors. Although research has found some promising interventions to reduce absenteeism, the literatu...
A new approach to assessing the grindability of solids and the energy efficiency of grinding mills

A new method is proposed for measuring the grindability of solids and the energy efficiency of grinding mills. The method is based on a similarity law of fracture mechanics for elastic materials in conjunction with the self-preserving character of the size distributions formed when feed particles are comminuted individually in compression. The single-particle grindability index reflects more closely the inherent resistance of a solid to size reduction than the grindability indices currently in vogue. The performance of grinding mills is evaluated in comparison with the single-particle breakage mode, which has the highest energy utilization or efficiency of all mechanical grinding routes. For a given set of stipulations, the performance index of the commonly used ball mill when grinding dolomite is found to be only 21%, compared to 44% for the high-pressure roll mill, a newly-invented energy-efficient mill. The difference is also reflected in the energy consumed per unit mass of fines produced when closed-loop grinding circuits are simulated, which shows that the high-pressure roll mill circuit is invariably more energy-efficient than the ball mill circuit, provided the energy input per pass through the mill does not exceed a prescribed limit. Theoretical upper bounds on the yield of the ground product in a desired size range and lower bounds on the energy investment are calculated from the single-particle breakage mode which has, apart from the highest energy utilization efficiency, a minimum dispersion in size of the comminuted particles. Data on theoretical bounds for seven minerals/ores are presented. It is argued that it is unlikely that a grinding mill can be designed and a comminution circuit constructed whose performance exceeds these bench-mark values.
Decoding Vortex Beams with Shear Interferometry

Optical vortices can be used to encode information in optical beams. We present a method to decode the superposition of two vortex beams: determining the topological charges and their relative amplitude and phase.
Citizen Standing and the Emoluments Clause

The text of the Emoluments Clause provides no explicit enforcement mechanism, raising questions about who may enforce the Clause, and the mechanism by which it might be enforced. Is the Clause enforceable exclusively by collective action — such as an impeachment proceeding by Congress — or is it also enforceable by individual lawsuit? If it can be enforced by private action, who has standing to sue? In the absence of textual guidance, it is necessary to turn to a broader constitutional theory to render enforcement of the Clause coherent. This Article presents that broader constitutional theory. The Article demonstrates that the Emoluments Clause imposes a fiduciary duty on officers of the United States. When that duty is breached, all Americans suffer an undifferentiated injury which can serve as the basis for a private cause of action to enforce the Clause. Drawing on historical context and the constitutional context of the Clause, this Article demonstrates that enforcement of the Emoluments Clause is an example of a power that the Constitution reserves for “the People” to police the political branches. More significantly, this Article presents the insight that, to date, separation-of- powers analysis has neglected this important aspect of constitutional design. The Supreme Court’s constrained understanding of the role of “the People” in the development of constitutional law has been increasingly the subject of “populist” criticism from those who understand the Framers to have constructed a central rather than derivative role for “the People.” While most of that criticism has been directed at the exclusive role that the judiciary plays in creating constitutional law, this Article applies a similar critique in the context of constitutional enforcement.
A land-use and capital-investment allocation optimization model to develop a fair community opportunity framework for Columbus, Ohio

Abstract Land-use planning and capital investments have been increasingly recognized as important planning tools to mitigate social inequality. The idea is based on the concept of “neighborhood effects” that the built environment of a city has influence on the socioeconomic outcome of a residential community, which is defined as community opportunity in this study. The explicit local relationships between community opportunity and the physical setting of land uses, transportation infrastructure, and public facilities can be captured by a geographically weighted regression (GWR) model. The GWR results indicate the most effective locations for further developments and investments. This research is one of the few to incorporate such a GWR model into an optimization modeling framework in the contexts of Columbus, Ohio, to (1) maximize the total community opportunities over the region, and (2) minimize the total difference in community opportunities among the 284 census tracts, by an optimal allocation of future land uses and capital investments. Solving the optimization model for the two policy scenarios provides decision makers a new insight into the problem of social inequality. Comparison between the two allocation results has implications for the efforts to improve community opportunity without exacerbating social inequality, by allocating future activities to positive but less effective locations.
Spatial Discovery of Linked Research Datasets and Documents at a Spatially Enabled Research Library

Current publishing practices in academia tend to result in datasets that are difficult to discover. This is because datasets are not well-integrated across academic domains and they are often not l...
Electrospun tri-layer membranes for H2/Air fuel cells

Abstract Dual nanofiber electrospinning was used to fabricate a series of multi-layer fuel cell membranes with high proton conductivity and low in-plane water swelling, using 825 EW perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) ionomer and polyamide-imide (PAI). The relative flow rates of the two polymer solutions were adjusted during electrospinning to create multiple layers with different PFSA/PAI weight ratios. After electrospinning, fiber mats were transformed into dense membranes with a total thickness of 20 µm by heating and compaction, where each layer had the same composite morphology: a PFSA ionomer matrix with an embedded network of reinforcing PAI fibers. Tri-layer films were fabricated with surface layers composed of 95 wt% PFSA and 5 wt% PAI and an inner (reinforcing) layer that was enriched in PAI (25–60 wt% PAI), with either a uniform PFSA/PAI composition or with a symmetric PFSA/PAI compositional gradient. The thickness of the inner layer (uniform or gradient composition) was adjusted so that the effective/average composition of the entire membrane was 80 wt% PFSA and 20 wt% PAI. As compared to a single layer membrane with a uniform distribution of PAI fibers in a PFSA matrix, the tri-layer membrane structures exhibited dramatically less in-plane swelling (5–6% vs. 11%) with no loss in proton conductivity. For a slightly different system, with alternating layers of neat PFSA and 70/30 PFSA/PAI, increasing the number of layers from 3 to 5, 7, or 9 had no effect on proton conductivity (because the overall membrane composition was held constant) and did not further reduce the membrane in-plane swelling.
Device exchange from HeartMate II to HeartMate 3 left ventricular assist device.

The HeartMate II (HMII) left ventricular assist device can be exchanged to HeartMate 3 (HM3) to reduce the risk of device thrombosis and stroke. However, data of this procedure are still limited. We reviewed early and mid-term outcomes of 9 patients who received a HMII to HM3 exchange at our institution. The median age of the cohort was 58 years [interquartile range (IQR) 53-61], and 7 (78%) patients were men. The median duration of HMII support was 608 days (IQR 493-1116). Indications for device exchange include device thrombosis (n = 8.89%) and driveline injury (n = 1.11%). Procedures were performed through a lateral thoracotomy in all patients. The median cardiopulmonary bypass time was 117 min (IQR 97-133). In-hospital mortality was 0%. One patient required repositioning of the HM3 pump through full sternotomy due to inflow malposition. During 486 days (IQR 235-712) of follow-up, 3 patients (33%) developed late HMII pump pocket infection after discharge. Five patients had a successful heart transplant and 1 patient died due to unknown reason. HMII to HM3 exchange can be performed via lateral thoracotomy. However, there is a risk of inflow malposition and previous pump pocket infection.
Reduction of β-Hydroxyketones by SmI2/H2O/Et3N

Reduction of a series of β-hydroxyketones by SmI2/H2O/Et3N provided 1,3-diols in quantitative yields. The reactions were exceedingly clean with no byproduct formation, negating the need for further purification. Most reactions provided moderate to excellent diastereoselectivity with syn-diols as the major isomer in most instances.
Leelamine Is a Novel Lipogenesis Inhibitor in Prostate Cancer Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

Increased de novo synthesis of fatty acids is implicated in the pathogenesis of human prostate cancer, but a safe and effective clinical inhibitor of this metabolic pathway is still lacking. We have shown previously that leelamine (LLM) suppresses transcriptional activity of androgen receptor, which is known to regulate fatty acid synthesis. Therefore, the current study was designed to investigate the effect of LLM on fatty acid synthesis. Exposure of 22Rv1, LNCaP, and PC-3 prostate cancer cells, but not RWPE-1 normal prostate epithelial cell line, to LLM resulted in a decrease in intracellular levels of neutral lipids or total free fatty acids. LLM was superior to another fatty acid synthesis inhibitor (cerulenin) for suppression of total free fatty acid levels. LLM treatment downregulated protein and/or mRNA expression of key fatty acid synthesis enzymes, including ATP citrate lyase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1, fatty acid synthase, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1) in each cell line. Consistent with these in vitro findings, we also observed a significant decrease in ATP citrate lyase and SREBP1 protein expression as well as number of neutral lipid droplets in vivo in 22Rv1 tumor sections of LLM-treated mice when compared with that of controls. LLM-mediated suppression of intracellular levels of total free fatty acids and neutral lipids was partly attenuated by overexpression of SREBP1. In conclusion, these results indicate that LLM is a novel inhibitor of SREBP1-regulated fatty acid/lipid synthesis in prostate cancer cells that is not affected by androgen receptor status.
Improving Urinary Catheterisation Practices in a Rural Hospital in Ontario

Introduction A urinary catheter constitutes a one-point patient restraint, can induce deconditioning and may lead to patient mortality. An audit performed at Winchester District Memorial Hospital revealed that 20% of patients had a urinary catheter, of whom 31% did not meet the criteria for catheterisation. The main objective of this study was to use the Influencer Change Model and the Choosing Wisely Canada toolkit to create a bundle of interventions that would reduce the unnecessary use of urinary catheters in hospitalised patients. Methods In a rural teaching hospital, a time-series quasi-experiment was employed to decrease inappropriate use of urinary catheters. Both the Choosing Wisely Canada toolkit for appropriate use of urinary catheters and the Influencer change management approach were used to create effective interventions. Results This study revealed that there was no improvement in appropriate urinary catheter use during Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle 1. There was gradual improvement during PDSA cycle 2, with the percentage of inappropriate urinary catheter use dropping from an initial 31% before any interventions to less than 5% by the end of this study. Discussion/conclusion This study aimed to reduce the inappropriate use of urinary catheters in a rural hospital with limited resources. The findings indicate that by using a change model, such as the Influencer Change Model, it is possible to promote better patient care through empowering healthcare staff to implement accepted protocols more stringently and thereby to decrease the inappropriate use of urinary catheters to 0%.
The Disciplinary Conception of Enlightenment in Kant’s Critical Philosophy

Kant does not completely work out his philosophical conception of enlightenment. The definition of enlightenment that he offers in his well-known essay on the topic does not seem to completely matc...
Modeling and economic optimization of cellulosic biofuel supply chain considering multiple conversion pathways

Abstract Cellulosic biofuel is considered a promising alternative to traditional fossil fuels. Currently, the commercialization of cellulosic biofuel is proceeding at a slower pace than expected due to the high cost of the cellulosic biofuel supply chain (CBSC), especially in the manufacturing process. In this paper, a new model for a four-echelon CBSC incorporating 12 conversion pathways is proposed to minimize total supply chain cost by considering multiple time periods, various biomass types and spatial distributions, biomass and biofuel inventories, logistics, and different demand levels. Case studies from the state of Illinois in the U.S. are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model. It is manifested that the model can select appropriate conversion pathways for biorefineries given the abundance of local resources to minimize the overall cost. Compared to the two cases adopted a single conversion pathway, the optimal result achieves 14.6% and 4.6% reductions on the unit biofuel cost, respectively. In addition, the results of sensitivity analysis indicate that the biorefinery construction cost and the biofuel throughput are the main economic drivers in the current supply chain design.
Making Information Seeking Easier: An Improved Pipeline for Conversational Search

This paper presents a highly effective pipeline for passage retrieval in a conversational search setting. The pipeline comprises of two components: Conversational Term Selection (CTS) and Multi-View Reranking (MVR). CTS is responsible for performing the first-stage of passage retrieval. Given an input question, it uses a BERT-based classifier (trained with weak supervision) to de-contextualize the input by selecting relevant terms from the dialog history. Using the question and the selected terms, it issues a query to a search engine to perform the first-stage of passage retrieval. On the other hand, MVR is responsible for contextualized passage reranking. It first constructs multiple views of the information need embedded within an input question. The views are based on the dialog history and the top documents obtained in the first-stage of retrieval. It then uses each view to rerank passages using BERT (fine-tuned for passage ranking). Finally, MVR performs a fusion over the rankings produced by the individual views. Experiments show that the above combination improves first-state retrieval as well as the overall accuracy in a reranking pipeline. On the key metric of NDCG@3, the proposed combination achieves a relative performance improvement of 14.8% over the state-of-the-art baseline and is also able to surpass the Oracle.
Improving coastal flooding predictions by switching meshes during a simulation

Abstract Storm surge and coastal flooding predictions can require high resolution of critical flow pathways and barriers, typically with simulations using grids/meshes with millions of cells/elements to represent a coastal region. However, the cost of this resolution can slow forecasts during a storm. To add resolution when and where it is needed, previous studies have used adaptive mesh methods, which update resolution at single or multiple cells but which require hierarchies of and thresholds for refinement, and nesting methods, which update resolution at subdomains but which require additional simulations. This research proposes a middle way, in which predictions from a coarse mesh are mapped, mid-simulation, onto a fine mesh with increased resolution near the storm’s projected landfall location. The coarse and fine meshes are pre-developed, thus removing any refinement decisions during the simulation, the solution mapping uses a widely used framework, thus enabling an efficient interpolation, and the same simulation is continued, thus eliminating a separate full-domain simulation. For four historical storms, results show efficiency gains of up to 53 percent, with minimal accuracy losses relative to a static simulation.
In Vivo Simultaneous Nonlinear Absorption Raman and Fluorescence (SNARF) Imaging of Mouse Brain Cortical Structures

Two photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) microscopy is a widely used optical imaging technique that has revolutionized neurophotonics through a diverse palette of dyes, specialized transgenic models, easy implementation, and straightforward data analysis. However, in vivo TPEF imaging is often limited in the number of contrasts available to distinguish different cells, structures, or functions. We propose using two label free multiphoton microscopy techniques: stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy and transient absorption microscopy (TAM) as complementary and orthogonal imaging modalities to TPEF for in vivo brain imaging. In this study, we construct a simultaneous nonlinear absorption, Raman, and fluorescence (SNARF) microscope and image several cortical structures up to 250-300 μm below the pial surface, the highest reported in vivo imaging depth for SRS or TAM. We further demonstrate the capabilities of our SNARF microscope through the quantification of age-dependent myelination, hemodynamics, vessel structure, cell density, and cell identity in vivo. Using machine learning, we report the use of label free SRS and TAM features to predict capillary lining cell identities with 90% accuracy. The SNARF microscope and methodology outlined herein provide a powerful platform to study several research topics, including neurovascular coupling, blood brain barrier, neuronal and axonal degeneration in aging, and neurodegenerative diseases.
A conceptual framework of defence innovation

Gaining a decisive technological edge is a never-ending pursuit for defence establishments. Intensifying geo-strategic and geo-economic rivalry among major powers, especially the U.S and China, and...
Research on Distribution Network Topology Reconfiguration Based on LSTM Neural Network

The potential value of massive operation data can be tapped by machine learning and other new technologies, and it is important to apply machine learning in the complex environment of distribution network. Therefore, distribution network topology reconfiguration optimization based on machine learning is studied in this paper. In order to reconstruct the topology of distribution network efficiently and economically, a dynamic topology reconstruction algorithm based on LSTM prediction mechanism is proposed. Firstly, LSTM model is constructed to predict the load of each node in each period. Then, the mathematical model of distribution network topology reconfiguration is generated. Finally, the global optimization dynamic reconfiguration strategy is generated by using the minimum comprehensive cost as the optimization objective. The experimental results show that the topology reconstruction algorithm can reduce the line loss cost, and can be used to reconstruct and optimize the topology.
Convergence of numerical optimal feedback policies for deterministic optimal control problems

We consider a Markov chain based numerical approximation method for a class of deterministic nonlinear optimal control problems. It is known that methods of this type yield convergent approximations to the value function on the entire domain. These results do not easily extend to the optimal control, which need not be uniquely defined on the entire domain. There are, however, regions of strong regularity on which the optimal control is well defined and smooth. Typically, the union of these regions is open and dense in the domain. Using probabilistic methods, we prove that on the regions of strong regularity, the Markov chain method yields a convergent sequence of approximations to the optimal feedback control. The result is illustrated with several examples.
Factor Exposures and Hedge Fund Operational Risk: The Case of Amaranth

Hedge fund performance and risk measurement continues to present intriguing challenges to both academics and practitioners. Risk-return measures that are solely based on historical return series tend to provide limited information and the marginal new information revealed by another quantitative measure tends to be small, and approaches zero once three or more measures are considered. In this article we will examine the ris exposures and performance characteristics of Amaranth Advisors LLC. Amaranth Advisors LLC was created in 2000 as a multi-strategy hedge fund. Beginning operations with approximately $600 million in capital, it sought to employ a diverse group of arbitrage trading strategies particularly featuring convertible bonds, mergers and utilities. In 2002, Amaranth added energy commodity trading to its slate of strategies with JP Morgan Chase clearing its commodity trades. On August 4, 2006 NYMEX examined Amaranth’s positions and calculated that Amaranth held about 51% of the open interest in the September natural gas futures contract which would expire at the end of the month. NYMEX decided that this was too large and on August 8 NYMEX compliance officials notified Amaranth of their concerns. Amaranth complied with NYMEX’s directions and subsequently reduced its September and October positions. However, at the same time Amaranth increased its positions in September and October ICE contracts such that their overall positions in natural gas rose. The events that followed in late August and September led to huge losses with Amaranth losing significant value.
School screening and parental reminders in increasing dental care for children in need: a retrospective cohort study

Objective: The objective of this study is to assess follow-up dental care received by children given baseline screening and referrals as part of an ongoing clinical trial. Methods: A retrospective study with two cohorts of kindergarten children who had baseline and follow-up (9 months later) dental exams was used. The parents/caregivers of children with routine restorative or urgent needs at baseline received a referral letter and telephone reminders to seek care for their child. Children with referrals were evaluated at follow-up exam for the receipt of care. A baseline caregiver questionnaire provided information on the individual and family characteristics of the children. Results: A total of 303 children had dental exams at both time periods. At baseline, 42 percent (126/303) received referrals and among the referred group19 percent (24/126) received follow-up care. A greater proportion with urgent referrals (10/30, 33 percent) received care than those with routine referrals (14/96, 15 percent). Baseline dmft decayed, missing, filled primary teeth and DMFT decayed, missing, filled permanent teeth was similar between children who did/did not receive follow-up care (P = 0.178 and 0.491, respectively). Children receiving referrals had caregivers with less education, higher Medicaid participation, fewer routine care visits, poorer self-rating of teeth, and a higher proportion of children reporting tooth pain. Children without receipt of follow-up care had caregivers who were more likely to report not visiting a dentist within the last 5 years and a greater number of missed days from work because of tooth problems. Conclusion: The rate of dental utilization was low even with school screening, referral and parental reminders among poor, largely minority inner-city kindergarten children.
Total sequence, flanking regions, and transcripts of bacteriophage T4 nrdA gene, coding for alpha chain of ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase.

Abstract As a part of a study of the role of bacteriophage T4-coded ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase in the switch-on and regulation of T4 DNA replication, we report the cloning and sequencing of the nrdA gene, coding for the alpha protein chain of the enzyme. The open reading frame of the nrdA gene begins 558 base pairs downstream of the 3' terminus of the td gene (thymidylate synthase). nrdB, encoding the beta chain of the enzyme, initiates 700 base pairs from the termination of nrdA. A high degree of similarity is found between the deduced amino acid sequence of the 754-residue alpha chain and the corresponding chain reported for nrdA of Escherichia coli; 56% of the residues are identical, with some segments reaching 84%. Some structural aspects of the derived alpha 2 subunit of the T4 enzyme are explored. By the S1 nuclease protection method, the RNA formed after T4 infection contains two prereplicative transcripts for nrdA, T3 and TU, and one postreplicative transcript, TL. T3 is found in low concentration. While the 5' termini of T3 and TL occur at sites near nrdA, TU apparently is a multicistronic transcript initiating farther upstream. The regulation of nrdA expression is examined in light of these findings.
Qualitative Political Communication| From Wizards and House-Elves to Real-World Issues: Political Talk in Fan Spaces

Political talk enables citizens to form opinions and understand the significance of the political world. Yet young people in particular may find political talk intimidating or divisive, and may require alternative spaces to discuss politics. This article presents an ethnographic examination of political talk within the context of a face-to-face Harry Potter fan discussion group, as a case of a “third space” where shared popular culture interests serve as a starting point for political discussion. The analysis suggests three mechanisms explicating the process through which popular culture contexts can engender political talk: scaling up, broadening the political, and mobilization. Connections between popular culture and political communication are found to be particularly important for the political socialization of young people.
Techniques for removal of the Essure* hysteroscopic tubal occlusion device

Objective To present two case reports of techniques for removal of the Essure (Conceptus, Inc., Mountain View, CA) hysteroscopic tubal occlusion device. Design Case report. Setting University-affiliated teaching hospital. Patient(s) Two women requesting removal of Essure devices because of persistent pelvic pain up to 6 weeks after placement. Intervention(s) Hysteroscopic and laparoscopic removal of the Essure microinserts. No institutional review board approval was obtained because the procedures were not part of a study protocol. Main Outcome Measure(s) Effective removal of the Essure device and resolution of pelvic pain symptoms. Result(s) Successful removal of the device was achieved in both patients. In one case, the procedure was performed entirely by hysteroscopy. In the other case, a laparoscopic approach was required because of a lack of visualization of the device. Pain symptoms resolved within 2 weeks of removal in both patients. Conclusion(s) These are the first reported cases of successful removal of the Essure tubal occlusion devices up to 6 weeks after placement. This procedure can be safely performed with the use of hysteroscopy if the inserts are clearly visualized. Laparoscopy is an alternative when the device is completely within the fallopian tube. Further study is needed to assess the functionality of the tube after the procedure, as well as feasibility of removal beyond 6 weeks.
Sense of control, quality of life, and frail older people.

Publisher Summary Sense of control and quality of life for older people are intimately interrelated. Sense of control is a pivotal contributor to a wide variety of behaviors including intellectual performance and coping with stress and to both mental and physical well-being, which are essential elements of the quality of life. People are able to maintain a stable sense of the self despite the gradual and slow changes in themselves and their social environment that accompany aging. Child development and adult cognitive intervention literatures provide some clues about the environmental conditions that may link increasing disability with a diminishing sense of control. Children and adolescents are likely to develop a positive sense of control when the environment is characterized as offering choice as opposed to constraint and as being contingent, sensitive to one's goals, desires, and supportive, that is, providing constructive feedback. A sense of control may influence subjective or perceived health through its effects on the salience and labeling of bodily complaints as symptoms.
Simulations of Four-Dimensional Simplicial Quantum Gravity as Dynamical Triangulation

Four-Dimensional Simplicial Quantum Gravity is simulated using the dynamical triangulation approach. We studied simplicial manifolds of spherical topology and found the critical line for the cosmological constant as a function of the gravitational one, separating the phases of opened and closed Universe. When the bare cosmological constant approaches this line from above, the four-volume grows: we reached about 5×104 simplexes, which proved to be sufficient for the statistical limit of infinite volume. However, for the genuine continuum theory of gravity, the parameters of the lattice model should be further adjusted to reach the second order phase transition point, where the correlation length grows to infinity. We varied the gravitational constant, and we found the first order phase transition, similar to the one found in three-dimensional model, except in 4D the fluctuations are rather large at the transition point, so that this is close to the second order phase transition. The average curvature in cutoff units is large and positive in one phase (gravity), and small negative in another (antigravity). We studied the fractal geometry of both phases, using the heavy particle propagator to define the geodesic map, as well as with the old approach using the shortest lattice paths. The heavy propagator geodesic appeared to be much smoother, so that the scaling laws were found, corresponding to finite fractal dimensions: D+~2.3 in the gravity phase and D−~4.6 in the antigravity phase. Similar, but somewhat lower numbers were obtained from the heat kernel singularity. The influence of the αR2 terms in 2, 3 and 4 dimensions is discussed.
Comparative Efficacy Between Self-Report and Clinician-Administered Assessments of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms Across Seven Studies

A meta-analysis of seven studies using self-report and clinician-administered assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of a cognitive processing therapy (CPT) intervention among 684 participants. ...
In vitro validation of a thermodilution right ventricular ejection fraction method.

A thermodilution catheter and computer system has been developed to measure right ventricular ejection fraction and volumes. To evaluate the performance of this method, the thermodilution system was evaluated in an in vitro pulsatile flow model. Thermodilution measurements of ejection fraction (EF), cardiac output (CO), stroke volume (SV), end-diastolic volume (EDV), and end-systolic volume (ESV) were compared with known values in a pulsatile flow bench. Thermodilution EF measurements correlated very well with the pulsatile flow model (r2=0.95, m [slope]=0.85, SEE=4.0 EFU). Thermodilution CO and SV were highly predictive of actual pulsatile flow (r2=0.99, m=0.99, SEE=187 ml/min andr2=0.98, m=0.96, SEE=2.5 ml, respectively). Thermodilution end-diastolic and end-systolic volume measurements resulted in low mean eror, −1.8% and 0.6%, respectively. The standard deviations of the error for EDV and ESV were 11.0% and 16.4%. The thermodilution measurements were repeatable, with CO, SV, and EF coefficients of variation of 3.2%, 3.3%, and 4.7%, respectively. EDV and ESV were slightly more variable, with coefficients of variation of 5.5% and 7.2%, respectively.
Impact of improving immunosuppressive treatment on outcome in cadaveric kidney transplantation

Background. Since the advent of cyclosporine-based immunosuppression for cadaveric kidney transplants in 1983, several changes have been made in immunosuppressive management at the University of Wisconsin. Since 1986, OKT3 has been available to treat steroid-resistant rejection; since 1992, OKT3 has been used as an induction agent replacing antilymphocyte globulin; and since 1993, mycophenolate mofetil has been used in 104 patients. Methods. The impact of different immunosuppressive strategies on overall and immunologic graft survival (defined as graft loss caused by rejection) was evaluated in 1210 primary cadaveric renal transplants at the University of Wisconsin. Covariables, including degree of human leukocyte antigen matching, age, gender, cause of kidney failure, and early graft dysfunction, were evaluated. The series was subdivided into four eras according to immunosuppressive regimen, and the results were analyzed by era. Results. Our principal findings are that immunologic graft survival has improved significantly during this series whereas overall graft survival has not. Mycophenolate was associated with a significant decrease in acute rejection. For a given patient, graft loss from rejection becomes less likely over time. Late rejection poses a greater risk than early rejection for graft loss. Conclusions. Improving outcomes may be related to improving immunosuppressive treatment, increasing degree of human leukocyte antigen matching, and better early graft function.
Effect of lateral cranial base surgery on temporomandibular joint function

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) function in patients who experienced lateral cranial base tumor surgery was evaluated by a comparison of recordings of condylar movement in right and left parasagittal planes during opening and protrusive movements. The characteristic tracing and measurements of mandibular movements at the condyle of six patients after surgery were compared with a nonsurgical asymptomatic control group consisting of 16 subjects. Of the six surgical patients, three patients had the condyles disarticulated and rearticulated, and three patients had condyles surgically resected. The data gathered through computerized axiographic tracings of horizontal condylar inclinations at different intervals showed significant interaction effects among right and left sides within the groups (p 0.001). Medical histories and clinical examinations were used to diagnose or rule out the presence of TMJ disorders. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and three-dimensional computerized tomograms (CT) imaging of the TMJs of these patients were investigated. MRI and CT scans illustrated the static detail and morphology of the TMJs. Computerized axiography revealed the dynamic detail and function of the TMJs in the various mandibular movements. The study of condylar pathways during opening and protrusive movements showed variations of mandibular deviation among patients having cranial base surgery. Increased mandibular deviation was found in patients who experienced resected condyles.
The physiological cross‐sectional area of motor units in the cat tibialis anterior

The physiological cross-sectional area (CSA) of a motor unit (MU), taken as the sum of fiber areas measured on a single section through the approximate midlength of the MU, has been compared with the physiological CSA more strictly defined as the sum of the maximal areas to be found anywhere along the length of each of the MU fibers. The CSA at intervals along the fiber length was measured in fibers selected from four glycogen-depleted, isolated MUs in the cat tibialis anterior (TA), and profiles of the summed areas made. In one MU, measurements were also taken on all the MU's fibers at less frequent intervals. The profiles demonstrate that the summed CSA based on each fiber's maximum CSA may exceed that derived from observation on any single section by as much as 20%. As a consequence, values that have been reported for specific tension (force per unit area) of MUs in the TA and probably other muscles may have been overestimated, especially for those MUs of fast type. Estimates were also made of the share of the MU's total force transmitted directly to the tendons of origin and insertion via endings of the blunt musculotendinous type as distinct from tapering intrafascicular endings acting through in-series connective tissue and non-MU fibers. In two MUs of slow type in which most fibers ran from tendon to tendon, “partial tapering” extending over 1 cm of the fiber length accounted for a third of the total physiological CSA, and indicated yet another mode for relay of the MU's force to the tendon. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Vascular pulsations on impedance audiometry as a sign of a third-mobile window lesion.

OBJECTIVE Description of a new audiometric sign of a third-mobile window lesion. PATIENTS Subject with known superior canal dehiscence. INTERVENTION(S) Diagnostic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Results of impedance audiometry testing. RESULTS Vascular pulsations seen on impedance audiometry on dehiscent side. CONCLUSION Vascular pulsations seen on impedance audiometry may indicate a third-mobile window lesion in the inner ear.
HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis: Mucosal tissue drug distribution of RT inhibitor Tenofovir and entry inhibitor Maraviroc in a humanized mouse model

Abstract Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) strategies utilizing anti-retroviral drugs show considerable promise for HIV prevention. However there is insufficient pharmacokinetic (PK) data on drug concentrations required for protection at the relevant mucosal tissues where the infection is initiated. Here we evaluated the utility of a humanized mouse model to derive PK data on two leading drugs, the RT inhibitor Tenofovir (TFV) and CCR5 inhibitor Maraviroc (MVC). Following oral dosing, both the drugs and the intracellular active TFV-diphosphate could be detected in vaginal, rectal and intestinal tissues. The drug exposures (AUC24 h) were found to be higher in vaginal tissue compared to plasma with even higher levels detected in rectal and intestinal tissues. The overall trends of drug concentrations seen in humanized mice reflect those seen in the human thus establishing the utility of this model complementing the present non-human primate (NHP) models for future pre-clinical evaluations of promising HIV PrEP drug candidates.
The relative numbers of long-wavelength-sensitive to middle-wavelength-sensitive cones in the human fovea centralis

The determination of the relative numbers of different cone types in the human retina is fundamental to our understanding of visual sensitivity and color vision; yet direct measurement which provide this basic information have not previously been made for all cone types. Here we present a model which links the detection of a test light of small dimension to the number of cones contributing to detection of the light. We selectively isolated either the long-wavelength-sensitive (L) or the middle-wavelength-sensitive (M) cones, by choosing combinations of wavelengths of adapting backgrounds and tests to favor detection by the cone class of interest. Our model was applied to the detection functions measured for six color normal observers to obtain estimates of the relative numbers of L to M cones. Our estimates ranged between 1.46 and 2.36 for our observers with a mean value near two L cones for every M cone in human fovea centralis.
Development of a direct methanol fuel cell stack fed with pure methanol

Abstract Two passive fuel cell stacks with the same four MEAs in a series connection have been fabricated, tested, and compared. The dilute-stack was filled with 30 mL dilute methanol solutions (1–3 M), whereas the pure-stack was driven by 3 mL pure methanol. In the pure-stack, porous components were added on both sides of the MEAs to modify its mass transfer characteristics so that the stack could directly use pure methanol as fuel without having severe methanol crossover. The performance, fuel efficiency, energy efficiency, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) responses of the passive dilute-stack and pure-stack were measured at room temperature with different fuels. The pure-stack using pure methanol showed similar performance with the dilute-stack using 1 M methanol solution. The measured fuel efficiency and energy efficiency of the pure-stack were 53.6% and 13.3%, respectively, at 1.2 V. Since 100% methanol, instead of the less than 10% methanol solutions, was used as fuel, the energy density of the pure-stack per weight of fuel was more than 10 times higher than that of the dilute stack.