cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Perioperative Prophylaxis for Total Artificial Heart Transplantation.

Abstract Background Practice variation regarding perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis in total artificial heart transplantations (TAH-t) across institutions is unknown. The aim of our survey was to assess the current practices for prevention of infection in TAH-t recipients among different programs. Methods An electronic survey was sent to programs that implant Syncardia TAH (Syncardia Systems, Tuscon, Ariz, USA). Proportions were analyzed for categorical variables; means and SDs were analyzed for continuous variables. Results The majority of centers (80.8%) had a formal surgical infection prophylaxis protocol. For non–penicillin-allergic patients, five (20.1%) institutions reported using a 4-drug regimen, seven (29.2%) used a 3-drug regimen, five (20.1%) used a 2-drug regimen, and seven (29.2%) used a cephalosporin alone. Similar data was seen in the penicillin-allergic patients. Infections were reported to occur postoperatively in 52.2% centers. During the first month after TAH-t, bacteremia represented 27.3%, driveline infections 27.2%, pulmonary infections 9%, and mediastinal infections 18.2%. The most common organisms seen within the first month were Candida spp., Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (21.4%). In 65% of centers, the mean rate of death post–TAH-t due to infection was 14.5% (SD, 22.3%). The mean rate of patients surviving until orthotopic heart transplantation was 58.6% (SD, 27.7%). Conclusions Preventing infections post–TAH-t is key to decreasing morbidity and mortality. All institutions administered perioperative prophylaxis for TAH-t with significant variation among the centers. The majority of the centers have a formal perioperative prophylactic protocol.
Raising up the voices of the closest observers of care

Patients and family members are the closest observers of care, with their focus on one patient in one hospital bed or clinic room. While patient-centred care is a well-accepted domain of quality, our ability to gather and use the patient and family member perspective to improve care is still relatively limited. One potential source of data for this perspective is online reviews of care from social media sources such as Yelp, the online review site, and Facebook, the popular social networking site. These online sources of consumer-generated content likely exert greater influence than the scientifically validated measures of quality published on government-sponsored public reporting websites, such as the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) and Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) measures. The influence of online sources of patient-generated assessments of care likely reflects a number of factors: Yelp and Facebook receive far greater traffic1 than public reporting websites2; people frequently use social media for healthcare information3 4; the number of online reviews for healthcare providers has increased substantially over time5 6; and because the data are more engaging—Yelp and Facebook reviewers write narrative stories, which consumers find more compelling than aggregated quantitative experience scores.7 8 Given the increasing presence of online consumer-generated content, multiple studies over the past decade have examined whether the consumer-generated data are meaningful and whether they contribute to better informed consumers. Do they steer people to high-performing providers, thereby improving the quality of care for consumers, or to low-quality choices, leading to poor care and potentially worse outcomes? The paper by Gaudet Hefele et al 9 in this issue of BMJ Quality & Safety adds to this literature by looking at nursing homes, a care setting not previously examined and for which …
Characterization of Intermediate Oxidation States in CO2 Activation

Redox chemistry during the activation of carbon dioxide involves changing the charge state in a CO2 molecular unit. However, such changes are usually not well described by integer formal charges, a...
Overcoming the Myth of Extinction: The Path Toward Heritage Rights for the Tasmanian Aboriginals

Heritage rights figure prominently in the contemporary efforts of the Tasmanian Aboriginal community to reassert their identity and regain self-determination. A belief has persisted that the Tasman...
Controlled Substances: Crime, Regulation, and Policy (Table of Contents and Preface)

This posting provides the Table of Contents and Preface to Professor Alex Kreit's "Controlled Substances: Crime, Regulation, and Policy" (Carolina Academic Press, 2013), the first law school textbook title or edition of its kind (dealing with drug law and policy) to be published in 30 years.While modern drug laws have dramatically changed our criminal justice system, they are strangely absent from the curriculum at most law schools. Every criminal law casebook devotes significant coverage to homicide, property crimes, and rape. But only a handful include a chapter or section on drug offenses. Criminal procedure courses are filled with drug cases. But this is only because so many of the leading Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendment cases happened to involve drug prosecutions. Courses like federal criminal law and international criminal law sometimes include coverage of drug offenses. And there are some schools that offer a seminar or course on drug policy. At most law schools today, however, a student could take every single criminal law-related offering without studying drug law and policy.It is hard to say why there is such a large gap between the coverage of drug crimes in law schools and the importance of drug crimes to criminal law practice and criminal justice policy. A lack of prepared course materials may be partly to blame. There has not been a casebook dedicated to controlled substances law since the second and final edition of Gerald F. Uelmen and Victor G. Haddox’s excellent work, "Drug Abuse and the Law: Cases, Text, Materials," was published in 1983.Whatever the reason for this inattention to drug laws, teachers and students alike have been the poorer for their absence from law schools. A course on controlled substances provides a uniquely rich mix of complex legal and policy problems. A close look at the law of drug crimes reveals unusually tough challenges in how to define, prove, and punish them. The enforcement of drug laws provides an ideal vehicle for studying a number of important and often overlooked issues like prosecutorial discretion, the use of informants in modern policing, and racial profiling. And, of course, drug prohibition presents one of the most difficult tests for the theories of punishment.From beginning to end, this textbook (and courses based on it) will provide an intellectually engaging experience for a wide range of law students. Students who plan on becoming prosecutors or defense attorneys will learn about an area of the law that will inevitably occupy a large percentage of their practice. Others will enjoy debating marijuana legalization or studying the relationship between race and our drug laws.
Some observations on the effect of folic acid antagonists on acute leukemia and other forms of incurable cancer.

A general discussion is presented of the present status of folic acid antagonist therapy in acute leukemia in children and in other forms of incurable cancer. Conclusions reached in our initial report have been supported by a far greater experience. Temporary remissions in acute leukemia as marked as those caused by aminopterin have been produced by the use of two compounds closely related chemically to aminopterin—amethopterin and amino-an-fol, both of which, however, are also toxic compounds. Despite the increasing number of patients in whom temporary remissions have been produced, with survival in some far beyond the usual course of the disease, no evidence has been presented which would justify the use of the word "cure" of acute leukemia. A carcinolytic action on related and on certain unrelated forms of incurable cancer has been observed. Further research for less toxic related compounds with even greater effectiveness is not only justified by these studies but is imperative. The value of this direction of research in cancer has been established. Two of the most pressing problems demanding solution are concerned with the nature, the prevention, and the treatment of toxic changes, including hemorrhage, produced by these folic acid antagonists and the causes, prevention and mechanism of hemorrhage in acute leukemia. The use of the folic acid antagonists in the treatment of incurable cancer including leukemia must remain in the realm of research until answers to these questions are found.
Joint Modeling of Multivariate Longitudinal Depressive Symptoms and Survival with Application to an Aging Study

Objective The primary aim in this study was to use a joint analysis approach to examine the association between longitudinal depressive symptoms and survival in Mexican Americans. Methods: The separate Cox regression and joint modeling were applied to data from the Hispanic Established Population for Epidemiological Study of the Elderly (HEPESE). Depressive symptoms were measured by the Center of Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). The trajectories of CES-D, modeled by random effect, were used as independent variables to fit the mortality curve adjusted by other variables including demographics and physical functioning. Results: The separate Cox regression couldn’t identify association between depressive symptoms and survival. The joint analysis indicated that the slope of CES-D score was not associated with mortality in older Mexican-Americans, however the intercept had negative effects on mortality. Conclusion : There was significant association between baseline depression symptoms and mortality, while no association with slope in older Mexican Americans
Plant RNA Polymerases: Structures, Regulation, and Genes

Plants, like other eukaryotes, have three distinct classes of nuclear DNA-dependent RNA polymerases (9,10,21,26). In addition, they possess RNA polymerases unique to the chloroplast and mitochondrial organelles. Within the nucleus, genomic DNA is transcribed by RNA polymerases I (or A), II (or B), and III (or C), and each class of enzyme carries out a unique transcriptional role. RNA polymerase I is localized in the nucleolus and transcribes ribosomal DNA (rDNA) cistrons into precursor ribosomal RNA (rRNA) containing species of 25S, 18S, and 5.8S rRNAs. RNA polymerase II is localized in the nucleoplasm and produces precursors to mRNAs and some small nuclear RNAs. RNA polymerase III is also localized in the nucleoplasm and transcribes 5S rRNA, tRNA, and some small nuclear RNA genes. While RNA polymerases II and III are localized in the nucleoplasm in situ, both enzymes are subject to extensive leaching from nuclei during cell disruption and are largely recovered in the cytoplasm fraction of cell extracts (9,10).
Supporting Families of Infants At-Risk for ASD Identified Through Community Screening and Surveillance

Screening tools have given us the opportunity to identify risk symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in infants prior to the full expression of symptoms when a definitive diagnosis can be made. Identification of ASD risk via community screening and surveillance is particularly important for the estimated 89% of infants without known genetic risk factors (such as an older sibling with ASD) who will eventually be diagnosed with ASD. Based on the application of a transactional model of development to infants at-risk for ASD, parent-implemented very early interventions have the potential to attenuate the expression of ASD symptoms in these infants and improve outcomes. In this chapter, we will (1) discuss what is known about identification of infants who are at-risk for ASD through community screening, (2) highlight the research to date examining use of parent-implemented very early interventions for infants who were identified as at-risk for ASD via community screening, and (3) offer insight into some of the advantages and obstacles in intervening with this population based on our own research experiences and those of our colleagues who have done similar work.
Robotic-Assisted Thoracoscopic Repair of Right-Sided Bochdalek Hernia in Adults: A Two-Case Series.

Bochdalek hernia is a congenital diaphragmatic hernia that presents rarely in adulthood. Because of the paucity of cases, no standard repair technique has been identified. Here we present two cases...
Canonical form for graphs in quasipolynomial time: preliminary report

We outline how to turn the author's quasipolynomial-time graph isomorphism test into a construction of a canonical form within the same time bound. The proof involves a nontrivial modification of the central symmetry-breaking tool, the construction of a canonical relational structure of logarithmic arity on the ideal domain based on local certificates.
On the Distortion of Pulse-Width-Modulated Five-Level Asymmetric Multilevel Inverters

The use of multilevel inverters is increasing to achieve better power quality. Hence, it is essential to determine a modulation technique which can obtain optimum harmonic distortion of multilevel inverter output. This paper presents an analytical technique to determine the spectral components of an asymmetric five-level PWM inverter. To obtain the analytical expressions for the inverter output waveform, the double Fourier integral technique is used. Accuracy of this analysis was verified by comparing the total harmonic distortions and weighted total harmonic distortions obtained by this analysis, with the same obtained by simulations and experiments. This was done for various amplitude modulation index values, and the degree of asymmetry needed to achieve minimal output voltage distortion was determined for each of the considered index values.
Modified New Iterative Method for Solving Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations

In this paper, the iterative method, proposed by Gejji and Jafari in 2006, has been modified for solving nonlinear initial value problems. The Laplace transform was used in this modification to eliminate the linear differential operator in the differential equation. The convergence of the solution was discussed according to the modification proposed. To illustrate this modification some examples were presented.
Alarming Mental Health Status Among Hong Kong Residents During the COVID-19 Epidemic: Role of Loneliness

Background: Despite ongoing concerns about mental health during the COVID-19, there is lack of data on the psychiatric consequences in the general population
Prevalence of Anxiety, Depression, Sleep Disturbance, Fibromyalgia, Obesity, and Gastroesophageal Disease in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases.

Background Patients with rheumatologic disorders often have comorbidities that complicate their psychological well-being. In this study, we looked at 216 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematous (SLE), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and Sjogren's syndrome (SS) to determine the prevalence of anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance, fibromyalgia (FM), obesity (BMI greater than 23), and gastroesophageal disease (GERD) and the correlation between FM, BMI, disease activity measure, known as Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3). Methods Study participants were 216 rheumatology patients seen at the UCF Pegasus Health Clinic from November 2011 to May 2014 with one or more of the following diseases: RA, SS, SLE, or PsA. 116 had rheumatoid arthritis, 27 with systemic lupus erythematous, 22 with psoriatic arthritis, 20 with Sjogren's syndrome, and 31 with more than one diagnosis. Variables that were collected from patient's charts included RAPID3 scores, patient demographics (age, sex), BMI, presence of GERD, and presence of FM. Each patient was randomly assigned, unique and had an unidentifiable study number. Results Anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance and obesity were found to be more prevalent in patients with Sjogren's syndrome, and fibromyalgia was noted to be more prevalent in patients with more than 1 diagnosis. The presence of fibromyalgia was significantly correlated with higher RAPID3 scores in all patients except those with PsA. Significant correlation among higher BMI and greater RAPID3 scores was found for patients with rheumatoid arthritis and for patients with Sjogren's syndrome. Conclusion Our study showed increased prevalence of anxiety in patients with Sjogren's syndrome. Fibromyalgia was found to be related to higher disease activity scores. In RA and SS patients, BMI was significantly correlated with higher RAPID3 scores. These results provide a basis for future studies to evaluate these correlations in more detail.
The Library of Robert Morris, Antebellum Civil Rights Lawyer and Activist

The Robert Morris library, the only known extant, antebellum African American–owned library, reveals its owner’s intellectual commitment to full citizenship and equality for people of color. Although studies of lawyers’ libraries have focused on large collections, this article provides a model for interpreting small libraries, particularly where few personal papers remain extant.
Synthetic studies towards (±)-isopalhinine A: Preparation of the bicyclic core via Nazarov cyclization

Abstract This manuscript describes progress towards the total synthesis of (±)-isopalhinine A wherein an allene ether Nazarov cyclization gives rise to the bicyclic core.
High-level field-evolved resistance to spinosad in Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, in organically managed fields.

BACKGROUND Organic pest management eschews synthetic pesticides and insecticide resistance is rarely studied in organically managed systems. Spinosad is a biologically based insecticide used widely by both organic and conventional growers. Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, is infamous for its ability to evolve resistance to insecticides. Spinosad resistance was surveyed in conventionally managed fields in eastern New York in 2006. In response to grower reports of spinosad failure on two organic farms in 2009, resistance to spinosad was assayed in both conventionally and organically managed fields the following year, and growers were surveyed for their prior spinosad use. RESULTS In 2006, spinosad resistance measured as median lethal dose (LD50 ) varied 9.8-fold among the eight conventional fields sampled and a laboratory susceptible strain. In 2010, the resistance ratios of LD50 values relative to a laboratory susceptible strain ranged from 17.5 to 40.6 in conventionally managed fields, and from 128.7 to 5750.3 in organically managed fields, a dramatic increase from 2006 with higher resistance ratios in organically managed fields. Organic growers reported much heavier use of spinosad in the years prior to 2010. CONCLUSION This is the first report of high-level resistance to spinosad in Coleopterans. Selection strength due to number of years used and number of applications per season appear to have been the primary factors driving the evolution of resistance to spinosad, highlighting the need for resistance management in organic production, where fewer alternative active ingredients for resistance management are available. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
KSTAR: An algorithm to predict patient-specific kinase activities from phosphoproteomic data

Abstract Kinase inhibitors are one of the largest classes of FDA-approved drugs and are major targets in oncology. Although kinase inhibitors have played an important role in improving cancer outcomes, major challenges still exist, including the development of resistance and failure to respond to treatments. Improvements for tumor profiling of kinase activity would be an important step in improving treatment outcomes and identifying effective kinase targets. Here, we present a graph- and statistics-based algorithm, called KSTAR, which harnesses the phosphoproteomic profiling of human cells and tissues by predicting kinase activity profiles from the observed phosphorylation of kinase substrates. The algorithm is based on the hypothesis that the more active a kinase is, the more of its substrates will be observed in a phosphoproteomic experiment. This method is error- and bias-aware in its approach, overcoming the challenges presented by the variability of phosphoproteomic pipelines, the limited information about kinase-substrate relationships, and limitations of global kinase-substrate predictions, such as training set bias and high overlap between predicted kinase networks. We demonstrate that the predicted kinase activities: 1) reproduce physiologically-relevant expectations and generates novel hypotheses within cell-specific experiments, 2) improve the ability to compare phosphoproteomic samples on the same tissues from different labs, and 3) identify tissue-specific kinase profiles. Finally, we apply the approach to complex human tissue biopsies in breast cancer, where we find that KSTAR activity predictions complement current clinical standards for identifying HER2-status – KSTAR can identify clinical false positives, patients who will fail to respond to inhibitor therapy, and clinically defined HER2-negative patients that might benefit from HER2-targeted therapy. KSTAR will be useful for both basic biological understanding of signaling networks and for improving clinical outcomes through improved clinical trial design, identification of new and/or combination therapies, and for identifying the failure to respond to targeted kinase therapies.
Methods of theoretical analysis and computer modeling of the shaping of electrical pulses by nonlinear transmission lines and lumped-element delay lines

The mechanism by which high-power electrical pulses can be sharpened by propagation along nonlinear transmission lines and lumped-element delay lines is described with emphasis on the production of pulses with very fast leading or trailing edges. A survey of some of the mathematical techniques that have been applied to the propagation of electrical signals along nonlinear lines and ladder networks is presented, and the limitations of these techniques are discussed. The processes that both produce and limit pulse sharpening on nonlinear lumped-element delay lines are examined, and it is found that the wave equation, which describes the propagation of electrical signals along such networks, predicts that an electrical pulse will decompose into an array of solitons. An approximate formula for estimating the degree of pulse sharpening that can be produced on a delay line with a given number of sections is derived, and its accuracy is compared with experimental results. Numerical integration techniques for solving the nonlinear differential and difference equations that result from the mathematical analysis of nonlinear lines and networks are discussed, and the propagation of a voltage pulse along a lumped-element delay line containing nonlinear capacitors is simulated using a computer model based on an efficient algorithm. >
Outcomes of the Transdiagnostic Intervention for Sleep and Circadian Dysfunction (TranS-C) in a community setting: Unpacking comorbidity.

Abstract Objective Comorbidity and subdiagnostic symptoms are understudied for sleep and circadian problems. We evaluated 1) impairment associated with (a) number of sleep and circadian problems and (b) diagnostic threshold (full diagnosis vs. subdiagnostic symptoms), and 2) Transdiagnostic Sleep and Circadian Intervention (TranS-C) outcomes for participants with specific sleep and circadian problems. Method Community participants (N = 121) with serious mental illness and sleep and circadian problem(s) were randomized to receive TranS-C plus usual care (TranS-C + UC) or usual care plus delayed TranS-C (UC-DT). Overall impairment, psychiatric symptoms, and sleep and circadian dysfunction were assessed at pre-treatment, post-treatment, and 6-month follow-up. Results Higher numbers of sleep and circadian problems, versus one problem, were associated with worse overall impairment, psychiatric symptoms, and sleep and circadian dysfunction (ps 0.05). TranS-C + UC versus UC-DT was associated with psychosocial and sleep and circadian improvements for specific sleep and circadian problems (insomnia, hypersomnia, parasomnias, periodic limb movement/restless leg syndrome, circadian rhythm disorders), though improvements varied by problem. TranS-C + UC outcomes were not moderated by number of sleep and circadian problems (ps > 0.05). Conclusion Higher numbers of sleep and circadian problems, not diagnostic threshold, were associated with greater impairment. Transdiagnostic utility of TranS-C + UC was supported.
The power to believe for reasons

An influential view of believing for reasons holds that the reasons for which we believe are causes of our believing. This view has well-known difficulties accounting for the problem of deviant cau...
Improving Adult Vaccination Status in the United States

Adult immunization practices leave much to be desired. Misinformation has increased mistrust. As a result, Latino and African American populations have low rates of annual flu vaccinations and, during the COVID-19 pandemic, lag behind for COVID-19 vaccination. Historically, healthcare staff have failed to adhere to adult immunization guidelines contributing to patient infections. Healthcare staff, both clinical and non-clinical, must lead by example by making “prevention primary”. Most adults may not realize they need immunizations. We recommend the following steps to increase immunization uptake: Make adult immunization a standard of patient care as we do for children. Assess immunization status at every clinical opportunity. Strongly recommend vaccinations needed. Administer needed vaccinations, multiple if warranted. Document vaccines received by your patient. Participate in your state’s immunization registry and work with community organizations that can help make adult immunization the norm.
“In-Water” Direct Arylation Polymerization (DArP) under Aerobic Emulsion Conditions

Despite limited reports employing sustainable solvents for Direct Arylation Polymerization (DArP), the large amount of organic waste generated from conjugated polymer synthesis requires attention. Herein, we report the first emulsion-DArP methodology to afford polymers with molecular weights up to 14.5 kg mol−1 with a 10-fold reduction of organic solvent utilized.
HeLa Based Cell Free Expression Systems for Expression of Plasmodium Rhoptry Proteins

Malaria causes significant global morbidity and mortality. No routine vaccine is currently available. One of the major reasons for lack of a vaccine is the challenge of identifying suitable vaccine candidates. Malarial proteins expressed using prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell based expression systems are poorly glycosylated, generally insoluble and undergo improper folding leading to reduced immunogenicity. The wheat germ, rabbit reticulocyte lysate and Escherichia coli lysate cell free expression systems are currently used for expression of malarial proteins. However, the length of expression time and improper glycosylation of proteins still remains a challenge. We demonstrate expression of Plasmodium proteins in vitro using HeLa based cell free expression systems, termed “in vitro human cell free expression systems”. The 2 HeLa based cell free expression systems transcribe mRNA in 75 min and 3 µl of transcribed mRNA is sufficient to translate proteins in 90 min. The 1-step expression system is a transcription and translation coupled expression system; the transcription and co-translation occurs in 3 hr. The process can also be extended for 6 hr by providing additional energy. In the 2-step expression system, mRNA is first transcribed and then added to the translation mix for protein expression. We describe how to express malaria proteins; a hydrophobic PF3D7_0114100 Maurer’s Cleft – 2 transmembrane (PfMC-2TM) protein, a hydrophilic PF3D7_0925900 protein and an armadillo repeats containing protein PF3D7_1361800, using the HeLa based cell free expression system. The proteins are expressed in micro volumes employing 2-step and 1-step expression strategies. An affinity purification method to purify 25 µl of proteins expressed using the in vitro human cell free expression system is also described. Protein yield is determined by Bradford’s assay and the expressed and purified proteins can be confirmed by western blotting analysis. Expressed recombinant proteins can be used for immunizations, immunoassays and protein sequencing.
Impact of bone SPECT-CT imaging on evaluation of lower extremities' pathology

456 Objectives This study evaluates the value of SPECT-CT imaging as part of bone scans in a variety of lower extremities’ pathology. Methods All the patients that underwent SPECT-CT imaging as part of a bone scan between Feb., 2008-May, 2009 were included. Patients with metal prostheses or multiple bony metastases were excluded. Two expert readers, informed only of the main complain, interpreted independently the planar, planar with SPECT, and planar with SPECT-CT images. The interpretation was graded as not certain of etiology (NS), somewhat certain (SC), or certain (C). Also a change or addition in diagnosis and/or location of pathology was recorded. Results A total of 35 consecutive patients were included, 19 females and 16 males with an average age of 44y. There was agreement between the 2 readers on the site of pathology in 32/35 patients and on diagnosis in 30/35 patients. The diagnoses in agreement included 8 arthritis, 7 stress fractures, 3 solitary metastasis, 2 shin splints, 1 heterotopic calcification, 1 avascular necrosis, 1 spur, 1 nonunion, 2 compression fractures, and 4 normals. The degree of certainty for both readers increased significantly with the addition of SPECT-CT . The certainty of diagnosis increased from 26% on planar images to 44% with SPECT to 74% with SPECT-CT for Reader 1 and from 40% to 54% to 69% , respectively for Reader 2. SPECT alone added 6 new sites (17%) of pathology to planar images, and changed the diagnosis in 2 patients (6%). SPECT-CT changed the diagnosis in 4 patients (11%). Conclusions SPECT-CT increased the certainty of location and diagnosis of a variety of bony abnormalities in the lower extremities
Nucleotide sequence analyses and predicted coding of bunyavirus genome RNA species.

Abstract We performed 3′ RNA sequence analyses of [32P]pCp-end-labeled La Crosse (LAC) virus, alternate LAC virus isolate L74, and snowshoe hare bunyavirus large (L), medium (M), and small (S) negative-stranded viral RNA species to determine the coding capabilities of these species. These analyses were confirmed by dideoxy primer extension studies in which we used a synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide primer complementary to the conserved 3′-terminal decanucleotide of the three viral RNA species (Clerx-van Haaster and Bishop, Virology 105:564-574, 1980). The deduced sequences predicted translation of two S-RNA gene products that were read in overlapping reading frames. So far, only single contiguous open reading frames have been identified for the viral M- and L-RNA species. For the negative-stranded M-RNA species of all three viruses, the single reading frame developed from the first 3′-proximal UAC triplet. Likewise, for the L-RNA of the alternate LAC isolate, a single open reading frame developed from the first 3′-proximal UAC triplet. The corresponding L-RNA sequences of prototype LAC and snowshoe hare viruses initiated open reading frames; however, for both viral L-RNA species there was a preceding 3′-proximal UAC triplet in another reading frame that was followed shortly afterward by a termination codon. A comparison of the sequence data obtained for snowshoe hare virus, LAC virus, and the alternate LAC virus isolate showed that the identified nucleotide substitutions were sufficient to account for some of the fingerprint differences in the L-, M-, and S-RNA species of the three viruses. Unlike the distribution of the L- and M-RNA substitutions, significantly fewer nucleotide substitutions occurred after the initial UAC triplet of the S-RNA species than before this triplet, implying that the overlapping genes of the S RNA provided a constraint against evolution by point mutation. The comparative sequence analyses predicted amino acid differences among the corresponding L-, M-, and S-RNA gene products of snowshoe hare virus and the two LAC virus isolates.
A systolic parsing algorithm for a visual programming language

In this paper we consider a problem of parsing a two-dimensional visual programming language Show and Tell on a two-dimensional array of processors. A program in Show and Tell is a bit-mapped, two-dimensional pattern satisfying a certain set of grammatical rules. The pattern consists of partially ordered set of rectilinear boxes and arrows distributed over the space of nxn pixel area. The corresponding directed graph, the box graph, where boxes are nodes and arrows are directed edges, may not have a cycle in a Show and Tell program. The cycle detection is the most computationally intensive stage of the parsing section of a Show and Tell program. We propose to exploit the concept of systolic array in parsing of Show and Tell programming language. A given bit pattern is mapped onto nxn array of mesh connected processors with one pixel assigned to one processing element. We show an algorithm for cycle detection which runs in time proportional to the size of the box graph. The complexity of any individual processor is independent on n,... Read complete abstract on page 2.
Color and volatile analysis of peanuts roasted using oven and microwave technologies.

UNLABELLED Roasted peanut color and volatiles were evaluated for different time and temperature combinations of roasting. Raw peanuts were oven roasted at 135 to 204 °C, microwave roasted for 1 to 3 min, or combination roasted by microwave and oven roasting for various times and temperatures. Volatiles were measured using selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry. L* values were used to categorize peanuts as under-roasted, ideally roasted, and over-roasted. The total roasting time in order to achieve ideal color was not shortened by most of the combination treatments compared to their oven roasted equivalents. Oven before microwave roasting compared to the reverse was found to significantly increase the L* value. Peanuts with the same color had different volatile levels. Hexanal concentrations decreased then increased with roasting. Pyrazine levels increased as roasting time increased, although oven at 177 °C treatments had the highest and microwave treatments had the lowest levels. Volatile levels generally increased as roasting time or temperature increased. Oven 177 °C for 15 min generally had the highest level of volatiles among the roasting treatments tested. Soft independent modeling of class analogies based on volatile levels showed that raw peanuts were the most different, commercial samples were the most similar to each other, and oven, microwave, and combination roasting were all similar in volatile profile. PRACTICAL APPLICATION Peanuts can be roasted to equivalent colors and have similar volatile levels by different roasting methods. Oven and microwave roasting technologies produced the same roasted peanut color and had similar volatile trends as roasting time increased. Combination roasting also produced ideal color and similar volatile levels indicating that microwave technology could be further explored as a peanut roasting technique.
Ion-molecule processes in lasers

In the last five years a variety of short wavelength molecular electronic transition gas lasers have been discovered. These pulsed lasers all operate at high pressures, above 1 atmosphere, where collisional processes dominate over radiative processes even fast, nsec, vacuum ultraviolet resonance radiation from electronically excited rare gas atoms. At high pressures new classes of reactions such as recombination, association, energy transfer, charge transfer, and excited state reactions can be used to produce the population inversion for laser oscillation. All of these lasers operate on similar principles and are examples of a hybrid laser pumping mechanism. That is, an external source of excitation, such as an electron-beam, proton beam, or an electric avalance discharge is used to deposit energy rapidly into a high pressure gas mixture composed primarily of rare gases. The excitation pulse produces a highly ionized plasma consisting initially of atomic rare gas ions, electronically excited rare gas atoms, and a large density of electrons having a kinetic energy distribution unique to the method of excitation used.
Interpreting Population Sequencing Data

Rapid advancements of sequencing technology result in accumulation of massive data on individual human DNA sequences. Interpretation of these data presents a number of statistical and computational challenges and demands development of new computational methods. Sequencing of phenotyped clinical populations is widely anticipated to replace genotyping in studies aiming at finding genes underlying human complex diseases. These sequencing studies will identify a multitude of previously unknown, predominantly rare, human allelic variants. Obviously, statistical power to detect association of human phenotypes with rare variants is greatly reduced. At the same time, analysis of very large number of DNA variants will require a very strict multiple test correction.
Clinical assessment of sildenafil in the treatment of neurogenic male sexual dysfunction: After the hype.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of sildenafil over a two-year period in patients with erectile dysfunction caused by spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis in a clinical practice following FDA approval and release of the medication to the general healthcare community. Study design: 40 patients including 33 SCI (13 quadriplegics, 20 paraplegics; 14 complete, 19 incomplete) and 7 MS patients were prescribed sildenafil in varying dosages. The patients were asked to return to the clinic for additional prescriptions so that we could assess their clinical response and their incidence of side effects. They were then followed for a period of up to two years either by follow up clinic visits or telephone interviews to determine whether they continued to use sildenafil as an ongoing solution to their erectile dysfunction. Results: Mean erectile response went from 4.9 to 7.8 (scale 1--10). Non-responders went from 9 to 4. 36 of the 40 were able to achieve erections sufficient for sexual intercourse. At the 2-year interval 13 of the 40 were no longer using sildenafil but only six discontinued due to lack of response. Adverse effects were minimal and mimicked those seen in the able-bodied studies. Conclusion: Sildenafil is a safe and effective first line treatment for the treatment of male neurogenic erectile dysfunction. However close clinical surveillance is necessary so that patients can avail themselves of other options should sildenafil not be effective.
Immigrants and the American Dream

William A. V. Clark. New York: Guilford Press, 2003. xvii and 254 pp., figures, tables, appendix, biblio., and index. $35.00 cloth (ISBN 1-57230-880-X). Nearly ten million immigrants have arrived i...
Neuroglial expression of the MHCI pathway and PirB receptor is upregulated in the hippocampus with advanced aging

The hippocampus undergoes changes with aging that impact neuronal function, such as synapse loss and altered neurotransmitter release. Nearly half of the aged population also develops deficits in spatial learning and memory. To identify age-related hippocampal changes that may contribute to cognitive decline, transcriptomic analysis of synaptosome preparations from adult (12 months) and aged (28 months) Fischer 344-Brown Norway rats assessed for spatial learning and memory was performed. Bioinformatic analysis identified the MHCI pathway as significantly upregulated with aging. Age-related increases in mRNAs encoding the MHCI genes RT1-A1, RT1-A2, and RT1-A3 were confirmed by qPCR in synaptosomes and in CA1 and CA3 dissections. Elevated levels of the MHCI cofactor (B2m), antigen-loading components (Tap1, Tap2, Tapbp), and two known MHCI receptors (PirB, Klra2) were also confirmed. Protein expression of MHCI was elevated with aging in synaptosomes, CA1, and DG, while PirB protein expression was induced in both CA1 and DG. MHCI expression was localized to microglia and neuronal excitatory postsynaptic densities, and PirB was localized to neuronal somata, axons, and dendrites. Induction of the MHCI antigen processing and presentation pathway in hippocampal neurons and glia may contribute to age-related hippocampal dysfunction by increasing neuroimmune signaling or altering synaptic homeostasis.
THE MEDICAL MODEL, MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS, AND INDIVIDUALS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA AND THEIR FAMILIES

The medical model is the dominant treatment paradigm in mental health practice. The purpose of this mixed methods study is to explore the influence of the medical model of treatment on individuals with schizophrenia and their families in a large community mental health center. Findings from the quantitative data indicate that nurses (mean 23.58), not social workers, had significantly more clients with schizophrenia on their caseloads and also have the largest caseloads (mean 73.36). Qualitative data from practitioners suggest that the medical model of treatment has an important influence over caseload composition and size. Implications for individuals with schizophrenia and their families as well as for social work are discussed.
Angular distributions of X-rays emitted following L3 ionization of Au atoms by electron impact

Abstract The angular distributions of Au L α , L β , and L l X-rays at forward angles 0°≤ ϕ ≤25° emitted following 15 keV electron impact have been measured in order to investigate the degree of induced alignment of the L 3 subshell vacancies. After corrections for absorption of the characteristic X-rays within the Au target, our results suggest that the angular distributions of the L α and L β X-rays are essentially isotropic, as no anisotropy was observed in our data outside of experimental uncertainties. However, the results of our experiments suggest that the angular distribution of the Au L l X-rays may be weakly anisotropic.
“thermal mapping” in experimental cancer treatment with hyperthermia: Description and use of a semi-automatic system

Abstract The regions of tumor which are least adequately heated during experimental hyperthermia treatments will most likely determine the ultimate probability of tumor control. Temperature inhomogeneity during local or regional hyperthermia is often marked, and stationary temperature probes yield very little information about the adequacy or inadequacy of tumor heating. Fine catheters can be placed through the tumor bearing region and temperatures recorded at various points within these catheters, thus yielding valuable data about temperature variations within the volume of interest. The “thermal mapping system” (TMS) described herein provides a method for remotely sampling these temperature variations in a semi-automatic manner in several catheters simultaneously. Its application in conjunction with a commercial hyperthermia system is described and clinical examples of its use and importance are provided.
Reflections on Theory in Action Using Critical Theory to Teach Public Administration Students About Social Class Inequalities

Various publications have shown that academic public administration mostly ignores questions involving socioeconomic disparities. This is especially true for how inherited cultural, social, and financial advantages affect interclass mobility, significant life outcomes, and, therefore, a citizen's relationship to government. Even public administration's social equity movement generally ignores class inequalities. Critical social theorists argue that socioeconomic issues must be a central focus of public administration. This article addresses the field's disregard of class matters by proposing ten instructional tools public administration professors can use to introduce students to major concerns about the relationship between socioeconomic disparities and government operations. By encouraging students to understand classism, public administration faculty can help fulfill their discipline's self-professed commitment to fairness, justice, and equity, and being a cutting-edge enterprise.
How institutional quality and economic factors impact technological deepening in developing countries

This paper assesses the effect of institutional and economic factors on research and development (R&D) expenditures in developing countries. The paper finds that several measures of institutional quality are correlated with R&D expenditures. Since the institutional variables increase as institutional quality improves, this suggests that stronger institutions and better protection of property rights encourage greater R&D expenditures. In addition, foreign direct investment is negatively correlated within R&D expenditures, while defense expenditures are positively correlated with R&D expenditures in some model specifications. Although R&D is not the primary way that developing countries gain access to technology, these results are of interest since R&D might encourage technological deepening better than other methods that developing countries use to gain access to technology (e.g., through FDI or capital goods imports). Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Line emission from hot, dense, aluminum plasmas

The radiation emission from dense, high-temperature aluminum plasmas has been studied to appraise the influence of photoexcitation on several spectral diagnostics currently used to determine average plasma parameters. The plasma state is described by a set of collisional-radiative rate equations characterizing the competing atomic processes occurring in a homogeneous plasma volume of constant density and temperature. Radiation is transported through the plasma by the method of frequency diffusion, a technique which employs collision times of the photons as they diffuse through the wings of a broadened line profile. Line spectra and line-intensity ratios for several pairs of emission lines of the $K$ shell are calculated in optically dense plasmas and compared with those obtained from the model within the optically thin approximation. The radiation-trapping effects are shown significantly to modify the behavior of the optically thin constant-density or constant-temperature line ratio curves, which become double valued in some cases. Comparisons of state populations obtained from this model and the local-thermodynamic-equilibrium model are also shown.
Challenge To Orthodoxy: Beliefs and Values of the Eternal Mother Sects in Sixteenth-and Seventeenth-Century China

Using the framework of orthodoxy versus heterodoxy, this paper attempts to establish the following points : (1) An orthodoxy existed in China since the middle of the second century before the common era and lasted until the turn of the present century. (2) This orthodoxy was not articulated by a religious authority, but rather by a political authority. (3) The content of this orthodoxy, socio-political-ethical in emphasis, was defined not by narrow sectarian doctrines but by a compromise consensus among all the major religious traditions in China. (4) Challenge to this orthodoxy was long-lasting and variegated in nature, but at the turn of the sixteenth century crystalized into a potent tradition revolving around a central matriarchal deity and a strong millenarian and eschatological vision. (5) This heterodox tradition, though similarly socio-ethical in content, was by definition also politically subversive and occasionally erupted into anti-dynastic rebellions.
Capitalism in Western Agriculture: A Comment

Recent discussions of capitalism in agriculture suggest that the classical Marxist texts are outmoded These critiques, however, offer little in the way of empirical support for their claims. When data on the development of United States agriculture are examined they confirm the classical theorists. The development of American agriculture has been characterized by an increase in scale, in capital investment and in the importance of wage labor.