cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Trends in the control of risk factors for cardiovascular disease among adults with diagnosed diabetes: findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2008*.

Background: The aim of the present study was to examine trends in the control of key risk factors for cardiovascular disease among adults with diagnosed diabetes in the US from 1999 to 2008. Methods: Data for up to 2623 adults aged ≥20 years with diagnosed diabetes who participated in 2-year cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from 1999 to 2008 were examined. Results: Significant improvements were seen in the control of HbA1c (37.0%–55.2%), blood pressure (35.2%–51.0%), and low-density lipoprotein–cholesterol (LDL-C; 32.5%–52.9%). Both men and women experienced significant improvement in HbA1c and LDL-C. Whites showed significant improvement in glycemic control, LDL-C control, and the control of all three risk factors. African Americans showed significant improvement in glycemic control and blood pressure control, and Mexican Americans showed significant improvement in glycemic control and the control of all three risk factors. Compared with Whites, African Americans (prevalence ratio [PR] = 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.74–0.96) and Mexican Americans (PR = 0.82; 95% CI 0.72–0.92) had worse glycemic control, and Mexican Americans had worse control of LDL-C (PR = 0.70; 95% CI 0.57–0.87) and of all three risk factors (PR = 0.46; 95% CI 0.23–0.90). There was little change in the prevalence of not currently smoking, having C-reactive protein <3 g/L, and having a urinary albumin:creatinine ratio <30 mg/g. The prevalence of body mass index <30 kg/m2 decreased from 45.4% to 37.6% (Plinear trend = 0.045). Conclusions: Significant improvements in recommended levels of HbA1c, blood pressure, and LDL-C occurred in diabetic adults in the US between 1999 and 2008.
Sacrificial limbs of sovereignty: disabled veterans, masculinity, and nationalist politics in Turkey.

Over the last decade, disabled veterans of the Turkish Army who were injured while fighting against the Partiya Karkeren Kurdistan (PKK; Kurdistan Workers' Party) have become national icons and leading ultranationalist actors. While being valorized as sacrificial heroes in nationalist discourse, they have also confronted socioeconomic marginalization, corporeal otherness, and emasculation anxieties. Against this backdrop, disabled veterans' organizations have become the locus of an ultranationalist campaign against dissident intellectuals. Building on two years of ethnographic research with disabled veterans in Turkey, this article analyzes these processes through the analytical lens of the body. Locating the disabled veteran body at the intersection of state welfare practices, nationalist discourses on heroism and sacrifice, and cultural norms of masculinity and disability, I illustrate how disabled veterans' gendered and classed experiences of disability are hardened into a political identity. Consequently, I show how violence generates new modalities of masculinity and political agency through its corporeal effects.
Results of a phase I trial administering Zyflamend to subjects with high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia

14575 Background: Subjects diagnosed with prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) at prostate biopsy are at increased risk of developing prostate cancer on later biopsies. We initiated a phase I ...
Near-Surface Complexity Could Masquerade As Anisotropy

Near-surface velocities could vary with azimuth, impacting seismic data processing and interpretation. In this study, we developed a methodology to investigate the variations of near-surface velocities with azimuth, using 3D turning-ray tomography. The input data are the first arrivals selected from pre-defined azimuth sectors in terms of shot-receiverpair directions. The output velocities from tomography correspond to the selected azimuth sectors. A near-surface tomography study based on seismic data from a shallow heavy-oil reservoir in Canada has suggested that the observed azimuthal traveltime variations are not necessarily related to azimuthal (HTI) anisotropy induced by the stress field or fractures. It could also be caused by the nearsurface heterogeneity or acquisition footprint. Near-surface complexity could masquerade as anisotropy. Potentially this can influence statics and prestack imaging.
Neuronal Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ Signaling: Regulation by Mood-Stabilizer Valproate

Valproate (Depakote) remains an effective medication for the prevention and treatment of seizures in epilepsy and of mood symptoms in bipolar disorder. Both of these disorders are severe and debilitating, and both warrant further medication options as well as a better understanding of the side effects associated with their current treatments. Although a number of molecular and cellular processes have been found to be altered by valproate, the medication’s therapeutic mechanism has not been fully elucidated. In this paper, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling was examined to determine valproate’s effects on this transcriptional regulatory system in neuronal tissue. PPAR signaling has been found to affect a number of biochemical processes, including lipid metabolism, cellular differentiation, insulin sensitivity, and cell survival. When primary neuronal cultures were treated with valproate, a significant decrease in PPARγ signaling was observed. This effect was demonstrated through a change in nuclear quantities of PPARγ receptor and decreased DNA binding of the receptor. Valproate also caused gene expression changes and a change to the peroxisome biochemistry consistent with a decrease of PPARγ signaling. These biochemical changes may have functional consequences for either valproate’s therapeutic mechanism or for its neurological side effects and merit further investigation.
Comments on the engine control problem

Today the automobile industry is facing unprecedented technical challenges in its attempts to meet the severe and conflicting demands of improved fuel economy and exhaust emission performance. Part of the solution to these problems resides in developing improved engine controls for such variables as air-fuel ratio, ignition timing, and exhaust gas recirculation. This paper defines the engine control problem in terms familiar to control systems specialists and suggests the structure of a solution. This problem is quite complex and at worst is nonlinear, time varying, and stochastic as well as involving multiple input and output variables. In view of the above factors, as well as the fundamental trade-off between fuel and exhaust emissions, and environmental and system parameter variations, the use of closed loop optimal and/or adaptive controllers is proposed. Improved sensor and actuator technology as well as adequate mathematical models are necessary to produce a solution of this difficult control problem.
Adaptive subdivision algorithms for a set of Bezier triangles

Abstract Several different adaptive subdivision algorithms are developed for a set of Bezier triangle surfaces which generate piecewise planar approximations to the surfaces. They are called adaptive because they use more triangles in areas of greater curvature of the surfaces and so adapt to the local geometry of the surfaces. The approximation is guaranteed not to deviate from the true surface more than an arbitrarily specified tolerance. Due to the many different ways of subdividing Bezier triangles, a number of adaptive subdivision algorithms are possible. This paper develops, categorizes, and compares some of the plausible ones. The chief distinctions between the algorithms are the number triangles that are generated and their degree of uniformity (eg ‘equilateralness’). Minimizing the number of triangles generated is important for efficient processing on the approximation. However, very nonuniform triangles, which can aid in this minimization, can also cause severe numerical problems.
Excited state enhancement of non-linear optical response in the push–pull imide and diimide chromophores

Abstract We suggest here a family of non-linear optical chromophores that have weak response in the ground state and a significantly enhanced response in the triplet state – hence a non-linear optical ‘switch’. Several promising molecules are proposed and their response mechanism, in which computation shows a significant enhancement of the first hyperpolarizability upon photoexcitation from the singlet to metastable triplet state, are investigated.
CNTF regulation of astrogliosis and the activation of microglia in the developing rat central nervous system

In response to physical or chemical brain injury, the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) often reacts by evoking astrogliosis. The most prominent feature describing this state is an upregulation of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). The agent(s) responsible for inducing astrogliosis remains unclear; however, recent observations have shown cytokines may play a pivotal role. During CNS trauma, macrophages and lymphocytes infiltrate the CNS where they are thought to synthesize and secrete cytokines; moreover, activated microglia and reactive astrocytes are known to be capable of cytokine production. We are the first to report that an intracerebral injection of the pleiotropic cytokine, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), increases astrogliosis and the appearance of activated microglia in the neonatal rat. This response to CNTF was comparable to the response observed in animals receiving a well known pro-inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Only a moderate increase was observed in the proliferative index of cytokine-injected animals; therefore, we conclude that GFAP is largely upregulated in a pre-existing GFAP negative cell population. Interestingly, coinjections of CNTF and TNF-alpha appeared to act synergistically. Coinjected animals displayed a wave of hypertrophied astrocytes reaching far into the contralateral hemisphere. No contralateral spreading of microglia was observed. This article clearly provides interesting information regarding the regulatory mechanisms that govern astrogliosis and discusses the probable relationship of reactive astrocytes to microglia.
Reciprocal regulation of the survival and apoptosis of Th17 and Th1 cells in the colon.

Background: The immediate early response gene X-1 (IEX-1) is a stress-inducible gene involved in the regulation of cell growth, apoptosis and inflammation. Methods: Acute colitis was induced by treatment of IEX-1 knockout (KO) and wild type (WT) control mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), whereas chronic colitis was induced in Rag−/− mice by adoptive transfer of CD4+CD45RBhi T cells isolated from the two strains of mice. The diseases and responses of lamina propria lymphocytes were analyzed in the mice. Results: IEX-1 KO mice produced IL-17 in the colon significantly greater than WT control mice following DSS treatment owing to better survival and differentiation of both IL-17-secreting γδ T cells and Th17 cells. The altered level of IL-17 production contributed critically to the reduced colon inflammation in IEX-1 KO mice, and administration of neutralizing anti-IL-17 antibody increased susceptibility of the animal to the disease. Strikingly, in contrast to the better survival of T cells producing IL-17, lack of IEX-1 enhanced apoptosis in proinflammatory T cells producing interferon gamma (IFN-γ). Enhanced apoptosis in Th1 cells and better survival of Th17 cells may both result in a delayed onset of colitis in Rag−/− mice receiving pathogenic CD4+CD45RBhi T cells isolated from IEX-1 KO animals compared to those mice transferred with WT counterparts Conclusions: The present study demonstrates the refractoriness of IEX-1 knockout (KO) mice to DSS-induced colitis and diminished pathogenesis of IEX-1-deficient CD4+CD45RBhi T cells. These data demonstrate that IEX-1 reciprocally regulates T-cell survival and apoptosis in a subset-dependent fashion. Inhibition of IEX-1 may thus offer novel strategies for colitis treatment by simultaneous induction of apoptosis in proinflammatory Th1 cells while promoting the survival and differentiation of a protective T-cell subset. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2011;)
Antibiotic Activities of Sugar Esters Isolated from Selected Nicotiana Species

(1993). Antibiotic Activities of Sugar Esters Isolated from Selected Nicotiana Species. Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry: Vol. 57, No. 8, pp. 1355-1356.
A novel osteotropic biomaterial OG-PLG: In vitro efficacy

Previously, a novel osteotropic biomaterial, OG-PLG [simvastatin grafted to poly(actide-co-glycolide), PLG], was synthesized and shown to have degradation-controlled release kinetics. The objective here was to determine the effect of grafting statins to PLG on bone regeneration in vitro. Rat bone marrow cells were stimulated in vitro with simvastatin dissolved in media, saponified simvastatin dissolved in media, simvastatin released through diffusion from emulsion freeze-dried scaffolds, and OG-PLG. Unstimulated cultures and cultures stimulated with dexamethasone were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. In vitro bone formation was assessed using the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and von Kossa assays at different times up to 16 days. ALP analysis revealed that saponified simvastatin at 10-7 M and OG-PLG significantly increased ALP expression at various time points, von Kossa assay showed that simvastatin, saponified simvastatin, and OG-PLG significantly enhanced mineralization, with the effect from OG-PLG being the most significant. In short, OG-PLG significantly enhanced in vitro bone cell mineralization beyond the effect of simvastatin or saponified simvastatin dissolved in media and simvastatin released via diffusion from scaffolds.
Image descriptions and their relational expressions: a review of the literature and the issues

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to survey the treatment of relationships, relationship expressions and the ways in which they manifest themselves in image descriptions. Design/methodology/approach – The term “relationship” is construed in the broadest possible way to include spatial relationships (“to the right of”), temporal (“in 1936,” “at noon”), meronymic (“part of”), and attributive (“has color,” “has dimension”). The intentions of these vaguely delimited categories with image information, image creation, and description in libraries and archives is complex and in need of explanation. Findings – The review brings into question many generally held beliefs about the relationship problem such as the belief that the semantics of relationships are somehow embedded in the relationship term itself and that image search and retrieval solutions can be found through refinement of word-matching systems. Originality/value – This review has no hope of systematically examining all evidence in all discipline...
Time budget methods for behavioral community psychology

Obtaining reliable and cost-efficient data on everyday behavior occurring in community settings presents a formidable problem for behavioral community psychologists. This article (a) describes a set of methods, called time budgets, for recording sequences of everyday behaviors and their social and physical contexts; (b) discusses the quality of data yielded by these methods; and (c) illustrates their utility for behavioral community psychology. Time budgets meet important criteria for behavioral assessment in community settings by permitting direct assessments of ecobehavioral systems at various levels of social organization. Data from these methods can be used in diagnosing problems, planning interventions, and evaluating outcomes. An application of time budgets in research on the elderly is presented to illustrate one use of the method. Time budgets provide a dependable, flexible, and cost-efficient alternative to naturalistic observation for many assessment situations in behavioral community psychology.
Computer-mediated tools for the investigation and rehabilitation of auditory and phonological processing in aphasia

Background : Advances in technology have enhanced our ability to use computers to manipulate the spectrotemporal characteristics of speech waveforms in ways that can influence the processing of linguistically important features. These modifications are important in patients with auditory/phonetic processing disorders. Aims : We present some preliminary data detailing the effect of modifying the spectrotemporal structure of speech on the ability to discriminate consonant-vowel syllables and comprehend spoken words and sentences in a case of Pure Word Deafness (PWD). Methods & Procedures : We documented severe phonemic processing deficits in a patient with PWD resulting from a unilateral left temporal lesion. Her ability to distinguish between stop consonants was severely impaired while her perception of vowels was relatively spared. This pattern suggested problems with online perceptual elaboration of short-term acoustic features such as rapid formant frequency transitions. We digitally synthesised consona...
Chemical mechanical polish: The enabling technology

Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) has traditionally been considered an enabling technology. CMP was first used in the early 1990s for BEOL metallization to replanarize the wafer substrate thus enabling advanced lithography which was becoming ever more sensitive to wafer surface topography. Subsequent uses of CMP included density scaling via shallow trench isolation and interconnect formation via copper CMP. As silicon devices scale to 45 nm and beyond however, a large number of new uses of CMP are considered attractive options to enable new transistor technologies. These new uses will demand improved CMP performance (uniformity, topography, low defects) at lower cost which will in turn require breakthroughs in hardware, software, metrology and materials (slurry, pad, cleaning chemicals). This paper reviews the module level and integration challenges of applying traditional CMP steps to enable Hi-K metal gate for 45 nm technology and to advance Cu metallization from 65 nm to 45 nm node. These challenges are then considered with respect to new CMP applications considered for 32 nm and beyond.
Paleocene virtual geomagnetic poles determined from volcanic rocks near Golden, Colorado

Abstract Three flat-lying basalt flows near Golden, Colorado dated at about 58 m.y. by K-Ar methods have a stable thermoremanent magnetization. The virtual geomagnetic pole position after AC cleaning is located at N 81.4°, E 63.7° for the upper two flows and N 64.5°, E 62.9° for the lowest flow. These poles are comparatively close to previously reported early Tertiary pole positions from North America (exclusive of the Siletz River Volcanics pole). Magnetic stability of the samples is directed related to the degree of high-temperature oxidation of opaque minerals.
Short Duration Electrical Stimulation to Enhance Neurite Outgrowth and Maturation of Adult Neural Stem Progenitor Cells

New therapies are desperately needed for human central nervous system (CNS) regeneration to circumvent the lack of innate regenerative ability following traumatic injuries. Previously attempted therapies have been stymied by barriers to CNS regeneration largely because of protective mechanisms such as the blood brain barrier, inhibitory molecules, and glial scar formation. The application of electric stimulation (ES) has shown promise for enhancing peripheral nervous system regeneration, but is in its infancy in CNS regeneration. The objective of this study is to better understand how short duration ES can be harnessed to direct adult neural stem progenitor cell (NSPC) neurogenesis, neurite extension, and maturation. Herein, NSPCs were exposed to physiological levels of electrical stimulation of 0.53 or 1.83 V/m (applied power supply setting of 1.2 and 2.5 V) of direct current (DC) for 10 min/days for 2 days with a total differentiation time of 3 days. Culturing conditions consisted of either mitogenic growth factors or the neuronal differentiation factor interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Stimulated NSPCs showed lengths that were over five times longer than unstimulated controls (112.0 ± 88.8 μm at 0.53 V/m vs. 21.3 ± 8.5 μm for 0 V/m with IFN-γ) with the longest neurites reaching up to 600 µm. Additionally, ES resulted in mature neuronal morphologies and signs of differentiation through positive βIII tubulin, neuronal nuclei (NeuN), and better organized filamentous-actin (f-actin) staining with growth cone formation. Additionally, the neurites and soma of stimulated NSPCs showed increases in intracellular Ca2+ during stimulation, signifying the presence of functional neurons capable of electrical conductance and communication with other cells. Our study demonstrates that short stimulation times (10 min/ day) result in significant neurite extension of stem cells in a quick time frame (3 days). This ES modality is potentially advantageous for promoting axon re-growth at an injury site using delivered adult stem cells; however, significant work still remains to understand both the delivery approach of cells as well as ES application in vivo.
Ferrite-YSZ composites for solar thermochemical production of synthetic fuels: in operando characterization of CO2 reduction

Ferrites are promising materials for enabling solar-thermochemical cycles. Such cycles utilize solar-thermal energy for the production of hydrogen from water, or carbon monoxide from carbon dioxide. Mixing ferrites with zirconia or yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) greatly improves the cyclability of the ferrites and enables a move away from powder to monolithic systems. This synergistic effect is only partially understood. In order to unravel the underlying mechanisms of the effect and to understand the evolution of thermochemically active phases, we have studied the behaviour of iron oxides co-sintered with 8YSZ (8 mol% Y2O3) using in operando X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis at temperatures up to 1500 °C and under environments representative of those present in a thermochemical cycle. The solubility of iron oxide in 8YSZ measured by XRD at room temperature, following calcination to 1500 °C in air, was 9.4 mol% Fe. The solubility increased to at least 10.4 mol% Fe when heated between 800 and 1000 °C under inert (He) atmosphere. Furthermore iron was found to migrate in and out of the 8YSZ phase as the temperature and oxidation state of the iron changed. In samples containing insoluble iron (i.e., containing >9.4 mol% Fe) stepwise heating to 1400 °C under helium caused reduction of Fe2O3 (hematite) to Fe3O4 (magnetite) to FeO (wustite). This gradual thermal reduction from hematite to wustite was accompanied by evolution of oxygen. The wustite remained stable upon cooling to room temperature in the helium environment, although after multiple consecutive cycles some of the wustite was observed to disproportionate to Fe metal and magnetite. Exposure of the wustite-containing material to CO2 at 1100 °C enabled re-oxidation of the wustite to magnetite with evolution of CO. Thermogravimetric analysis during thermochemical cycling of materials with iron oxide contents between 1.8 and 27.6 mol% Fe showed that samples with mostly dissolved iron utilized a greater proportion of the iron atoms present than did samples possessing a significant fraction of un-dissolved iron oxides.
Military executions during WWII: The case of David Cobb

While few topics today generate more heated debate in American criminal justice than capital punishment, little attention has been directed to the one institution other than civilian courts that can execute U.S. citizens: the military. This article calls attention to this oversight and provides general descriptive information about military executions during WW II’s European Theater of Operations (ETO), and a more detailed examination of the ETO’s first execution. It illustrates several striking features of other ETO executions: predominately Black males with White victims, speedy trials, weak defense efforts and an appeal processes subject to illegal influence of commanders. In view of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 19% decision (9–0) inLoving v.United States upholding the constitutionality of the military executions and disproportion of minorities on Levenworth’s death row, the data reported here is timely and important for comparative research and the death penalty debate.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone in protostomes: Insights from functional studies on Aplysia californica

Several protostomian molecules that structurally resemble chordate gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) have been identified through cloning, biochemical purification or data mining. These molecules share considerable sequence and structural similarities with chordate GnRH, leading to the current belief that protostomian and chordate forms of GnRH share a common ancestor. However, the physiological significance of these protostomian GnRH-like molecules remains poorly understood. This knowledge gap hampers our understanding of how GnRH has evolved functionally over time. This review provides a summary of our recent functional characterization of a GnRH-like molecule (ap-GnRH) in a gastropod mollusk, Aplysia californica, and presents preliminary proof for a cognate ap-GnRH receptor (ap-GnRHR). Our data reveal that ap-GnRH is a general neural regulator capable of exerting diverse central and motor effects, but plays little or no role in reproductive activation. This notion is supported by the abundance of a putative ap-GnRHR transcript in the central nervous system and the foot. Comparing these results to the available functional data from a cephalopod mollusk, Octopus vulgaris, we surmise that protostomian GnRH-like molecules are likely to assume a wide range of physiological roles, and reproductive activation is not an evolutionarily conserved role of these molecules. Future functional studies using suitable protostomian models are required to identify functional changes in protostomian GnRH-like molecules that accompany major taxa-level transitions.
Human acid β-glucosidase: use of sphingosyl and N-alkyl-glucosylamine inhibitors to investigate the properties of the active site

Human acid beta-glucosidase (D-glucosyl-N-acylsphingosine glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.45) cleaves the beta-glucosidic bonds of glucosylceramide and synthetic beta-glucosides. The specificity of binding to the active site of this enzyme was evaluated using series of inhibitors including synthetic sphingosines, N-alkyl(Cn)-deoxynojirimycins (1,5-dideoxy-5-iminoglucose) and N-Cn-glucosylamines. The sphingosines were rapidly reversible inhibitors with maximal potency (IC50 approximately 78-150 micro M) at chain lengths of 14-18 carbons. The presence of unsaturation between C4 and C5 was required for inhibition of enzyme activity. Neither the nature of this bond (double or triple bond) nor the presence of erythro or threo configurations at C2 influenced inhibitory potency. The N-C10- to N-C14-deoxynojirimycins were rapidly reversible inhibitors with Ki approximately 8.5 nM. In comparison, the 1-amino glucose derivatives, i.e., N-Cn-glucosylamines (n = 12-18), were more potent (IC50 approximatley 0.3-3 nM) and their maximal inhibitory potencies were dependent on time as well as enzyme and substrate concentrations: i.e., the N-C12- to N-C18-glucosylamines were competitive, slow-tight binding inhibitors. Analyses of progress curves at various N-Cn-glucosylamine (n = 14-18) concentrations indicated the formation of rapidly dissociating initial EI collison complex which then undergoes a conformational change to a slowly reversible EI complex. These results were consistent with the long chain N-Cn-glucosylamines being reaction intermediate analogues and with this enzyme's hydrolytic mechanism requiring a conformational change during the transition state.
Stress intensity factors by enriched mixed finite elements

An enriched finite element model for linear elastic fracture mechanics is developed for a mixed variational statement. The independent approximations for the displacement and stress components are enriched by adding the near-field analytic expressions for a cracked body to the polynomial approximations of a conventional element. This allows for an accurate representation of the stress and displacement fields near the crack tip and also results in the direct calculation of the appropriate stress intensity factors. The accuracy of this formulation is demonstrated through several numerical examples.
Ecological implications of breakwater construction in Monterey harbour

Abstract An attempt is being made to assess the effects of the construction of a breakwater complex on the shallow water marine environment of Monterey Bay. Many species may be driven away by temperature and salinity fluctuations and by the accumulation of silt and pollutants.
Impact of integrated and measurement-based depression care: clinical experience in an HIV clinic.

Background Just as in heart disease and diabetes, depression in HIV/AIDS is associated with negative outcomes. While randomized trials have shown the efficacy of treatment for depression in HIV/AIDS, the implementation of evidence-based treatments in real-world settings remains a challenge. Objective The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a collaborative, measurement-based approach to depression care, including psychopharmacologic and ancillary psychological therapies in patients with HIV/AIDS and to examine whether or not effective depression treatment would also improve virologic and immunologic outcomes. Methods This was a retrospective chart review of patients referred for depression to a co-located psychiatry consultation service embedded within an infectious diseases outpatient clinic at an urban tertiary hospital. Data extracted at initial assessment and at last appointment included: axis I diagnosis, whether the patient was on an antidepressant, whether the patient was on a stimulant, BDI-II score, HIV RNA level, and CD4 cell count. Results One hundred twenty-four patient charts were included. Pre- vs. post-treatment analyses revealed significant reductions in depression (average BDI-II score of 23 to 15.7, p = 0.00001) and HIV RNA (14.1 K to 4 K copies/mL, p = 0 .003), and significant increases in CD4 count (518 to 592 cells/μL, p = 0.001). Additionally, more participants were prescribed antidepressants and stimulants at post- vs. pre-treatment. Conclusion Taking a collaborative, measurement-based approach to depression care appears to be an effective method for improving depression, virologic, and immunologic outcomes in depressed patients with HIV/AIDS illness.
Di-μ-chloro-bis­[(tetra­hydro­furan-κO)(η5-1,2,4-tri-tert-butyl­cyclo­penta­dienyl)­manganese(II)] pentane solvate

The title compound, [Mn2Cl2(C17H29)2(C4H8O)2]·C5H12, crystallizes as a centrosymmetric dimer with a chloro-bridged dimanganese center. The four-membered Mn2Cl2 metallacycle is nearly square. The distorted tetrahedral coordination about each metal consists of one C5H2tBu3 (′′′Cp) ligand, two chlorides and one O-coordinated tetra­hydro­furan (THF) ligand. There is also one disordered mol­ecule of pentane in the unit cell.
Distribution studies on radioactive Hg203 sodium mercaptomerin in animals.

Summary1. Using Hg203 labeled mercaptomerin sodium and studying radioautographs and renal distribution, 91.7% of an intra-muscularly injected dose of 1 mg Hg/kg was found in the kidney within the first hour, and maximum concentration occurred in the cortical area. 2. Radioactivity was detected for 28 days in plasma and in renal tissue. 3. Intravenous administration of radioactive mercaptomerin sodium resulted in a rapid decline in plasma concentration during the first 5 minutes. Rate of urinary excretion appears to be a function of arterial plasma-renal vein plasma difference.
Paraldehyde: A Basal anesthetic for tonsillectomy in children

Abstract Paraldehyde was used as a preoperative sedative for tonsillectomy in children in 224 cases. Best results were obtained using i c.c. of paraldehyde for every 5 pounds of body weight, mixed with an equal volume of tap water as a retention enema. The results were highly gratifying, the method simple and safe, the cost insignificant. No untoward reactions were observed. A case of accidental administration of 60 c.c. of paraldehyde by rectum to a 9 year old child, with uneventful recovery, is reported.
On Optimizing Airline Ticket Purchase Timing

Proper timing of the purchase of airline tickets is difficult even when historical ticket prices and some domain knowledge are available. To address this problem, we introduce an algorithm that optimizes purchase timing on behalf of customers and provides performance estimates of its computed action policy. Given a desired flight route and travel date, the algorithm uses machine-learning methods on recent ticket price quotes from many competing airlines to predict the future expected minimum price of all available flights. The main novelty of our algorithm lies in using a systematic feature-selection technique, which captures time dependencies in the data by using time-delayed features, and reduces the number of features by imposing a class hierarchy among the raw features and pruning the features based on in-situ performance. Our algorithm achieves much closer to the optimal purchase policy than other existing decision theoretic approaches for this domain, and meets or exceeds the performance of existing feature-selection methods from the literature. Applications of our feature-selection process to other domains are also discussed.
Early Embryonic Loss in the Mare

INTRODUCTION Early embryonic loss in the mare is generally defined as pregnancy failure that occurs between fertilization and day 40 to 60 of gestation. The diagnosis of early embryonic loss and recognition of factors contributing to its occurrence have been dramatically improved by the routine use of transrectal ultrasonography for early pregnancy diagnosis. Under field conditions, transrectal ultrasonography is typically used for an initial pregnancy diagnosis as early as day 12 to 14 post-ovulation, whereas under experimental conditions it may be used as early as day 10 or 11; therefore, ultrasonography allows direct (and repeatable) assessment of the conceptus during approximately three quarters of the interval when early embryonic loss occurs. Prior to day 10, the conceptus is too small to be visualized with standard ultrasonographic equipment, therefore other techniques have been used to study embryonic loss during that interval. Specifically, clinical procedures such as embryo transfer and oocyte transfer and experimental techniques such as in vitro embryo culture and light/electron microscopy of oocytes/embryos have been used to study early embryonic loss prior to day 10.
Risk stratification and mitigation in multiple sclerosis

The increasing availability of new agents to treat multiple sclerosis poses new challenges for clinicians who seek therapies that are both safe and effective for their patients. The introduction of additional effective therapies has been accompanied by the recognition of serious side effects. The clinician now must weigh both the benefits and risks of therapies to help patients decide which treatment best fits each patient׳s risk/benefit profile. An optimal selection of therapies relies on a complete understanding of the risks of therapies and the factors that may help evaluate and mitigate those risks. An individualized treatment approach that incorporates patient and disease factors is needed for each patient. In this review we present risk stratification and mitigation strategies of disease modifying agents for multiple sclerosis.
X-ray impact induced desorption of gases from surfaces

Measurements of gases released from 302 stainless steel and gold surfaces before and after discharge cleaning were made in ultrahigh vacuum using x-rays with an energy distribution typical of a tungsten bremsstrahlung spectrum. Similar measurements were also made for Al$sub 2$O$sub 3$ surfaces which had not been discharge cleaned. For the non-discharge-cleaned surfaces of stainless steel, Al$sub 2$O$sub 3$, and gold the predominant gas species observed mass spectrometrically was CO$sub 2$. For some stainless steel and Al$sub 2$O$sub 3$ surfaces CO and O$sub 2$ were also readily observed. Mean quantum yields for CO, O$sub 2$ and CO$sub 2$ release from such stainless steel surfaces, for example, ranged from less than 6 x 10$sup -5$ to 9 x 10$sup -4$ molecules per photons in the bremsstrahlung spectrum characteristic for 50 keV electron energy. After discharge cleaning a decrease in the mean quantum yields was observed for the stainless steel and gold surfaces. (auth)
Mackey convergence and quasi-sequentially webbed spaces

The problem of characterizing those locally convex spaces satisfying the Mackey convergence condition is still open. Recently in [4], a partial description was given using compatible webs. In this paper, those results are extended by using quasi-sequentially webbed spaces (see Definition 1). In particular, it is shown that strictly barrelled spaces satisfy the Mackey convergence condition and that they are properly contained in the set of quasi-sequentially webbed spaces. A related problem is that of characterizing those locally convex spaces satisfying the so-called fast convergence condition. A partial solution to this problem is obtained. Several examples are given.
Defatted Rice Bran as an Acceptable Dietary Fiber Source

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: To examine the acceptability of foods containing defatted rice bran as a dietary fiber source. For metabolic diet studies, the food products must be acceptable or adherence to the diets will suffer. This is especially true for foods that contain a "unique" ingredient. Similarly, if the ingredient is found to be beneficial, the food products must be tasty if they are to be well received by consumers. In a study that examined the effects of defatted rice bran on blood lipids, the defatted rice bran was used as the main fiber source. Twenty-four food products were developed for inclusion in the menus. Prior to the study, products with and without defatted rice bran were taste tested in-house for overall acceptability by a maximum of 31 people. On a scale of 1-9 (l=dislike extremely, 9=like extremely), overall acceptability for the products without rice bran averaged 7.02 while products with rice bran averaged 6.34. Acceptability of the food products then were monitored during two cohorts of the eight-week feeding study. A total of 26 volunteers participated. Food acceptability questionnaires were distributed to the participants several times during the study. Although the foods containing defatted rice bran received somewhat lower scores than their control counterparts, the foods were rated as acceptable. The foods were developed with the intention of incorporating the highest amount of fiber recommended. Our results indicate that the products were acceptable to taste testers and study participants. However, for increased consumer acceptability, optimal amounts of defatted rice bran still need to be established. Supported by LEQSF (1994-97)-ENH-PLEX-03.
Some Empirical Evidence on the Effects of Shocks to Monetary Policy on Exchange Rates

This paper investigates the effects of shocks to U. S. monetary policy on exchange rates. We consider three measures of these shocks: orthogonalized shocks to the federal funds rate, orthogonalized shocks to the ratio of nonborrowed to total reserves and changes in the Romer and Romer index of monetary policy. In sharp contrast to the literature, we find substantial evidence of a link between monetary policy and exchange rates. Specifically, according to our results a contractionary shock to U. S. monetary policy leads to (i) persistent, significant appreciations in U. S. nominal and real exchange rates and (ii) significant, persistent deviations from uncovered interest rate parity in favor of U. S. interest rates.
The Radiosensitiveness of Tumors Derived from Cartilage

For ages signs and portents have been an important factor in the life of many human beings. Faith in signs of different kinds may rest largely or entirely on superstition or may be based on a substratum of solid facts. Among the latter must be classed certain effects of disease or, in other words, certain functional or organic changes associated with and therefore characterizing certain diseases, and by the recognition of which one kind of disease may be distinguished from other kinds. Diagnostic roentgenologists are prone to believe in signs, roentgenologic signs, of course, because experience has taught them that certain signs or appearances are always or usually associated with this or that disease. When certain signs have been widely accepted by a large number of experienced physicians as reliable and constant indications of any pathologic disturbance, they pass from the realm of faith into that of knowledge or fact. Many roentgenologic appearances have acquired the value of pathognomonic signs, provided they are recognized and properly interpreted. Thus it is that the knowledge and experience of the observer play such an important part in roentgen interpretation. Besides those well established and near classical signs of certain diseases, there are other signs which, for a time, may be thought to represent a certain condition, but on extended experience may prove to be relative rather than absolute, or to indicate a variety of tissue reaction induced by a number of analogous causes rather than a specific and invariable reaction to a single cause. When, in 1921, Ewing first described the solitary diffuse endothelioma of bone to which his name has since been so commonly attached, he was led to recognize it as a well defined and specific neoplasm by four main features: its peculiar histopathologic character, relating it to the endothelium of blood vessels or lymph channels in bone marrow or bone; the roentgenographic appearance of diffuse rarefaction of a large portion of the widened shaft of the affected bone; the absence of bone production; its exceptional sensitiveness to roentgen rays or radium. These features, together with the peculiar history which characterizes such tumors, are sufficient to distinguish them from other malignant tumors of bone. And yet, even now, many cases are not recognized, but are classed as cases of round-cell or osteogenic sarcoma, and, at the outset, some are mistaken for cases of tuberculosis.
Adipose tissue: A motor for the inflammation associated with obesity

Obesity is a worldwide epidemic that continues to grow at an alarming rate. This condition increases the morbidity and mortality associated with both acute and chronic diseases. Some of the deleterious consequences of obesity have been attributed to its induction of a low-grade chronic inflammatory state that arises from the production and secretion of inflammatory mediators from the expanded pool of activated adipocytes. This review focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the proposed link between obesity and inflammation, and it addresses how obesity-induced inflammation may account for increased morbidity and mortality that is associated with a diverse group of diseases.
The efficacy of conventional external beam, three-dimensional conformal, intensity-modulated, particle beam radiation, and brachytherapy for localized prostate cancer.

Technologic advances in radiation treatment planning and delivery have generated popular interest in the different radiation therapy techniques used in treating patients with localized prostate cancer. Throughout the past decade, high-energy (> 4 MV) linear accelerators have largely replaced Cobalt machines in external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) delivery. Conventional EBRT has been used to treat prostate cancer successfully since the 1950s. By switching to computed tomography-based planning, threedimensional conformal radiation therapy provides better relative conformality of dose than does conventional EBRT. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has further refined dose conformality by spreading the low-dose region to a larger volume. However, the potential long-term risks of larger volumes of normal tissues receiving low doses of radiation in IMRT are unknown. Particle-beam radiation therapy offers unique dose distributions and characteristics with higher relative biologic effect and linear energy transfer. Transperineal prostate brachytherapy offers the shortest treatment time with equivalent efficacy without significant risk of radiation exposure. The addition of hormonal therapy to radiation therapy has been shown to improve the outcome of radiation therapy.
Vegetation indices in crop assessments

Abstract Vegetation indices (VI), such as greenness (GVI), perpendicular (PVI), transformed soil adjusted (TSAVI), and normalized difference (NDVI), measure the photosynthetic size of plant canopies and portend yields. A set of equations, called spectral components analysis (SCA), that interrelates VI or cumulative seasonal VI (∑VI), leaf area index (I), fractional photosynthetically active radiation (FPAR, dimensionless), cumulative daily PAR energy absorbed (∑APAR, MJ/m2), above-ground dry photomass (DM, g/m2), and economic yield (Y, g /m2) are presented and used to analyze data from two studies conducted in 1989. In one study we made boll counts and percent plant cover measurements in a salt-affected cotton field on 60 m grid intervals and calculated GVI, PVI, TSAVI, and NDVI at the grid intersections for SPOT-1 HRV and videography scenes. The four VI from SPOT accounted for more of the variation in the lint yield estimated from the boll counts (75–76%) than those from videography (61–63%), but VI from the different systems each accounted for 67% of the variation in plant cover. All relations were linear. In the other study, reflectance factors and FPAR were measured periodically during the season in corn planted at three densities (7.7, 5.4, and 3.1 plants/m2). FPAR could be estimated from NDVI and PVI, respectively, by FPAR = −0.344 + 0.229exp (1.95 NDVI) (r2 = 0.973) and FPAR = 0.015 + 0.036(PVI) (r2 = 0.956). Methods of obtaining FPAR and their effect on the efficiency of conversion of APAR to DM are illustrated and discussed. The data demonstrate how SCA unifies and strengthens the scientific basis of VI interpretations.
Endogenous protein kinase and phosphate acceptor proteins in vaccinia virus.

Abstract Vaccinia virus was found to contain an endogenous protein kinase which catalyzes incorporation of 32 P from γ- 32 P-ATP into an acid-insoluble fraction (endogenous viral substrate proteins). Enzyme activity required Mg 2+ and was stimulated by dithiothreitol and protamine, but not by cyclic nucleotides. With a variety of procedures it was shown that the labeled product was phosphoprotein, with the phosphate apparently esterified to serine and threonine residues. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the polypeptides of dissociated virions revealed that several of the major peaks detected by staining were significantly labeled while the major component (about 70,000 daltons) was not. Procedures which removed the viral envelope indicated that both the protein kinase and substrate proteins were largely localized in core structures of the virion.
Collagen scaffold: a treatment for simulated maternal birth injury in the rat model.

Objective We sought to determine the impact of a collagen scaffold on the healing response after simulated birth injury in a rodent model. Study Design A total of 52 virgin animals were divided into the following groups: control (n = 18), injured untreated (n = 18), and injured treated with porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) (n = 16). Histopathology, immunofluorescence of collagens, and vaginal mechanical properties were used to assess the impact of injury and the subsequent healing response. Results Collagen I/V decreased by 44% after birth injury relative to the controls ( P = .001). Birth injury resulted in inferior mechanical properties of the vagina with a decrease of 38% in the tangent modulus and 44% in the tensile strength. SIS improved the collagen I/V and I/III ratios by 28% and 46%, respectively, paralleling the trend in the mechanical properties. Conclusion Simulated birth injury negatively affected vaginal biochemical and biomechanical properties long term. SIS treatment mitigated the impact of birth injury by enhancing tissue quality.