cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Discrimination and calibration of mortality risk prediction models in interventional cardiology

Objectives. Using a local percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) data repository, we sought to compare the performance of a number of local and well-known mortality models with respect to discrimination and calibration.Background. Accurate risk prediction is important for a number of reasons including physician decision support, quality of care assessment, and patient education. Current evidence on the value of applying PCI risk models to individual cases drawn from a different population is controversial.Methods. Data were collected from January 01, 2002 to September 30, 2004 on 5216 consecutive percutaneous coronary interventions at Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston, MA). Logistic regression was used to create a local risk model for in-hospital mortality in these procedures, and a number of statistical methods were used to compare the discrimination and calibration of this new and old local risk models, as well as the Northern New England Cooperative Group, New York State (1992 and 1997), University of Michigan consortium, American College of Cardiology-National Cardiovascular Data Registry, and The Cleveland Clinic Foundation risk prediction models. Areas under the ROC (AUC) curves were used to evaluate discrimination, and the Hosmer-Lemeshow (HL) goodness-of-fit test and calibration curves assessed applicability of the models to individual cases.Results. Multivariate risk factors included in the newly constructed local model were: age, prior intervention, diabetes, unstable angina, salvage versus elective procedure, cardiogenic shock, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and left anterior descending artery intervention. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.929 (SE = 0.017), and the p value for the Hosmer-Lemeshow (HL) goodness-of-fit was 0.473. This indicates good discrimination and calibration. Bootstrap re-sampling indicated AUC stability. Evaluation of the external models showed an AUC range from 0.82 to 0.90 indicating good discrimination across all models, but poor calibration (HL p value ≤ 0.0001).Conclusions. Validation of AUC values across all models suggests that certain risk factors have remained important over the last decade. However, the lack of calibration suggests that small changes in patient populations and data collection methods quickly reduce the accuracy of patient level estimations over time. Possible solutions to this problem involve either recalibration of models using local data or development of new local models.
Dermal Mast Cell Granules Bind Interstitial Procollagenase and Collagenase

In order to identify, structures in human skin that bind collagenase, sections from frozen or paraffin-embedded skin were incubated with either procollagenase or activated collagenase. After washing, bound procollagenase or collagenase was detected by immunofluorescence microscopy. In normal skin, procollagenase bound only to isolated granular dermal cells that were identified as mast cells on the basis of staining with fluoresceinated avidin and pinacyanol erythrosinate. When mast cells were degranulated by exposure to the ionophore A23187, extracellular granules bound procollagenase. Of various pathologic conditions examined, the highest binding of procollagenase occurred in specimens of urticaria pigmentosa. Procollagenase bound to granular cells and to abundant granules scattered throughout the dermis. Binding could be abolished by pre-treatment of tissue sections with heparinase or by pre-incubation of procollagenase with soluble heparin, suggesting that heparin is the binding agent in the granules. Activated collagenase also bound to dermal mast cells but in addition bound strongly to the dermal collagen. Enzymatic activity of activated collagenase was not inhibited by heparin in concentrations up to 10 mg/mL. There is evidence that mast cell tryptase can contribute to procollagenase activation This stud further supports a role for mast cells in collagenolysis by demonstrating that heparin from mast cells binds procollagenase and possibly serves as a reservoir for procollagenase, which may then subsequently be activated.
Development of the Couples Resource Map Scales

This article describes the initial phases of development of the Couples Resource Map Scales (CRMS). These scales are designed to assess the degree of support couples receive from various personal, relationship, and contextual resources. The first phase involved the initial item development and an expert review of an extended list of potential items. The second phase involved a survey of university seniors (n = 397) involved in monogamous, intimate relationships to test the psychometric properties of the instrument. The third phase involved an analysis of variance in CRMS scores based on participants? self-reported level of satisfaction with their relationship. The results provide preliminary support for the reliability and validity of the CRMS.
Finite-Element Analysis of Lamb Wave Propagation in a Thin Aluminum Plate

Structural health monitoring (SHM) is an emerging technology that can be used to identify, locate, and quantify structural damages before failure. Among SHM techniques, Lamb waves are widely used since they can cover large areas from a single location. The development of various structural simulation programs has lead to increasing interest in whether SHM data obtained from the simulation can be verified by experimentation. The objective of this research is to determine the Lamb wave responses of SHM models using the finite-element software package ABAQUS CAE as a computational tool for an isotropic plate. These results are compared to experimental results and theoretical predictions under isothermal and thermal gradient conditions to assess the sensitivity of piezoelectric generated Lamb wave propagation. Simulations of isothermal tests are conducted over a temperature range of 0–190°F using 100 and 300 kHz as excitation frequencies. The changes in temperature-dependent material properties are used to me...
Duality, interest rates, and the theory of present value

Abstract This paper uses duality theory to simplify and extend previous work which characterized technologies which have present value decreasing in interest rates. For “unbounded” interest rate sets, value nonincreasing is equivalent to truncation never being desirable. For bounded interest rate sets, the result is true if truncation is replaced by limited truncation, appropriately defined. Similarly, for equal forward rates, undesirability of geometric truncation characterizes nonincreasing value. Another result shows that if truncation is undesirable at an internal rate of return, then the internal rate of return is well behaved, even if value is not decreasing everywhere.
Covalent addition of diethyltoluenediamines onto carbon nanotubes for composite application

Diethyltoluenediamines (DETDA) was grafted to single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) through diazonium-based addition for improving dispersion and interfacial bonding in SWNT/epoxy nanocomposites. Characterization results of Fourier Transformed Infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy validated covalent bonding between DETDA and carbon nanotubes. The degree of functionalization was about 4% based on thermo-gravimetric analysis. Interfacial bonding strength was computed in the presence of chemical bonding and the computation results indicated that the interfacial shear strength in the presence of functionalized carbon nanotubes was significantly enhanced. The experimental test revealed that the tensile strength of nanocomposites was enhanced about 23% and Young's modulus about 25%, with 0.5 wt% loading of functionalized-nanotubes. These considerable improvements further verified the load-transfer enhancement in the functionalized-SWNTs/epoxy nanocomposites. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers
Threshold secretory mechanism: a model of derivative element in biological control.

A secretory system can be considered a collection of packets of a stored substance, each pecket characterized by a threshold to a stimulatory releasing agent. In terms of macroscopic release of the substance, the rate equation contains explicitly and naturally the time derivative of the stimulus intensity. Elaboration of this general model for threshold secretory mechanisms was motivated by insulin secretion data discussed here. Experimental data on the same type of secretory system (pancreas), the hormone secretion as well as electrical characteristics of the secretory cells, lead to a conjecture that the packets might be identified with the whole secretory cells, rather than the granules or vessicles of the stored hormone.
Implementation of an Automated Peripheral Resistance Device in a Mock Circulatory Loop With Characterization of Performance Values Using Simulink Simscape and Parameter Estimation

Accurate peripheral resistance simulation in a mock circulatory loop is critical to the evaluation of ventricular assist devices and heart valves. Implementation of an automated device that is capable of accurate resistance settings and precise reproduction of cardiovascular parameters allows for improved construction of experimental conditions within a mock circulatory loop. A mock circulatory loop resistor that employs a proportional valve design is proposed; a piston extending into the flow path to produce a resistance to flow. Real-time position feedback of the piston is used to determine orifice size, providing resolution in the change of resistance over time. Characterization of the physical system with The MathWorks SIMULINK™ SIMSCAPE™ block set allowed the determination of objective device parameters; the discharge coefficient and critical Reynolds number. The determination of these values was achieved utilizing the SIMULINK™ Parameter Estimation™ tool, experimental data, and a computational plant model of the experimental setup. With this information, an accurate computational model of the resistance device is presented for use in determining resistance settings in silico prior to implementation in the mock circulatory loop. Experimental in vitro trials verified the repeatability of the automated resistor performance by means of a staircase testing of piston position during several different continuous flow rates of a glycerin/water solution.
Repeated cocaine administration reduces 5-HT1A-mediated prolactin secretion in rats

The prolactin and behavioral responses elicited by the 5-HT1A agonist 8-OH-DPAT (8-hydroxy-2-[di-n-propylamino]tetralin) were examined in male rats previously exposed to chronic cocaine (15 mg/kg, i.p., b.i.d., 7 days) or saline. After 42 h of withdrawal, cocaine-treated rats exhibited a reduced prolactin response to 8-OH-DPAT challenge (50 micrograms/kg, i.v.). A 5-fold higher dose of 8-OH-DPAT stimulated maximal prolactin secretion that was similar in cocaine- and saline-treated rats. Prior cocaine treatment had no effect on the 5-HT syndrome induced by 8-OH-DPAT. Our data agree with the findings of others and suggest that 5-HT1A receptors mediating neuroendocrine secretion become subsensitive after repeated cocaine administration.
Depression in children and adolescents: Assessment issues and recommendations

Energized by renewed research and clinical activities, the current status of assessments of child and adolescent depression merits review. With a multidisciplinary perspective, the present review considers levels of depression, diagnostic criteria, classification systems, and the relationship of childhood/adolescent depression to adult depression. Methods for the measurement of child and adolescent depression are described and evaluated: child self-report, peer nominations, ratings by significant others, measures of overt behavior, physiological measures, projectives, and measures of constructs related to depression (e.g., self-esteem). The use of children as the source of assessment data, the degree of convergence across measures, and problems in discriminant validity are identified as pertinent assessment issues. Recommendations include use of measures with established norms, cut scores, multiple assessment methods and periods, and multiple gating.
Growth and life-span of Octopus cyanea (Mollusca: Cephalopoda)*

The growth of Octopus cyanea was followed from 67 to 6500 g in captivity on an ad libitum diet of live crabs. Females spawning in captivity always die after the eggs hatch. Males may mate many times with several different females but do not appear to outlive females. The species spawns throughout the year; the time of spawning is probably determined by the age of the female. Males stop growing after suckers at the edge of the web enlarge and gradually lose weight until their death, about two or three months after maximum sucker enlargement. The life-span of O. cyanea appears to be between 12 and 15 months from settlement. A growth curve is presented for the species from settling to maximum size and compared with experimental data on captive and marked, free-living animals. Free octopuses grew at rates similar to captives fed ad libitum, indicating that food was not limiting to growth in the field, and that a reasonable estimate of age could be obtained from the weight at capture. A method of marking animals by branding is described which gives lifetime scars making it possible to study the growth of individual animals released in the field.
Osteogenesis imperfecta: mode of delivery and neonatal outcome

Abstract Objective : To evaluate the pregnancy characteristics, methods of delivery, and neonatal outcomes of fetuses affected by osteogenesis imperfecta. Methods : We reviewed medical records of 1016 individuals whose cells were sent to the University of Washington Collagen Diagnostic Laboratory between 1987 and 1994 for confirmation of diagnoses of osteogenesis imperfecta. Information and neonatal records were available for 167 of those pregnancies. From those we identified method(s) of prenatal detection, delivery method, and neonatal complications, including survival and acquisition of new fractures, and related them to type of delivery. Results : The cesarean delivery rate was 54%, most of them (53%) for nonvertex presentation and fewer than 15% because of an antenatal diagnoses of osteogenesis imperfecta. There was an unusually high rate of breech presentation at term (37%). In infants with nonlethal forms of osteogenesis imperfecta, 24 of 59 (40%) delivered by cesarean and 17 of 53 (32%) delivered vaginally had new fractures (χ 2 = .89; P = .3). Among 55 infants with the most severe form, 24 of 31 delivered by cesarean and 21 of 24 delivered vaginally died within 2 weeks of birth. Conclusion : Cesarean delivery did not decrease fracture rates at birth in infants with nonlethal forms of osteogenesis imperfecta nor did it prolong survival for those with lethal forms. Prenatal diagnosis did not influence mode of delivery in most instances. Most cesarean deliveries were done for usual obstetric indications.
Muscle relaxation by drugs which stimulate sensory nerve endings. I. The effect of veratrum alkaloids, phenyldiguanide and 5-hydroxytryptamine.

Abstract Phenyldiguanide and veratridine, given to cats i.v. or into the right atrium in doses of 25–100 and 6–25 μg/kg, were found to depress “spontaneous” EMG activity and muscle tone in “gamma-type” decerebrate preparations and in animals under light chloralose-urethane anaesthesia. The depression of motor activity involved both extensor and flexor muscles and was abolished by bilateral mid-cervical vagotomy. The effect was less consistent and more often preceded by initial increases in activity in the decerebrate cat than in experiments under anaesthesia, and also required doses in the upper portion of the ranges shown. Protoveratrine and veratrine also produced vagus-dependent depression of spontaneous motor activity. Reflex motor depression and reflex hypotension frequently began simultaneously, suggesting that both effects arose from the same type of receptor. The latent periods of the effect of phenyldiguanide following intra-atrial injection were 1 1 2 –2 1 2 sec, and are thus in agreement with those found by paintal (1957 and 1964) for the stimulation of pulmonary deflation receptors. The effect of phenyldiguanide was duplicated and subsequently blocked by naphthylguanidine. The latent periods of the veratridine effects ranged between 4–6 sec; ventricular pressure and/or lung stretch receptors are considered as probable sites of reflex initiation. The hypotensive responses were not the cause of the somatic effects. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) also depressed motor activity, at least part of its action being attributable to excitation of deflation receptors. All three types of drugs reduced the patellar tendon reflex by a slight to moderate degree in more than half of the experiments.
Reactive site mutants of recombinant protein C inhibitor

Abstract Protein C inhibitor (PCI) is a heparin-binding serine proteinase inhibitor (serpin) which is thought to be a physiological regulator of activated protein C (APC). The residues F353-R354-S355 (P2-P1-P1′) constitute part of the reactive site loop of PCI with the R-S peptide bond being cleaved by the proteinase. Changing the reactive site P1 and P2 residues to those of either proteinase nexin-1, α1-proteinase inhibitor or heparin cofactor II resulted in a decrease in inhibitory activity towards thrombin and APC. Changing the P2 residue F353 → P generated a rPCI which was a better thrombin inhibitor, but was 10-fold less active with APC. While these results support the concept that the P1 and P2 residues are important in the specificity of PCI, they suggest that the reactive site residues are not the only determinant of serpin specificity. Kinetic analysis of the rPCI variants was consistent with PCI operating by a mechanism similar to that proposed for other serpins. In this model an intermediary complex forms between inhibitor and proteinase that can proceed to either cleavage of the inhibitor as substrate or formation of an inactive complex.
Genotypic Resistance Profile and Clinical Progression of Treatment-Experienced HIV Type 1-Infected Patients with Virological Failure

ABSTRACT We explored the relationship between HIV-1 drug resistance in treatment-experienced patients and disease progression in a cohort of patients undergoing resistance testing to guide treatment decisions. A total of 601 treatment-failing individuals tested for genotypic HIV-1 drug resistance between 1998 and 2004 were selected. At genotypic testing, median HIV-1 RNA levels and CD4 counts were 3.8 log copies/ml and 293 cells/μl, respectively; 84% had resistance mutations to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), 42% had resistance mutations to non-NRTIs, 51% had major resistance mutations to protease inhibitors (PI), 12% had no major resistance mutations to any drug class, 22% had mutations to one class, 42% had mutations to two classes, and 23% had mutations to three classes. During a follow-up of 714.7 patients/year, 80 patients showed an AIDS-defining event or died. In multivariable models adjusting for prior AIDS, baseline CD4 counts, HIV-1 RNA, and calendar year, viral resistance va...
Mold wear during permanent-mold casting of Ti-6Al-4V

Mold wear during the casting of Ti-6Al-4V in a permanent (steel) mold was investigated using a combination of macro- and micro-scale observations and measurements. For this purpose, a steel mold with interchangeable inserts of three candidate mold steels (H13, P20, and 1040) was used. Inserts were removed at regular intervals during casting under prototype-production conditions and inspected to assess mold wear. Two major mold wear types were identified: soldering and “wrinkling.” Soldering was concluded to be a result of local over-heating of the mold, and wrinkling a result of cyclic stresses caused by a combination of solid-state phase transformations and large temperature gradients. The 1040 inserts performed the best; soldering was less severe and wrinkling did not occur. The better performance of the 1040 inserts was attributed to lower mold temperatures and thermal gradients due to the higher thermal conductivity of 1040 relative to H13 or P20.
Minimum structure opioids-dipeptide and tripeptide analogs of the enkephalins.

Through a systematic reduction of peptide structure, a series of 25 tripeptide and 5 dipeptide amide and alcohol analogs of enkephalin were synthesized and assayed in vitro on the stimulated guinea pig ileum. Tyr-Pro-Phe-NH 2 , Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-NH 2 , Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-ol and Tyr-D-Phe-Phe-NH 2 had 20–25% the potency of Met-enkephalin. Four aromatic alkylamides of the dipeptide Tyr-D-Ala were made with benzylamine, phenethylamine, phenylpropylamine and phenylbutylamine. All had full naloxone reversible enkephalin-like activity in the ileum assay. Tyr-D-Ala-phenylpropylamide has about 80% the potency of Met-enkephalin in vitro , and is equipotent with Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe-Met-NH 2 in producing analgesia in mice after intraventricular administration. Tyr-D-Phe-NH 2 is the smallest peptide to show full intrinsic enkephalin-like activity in vitro , although its potency is very low.
Group Marginalization: Extending Research on Interpersonal Rejection to Small Groups

An extensive research literature has examined the reactions of individuals facing interpersonal rejection. Small groups can also be rejected, but current research tells us little about the experiences of groups and their members directly. We integrate findings from various literatures to gain insight into shared rejection experiences and their outcomes. Of most practical importance, we argue that groups can be expected to react with more hostility than individuals when rejected. Four existing models that account for how group processes might alter such reactions are examined: a need-threat model, a rejection-identification model, a multimotive model, and a dual attitudes model. Aspects of these models are then integrated into a unifying framework that is useful for understanding hostile reactions to group marginalization. Implications for natural groups such as terrorist cells, school cliques, racial and ethnic minorities, and gangs are discussed.
Post-allergen challenge inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase harbors therapeutic potential for treatment of allergic airway inflammation

Summary Background Identifying therapeutic drugs that block the release or effects of T-helper type 2 (Th2) cytokines after allergen exposure is an important goal for the treatment of allergic inflammatory diseases including asthma. We recently showed, using a murine model of allergic airway inflammation, that poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma-related lung inflammation. PARP inhibition, by single injection of a novel inhibitor, thieno[2,3-c]isoquinolin-5-one (TIQ-A), before ovalbumin (OVA) challenge, prevented airway eosinophilia in C57BL/6 mice with concomitant suppression of Th2 cytokine production and mucus secretion. Objective To evaluate the efficacy of the drug when it is given after OVA challenge for its possible therapeutic potential. Methods This study was conducted using a murine model of allergic airway inflammation. Results A single injection of TIQ-A (6 mg/kg) one or 6 h post-allergen challenge conferred similar reduction in OVA challenge-induced eosinophilia. More significantly, post-allergen challenge administration of the drug exerted even better suppression on the production of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IgE and prevented airway hyperresponsiveness to inhaled-methacholine. The significant decrease in IL-13 was accompanied by a complete absence of airways mucus production indicating a potential protection against allergen-induced airway remodelling. Conclusion The coincidence of the inflammation trigger and the time of drug administration appear to be important for the drug's more pronounced protection. The observed time window for efficacy, 1 or 6 h after allergen challenge may be of great clinical interest. These findings may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of allergic airway inflammation, including asthma.
A note on Page's two-sided cumulative sum procedure

SUMMARY A symmetric version of Page's (1954) two-sided cumulative sum procedure is discussed and a formula for the average run length given. Asymptotic normality of run length under suitable normalization is established.
Female sexual self-schema after interpersonal trauma: Relationship to psychiatric and cognitive functioning in a clinical treatment-seeking sample

This study assessed the relationship between sexual self-schema and posttraumatic functioning in a clinical sample of 112 female sexual assault survivors. Contrary to hypotheses, posttraumatic stress disorder and depressive symptom severity were unrelated to the valence of sexual self-schema. Yet, negative posttraumatic cognitions were related to sexual self-schemas. Specifically, less positive self-views were associated with more negative schema (r = -.35). In a multivariate analysis, the measure of negative views of the world and others was associated with more positive schema. Results indicate that intervening to improve survivors' postassault appraisals of the self may help to reduce the impact of interpersonal trauma on women's sexual functioning. Language: en
An Elementary Proof of the Order-Statistics Characterization of the Poisson Process

Abstract A continuous-time renewal process (N(t), t ≥ 0) is a Poisson process if and only if the conditional distribution of an interarrival time given N(t) = n is the same as that of the minimum order statistic corresponding to n independent random variables identically and uniformly distributed on the interval [0, t). Similar characterization is also given for a nonhomogeneous Poisson process.
Fulminant acute disseminated encephalomyelitis presenting in an adult.

A 55-year-oldmanwas slowly recovering from a flulike illness but stoppedrespondingtohis family’s telephonecalls.Paramedics found him confused and naked in his home. On arrival at the local hospital, he was aphasic and noncooperative. He declined neurologically over the following week. He had 2 seizures, required intubation, andwas transferred to our intensive care unit. His physical examinationwas notable for coma, extensor posturing, and diffuse hyperreflexia. Moderate pleocytosiswas found in his cerebrospinal fluidwith 50 white blood cells, all lymphocytes. Few oligoclonal bands were present. Test results for viral and bacterial infections, including human immunodeficiency virus, were negative. Brainmagnetic resonance imaging demonstrated numerous T2 hyperintense and ringenhancing lesionswithoutdiffusionrestriction(Figure).Lesionswere extensivebutpredominantly restricted to thewhitematterwith limited brainstem involvement. A brain biopsy demonstrated an inflammatory infiltrate with a perivenularpattern.Lossofmyelinwasevidentbutnerveaxonswere preserved.Overall, thepatient’s history, imaging, andpathology results were consistent with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). Hewas treatedwith intravenousmethylprednisolone followed by intravenous immunoglobulins. Hisneurologic status recoveredgradually. Twomonths later, he waswalkingwith assistance and jokingwith hospital staff.Within 5 months, he was performing daily tasks independently while living at homewith his family. Follow-up imaging revealed no further evidence of active demyelination.
Insulin and steatonecrosis: are they related?

Hepatic steatosis and steatonecrosis occur in non-alcoholic individuals, usually in a setting of obesity, type II diabetes mellitus, and after jejunoileal bypass. We propose an hypothesis for the pathogenesis of these hepaic lesions based on an observation in peritoneal dialysis patients. Hepatic histology was examined at autopsy in eleven patients with type I diabetes mellitus and renal failure who had received intraperitoneal insulin in conjunction with continuous ambulatory perritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Steatosis in a unique subcapsular distribution occurred in 10 of 11 patients treated with intraperitoneal insulin and in none of 9 controls receiving CAPD without insulin. Three of the 11 had steatonecrosis, 2 of whom had Mallory bodies. We suggest that isulin has an important role in the pathogenesis of steatosis and steatoncrosis. In CAPD patients the lesions occurred only under the capsule where concentrations of insulin are high secondary to its intraperitoneal administration. In obese patients the lesions occur throughhout the liver where insulin concentrations are high because of elevated levels in the portal vein. Free fatty acids (FFA) are oxidized in the liver by a pathway that is blocked by insulin. In the presence of insulin, FFA are preferentially esterified into triglycerides which accumulate in large quantities leading to steatosis; small amounts of FFA escaping local control may lead to membrane injury and steatonecrosis. Steatosis and/or steatonecrosis will occur when there is insulin secretion sufficient to block FFA oxidation but not sufficient to block FFA mobilization from adipose tissue. This situation occurs in obesity associated with type II diabetes where adipose tissues are resistant to insulin, and in obesity after jejunoileal-bypass where continued eating and insulin secretion occurs in the face of marked weight loss.
Breastfeeding Care in Ohio Hospitals: A Gap Between Research Practice

Although breastfeeding is the recommended method of feeding for newborns, the incidence of breastfeeding in the United States is again decreasing after a substantial increase during the 1970s and early 1980s. Between 1971 and 1981, the number of breastfed newborns increased from 25% to 58%. However, by 1989, only slightly more than 52% of new mothers began breastfeeding (Ryan, Rush, Krieger, & Lewandowski, 1991), and by 6 months postpartum, the rate of breastfeeding had declined to 18.1%. Sociodemographic factors associated with breastfeeding for at least 6 months continue to be white ethnicity, some college education, increased maternal age, and normal infant birth weight (Ryan et al., 1991). Although the most common reasons mothers report for the early discontinuation of breastfeeding include insufficient milk and breast problems (Goodine & Fried, 1984; Grossman, Harter, Sachs, & Kay, 1990; Hally et al., 1984; McKnight, 1987), nursing care during postpartum hospitalization also has been identified as a factor that may influence the duration of breastfeeding (Reiff & Essock-Vitale, 1985; Winikoff, Meyers, Laukeran, & Stone, 1987). This article presents a survey of Ohio hospitals that replicated the breastfeeding portion of a study by Houston and Field (1988) that investigated postpartum hospital care in Alberta, Canada.
The infrared spectrum of 31P14N near 1300 cm−1

Abstract The infrared absorption spectrum of the PN molecule has been measured at temperatures between 800 and 1050°C with a tunable diode laser. The transitions measured ranged from J ″ = 3 to J ″ = 53 and included the vibrational transitions v = 1 ← 0, 2 ← 1, 3 ← 2, and 4 ← 3. These measurements are combined with microwave measurements made by others to yield a consistent set of ten Dunham ro-vibrational constants and their uncertainties.
Black students’ graduation from elite colleges: Institutional characteristics and between-institution differences

Abstract Among the nation’s elite colleges and universities, black graduation rates vary dramatically from institution to institution. Many sociologists have suggested that this is due not to differences in the student bodies but to institutional factors; however, this “institutional hypothesis” has not been recently examined empirically. We test the institutional hypothesis for a set of elite institutions using College and Beyond, a restricted dataset containing data for the entire 1989 cohort of 27 elite institutions, matched to institution-level data, employing HLM techniques. We ask three questions: Do institutional factors affect black students’ probability of graduation? Do they account for between-institution differences in black graduation? And are institutions where blacks have a high probability of graduation the same as or different from those where whites do? Testing for the effect of eight major institutional factors, we find, surprisingly, that only selectivity has a statistically significant effect. Contrary to common belief, selectivity improves black probabilities of graduation, and helps blacks more than it helps whites. It also accounts for roughly 38% of the between-institution variance in black graduation. Finally, we find that after controls, black and white probabilities of graduation across institutions are highly correlated (.909), such that institutions in which blacks are likely to graduate are those in which whites are likely to graduate, too. Findings suggest that researchers should examine other institutional factors in greater depth, as well as the role of pre-college preparation more seriously.
Hypothalamic function in response to 2-deoxy-D-glucose in long-term abstinent alcoholics.

Background: The body adapts to diverse stressful stimuli with a response characterized by activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Chronic alcohol consumption can cause changes in the function of this neuroendocrine system. Although many studies have examined this phenomenon in drinking and recently sober alcoholics, few studies have examined HPA axis function in long-term sober alcoholics. Methods: To characterize HPA axis function in long-term sober alcoholics, we used a challenge paradigm with 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG). An infusion of 2-DG (a nonmetabolizable glucose analog) induces a well-characterized stress response. In a previous study, our laboratory found an exaggerated corticotropin and cortisol response in alcoholics abstinent 3 weeks; in this investigation we compared the effects of an infusion of 2-DG on 19 healthy volunteers and 20 community-living alcoholics who had been abstinent more than 6 months. Results: In contrast to the previous study, long-term sober alcoholics did not have an exaggerated corticotropin and cortisol response after 2-DG. Conclusions: Previously observed abnormalities in cortisol regulation in 3-week-sober alcoholics may be related to the acute effects of recent alcohol consumption and withdrawal. Future investigations into the metabolic function of alcoholics, particularly investigations involving the HPA system, should consider the possibility that normalization may not occur until long-term abstinence has been achieved.
The use of a personal digital assistant for wireless entry of data into a database via the Internet.

Background: Researchers typically record data on a worksheet and at some later time enter it into the database. Wireless data entry and retrieval using a personal digital assistant (PDA) at the site of patient contact can simplify this process and improve efficiency. Methods: A surgeon and a nurse coordinator provided the content for the database. The computer programmer created the database, placed the pages of the database on the PDA screen, and researched and installed security measures. Results: Designing the database took 6 months. Meeting Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) requirements for patient confidentiality, satisfying institutional Information Services requirements, and ensuring connectivity required an additional 8 months before the functional system was complete. Conclusions: It is now possible to achieve wireless entry and retrieval of data using a PDA. Potential advantages include collection and entry of data at the same time, easy entry of data from multiple sites, and retrieval of data at the patient's bedside.
Transient spectra, kinetics and mechanism of Rhodamine 700 dye precursor photoreaction

Abstract A new dye precursor (DP) molecule was synthesized and its photochromic, spectroscopic and kinetic properties were determined. This dye precursor yields the strongly fluorescent Rhodamine 700 dye when it is exposed to UV light. The ability to form a highly fluorescent dye was utilized in the fabrication of two-photon volumetric optical memory materials. The spectral characteristics, kinetics and photochemistry were measured and the photoreactions mechanism is proposed.
Dominant-Negative CK2α Induces Potent Effects on Circadian Rhythmicity

Circadian clocks organize the precise timing of cellular and behavioral events. In Drosophila, circadian clocks consist of negative feedback loops in which the clock component PERIOD (PER) represses its own transcription. PER phosphorylation is a critical step in timing the onset and termination of this feedback. The protein kinase CK2 has been linked to circadian timing, but the importance of this contribution is unclear; it is not certain where and when CK2 acts to regulate circadian rhythms. To determine its temporal and spatial functions, a dominant negative mutant of the catalytic alpha subunit, CK2αTik, was targeted to circadian neurons. Behaviorally, CK2αTik induces severe period lengthening (∼33 h), greater than nearly all known circadian mutant alleles, and abolishes detectable free-running behavioral rhythmicity at high levels of expression. CK2αTik, when targeted to a subset of pacemaker neurons, generates period splitting, resulting in flies exhibiting both long and near 24-h periods. These behavioral effects are evident even when CK2αTik expression is induced only during adulthood, implicating an acute role for CK2α function in circadian rhythms. CK2αTik expression results in reduced PER phosphorylation, delayed nuclear entry, and dampened cycling with elevated trough levels of PER. Heightened trough levels of per transcript accompany increased protein levels, suggesting that CK2αTik disturbs negative feedback of PER on its own transcription. Taken together, these in vivo data implicate a central role of CK2α function in timing PER negative feedback in adult circadian neurons.
Mechanical and Psychophysical Studies of Surface Wave Propagation during Vibrotactile Stimulation

Tactile displays are often used to present spatial cues about the environment, although the optimal configuration of a display used for spatial cuing is not known. The objective of the present set of experiments was to characterize the properties of surface waves induced by vibrotactile stimulation and to determine if the propagation of surface waves was a factor influencing the ability to localize a point of stimulation in a tactile display. Three sites on the body were tested: the palm of the hand, the forearm, and the thigh. An accelerometer array was fabricated and used to measure the surface waves. The results indicated that there were significant differences between glabrous and hairy skin in terms of the frequency and amplitude of oscillation of the motor. Analyses of the motion of the surface waves across the skin indicated that they were markedly attenuated at 8 mm from the motor, but even at 24 mm the amplitude was still above perceptual threshold. The localization experiment indicated that subjects were much better at identifying the site of stimulation on the palm as compared to the forearm and thigh, and that the latter two sites were not significantly different.
Power efficient broadcasting and multicasting in wireless networks with directional antennas

Broadcasting and multicasting packets in a power efficient way is a critical task in wireless ad hoc networks. In a recent paper Li et al., (2004) study the minimum energy broadcast (MEB) routing problem in a wireless ad hoc network where every node has an omni-directional antenna and a fixed transmission power level. We extend their work to wireless networks with directional antennas in this paper. We formulate the minimum power multicasting/broadcasting using directional antennas (PMDA/PBDA) problems. For each problem, we present an approximation algorithm with worst- case approximation ratio O(log/sup 2/n), where n is the number of nodes in the network. We also present several effective heuristics to solve the problems, the shortest path tree (SPT) heuristic, the directed minimum spanning tree (DMST) heuristic and a greedy heuristic. Simulation results are presented to show the performance of our algorithms.
From test tube to plate: a simple procedure for the rapid preparation of microcrystallization experiments using the cubic phase method

Crystals of transmembrane proteins for X-ray diffraction experiments may be grown either by employing mixed protein–detergent complexes, or in a matrix of liquid-crystalline membraneous material forming a lipidic cubic phase (in cubo). Widespread use of the in cubo method has been severely hampered by its tediousness and the large amounts of protein required. Here a simple procedure is presented that by virtue of its simplicity and small setup size substantially reduces the preparation time as well as the amount of protein. Crystallization trials are set up in conventional multi-well plates using a semi-automatic dispenser-driven microsyringe. The microprocedure is amenable to full automation and further miniaturization. Its feasibility is demonstrated by screening for new crystallization conditions for bacteriorhodopsin using volumes of ca 200 nl of lipidic cubic phase. New crystallization conditions were identified that avoid the necessity of weighing solid precipitation agents.
Religious Difference and Democratic Pluralism: Some Recent Debates and Frameworks

While until quite recently debates in political philosophy on questions of pluralism, tolerance, and liberal governance foregrounded notions of culture and cultural difference, today it is religion that increasingly provides the historical and conceptual resources for the contemporary reassessment of the pragmatic and philosophical conditions for pluralist democracy. Drawing on a few recent writings in the field of political theology, this paper explores some of the analytical directions that this repositioning of religion within contemporary narratives of modernity has opened up within political philosophy. As I seek to demonstrate, the domain of political theology has become the problem space, where the tensions and contradictions between a simultaneous insistence on Europe's secular identity and its Christian one are being elaborated. Through a ceratin double movement, secularism and Christianity have become productively fused within the writings I address, in a way that repeats the story of European exeptionality while inscribing the essential otherness of the Muslim populations within its borders. In the second part of the paper, I want to contrast these reflections from political philosophy with debates in postcolonial Egypt around issues of religion and the possibility of democratic pluralism.
The effectiveness of once-daily dosing of inhaled flunisolide in maintaining asthma control

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of switching to once-daily (qd) administration of flunisolide in patients with asthma that was controlled by twice-daily (bid) dosing of this inhaled steroid. Methods: Three hundred sixty-six adults and children with bronchial asthma that was controlled with inhaled steroids were recruited for this prospective, double-blind, parallel-group study. After a 4-week, stable baseline period of flunisolide administration, 2 inhalations (500 μg) twice daily, each patient was randomized into one of four 12-week flunisolide treatment groups: group 1, 2 inhalations (500 μg) bid; group 2, 4 inhalations (1000 μg) qd in the morning; group 3, 4 inhalations (1000 μg) qd in the evening; or group 4, 2 inhalations (500 μg) qd in the morning. Outcome measures included morning and evening asthma symptoms (scale of 0 to 3), daytime and nighttime albuterol use, morning and evening peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), FEV 1 , and methacholine PC 20 . In addition, a subset of patients in each group had 24-hour urinary cortisol levels measured before and after randomization. Results: Outcome measures in the four groups were not significantly different at baseline before randomization. The three groups that received maintenance therapy with flunisolide, 1000 μg daily, did not show significant changes from baseline values and remained comparable in all outcome areas. Asthma control in the group randomized to flunisolide 500 μg qd, however, deteriorated significantly: morning symptoms increased by 0.21 units (48%), evening symptoms increased by 0.15 units (31%), daytime albuterol use increased by 0.42 inhalations per day (37%), nighttime albuterol use increased by 0.48 inhalations per night (91%), morning PEFR decreased by 17.1 L/min (4%), and evening PEFR decreased by 12.6 L/min (3%). There were no significant changes in PC 20 or 24-hour urinary cortisol levels in any group. Conclusions: For patients with asthma that was stabilized by 2 inhalations of flunisolide (500 μg) bid, switching to 4 inhalations (1000 μg) qd in either the morning or evening is effective in maintaining asthma control. Reducing the dose to 2 inhalations (500 μg) qd in the morning, however, leads to a deterioration in asthma control. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1997;99:278-85.)
Techniques for analyzing dynamic random graph models of web-like networks: An overview

Various random graph models have recently been proposed to replicate and explain the topology of large, complex, real-life networks such as the World Wide Web and the Internet. These models are surveyed in this article. Our focus has primarily been on dynamic random graph models that attempt to account for the observed statistical properties of web-like networks through certain dynamic processes guided by simple stochastic rules. Particular attention is paid to the equivalence between mathematical definitions of dynamic random graphs in terms of inductively defined probability spaces and algorithmic definitions of such models in terms of recursive procedures. Several techniques that have been employed for studying dynamic random graphs—both heuristic and analytic—are expounded. Each technique is illustrated through its application in analyzing various graph parameters, such as degree distribution, degree-correlation between adjacent nodes, clustering coefficient, distribution of node-pair distances, and connected-component size. A discussion of the most recent salient work and a comprehensive list of references in this rapidly-expanding area are included. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, 2008
Efectos combinados de la ampliación de la atención primaria de salud y de las transferencias condicionadas de dinero en efectivo sobre la mortalidad infantil en Brasil, 1998 - 2010

OBJETIVOS: Examine los efectos combinados del acceso a la atencion primaria mediante el Programa de Salud Familiar (PSF) y las transferencias condicionadas de dinero en efectivo del Programa Bolsa Familia (PBF) sobre la mortalidad infantil posneonatal (MIPN) en Brasil. METODOS: Emplee un analisis ecologico longitudinal usando datos en panel de 4 583 municipios brasilenos de 1998 al 2010, con 54 253 observaciones en total. Estime modelos de regresion de efectos fijos por minimos cuadrados ordinarios, con la tasa de MIPN como la variable dependiente y el PSF, el PBF y sus interacciones como las principales variables independientes de interes. RESULTADOS: La asociacion de una mayor cobertura del PSF con una menor tasa de MIPN se volvio mas fuerte conforme aumentaba la cobertura del PBF. En los promedios de todas las demas variables, cuando la cobertura de PBF era 25%, la MIPN predicha fue 5,24 (intervalo de confianza [IC] de 95% = 4,95, 5,53) para una cobertura del PSF de 0%, y de 3,54 (IC de 95% = 2,77, 4,31) para una cobertura del PSF de 100%. Cuando la cobertura del PBF era de 60%, la MIPN predicha fue 4,65 (IC de 95% = 4,36, 4,94) para una cobertura del PSF de 0%, y de 1,38 (IC de 95% = 0,88, 1,89) para una cobertura del PSF de 100%. CONCLUSIONES: El efecto del PSF depende de la ampliacion del PBF. Para las poblaciones empobrecidas y subatendidas, la combinacion de intervenciones tanto del lado de la oferta como del lado de la demanda podria ser necesaria para mejorar los resultados en salud.