cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Intensive Mental Health Program: Development and Structure of the Model of Intervention for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbances.

In order to meet the challenging needs and behaviors of children with Serious Emotional Disorders (SED), a school and community based Intensive Mental Health Program (IMHP) was developed and evaluated. We describe the conceptual framework, treatment principles, and model for service delivery for psychological and educational interventions under the umbrella of the IMHP. The program illustrates a model of comprehensive services for children with SED.
Actomyosin Contractility and Microtubules Drive Apical Constriction in Xenopus Bottle Cells

Cell shape changes are critical for morphogenetic events such as gastrulation, neurulation, and organogenesis. However, the cell biology driving cell shape changes is poorly understood, especially in vertebrates. The beginning of Xenopus laevis gastrulation is marked by the apical constriction of bottle cells in the dorsal marginal zone, which bends the tissue and creates a crevice at the blastopore lip. We found that bottle cells contribute significantly to gastrulation, as their shape change can generate the force required for initial blastopore formation. As actin and myosin are often implicated in contraction, we examined their localization and function in bottle cells. F-actin and activated myosin accumulate apically in bottle cells, and actin and myosin inhibitors either prevent or severely perturb bottle cell formation, showing that actomyosin contractility is required for apical constriction. Microtubules were localized in apicobasally directed arrays in bottle cells, emanating from the apical surface. Surprisingly, apical constriction was inhibited in the presence of nocodazole but not taxol, suggesting that intact, but not dynamic, microtubules are required for apical constriction. Our results indicate that actomyosin contractility is required for bottle cell morphogenesis and further suggest a novel and unpredicted role for microtubules during apical constriction.
Simple serial data link

Abstract We describe a simple scheme for serial data-swapping between two devices over one line. A specific circuit using TTL logic is presented and explained. It requires a single supply and about a dozen IC's at each end and can transmit well over a megabit/s.
Pruned three-dimensional toroidal networks

Using a unified framework, we show that a pruned 3D torus can be explicitly specified by its pruning direction along which the links are uniformly removed from a complete 3D torus. The resulting networks, that offer the advantages of lower node degree and simpler layout, are inherently node-symmetric and maintain the same diameter as the original torus. It turns out that the simplest pruning scheme is also best in preserving regularity, symmetry, and performance properties of the torus.
A strong lateral shear velocity gradient and anisotropy heterogeneity in the lowermost mantle beneath the southern Pacific

[1] Velocity heterogeneity and seismic anisotropy in the D″ region beneath the southern Pacific Ocean is investigated using broadband shear waves from southwest Pacific and South American earthquakes recorded by permanent and temporary stations in Antarctica, Australia, South America, and on islands in the South Pacific. Shear velocity perturbations (δVS) are inferred from the differential travel times between hand-picked horizontally polarized (SH) direct or diffracted S arrivals and vertically polarized (SV) SKS arrivals. Derived patterns in δVS roughly agree with global shear velocity models but reveal a stronger shear velocity lateral gradient north of approximately 52°S where δVS transitions from approximately +0.5 to −1.0% (relative to radially averaged reference models) over less than 600 km along the base of D″. Waveform analyses provide an even stronger constraint on the transitional region, where there is a change in waveform behavior occurring over length scales less than 300 km. Differential travel times between SKKS and SKS, calculated by cross-correlating SKS with Hilbert transformed SKKS, support large δVS amplitudes and help to constrain the location of the transitional region. Anisotropy in D″ (kS) is inferred from handpicked differential travel times between the SV and SH components of direct or diffracted S and display a slight spatial trend where the SH component precedes the SV in the north and east of the study area but arrives after SV in the center and southwest of it. However, there is high kS variability in the center of the study region. There is no apparent correlation between δVS and kS. Abrupt changes in the character of velocity and anisotropy in this region of D″ may be related to chemical heterogeneity at the boundary of the Pacific Superswell, as well as small-scale convection in the deep mantle.
Suburban sprawl and physical and mental health.

Abstract Objective . To study the association between objective measures of suburban sprawl and chronic medical conditions and mental health disorders in the USA. Methods . Cross-sectional analysis of survey data merged with objective measures of suburban sprawl. Outcomes are self-reported medical conditions, mental health disorders and health-related quality of life. Results . Sprawl significantly predicts chronic medical conditions and health-related quality of life, but not mental health disorders. An increase in sprawl from one standard deviation less to one standard deviation more than average implies 96 more chronic medical problems per 1000 residents, which is approximately similar to an aging of the population of 4 years. Conclusions . A robust association between sprawl and physical (but not mental) health suggests that suburban design may be an important new avenue for health promotion and disease prevention.
Pregabalin exposure-response analysis in patients with postherpetic neuralgia

Background/Aims A population exposure-response (E-R) analysis was performed to relate pain in postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) patients to pregabalin exposure following multiple doses. Methods Data from 4 clinical trials were combined (N=1027). Individual daily pain scores using an 11-point numerical rating scale (0= No Pain to 10= Worst Possible Pain) were modeled as an ordered categorical variable. The doses tested included placebo, 75, 150, 300, and 600 mg/day. Covariate effects for age, gender, body weight, CLcr, average baseline pain score, and regimen (TID vs BID) were investigated to determine the impact of these factors on the E-R relationship. Results The E-R relationship was adequately described using a power model in dose (αDγ) due to insufficient information to support an Emax model. Covariate selection was performed using Wald's approximation method. Gender, age, weight, and baseline pain score were influential covariates in the final model. Pain relief was adequately predicted for both regimens without inclusion of a regimen effect. Cross-validation (external posterior predictive check) indicated the final model adequately predicts the BID regimen data even when the model parameters are estimated solely based on data from the TID regimens. Conclusions In the PHN population, the E-R relationship indicated that 600 mg/day demonstrates increased pain relief compared to 300 mg/day. BID and TID regimens demonstrated similar efficacy. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2005) 77, P88–P88; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2004.12.228
Prediction, detection and characterization of a fast surface wave produced near the first critical angle

Abstract The surface wave predicted by acoustical theory that is supposed to appear at the first critical angle was detected by an experiment through which its speed, amplitude, and attenuation rates were measured. Although very low in amplitude, the fast surface wave detected near the first critical angle for a water-aluminium interface. The surface wave was observed to travel at the compressional wave velocity and was less attenuated in its travel than was the pseudo-Rayleigh wave.
Capital marque et étendue verticale de la ligne de produits

Cet article etudie la relation entre la structure verticale d'une ligne de produits et le capital marque. La presence d'un produit de tres haute qualite dans une ligne de produits ameliore-t-elle le capital marque? A l'inverse, la presence de produits economiques ou de faible qualite dans une ligne de produits diminue-t-elle le capital marque? En economie et en marketing, la variation du niveau de qualite des produits a l'interieur d'une categorie constitue une differenciation verticale, alors que la variation de la fonction ou de la categorie des produits d'une marque est horizontale. La plupart des recherches existantes sur la relation entre la structure de la ligne de produits et le capital marque se sont interessees a la structure horizontale d'une ligne de produits et donc principalement aux extensions de marque, c'est-a-dire a l'extension d'une marque et de sa ligne de produits vers de nouvelles categories. La encore, la recherche s'est concentree sur les facteurs de succes des extensions alors que ...
Role of radical formation at tyrosine 193 in the allene oxide synthase domain of a lipoxygenase-AOS fusion protein from coral.

Coral allene oxide synthase (cAOS), a fusion protein with 8R-lipoxygenase in Plexaura homomalla, is a hemoprotein with sequence similarity to catalases. cAOS reacts rapidly with the oxidant peracetic acid to form heme compound I and intermediate II. Concomitantly, an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal with tyrosyl radical-like features, centered at a g-value of 2.004-2.005, is formed. The radical is identified as tyrosyl by changes in EPR spectra when deuterated tyrosine is incorporated in cAOS. The radical location in cAOS is determined by mutagenesis of Y193 and Y209. Upon oxidation, native cAOS and mutant Y209F exhibit the same radical spectrum, but no significant tyrosine radical forms in mutant Y193H, implicating Y193 as the radical site in native cAOS. Estimates of the side chain torsion angles for the radical at Y193, based on the ‚-proton isotropic EPR hyperfine splitting, Aiso, are i1 ) 21 to 30° and i2 )- 99 to -90°. The results show that cAOS can cleave nonsubstrate hydroperoxides by a heterolytic path, although a homolytic course is likely taken in converting the normal substrate, 8R-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (8R-HpETE), to product. Coral AOS achieves specificity for the allene oxide formed by selection of the homolytic pathway normally, while it inactivates by the heterolytic path with nonoptimal substrates. Accordingly, with the nonoptimal substrate, 13R-hydroperoxyoctadeca- dienoic acid (13R-HpODE), mutant Y193H is inactivated after turning over significantly fewer substrate molecules than required to inactivate native cAOS or the Y209F mutant because it cannot absorb oxidizing equivalents by forming a radical at Y193.
Characterization of a cytochrome oxidase-deficient yeast mutant which accumulates porphyrins.

Abstract A cytochrome oxidase-deficient mutant ( pop4 ) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae which accumulates porphyrins has been characterized. The pop4 mutation is recessive and affects a single nuclear gene. The bulk of the accumulated porphyrins consists of uroporphyrin and its partial decar☐ylation products, suggesting that the mutation causes a block at the level of uroporphyrinogen decar☐ylase. However, pop4 is not allelic to hem6 or pop3 , putative decar☐ylase structural-gene mutants. These results suggest that there may be a uroporphyrinogen decar☐ylase isoenzyme specifically involved in heme a production.
Fibroepithelial polyps of the ureter: a single-institutional experience.

Objective: Ureteral fibroepithelial polyps (UFP) are rare lesions that may mimic ureteral malignancy, and management is not well defined. We report our experience with the management of UFP. Materials and Methods: Between 1945 and 2008, review of our clinical database identified 27 patients who were found to have UFP. Single-pathologist review excluded five patients (three papilloma, one inflammatory pseudopolyp, and one nondiagnostic). Fisher's exact methods were utilized to assess significance of clinical associations. Results: Mean age at diagnosis was 40 years (range 7-73 years) and 68% were male. Mean follow-up was 37 months (range 2-276 months). History of urologic conditions occurred in 13 patients: 7 (32%) urolithiasis, 2 (9%) ureteral stents, 1 (5%) recurrent urinary tract infection, and 3 (14%) ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Mean UFP diameter was 2 cm (range 0.5-4 cm). UFP was more common in the left ureter (68%, 15/22). UFP location within the ureter was proximal in 13 (59%, 15/22), mid in 4 (18%, 4/22), and distal in 4 (18%, 4/22) with multiple UFP along the length of one ureter. Six patients (27%) had multiple UFP. Open surgery, last performed in 1994, was the initial treatment in 10 (45%, 10/22) patients. Endoscopic treatment was performed in 12 (55%, 12/22) patients and was successful in 11. After endoscopic treatment, open surgical treatment was required in 3 patients with ureteral stricture and 1 patient with incomplete polyp resection. UFP reoccurred in 1 patient (1/12) at 26 months and was successfully treated with ureteroscopy. Conclusions: We conclude that UFP can be successfully managed with endoscopic techniques. Postoperative surveillance is recommended for potential early detection of ureteral stricture or recurrence.
The Effects of Contact on Sexual Prejudice: A Meta-Analysis

A meta-analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between contact and sexual prejudice. A quantitative synthesis with 83 effect sizes from 41 articles, using mostly samples from the United States, showed a significant negative relationship between contact and sexual prejudice. Among six possible moderators tested (type of sexual prejudice scale used, correlational versus experimental studies, attitudes toward lesbians versus gay men, publication year, quality of study, and where study was conducted), three were shown to significantly moderate the relationship between contact and sexual prejudice. The relationship between contact and sexual prejudice varied as a function of the type of sexual prejudice measure used, the target group toward which the prejudicial attitudes were assessed, and where the study was conducted.
Lithium increases N-acetyl-aspartate in the human brain: in vivo evidence in support of bcl-2's neurotrophic effects?

Abstract Background: Recent preclinical studies have shown that lithium (Li) robustly increases the levels of the major neuroprotective protein, bcl-2, in rat brain and in cells of human neuronal origin. These effects are accompanied by striking neuroprotective effects in vitro and in the rodent central nervous system in vivo. We have undertaken the present study to determine if lithium exerts neurotrophic/neuroprotective effects in the human brain in vivo. Methods: Using quantitative proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, N -acetyl-aspartate (NAA) levels (a putative marker of neuronal viability and function) were investigated longitudinally in 21 adult subjects (12 medication-free bipolar affective disorder patients and 9 healthy volunteers). Regional brain NAA levels were measured at baseline and following 4 weeks of lithium (administered in a blinded manner). Results: A significant increase in total brain NAA concentration was documented ( p Conclusions: This study demonstrates for the first time that Li administration at therapeutic doses increases brain NAA concentration. These findings provide intriguing indirect support for the contention that chronic lithium increases neuronal viability/function in the human brain, and suggests that some of Li's long-term beneficial effects may be mediated by neurotrophic/neuroprotective events.
Predicting abnormal microbial population levels in the vaginal ecosystem

We have attempted to predict the occurrence of abnormal microbial concentrations in the vaginal ecosystem by fitting a statistical model to an in vivo data set containing qualitative and quantitative information from women with known normal and abnormal microbial population levels. Predictive factors were selected by multiple regression with backwards elimination and included pH and concentrations of total aerobic bacteria, Staphylococcus spp., Lactobacillu s spp. and Prevotella spp. The resulting model calculates the likelihood of an abnormal microbiota, using these factors for a given individual. Potentially, this model can be employed for clinical studies in which determining the effect of a particular alteration of the vaginal environment is important. Keywords - Model, Vagina microbiota, Normal ecosystem, Statistics.
Riding the Roller‐Coaster — What's Next for US Farm Policy? Sur les montagnes russes: Quel avenir pour la politique agricole américaine? Eine Berg‐und‐Tal‐Fahrt – was erwartet die US‐Agrarpolitik als nächstes?

summary Riding the Roller-Coaster — What's Next for US Farm Policy? Changes in the balance of political power and in budgetary constraints create a roller- coaster in US agricultural policy with shifts between more and less government intervention, higher and lower spending, and more or less liberal approaches to international trade. The suspension of the WTO negotiations and the replacement of a Republican by a Democratic majority in the Congress have created a different political climate from the last Farm Bill in 2002. The economic picture is also very different with less public money to lavish on farmers and less pressure to spend, particularly since many farmers are benefiting from higher crop prices driven by rapidly expanding bio-energy production. With weak internal and external pressures for change, the new legislation is unlikely to depart radically from the 2002 Farm Act or to be crafted to accommodate future international commitments. There could be some movement away from price-based support to measures that target revenue, primarily because future payments are likely to be low if prices for farm products remain strong. But the policy roller-coaster is unlikely to promise an exciting ride for those who would like to see a change in priority from price and income support towards environmental and other aims and towards greater market orientation.
Hospital Systems for the Detection and Prevention of Adverse Drug Events

In its 2006 report "Preventing Medication Errors," the Institute of Medicine (IOM) estimated that more than 1.5 million preventable adverse drug events (ADEs) occur annually in the United States. Many organizations, including the IOM, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, the US Food and Drug Administration, and the Leap Frog Group for Patient Safety have advocated the implementation of technologies to reduce ADEs, particularly in the hospital setting. Many technologies have emerged in recent years to reduce ADEs at various points in the medication use process; however, interfacing some of these key technologies with existing hospital systems poses significant challenges.
Hierarchically Structured Pt–Alloy Ethanol Oxidation Electrocatalysts

Bimodal-sized Pt–Sn and Ru–alloy catalysts for the electro-oxidation of ethanol were synthesized using a novel templating approach and evaluated for ethanol oxidation in alkaline media. This templating approach leads to trimodal-sized catalyst particles embedded in and on bimodal-pore carbon support. Electrochemical evaluation suggested that Pt–Sn phases enhance dehydrogenation and/or C–C bond splitting, while Pt–Ru phases facilitates complete oxidation of the intermediate reaction product CO. The criteria for best-performing catalyst are derived from studies and found to be 2–5 nm Pt(Sn) and the addition of Ru is conjectured to be beneficial. Mass transport effects observed demonstrates that it is possible to effect catalytic performance using the hierarchically structured templating approach used.
Closing the Divide between Human Nutrition and Plant Breeding

Improvement of crop nutritional quality through breeding, termed biofortification, is a strategy being used to address micronutrient deficiencies worldwide. These efforts stand to benefit tremen - dously from recent advances across the plant sci- ences, from flourishing germplasm and genomic resources and phenotyping tools to improved characterization at the levels of physiology, cell biology, and gene expression. Next steps in crop biofortification in this decade and beyond include adapting high-throughput phenotyping platforms for measurement of nutritional quality traits, test- ing genome-wide and other DNA marker-based selection strategies that can mine parsimonious answers from large data sets, and further char- acterizing genotypeenvironment interactions and post-harvest effects on end nutrition. Also necessary are accompanying considerations of yield and other agronomic traits—in particular, the non-uniform responses of both these and quality traits to climate change across crops, environments, and farming management sys- tems. These integrative analyses from genotype to phenotype and planting to consumption can minimize trade-offs between yield and nutrition and maximize the range, magnitude, and lon- gevity of the benefits of biofortified varieties to human health and nutrition. Plant Breeding and Genetics Section, School of Integrative Plant Sci -
Epidemiologic Aspects of Alzheimer's Disease: Facts and Fragments

To date, the classical approach of epidemiology has been neither exhaustive nor particularly helpful in developing insights into the nature of Alzheimer's disease. The inability both to diagnose the disease and predict its clinical course hampers our ability to conduct adequate research on cause, prevention, clinical trials, and other treatment modalities as well as to select those key patients for whom greater efforts toward securing autopsies must be made. We are engaged in establishing an Alzheimer's Disease Patient Registry, to determine the data needed to embark on major etiologic and epidemiologic studies. Our studies of Alzheimer's disease in families and in forms of social and financial milieu are designed to develop humanitarian and potentially cost-effective approaches.
WORD LENGTH, FREQUENCY AND SIMILARITY IN THE DISCRIMINATION BEHAVIOR OF APHASICS.

Ten aphasics were compared with ten control subjects on their ability to discriminate between visually-presented words. Three variables were systematically varied: (1) word length, (2) word frequen...
Effect of inflammation on the delivery of drugs to dental pulp.

Although numerous studies have evaluated the effects of drugs on inflammation, comparatively few studies have evaluated the effects of inflammation on drugs. In this study, we have evaluated whether pulpal inflammation alters the delivery of flurbiprofen or Evan's blue, two agents that bind with high affinity to plasma proteins. The results indicate that pulpal inflammation alters the delivery of these agents to inflamed molars, that activation of capsaicin-sensitive nerves increases pulpal content of protein-bound agents, and that reduced pH increases free drug concentrations of flurbiprofen. Thus, alterations in both plasma extravasation and tissue pH seem to be relevant factors regulating the delivery and bioavailability of this nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug to dental pulp. Because many drugs used in endodontics (e.g. nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, clindamycin, bupivacaine, etc.) are heavily bound to plasma proteins, it is likely that the status of pulpal inflammation is a contributing factor in modifying the pharmacological efficacy of these agents.
The development of salivary tumours in Periplaneta americana (L.) as induced by duct ligation

Abstract The salivary glands of adult female cockroaches were subjected to duct ligation, unilateral duct ligation, or duct lesion and examined histologically at various times thereafter. Types of effects include (1) dissolution of acini, (2) acinar atrophy, (3) modified acinar atrophy with and without vesicle formation, and (4) haemocytic encapsulation and vesicle formation. Types 3 and 4 involve a proliferation of intercalated cells to form giant cells, which eventually yield the vesicular epithelium. Tumour incidence in acini is greatest after ligation; after duct lesion incidence is highest in the reservoirs. Experimental methods and tumours induced cause increased mortalities.
Kinetics of one-electron oxidation by the ClO radical

Pulse radiolysis studies were carried out to determine the rate constants for reactions of ClO radicals in aqueous solution. These radicals were produced by the reaction of OH with hypochlorite ions in N2O saturated solutions. The rate constants for their reactions with several compounds were determined by following the build up of the product radical absorption and in several cases by competition kinetics. ClO was found to be a powerful oxidant which reacts very rapidly with phenoxide ions to form phenoxyl radicals and with dimethoxybenzenes to form the cation radicals (k = 7 × 108 −2 × 109 M-1 s-1). ClO also oxidizes ClO-2 and N-3 ions rapidly (9.4 × 108 and 2.5 × 108 M-1 s-1, respectively), but its reactions with formate and benzoate ions were too slow to measure. ClO does not oxidize carbonate but the CO-3 radical reacts with ClO- slowly (k = 5.1 × 105 M-1 s-1).
Interleukin-6 as a photoreceptor neuroprotectant in an experimental model of retinal detachment

Retinal detachment (RD), defined as the separation of the neurosensory retina from subjacent retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), results in the apoptotic death of photoreceptor cells.1-4 Rodent and feline models of RD have demonstrated the activation of proapoptotic pathways nearly immediately after the retina becomes separated from the RPE.1-4 Histologic markers of apoptosis, such as terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase nick-end label (TUNEL) staining, reach a peak at approximately 3 days after RD, with apoptotic activity and progressive cell death persisting for the duration of the detachment period. Clinical experience in the repair of retinal detachments, however, has demonstrated that there is a window of opportunity for repair with preservation of good visual acuity. Retrospective case series have demonstrated that significant numbers of patients with macula-off RDs repaired within 5 to 10 days after onset of detachment can retain relatively good visual function but that visual acuity drops significantly as the time between detachment and repair extends.5-7 The delayed time between the activation of proapoptosis pathways and the clinical onset of visual loss suggests that intrinsic neuroprotective factors may become activated within the neural retina and may serve to counterbalance the effects of the proapoptotic pathways activated by retinal–RPE separation. Previous work in our laboratory using gene microarray analysis of experimental detachment in rats revealed the increased expression of genes involved in stress–response pathways.8 Of particular interest was the increased transcription and translation of interleukin (IL)-6 and downstream components of its associated signal transduction pathway. IL-6 is a pleiotropic cytokine with a role in inflammation, hematopoiesis, angiogenesis, cell differentiation, and neuronal survival.9-11 In the central nervous system, IL-6 is synthesized by microglia, astrocytes, and neurons.12,13 In the retina, IL-6 is synthesized by Muller cells and the RPE.14,15 A neuroprotective role for IL-6 has been previously suggested in different models of ocular injury. In rat models of retinal ischemia–reperfusion injury, IL-6 protein levels are upregulated within 8 hours after injury.16 Furthermore, intravitreal injection of exogenous IL-6 immediately after ischemia–reperfusion injury or before N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-induced toxicity increases survival of retinal ganglion cells.16,17 In vitro studies have shown that IL-6 increases the duration of rat retinal ganglion cell survival in primary tissue culture.18,19 Collectively, these data suggest that IL-6 upregulation after injury may serve to function as a neuronal survival factor. The goal of this study is to test the hypothesis that IL-6 functions as an inhibitor of photoreceptor apoptosis after RD. Understanding the effect of IL-6 on photoreceptor survival may provide insight into potential therapeutic strategies for protecting photoreceptors during periods of photoreceptor–RPE separation.
Testosterone Supplementation Therapy for Older Men: Potential Benefits and Risks

Serum testosterone levels decline gradually and progressively with aging in men. Many manifestations associated with aging in men, including muscle atrophy and weakness, osteoporosis, reduced sexual functioning, and increased fat mass, are similar to changes associated with testosterone deficiency in young men. These similarities suggest that testosterone supplementation may prevent or reverse the effects of aging. A MEDLINE search was performed to identify studies of testosterone supplementation therapy in older men. A structured, qualitative review was performed of placebo-controlled trials that included men aged 60 and older and evaluated one or more physical, cognitive, affective, functional, or quality-of-life outcomes. Studies focusing on patients with severe systemic diseases and hormone deficiencies related to specific diseases were excluded. In healthy older men with low-normal to mildly decreased testosterone levels, testosterone supplementation increased lean body mass and decreased fat mass. Upper and lower body strength, functional performance, sexual functioning, and mood were improved or unchanged with testosterone replacement. Variable effects on cognitive function were reported, with improvements in some cognitive domains (e.g., spatial, working, and verbal memory). Testosterone supplementation improved exercise-induced coronary ischemia in men with coronary heart disease, whereas angina pectoris was improved or unchanged. In a few studies, men with low testosterone levels were more likely to experience improvements in lumbar bone mineral density, self-perceived functional status, libido, erectile function, and exercise-induced coronary ischemia with testosterone replacement than men with less marked testosterone deficiency. No major unfavorable effects on lipids were reported, but hematocrit and prostate specific antigen levels often increased. Based on these results, testosterone supplementation cannot be recommended at this time for older men with normal or low-normal testosterone levels and no clinical manifestations of hypogonadism. However, testosterone replacement may be warranted in older men with markedly decreased testosterone levels, regardless of symptoms, and in men with mildly decreased testosterone levels and symptoms or signs suggesting hypogonadism. The long-term safety and efficacy of testosterone supplementation remain uncertain. Establishment of evidence-based indications will depend on further demonstrations of favorable clinical outcomes and symptomatic, functional, and quality-of-life benefits in carefully performed, long-term, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials.
Research challenges in environmental management

Abstract Operational Research has been usefully applied to a wide variety of environmental problem areas including water resources management, water quality management, solid wastes operation and design, cost allocation for environmental facilities, and air quality management. Despite almost four decades of such activity, challenging operational research problems remain in all of these areas. The problems include the design of rationing strategies in a system of parallel reservoirs, hydropower production planning from parallel reservoirs, simultaneous siting and efficiency determination of wastewater treatment plants, design of the sequence of facilities in a solid wastes collection/disposal system, the achievement of equity as well as rationality in cost allocation, the planning of cost allocations when demands change in time, and the siting of air quality monitoring stations.
Towards improved scalability in smart grid modeling: Simplifying generator dynamics analysis via spectral graph sparsification

Smart-grid technologies focus on the complex interactions between different components of the electricity grid, together with the computing, control and communication functionalities that will bring together this future smarter infrastructure. Investigating these complex dynamic interactions is crucial for the efficiency and robustness of the emerging smart grid.
Multidimensional nature of caregiving: translating research into everyday practice.

The unintended consequences of caregiving of children with chronic illness or physical disability reflect the multidimensional nature of caregiving that requires parent caregivers to balance the caregiving demands of their children with the needs of the family, while collaborating with pediatric nurses to incorporate new evidence-based strategies to improve the quality of care for their children. CAREGIVING IS ONE of the responsibilities of parenting that encompasses all aspects of the child's care. Parents provide care to their dependent children, nurturing and teaching them to care for themselves as they grow and develop. Parents teach children healthy choices and prevention behaviors to promote healthy lifestyles in their children and families. But when children have a chronic illness or physical disability, the caregiving demands increase beyond typical parenting and represent a new dimension that includes management of the chronic condition and coordination of care that may extend throughout the child's life. Managing these caregiving demands at home may be overwhelming and create additional stress as parents learn how to provide specialized care to their child and cope with the demands of chronic illness or physical disability (Christian, 1998; Murphy, Christian, Caplin, & Young, 2007; Raina et al., 2004). As a result, caregivers of children with chronic illness or physical disability are faced with balancing these caregiving demands with other competing family needs, as well as the demands of work in their everyday lives to achieve a satisfactory quality of life (Christian, 1993). Consequently, with these additional demands, many parent caregivers feel less healthy due to the additional time, family, and self-care costs associated with caregiving of children with chronic illness or physical disability (Murphy et al., 2007). Moreover, caregivers experience negative physical, emotional, and functional health consequences that influence their ability to provide care for their child with chronic illness or
Dissociation of lipolysis and protein anabolism by ACTH, bovine growth hormone, and thyroid stimulating hormone in adipose tissue with dibutyryl cyclic AMP and theophylline.

Abstract 1. 1. To determine whether cyclic AMP mediates the effect of ACTH, bovine growth hormone and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) on protein synthesis in adipose tissue in a manner similar to its role in mediating the lipolytic effect of these hormones, glycerol release and amino acid incorporation into protein were determined in the presence of dibutyryl cyclic AMP and theophylline. 2. 2. ACTH, bovine growth hormone and TSH promoted [ 14 C]histidine incorporation into protein of epididymal fat pads while they stimulated glycerol release therefrom. 3. 3. Dibutyryl cyclic AMP at 10 mM or at 1 mM plus added theophylline (2.5 mM) inhibited [ 14 C]histidine uptake and incorporation into protein while enhancing glycerol release. 4. 4. The protein anabolic effects of ACTH, bovine growth hormone and TSH were abolished by theophylline. 5. 5. Low concentrations of dibutyryl cyclic AMP (0.1 mM) inhibited glycerol production in contrast to concentrations of 1 mM and above which had a stimulatory effect. Butyrate at 2 mM inhibited basal lipolysis.
Electrogenerated chemiluminescence from derivatives of aluminum quinolate and quinacridones: Cross-reactions with triarylamines lead to singlet emission through triplet-triplet annihilation pathways

Solution electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) was evaluated for molecules of interest for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), using high-frequency voltage pulses at a microelectrode. Radical cations of different energies were electrogenerated from a series of triarylamine hole-transport materials (x-TPD), in the presence of radical anions of a high electron affinity sulfonamide derivative of tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum (Al(qs)3), or a bis(isoamyl) derivative of quinacridone (DIQA). The resultant emission was from the excited singlet states 1Al(qs)3* or 1DIQA*, the same excited state produced in OLEDs based on these molecules. In solution, the majority of the reaction pairs had insufficient energy to populate 1Al(qs)3* or 1DIQA* directly, but could form the triplet states 3Al(qs)3* or 3DIQA*. The reaction order and the temporal response of the emission were consistent with subsequent formation of the excited singlet states via triplet−triplet annihilation (TTA). For reactions with a low excess ...
Chronic pain transition: a concept analysis.

Chronic pain is common, costly, and potentially disabling. According to the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey in 2008, approximately 100 million adults were affected by chronic pain, with national costs estimated between $560 and $635 billion annually. Published point-prevalence estimates of adult onset chronic pain from population-based surveys vary widely, with worldwide estimates ranging from 2% to over 55% and, within the United States, from 14.6% to 64%. Among patients who seek out a health care professional after initial injury, pain, and function typically improve substantially in the first month; however, those who do not improve account for the bulk of individual and economic burden (Slater et al., 2009). This improvement or lack thereof has been linked to prognostic variables deemed responsible for the transition to chronic pain. The purpose of this analysis is to examine the concept of chronic pain transition in the context of adult onset non-cancer chronic pain. Defining the concept of chronic pain transition is essential to the future of pain research, as chronic pain transition has not been researched in the context provided here. Using Rodgers' inductive method of concept analysis, the concept of chronic pain transition was studied. A random sample of nursing, medical, psychology, and allied health literature published between 1982 and 2012 was analyzed to identify a consensual definition of chronic pain transition. The attributes, antecedents, consequences, related concepts, and surrogate terms of chronic pain transition are described, and the implications of the findings for practice and future research are discussed.
Maximum Power Point Tracking Using Model Reference Adaptive Control

This paper proposes an adaptive control architecture for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) in photovoltaic systems. MPPT technologies have been used in photovoltaic systems to deliver the maximum available power to the load under changes of the solar insolation and ambient temperature. To improve the performance of MPPT, this paper develops a two-level adaptive control architecture that can reduce complexity in system control and effectively handle the uncertainties and perturbations in the photovoltaic systems and the environment. The first level of control is ripple correlation control (RCC), and the second level is model reference adaptive control (MRAC). By decoupling these two control algorithms, the system achieves MPPT with overall system stability. This paper focuses mostly on the design of the MRAC algorithm, which compensates the underdamped characteristics of the power conversion system. The original transfer function of the power conversion system has time-varying parameters, and its step response contains oscillatory transients that vanish slowly. Using the Lyapunov approach, an adaption law of the controller is derived for the MRAC system to eliminate the underdamped modes in power conversion. It is shown that the proposed control algorithm enables the system to converge to the maximum power point in milliseconds.
Antigenic and genomic comparison between non-cytopathic and cytopathic bovine viral diarrhoea viruses isolated from cattle that had spontaneous mucosal disease.

Antigenic and genomic relationships between five pairs of non-cytopathic and cytopathic bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) viruses isolated from cattle with mucosal disease were examined. Antigenic similarity was evaluated by studying the binding characteristics of 10 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) directed against the gp53 BVD virus glycoprotein. The MAb binding match between members of the same virus pair ranged from 10/10 to 7/10. The genomic relationship was evaluated by studying the hybridization characteristics of two cDNA probes and six complementary 20 base oligomer probes with virus DNA, selected on the basis of conservation between published BVD virus sequences; cDNA probes were hybridized at two stringencies (60 °C and 45 °C). The match of hybridization results between members of the same virus pair ranged from 4/4 to 1/4 with the cDNA probes and from 6/6 to 3/6 with the oligomer probes. The results indicate that members of the same virus pair can differ at both the antigenic and genomic levels.
Cervical Spine Curvature during Simulated Rear Crashes with Energy-Absorbing Seat

Epidemiological studies have indicated potential benefits of the Whiplash Injury Protection System (WHIPS) for reducing neck injury risk. The goal of this study was to evaluate the cervical spine curvature during simulated rear crashes of a Human Model of the Neck (HUMON) within a WHIPS seat. HUMON consisted of a human neck specimen (n=6) mounted to the torso of BioRID II and carrying a custom anthropometric head stabilized with muscle force replication. HUMON was seated and secured in a 2005 Volvo XC90 minivan seat which included WHIPS and a fixed head restraint. Rear crashes (9.9, 12.0, and 13.3 g) were simulated and cervical spine curvature was monitored. Significant increases (P<0.05) in the spinal motion peaks relative to physiologic were determined. WHIPS absorbed crash energy during the initial 75 ms while peak lower cervical spine extension occurred as late as 179 ms. Nonphysiologic extension of the lower cervical spine, C6/7 and C7/T1, was observed as the cervical spine maintained a prolonged S-shape curvature prior to, during, and following head support. The average C7/T1 extension peaks during the 13.3 g rear crashes significantly exceeded physiologic by over 225% (9.8° vs. 3.0°). Nonphysiologic lower cervical spine motion and potential injury may occur even if the head is supported early and injury is possible prior to head support even with a modern energy-absorbing seat. Future whiplash injury prevention systems will most likely integrate beneficial design features such as active head restraint and energy-absorbing seat with more advanced features such as accident avoidance technology.
Thermal Response of Microwave Transistors Under Pulsed Power Operation

The transient temperature response and thermal profiles near the junction of a transistor or other semiconductor device are nearly impossible to measure experimentally. These response characteristics can be accurately predicted, however, through the use of computeraided simulation. In this paper results from the simulation of two microwave power transistors are presented and discussed. In particular, the first device contains a single large junction area, and the second contains multiple junction areas. Thermal characteristics within the chip itself, that is, from the transistor junction to the chip .carrier, are emphasized. This region usually contains, by far, the greatest fraction of the total \Delta T between the junction and the final heat sink, especially under pulsed power operation. Transient temperature response curves, internal temperature distributions and the effects of temperature dependent material properties are described. The effects of varying the power dissipation rate, pulse length and duty cycle are shown, and final1y, methods of improving heat transfer, such as the use of a diamond heat-spreader, are discussed.
Addison's disease secondary to lymphomatous infiltration of the adrenal glands recovery of adrenocortical function after chemotherapy

This case represents the first known instance of reversal of Addison's disease after antineoplastic therapy. Malignant infiltration of the adrenal glands was demonstrated by cytologic findings of needle biopsy in a 57-year-old man suffering from disseminated large cell lymphoma and Addison's disease. He was treated with combination chemotherapy and adrenal hormone replacement. Improvement shown in his computed tomography (CT) scan and clinical status led to the successful discontinuance of cortisone and 9-alpha fluorohydrocortisone. Basal adrenal function and response to ACTH stimulation recovered.
Generalized predictive trellis coded quantization of speech

Trellis-coded quantization (TCQ) is incorporated into a generalized predicted (noise feedback) structure for encoding sampled speech. Adaptive residual encoding and adaptive prediction are used to obtain signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) in the range of 17.5 to 21.5 dB for encoding sampled speech with 2 bits/sample (16 kb/s). Spectral noise shaping is achieved with this coding structure by using a bandwidth-expanded version of the predictor as a noise feedback filter. This has the effect of reducing the SNR of the encoding by a small amount but improving the perceptual quality of the reconstructed speech. The result is of excellent communications quality. A modified Viterbi algorithm is used for the trellis search to allow flexibility in the choice of symbol release rule. The effects of varying the encoding delay and the number of symbols released per trace-back on system performance and complexity are investigated. It is shown that excellent SNR performance can be obtained with modest encoding delays. >
Estimation of microprocessor instantaneous load current for voltage regulator optimization

A concise method for estimating the instantaneous current drawn by a microprocessor as a function of time is presented. The approach uses the measured output impedance to create an extrapolated, band-limited inverse filter which estimates the instantaneous load current from a highly averaged measurement of the output voltage. The algorithm is verified in simulation and measured results are presented.
Control principles and on-chip circuits for active cooling using integrated superlattice-based thin-film thermoelectric devices

Superlattice thin-film thermoelectric coolers (TECs) are emerging as a promising technology for hot spot mitigation in microprocessors. This paper studies the prospect of on-demand cooling with advanced TECs integrated at the back of the heat spreader inside a package (integrated TEC). Using thermal compact models of the chip and package with integrated TECs, the control principles for TEC-assisted transient cooling are presented. The control principles are implemented in a 130-nm CMOS process and cosimulated with the thermal system to show their feasibility and energy overheads. The simulation results show potential for extending the time for which a chip and package can sustain a high power load.