cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
COVID-19: NEW DISEASE AND CHAOS WITH PANIC, ASSOCIATED WITH STRESS

COVID-19 (coronavirus disease – 2019) caused by SARS-CoV-2 (also known as 2019-nCoV) is a new infectious disease by etiology, but in manifestations it has some similarities with SARS (Sever Acute Respiratory Syndrome) that ravaged several countries of the world around 2003. Coronaviruses are RNA containing microbes that ‘hijack’ mammalian cells to replicate themselves intracellularly, just to be released in large quantities. SARS-CoV-2 first replicates in the upper respiratory tract, as opposed to SARS-CoV viruses in the ‘old’ SARS that attack the lower respiratory tree, especially the lungs and cause severe pneumonia. About 80% of COVID-19 patients are mild, some of them are even asymptomatic and only about 10-20% require hospitalization because of pulmonary edema and rapidly developing bronchopneumonia that often leads to multiorgan failure, especially in older patients with chronic comorbidities or immunocompromised system (e.g., obesity, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases). The overall worldwide mortality is about 1-2%, but some of the genetic variants of the virus caused 4-6% mortality, especially in densely populated areas, like Northern Italy, New York city, Spain. In the most severe cases a ‘cytokine storm’ (a massive release of cytokines) have been described that aggravate the initial damage in the lungs and heart. Epidemiologically, the true incidence and prevalence of COVID-19, most likely, will never be known because of uneven testing in most of the countries for the viral RNA and/or for the developed IgM and IgG antibodies against the virus. From public health perspectives, the hardest hit areas of the world are those that were not prepared, had a poorly organized or underfunded public health service, and/or did not follow the preventive measures such as social distancing, isolation and frequent hand washing. The poor organization of public health services, especially if associated with initial denial of the rapid spread of the disease lead to chaos, panic and, predictably, sever distress in many people
A Cross-Sectional Study of Psychological Flexibility as a Mediator for the Relationship Between Acculturative Stress and Cardiovascular Health Behaviors Among Second-Generation Arab Americans

Introduction:Second-generation Arab Americans may be at risk for poor cardiovascular health behaviors, but these behaviors are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect...
Where Do Health Professions Students Learn About Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV Prevention?

HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is critical for ending the HIV epidemic, and a necessary part of health professions education. We present data from a US survey study (N = 2085) about educational experiences (coursework and extracurricular), in which medical, physician assistant, nursing, and pharmacy students received training about HIV risk factors and PrEP. We found a discrepancy between the percentage of courses covering HIV risk factors (84.7%) compared to PrEP (54.6%) for all students (P < .001), and specifically among final-year students (92.0% vs. 59.7%; P < .001). Pharmacology courses were the most common exposure to PrEP (46.0%), and 61.3% of students were introduced to PrEP through an extracurricular experience. Health professions education must present HIV risk factors in conjunction with PrEP.
Impact of the peripartum period on the longitudinal course of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Some women are vulnerable to developing new onset obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) or having an exacerbation of pre-existing OCD during reproductive cycle events. Reports on the impact of the peripartum period on pre-existing OCD are inconsistent, with both worsening and improving symptom severity described. Studies have primarily been retrospective or have collected few data points, which limits the investigators’ ability to capture the range of OCD symptoms during this time period, systematically and prospectively. The objective of this investigation was to add to the existing literature on the impact of the peripartum period on the course of pre-existing OCD. We conducted a secondary analysis of a subset data from the Brown Longitudinal Obsessive Compulsive Study, a prospective, observational study of OCD course. Nineteen women who experienced a pregnancy during the course of the study (9.5% of overall sample of women) were followed on average for 486 ± 133 weeks. Weekly psychiatric status ratings (PSRs) of OCD severity were compared between peripartum and non-peripartum periods. We found that the peripartum period did not significantly impact the course of OCD severity in the majority of women (N = 13, 69%). Of the minority of women with measurable variability in OCD symptoms, no statistically significant difference in PSR scores was observed between peripartum and non-peripartum periods. In this novel yet small dataset, the severity of OCD does not appear to worsen for most women during the peripartum period.
A Survey on Privacy from Statistical, Information and Estimation-Theoretic Views

The privacy risk has become an emerging challenge in both information theory and computer science due to the massive (centralized) collection of user data. In this paper, we overview privacy-preserving mechanisms and metrics from the lenses of information theory, and unify different privacy metrics, including f-divergences, R\'enyi divergences, and differential privacy, by the probability likelihood ratio (and the logarithm of it). We introduce recent progresses on designing privacy-preserving mechanisms according to the privacy metrics in (i) computer science, where differential privacy is the standard privacy notion that controls the output shift given small input perturbation, and (ii) information theory, where the privacy is guaranteed by minimizing information leakage. In particular, for differential privacy, we include its important variants (e.g., R\'enyi differential privacy, Pufferfish privacy) and properties, discuss its connections with information-theoretic quantities, and provide the operational interpretations of its additive noise mechanisms. For information-theoretic privacy, we cover notable frameworks from privacy funnel, originated from rate-distortion theory and information bottleneck, to privacy guarantee against statistical inference/guessing, and information obfuscation on samples and features. Finally, we discuss the implementations of these privacy-preserving mechanisms in current data-driven machine learning scenarios, including deep learning, information obfuscation, federated learning, and dataset sharing.
History of Abdominal Wall Repair: In Search of New Techniques and Materials

This chapter reviews the history of abdominal wall repair beginning with the account of Cato, the Younger, in 46 BCE. Many unsuccessful attempts at laparotomy were made during the nineteenth century; however, the first successful laparotomy was performed in 1809 without the use of anesthesia or antisepsis. Throughout the nineteenth century, there were many bold efforts at operating in the abdomen, and the successful reports did not seem to include any problem with healing of the abdominal wound. The persistence in innovation for repair of the anterior abdominal wall strongly suggests that there is no good way to repair the problem even now. The current incidence of incisional hernia may be as high as 11% across the board. The next level of endeavor for patients threatened by abdominal hernia lies with improved skills in laparoscopy. The chapter concludes that a better understanding of the biology of the abdomen, its function, and plasticity of the abdomen may offer sound and new principles in the initial repair of the abdomen.
Kaposi Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus (KSHV) or Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8)

Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) or Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is a virus that is associated with the original AIDS-defining tumor, Kaposi sarcoma (KS). This virus is necessary for the development of KS. Expression of the viral protein, LANA, represents the definitive diagnostic marker for KS. In addition to KS, KSHV is also associated with primary effusion lymphoma and a plasmablastic variant of multicentric Castleman disease.
Joshua J. Frye & Michael S. Bruner (Eds.), The Rhetoric of Food: Discourse, Materiality, and Power

Food consumption has been reshaped by communication scholars from simply being a means of subsistence to constructing eating as meaningful, political, and powerful. Whether we are speaking of one’s choice of what to eat, when to eat, where to purchase, or where to grow, the rhetorical options (or lack thereof) surrounding food choices have never been more publically important. Boycotting Chick-Fil-A or engaging in kiss-ins outside of their stores became a visible rejection of the organization’s statements against same-sex marriage. Laws against large sodas and trans fats moderate access to unhealthy choices and spark debates over individual agency and government responsibility. Media representations of obese and thin bodies create visual arguments for societal expectations of the perfect form. Consumption is not only an individual choice; it is also controlled by socioeconomic status, location, cultural restrictions, media, and laws.
Aminotransferases in peroxisomes from spinach leaves.

Abstract Organelles in spinach leaves were isolated in sucrose gradients by isopycnic centrifugation. The peroxisomal fraction was the only cellular site for two different and irreversible aminotransferases which utilized glyoxylate as the amino acceptor in the formation of glycine. These were a serine:glyoxylate aminotransferase with a specific activity of 1.54 µmoles x min-1 x mg-1 peroxisomal protein and a glutamate:glyoxylate aminotransferase with a specific activity of 2.4. Both enzymes also catalyzed an alanine:glyoxylate reaction, and the serine:glyoxylate aminotransferase catalyzed a serine:pyruvate reaction. These activities of the peroxisomal serine:glyoxylate aminotransferase coincided in fractions isolated on ion exchange or isoelectric focusing columns. For serine:glyoxylate aminotransferase reaction the Km (glyoxylate) was 0.15 mm, the Km (pyruvate) was 2.82 mm, and the Km (serine) was 2.72 mm. The pH optimum was about 7. This enzyme was inhibited by d-serine, and phosphate buffer at 70 mm inhibited it 80%. Aspartate:α-ketoglutarate aminotransferase activity was located in peroxisomes, mitochondria, and chloroplasts. By ion exchange chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis these were separated into three isoenzymes. Isoenzyme 1 was by far the most active, and it was the only form in mitochondria and chloroplasts. The combined specific activity of the peroxisomal aspartate aminotransferases was a low 0.15 µmole x min-1 x mg-1 protein. Isoenzyme 1 represented about half of this activity in the peroxisomes, and the peroxisomes contained in addition small amounts of Isoenzymes 2 and 3. The metabolic sequence for glycolate metabolism in leaves was modified to include the three different peroxisomal aminotransferases for glutamate:glyoxylate, serine:glyoxylate, and aspartate:α-ketoglutarate.
Aggregate volitility in modern Latin America : causes and cures

Latin America has experienced deep transformations during the 1990s. In many countries of the region traditional imbalances have been largely abated, privatizations are widespread, openness of both trade and financial accounts has been largely accomplished, supervisory and enforcement institutions are steadily improving, pension systems have been modernized, and so on. Symptoms of success abound. An important exception to this rosy scenario is the untamed and widespread volatility of real and financial variables. Rather than attempting to characterize every possible shock and amplification mechanism, this paper offers a parsimonious account of volatility in countries that have already tamed most of the traditional sources of macroeconomic instability in Latin America. It builds on two widely observed weaknesses: (i) weak links with international financial markets, and (ii) underdeveloped domestic financial markets. Once interacting, these two ingredients not only explain the observed volatility but they also generate clear externalities that require policy intervention. This framework thus provides a clear foundation for policy analysis. Most other shocks and deficiencies are leveraged - even made possible - by these two factors. Moreover, to the frustration of highly competent policymakers, the environment becomes intolerant of policy mistakes.
'The Law is Whatever the Nobles Do': Undue Process at the FCC

Kafka's parable "The Problem of Our Laws" holds certain applicability to the August 2008 decision of the Federal Communications Commission to extend regulatory authority over the broadband network management practices of Comcast Corporation and "adjudicate" its behavior against a set of policy principles. The FCC's means of asserting regulatory authority over broadband Internet service providers' network management practices is unprecedented, sweeping in its breadth, and seemingly unbounded by conventional rules of interpretation and procedure. We should all be concerned, for apparently what we have on our hands is a runaway agency, unconstrained in its vision of its powers.
A Single Shot Method for Optimal Step Computation in Gradient Algorithms

In this paper a new method for the computation of the optimal step in gradient algorithms is presented. This method improves the convergence of the gradient algorithms and outperforms any other suboptimal scheme on linear problems while it does not require any additional storage. The method may be also applied to problems with state or control constraints, linear time varying systems and, via linearization, to nonlinear systems as well.
Binge ethanol exposure alters alveolar macrophage activation in burn-injured mice (INC5P.329)

Alcohol intoxication is involved in 50% of all burn injuries, resulting in an increased risk of lung infection and failure, relative to burn alone. Our work has shown that in a mouse model of episodic binge ethanol exposure followed by burn injury there is prolonged pulmonary inflammation, relative to burn alone. The magnitude of pulmonary inflammation is mediated in part by alveolar macrophages (AMs), thus we examined the effect of ethanol on AM activation. Thirty minutes after binge ethanol exposure, mice were anesthetized and given a 15% total body surface area dorsal scald injury. At 24 and 72 hrs post-injury bronchoalveolar lavage AM granularity was assessed by flow cytometry using side scatter (SSC). At 24 hrs, 12% of AMs from burn alone had high SSC relative to 1.5% of AMs from sham groups (p<0.05). Only 6% of AMs from combined injured had high SSC. By 72 hrs, 3% of AMs from both burn groups had high SSC. Anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype of high SSC AMs was assessed using M2 marker CD206. At 24 hrs, there was no change in CD206. At 72 hrs, AMs from burn alone had a 43% increase in CD206 relative to sham groups. Giving ethanol prior to burn further elevated the expression of this marker by 46% over burn alone. These data indicate ethanol exposure prior to burn injury can differentially alter AM phenotype at early and later time points.
The pace of modern life II: from rates of contemporary microevolution to pattern and process.

We compiled a database of microevolution on contemporary time scales in nature (47 source articles; 30 animal species), comprising 2649 evolutionary rates in darwins (proportional change per million years) and 2151 evolutionary rates in haldanes (standard deviations per generation). Here we demonstrate how quantitative rate measures can provide general insights into patterns and processes of evolution. The frequency distribution of evolutionary rates was approximately log-normal, with many slow rates and few fast rates. Net selection intensities estimated from haldanes were on average lower than selection intensities commonly measured directly in natural populations. This difference suggests that natural selection could easily accomplish observed microevolution but that the intensities of selection typically measured in nature are rarely maintained for long (otherwise observed evolutionary rates would be higher). Traits closely associated with fitness (life history traits) appear to evolve at least as fast as traits less closely tied to fitness (morphology). The magnitude of evolutionary difference increased with the length of the time interval, particularly when maximum rates from a given study were considered. This pattern suggests a general underlying tendency toward increasing evolutionary diversification with time. However, evolutionary rates also tended to decrease with time, perhaps because longer time intervals average increasingly disparate rates over time, or because evolution slows when populations approach new optima or as genetic variation is depleted. In combination, our results suggest that macroevolutionary transitions may ultimately arise through microevolution occasionally ‘writ large’ but are perhaps temporally characterized by microevolution ‘writ in fits and starts’.
Cisplatin, vinblastine, and mitoguazone chemotherapy for epidermoid and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus.

Thirty-six patients with adenocarcinoma or epidermoid carcinoma of the esophagus were entered into a phase II trial evaluating the combination of cisplatin 100 mg/m2 intravenously (IV) day 2, vinblastine 1.6 mg/m2 IV days 1 to 4, and mitoguazone (MGBG) 500 mg/m2 IV days 1 and 8. Twenty-nine patients (group A) were newly diagnosed with local-regional disease only and were candidates for transhiatal esophagectomy (THE). These patients received two courses of chemotherapy at 3-week intervals prior to surgery. Response was assessed by measuring changes in the primary tumor length and depth on serial biphasic contrast esophagrams and comparing this result with tumor measurements obtained from the surgical specimen. Complete (CR) and partial responders (PR) received three additional postoperative cycles. Seven patients had recurrent or metastatic disease (group B) and were treated every 4 weeks until disease progression. Of 34 patients evaluable for response, there was one pathologically confirmed CR and 15 PRs...
Immune Responses in Malnourished Guinea Pigs

Groups of specific pathogen-free guinea pigs were randomly assigned to purified, isocaloric diets containing either 30%, 20%, or 10% casein, or commercial stock diet. Each animal was vaccinated subcutaneously with viable bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG). Seven weeks post-vaccination, groups of guinea pigs from each diet treatment were skin tested with purified protein derivative (PPD) and killed. Animals fed the 10% casein diet exhibited significant reductions in body weight, serum albumin, and hemoglobin levels. Significantly greater number of viable BCG were recovered from the inguinal lymph nodes of malnourished (10% casein) animals than from 30% casein or stock control groups. Skin test responses to PPD were completely absent or markedly suppressed in the 20% and 10% casein groups. Lymphocyte blastogenesis following in vitro stimulation of peripheral blood lymphocytes with a polyclonal T cell mitogen was also reduced inthe 10% casein group. Circulating levels of serum IgM and C3 complement were not influenced by nutritional status while levels of IgG were elevated in 10% and 20% casein groups. These results suggest that malnutrition may impair cell-mediated immune responses on which the efficacy of BCG vaccine depends.
Novel and Emerging Nonpositive Airway Pressure Therapies for Sleep Apnea

CPAP therapy has remained the standard of care for the treatment of sleep apnea for nearly 4 decades. Its overall effectiveness, however, has been limited by incomplete adherence despite many efforts to improve comfort. Conventional alternative therapies include oral appliances and upper airway surgeries. Recently, several innovative alternatives to CPAP have been developed. These novel approaches include means to increase arousal thresholds, electrical nerve stimulation, oral vacuum devices, and nasal expiratory resistive devices. We will review the physiologic mechanisms and the current evidence for these novel treatments.
Transfer Time to a High-volume Center for Patients with Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Does Not Affect Outcomes

Objectives The objective of our study was to examine patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage transferred and directly admitted to our institution in order to determine how transfer time affects outcomes. Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed of all patients undergoing treatment for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage between 2005 and 2012 at the University of Michigan. Variables, including transfer time, were tested for their independent association with the primary outcomes of symptomatic vasospasm and 12-month outcome as well as secondary outcomes of aneurysm rebleeding and 12-month mortality. Results During the study period, 263 (87.4%) patients were transferred to our institution and 38 (12.6%) were directly admitted for treatment of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Transfer time was not associated with the occurrence of symptomatic vasospasm, 12-month outcome, rebleeding, or 12-month mortality. Higher Hunt-Hess grade was associated with the occurrence of symptomatic vasospasm as well as with poorer 12-month outcome. Conclusions Transfer time was not associated with the occurrence of symptomatic vasospasm, 12-month outcome, rebleeding, or 12-month mortality. We believe our data argue that protocols should emphasize early resuscitation and stabilization followed by safe transfer rather than a hyperacute transfer paradigm. However, transfer time should be minimized as much as possible so as not to delay time to definitive treatment.
Moments and Quadratic Forms of Matrix Variate Skew Normal Distributions

ABSTRACTIn 2007, Dominguez-Molina et al. obtained the moment generating function (mgf) of the matrix variate closed skew normal distribution. In this paper, we use their mgf to obtain the first two moments and some additional properties of quadratic forms for the matrix variate skew normal distributions. The quadratic forms are particularly interesting because they are essentially correlation tests that introduce a new type of orthogonality condition.
Seeing the nanoscale

Imagery is playing an important role as nanotechnology matures by making the invisible world of the nanoscale comprehensible and familiar.
Story recall by mentally retarded children.

Summary.-Three stories were read to 19 mildly retarded young adolescents and to 19 nonretarded children of comparable mental age. The two groups did not differ co'nsistently in the amount they recalled orally. Moreover, the two groups tended to recall the same parts of the stories, indicating that both groups are sensitive to the stories' structure. From kindergarten to adulthood, developmental differences in story comprehension appear to be small. Although older subjects remember and elaborate more than young children, even kindergarten and first graders demonstrate sensitivity to the structure of stories (Brown & Smiley, 1977; Christie & Schumacher, 1975; Mandler & Johnson, 1977; Stein & Glenn, 1979). Likewise, retarded children seem to show little deficit in story recall. For instance, Paris, Mahoney, and Buckhalt (1974) used a semantic integration task to demonstrate that mildly retarded children comprehend and remember semantic relationships expressed in three connected sentences, suggesting that the mildly retarded children are capable of abstracting semantic relationships in a manner qualitatively similar to nonretarded children and adults. Similarly, Luftig and Johnson ( 1982) found that, while retarded children recalled less than nonretarded children of the same mental age, retarded children were able to identify important parts of the story and recalled the important parts more frequently than the unimportant parts. The relative lack of differences in the way children of different age or
Time-dependent autocorrelation function for a linear Heisenberg chain at infinite temperature

Numerical calculations have been performed to obtain the exact infinite-temperature time-dependent spin autocorrelation function $G(t)$ for a linear chain of $N$ spins ($S=\frac{1}{2}$) interacting by nearest-neighbor Heisenberg exchange for $N=5, 7, 9 \mathrm{and} 11$ by a method different from that of Carboni and Richards. Exact results for the first 20 moments and estimates for ${M}_{22}$ to ${M}_{30}$ of the frequency autocorrelation function for the infinite chain are provided. Excellent agreement is obtained with some recent results obtained by Morita, who, however, gives terms only up to ${M}_{10}$. $G(t)$ does not show a simple monotonic diffusive ($\ensuremath{\sim}{t}^{\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{2}}$) behavior within $\frac{4\ensuremath{\hbar}}{J}$, the time domain up to which we believe our result for $N=11$ to be equivalent to that of the infinite chain although it is reduced to about 10% of its value at $t=0$.
Clinical application and validation of an iterative forward projection matching algorithm for permanent brachytherapy seed localization from conebeam-CT x-ray projections

Purpose: To experimentally validate a new algorithm for reconstructing the 3D positions of implanted brachytherapy seeds from postoperatively acquired 2D conebeam-CT (CBCT) projection images. Methods: The iterative forward projection matching (IFPM) algorithm finds the 3D seed geometry that minimizes the sum of the squared intensity differences between computed projections of an initial estimate of the seed configuration and radiographic projections of the implant. In-house machined phantoms, containing arrays of 12 and 72 seeds, respectively, are used to validate this method. Also, four P 103 d postimplant patients are scanned using an ACUITY digital simulator. Three to ten x-ray images are selected from the CBCT projection set and processed to create binary seed-only images. To quantify IFPM accuracy, the reconstructed seed positions are forward projected and overlaid on the measured seed images to find the nearest-neighbor distance between measured and computed seed positions for each image pair. Also, the estimated 3D seed coordinates are compared to known seed positions in the phantom and clinically obtained VariSeed planning coordinates for the patient data. Results: For the phantom study, seed localization error is ( 0.58 ± 0.33 ) mm . For all four patient cases, the mean registration error is better than 1 mm while compared against the measured seed projections. IFPM converges in 20–28 iterations, with a computation time of about 1.9–2.8 min/iteration on a 1 GHz processor. Conclusions: The IFPM algorithm avoids the need to match corresponding seeds in each projection as required by standard back-projection methods. The authors’ results demonstrate ∼ 1 mm accuracy in reconstructing the 3D positions of brachytherapy seeds from the measured 2D projections. This algorithm also successfully localizes overlapping clustered and highly migrated seeds in the implant.
Measuring bacterial growth by tapered fiber and changes in evanescent field.

Abstract Single mode continuous tapered fibers were fabricated with waist diameters of 6–8 μm and of 11 mm waist lengths. The tapered surface was coated with poly- l -lysine and Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) (JM 101) expressing green fluorescent protein was immobilized. Growth of this culture at 22 and 32 °C was monitored by 480 nm light transmission through the tapered fiber. Change in transmission is a measure of change in absorption of the evanescent field. The transmission decreased exponentially with cell growth on the tapered surface. Growth rate was determined and compared favorably with cells grown on the same medium in multiwell plates. Significance of the results is that a tapered fiber sensor can be used effectively for rapid assessment to determine the presence of bacteria by growth.
Regulation of glucose transporters during development of the retinal pigment epithelium

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) separates the outer retina from its blood supply. To satisfy the retina's large requirement for glucose, the RPE expresses high levels of glucose transporters. In most rat cells, the transporter GLUT3 provides a basal level of transport, but the expression of GLUT1 can be regulated. The opposite is true in chicken (P. Wagstaff, H.Y. Kang, D. Mylott, P.J. Robbins, M.K. White, Characterization of the avian GLUT1 glucose transporter: differential regulation of GLUT1 and GLUT3 in chicken embryo fibroblasts, Mol. Biol. Cell 6 (1995) 1575-1589). We examined chick RPE to determine which isoform is regulated during development, and if the neural retina regulates GLUT expression. By RT-PCR, RPE expressed GLUT1 and GLUT3, but not GLUT2. Only the level of GLUT1 increased between E5 and E18. A corresponding increase in GLUT1 protein was observed by immunoblotting. Most of the increase occurred between E14 and E18, which corresponds to the late stage of tight junction development. A culture model of development was used to examine the intermediate phase, which extends from E7 to E14. While medium conditioned by the neural retina decreased paracellular diffusion across the tight junctions, it increased diffusion through the glucose transporters. Unlike mammals, chick upregulates different isoforms in quiescent RPE and proliferating fibroblasts. Further, the upregulation of glucose transport is coordinated with the development of tight junctions in the blood-retinal barrier.
GROWTH AND STABILITY OF ADOLESCENT HEALTH PROGRAMS. † 18

OBJECTIVE: To assess the growth and stability of adolescent health services delivery programs in the United States between 1990 and 1995.
Effects of a Hyperosmotic Perfusate on Extended Preservation of the Heart

Twelve canine hearts were preserved for 18 hours with filtered plasma, with and without added dextran, passed through a Kolobow membrane oxygenator at 8 to 10 C. Active and passive length-tension curves (LTC) were obtained with an isovolumetric balloon after rewarming to 37 C with blood pumped from a support animal. Nine additional control hearts were similarly evaluated immediately after removal. The active LTC was unchanged for all three groups. Diastolic compliance was moderately decreased in all the perfused hearts. Interstitial edema was present in varying degrees in all hearts preserved with filtered plasma without dextran but was absent in the dextran-plasma group. These data indicate the advantages of using a hyperosmotic perfusate for extended cardiac preservation.
Impact of microarray data quality on genomic data submissions to the FDA.

How can microarray data best be exploited and integrated into the regulatory decision-making process?
Arbiter of differentiation and death: Notch signaling meets apoptosis.

Notch-ligand interactions are a highly conserved mechanism that regulates cell fate decisions. Over the past few years, numerous observations have shown that this mechanism operates to regulate cell differentiation in an enormous variety of developmental and cell maturation processes. Recent studies indicate that in addition to cell differentiation, Notch signaling has direct effects on proliferation and programmed cell death. The picture emerging from these findings suggests that, depending on cellular and developmental context, Notch signaling may function as a general “arbiter” of cell fate, regulating differentiation potential, rate of proliferation, and apoptotic cell death. In this review, we briefly summarize the current knowledge of the structure and function of Notch receptors and discuss the recent evidence that Notch signaling regulates apoptotic cell death. The possible mechanisms of this effect and its potential implications for developmental biology, immunobiology, neuropathology, and tumor biology are discussed. J. Cell. Physiol. 181:393–409, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Recalculation of the molecular constants of Ga69Cl35

Abstract The molecular constants obtainable from the ultraviolet spectroscopic measurements of Levin and Winans have been recalculated. The agreement between their work and the values obtained by microwave measurements has been substantially increased.
PRACTICAL SIGNIFICANCE AND PARTITIONING VARIANCE IN DISCRIMINANT ANALYSIS

This note sets forth a method for obtaining viable estimates of total discriminatory power in a discriminant analysis. In addition, a technique based upon this methodisgiven for assessing the overall relative importance of each predictor variable regardless of the number of discriminant functions. Two examples are given to illustrate application of the method.
DNA synthesis in cells infected with phage P1c3.

Abstract Temperature sensitive P1 c 3 mutants do not synthesize normal amounts of DNA at the nonpermissive temperature.
Zinc in foliage downwind from a tire-burning power plant

Abstract Burning municipal solid waste (MSW) with coal in power plants is becoming more common. Since used tires comprise an appreciable percentage of NSW some power plants are burning chipped tires with coal.Since the rubber in tires may contain up to 5% by weight of zinc as an accelerator activator, possible emission of zinc from such a power plant was studied. Staghorn sumac foliage was collected at increasing distances downwind from the plant and total zinc was determined.
Output–input ratio analysis and DEA frontier

Abstract Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is a mathematical programming technique for identifying efficient frontiers for peer decision making units (DMUs). The ability of identifying frontier DMUs prior to the DEA calculation is of extreme importance to an effective and efficient DEA computation. In this paper, we present mathematical properties which characterize the inherent relationships between DEA frontier DMUs and output–input ratios. It is shown that top-ranked performance by ratio analysis is a DEA frontier point. This in turn allows identification of membership of frontier DMUs without solving a DEA program. Such finding is useful in streamlining the solution of DEA.
Commentary -- Towards Formalizing a Very Promising Treatment

Cigrang, Peterson, and Schobitz (2005) present three case studies of a cognitive-behaviorally based approach to treat early symptoms of PTSD in American soldiers fighting in Iraq. Their clinical model is very promising in its capacity not only to address the needs of these soldiers in the combat theater, but also to proactively mitigate more pernicious symptom development subsequent to their return home. As one direction for extending their work, I suggest that they consider further formalizing and standardizing it so as to (a) facilitate group-based research using a model that complements the case studies; (b) enhance its use in training; and (c) increase its capacity for dissemination. I further discuss the role of case studies in developing manualized therapy, together with the issue of degree of structure in manualization.
Release of fungi from mycangia of southern pine beetles observed under a scanning electron microscope

One probable release site for mycangial fungi is the prosternum, the only place where masses of spores were located along the exterior length of the mycangium. Another possible site is behind the edge of the presternum where the opening of the mycangium wall is widest. The primary method of inoculation is probably the passive release of spores from the mycangium and the pseudomycangium into the galleries. Several fungi and yeasts previously isolated from the mycangia were found at the release sites. Zusammenfassung Freisetzung von Pilzsporen aus den Mycangien des southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimm. (Coleoptera? Scolyt.), beobachtet unter dem Rasterelektronenmikroskop Eine mogliche Austrittsstelle fur die im Mycangium gespeicherten Pilzsporen liegt auf dem Prosternum. Es ist die einzige Stelle, an der sich Massen von Pilzsporen entlang der ganzen Ausdehnung des Mycangiums finden. Ein anderer moglicher Platz liegt hinter der Kante des Presternums, wo die Offnung der Mycangiumwand am weitesten ist. Die ursprungliche Form der Sporenubertragung ist wahrscheinlich das passive Austreten der Sporen aus dem Mycangium und dem Pseudomycangium in die Muttergange. Verschiedene Pilze und Hefen, erst kurzlich aus den Mycangien isoliert, wurden an den Austrittsstellen gefunden.
Transient Loss of αB-Crystallin: An Early Cellular Response to Mechanical Stretch

Human trabecular meshwork (HTM) is distended and stretched with increases in intraocular pressure. During this stretching, there is a rearrangement of actin filaments. The HTM cells express alpha B-crystallin, a small heat shock protein that may have a role in the stabilization and regulation of the cytoskeleton in mammalian cells. The levels of alpha B-crystallin were examined in trabecular meshwork cells after mechanical stretch. Human TM primary cell cultures, plated onto silicone sheets, were subjected to a single 10% linear stretch and samples were prepared at various times after stretch for immunoblotting or Northern blotting. Immunoblots of total protein extracts with antibody specific for alpha B-crystallin detected a 26% decrease of cellular alpha B-crystallin levels within 2 minutes. After 1 hour alpha B-crystallin levels had decreased 90% compared to control cells. The levels of alpha B-crystallin began to recover in cells stretched for 2 hours and returned to initial levels by 24 hours. Northern blots probed with alpha B-crystallin exon III cDNA detected a transcript of 0.65 kb in human TM cells and the levels of the alpha B mRNA remained constant during alpha B-crystallin protein decrease. Later, levels of the 0.65 kb transcript of alpha B-crystallin increased during the cellular recovery. These results suggest that decreased levels of alpha B-crystallin after mechanical stretch were probably not due to transcriptional changes but rather to increased degradation of alpha B-crystallin protein. An increase in mRNA levels may play a role in the recovery of alpha B-crystallin during reorganization of the cytoskeleton and attachment to the substratum. These data raise the possibility of a specific proteolysis of alpha B-crystallin protein in cells after a physiological challenge.
Toxic Doses of Acetaminophen Suppress Hepatic Glutathione Synthesis in Rats

The effect of a toxic dose of acetaminophen on hepatic glutathione turnover was studied in fed and fasted rats. Following the administration of 1 gm per kg of acetaminophen, the fractional rate of glutathione turnover increased from 0.19 to 0.28 hr−1 in fed rats and from 0.43 to 0.50 hr−1 in rats fasted for 48 hr. The increase in the fractional rate of turnover was proportionally much less than the decrease in hepatic glutathione concentration resulting from the toxic dose of acetaminophen. Thus, the estimated hepatic synthesis of glutathione decreased from 0.86 and 1.50 μmole per gm liver hr to 0.59 and 0.53 μmole per gm hr in fed and fasted rats, respectively. The excretion of acetaminophen-sulfate was significantly decreased in fasted rats. The fraction of administered acetaminophen metabolized to the mercapturic acid, however, was similar in both groups. Nevertheless, all fasted animals had massive centrilobular necrosis whereas virtually no necrosis was observed in fed animals. The administration of sulfate did not protect against liver injury in fasted rats. In view of the similar synthesis of glutathione in fed and fasted rats following a toxic dose of acetaminophen, an inability to synthesize adequate quantities of glutathione or a decreased availability of sulfate cannot account for the increased susceptibility to liver injury in the fasted state. However, a toxic dose of acetaminophen depletes the hepatic glutathione to a lower nadir before glutathione is repleted by synthesis, and a greater amount of tissue arylation occurs during this brief period of critically depleted glutathione.
Role of a serine/threonine kinase, Mst1, in megakaryocyte differentiation.

Platelets, which play a central role in thrombosis and hemostasis, develop from megakaryocytes. Signal transduction originated from the megakaryocyte growth and development factor, the Mpl ligand, which leads to megakaryocyte differentiation, polyploidization, and maturation, has been gradually characterized. In this study, we report the inducibility of Mst1, a recently described serine/threonine kinase, by Mpl ligand and the effect of its induced expression on megakaryocyte differentiation. The steady-state level of mst1 message and Mst1-associated kinase activity increased in response to Mpl ligand. Ectopic expression of human mst1 in a mouse megakaryocytic cell line resulted in a drastic increase in DNA content per cell. Elevated expression of megakaryocyte differentiation markers, such as acetylcholine esterase, PF4, and GPIIb was also observed in hmst1-expressing cells. Activation of p38 MAPK, a known downstream effector of Mst1, was shown to be required for polyploidization, but not for enhanced expression of differentiation markers. Our study thus designates Mst1 as a Mpl ligand-responsive signaling molecule that promotes induction of lineage-specific cellular programming.
Market similarity and market selection: Implications for international marketing strategy

Abstract International market selection patterns for a sample of 954 new products suggest that firms exhibit a significant preference for markets similar to the home market. Preferences for similar markets decline as firms gain experience in a variety of markets, however. This pattern suggests the importance of uncertainty and information in global market selection and marketing mix management. Alternative means of gathering information about foreign markets permit and support very different approaches to global marketing activity. More fundamentally, a global perspective on the relationship between market conditions, marketing policies and programs, and consumer response can be developed systematically to improve global marketing performance.
How People Restore Equity at Work and Play: Forgiveness, Derogation, and Communication

Responses to inequity are examined in the context of blended friendship. Predictions of equity theory were supported for derogation; individuals in an overbenefit situation were the most likely to derogate their partners. However, individuals in an underbenefit situation were not most likely to forgive their partners, in contradiction to the equity theory prediction. Across equity level and relationship dimension, a direct communication approach to restoring equity was preferable to an indirect approach. The results provide some support for equity theory and extend the application of the theory into the communication realm. Future research should investigate the effects of emotions, specifically anger and guilt, on equity restoration efforts.
Indirect angiogenic cytokines upregulate VEGF and bFGF gene expression in vascular smooth muscle cells, whereas hypoxia upregulates VEGF expression only

BACKGROUNDHypoxia and indirect angiogenic factors may stimulate angiogenesis via induction of endothelial cell mitogen(s). To evaluate this hypothesis, we investigated whether low oxygen tension or cytokines known to promote neovascularization in vivo could modulate the expression of either vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in human vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs).METHODS AND RESULTSSMCs were treated with platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB) or transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) or exposed to low oxygen tension in serum-free medium. Northern analysis detected low basal levels of VEGF and bFGF mRNA in extracts of unstimulated SMCs. However, both VEGF and bFGF transcripts increased after administration of PDGF-BB (10 or 20 ng/mL) or TGF-beta 1 (0.1 to 10 ng/mL). Hypoxia was a potent stimulus for VEGF gene expression but had no apparent effect on bFGF steady-state mRNA levels.CONCLUSIONSThese results indicate that certain indirect angiog...
The ‘Gender Gap’ in Chile

Men and women in Chile register and vote at separate polling booths. Election results are also tabulated separately for each sex by the Ministry of Interior, down to commune level. A survey of national elections from 1952 to 1970 shows that women and men have different voting preferences. Moreover, results from the four congressional elections held since democracy was restored in 1989 demonstrate that those preferences persist to the present. By focusing on elections in the capital city of Santiago, which is divided into 52 communes (barrios) whose residents differ in their economic and educational levels, it is possible to see to what extent class and gender affect voting preferences. On the basis of an analysis of this data, this article concludes that women are consistently more likely than men to vote for conservative parties, and that this is true in every social class. Support for the left does rise among both sexes in the lower middle class, proletarian and peasant communes – but less among women than among men. The ‘gender gap’ is not usually very large (although it increases at both ends of the political spectrum), but it is persistent.
Analysis of thin-film-dielectric decoupling of interdigital transducers

A perturbation analysis is presented for the reduction in the coupling coefficient ΔV/V of an interdigital transducer that is spaced away from the surface of a piezoelectric substrate by a thin isotropic nonpiezoelectric dielectric film. The analysis shows that the static capacitance and coupling ΔV/V are reduced rapidly by the addition of thin dielectric films, while the series radiation resistance is relatively insensitive to film thickness for films less than approximately 0.03 wavelengths.
Size and orientation dependence in the electronic properties of silicon nanowires

By using first-principles pseudopotential methods, we have studied the electronic properties of hydrogen-passivated silicon nanowires along the [100], [110], and [111] directions with diameter up to $3.4\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$. It is found that as the diameter decreases, the energy band gaps are distinctly enlarged due to the confinement effect. The valence-band maximum moves down while the conduction-band minimum moves up compared with the bulk. By using the many-body perturbation theory within the $GW$ approximation, we have also investigated the self-energy correction to the energy band gaps. Our calculational results show that, although the band gap values strongly depend on both the diameter and orientation, the $GW$ corrections are mainly dependent on diameter and less sensitive to the growth orientation. The effective mass as a function of diameter is also discussed.
A Study on Modified HZSM-5 Aromatization for FCC Light Gasoline

Abstract In this article, the HZSM-5 type zeolite catalysts modified with zinc nitrate and calcium nitrate are prepared by impregnation method. The FCC gasoline (<75°C fraction) is observed and studied on the modified HZSM-5 type zeolite catalysts. The results are that the Z x -HZSM-5 type zeolite catalysts have a high initial aromatic yield but a rapid deactivation. The C y -HZSM-5 type zeolite catalysts have a lower aromatic yield and a familiar deactivation comparing to Z x -HZSM-5. The HZSM-5 type zeolite catalysts modified with bimetal zinc nitrate and calcium nitrate have a rather low initial aromatic yield but a long catalyst life; among them, the C3.5Z2.0HZSM-5 has the best performance. And also, the C3.5Z2.0HZSM-5 type zeolite catalyst has demonstrated good regenerated performance. After regenerated three times, the catalyst still has a good stability. The reaction operational conditions are also observed and studied. The results are that the optimal reaction temperature is 450–490°C, the liquid ...