cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Randomized controlled trials for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: a systematic review of trial architecture

Background Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a relapsing inflammatory disease that primarily affects the optic nerves and the spinal cord. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing treatments for NMOSD have been performed only in the past decade, and to date, there are three drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for anti-aquaporin-4 IgG seropositive NMOSD. This review assesses the characteristics and challenges of RCTs when evaluating treatments for NMOSD. Methods We conducted a systematic review using the search term [“neuromyelitis optica” OR “NMO” OR “NMOSD”] AND “clinical trial” in any language on December 28, 2020. Results Seven RCTs were included (see reference list below), and the trials’ architectures were analyzed and synthesized. Overall, 794 patients were randomized (monoclonal antibody intervention group, n=493 [62.1%]; placebo, n=196 [24.7%]; active control, n=105 [13.2%]); 709 (89.3%) were women; and 658 (82.9%) were anti-aquaporin IgG seropositive. The primary outcome was time to relapse in 6/7 of the trials, and annualized relapse rate in the remaining one. Four RCTs used placebo in their design. Among the seven published RCTs, the trial designs differed by the criteria used to define NMOSD relapse, selection of patients, proportion of anti-aquaporin-4 IgG seronegative patients, and baseline characteristics indicating NMOSD disease severity. Conclusion Ethical considerations for the use of placebo should change in light of the approval of three therapies for seropositive NMOSD. Remaining challenges for clinical trials in NMOSD include the assessment of long-term safety and efficacy, standardization of trial design and endpoints, and head-to-head study designs.
Implementation and outcomes of monoclonal antibody infusion for COVID-19 in an inner-city safety net hospital: A South-Bronx experience.

BACKGROUND: Monoclonal antibody therapy (MAT) is recommended in mild to moderate Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients who are at risk of progressing to severe disease. Due to limited data on its outcomes and the logistic challenges in administering the drug, MAT has not been widely used in the United States (US) despite of emergency use authorization (EUA) approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). AIM: We aim to study the outcomes of MAT in patients predominantly from ethnic minority groups and the challenges we experienced in implementing the infusion therapy protocol in an inner-city safety-net-hospital in the South Bronx. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a retrospective observational study of 49 patients who were offered MAT as per EUA protocol of FDA. Patient who met the criteria for MAT and received therapy were included in treatment group (nâ¯=â¯38) and the remaining (nâ¯=â¯11) who declined treatment were included in the control group. A majority of patients (76%) in the study group reported symptomatic improvement, the day after infusion. There was statistically significant reduction in COVID-19 related hospitalizations (7.8 vs 54.5%, Pâ¯=â¯< 0.001) mortality (0 vs 18.1%, P valueâ¯=â¯0.008) in the treatment group. CONCLUSION: MAT reduced both hospitalization and mortality in this predominantly Hispanic patient population with mild to moderate COVID-19 with high risk factors for disease progression.
PRESS-PLOT: An Online Server for Protein Structural Analysis and Evaluation with Residue-level Virtual Angle Correlation Plots

Based on the data and tools in PRESS, especially the residue-level virtual angle correlation plots, a web-server called PRESS-PLOT is further developed for easy access and display of the plots for structural analysis and evaluation. A structure to be analyzed and evaluated can be submitted to the server by either giving its structural ID in PDB or uploading its structural file in the PDB format. The residue-level virtual bond angles and torsion angles of the structure are then computed. The neighboring virtual bond angle and torsion angle pairs are displayed as scattered points in a 2D graph and compared against the 2D contour map of the density distribution of such angle pairs in known protein structures, as given in the background of the 2D graph. The virtual angle pairs that can be analyzed and evaluated include α-τ and τ-β angle pairs as they appear in either general structures or specific secondary structures such as α-helices, β-sheets, or their turns. As a justification of PRESS-PLOT, more than 1000 obsoleted structures (with lower resolutions) in PDB are evaluated using PRESS-PLOT and compared with their current superseded versions (with higher resolutions). The results show that PRESS-PLOT distinguishes high-quality structures (the current ones) from low-quality structures (the obsoleted ones) clearly in its angle correlation plots. The PRESS-PLOT server can be accessed online at http://pidd.math.iastate.edu/press/ .
Anatomical and Neurochemical Substrates of Clonic and Tonic Seizures

Rather than spreading randomly throughout the brain, convulsive seizure activity appears to be generated and propagated via specific anatomical routes. During the past fifty years, a broad range of experimental techniques have been applied to the study of cortical and subcortical circuitry involved in seizure development and spread. With respect to subcortical circuitry, substrates for seizure propagation were actively pursued during the 1950s but these investigations subsequently lost momentum, nearly disappearing until a few years ago. In the interim, technologies directed at molecular and cellular mechanisms of epileptogenesis have fostered a predominantly cortical perspective in epilepsy research (broadened today to include both neocortex and the archicortex of hippocampus). Along with this focus on cortical mechanisms has emerged an analysis of epileptiform activity using in vitro preparations of tissues isolated from the complex circuitry of the CNS in vivo. It has been in such isolated preparations that basic mechanisms of action of selective neuropharmacological agents have been best characterized. In contrast, little attention has been directed at seizure propagation pathways beyond the level of the interneuron and there have been relatively few studies designed to identify the subcortical pathways which function as substrates of convulsant or anticonvulsant drug action.
Empiric evidence for a genetic contribution to predisposition to surgical site infection (337.2)

The genetics of microbial pathogens have been extensively studied, but there has been little work on human genetic susceptibility to surgical site infection (SSI). We analyzed a large genealogical population database to study the familial contribution to SSI. We analyzed 651 individuals with International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision codes indicating the presence of SSI. Matched hospital controls were randomly selected from the database based on birth year, sex, and birthplace. The average relatedness of all possible pairs of cases and separately of controls (X1000 sets) was compared empirically. The relative risk (RR) for SSI was estimated by comparing the number of observed affected individuals among the relatives of cases to the number of affected individuals observed among relatives of matched hospital controls. The genealogical index of familiality test for patients with SSI showed significant excess relatedness (p < 0.010); this excess was still observed when close relationships were ig...
Chapter 13 The economics of military manpower

Abstract The USA and other countries spend a significant portion of their defense budgets on personnel. Effective management of military forces requires an understanding of the economics of military manpower. Over the past three decades economists have produced a substantial body of research about the subject. This chapter distills this literature for a general audience. Topics surveyed include the supply of personnel, personnel productivity and the demand for personnel, procurement by conscription versus voluntary means, the structure of pay, the use of women and reservists, and the civilian return to military training and experience. It also points to directions for future research.
Renal transport of drugs: an overview of methodology with application to cimetidine.

The development of new methods to study transport processes in renal epithelia has greatly enhanced our knowledge of the mechanisms involved in the transport of a number of endogenous compounds. More recently, these methods have been applied to study mechanisms of specific drug transport. This article is intended to provide an overview of the various methods used to study renal elimination of compounds. References to more detailed reviews of the individual methods are provided. Studies of the renal transport of cimetidine, a histamine H2-receptor antagonist, are presented to illustrate the application of these methods to the study of specific drugs. Methods such as clearance techniques and the Sperber chicken preparation used to study renal elimination of compounds in whole animals are briefly described. Techniques to identify the site of renal transport including stop flow, isolated perfused tubules, and micropuncture methods are discussed and references to more technical reviews are cited. The more recently developed methods of isolated membrane vesicles for studying transport across the individual polar membranes of the proximal tubule are discussed along with the relevant studies of the use of these membranes in elucidating the mechanisms involved in the renal transport of cimetidine. Finally, the use of cultured renal epithelial cell lines in studying renal transport is described. Knowledge of drug transport mechanisms in the kidney is important both in drug targeting to the kidney and in understanding the pharmacokinetics of renally eliminated drugs. As exemplified by the studies with cimetidine, only by combining the data from experiments using diverse methodology can the mechanisms involved in the renal excretion of compounds be delineated. With the use of existing methods and the development of new technologies, many of the questions related to drug transport mechanisms can be addressed.
Bence Jones Cast Nephropathy

Renal involvement in multiple myeloma and other plasma cell dyscrasias is largely the result of the effects of the monoclonal protein, usually the light chain, and may be clinically manifested in multiple ways [1–3]. The major lesions include light-chain (Bence Jones or myeloma) cast nephropathy, monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition disease and amyloidosis, usually AL type. The pathologic features of all are distinct and will be discussed in individual chapters. Although each disorder appears to be the consequence of a distinct property of the monoclonal protein, usually the light chain and therefore affected patients theoretically may develop only one of these lesions (one light-chain disease per patient) in practice two or all three may be identified in renal biopsies.
Relationship Building through Narrative Sharing: A Retreat for Muslim and Jewish Emerging Religious Leaders

The author and her colleagues planned and led three retreats to build relationships between rabbinical students and Muslim leaders of tomorrow. Narrative Pedagogy served to inform the creation of these immersive experiences. The retreats made use of the shared scriptural traditions around Joseph (Torah) and Yusuf (Qur'an) to build connections based on a common passion for text study. Parallel to the academic exploration of religious and cultural narratives, participants wove connections based on an ethos of appreciative inquiry and the guided sharing of personal stories. Carefully structured exercises provided a container for the growth of understanding and connection.
Screening for Depression in Immigrant Chinese-American Elders

Abstract Background: Depression is a common mental health problem among Chinese elderly, but it often goes undiagnosed and untreated. Despite an increase in the population of elderly Chinese immigrants in the US, there have been few published studies on this topic. Objective: Our purpose was to determine the extent of depression in the participant population, using an updated Chinese translation of the original 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS; Yesavage et al., 1983). Study Design: A convenience sample of 102 Mandarin speaking Chinese elderly participants in two senior centers in Santa Clara County, CA was recruited. Results: A total of 29.4% of participants showed symptoms of depression, higher than the range found in the older adult American population (13-20%). Those most likely to be depressed ranged in age from 60 to 69 years (32%), lived with their children (37%), rated their financial and health status as below average, had less than a high school education, and lived in the US for less than...
Thermal and mechanical properties of nitrate thermal storage salts in the solid-phase

Abstract Implementation of molten salt compounds as the heat transfer fluid and energy storage medium provides specific benefits to energy collection and conversion. Nitrate salts have been identified as a strong candidate for energy transfer and storage and have been demonstrated for use in these applications over time. As nitrate salts have solidification temperatures above ambient, concern for recovery from salt freezing events has instigated efforts to understand and predict this behavior. Accurate information of salt property behavior in the solid-phase is necessary for understanding recovery from a freeze event as well as for phase change thermal energy storage applications. Thermal and mechanical properties for three representative salts (solar salt, HITEC salt, and a Na–K–Li–Ca nitrate salt; spanning the range of liquidus temperatures from approximately 90–240 °C), have been obtained. These properties include: specific heat, coefficient of thermal expansion, thermal conductivity, latent heat of fusion, compressive strength, tensile strength, Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio. Specific heat, thermal conductivity and latent heat of fusion were measured using differential scanning calorimetry. Temperature was not observed to have a significant effect on tensile strength using an indirect tensile test (Brazilian test). Peak stress and Young’s modulus (both from unconfined compressive strength testing) were shown to decrease while Poisson’s ratio increased with increasing temperature.
Human Monoclonal Antibodies against Highly Conserved HR1 and HR2 Domains of the SARS-CoV Spike Protein Are More Broadly Neutralizing

Immune sera from convalescent patients have been shown to be effective in the treatment of patients infected with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Virus (SARS-CoV) making passive immune therapy with human monoclonal antibodies an attractive treatment strategy for SARS. Previously, using Xenomouse (Amgen British Columbia Inc), we produced a panel of neutralizing Human monoclonal antibodies (HmAbs) that could specifically bind to the ectodomain of the SARS-CoV spike (S) glycoprotein. Some of the HmAbs were S1 domain specific, while some were not. In this study, we describe non-S1 binding neutralizing HmAbs that can specifically bind to the conserved S2 domain of the S protein. However, unlike the S1 specific HmAbs, the S2 specific HmAbs can neutralize pseudotyped viruses expressing different S proteins containing receptor binding domain sequences of various clinical isolates. These data indicate that HmAbs which bind to conserved regions of the S protein are more suitable for conferring protection against a wide range of SARS-CoV variants and have implications for generating therapeutic antibodies or subunit vaccines against other enveloped viruses.
Internal and external communication and collaboration: building a strong help desk environment

Most college and university Help Desks serve as the central hub for technological support and receiving and distributing information. In a world of information overload, relationship building and effective communication are often placed on the back burner. Too many times it is assumed that effective communication and collaborative efforts are for people with a surplus of time. Actually, developing partnerships and building a strong Help Desk team adds value and saves time.Developing formal methods for "knowing your Information Technology (IT) neighbors" creates a win-win situation for everyone involved. As colleges and universities incorporate computer initiatives for the faculty, staff and students, the need for effective and cost efficient technological support becomes increasingly vital to the efficiency of the institution's Information Technology departments.Placing your IT Help Desk in the center of the "knowledge exchange" among and between IT support groups and their customers offers numerous advantages. To name a few, collaborative efforts and effective communication: 1. Provides Help Desk staff with information needed to assist customers. 2. Increases the number of First Call Resolutions. 3. Reduces stress levels. 4. Improves the credibility of your IT department. 5. Builds support commitment and buy-in. 6. Identifies the communication and support process upfront. 7. Frees up time for 2nd and 3rd level technical support staff to focus on problem solving, research, planning and testing of new technologies. 8. Provides a consistent voice between the customer and technical support.This paper will discuss techniques used by Virginia Commonwealth University and James Madison University Help Desk staff to establish collaborative interaction and effective communications with other IT support groups and their customers.
Early postmortem electrical stimulation simulates PSE pork development

Carcasses from 64 gilts were subjected to electrical stimulation (ES) at 3, 15, 25, 35, 45, and 55 min postmortem or were untreated (NS). Temperature and pH of longissimus muscles were recorded at 1, 7, 14, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 min, and 24 h postmortem. Muscle samples were collected at 1, 30 and 60 min, and 24 h for determining glycolytic metabolite concentrations. ES at 3, 15, and 25 min resulted in lower (P<0.05) muscle pH, but stimulation after 25 min had no effect on muscle pH. Likewise, ES prior to 25 min resulted in greater (P<0.05) muscle temperatures. Muscle lactate concentrations were greater (P<0.05) in carcasses stimulated before 45 min postmortem. Glucose 6-phosphate concentration decreased (P<0.05) during the first hr postmortem and increased (P<0.05) thereafter. ES of carcasses at 45 and 55 min resulted in higher (P<0.05) concentrations of muscle glucose 6-phosphate at 24 h compared with NS and early-stimulated carcasses. Muscle glycogen concentrations at 30 min in carcasses stimulated at 3, 15 and 25 min were lower (P<0.05) than NS carcasses. Carcasses stimulated at 3 and 15 min exhibited lower (P<0.05) concentrations of muscle glycogen at 60 min than NS carcasses. Carcasses stimulated at 3 and 15 min postmortem exhibited lower (P<0.05) color and firmness scores, while ES at 3 and 25 min postmortem resulted in lower (P<0.05) water holding capacity. ES had no significant effect on CIE L(∗), a(∗), b(∗), or 24 h muscle pH. These data show that ES of pork carcasses during the first 25 min postmortem creates PSE-like quality characteristics and suggest that ES is a potential model for studying pork quality development.
Design and fabrication of a robotic mechanism for remote steering and positioning of interventional devices.

Background Recently, robotic systems have been introduced as a method for assisting endovascular interventional procedures. A few commercial and research solutions are available. In a survey it was found that none of the current systems satisfied all basic design requirements set forth for a good robot-assisted therapy platform. Methods A human motion analysis study was performed to identify design specifications for safe motion and force limits for endovascular surgery. Based on design requirements from surveyed systems and motion analysis, a new, teleoperated, haptically enabled system called System for Endovascular Teleoperated Access (SETA) was constructed. SETA is capable of simultaneously manipulating any guidewire and catheter in the range of 0.014–0.13 inches. Results SETA's slave was evaluated for precision positioning, using in vitro vascular phantoms. It was also evaluated by a cohort of neurovascular surgeons and fellows (n = 8), using the VIST vascular simulator. A qualitative survey of the participants and a quantitative analysis of metrics procedure time and contrast used found that SETA was equivalent to manual intervention on this platform. Conclusions SETA provided good performance in the in vitro studies, and will soon be evaluated in a series of in vivo animal model studies. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Semi-Centennial Report on the Participants Depicted in Joel Babb's Portrait, ‘The First Successful Kidney Transplantation'

Joseph Murray performed the first successful human kidney transplant on December 23, 1954. Forty-three years later, he along with participants Francis Moore and Leroy Vandam, commissioned a painting of the event from artist Joel Babb (1). To document this unique record of medical history, we identify all those present at the operation and depicted in the portrait, describe how the artist created the work, explain irregularities and inaccuracies in the painting, provide a 50-year follow-up on everyone involved, and comment on any influence this landmark event may have had on their subsequent careers.
The effect of 2,3-dimercaptopropanol (BAL) on thyroid function.

ABSTRACT During the clinical appraisal of a patient with acute arsenical poisoning, the suspicion of Graves′ disease was entertained. An unexpected low thyroidal I131 uptake was observed. Since the patient was receiving BAL (British antilewisite) and since subsequent tracers confirmed the clinical diagnosis of Graves′ disease, an investigation of the effect of BAL on thyroid function was undertaken. In a euthyroid male with arsenical poisoning, a similar inhibition of thyroidal I131 uptake was observed during treatment with BAL. Several series of rats (total of 116 experimental and control animals) were given varying doses of BAL ranging up to LD50. A block in the thyroidal uptake of radioiodine was demonstrated, dependent upon the magnitude of the dose of BAL. By administration of BAL at three-hour intervals, a virtually complete block was effected. Removal of the thyroids and quantitative chromatographic separation of the iodinated compounds in the glands demonstrated that the radioactivity present was ...
Introduction to Issue on Special Populations: Persons, Places, and Situations

The topic of the December 2010, issue of EHP is about special populations. There are three perspectives that address this topic in the Issue. The first three articles address special populations as ‘‘disadvantaged persons.’’ The interface of the health professions on topics of smoking, breast cancer, or hospital care with disadvantaged ethnic groups and immigrant populations are discussed. Also, the importance of cultural competence and use of multiple types of measurements are mentioned. The next two articles address this topic as a function of location. Operations within a prison for substance abusers with a no-smoking policy and patient input to a mental health outpatient service are delineated. Secondary adjustment to a setting or shared decision making is noted. Finally, the last two articles address special populations from the perspective of specific situations. The situations presented
The effects of prolactin on rat ovarian function

Hyperprolactinemia has been associated with several reproductive disorders. To investigate whether hyperprolactinemia directly affects rat ovarian function, we examined the ovarian histopathology and the activities of the four ovarian enzymes 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta-HSD), 17-hydroxylase (17-OH), 17,20-desmolase (17,20-D) and aromatase in hyperprolactinemic rats and controls. Hypophysectomized, gonadotropin-treated Fisher rats were made hyperprolactinemic by isografting pituitary glands under the kidney capsule. The control animals received skeletal muscle. The ovaries were resected, pooled according to prolactin levels and microsomal enzyme activities were measured from each pool. Prolactin (PRL) levels were 344 +/- 23 ng/ml in the hyperprolactinemic rats and 18 +/- 5 ng/ml in the controls (p less than 0.001). Estradiol concentrations were 609 +/- 47 pg/ml in the hyperprolactinemic animals and 56 +/- 13 pg/ml in the controls (p less than 0.001). Ovarian and uterine weights were significantly higher in the hyperprolactinemic rats (p less than 0.02). Ovarian histopathology demonstrated benign polycystic transformation in the hyperprolactinemic animals. Hyperprolactinemia had no effect on 3 beta-HSD, but was associated with significant decreases in the 17-OH, 17,20-D and aromatase activities when compared to controls (p less than 0.001). We conclude that prolactin has a direct effect on rat ovarian function which appears to be independent of changes in gonadotropin secretion.
Intelligent sensors and control for commercial vehicle automation

Abstract One of the potentially most prominent applications of Intelligent Transportation Systems technology is the partial or full automation of commercial vehicles such as trucks and buses for freight and passenger transport. The design issues which are particular to these vehicles have largely been ignored thus far, especially issues related to sensor and actuator limitations. Here we address the longitudinal control problem for commercial heavy vehicles, and we present a new class of ranging sensors and a new class of fuel/brake controllers which eliminate or bypass many of these limitations, and can be used in all stages of ITS deployment.
Spatially consistent, localized visual field loss before and after disc hemorrhage.

PURPOSE. To evaluate the rate and location of visual field (VF) progression before and after detection of disc hemorrhage (DH). METHODS. Disc photographs of consecutive patients with glaucoma with 2≥:5 SITA-Standard 24-2 VF in either eye were evaluated for the presence and location of DH. Exclusion criteria included disorders other than glaucoma likely to affect the VF and an insufficient number of VF test results to create a slope before or after DH detection. Automated pointwise linear regression was used to calculate global and localized rates of progression before and after DH. RESULTS. One hundred sixty-eight DHs were identified in 122 patients (mean age, 68.9 ± 11.2 years). The mean number of VF tests was 9.0 ± 4.4, spanning a mean of 6.7 ± 3.8 years. Mean global progression rates before and after DH were - 0.6 ± 0.8 and -1.0 ± 1.2 dB/y, respectively (P = 0.01). The mean rate of progression points corresponding to the DH sector before and after detection were -2.02 ± 1.0 and - 3.7 ± 3.6 dB/y, respectively (P < 0.01). All rates were significantly faster than in fellow, non-DH eyes (P < 0.05). The VF sector with the fastest progression rate predicted the location of the future DH in 85% of cases. After the detection of DH, the same VF sector maintained the fastest progression rate in almost all eyes (92%). CONCLUSIONS. Spatially consistent, localized VF change occurred in regions of subsequent DH and continued to progress in the same regions at a faster rate. This finding suggests that rapid, localized disease progression predisposes to DH and that progressive VF loss continues because of the ongoing damage at or adjacent to this location.
Improvements in Atmosphere Sintering of Transparent PLZT Ceramics

An improved atmosphere sintering process was developed for fabricating large transparent PLZT plates for electrooptic applications. Cold-pressed 9/85/35 PLZT slugs were sintered in O2 in Pt crucibles for ∼45 min at 1180°C and were then heat-treated in air for 60 h at 1200°C in Al2O3 crucibles containing PbZrO3 atmosphere powder. Transparent plates as large as 8.4 cm in diameter and I cm thick were thus fabricated. A mechanism is proposed which qualitatively accounts for the success of this process.
Synergism between thymocytes and bone marrow cells in a graft versus host reaction.

WE wish to describe synergism between two distinct populations of cells in the production of cellular immunity. Much work has concerned these cell types, particularly in relation to humoral immunity, and we shall first distinguish them. Both cell populations originate in the bone marrow. One type migrates to the thymus where it acquires special properties1,2; while there it is referred to as a thymocyte, but it may join the peripheral circulation and is then called a thymus-derived lymphocyte (TDL)3,4. The other type, the bone marrow-derived cell (BMDC), leaves the marrow to populate lymphoid organs or join the circulation, but does not pass through the thymus1–4.
Anomalous vitamin E effects in mitochondrial oxidative metabolism.

Abstract Three different vitamin E effects, suggestive of specific antioxidant effects, were discovered in the protective action of vitamin E against respiratory decline (a decrease in mitochondrial respiration attributed to a “leakage” of electron transport radicals). No correlation was found between respiratory decline and random lipid peroxidation. The mechanisms behind two of the three atypical vitamin E effects were defined. Both involve an artifact in the TBA assay for lipid peroxidation. This artifact occurs when TBA assays are carried out in the presence of sucrose and acetaldehyde; the latter is produced from ethanol, the solvent used to add vitamin E to preparations. The artifact in the TBA assay for peroxidations appears also to be responsible for differing interpretations of the hepatotoxic effect of ethanol.
Service-learning and art therapy in a homeless shelter

Abstract This article describes a brief service-learning assignment in which graduate art therapy students at an urban university in the United States worked with children residing in a homeless shelter. The term service-learning refers to the integration of community service into a college course to help students achieve specific learning objectives. In this case, service-learning was intended to supplement an art therapy internship course through an opportunity for students to increase knowledge about homelessness. Students’ learning was assessed using the criteria of two art therapy education standards: Cultural and Social Diversity, and Human Growth and Development (American Association of Art Therapy [AATA], 2007). In addition to achievement noted in these areas, the service-learning assignment unexpectedly seemed to foster achievement in a third education standard: Studio Art. This article demonstrates how even a short-term service-learning assignment can enhance art therapy education and benefit the community, when it is thoughtfully integrated into the curriculum and connected to education standards.
Electron Microscopy of Bacillus subtilis GroESL Chaperonin and Interaction with the Bacteriophage φ29 Head-Tail Connector

Abstract The Bacillus subtilis GroESL chaperonin was isolated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation and the constituent GroES and GroEL moieties were purified by electrophoresis in agarose. Electron microscopic images of negatively stained GroEL and GroES oligomers and GroESL complexes were averaged using a reference-free alignment method. The GroEL and GroES particles had the sevenfold symmetry characteristic of their Escherichia coli counterparts. GroESL complexes, reconstituted efficiently in vitro from GroEL and GroES in the absence of added ADP or ATP, had the characteristic bullet- and football-like shapes in side view. Purified bacteriophage φ29 head-tail connectors having a mass in excess of 0.4 MDa were shown to bind to GroESL at the end opposite to the GroES. The same GroESL-connector complexes were isolated from phage-infected cells in which capsid assembly was blocked, and thus the complex may have functional significance in φ29 morphogenesis.
Microcomputer-controlled buffer gradient generator for ion-exchange chromatography

Abstract A microcomputer-based system has been developed for switching between several buffer solutions to produce a mixture with independent elution gradients for two ions. The system has been used as a gradient programmer for the separation of amino acids by ion-exchange chromatography and the computer also supervises the automatic facilities of an amino acid analyser. In normal operation there is no monitoring of the concentrations produce but results obtained with the system demonstrate that the performance is reproducible and a good approximation to the specified gradient is obtained. Advantages of the system are that it gives the analyser a high separating power and it is versatile and easy to use.
Calcitonin secretion in vitro. II. Regulatory effects of enteric mammalian polypeptide hormones on trout C-cell cultures.

We have studied the effects of several porcine enteric polypeptide hormones on trout calcitonin(tCT) secretion in long-lived monolayer culturesof calcitonin-secreting (C-) cells derived fromtrout ultimobranchial glands. Gastrin, pancreozymin(CCK-PZ), glucagon, and secretin have dose-relatedstimulatory effects on tCT secretion; the distincteffects of secretin on tCT secretion are in contrastto its lack of CT secretagogue activity in somemammals. Synthetic peptide hormones and/or theirstructural analogs have variable secretory effectswhich correspond in general to the potency of theanalogs for the well-recognized biological actionsof these various peptide hormones in mammals. Althoughenteric peptide hormones are present in fish,their physiological role in the regulation of CTsecretion has not been studied. These in vitrostudies indicate a possible role for these hormonesin the control of tCT secretion and support theconcept that there are differences in the regulatorsof C-cell function in higher and lower v...
Mellin Transform, Monomial Symbols, and Commuting Toeplitz Operators

Abstract In this paper we give necessary and sufficient conditions for a symbol that produces a Toeplitz operator on the Bergman space that commutes with another such operator whose symbol is a monomial. The result is stated in terms of the Mellin transform of the symbol. As a corollary, we show that a Toeplitz operator with a radial symbol may only commute with another such operator with a radial symbol.
TEACHING COIN DISCRIMINATION TO CHILDREN WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS

We taught 2 children with visual impairments to select a coin from an array using tactile cues after hearing its name and then to select a coin after hearing its value. Following the acquisition of these listener (receptive language) skills, we then observed the emergence of speaker (expressive language) skills without direct instruction.
Mycobacterium chelonei tenosynovitis of the hand: A case report

We report an unusual organism, Mycobacterium chelonei , which causes digital tenosynovitis. Atypical mycobacterial infections of the hand are uncommon. The diagnosis should be suspected when there is persistent swelling or tenosynovitis, inconsistent with other inflammatory processes such as rheumatoid arthritis. Synovial biopsy specimen and appropriate cultures are necessary to confirm the diagnosis.
Comparison of Dental Health of Patients with Head and Neck Cancer Receiving IMRT vs Conventional Radiation

ObjectiveTo analyze the dental health of patients with head and neck cancer who received comprehensive dental care after intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) compared with radiation therapy (RT).Study DesignHistorical cohort study.SettingVeteran Affairs (VA) hospital.Subjects and MethodsIn total, 158 patients at a single VA hospital who were treated with RT or IMRT between 2003 and 2011 were identified. A complete dental evaluation was performed prior to radiation treatment, including periodontal probing, tooth profile, cavity check, and mobility. The dental treatment plan was formulated to eliminate current and potential dental disease. The rates of dental extractions, infections, caries, mucositis, xerostomia, and osteoradionecrosis (ORN) were analyzed, and a comparison was made between patients treated with IMRT and those treated with RT.ResultsOf the 158 patients, 99 were treated with RT and 59 were treated with IMRT. Compared with those treated with IMRT, significantly more patients treated w...
Shape engineering of the fillers in stretchable, electrically conductive adhesives: Its effect on percolation and conductivity change during stretching

The effects of different shapes of silver; particles, flakes and dendrites on the electrical property of polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS)-based electrically conductive adhesives (ECA) under mechanical deformation are investigated. It is found that the high aspect ratio of silver dendrites helps to construct more conduction pathways in the ECAs compared with silver particles and flakes, therefore reducing the percolation threshold. Stretching made the bulk resistivity of spherical silver filled ECA increase exponentially, which is in good agreement with the classical piezoresistive models. On contrast, the resistivity of silver flakes filled ECAs did not change within 100% strain and up to 500 cycles of stretching/releasing tests. For silver dendrites, the resistivity decreased when stretching and increased slightly afterwards, resulting in an almost invariant value within 60% elongation. However, removing the external strain did not havethe resistance value recover back to the original level.
IDIOPATHIC APNEA OF INFANCY: POST-NEONATAL SYNDROME

None had received a prior course of magnesium (Mg) supplements, There were two groups: 1) 29 premature infants of 31.5±0.6 wk. gestation age (mean±SEM) and 1462±99 g birth wt., who had idiopathic apnea as neonates, were apparently well when discharged, and suddenly had apnea at 70.6±6 days of age; and 2) 22 infants of 39.9 wk. gestation age and 3293±150 g birth wt., with an onset of apnea at 49.6±12 days of age. Initial findings were similar in 1) and 2), except for lower hemoglobin in 1). Over 50% of the 51 infants had cyanosis, mucus secretions, extremes in heart rate on EKG, respiratory distress, and neuromuscular irritability. Over 20% had intermittent hypertonicity. The clinical chemistry profile often showed a shock pattern: metabolic acidosis, hypoxemia, hemocon centration, hyperkalemia, hyperchloremia, hyperglycemia, elevated glucose and/or protein in cerebrospinal fluid and urine, and abnormal urinary sediment. These were transient changes; many normalized in 24-48 hrs. About 60% of chest X-rays showed pulmonary infiltrates or hyperinflation. There was usually high retention of an IM Mg load. Four died. Within a narrow time frame, Mg deficient weanling rats experience a syndrome similar to that of the infants in respect to physical, chemical, EKG, and lung changes; and mortality. Mg deficient dog pups have similar attacks. Mg deficiency may be a cause of the syndrome in infants. Mg deficiency is preventable; the matter deserves careful study.
Theory of Nucleation of Water. I. Properties of Some Clathrate-Like Cluster Structures

Abstract The tranquility of classical homogeneous nucleation theory has been disturbed by the introduction of statistical mechanical correction factors to a basically thermodynamic theory. These factors, which appear to be essential, destroy much of the agreement with experiment in the case of water vapor. A molecular model for the prenucleation water clusters is proposed with a view toward resolving some of these difficulties. As a first step, the properties of a few specific cluster configurations have, been examined. Clathrate-like structures containing 16 to 57 water molecules are discussed. The hydrogen bonds were treated as simple harmonic oscillators for the purpose of calculating normal mode frequencies. The Helmholtz free energy of formation of the cluster is calculated from the appropriate partition functions. For these clathrate-like structures the free energy of formation was not found to be a smoothly increasing function of the number of molecules but showed minima corresponding to closed cages.
CVD of Poly(α,α′-dimethyl-p-xylylene) and Poly(α,α,α′, α′-tetramethyl-p-xylylene)-co-poly(p-xylylene) from Alkoxide Precursors I: Optical Properties and Thermal Stability

The parylene CVD platform is a unique one since it enables the room temperature deposition of high-performance polymers from the resonance-stabilization of the p-xylylene intermediate. This intermediate, or the derivatives of it, have the same stabilization. Regardless of the precursor, albeit the more common [2.2] paracyclophane or monomer routes, there are two sites to derivatize the parylene precursor, the alpha or benzylic position or the phenyl ring. The work here explores the addition of methyl groups to the alpha position of p-xylylene or parylene. The results show that the resulting polymer, poly(α,α′-dimethyl-p-xylylene) shares many of the properties of parylene E (phenyl-modified ethylated parylene); however, with a higher thermal stability, 400 °C. A homopolymer of poly(α,α,α′,α′-tetramethyl-p-xylylene) is not possible due to steric hinderance of the methyl groups, but an alternating copolymer, poly(α,α,α′,α′-tetramethyl-p-xylylene)-co-poly(p-xylylene), is deposited.
The polymerase chain reaction and pathology practice

Pathology practice is increasingly augmented with molecular tests for improved diagnostics and patient management. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is foremost amongst these techniques. This review explains the principles of PCR and the methodological factors that contribute to a successful assay. Key PCR technique variations, such as reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and quantitative real-time (q) PCR, are described and an overview is provided of how PCR products are analysed. The review includes examples of PCR usage in clinical practice for the detection of infectious and genetic diseases, for tumour diagnostics and in molecular forensic applications such as specimen identity confirmation.
Mappings of the plane that simulate prey-predator systems

A prey-predator system that is spatially dependent is built around the familiar logistic equation. The result is a set of coupled integro-differential equations. If at least one of the populations reproduces periodically in a time that is short to other characteristic times, these equations can be transformed to a set of coupled maps, each map representing a spatial point. Various models are developed that include predator ranging as well predator migration via diffusion. In two dimensions the coupling among the spatial points will have the symmetry of the regular polyhedra if the infinite plane is viewed in polar coordinates, or toroidal symmetry if periodic boundary conditions are imposed. Numerical examples are given. Depending on the value of the parameters and on the initial conditions the system can oscillate in a variety of different spatial modes, giving rise to unusual bifurcation portraits, or it can behave chaotically. The solutions show that a patchy distribution of population is more stable against the influences of environmental noise than is a smoothly distributed population. The numerical results in two dimensions are in constrast with the results of a previous study in one dimension.
Ambiguity and decision modeling: A preference-based approach

In this article, we develop a model that permits a decision maker's preferences to depend on the decision maker's ambiguity about the probability of an event that is relevant for decision-making purposes. We deal with ambiguity through preference modeling, with ambiguity leading to modifications in the utilities of outcomes. The behavior of ambiguity premiums and probability premiums as the payoffs are varied depends on the nature of the modifications in utilities. Particular forms of the model that arise under different sets of assumptions about preferences include additive, bilinear, and ratio forms. We conclude with a brief example and some thoughts about potential generalizations and implications of the model.
Location dependent query processing

The advances in wireless and mobile computing allow a mobile user to perform a wide range of aplications once limited to non-mobile hard wired computing environments. As the geographical position of a mobile user is becoming more trackable, users need to pull data which are related to their location, perhaps seeking information about unfamiliar places or local lifestyle data. In these requests, a location attribute has to be identified in order to provide more efficient access to location dependent data, whose value is determined by the location to which it is related. Local yellow pages, local events, and weather information are some of the examples of these data.In this paper, we give a formalization of location relatedness in queries. We differentiate location dependence and location awareness and provide thorough examples to support our approach.
Helicobacter pylori strain-specific modulation of gastric mucosal cellular turnover: implications for carcinogenesis.

Helicobacter pylori colonization induces inflammation in essentially all hosts, a persistent process that increases the risk of developing distal gastric adenocarcinoma. However, only a small percentage of persons carryingH. pylori develop neoplasia; enhanced risk may be related to differences in expression of specific bacterial products, differences in the host response to the bacteria, or the interaction between host and microbe.H. pylori strains that have thecag pathogenicity island are associated with further increased risk for developing distal gastric cancer; however, host responses toH. pylori, such as altered epithelial cell proliferation and apoptosis, also may be important in lowering the threshold for carcinogenesis.H. pylori cag+ strains selectively enhance proliferation and attenuate apoptosis in human mucosa compared tocag− strains. However,cag+ strains also induce more severe gastritis, suggesting that host inflammatory mediators such as cytokines, prostaglandins, and hormones may modulateH. pylori-induced alterations in cellular turnover. In the Mongolian gerbil model of gastric carcinogenesis, apoptosis increases early and transiently followingH. pylori infection, but scores progressively decline despite worsening gastric inflammation. Epithelial cell proliferation peaks later and is significantly related to increased gastrin levels, suggesting that epithelial cell growth inH. pylori-colonized mucosa may be mediated by gastrin-dependent mechanisms. An emerging model invoked by these data is one in whichH. pylori cag+ strains, in conjunction with host mediators, enhance gastric epithelial cell proliferation but not apoptosis in vivo. The combination of increased proliferation without a concordant increase in apoptosis may therefore contribute to the heightened retention of mutagenized cells, which over decades may increase the subsequent risk for gastric cancer.
Agent-based modeling and simulation of community collective efficacy

Community collective efficacy is an important concept in studying various community problems and in developing community well-beings. While existing research on collective efficacy mainly focuses on building analytical or statistical models from informant survey data, this paper develops a complexity science-informed agent-based model to study the dynamic process of collective efficacy formation in a community. We model the individual level cognitive process for participating in community tasks and simulate the emergent spatial patterns of agents’ collective efficacies in a community. The developed model is based on the self-efficacy theory and Theory of Planned Behavior. Interesting patterns such as spatial segregation has been observed through simulations, and an application of the developed model is presented.
The synthesis and stereochemistry of some isatylideneacetic acid derivatives

Abstract The preparations of cis - and trans -1-benzylisatylidene-3-acetaldehyde, cis - and trans -1-benzylisatylidene-3-acetic acid and some derivatives are described. Structures are assigned on the basis of NMR and p K a measurements.