cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Accumulation of isolevuglandin-modified protein in normal and fibrotic lung

Protein lysine modification by γ-ketoaldehyde isomers derived from arachidonic acid, termed isolevuglandins (IsoLGs), is emerging as a mechanistic link between pathogenic reactive oxygen species and disease progression. However, the questions of whether covalent modification of proteins by IsoLGs are subject to genetic regulation and the identity of IsoLG-modified proteins remain unclear. Herein we show that Nrf2 and Nox2 are key regulators of IsoLG modification in pulmonary tissue and report on the identity of proteins analyzed by LC-MS following immunoaffinity purification of IsoLG-modified proteins. Gene ontology analysis revealed that proteins in numerous cellular pathways are susceptible to IsoLG modification. Although cells tolerate basal levels of modification, exceeding them induces apoptosis. We found prominent modification in a murine model of radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis and in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, two diseases considered to be promoted by gene-regulated oxidant stress. Based on these results we hypothesize that IsoLG modification is a hitherto unrecognized sequelae that contributes to radiation-induced pulmonary injury and IPF.
Comparison of TAS and TVS together with blood plasma β-hCG in early disgnose of EP

Objective To study the value of early ectopic pregnency(EP) disgnosed with tansvaginal ultrasound(TVS) together with blood plasma beta-human chorionic gonadotropin(β-hCG),and compare with transabdomen sonographic(TAS).Method To sum up 215 clinical symptoms of the above-mentioned cases.Results The diagnostic accuracy by TVS was 97.7%,and 83.0% by TAS.They had significant difference.The diagnosis time by TVS was 5.5 days earlier than TAS.Conclusion The accuracy of diagnosis in EP by TVS is higher than TAS.TVS is the first selective method for early diagnosis of EP.
Introduction: Optimization Hypothesis in the Control of Breathing

The idea that living organisms may be optimally adapted to their environments owes its roots to Darwinian theory. It is clear that, inasmuch as all life processes are sustained by some form of energy, those organisms that can efficiently procure and exploit the needed energy are likely to enjoy a better chance of survival in a competitive environment. This notion has recently received considerable attention in the study of evolutionary adaptation.1 Although not a universal criterion, the optimality condition may be manifest at many different levels of organization in a variety of ways. For example, optimality of biological functions has been variously implicated in the design of biochemical pathways,2 regulation of plant metabolism,3 control of animal gaits,4 and control of ventricular ejection.5
Genomic Consequences of Population Decline in the Endangered Florida Scrub-Jay

Summary Understanding the population genetic consequences of declining population size is important for conserving the many species worldwide facing severe decline [1]. Thorough empirical studies on the impacts of population reduction at a genome-wide scale in the wild are scarce because they demand huge field and laboratory investments [1, 2]. Previous studies have demonstrated the importance of gene flow in introducing genetic variation to small populations [3], but few have documented both genetic and fitness consequences of decreased immigration through time in a natural population [4–6]. Here we assess temporal variation in gene flow, inbreeding, and fitness using longitudinal genomic, demographic, and phenotypic data from a long-studied population of federally Threatened Florida scrub-jays ( Aphelocoma coerulescens ). We exhaustively sampled and genotyped the study population over two decades, providing one of the most detailed longitudinal investigations of genetics in a wild animal population to date. Immigrants were less heterozygous than residents but still introduced genetic variation into our study population. Owing to regional population declines, immigration into the study population declined from 1995–2013, resulting in increased levels of inbreeding and reduced fitness via inbreeding depression, even as the population remained demographically stable. Our results show that, contrary to conventional wisdom, small peripheral populations that already have undergone a genetic bottleneck may play a vital role in preserving genetic diversity of larger and seemingly stable populations. These findings underscore the importance of investing in the persistence of small populations and maintaining population connectivity in conservation of fragmented species.
An ERBB1-3 Neutralizing Antibody Mixture With High Activity Against Drug-Resistant HER2+ Breast Cancers With ERBB Ligand Overexpression.

Background Plasticity of the ERBB receptor network has been suggested to cause acquired resistance to anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) therapies. Thus, we studied whether a novel approach using an ERBB1-3-neutralizing antibody mixture can block these compensatory mechanisms of resistance. Methods HER2+ cell lines and xenografts (n ≥ 6 mice per group) were treated with the ERBB1-3 antibody mixture Pan-HER, trastuzumab/lapatinib (TL), trastuzumab/pertuzumab (TP), or T-DM1. Downregulation of ERBB receptors was assessed by immunoblot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Paired pre- and post-T-DM1 tumor biopsies from patients (n = 11) with HER2-amplified breast cancer were evaluated for HER2 and P-HER3 expression by immunohistochemistry and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization. ERBB ligands were measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Drug-resistant cells were generated by chronic treatment with T-DM1. All statistical tests were two-sided. Results Treatment with Pan-HER inhibited growth and promoted degradation of ERBB1-3 receptors in a panel of HER2+ breast cancer cells. Compared with TL, TP, and T-DM1, Pan-HER induced a similar antitumor effect against established BT474 and HCC1954 tumors, but was superior to TL against MDA-361 xenografts (TL mean = 2026 mm 3 , SD = 924 mm 3 , vs Pan-HER mean = 565 mm 3 , SD = 499 mm 3 , P = .04). Pan-HER-treated BT474 xenografts did not recur after treatment discontinuation, whereas tumors treated with TL, TP, and T-DM1 did. Post-TP and post-T-DM1 recurrent tumors expressed higher levels of neuregulin-1 (NRG1), HER3 and P-HER3 (all P < .05). Higher levels of P-HER3 protein and NRG1 mRNA were also observed in HER2+ breast cancers progressing after T-DM1 and trastuzumab (NRG1 transcript fold change ± SD; pretreatment = 2, SD = 1.9, vs post-treatment = 11.4, SD = 10.3, P = .04). The HER3-neutralizing antibody LJM716 resensitized the drug-resistant cells to T-DM1, suggesting a causal association between the NRG1-HER3 axis and drug resistance. Finally, Pan-HER treatment inhibited growth of HR6 trastuzumab- and T-DM1-resistant xenografts. Conclusions These data suggest that upregulation of a NRG1-HER3 axis can mediate escape from anti-HER2 therapies. Further, multitargeted antibody mixtures, such as Pan-HER, can simultaneously remove and/or block targeted ERBB receptor and ligands, thus representing an effective approach against drug-sensitive and -resistant HER2+ cancers.
Structured Display and Browsing of Documentary Information: VIBE in Action

Traditional information retrieval systems present the user with a very limited view of the document database, erecting a barrier to information at the same time as supplying the user with information. In this paper we present a graphical interface, VIBE, designed to eliminate this barrier and present the user with more complete access to information
Complexity, Innovation, and the Regulation of Modern Financial Markets

The intellectual origins of the global financial crisis (GFC) can be traced back to blind spots emanating from within conventional financial theory. These blind spots are distorted reflections of the perfect market assumptions underpinning the canonical theories of financial economics: modern portfolio theory; the Modigliani and Miller capital structure irrelevancy principle; the capital asset pricing model and, perhaps most importantly, the efficient market hypothesis. In the decades leading up to the GFC, these assumptions were transformed from empirically (con)testable propositions into the central articles of faith of the ideology of modern finance: the foundations of a widely held belief in the self-correcting nature of markets and their consequent optimality as mechanisms for the allocation of society’s resources. This ideology, in turn, exerted a profound influence on how we regulate financial markets and institutions. The GFC has exposed the folly of this market fundamentalism as a driver of public policy. It has also exposed conventional financial theory as fundamentally incomplete. Perhaps most glaringly, conventional financial theory failed to adequately account for the complexity of modern financial markets and the nature and pace of financial innovation. Utilizing three case studies drawn from the world of over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives – securitization, synthetic exchange-traded funds and collateral swaps – the objective of this paper is thus to start us down the path toward a more robust understanding of complexity, financial innovation and the regulatory challenges flowing from the interaction of these powerful market dynamics. This paper argues that while the embryonic post-crisis regulatory regimes governing OTC derivatives markets in the U.S. and Europe go some distance toward addressing the regulatory challenges stemming from complexity, they effectively disregard those generated by financial innovation.
Forest decline after a 15-year “perfect storm” of invasion by hemlock woolly adelgid, drought, and hurricanes

Invasions by introduced pests can interact with other disturbances to alter forests and their functions, particularly when a dominant tree species declines. To identify changes after invasion by the insect hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae; HWA), coinciding with severe droughts and hurricanes, this study compared tree species composition of eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) forests on 11 plots before (2001) and 15 years after (2016) invasion in the southern Appalachian Mountains, USA. Losses of hemlock trees after HWA invasion were among the highest reported, with a 90% decline in density, 86% decline in basal area, and 100% mortality for individuals ≥ 60 cm in diameter. In contrast to predictions of theoretical models, deciduous tree density declined after HWA invasion, while basal area changed little, at least during the initial 15 years after invasion. Overall, forest density declined by 58%, basal area by 25%, and tree species richness by 8%. Factors additional to HWA likely exacerbating forest decline included: droughts before (1999–2001) and after HWA invasion (2006–2008); tree uprooting from hurricane-stimulated winds in 2004; pest-related declines of deciduous tree species otherwise likely benefitting from hemlock’s demise; death of deciduous trees when large hemlocks fell; and competition from aggressive understory plants including doghobble (Leucothoe fontanesiana), rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum), and Rubus spp. Models of forest change and ecosystem function should not assume that deciduous trees always increase during the first decades after HWA invasion.
Utilizing elements of The Apprentice in the strategic communication campaigns course

Courses: Strategic Campaigns, Advertising/Public Relations CampaignsObjectives: The purpose of this semester-long project is student application of research-based strategic communication strategies...
Time out: NFL conflicts of interest with public health efforts to prevent TBI

A long-standing ethical challenge for public health organisations is how to manage conflicts of interest (COI) in partnerships with industry. This has been a particular concern with industries such as tobacco that produce harmful products and have a documented record of distorting health research. Consequently, in several cases, public health agencies have issued guidelines limiting industry-funded projects and collaborations to guard against COI.1 In other cases, however, public health agencies accept industry funding. For example, the CDC Foundation is an independent organisation that connects the CDC, the US’s leading national public health agency, with private sector organisations and individual funding partners.2 The CDC Foundation receives millions of dollars from industry (eg, US$12 million in 2014) as well as other groups to support CDC projects. Whether this funding has influenced CDC research and recommendations, or whether this is a case of private companies donating money ‘in a transparent manner to do unbranded research’, is a matter of ongoing debate.3 4 Multiple studies have shown, however, that industry support of research does influence outcomes.5 The National Football League’s (NFL) sponsorship and dissemination of research on sports-related traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), including the league’s partnership with the CDC, represents an important recent case of troubling industry involvement with public health efforts. The NFL is a multi-billion-dollar corporation and the major professional league of American-style tackle football, a sport that involves repeated full-body collisions and high risks of injury.6 The NFL’s influence on TBI research and education is particularly salient given the prevalence of sports-related TBI, and accumulating evidence of the short-term and long-term effects of such injuries.7 Consequently, public health agencies need to consider whether and how to approach potential partnerships with professional sports leagues such as the NFL to address TBI. In this article, we describe several …
Ultrasound microbubble targeted gemcitabine delivery for pancreatic cancer treatment

Studies have shown that treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) with systemic administration of gemcitabine (GEM) is inhibited by excessive desmoplastic connective tissue surrounding the tumor. Ultrasound (US) insonification combined with drug-loaded poly lactic acid (PLA) microbubbles (MB) may circumvent this through targeted delivery to the tumor via increased permeability and lodging of GEM-loaded MB fragments in the tumor tissue. GEM-loaded MB were fabricated through a double emulsion process, and evaluated for efficacy as potential drug delivery agents. Acoustic and physical characterization suggest that GEM encapsulation does not significantly affect MB morphology or contrast activity (p > 0.23 compared with unmodified MB). Inertial cavitation upon exposure to US is not impacted by drug encapsulation, indicated by GEM-loaded MB exhibiting significant size reduction to fragments approximately 400 nm in diameter following insonation (p 0.1). Encapsulation of GEM within the PLA shell of MB resulted in viable drug delivery agents for PDAC treatment.
Relativity and the Jahn–Teller, Berry pseudorotations of TBP clusters: group theory, spin–orbit and combinatorial nuclear spin statistics of TBP Desargues–Levi isomerization graph

Jahn–Teller and Berry pseudorotations in transition metal and main group clusters such as Hf5, Ta5, W5 and Bi5 are interesting because of the competition between relativistic effects and pseudorotations. Topological representations of various isomerization pathways arising from the Berry pseudorotation of pentamers constitute the edges of the Desargues–Levi graph. We have computed the combinatorics for multinomial colorings of the vertices, edges and 10-faces of the Desargues–Levi isomerization graph for all irreducible representations and the nuclear spin statistics of spin-7/2 181Ta5 as well as the TBP composite cluster particles. Topological insights into Jahn–Teller and Berry pseudorotations and relativistic effects are provided.
Indexing Using Both N-Grams and Words

Goals The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) is a first-time entrant in the TREC Category A evaluation. The focus of our information retrieval research is on the relative value of and interaction among multiple term types. In particular, we are interested in examining both words and n-grams as indexing terms. The relative values of words and n-grams have been disputed; to our knowledge though, no one has previously studied their relative merits while holding all other aspects of the system constant.
New Developments in Dispersion Parameterization and Modeling

A generation ago, before digital computers had megaword memories and mega.flop speeds, one expressed the essential dispersion physics in a given problem through simple submodels to be solved through table look-ups or on the modest computers of the day. This was brought to a high form by Pasquill and colleagues in the 1960s, who parameterized short-range dispersion results into Gaussian plume models that are still used.
Fate Mapping In Vivo to Distinguish Bona Fide Microglia Versus Recruited Monocyte-Derived Macrophages in Retinal Disease

With the new understanding that adult microglia in mice have embryonic origins and are maintained in situ throughout life, it has become pertinent to now understand how these unique cells differ from monocyte-derived macrophages. The latter are recruited into the neural retina (and elsewhere in CNS) in certain diseased states, such as in various forms of retinal degeneration. However, phenotypic markers expressed by microglia and monocyte-derived macrophages largely overlap, thereby making it technically challenging to distinguish the two cell types in disease. To address this problem in mice, we have established an in vivo fate mapping system that enables distinguishing these two cell types in retinal disease models. Our approach leverages the seminal work that originally developed Cx3cr1-CreER mice and is based on commercially available mouse strains. Here, we detail our protocol and how to apply this fate mapping method paired with flow cytometry (or immunohistochemistry) to faithfully distinguish and examine microglia vs. monocyte-derived macrophages in a mutually exclusive manner. This approach will henceforth empower new efforts to identify functional specializations of these two populations in the pathobiology of retinal degenerative diseases and possibly other conditions of the retina where monocyte recruitment is observed, such as in glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, ischemia reperfusion, retinal detachment, and so on.
Insurance-Reimbursable Mindfulness for Safety-Net Primary Care Patients: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Mindfulness is effective for reducing anxiety and depression and increasing chronic disease self-management. An accessible, insurance-reimbursable model for implementation in patient-centered medical homes within US healthcare systems has promise for patients with multi-morbid conditions. Clarifying both the dose needed to impact anxiety, depression and self-management, and the design requirements for accessible primary care implementation, is essential. We tested feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of Mindfulness Training for Primary Care (MTPC), an 8-week, referral-based, insurance-reimbursable mindfulness program integrated within primary care, compared with a Low-Dose Comparator (LDC), consisting of a 60-minute mindfulness introduction plus referral to community and digital resources. Outcome measures were assessed at baseline and 8 weeks. MTPC is trauma-informed, incorporates mindfulness-oriented behavior change skills, and is designed to target anxiety, depression, stress, and chronic illness self-management. Participants scheduled a PCP visit to co-create a self-management action plan during week 6. Primary care providers (PCP) referred 344 patients over 14 months. Eighty-one participants with DSM-V anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, trauma- and stress-related disorders participated in this pilot randomized-controlled comparative effectiveness trial [MTPC (n=54); LDC (n=27)]. These data suggest that MTPC was more effective than LDC for reducing anxiety (p=0.01), enhancing mindfulness (p=0.02) and self-compassion (p=0.001), and for catalyzing self-management behavior change through action plan initiation (OR=4.34, p=0.03). MTPC was successfully integrated into a health system, was billed to insurance, and was acceptable to a diverse primary care population. Replication with a larger study and further accessibility adaptations are needed to confirm and expand these pilot results. Clinical Trials Registration Number: NCT02972203
One-Stage Use of Integra in the Management of a Complex Dorsal Hand Wound in a Patient with Acquired Hemophilia A

This case report presents a unique clinical dilemma in the treatment of a large full-thickness dorsal hand wound in a 64-year-old Caucasian woman with recently diagnosed acquired hemophilia A. The wound was instigated by nominal blunt force trauma to the dorsal hand and progressed to a large desquamating bulla. Treatment was initiated by careful evacuation of the bulla and daily dressing changes. The resulting necrosis of the skin produced a loose eschar. Subsequent removal of the eschar left the extensor tendons with minimal hypodermis covering the paratenon. The potential for life-threatening hemorrhage limited treatment options. The wound was treated with Integra Dermal Regeneration Template and planned for delayed definitive coverage. Continued concern for hemorrhage and comorbid conditions delayed skin grafting. Wound surveillance demonstrated notable interval healing ultimately resulting in complete regeneration of the skin, providing full coverage of the wound and no functional deficits without surgical intervention or skin grafting.
Prenatal Treatment of X-Linked Hypohidrotic Ectodermal Dysplasia using Recombinant Ectodysplasin in a Canine Model

X-linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (XLHED) is caused by defects in the EDA gene that inactivate the function of ectodysplasin A1 (EDA1). This leads to abnormal development of eccrine glands, hair follicles, and teeth, and to frequent respiratory infections. Previous studies in the naturally occurring dog model demonstrated partial prevention of the XLHED phenotype by postnatal administration of recombinant EDA1. The results suggested that a single or two temporally spaced injections of EDI200 prenatally might improve the clinical outcome in the dog model. Fetuses received ultrasound-guided EDI200 intra-amniotically at gestational days 32 and 45, or 45 or 55 alone (of a 65-day pregnancy). Growth rates, lacrimation, hair growth, meibomian glands, sweating, dentition, and mucociliary clearance were compared in treated and untreated XLHED-affected dogs, and in heterozygous and wild-type control dogs. Improved phenotypic outcomes were noted in the earlier and more frequently treated animals. All animals treated prenatally showed positive responses compared with untreated dogs with XLHED, most notably in the transfer of moisture through paw pads, suggesting improved onset of sweating ability and restored meibomian gland development. These results exemplify the feasibility of ultrasound-guided intra-amniotic injections for the treatment of developmental disorders, with improved formation of specific EDA1-dependent structures in dogs with XLHED.
Conservation Effects Assessment Project–Grazing Lands: An Introduction to the Special Issue

On the Ground • Knowledge derived from grazing lands assessment programs provides the foundation for the development of conservation policy and informs local, regional, and national entities on benefits associated with investments in conservation and land management. • Conservation Effects Assessment Project – Grazing Lands provides a baseline for informing decision-makers at all levels of the impacts and potential values of conservation practice application. • Comprehensive assessment at multiple scales provides opportunities for understanding the impacts of land management and conservation programs on approximately 600 million acres of grazing lands in the United States.
Can Celebrities Set the Agenda

Why do some issues make it on to the public agenda while others do not? While this question has received a great deal of research attention, a definitive answer remains elusive. In this paper, I co...
Globalization of Sichuan hot pot in the “new era”

This paper explores the transformation of the Sichuan hot pot from a regional Chinese food to a global cuisine. It first analyzes how Sichuan food businesses had been “gentrified” by rigorous state...
Pulmonary emboli: Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment

Abstract Pulmonary embolism is responsible for 50,000 deaths each year. A high diagnostic index of suspicion is necessary if the diagnosis of embolism is to be made prior to death since the classic triad of chest pain, dyspnea, and hemoptysis occurs infrequently. Preventive measures including preoperative anticoagulation will reduce the incidence of thrombus formation. Treatment depends on early recognition, rapid anticoagulation, and, in selected cases, partial occlusion of the vena cava.
Closing the gap in health care disparities by improving the rate of lung cancer screening in an intercity hospital.

195Background: The National Lung Cancer Screening Trial showed reduced lung cancer mortality with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening. Although LDCT is generally covered by private and go...
Methane Incorporation Into Liquid Fuel by Nonequilibrium Plasma Discharges

The conventional ways of processing natural gas into more efficient and economical fuels usually have either low conversion rate or low energy efficiency. In this paper, a new approach of methane liquefaction is proposed. Instead of direct treatment of only natural gas, plasma-activated methane is reacting with liquid fuel. In this way, methane molecules are directly incorporated into liquid fuel to achieve liquefaction. Nanosecond-pulsed dielectric barrier discharge and atmospheric pressure glow discharge are used here to ensure no local heating in gas bubbles. Effects of both discharges on methane reaction with liquid fuel are investigated, and mass and chemical changes in liquid are observed. Preliminary results show fixation of methane in liquid fuel.
Perception and intention of using less harmful and less addictive hypothetical modified risk tobacco products among never tobacco users in the united states.

Abstract Aims There is limited research focusing on how never tobacco users respond to claims associated with modified risk tobacco products (MRTPs). The purpose of the present study is twofold: (1) to identify how never tobacco users perceive hypothetical modified risk tobacco product (MRTP) claims; and (2) to assess whether these perceptions impact their intentions of using MRTPs described as “less harmful” and “less addictive.” Method The present study draws upon a nationally representative dataset of US adults aged ≥ 18 years (n = 850) from a cross-sectional survey (HINTS-FDA, Cycle 2, 2017). Weighted unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analyses were performed to analyze the data. Results Participants who perceived tobacco products labeled as having “no additives” to be less harmful were close to three times more likely to report intentions of using “less harmful” (Adjusted OR = 2.93 [95% CI: 1.12–7.65]) and “less addictive” (Adjusted OR = 2.72 [95% CI: 1.03–7.21]) tobacco products than those who perceived them to be more/equally harmful. Participants who believed that tobacco products could be manufactured without some chemicals were over five and six times more likely to report intentions of using “less harmful” (Adjusted OR = 5.53 [95% CI: 1.59–19.25]) and “less addictive” (Adjusted OR = 6.60 [95% CI: 2.65–16.46]) tobacco products than those who were unlikely to believe it. Conclusions Our findings have implications for FDA’s regulation of MRTPs and provides insights regarding how the marketing of authorized MRTPs could impact population health in the future.
Design of Intelligent Operation and Maintenance Knowledge Base for Power Metering Verification Device Based on LDA Model

The manual operation and maintenance of the measurement verification device has the problems of low efficiency and error-prone. In this paper, a method for construction of the knowledge base of intelligent metering system is proposed based on the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA). Through the fault similarity calculation method of cosine similarity, input fault phenomenon and output fault processing method, intelligent recommendation of fault processing method is realized. The actual application shows that this knowledge base can improve the operation and maintenance efficiency and reduce the operation and maintenance cost without affecting the measurement verification work.
A real-world study of ICS use in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma treated with mepolizumab.

Background Mepolizumab is a humanized anti–interleukin-5 monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of patients with severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA). There is limited evidence that patients treated with mepolizumab can reduce inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use. Objective To investigate changes in ICS use and clinical outcomes in patients with SEA who initiated mepolizumab treatment. Methods This retrospective cohort study (GSK ID: 212695/HO-20-19951) used administrative claims data from the IBM Watson Health MarketScan Database (identification period: November 2015–March 2018). Eligible patients had SEA and were receiving high-dose ICS and mepolizumab. ICS, oral corticosteroid (OCS), short acting β2-agonist (SABA) use, and exacerbation frequency were analyzed quarterly during the 12-month follow-up period following mepolizumab initiation. Results In total, 351 patients were included. The proportion of patients using highdose ICS decreased in quarters 1–4 following mepolizumab initiation (79.8%, 74.6%, 68.9%, 65.5%, respectively); 49.0% of patients reduced or discontinued ICS for ≥1 quarter. Comparing patients who discontinued ICS versus those who remained on high-dose ICS, a lower proportion had chronic OCS use (3.4–9.2% vs 13.9–16.8%) and OCS burst use (15.4–20.8% vs 19.7–26.1%) in quarters 1–4; similarly in quarters 3 and 4, a lower proportion of patients had exacerbations (16.9% and 20.3% vs 27.2% and 27.7%) and SABA claims (35.4% and 39.2% vs 43.3% and 49.0%, respectively). Conclusion: In patients with SEA on high-dose ICS, a reduction in both ICS and OCS use was observed after initiating mepolizumab. These findings have important implications for clinical outcomes and follow-up care in this patient population.
A new repository penicillin (a form of aqueous penicillin G procaine) in infants and children.

Eighty-two children with a variety of infectious diseases were treated with a daily injection of a new repository penicillin, aqueous penicillin G procaine (Abbott). Clinical success was obtained in 68 of 75 patients. In one, the results were considered fair, in three poor, and in three unknown. Thirty-five patients had a beta Str. hemolyticus, and 10 a pneumococcus isolated from the nose or throat. Bacteriologic success was obtained in all streptococcal infections, but in only 6 of 10 pneumococcal infections. All of the streptococci were sensitive to penicillin when tested by in vitro methods. Penicillin serum levels with a mean maximum of approximately 2 u./ml. were observed at two hours, and mean minimum of approximately 0.063 u./ml. at 24 hours. The curve of intermediate values approximated a normal curve.
Eficacia y Autoridad del Precedente Constitucional en América Latina: Las Lecciones del Derecho Comparado

Perhaps one of the greatest differences between the AngloAmerican and Latin-American legal systems lies in the weight and compulsion of the doctrine of stare decisis and judicial precedent. Traditional notions about separation of powers ingrained in the civil law tradition, and the perceived need to avoid invasion of the legislative arena by members of the branch of government which has historically proven to be the weakest in Latin America are primarily responsible for this approach toward judicial decision making. In this article, Professor Garro examines the role that precedent plays in constitutional decision-making in the Latin American countries which have followed most closely the United States model of judicial review. The article first sets forth the normative framework against which the precedential value of a holding on constitutional matters is measured in Argentina, * Alejandro M. Garro, Lecturer in Law, Columbia University. Este ensayo, en su versi6n original, fue presentado at Coloquio de Derecho Constitucional Comparado (MfxicoEstados Unidos de Norteam6rica) realizado en el Instituto de Investigaciones Juridicas de La Universidad Nacional Aut6noma de Mfxico entre el 13 y 18 de junio de 1988 y fue publicado en 24 REVISTA ESPAROLA DE DERECHO CONSTITUCIONAL 95 (1988). Copyright 1988, Ale-
Pediatric Emergency Medicine: State of the Art

To assess the current practice of pediatric emergency care in the United States, a questionnaire was mailed to the directors of all 240 emergency departments (EDs) affiliated with pediatric residency training programs in the United States. One hundred seventy-two programs (72%) returned completed surveys, which comprised 32 questions highlighting staffing patterns, ancillary services, clinical issues, and resident education. The mean annual ED census was 39 290; the mean number of visits for children 0 to 18 years of age was 17 473. Seven percent of pediatric visits were categorized as critical, 23% as urgent, and 70% as nonurgent. Eleven percent of patients were admitted to the hospital. During peak periods, patients whose visits were triaged as nonurgent waited an average of 1.5 hours to be seen by a physician. Twenty-eight percent of programs provided 24-hour onsite coverage by a pediatric attending physician or fellow. Of the remaining programs, the average daily on-site pediatric coverage was 8.6 ± 6.2 hours. Eighteen percent of programs used physician assistants or nurse practitioners in the ED. During their first, second, and third years of training, pediatric residents spent an average of 5.2, 5.8, and 3.5 weeks in the ED, respectively. The majority of EDs handled all levels of pediatric trauma (84%), had dedicated trauma teams (73%), employed social workers specifically assigned to the ED (62%), and had child abuse teams (72%). Ninety-one percent of EDs had radio communications with prehospital care vehicles and 67% provided medical command for incoming pediatric patients. Fifty-four percent of programs had a mechanism for ensuring telephone follow-up of worrisome patients, and 69% used a system for ensuring feedback to the referring physician. Ninety-five percent of programs had a system in place for contacting patients with positive cultures; in most cases this function was handled by physicians. Seventy-five percent of programs provided medical advice by telephone. These data highlight current practice patterns in EDs associated with pediatric training programs and may assist in the development of practice standards for pediatric emergency care.
Political Parties in Business

Why have some mono-parties in emerging market economies (such as Taiwan’s KMT and Ethiopia’s EPRDF) established formidable business empires while powerful ruling parties in socialist economies invariably decried them? The phenomenon of party-owned business (Parbus), much like military-controlled businesses, is an integral part of the drive for a total "capture," by an insurgent vanguard party, of key state and societal institutions in weak market economies. A Parbus-based fusion of political power and economic power is a conundrum for traditional conceptions of corruption, public enterprises, bona fide private enterprises, or oligarchy. Party-state capitalism is a novel phenomenon that is quite germane to the debate on developmental states and neo-patrimonialism especially in Asia and Africa. At the extreme ends of economic and political governance, the Parbus can be viewed as a market-defying institutionalization of grand corruption or as a market-facilitating strategy of shared growth. The parasitic rent-seeking interpretation is that the Parbus is an ingeniously disguised mechanism for tunneling public assets and for creating and redistributing economic rent in resource-poor, post-conflict societies where the state is the biggest economic prize. The alternative, developmental-vanguard, interpretation is that party-owned business empires constitute an innovative third way for responding effectively to paralyzing mix of market failure and government failure. The Parbus stem coordination failures and informational failures (such as investment pooling and allocation, and discovery of new products and markets) where the private sector itself engages in rent seeking as much as in profit seeking. The Parbus thus provide the ruling party investable funds to underwrite shared prosperity and, hence, legitimacy. The war chest of patronage finance can also be tapped to ward off political contenders. This paper makes a modest contribution to the scanty literature on a touchy subject by offering a theoretical framework buttressed by analytical studies of two canonical cases. It identifies key explanatory variables and outlines the conditions under which developmentalism or parasitism is likely to dominate. We argue that the overall impact of Parbus on long-term wealth creation and distribution revolves around four empirically measurable regime characteristics: insecurity, organizational capacity, ideology, and degree of centralization of inherited state. Self-confidence and organizational capacity are most decisive in determining the magnitude of socialization of economic losses and privatization of economic benefits. Three possible paths of evolution emerge: a paragonist path favoring transition to an open system, a parasitic path toward a poverty-tyranny trap, and a mutualist path of unstable equilibrium among state, party, and private competitors.
Structure and Methylation of Coenzyme M (HSCH2CH2SO3)

Coenzyme M is a recently discovered cofactor which is involved in methyl transfer reactions in Methanobacterium. Information derived from infrared, proton NMR, and ultraviolet spectroscopy as well as from chemical tests and quantitative elemental analysis reveals that the coenzyme is 2,2′-dithiodiethanesulfonic acid. Verification of this structure resides in the comparison of authentic with chemically synthesized 2,2′-dithiodiethanesulfonic acid. Evidence indicates that an active form of this cofactor is 2-mercaptoethanesulfonic acid which is methylated producing 2-(methylthio) ethanesulfonic acid; this derivative is subsequently reductively demethylated, yielding methane.
Chapter 5 – Sizing of Energy Storage Systems for Microgrids

Energy storage sizing is an important aspect of the cost effective functioning of microgrids. In this chapter, different energy storage system (ESS) sizing technologies are evaluated. Cost-benefit analysis is a very common method to determine optimal storage sizing. This chapter includes the implementation of an expansion planning problem method for optimal storage sizing. The objective of this method is to minimize the operating cost, maintenance cost and investment cost of the entire microgrid system. In the case study, an optimization problem for determining both the optimal power rating and energy rating of ESS in a microgrid is formulated and solved with mixed integer linear programming (MILP).
Polymorphism of poly(vinylidene fluoride). III. The crystal structure of phase II

Abstract In this study, X-ray diffraction has been used to determine the crystal structure of poly(vinylidene fluoride) phase II. Three principal chain conformations were considered, which included two 21 helical forms [degenerate (planar) and nondegenerate] and the trans-gauche-trans-gauche' form. An X-ray crystal structure determination has shown that the trans-gauche-trans-gauche' (TGTG′) conformation is the correct one for phase II. Experimental X-ray intensity data were taken at both −145° and 20° C in order to study the effect of temperature on the resulting structure. From the comparison between observed and calculated intensities, there are two possible crystal symmetries, P21 and P1, depending upon whether the two chains are taken to be antiparallel or parallel to one another. For both cases, the reliability indices for the chosen structure are almost identical. For either symmetry the unit cell is metrically orthorhombic (all angles equal to 90° within experimental error) with the following latt...
Isometries for the induced c-norm on square matrices and some related results

Abstract Let Fn be the linear space of column vectors with n coordinates over F = R or C. Denote by GP(n) the group of n × n generalized permutation matrices, i.e., matrices with exactly one nonzero entry with magnitude 1 in each row and column. Given a nonzero vector c = (c1…,cn)t ∈ Fn, define the c-norm of x = (x1,…,xn)t ∈ Fn by | x | c = max ⁡ { | c t P x | : P ∈ GP ( n ) } , and the induced c-norm of A ∈ Fn×n by | | A | | c = max ⁡ { | A y | c : | y | c ⩽ 1 } . We characterize, the isometries for induced c-norms. To achieve our goal, we study the geometric properties of Fn × n, and obtain some inequalities related to the induced c-norm as by-products. These results are of independent interest.
Multi-response permutation procedures for a priori classifications

An exact permutation test for analyzing and/or dredging multi-response data at the ordinal or higher levels is presented. The associated test statistic is based on the average distance (or any specified norm) between points within a priori disjoint subgroups of a finite population of points in an r-dimensional space (corresponding to r measured responses from each object in a finite population of objects). Alternative approximate tests based on the beta and normal distributions are provided. Two detailed examples utilizing actual social science data are considered, including comparisons of the approximate tests. An additional example describes the behavior of these tests under a variety of conditions, including extreme data configurations
Excitation of wide-field ventralis posterolateralis neurons by contralateral thalamic stimulation.

Abstract Interconnections between the nuclei ventralis posterolateralis (VPL) of the thalamus were studied using single-unit recordings from chloralose-anesthetized cats. Responses to stimulation of the contralateral VPL (cVPL) were evoked in 28.9% of the 218 neurons sampled. Those neurons responsive to cVPL stimulation were almost exclusively those with an ipsilateral component to their receptive fields, i.e., sb (receptive fields on both fore- or hind limbs) and m neurons (receptive fields on all four limbs), but not all neurons of either of these sets responded. Only 2 of 127 neurons with receptive fields on either the contralateral fore- or hind limb, sa neurons, responded to cVPL stimulation. cVPL-Responsive and -unresponsive m neurons differed little in the properties of their responses to skin stimulation and no differences were found in their distribution within the nucleus. Corticopetal neurons were found among both cVPL-responsive and -unresponsive neurons. VPL neurons were shown to exhibit coadunate behavior, like cortical neurons, but no evidence was found of modulation of m neuron excitability by local sa neurons. Responsiveness of m neurons to cVPL stimulation was blocked by application of ice or KCl crystals to the contralateral, but not the ipsilateral cortex. The possibility is considered that some responses to cVPL stimulation are antidromically conducted.
Noninvasive Optical Detection of Bone Mineral

FRFP binds to mineral at osteoblastic, osteoclastic, and quiescent surfaces, with accumulation likely modulated by vascular delivery. In vivo visualization and quantification of binding can be accomplished noninvasively in animal models through optical tomographic imaging. Introduction: The development of near-infrared optical markers as reporters of bone metabolism will be useful for early diagnosis of disease. Bisphosphonates bind differentially to osteoblastic and osteoclastic surfaces depending on choice of side-chain and dose, and fluorescently tagged bisphosphonates provide a convenient way to visualize these sites. This study examines the ability of a fluorescently labeled pamidronate imaging probe to bind to regions of bone formation and resorption in vivo. Materials and Methods: In vitro binding of a far-red fluorescent pamidronate (FRFP) to mineral was assessed using intact and demineralized dentine slices. In vivo, FRFP binding was studied in three models: developing neonatal mouse, bone healing after injury, and metastasis-induced osteolysis and fracture. 3D fluorescence molecular tomographic (FMT) imaging was used to visualize signal deep within the body. Results: FRFP binding to bone depends on the quantity of mineral present and can be liberated from the bone during decalcification. In vivo, FRFP binds to surfaces of actively forming bone, as assessed by alkaline phosphatase staining, surfaces undergoing active resorption, as noted by scalloped bone border and presence of osteoclasts, and to quiescent surfaces not involved in formation or resorption. Binding is likely modulated by vascular delivery of the imaging agent to the exposed mineral surface and total quantity of surface exposed. FMT imaging is capable of visualizing regions of bone formation because of a large volume of labeled surface, but like radiolabeled bone scans, cannot discriminate pure osteolysis caused by metastasis. Conclusions: FRFP may function as a local biomarker of bisphosphonate deposition to assess interplay between drug and cellular environment or may be combined with other imaging agents or fluorescent cells for the noninvasive assessment of local bone metabolism in vivo. J Bone Miner Res 2007;22:1208-1216. Published online on May 7, 2007; doi: 10.1359/JBMR.070504
Community-level determinants of infant and child mortality in peru

A technique is proposed for calculating community-level sex-specific infant and child mortality on the basis of the household data collected by the World Fertiligy Survey. These estimates then serve as dependent variables for a multivariate analysis of 84 Peruvian communities of less than 25 000 population. This analysis is guided by a quasi-theoretical strategy that puts three classes of variables in competition: physical ecology, program interventions, and social structure. The representative of the first category, altitude, was significantly associated with male and female child mortality when the other independent variables were controlled. However this result is probably better interpreted as an indirect effect of social organization in the mountainous areas. The representative variable of the second category, number of local medical institutions, was unrelated to any of the four dependent variables. All three of the indicators of the social organization-community population size, proportion of educated women, and proportion speaking Spanish-were negatively correlated with the dependent variables as expected, but in the multivariate analysis only female education continued to be a consistent negative predictor. However, there is reason to believe that population size and capacity to speak the national language would be predictors with a larger sample. The paper concludes with a preliminary analysis of those communities having significantly higher or lower mortality rates than would have been expected on the basis of a knowledge of Spanish, education, community size and local medical facilities. Such deviant case analysis may pinpoint “problem communities” or, alternatively, communities with special advantages.