cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spectrum of podocytopathies in new-onset nephrotic syndrome following COVID-19 disease: a report of 2 cases.

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is an ongoing pandemic which has affected over 12 million people across the globe. Manifestations in different organs systems are being reported regularly. Renal biopsy findings in hospitalized COVID-19 patients presenting solely with acute kidney injury (AKI) have recently been described in published literature in few case reports. The findings include diffuse acute tubular injury (ATI) along with the glomerular lesion of collapsing glomerulopathy (CG). However, nephrotic syndrome as the presenting complaint of COVID-19 has not been reported widely, neither has any other glomerular lesion other than CG. We describe the kidney biopsy findings of two patients who had recent diagnoses of COVID-19 and presented with new-onset nephrotic syndrome. Renal biopsy in both patients showed ATI (as in previous reports) and distinct glomerular findings on light microscopy – that of minimal change disease (MCD) initially in one patient followed by CG in a subsequent biopsy and CG at the outset in the other patient. The electron microscopic findings in both patients were that of severe podocytopathy (diffuse and severe podocyte foot process effacement). Our cases highlight a novel clinical presentation of COVID-19 renal disease, not described before, that of new-onset nephrotic syndrome. While all published case reports describe CG as the glomerular pathology, we describe a non-CG pathology (MCD) in one of our cases, thereby adding to the repertoire of renal pathology described in association with COVID-19 patients. However, the exact mechanism by which podocyte injury or podocytopathy occurs in all such cases is still unknown. Optimal treatment options for these patients also remains unknown at this time.
The Irony of Health Care’s Public Option

The idea of a public health insurance option is at least a half century old, but has not yet had its day in the limelight. This chapter explains why if that moment ever comes, health care’s public option will fall short of expectations that it will provide a differentiated, meaningful alternative to private health insurance and will spur health insurance competition. Health care’s public option bubbled up in its best-known form in California in the early 2000s and got increasing mainstream attention in the lead up to the 2010 health reform, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The idea has reemerged with vigor once again as a core tenet of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s plans to build on the ACA. When people talk about health care’s public option, they mean a public health insurance plan, typically based on Medicare that someone could select in the individual, or nongroup, health insurance market instead of a private health insurance offering. Proponents have argued that a public health insurance option could deliver better cost-control than private insurance, while also being able to offer a broad choice of providers and quality control. Health care’s public option died in the 2010 ACA legislative process, but had it been enacted, it would have faced serious obstacles to produce these results its architects hoped. The assumption that people will select the public option if it is better than other options is belied by a mounting body of empirical literature showing how we struggle, and do not do all that well, when choosing among health insurance options. Even more, political thorniness would almost certainly have prevented the public option from being a clear best alternative, which would have further impeded its ability to stand out in a crowd of options. If consumers fail to gravitate overwhelmingly to a public option, it cannot catalyze the market pressure necessary to produce lower prices or higher quality. For a public health insurance option to have transformative potential—to promote greater health equity and freedom—it needs to be more than an option among many, what Sitaraman and Alstott call a competitive public option. It must be designed in a way that does not rely on people weighing it against other options and selecting it when it is the best. This chapter examines possibilities for health care’s public option in three parts. It first explains the theory behind health care’s competitive public option, the form envisioned in the ACA and similar to early proposals by the Biden Campaign during the Democratic primaries. It then considers the challenges this competitive public option would have faced had it become policy reality. Finally, it examines more effective ways that public health insurance might be integrated into a public/private hybrid system to achieve greater health equity.
Loss of the DNA Fork Remodeling Protein Smarcal1 Impairs the Replication Stress Response in Proliferating Hematopoietic Cells

Rapidly proliferating hematopoietic cells are particularly prone to threats to genomic integrity through replication stress. The response to replication stress involves complex molecular machinery to prevent replication fork collapse, avoid accumulation of DNA damage, and ensure the completion of DNA synthesis. Smarcal1, a DNA remodeling enzyme, has been linked to the replication stress response through stabilization, repair, and restart of stalled DNA replication forks. In humans, complete loss of function of Smarcal1 leads to the pleiotropic disorder Schimke immuno-osseous dysplasia (SIOD), which is characterized, in part, by a severe lymphoid immunodeficiency that leaves patients susceptible to opportunistic infections. Currently, the mechanisms driving the clinical immunodeficient phenotype of SIOD and the in vivo functions of Smarcal1 in hematopoietic cells remain largely unexplored. We evaluated the contribution of Smarcal1 to normal and stressed/emergency hematopoiesis, using a Smarcal1 knockout mouse model and hematopoietic cell replication stresses such as low-dose radiation, 5-fluorouracil, bone marrow transplantation, and oncogene- driven proliferation. We determined that, while loss of Smarcal1 does not affect hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) or mature hematopoietic cell populations at a normal “resting” state, Smarcal1 is required in these cells undergoing proliferative stress. Following DNA replication stress, we detected defects in multiple Smarcal1-deficient hematopoietic cell populations. We also observed that loss of Smarcal1 led to significantly increased levels of replication stress, DNA damage, and apoptosis in proliferating cells. Through bone marrow transplantation, we determined that the deficiencies observed were not due to a defect in the bone marrow environment or an inability of the HSPCs to home to the bone marrow. Thus, our results reveal that Smarcal1 is critical to maintaining hematopoietic cell survival and function under conditions of DNA replication stress. Our data also suggest that the immunodeficiency of patients with Smarcal1 mutations may be due to an inability of hematopoietic cells, especially HSPCs, to properly respond to replication stress and proliferate. Since wild-type bone marrow is able to fully reconstitute and function in a Smarcal1-deficient environment, bone marrow transplantation may be an effective therapy for immunodeficient SIOD patients. Disclosures Eischen: AbbVie Inc.: Research Funding.
Fully developed forced convective Jeffrey fluid flow through concentric pipes annular duct

The purpose of present study is to determine the influence of constant pressure gradient on flow and heat transfer rate of Jeffrey fluid through concentric pipes annular sector duct. Finite volume method and strongly implicit procedure are used to simulate the governing system of partial differential equations. The results are estimated both in graphical and tabular forms for different values of the parameters. The favorable results have been observed in the case of friction factor, when we increase the value of ratio of relaxation to retardation times, $$\lambda $$ , however, forced convective heat transfer rate almost remains invariant in the absence of viscous dissipation. With the increase in value of Brinkman number, Br, the effect of viscous dissipation becomes favorable upto 9.64 $$\%$$ on heat transfer rate for higher value of $$\lambda $$ at ratio of radii, $$\hat{\xi }=0.25$$ and apex angle, $$\beta =\pi /6$$ of the concentric pipes annular sector duct.
Accessibility Best Practices, Procedures, and Policies in Northwest United States Academic Libraries

Abstract Academic libraries are responsible for providing accessible copies of collection materials to individuals facing a variety of accessibility needs. Accessibility needs differ from user to user, often making each request an individualized service. However, do academic libraries have a responsibility to embrace a Universal Design for Learning approach to their acquisitions process? Do academic library workers need to establish policies as part of the procurement process? This research surveyed academic libraries at institutions similar to Boise State University in size, graduate program offerings, and within the same region to help answer the questions: how academic libraries in the Northwest United States establish practices, policies, procedures, and workflows to meet these needs, and: how do academic libraries currently meet these needs when providing streaming media services, and other collection materials, to users with accessibility needs?
Abstract 1180: A novel synthetic lethality treatment strategy for metastatic breast cancer

Breast carcinomas commonly carry mutations in the tumor suppressor p53, while therapeutic efforts to target mutant p53 were largely unfruitful. Here we present preclinical data supporting a novel combination therapy strategy for treatment of p53-deficient cancers. Genomic data revealed a high expression activity of Base-Excision Repair (BER) pathways in p53-deficient breast cancers. However, we found that BER-mediated repair was significantly dysregulated in p53-mutant cancer cells. Treatment with deoxyuridine analogues induced accumulation of DNA damage in p53-mutant cells and inhibitors of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARPi) greatly enhanced this response. In contrast, normal cells responded to PARPi with activation of the p53-p21 axis and cell cycle arrest. Inactivation of either p53 or p21/CDKN1A in p53 wild-type cells conferred the p53-mutant phenotype. Preclinical breast cancer studies revealed that the combination of deoxyuridine analogue with PARPi was more effective in inhibition of tumor growth and metastases than either drug alone. This work illustrates a novel combination therapy strategy that may improve survival rates and outcomes for thousands of breast cancer patients. Citation Format: Justin Zonneville, Moyi Wang, Mohammed Alruwaili, Kevin Eng, Thomas Melendy, Ben Ho Park, Renuka Iyer, Christos Fountzilas, Andrei V. Bakin. A novel synthetic lethality treatment strategy for metastatic breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 1180.
The Second Epiphany: Program Design for African American Leadership of Catholic Schools

Using the biblical experience of Christ’s epiphany as a root metaphor, the author discusses the historical development of African American participation in Catholic schools with a view towards a program design for African American leadership in school administration. Through an analysis of various levels of culture, African American Catholics are shown to be well-suited for emerging leadership roles in Catholic schools and dioceses.
Size and Shape of the Subliminal Window

Publisher Summary This chapter explores the relationship of conscious awareness to information processing. It describes a study in which a subliminal stimulus is subjected to the processing features of the dynamic unconscious. These features, described as the laws of primary process thinking, include operations such as condensation, displacement, and other forms of transformation. Because unconscious thinking is dominated by wishes (in contrast to conscious thinking which is presumed to be logical), a subliminal stimulus is presumed to have privileged access to the more primitive and infantile aspects of the subject's personality. Differences between subliminal and supraliminal presentations come about because of the differential action of the ego's defensive system. Because of the probabilistic nature of a visual system and because brief exposures bring about a significant reduction in input redundancy, some degrading of information takes place at subliminal levels.
Economic Policy Under Dictatorship: Agricultural Policy as a Tool of Authoritarian Power-Sharing and Control

In this paper I test the reciprocal relationship between agricultural policy and authoritarian regime durability. Farm trade and subsidy policies are used by undemocratic governments to solve distributional conflicts, and thus are a function of political threats to their rule. Simultaneously, they affect the magnitude of these threats and thus the likelihood of regime collapse. I estimate two-stage simultaneous equation models of political instability and policy, differentiating between urban unrest caused by food consumers and elite-driven transitions. I find that increasing farm subsidies significantly increases the risk of urban unrest while it decreases the likelihood of elite-driven regime failures, indicating a policy trade-off between consumer and producer interests. Completing the feedback loop, the threat of an elite-driven regime failure causes a response in the form of a significant increase in subsidy levels, while the threat of urban unrest does not have a significant effect on policy when controlling for relevant confounding factors. My results suggest that agricultural policy does have significant effects on political instability and authoritarian regime durability but, in contrast to previous findings, policy is determined more by intra-elite conflicts between farmers and the government than by the threat of urban unrest.
Simplified high-speed high-distance list decoding for alternant codes

This paper presents a simplified list-decoding algorithm to correct any number w of errors in any alternant code of any length n with any designed distance t+1 over any finite field Fq ; in particular, in the classical Goppa codes used in the McEliece and Niederreiter public-key cryptosystems. The algorithm is efficient for w close to, and in many cases slightly beyond, the Fq Johnson bound $J'=n'-\sqrt{n'(n'-t-1)}$ where n′=n(q−1)/q, assuming t+1≤n′. In the typical case that $qn/t\in (\lg n)^{O(1)}$ and that the parent field has $(\lg n)^{O(1)}$ bits, the algorithm uses $n(\lg n)^{O(1)}$ bit operations for $w\le J'-n/(\lg n)^{O(1)}$ ; O(n4.5) bit operations for $w\le J'+o((\lg n)/\lg\lg n)$ ; and nO(1) bit operations for $w\le J'+O((\lg n)/\lg\lg n)$ .
A comprehensive evaluation of the errors inherent in the use of a two‐dimensional shell for modeling the ionosphere

[1] Accurately modeling the ionosphere is a critical component to many radionavigation applications. However, in a significant number of cases, these models assume the ionosphere is compacted into a thin shell surrounding the Earth, rather than a full three-dimensional field. While such models allow for ease of use and small storage needs, they are necessarily lacking in detailed information on the actual three-dimensional distribution of electrons in the ionosphere. This paper attempts to quantify all geometric and numerical errors made through the use of a shell model. Such errors can reach as high as 14% on days of no strong ionosphere activity. Ultimately, this paper concludes that the highest levels of accuracy require the total electron content of the ionosphere be modeled three-dimensionally. However, for those who must continue to use a shell model, a new mapping function has been derived which removes as much as 50% of the total errors seen using the previous, standard mapping function for shell models.
Erosion and sedimentation: Particle motion in inviscid fluids

The analysis of particle motion in inviscid fluids is important because asymmetric objects and large sediment particles will be subjected to large lift forces. In real fluids, the viscous effects can be ignored at large particle Reynolds numbers. At every point on the surface of a submerged particle, the fluid exerts a force per unit area or stress. In Chapter 3, the stress vector was subdivided into a pressure component acting in the direction normal to the surface and two orthogonal shear stress components acting in the plane tangent to the surface. In this chapter, the stress vector for inviscid fluids is always normal to the surface, which means that there is only a pressure component and no shear stress. The flow of inviscid fluids around submerged particles may be due either to the movement of the fluid, the movement of the particle, or a combination of both. The following discussion considers flow conditions made steady by application of the principle of relative motion of the fluid around a stationary particle. For steady flow of incompressible and inviscid fluids, the Bernoulli equation is applicable as long as the flow is irrotational. The approach in this chapter is first to define the flow field for irrotational flow. The Bernoulli equation applies throughout the flow field and then defines the pressure from the velocity.
Potentiality and persons at the margins of life

The concept of potentiality is often invoked in debate over the moral status of human embryos. It has also been invoked, though less prominently, in debate over the moral status of anencephalic infants, individuals in permanent vegetative state, and the whole-brain dead. In this paper, I examine some of the theoretical assumptions underlying the concept of potentiality invoked in these debates. I show how parties in the debate over the ethical significance of potentiality have been talking past each other to a large extent because they rely on different concepts of potentiality. The conceptual differences are traced to different assumptions about the nature of persons and whether external factors may affect determinations of possibility and therefore potentiality. Any assessment about the ethical significance of potentiality therefore requires an evaluation of alternative concepts personhood and the connection between possibility and potentiality.
Explicit formulas for the design of broadband matching bandpass equalizers with Chebyshev response

The paper presents explicit formulas for the reflection coefficient of a broadband matching Chebyshev equalizer, satisfying Youla's coefficient constraints. The results are very important in that they provide the missing links permitting computation of element values for Chebyshev equalizers of any order.
Functional Anatomy and Imaging of the Spine

Painful disorders of the spine are among our most common medical complaints. Over a lifetime, 60–80 % of adults experience at least one significant episode of back pain. In a single year, 15–20 % will have back pain, and 2–5 % of the entire population will seek medical attention for back pain. Low back pain has been estimated as the fifth leading cause of all medical visits and the second leading cause of symptom-related medical visits. In the United States, the estimated annual cost of back pain is $20 billion to $50 billion. In particular, low back pain is one of the most important factors in medical costs and disability.
Absorption Bands of Carbon Dioxide from 2.8–4.2 μ

The high-resolution spectrum of CO2 has been studied between 2.8 and 4.2 μ, by using up to 48 meter-atmospheres path to develop weak bands. Accurate band constants have been obtained for the transitions 1310–000, 0510–000, and 101–0200, and fragments of new weak bands have been detected near 3500 cm−1. Estimates of band intensities are given, including a discussion of the highly abnormal intensity distribution in the weak perpendicular bands.
Editorial Vol. 8 N 13

Bienvenidos a la edicion del Vol. 8 N 13 de la revista virtual de la Institucion Universitaria de Envigado "PSICOESPACIOS"
Critical Incidents of Highly Successful Adults with Learning Disabilities

This study investigated critical incidents of 40 highly successful adults with learning disabilities in order to gain an understanding of the incidents' impact on development, the iffect of the setting where critical incidents occurred, and the effects of positive and negative experiences on adJustment. The critical incident technique has been used in a wide array of studies both inside and outside the field of special education. Moreover, it has yielded valuable data for analysis of research problems. Findings indicated that many critical incidents occurred in a variety of educational settings and were important to vocational success. Overall, subjects recounted relatively few negative incidents. X2 analyses revealed several remarkable trends that provide insight concerning critical incidents and the developmental nature of learning disabilities throughout the life span. Analysis explored the effects of critical incidents in educational, vocational and social settings. The findings have utility because of the potentially significant impact critical incidents have on adjustment and adult success.
4 The Role of Migrations in Creating Identities among Mesoamerica Peoples from Pre‐Hispanic to Modern Times

Migration stories abound in pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican history. After the Conquest, indigenous groups continued to migrate as part of Spanish imperial expansive and within the cultural bounds of their own migratory tradition. In spite of state consolidation, people of Mesoamerica have continued moving between borders regardless of how they identify themselves. As these migrant groups have encountered hostility in the U.S. and Mexico, in recent history they have become activists, challenging traditional definitions of what an indigenous community is. A theme in their activism is a migration narrative that echoes those used by their ancestors from pre-Hispanic to present times.
CT demonstration of bilateral adrenal hemorrhage

Bilateral adrenal hemorrhage with subsequent adrenal insufficiency is a recognized complication of anticoagulant therapy. Because the clinical manifestations are often nonspecific, the antemortem diagnosis of adrenal hemorrhage has been a difficult clinical problem. Computed tomography (CT) provides detailed images of the adrenal glands that are not possible with conventional imaging methods. The CT findings of bilateral adrenal hemorrhage in an anticoagulated patient are reported.
The Direct Thrombin Inhibitors: Their Role and Use for Rational Anticoagulation

Major clinical advantages are achieved when direct thrombin inhibitors are used in venous thromboembolism. These agents provide more reliable anticoagulant response patterns because they are not significantly bound to plasma proteins and few, if any, drug-drug interactions are seen. The studies to date confirm that not all direct thrombin inhibitors are the same. The new reversible, short-acting catalytic site-specific drugs provide an excellent safety profile and high degree of efficacy for the prophylaxis and treatment of venous thromboembolism and pulmonary embolic states. The availability of the oral prodrug ximelagatran allows reproducible, effective, and safe direct thrombin inhibition without the requirement for coagulation laboratory monitoring; it appears destined to be the oral anticoagulant of the future.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of DNA and a Protein-DNA Complex Including Solvent

The results of a recent nanosecond (ns) Molecules dynamics (MD) simulation of the d(CGCGAATTCGCG) double helix in water and a 100 ps MD study of the λ repressor-operator complex are described. The DNA simulations are analyzed in terms of the structural dynamics, fluctuations in the groove width and bending of the helical axis. The results indicate that the ns dynamical trajectory progresses through a series of three substates of B form DNA, with lifetimes of the order of hundreds of picoseconds (ps). An incipient dynamical equilibrium is evident. A comparison of the calculated axis bending with that observed in corresponding crystal structure data is presented. Simulation of the DNA in complex with the protein and that of the free DNA in solution, starting from the crystal conformation, reveal the dynamical changes that occur on complex formation.
Microfluidic flow rate detection based on integrated optical fiber cantilever.

We demonstrate an integrated microfluidic flow sensor with ultra-wide dynamic range, suitable for high throughput applications such as flow cytometry and particle sorting/counting. A fiber-tip cantilever transduces flow rates to optical signal readout, and we demonstrate a dynamic range from 0 to 1500 µL min−1 for operation in water. Fiber-optic sensor alignment is guided by preformed microfluidic channels, and the dynamic range can be adjusted in a one-step chemical etch. An overall non-linear response is attributed to the far-field angular distribution of single-mode fiber output.
A framework for understanding dysempowerment in organizations

The concept of dysempowerment is introduced as a process whereby an individual perceives certain work events as affronts to one's dignity. This perception results in affective responses that generate attitudes and behaviors having the potential to disrupt or impair the individual's task motivation. We specify propositions to predict the impact of factors on potential dysempowerment, and we present a typology to characterize organizational climates that result from the coexistence of dysempowerment and empowerment.
Przibram's Rule and male body-size dimorphism in Zygoballus rufipes (Araneae: Salticidae)

Przibram's Rule of growth in hemimetabolous insects is derived from average values for the ratios of mean weights (2–09) and mean lengths (1–29) of successive instars in mantids. Adult males of the jumping spider Zygoballus rufipes Peckham & Peckham (Araneae, Salticidae) were shown to be dimorphic, while adult females were monomorphic. The male body weight distribution was bimodal, with two distinct body-size classes (morphs). A method was developed for testing the null hypothesis that an observed ratio of two means is equivalent to a previously derived null ratio. The observed ratio of mean weights for the two male morphs of Z. rufipes (2–12) was not significantly different from the value for Przibram's Rule for weight (2–09), suggesting that males matured at two different instars. The body-size dimorphism found in males was consistent with the existence of two size-based alternative life-history strategies.
Critique of a pupillary response experiment.

This critique questions the experimental design, controls and data analysis of a recent pupillary response experiment by Hess and Polt (1966).
Evolutionary Maximum Entropy Spectral Estimation and HeartRate Variability Analysis

Spectral analysis has been used extensively in heart rate variability (HRV) studies. The spectral content of HRV signals is useful in assessing the status of the autonomic nervous system. Although most of the HRV studies assume stationarity, the statistics of HRV signals change with time due to transients caused by physiological phenomena. Therefore, the use of time-frequency analysis to estimate the time-dependent spectrum of these non-stationary signals is of great importance. Recently, the spectrogram, the Wigner distribution, and the evolutionary periodogram have been used to analyze HRV signals. In this paper, we propose the application of the evolutionary maximum entropy (EME) spectral analysis to HRV signals. The EME spectral analysis is based on the maximum entropy method for stationary processes and the evolutionary spectral theory. It consists in finding an EME spectrum that matches the Fourier coefficients of the evolutionary spectrum. The spectral parameters are efficiently calculated by means of the Levinson algorithm. The EME spectral estimator provides very good time-frequency resolution, sidelobe reduction and parametric modeling of the evolutionary spectrum. With the help of real HRV signals we show the superior performance of the EME over the earlier methods.
Potential of dual-skinned, high-flux membranes to reduce backtransport in hemodialysis

Potential of dual-skinned, high-flux membranes to reduce backtransport in hemodialysis. Background Potential backfiltration of cytokine-inducing material is a clinical concern during hemodialysis conducted with high-flux membranes. Novel hollow-fiber membranes were developed that had asymmetric convective solute transport properties, aimed at reducing the passage of potentially harmful molecules from dialysate to blood, while maintaining the desired fluid and solute movement from blood to dialysate. Methods Sieving coefficient as a function of molecular weight was measured in vitro using polydisperse dextrans. Measurements were conducted using two different flat-sheet membranes in series or using hollow fiber membranes having two integrally formed skin layers. Based on measured experimental parameters, model calculations simulated the performance of a clinical-scale dialyzer containing these new membranes versus that of a commercially available high-flux dialyzer. Results Asymmetric convective solute transport was demonstrated using both commercial flat-sheet and newly developed hollow-fiber membranes. For two flat-sheet membranes in series, the extent of asymmetric transport was dependent on the order in which the solution was filtered through the membranes. For the hollow-fiber membranes, the nominal molecular weight cut-off was 20 kD in the blood-to-dialysate direction and 13 kD in the dialysate-to-blood direction. For this membrane, model calculations predict that clearance of a β 2 -microglobulin–sized molecule (11,800 D) would be significantly greater from blood to dialysate than in the reverse direction, even under conditions of zero net ultrafiltration. Conclusion A novel hollow-fiber dialysis membrane was developed that allows greater convective solute transport from blood to dialysate than from dialysate to blood.
Changing the university climate: Three libraries respond to multicultural students

Abstract The responses of three academic libraries in addressing the needs of multicultural students are examined, demonstrating their active role in developing support services for these students. These libraries provide examples of relevant programs in library instruction, reference service, collection development, and academic program support.
Discarding ideology: the nature/nurture endgame.

TOPIC The concepts and research that underpin our understanding of how the brain is the organ of the mind. PURPOSE To describe the dynamic nature of nervous system functioning and development; to discuss how the nervous system changes anatomically throughout the lifespan; to examine the vital role and interaction of genetics and environment; and to discuss the relationship among the brain, neurotransmission, genes, and psychiatric illness. SOURCES Published literature. CONCLUSIONS The latest research from the neurosciences lays to rest any suggestion that psychiatric illnesses are psychologically induced.
Conservation tillage crop yields in relation to grey garden slug [Deroceras reticulatum (Müller)] (Mollusca: Agriolimacidae) density during establishment

Abstract Alfalfa, soybeans, maize, turnips and wheat crops established by conservation tillage, and that had been subjected to no slugs, medium or high densities of slugs Deroceras reticulatum (Muller) at sowing, were harvested. The crop yields were inversely related to slug density, and seedling damage and mortality during crop establishment. Alfalfa and wheat suffered high levels of seedling mortality and their yields were reduced by up to 80%. Soybean yields were reduced by 25–46% at the medium and high slug densities, which parallel plant survival after slug attack during establishment. Maize grain field was reduced by ∼32% at medium and high slug densities in 1989, but drought conditions in 1988 precluded a grain harvest and there was no reduction in total plant yields where slugs were present at establishment. Turnips, which suffered only minor losses from slugs during establishment, consequently showed no yield reductions at maturity.
Spectroscopic Studies of the Interaction of 1,4-Diphenyl-1,3- Butadiene with alpha -,beta-, and gamma-Cyclodextrins

Steady-state fluorescence, anisotropy, and UV-visible absorption measurements have been used to investigate the structure and spectroscopic characteristics of the complexes formed by trans , trans 1,4-diphenyl-1,3-butadiene (DPB) with alpha -, beta -, and gamma -cyclodextrins (CDs). The behavior of alpha -CD with DPB is very different from that of DPB with respect to beta -CD or gamma -CD. In the presence of alpha -CD, clear solutions with high absorption and fluorescence emission, relatively high anisotropy, a rapid equilibrium reaction, and BenesiHildebrand plots lead us to conclude that normal 2:1 inclusion compounds are formed. In the presence of gamma -CD, turbid solutions, with absorption and fluorescence emission intensities lower than those in alpha -CD, higher values of anisotropy, slow equilibrium reaction, and spectral shifts to the red in the absorption, excitation, and emission wavelengths are evidence of the formation of extended linear aggregates. In the presence of beta -CD, both mechanisms of inclusion appear to be present.
Alternative heat treatments for A357-T6 aluminum alloy

Abstract An aluminum foundry experienced frequent failures of A357-T6 aluminum castings. These failures are manifested in attaining tensile stresses and total percentage elongation below the minimum requirements of MIL-A-22180D. Sixteen heat treatments were designed to study the effect of varying the heat treatment parameters on the mechanical properties and consequently to minimize failures due to the heat treatment step.
Behavioral Correlates of Maternal Antibody Status Among Children with Autism

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) affect approximately 1 in 110 children in the United States. This report profiles fetal-brain reactive autoantibodies of a large cohort of mothers of children with autism and controls, yielding significant associations between the presence of IgG reactivity to fetal brain proteins at 37 and 73 kDa and a childhood diagnosis of full autism (p = 0.0005), which also correlated with lower expressive language scores (p = 0.005). Additionally, we report on reactivity to proteins at 39 and 73 kDa, which correlated with the broader diagnosis of ASD (p = 0.0007) and increased irritability on the Aberrant Behavioral Checklist (p = 0.05). This study provides evidence of multiple patterns of reactivity to fetal brain proteins by maternal antibodies associated with ASD and specific childhood behavioral outcomes.
Effect of high-pressure-moderate-temperature processing on the volatile profile of milk.

The effects of high hydrostatic pressure on volatile generation in milk were investigated in this study. Raw milk samples were treated under different pressures (482, 586, and 620 MPa), temperatures (25 and 60 °C), and holding times (1, 3, and 5 min). Samples submitted to heat treatments alone (25, 60, and 80 °C for 1, 3, and 5 min) were used for comparison. Trace volatile sulfur compounds were analyzed using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography (GC) with pulsed-flame photometric detection (PFPD), whereas the rest of the volatile compounds were analyzed using SPME-GC with flame ionization detection (FID). Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to study the effect of pressure, temperature, and time on volatile generation. Relative concentration increases of 27 selected volatile compounds were compared to an untreated sample. It was found that pressure, temperature, and time, as well as their interactions, all had significant effects ...
Can a pelvic fracture in a horse be detected by probe scintigraphy

Pelvic fracture is a relatively common spontaneous fracture in thoroughbred racehorses. Its diagnosis can be difficult, and radiography in the acute phase carries the risks associated with anaesthesia and recumbency. This paper describes the use of a hand-held probe for point counting after the injection of technetium-99m in the investigation of four cases of pelvic fracture. The level of increased uptake of radioactivity was lower (40 to 61 per cent increase) than for distal limb bone fractures.
Comparison of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Patient Workload Generator injury distributions.

ABSTRACT The Patient Workload Generator (PATGEN) simulation model is an important part of the Army Medical Department force requirement planning. The current version of the PATGEN model is based on historical major combat operations such as World War II and the Korean War. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a significant difference between injury distributions used in the PATGEN model and the injury distributions based on the data from Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). To make the comparison feasible, the PATGEN injury categories were created using the Barell Injury Matrix. Analyses were performed using two independent OIF data sources, the Joint Theater Trauma Registry and the Standard Inpatient Data Record. Based on χ2 test results, both analyses suggest a significant difference between PATGEN and OIF injury distributions. A major concern is the underestimation by PATGEN of battle injuries with multiple wounds. The findings support future use of data-driven diagnosis-based injury ...
Experiment in International Education

WITH the growing number of Americans wandering over the face of the earth, the potential of travel and direct experience with the ways and cultures of other peoples becomes one of the most challenging of learning opportunities. And for American biblical or Hebrew professors, what could be a more agreeable, more unforgettable way to study biblical backgrounds, Jewish history, and modern Israel than to live and learn in the Holy Land itself? The New York University Post Graduate Seminar on the Land of the Bible provides this experience through the Workshop approach. The importance of the New York University Professorial Workshop on the Land of the Bible, which began in 1949 and since 1962 is sponsored by the United States State Department, under Public Law 480, has been demonstrated in two major areas: as a teaching aid and as an instrument for creating better understanding between scholars and educators in Israel and the United States.
Exposure to tricyclic antidepressants is associated with an increased risk of incident CHD events in a population-based study

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess the association between antidepressant use and incident coronary heart disease (CHD) events in a sample of individuals without known baseline heart disease. Participants and methods We studied a group of 970 randomly selected community-dwelling adults in the 1995 Nova Scotia Health Survey, who were followed for up to 10 years. Antidepressant usage was classified according to class. Primary outcomes were acute coronary syndrome hospitalizations or cardiac death, determined by centralized, standardized ratings. Results During a follow-up period of 10 years, there were 147 incident CHD events (139 acute coronary syndromes and 8 cardiac deaths) during the 8129 person-years of observation (incidence rate=18.1 events/1000 person-years). In a model controlling for age, sex, Framingham risk score, time to last annual exam, aspirin exposure, and depressive symptoms, an increased risk of CHD events was associated with tricyclic antidepressant exposure (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.10; 95% confidence interval, 1.09–4.06; p =0.027). Conclusion In this prospective population-based study, exposure to tricyclic antidepressants was associated with higher risk of first CHD events.
Laminated microbial mats, laguna Guerrero Negro, Mexico

Laguna Guerrero Negro and Ojo de Liebre are large, restricted embayments characterized by an arid climate and by a salinity ranging from that of normal seawater to the hypersalinity of sabkha environments. Intertidal microbial mats develop in some of the slightly hypersaline marshes and in many of the moderately hypersaline flats. Each major mat type corresponds to the lower, middle, or upper intertidal. In the lower intertidal mat, the photosynthetic horizon is a bilayer composed of: 1) a surface, blue‐green algal layer (about 3‐mm thick) dominated by Microcoleus chthonoplastes; and 2) an underlying purple layer (about 2‐mm thick) of photosynthetic bacteria, predominantly Chromatium sp. The mat may accrete to a thickness of 10 cm or more. It is characterized by fine laminations of alternating layers of blue‐green algae and of photosynthetic bacteria. The middle intertidal mat, dominated by Lyngbya aestuarii, is relatively thin (usually 1 or 2 cm). Only a very thin, lower horizon of purple photosynthetic ...
MALADAPTIVE INTERACTION BETWEEN BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS STAFF AND INDIAN CLIENTS.

Passive-aggressive behavior of American Indians provokes authoritarian responses from Bureau of Indian Affairs staff. This maladaptive circular interaction can defeat present-day program goals, which are to help Indians become self-sufficient on their own terms.
Using a Collaborative Critiquing Technique to Develop Chemistry Students' Technical Writing Skills.

The technique, termed “collaborative critiquing”, was developed to teach fundamental technical writing skills to analytical chemistry students for the preparation of laboratory reports. This exercise, which can be completed prior to peer-review activities, is novel, highly interactive, and allows students to take responsibility for their learning. In a collaborative critiquing exercise, students read writing samples from laboratory reports constructed by their peers and, through an interactive discussion, evaluate the quality of the writing by identifying the strengths and weaknesses of each passage. The second part of this lesson involves having students rewrite substandard laboratory report excerpts to practice writing in a technical voice. This lesson was believed to increase the class’ ability to identify technical writing flaws and apply this knowledge base toward improving their own laboratory report writing.
High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein: Friend and foe

HMGB1 was originally identified as a DNA-binding protein that functions as a structural co-factor critical for proper transcriptional regulation in somatic cells. Recent studies indicate that HMGB1 can be "passively released" into the extracellular milieu by necrotic and damaged somatic cells. Extracellular HMGB1 represents an optimal "necrotic marker" selected by the innate immune system to recognize tissue damage and initiate reparative responses. HMGB1 in the extracellular milieu promotes maturation of myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells, and induces myocardial regeneration after infarction. However, extracellular HMGB1 also acts as a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine that contributes to the pathogenesis of diverse inflammatory and infectious disorders. A growing number of studies indicate that HMGB1 is a successful therapeutic target in experimental models of ischemia/reperfusion, acute respiratory distress syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, sepsis, and cancer. From a clinical perspective, HMGB1 represents a current challenge that can be exploited orchestrate reparative responses while preventing its pathological potential. This article focus on the immuno-regulatory role of HMGB1 and its contribution to infectious and inflammatory disorders.
Blood-gas equilibria, kinetics and transport

Abstract The kinetics and equilibria of the chemical reactions underlying blood respiratory function are reviewed, together with additional physico-chemical factors governing in vivo and extracorporeal blood O2/CO2 exchange. The role of red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG) in regulating oxygen-hemoglobin interaction is discussed at length. In addition, the coupling of hemoglobin's reactions with oxygen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen ions and DPG; the biochemical regulation of DPG concentration; and DPG's influence, through a Donnan phenomenon, upon the difference between erythrocyte and plasma pH, are also examined. The kinetics of blood equilibration with carbon dioxide are reviewed, with emphasis upon the enzyme carbonic anhydrase, the exchange of bicarbonate and chloride ions across the red cell membrane and hemoglobin carbamate formation. The discrepancy between the kinetics of oxygen reactions with turbulently flowing hemoglobin solutions and whole blood is discussed in light of recent evaluations of extracellular mass transfer resistance. The significance of blood-gas equilibria and kinetics in CO2 release in the lungs and O2 release to tissue is discussed with particular emphasis upon transfusion of blood with modified hemoglobin oxygen affinity. Convection/diffusion-limited O2 transport is treated in the contexts of O2 uptake in gas exchange devices and release to tissue. A brief discussion of blood substitute media is also appended.
Comment on 'A tale of two commodities: how EU mycotoxin regulations have affected U.S. tree nut industries'

In my article published in the previous issue (Wu, 2008, ‘A tale of two commodities: how EU mycotoxin regulations have affected U.S. tree nut industries’, World Mycotoxin Journal 1: 95-102), I had made the following statement about the European Union’s foodborne aflatoxin regulations: ‘The European Union’s (EU) regulation on aflatoxins is among the strictest in the world, at 4 ng/g total aflatoxins in food other than peanuts, and 15 ng/g in peanuts’. This is an oversimplification, as the EU has more detailed regulations depending on the use and the level of processing of the food. The more complete EU aflatoxin regulations can be found in the European Commission Regulation 1881/2006/EC of 19 December 2006 (EC, 2006). Specifically, the 15 ng/g standard applies to groundnuts to be subjected to sorting or other physical treatment before consumption or use as an ingredient in foodstuffs. However, groundnuts, other nuts, and processed products made thereof that are intended for direct human consumption are subject to the 4 ng/g aflatoxin standard. In addition, a 10 ng/g standard applies to spices and processed cereal-based foods, and a 0.1 ng/g standard applies to baby foods.
hp-Adaptive Finite Element Simulations of Viscous Flow Including Convective Heat Transfer

An hp-adaptive finite element model based on mesh refinement and increasing spectral order is used to solve for viscous flow problems including natural and forced convection. The adaptive FEM produces highly accurate numerical results. An a-posteriori error estimator based on the L 2 norm is employed to guide the adaptive procedure. Example problems include lid-driven cavity viscous flow, natural convection in a differentially heated square enclosure and forced convection over a backward facing step. Results compared with data reported in the literature show excellent agreement.
Phonological process analysis from spontaneous speech: The influence of sample size

Phonological process analysis is becoming a popular technique for the evaluation of unintelligible children and adults. Spontaneous speech sampling procedures have been advocated as a representative sampling base for phonological process analysis; however, little research has been reported detailing the parameters of spontaneous samples in reference to this assessment technique. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the influence of increasing sample size on phonological process analyses from spontaneous speech. Results clearly indicated that samples of 50 words provided descriptive information similar to samples of 100 words. Additional studies are called for to investigate other variables that might influence the results of spontaneous speech analysis.