cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Performance of Different Classification Models on National Coral Reef Monitoring Dataset

This paper presents the data analysis and classification of the survey results from the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program: Assessment of coral reef communities in the U.S Virgin Islands. The dataset was created as a part of a survey led by NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) in collaboration with nine other universities and research institutes. The data was collected as a result of Line Point-Intercept (LPI) survey and Belt Transect procedure. Different data exploration, model development, and interpretation were performed on the dataset to study information on fish species diversity, density, composition, size, and other derived metrics. This study intends to demonstrate the performance of different machine learning models on the classification of the target feature- Strat Type. Various machine learning techniques such as Logistic regression, K-Nearest Neighbor, Decision Tree, and Random Forest are used to classify the categorical Strat Type. It was concluded that Random Forest, and Decision Tree present the best performance.
Sexual violence prevalence and disclosure patterns among college undergraduates: exploring types of sexual violence and incident-specific characteristics.

Study explores the role of well-documented individual-level correlates of a range of types of sexual violence among undergraduates and examines both individual-level and incident-level correlates o...
Decentralized Failure-Tolerant Optimization of Electric Vehicle Charging

We present a decentralized failure-tolerant algorithm for optimizing electric vehicle (EV) charging, using charging stations as computing agents. The algorithm is based on the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) and it has the following features: ( i ) It handles coupling constraints for capacity, peak demand, and ancillary services. ( ii ) It does not require a central agent collecting information and performing coordination (e.g., an aggregator), instead all agents exchange information and computations are carried out in a fully decentralized fashion. ( iii ) It can withstand the failure of any number of computing agents, as long as the remaining computing agents are in a connected communications network. We construct this algorithm by reformulating the optimal EV charging problem in a decomposable form, amenable to ADMM, and then developing efficient decentralized solution methods for the subproblems dealing with coupling constraints. We conduct numerical experiments on industry-scale synthetic EV charging datasets, with up to 1 152 charging stations, using a high-performance computing cluster. The experiments demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can solve the optimal EV charging problem fast enough to permit the integration of EV charging with real-time electricity markets, even in the presence of failures.
A review of sleep disturbance in adults prescribed medications for opioid use disorder: potential treatment targets for a highly prevalent, chronic problem.

Abstract Background Sleep disturbance in individuals prescribed medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is common, though the nature and progression of such concerns are difficult to discern due to differing terminology and assessment type between studies. Accurately identifying and treating sleep problems in this growing population has the potential to improve comorbidity and other MOUD outcomes. Objective The aim of the present review is to provide an overview of sleep in individuals stabilized on MOUD. Specifically, the following aspects of sleep were reviewed: 1) prevalence of clinically significant sleep disturbance; 2) sleep disturbance compared to findings in those not prescribed MOUD; 3) correlates of sleep disturbance; 4) self-reported sleep compared to objective measures. Method Studies were identified using 6 large databases and included if they contained at least one measure of sleep during MOUD treatment as usual. Studies were excluded if they were case studies, not available in English, or participants were in withdrawal or detoxification. Results Forty-two studies were included and categorized by type of sleep assessment: validated self-report questionnaire; provider-assessed; polysomnography; multi-method. Correlates were included if they were statistically significant (generally p Conclusions This review indicates there is a high prevalence of chronic self-reported sleep disturbance (eg, insomnia symptoms) in this population and suggests quantitative sleep parameters (eg, total sleep time) and respiratory problems during sleep are worse than in the general population. These sleep problems are correlated with psychiatric comorbidity and other substance use. Other correlates (eg, sociodemographic factors) require further study to draw definitive conclusions.
Dietary magnesium and migraine in adults: A cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001–2004

Background Clinical trials have demonstrated magnesium supplements to be effective for prophylactic treatment of migraine. Dietary magnesium intake of many Americans is known to be below nutritional recommendations, but typical magnesium intake from dietary sources in adults with migraine has not previously been evaluated. Objective This study aimed to quantify dietary and total (diet + supplement) magnesium consumption of adults with migraine or severe headache in the United States, and to investigate the relationship between magnesium consumption levels and prevalence of migraine or severe headache. Methods This analysis included cross-sectional data from 3626 participants, 20- to 50-years old in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2001 and 2004. Presence of migraine or severe headache in the past 3 months was determined by questionnaire. Individuals responding affirmatively were classified as having migraine, and individuals reporting not experiencing migraine or severe headache were classified as controls. Dietary magnesium intake was determined from a 24-hour recall interview, supplemental magnesium intake was determined from the dietary supplements interview, and total magnesium intake was the sum of dietary and supplement intake. Results Mean dietary consumption of magnesium was below the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for both migraine (n = 905) and control groups (n = 2721). Attainment of the RDA through a combination of diet and supplements was associated with lower adjusted odds of migraine (odds ratio [OR] = 0.83, 95% confidence intervals [CIs] = 0.70, 0.99, p = 0.035). Magnesium consumption in the highest quartile (Q) was associated with lower odds of migraine than in the lowest Q for both dietary (OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.63, 0.92, p = 0.006) and total (OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.62, 0.99, p = 0.042) magnesium intake in adjusted models. Conclusion These results suggest inadequate consumption of magnesium intake is associated with migraine in U.S. adults ages 20-50. Further prospective investigations are warranted to evaluate the role of dietary magnesium intake on migraine.
External validation of the Lawton brainstem cavernous malformation grading system in a cohort of 277 microsurgical patients.

OBJECTIVE The brainstem cavernous malformation (BSCM) grading system predicts neurological outcomes associated with microsurgical resection and assists neurosurgeons in selecting patients for treatment. The predictive accuracy of the BSCM grading system should be validated in a large cohort from high-volume centers to generalize its use. METHODS An external validation cohort comprised patients with a BSCM resected by the senior author (M.T.L.) since the publication of the BSCM grading system and those resected by another neurosurgeon (R.F.S.) over a 16-year period. Size, crossing the axial midpoint, the presence of a developmental venous anomaly, patient age, and timing of last hemorrhage were used to assign BSCM grades from 0 to VII. Poor neurological outcomes were recorded as modified Rankin Scale scores > 2 at last follow-up examination. RESULTS A total of 277 patients were included in the study. The average BSCM grade was 3.9, and the majority of BSCMs (181 patients, 65%) were intermediate grade (grades III-V). Outcomes were predicted by BSCM grade, with good outcomes observed in 47 of 54 patients (87%) with low-grade BSCMs, in 135 of 181 patients (75%) with intermediate-grade BSCMs, and in 21 of 42 patients (50%) with high-grade BSCMs. Conversely, proportions of patients with neurological deterioration increased with increasing BSCM grade, with worsening observed in 2 of 54 patients (4%) with low-grade BSCMs, in 29 of 181 patients (16%) with intermediate-grade BSCMs, and in 17 of 42 patients (40%) with high-grade BSCMs. In the chi-square analysis, high-grade BSCMs were associated with increased odds of neurological worsening compared to low- and intermediate-grade BSCMs (OR 5.0, 95% CI 2.4-10.4; p 2) with an area under the curve of 0.74 (95% CI 0.68-0.80; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS This study validates the BSCM grading system in a large cohort of patients from two high-volume surgeons. BSCM grade predicted neurological outcomes with accuracy comparable to that of other grading systems in widespread use. The BSCM grading system establishes categories of low-, intermediate-, and high-grade BSCMs and a boundary or cutoff for surgery at BSCM grade V. BSCM grading guides the analysis of a particular patient's condition, but treatment recommendations must be individualized, and neurosurgeons must calibrate BSCM grading to their own outcome results, unique abilities, and practices.
A Deep Learning Based Brain Metastases Segmentation Web Platform for Stereotactic Radiosurgery.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S) Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) enables the treatment of multiple (> 4) brain metastases (mBMs) patients with reduced neurotoxicity. BMs delineation serves as an essential part in the SRS management involving treatment planning and follow-up. However, manual contouring is highly time-consuming, especially in patients with mBMs. In this study, we propose a deep learning-based BMs segmentation web platform including BMs labeling and database management to improve the efficiency of SRS workflow. MATERIALS/METHODS The platform is designed with a web client and a back-end server. The web client enables user interactions and data visualization, while the back-end server embeds the core algorithms and maintains a database. All the embedded deep learning models were previously-trained using 271 T1c MRI data with 1058 BMs in total. Once the user imports new MRI data from the client, the server will execute tasks including: 1) CNN-based BMs auto-segmentation 2) Siamese network based false-positive segmentation reduction 3) Affine registration-based BMs labeling, and then send the results back to the web client. The web client displays the received segmentation results, and allows the users to conduct further modifications and export as DICOM RTSTRUCT files. In addition, the server will update the database with the new data. Users can access this database from the web client to retrieve any patient data including image, segmentation and other metadata. RESULTS The entire process takes about 4 to 5 minutes to complete per new data. The platform can segment mBMs with initial averaged sensitivity of 0.96 and specificity of 0.59. Then after the false-positive reduction, the averaged sensitivity and specificity currently are 0.86 and 0.89. Due to the flexibility of false-positive reduction algorithm, we can balance the sensitivity/specificity as clinical need. The segmentation accuracy is evaluated by the mean (std) Hausdorff distance as 2.75 (0.57) mm, the mean (std) center of mass shift as 1.41 (0.32) mm, and the mean (std) of surface-to-surface distance as 1.01 (0.28) mm, with the BMs labeling accuracy as 100%. CONCLUSION The deep learning BMs segmentation web platform can accurately segment and label mBMs, and maintain a database for improved data management. It can facilitate the efficiency of the SRS workflow including planning and treatment follow-up, and can be a promising tool for the BMs management.
Potential Applications of Nanoparticles for Hyperthermia

There is converging evidence that clinical mild temperature hyperthermia sensitizes tumors to conventional therapies as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Coupled with an increasing understanding of the biological basis of this synergy there has been a parallel increase in the ability to achieve, maintain, measure and monitor temperature and its physiological and physical consequences. A new entrant in the arena of hyperthermia generation is nanotechnology which capitalizes on locally injected or systemically administered nanoparticles that home to tumors and are activated by extrinsic energy sources to generate heat. This chapter highlights the unique opportunities and challenges with implementing hyperthermia mediated by a variety of engineered nanoparticles for cancer therapy.
Chapter 11 Man in Extreme Environments, Problems of the Newborn and Elderly

Publisher Summary Man is more ubiquitous in his distribution than any other mammal and is able to survive and thrive in most areas of the world; only high altitudes prevent his permanent residence. With the evolution of an effective physiological thermoregulatory system, combined with his technological advancement, man is able to withstand the extremes of temperature experienced in the world. Thus, it is only under unusual circumstances that ambient conditions threaten his well-being and these are usually self-imposed. When the thermoregulation of the young adult is compared to that of newborn children and the elderly, there is evidence for the incomplete development of homeothermy in the neonate and a gradual functional deterioration in the aged. Thus, whereas the young adult is able to tolerate the extremes of temperature with very little threat to his life, the thermal environment of the newborn and old require special attention. In the case of the newborn, this is particularly important within the first few days of life; in England, half the babies who die within the first year of life do so within the first 72 hours. Although these deaths have not necessarily been attributed to hypo- or hyperthermia, it may have been a complicating factor. One of the main problems of temperature regulation in the elderly is related to their inability to recognize an extreme environment. In addition, they have a poorly controlled thermoregulatory system. Accidential hypothermia or hyperthermia, thus, represents either a direct or indirect threat to the life of older people.
Lessons learned applying software engineering principles to visual programming language application development

Visual programming languages make software design accessible even to untrained programmers, but basic software engineering practices must still be followed to create a usable product. This paper describes the process by which software was developed to control sophisticated laboratory equipment for a radio frequency interference monitoring system (RFIMS). Development of requirements and specifications is discussed. It is shown that the product was improved by the use of extensive planning and user testing. In addition, the steps required for designing a clear and intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) are discussed. The GUI interface specifications, user panel templates, menu system hierarchy, and programmatically guiding the user are some of the tools that were successfully employed in the project development.
Shortest Division Chains in Imaginary Quadratic Number Fields

Let O d be the set of algebraic integers in an imaginary quadratic number field Q[√d], d<0, where d is the discriminant of O d . Consider the Euclidean Algorithm (EA), applied to algebraic integers ξ, η ∈ O d . It consists in computing a sequence of remainders ρ0=ξ, ρ1=η, ρ2, ..., ρn+1=0, where ρi+1=ρi−1−γ i ρ i for algebraic integers γ i ∈ K, i=1, ..., n. We show that except for d=−11 the number of divisions to be carried out is always minimized by choosing each γ i such that N(ρi-1 - γ i ρ i ), the norm of γi-1 - γ i ρ i , is minimal. This result has been proven previously in special cases. It also applies to those imaginary quadratic number rings which are not Euclidean; in this case the division chains may be infinite. For d=−7, −8 the methods applied so far must be modified somewhat, and for d=−11 we provide a counterexample and a theorem which partially answers the question, how shortest division chains can be obtained.
Matrix assessment of the articular cartilage surface after chondroplasty with the holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser. A long-term study.

A long-term in vivo study was performed to assess biochemical changes after laser repair of articular cartilage. Forty New Zealand White rabbits were sacrificed 26 weeks after undergoing an articular cartilage chondroplasty with use of a holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser at 0.8 joules per pulse and a rate of 10 Hz. Glycosaminoglycan content in the repaired tissue decreased significantly with both perpendicular (19.59 ± 5.6 μg hexosamin/mg of dry tissue) and tangential delivery (14.78 ± 4.5 μg/mg) compared with the sham-treated tissue (39.6 ± 5.0 μg/mg). Cellular viability was also significantly decreased. Sulfate incorporation was decreased to 203 ± 142 cpm/mg of dry cartilage in the tangential mode and 461 ± 209 cpm/mg in the tangential mode, compared with the sham at 1845 cpm/mg. Uptake of [3H]thymidine decreased to 463 ± 473 cpm/mg of dry tissue and 455 ± 170 cpm/mg in the tangential and perpendicular modes, respectively, compared with 2465 cpm/mg in the sham tissue. There were no significant diffe...
Molecular Cell Biology, 3.0. Harvey Lodish, David Baltimore, Arnold Berk, S. Lawrence Zipursky, Paul Matsudaira, James Darnell. NY: WH Freeman and Co., 1996. CD-ROM $62.95. ISBN 0-7167-2711-0.

The CD-ROM version of this classic textbook offers more than one could imagine from the print edition I used as a student. Overall, this general textbook, a tribute to molecular and cellular biology, presents very logically the basic information needed to understand the most fundamental of cellular processes. The CD has four major sections, including 27 chapters, five animations, and 17 videos. Each section is clearly written and has easy-to-follow …
Tainting the soul: Purity concerns predict moral judgments of suicide

Moral violations are typically defined as actions that harm others. However, suicide is considered immoral even though the perpetrator is also the victim. To determine whether concerns about purity rather than harm predict moral condemnation of suicide, we presented American adults with obituaries describing suicide or homicide victims. While harm was the only variable predicting moral judgments of homicide, perceived harm (toward others, the self, or God) did not significantly account for variance in moral judgments of suicide. Instead, regardless of political and religious views and contrary to explicit beliefs about their own moral judgments, participants were more likely to morally condemn suicide if they (i) believed suicide tainted the victims' souls, (ii) reported greater concerns about purity in an independent questionnaire, (iii) experienced more disgust in response to the obituaries, or (iv) reported greater trait disgust. Thus, suicide is deemed immoral to the extent that it is considered impure.
ATVB In Focus Redox Mechanisms in Blood Vessels

Much interest has been generated recently concerning the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vascular health and disease. The original “oxidative modification hypothesis of atherosclerosis” put forth in the early 1980’s by Steinberg and colleagues suggested that oxidative modification of LDL enhanced its atherogenic properties. An explosion of articles in this area substantiated the role of oxidized LDL in atherosclerosis (reviewed by Chisolm and Steinberg1), but recent work has expanded this hypothesis to include a role for free radicals in hypertension,2 the processes leading to restenosis after balloon angioplasty,3 vascular inflammation,4 diabetic vascular disease,5 and angiogenesis.6 Perhaps more importantly, ROS are essential to the normal functioning of the vessel wall, including endothelium-dependent relaxation, contraction, and the smooth muscle cell and endothelial cell growth and survival involved in repair and remodeling of the vessel wall. These diverse and critical roles of ROS in vascular physiology and pathophysiology make …
Description and classification of soils of the high-elevation grasslands of central Peru

Abstract Little has been reported on the soils of the high-elevation grassland known as the “puna” of Peru. The objectives of this study were to characterize and classify some of these little-known soils on a 17000-ha area in the puna as part of a vegetation inventory. Morphological and chemical descriptions of eleven soils are presented. Soils differed mainly because of distinctions in topographic position, slope and parent material. Topographic position strongly influenced moisture regimes of the soils which were grouped according to occurrence: floodplains, upland depressions, glaciated uplands and unglaciated mountain slopes. Parent materials were alluvium; glacial till; siltstone residuum; and colluvium derived from andesite, limestone, and siltstone. The mineral soils had histic, mollic, umbric or ochric epipedons. All upland mineral soils had argillic horizons. Upper profile horizons commonly had pH values between 4 and 5. High CEC values in the upper horizons are attributed to high quantities of organic matter or amorphous clays derived from volcanic ash falls or both. Soils were tentatively placed in five taxa: (1) Mollic Cryoboralfs; (2) Argic Pachic Cryoborolls; (3) Argic Cryoborolls; (4) Typic Cryohemists; and (5) Typic Cryaquents.
Cytomegalic adrenal hypoplasia with pituitary cytomegaly

A case of cytomegalic congenital adrenal hypoplasia (C.C.A.H.) is reported with similar cytomegalic changes in the hypophysis. In this case the pituitary gland was small as were the thyroid and testes. The various groups of patients with C.A.H. are presented. Associated pituitary cytomegaly does not appear to have been previously described, and this association between the adrenal and pituitary changes is discussed. It is suggested that the adrenal cytomegaly is the result of overstimulation by the pituitary and the similar change in the latter may be the result of overstimulation of a hypoplastic organ.
Finite Element Modeling of Acoustic Scattering From Fluid and Elastic Rough Interfaces

Quantifying acoustic scattering from rough interfaces is critical for reverberation modeling, acoustic sediment characterization, and propagation modeling. In this study, a finite element (FE) scattering model is developed. The model computes the plane wave scattering strength for an ensemble of rough power-law surfaces for ocean bottoms described as fluid and elastic. The FE model is compared with two models based on approximations to the Helmholtz–Kirchhoff integral: the Kirchhoff approximation (KA) and the perturbation theory (PT). In the case of a fluid-like bottom, the KA and FE models agree except at small grazing angles. The PT and FE models deviate near specular especially at small angles. For the elastic case, the PT predicts the FE results well except at the intromission angle of the shear wave. The KA deviates for angles that are below the critical angle of the compressional wave. At the shear wave intromission angle, the FE model shows a more plausible solution likely due to multiple scattering events that are not accounted for in PT for the modeled roughness.
Two examples illustrating the differences between classical and quantum mechanics

Two examples are presented: The first shows that a potentialV(x) can be in the limit circle case at ∞ even if the classical travel time to ∞ is infinite. The second shows thatV(x) can be in the limit point case at ∞ even though the classical travel time to infinity is finite. The first example illustrates the reflection of quantum waves at sharp steps. The second example illustrates the tunnel effect.
Carbonate system in the waters near the Galapagos Islands

Abstract During the IRONEX cruise in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, the carbonate parameters, TA (total alkalinity), TCO 2 (total inorganic carbon), pH and fCO 2 (fugacity of CO 2 ), were determined both in a small (8×8 km) patch of water fertilized with Fe and in the waters around the Galapagos Islands. The CO 2 parameters, along with hydrographic properties, were found to be uniform in the surface waters of the study area before the addition of iron. A significant decrease of the surface TCO 2 (7 μmol kg -1 ) and fCO 2 (11 μatm) in the patch was detected within 48 h of the iron release. This decrease, however, did not continue and was lower than expected from the complete utilization of NO - 3 due to the addition of iron. The shipboard iron addition experiments (3 nM Fe) resulted in a continual decrease of TCO 2 (up to 48 μmol kg -1 ) and complete consumption of the nutrients. A good correlation was found between TCO 2 , pH and fCO 2 with temperature in the surface waters around the Galapagos Islands. The salinity ( S =35) normalized alkalinities were quite uniform (NTA=2310±9 mol kg -1 ) throughout the region. The effect of high primary production on the CO 2 system in the downstream plume is overshadowed by the upwelling waters with high CO 2 .
Lessons for Psychiatry from the AIDS Activist Movement

ABSTRACT This paper provides a historical account of how a burgeoning consumer rights movement took on a new and unprecedented form when HIV struck the United States. It then goes on to explain the social sea-change that movement provoked, including how it influenced medicine, particularly biomedical research, access to services, and the locus of control in medical decision-making. Finally, the author draws some parallels to the AIDS activist movement and some of the broader challenges confronting psychiatry today.
Aortic and mitral valve incompetence: long-term follow-up (10 to 19 years) of patients treated with the Starr-Edwards prosthesis.

The long-term course (mean 15 years) of 336 patients with valvular incompetence who underwent Starr-Edwards ball valve implantation between 1962 and 1971 was reviewed. Eighteen patients (10%) with aortic valve replacement and 24 (16%) with mitral valve replacement died early postoperatively. Mortality remained high (31 % ) in the first 3 years after aortic valve replacement; it was highest (13%) in the first year after mitral valve replacement and then approached the normal rate. The most common mode of death was sudden death after aortic and cardiac failure after mitral valve replacement. At follow-up, 76% of survivors had improved symptomatically. Three instances of primary valve malfunction occurred. The probability of freedom from thromboembolism at 15 years postoperatively was 56% for aortic valve replacement and 52% for mitral valve replacement. The Starr-Edwards valve prothesis is durable over prolonged follow-up period, but thromboemholism remains a persistent problem. Survival may be normal for patients surviving the early postoperative years.
CpG island hypermethylation is maintained in human colorectal cancer cells after RNAi-mediated depletion of DNMT1

The role of the primary mammalian DNA methyltransferase, DNMT1, in maintaining CpG island methylation in human colon cancer cells has recently been questioned. This controversy has arisen from discrepancies between genetic knockout and RNA interference-mediated knockdown studies. Here, we re-examined the RNA interference-based approach and found that hypermethylation of single-copy genes is maintained in cells transiently and stably depleted of DNMT1.
A Miocene Snakefly from Stewart Valley, Nevada (Raphidioptera: Raphidiidae)

The first fossil snakefly from the Neogene of North America (mid-Miocene of Nevada) is described and figured. Agulla mineralensis Engel, new species, is represented by an isolated hind wing and is more similar to modern Nearctic snakeflies in venation than to most Old World species in contrast to some of the Paleogene species which seem to represent a different faunal composition.
Reprogramming human endothelial cells to haematopoietic cells requires vascular induction

Generating engraftable human haematopoietic cells from autologous tissues is a potential route to new therapies for blood diseases. However, directed differentiation of pluripotent stem cells yields haematopoietic cells that engraft poorly. Here, we have devised a method to phenocopy the vascular-niche microenvironment of haemogenic cells, thereby enabling reprogramming of human endothelial cells into engraftable haematopoietic cells without transition through a pluripotent intermediate. Highly purified non-haemogenic human umbilical vein endothelial cells or adult dermal microvascular endothelial cells were transduced with the transcription factors FOSB, GFI1, RUNX1 and SPI1 (hereafter referred to as FGRS), and then propagated on serum-free instructive vascular niche monolayers to induce outgrowth of haematopoietic colonies containing cells with functional and immunophenotypic features of multipotent progenitor cells (MPPs). These endothelial cells that have been reprogrammed into human MPPs (rEC-hMPPs) acquire colony-forming-cell potential and durably engraft into immune-deficient mice after primary and secondary transplantation, producing long-term rEC-hMPP-derived myeloid (granulocytic/monocytic, erythroid, megakaryocytic) and lymphoid (natural killer and B cell) progenies. Conditional expression of FGRS transgenes, combined with vascular induction, activates endogenous FGRS genes, endowing rEC-hMPPs with a transcriptional and functional profile similar to that of self-renewing MPPs. Our approach underscores the role of inductive cues from the vascular niche in coordinating and sustaining haematopoietic specification and may prove useful for engineering autologous haematopoietic grafts to treat inherited and acquired blood disorders.
Intramolecular nickel catalyzed cycloadditions of bis-dienes: 3 approaches to the taxane skeleton☆

Abstract The successful application of the nickel catalyzed, intramolecular [4+4] cycloaddition of bis-dienes to the preparation of both the AB and BC ring systems of the taxane diterpenes is described. This cycloaddition methodology provides the basis for a general and efficient route to angularly alkyl-substituted bicyclo[6.4.0]dodecanes and to bicyclo[5.3.1]undecanes.
Prospects for a vaccine against HIV

Presentation des differentes strategies utilisees dans l'elaboration de vaccins contre le virus de l'immunodeficience humaine. Mise en evidence des difficultes rencontrees dans la mise au point et reflexion prospective sur des approches qui semblent prometteuses
Ultrasound in the diagnosis of primary congestive cardiomyopathy.

Twelve patients with primary congestive cardiomyopathy (CC) were studied by echocardiography. The echocardiographic features of congestive cardiomyopathy were: end-diastolic volume significantly larger and ejection fraction significantly lower than normal (P
Cholesterol versus alpha-tocopherol: effects on properties of bilayers made from heteroacid phosphatidylcholines

The techniques of differential scanning calorimetry, fluorescence of merocyanine 540, fluorescence polarization of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene, proton permeability, and lipid peroxidation are used to compare the perturbations of cholesterol and alpha-tocopherol on lipid bilayer membranes composed of different phosphatidylcholines containing stearic acid in the sn-1 position and an unsaturated fatty acid (either oleic, alpha-linolenic, gamma-linolenic, or docosahexaenoic acid) in the sn-2 position. It is concluded that the structural roles of cholesterol and alpha-tocopherol may be similar with membranes composed of some phosphatidylcholines but are clearly different with membranes composed of other related phosphatidylcholines. alpha-Tocopherol exerts a much larger effect than cholesterol on membranes rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids that have their initial double bond before the delta 9 position. Cholesterol interacts more favorably with fatty acids that do not have an double bond before the delta 9 position. The membrane structural effects are explained in terms of the larger size of the sterol ring structure of cholesterol compared to the smaller chromanol ring of the alpha-tocopherol.
Highly Efficient and Stable Narrow-Band Phosphorescent Emitters for OLED Applications

In order to develop organic light-emitting diodes with improved optical properties, a series of phosphorescent complexes exhibiting narrow-band emission spectra are prepared and color tuned to emit efficiently across the whole visible spectrum through a judicious molecular design. Devices employing a green narrow-band phosphorescent emitter are fabricated and demonstrate an internal quantum efficiency of close to unity and impressive device operational lifetimes, estimate at over 70 000 h at a practical luminance of 100 cd m-2. Additionally, a deep blue narrow-band emitter is incorporated into a device setting that demonstrates a peak external quantum efficiency of 17.6% and CIE coordinates of (0.14, 0.09).
Parental Self-Efficacy and Social Support as Predictors of Parenting Practices and Children's Socioemotional Adjustment in Mexican Immigrant Families

SUMMARY The current study examined the hypotheses that (1) parental self-efficacy partially mediates the relationships between social support and both parental warmth and control, and (2) these parenting variables relate positively to children's socioemotional adjustment. First-generation, Mexican immigrant mothers were interviewed regarding social support, parental self-efficacy, parenting practices, and their child's socioemotional adjustment. Overall, results from path analyses suggest that, for Mexican immigrant families, social support relates to parenting practices partly because those with greater social support feel more efficacious as parents. Findings also showed that parenting characterized by warmth or control is associated with greater socioemotional adjustment among children. This research supports the idea that, for programs designed to influence parenting practices, simply providing social support may be less important than taking steps to enhance parental self-efficacy.
Comparison of gated sestamibi myocardial perfusion imaging between upright solid state and standard supine gamma systems.

Abstract Background: There are no data directly comparing myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with upright solid state and standard supine gamma for imaging characteristics and clinical interpretation. Methods: A series of 54 patients underwent clinically indicated upright solid state and standard supine gamma MPI, respectively, in a randomized fashion. Image acquisition time, for both systems, was 25 seconds/projection at rest and 30 seconds/ projection at stress, for 64 projections. Images were interpreted for the presence or absence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and ventricular function by a consensus of 3 expert readers blinded to patient identifiers. Results: There was moderate agreement for the detection of coronary artery disease. Perfusion Supine normal Supine CAD Agreement = 78% Kappa = 0.486 Total = 54 Upright Normal 31 5 Upright CAD 7 11 Among patients identified as having CAD by both systems (n=11), upright solid state imaging resulted in higher summed stress scores [12.3 ± 8.7 versus 18.1 ±11.7 (p Function Supine > 50% Supine Agreement = 94% Kappa = 0.804 Total = 49 Upright >50% 38 1 Upright 2 8 Conclusion: Upright solid state imaging is equivalent to supine standard gamma MPI for the diagnosis of CAD utilizing myocardial perfusion and function.
The department apprentice program: providing support on a decentralized campus

At universities and colleges with decentralized IT support, small departments rarely have local staff to solve technology problems. Large departments at these institutions often provide their own IT staff. This system often creates an uneven computing environment by placing smaller departments at a technological disadvantage.The University of Oregon's Microcomputer Services group has created the Department Apprentice Program to provide in-person support for small departments. The program helps to provide a base level of computer support required by these departments to operate effectively. The program employs students to provide this support, creating real-world training and growth opportunities for student staff.This paper explores the structure of the Department Apprentice Program, describes its rules and limitations and discusses the challenges of operating such a program.
Bone destruction in arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterised by the presence of an inflammatory synovitis accompanied by destruction of joint cartilage and bone. Destruction of cartilage matrix results predominantly from the action of connective tissue proteinases released by RA synovial tissues, chondrocytes, and pannus tissue. Several lines of evidence in RA and in animal models of arthritis support a role for osteoclasts in the pathogenesis of bone erosions. RA synovial tissues produce a variety of cytokines and growth factors that may increase osteoclast formation, activity, and/or survival. These include interleukin 1alpha (IL1alpha) and beta, tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), IL11, IL17, and macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF). Receptor activator of NFkappaB ligand (RANKL) is an essential factor for osteoclast differentiation and also functions to augment T cell-dendritic cell cooperative interactions. CD4+ T cells and synovial fibroblasts derived from RA synovium are sources of RANKL. Furthermore, in collagen induced arthritis (CIA), blockade with osteoprotegerin (OPG), a decoy receptor for RANKL, results in protection from bone destruction. To further evaluate the role of osteoclasts in focal bone erosion in arthritis, arthritis was generated in the RANKL knockout mouse using a serum transfer model. Despite ongoing inflammation, the degree of bone erosion in arthritic RANKL knockout mice, as assessed by microcomputed tomography and correlated histopathological analysis, was dramatically reduced compared with that seen in arthritic control mice. Cartilage damage was present in both the arthritic RANKL knockout mice and in arthritic control littermates, with a trend toward milder cartilage damage in the RANKL knockout mice. This study supports the hypothesis that osteoclasts play an important part in the pathogenesis of focal bone erosion in arthritis, and reveals distinct mechanisms of cartilage destruction and bone erosion in this animal model of arthritis. Future directions for research in this area include the further investigation of a possible direct role for the RANKL/RANK/OPG system in cartilage metabolism, and the possible role of other cell types and cytokines in bone erosion in arthritis.
Psychiatric symptoms, atypical dementia, and left visual field inattention in corticobasal ganglionic degeneration

We longitudinally examined the neuropsychological and psychiatric characteristics of an adult male with pathologically confirmed corticobasal ganglionic degeneration (CBGD). The patient was seen on an inpatient and outpatient basis by members of the Departments of Neurology and Radiology of the University of Miami School of Medicine. Longitudinal neuropsychological testing revealed a lateralized cortical-subcortical dementia and left visual field inattention consistent with neurological and postmortem neuropathological findings of greater right hemisphere dysfunction. Symptoms of depression and obsessive-compulsive symptomatology were also documented. Our findings are consistent with prior reports indicating that CBGD is characterized by lateralized cerebral dysfunction and suggest that a detailed neuropsychological examination is a useful procedure to assist in the differential diagnosis of this movement disorder.
Electroconvulsive shocks exacerbate the heightened acoustic startle response in stressed rats

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been successfully used in the treatment of depression, particularly when the illness is refractory to pharmacological therapy. A recent study has shown that ECT is also effective in reducing both depressive and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in patients with major depression (MDD) and co-occurring PTSD. This raises the possibility that ECT might be effective in the treatment of PTSD, a disease whose prevalence has increased substantially in recent years. A characteristic symptom of PTSD is an exaggerated reactivity to startling sounds (acoustic startle response; ASR). In the present study, we investigated the effects of electroconvulsive shocks (ECS) on the ASR, in a rat model of traumatic stress. The animals were subjected to a restraint/tailshock paradigm and then administered ECS. ASR measurements were obtained at several time points following ECS administration. Although ECS had no effect in control rats, it significantly exacerbated the already potentiated ASR in the stressed group. While ECT may prove to be an effective treatment for certain symptoms of co-occurring MDD/PTSD or PTSD alone, it may exacerbate heightened arousal associated with PTSD.
Free amino acids during chronic cyclosporine A toxicity in intact and partially nephrectomized rats.

Abstract The effects of 40 days of treatment with Cyclosporine A (CSA) on plasma and urine free amino acids were investigated in sham-operated (C) and partially nephrectomized (Pnx) female Fischer 344 rats. High Dose CSA (30 mg/kg/day ip) was associated with reduced weight gain, increased plasma urea nitrogen, and hypoproteinemia in C and Pnx animals. These animals also demonstrated increased plasma levels of alanine, markedly reduced levels of tryptophan, and an increase in urinary excretion of methylhistidines. C but not Pnx animals also showed a significant increase in plasma serine and a decrease in plasma taurine. CSA treatment of group C resulted in a progressive aminoaciduria involving substrates of the neutral and acidic renal amino acid transport systems; however, the renal excretion of taurine and β-alanine by these animals was markedly reduced as compared to vehicle treated controls. High dose CSA exacerbated aminoaciduria in Pnx animals, but in this group, the excretion of β amino acids was also increased. Our findings demonstrate that chronic CSA toxicity in rodents with normal renal function is characterized by increased muscle protein catabolism, significant reductions in plasma tryptophan, and an apparent decrease in whole body taurine pools. With the exception of the taurine abnormalities, CSA treatment had similar effects on Pnx animals; however, in this group, CSA-induced pathological changes were superimposed on the changes due to renal insufficiency per se. CSA toxicity as identified by the parameters investigated in this study was no more severe in Pnx animals with moderate chronic renal insufficiency than in controls with intact renal function.
Commentary on: 'In vitro identification of distinctive metabolic signatures of intact varicose vein tissue via magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy'.

1e3 identification of histologic abnormalities in the venous wall, 4 the structural changes that occur in collagen, elastin, laminin, fibronectin and tenascin, 5 the differential expression of smooth muscle cell collagen I versus collagen III expression and the post-transcriptional modification of collagen by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that take place affecting the production of collagen III, 6,7 the presence of MMPs in varicose veins 8e10 and how MMPs affect venous dilation and the mechanisms involving the endothelium and smooth muscle. 11e13 What is unknown in the complex puzzle of varicose vein pathology, are the metabolic abnormalities that are critical to venous function. In this exciting new field of study called metabonomics (the study of metabolism in biologic systems in response to pathophysiologic responses), Anwar and colleagues use nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and determined that in patients with varicose veins there are significant differences in three important metabolic products involving creatine, lactate and myoinositol metabolites. The importance of this research is its ability to analyse cellular metabolism in varicose veins, with signature end products, that reflect the metabolism of the tissue and hold key information to the disease processes. Although it is not exactly clear what the function and role of these metabolites are in varicose veins, they do provide a ‘window’ into possible abnormal or compensatory metabolic pathways that have adapted due to the physiological stresses imposed by chronic venous disease. However, future research will need to define which cells (endothelial, smooth muscle and fibroblast) are involved in altered metabolism and how these metabolites are involved in the aetiology of varicose veins, to have the understanding in the disease pathway that will ultimately provide the best possible treatment to the involved cellular structures.
Hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy are associated with impaired endothelium-mediated relaxation in human coronary resistance vessels.

BACKGROUNDPatients with hypertension and myocardial hypertrophy may have signs and symptoms of myocardial ischemia in the absence of obstructive coronary disease. Prior investigations have demonstrated impaired coronary flow reserve and have led to speculation that microvascular dysfunction might contribute to ischemia in these patients. Experimental studies have shown that the endothelium, an important regulator of microvascular tone, can be damaged by hypertension and is dysfunctional in cardiomyopathy. We hypothesized that endothelium-dependent vasodilation is impaired in the coronary microvasculature of patients with hypertension and ventricular hypertrophy.METHODS AND RESULTSWe studied coronary microvascular responses in 10 patients with left ventricular hypertrophy secondary to essential hypertension (HTN) (mean arterial pressure at catheterization, 151/94 mm Hg; mean posterior wall thickness, 1.4 +/- 0.1 cm) and nine normal control subjects with no history of hypertension (mean arterial pressure at...
Using microcomputers to format large and complex manuscripts: myth or reality?

Thesis writers at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY have enjoyed a unique computing environment on Cornell's IBM 4381 mainframe computer. After many years of supporting a customized Waterloo SCRIPT text processing environment and intensive, centralized support, we have decided to remove the mainframe thesis formatting software and encourage writers to produce documents on microcomputers. Officially this plan begins in September 1986. This paper discusses the preparations made by User Support Staff at Cornell University to educate and service the new group of users now faced with managing large, complex documents in a microcomputer environment.
The structure of information networks

We develop a strategic model of information acquisition in networks where agents pay for all the pieces of information they acquire, including those through indirect links. The cost of information depends on the distance it traverses in the network. We consider two possibilities in this context: (1) costs increasing with distance, and (2) costs decreasing with distance. The paper also examines situations where it is more expensive to acquire information of higher value. We show that there is almost no divergence between the efficient and Nash equilibrium information architectures. We then study the effect of decay in networks where information through longer paths is cheaper. Finally, we also examine a model with costly link formation that combines both types of cost related assumptions