cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Postoperative excessive gain in visceral adipose tissue as well as body mass index are associated with adverse outcomes of an ileal pouch

Background There are no published studies on the impact of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) change on outcomes of restorative proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA). The aim of this historic cohort study was to evaluate the impact of excessive VAT gain on the outcomes of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients with IPAA. Methods We evaluated all eligible patients with at least two sequential CT scans after pouch construction from our prospectively maintained Pouchitis Registry between 2002 and 2014. The visceral fat area (VFA) was measured on CT images. The study group comprised patients with a significant VAT gain (> 15%), and the control group was those without. The adverse outcomes of the pouch were defined as the new development of chronic pouch inflammation (chronic pouchitis, chronic cuffitis or Crohn's disease of the pouch), anastomotic sinus and the combination of above (the composite adverse outcome) or pouch failure, after the inception CT. Results Of 1564 patients in the Registry, 59 (3.8%) with at least 2 CT scans after pouch surgery were included. Twenty-nine patients (49.2%) were in the study group, and 30 (50.8%) were in the control group. The median duration from the inception to the latest CT was 552 (range: 31-2598) days for the entire cohort. We compared the frequency of new chronic pouch inflammation (13.8% vs 3.3%, P = 0.195), new pouch sinus (10.3% vs 0%, P = 0.112), composite adverse pouch outcome (24.1% vs 3.3%, P = 0.026) or pouch failure (10.3% vs 6.7%, P = 0.671) between the two groups. Kaplan-Meier plot for time-to-pouch failure between the pouch patients with or without excessive body mass index (BMI) gain (> 10%) showed statistical difference (P = 0.011). Limited stepwise multivariate analysis showed that excessive VAT gain (odds ratio = 12.608, 95% confidence interval: 1.190-133.538, P = 0.035) was an independent risk factor for the adverse pouch comes. Conclusions In this cohort of ileal pouch patients, excessive VAT gain as well as gain in BMI after pouch construction was found to be associated with poor long-term outcomes.
Identification of drug resistance and immune-driven variations in hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3/4A, NS5A and NS5B regions reveals a new approach toward personalized medicine.

Cellular immune responses (T cell responses) during hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are significant factors for determining the outcome of infection. HCV adapts to host immune responses by inducing mutations in its genome at specific sites that are important for HLA processing/presentation. Moreover, HCV also adapts to resist potential drugs that are used to restrict its replication, such as direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). Although DAAs have significantly reduced disease burden, resistance to these drugs is still a challenge for the treatment of HCV infection. Recently, drug resistance mutations (DRMs) observed in HCV proteins (NS3/4A, NS5A and NS5B) have heightened concern that the emergence of drug resistance may compromise the effectiveness of DAAs. Therefore, the NS3/4A, NS5A and NS5B drug resistance variations were investigated in this study, and their prevalence was examined in a large number of protein sequences from all HCV genotypes. Furthermore, potential CD4+ and CD8+ T cell epitopes were predicted and their overlap with genetic variations was explored. The findings revealed that many reported DRMs within NS3/4A, NS5A and NS5B are not drug-induced; rather, they are already present in HCV strains, as they were also detected in HCV-naive patients. This study highlights several hot spots in which HLA and drug selective pressure overlap. Interestingly, these overlapping mutations were frequently observed among many HCV genotypes. This study implicates that knowledge of the host HLA type and HCV subtype/genotype can provide important information in defining personalized therapy.
Enhanced torsional actuation and stress coupling in Mn-modified 0.93(Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3)-0.07BaTiO3 lead-free piezoceramic system

AbstractThis paper is concerned with the development of a piezoelectric d15 shear-induced torsion actuator made of a lead-free piezoceramic material exhibiting giant piezoelectric shear stress coefficient (e15) and piezoelectric transverse shear actuation force comparable to that of lead-based shear-mode piezoceramics. The Mn-modified 0.93(Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3)-0.07BaTiO3 (NBT-BT-Mn) composition exhibited excellent properties as a torsional transducer with piezoelectric shear stress coefficient on the order of 11.6 C m–2. The torsional transducer, consisting of two oppositely polarized NBT-BT-Mn d15 mode piezoceramic shear patches, provided a rate of twist of 0.08 mm m–1 V–1 under quasi-static 150 V drive. The high value of piezoelectric shear d15 coefficient in NBT-BT-Mn sample further demonstrated its potential in practical applications. These results confirm that the lead-free piezoceramics can be as effective as their lead-based counterparts.
Core Level Shifts of Hydrogenated Pyridinic and Pyrrolic Nitrogen in the Nitrogen-Containing Graphene-Based Electrocatalysts: In-Plane vs Edge Defects

A combination of N 1s X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and first principles calculations of nitrogen-containing model electrocatalysts was used to elucidate the nature of the nitrogen defects that contribute to the binding energy (BE) range of the N 1s XPS spectra of these materials above ∼400 eV. Experimental core level shifts were obtained for a set of model materials, namely N-doped carbon nanospheres, Fe–N–carbon nanospheres, polypyrrole, polypyridine, and pyridinium chloride, and were compared to the shifts calculated using density functional theory. The results confirm that the broad peak positioned at ∼400.7 eV in the N 1s XPS spectra of N-containing catalysts, which is typically assigned to pyrrolic nitrogen, contains contributions from other hydrogenated nitrogen species such as hydrogenated pyridinic functionalities. Namely, N 1s BEs of hydrogenated pyridinic-N and pyrrolic-N were calculated as 400.6 and 400.7 eV, respectively, using the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof exchange-correlation function...
First symptoms in multiple system atrophy

The initial symptoms of multiple system atrophy (MSA) and, in particular, early autonomic symptoms, have received less attention than motor symptoms. Whereas pathognomonic motor signs are essential to diagnostic specificity, early symptoms important to recognition of a neurodegenerative disorder may be less apparent or diagnostically ambiguous. This observational study sought to identify the very earliest symptoms in the natural history of MSA. Detailed clinical histories focusing on early symptoms were obtained from 30 subjects recently diagnosed with MSA. Historical data were correlated with neurological examinations and laboratory autonomic testing. Subjects’ mean age was 63.9 years. Ten were classified as having MSA-P and 20 MSA-C. The evaluations occurred 2.9 ± 0.4 months after diagnosis. The first symptom of MSA was autonomic in 22 (73%) and motor in 3 (10%) subjects (p < 0.0001). The most frequent first symptom was erectile failure, which occurred in all men beginning 4.2 ± 2.6 years prior to diagnosis. After erectile failure, postural lightheadness or fatigue following exercise, urinary urgency or hesitancy, and violent dream enactment behavior consistent with REM behavioral sleep disorder were the most frequent initial symptoms. Neither the order of symptom progression, which was highly variable, nor autonomic severity scores differentiated between MSA-P and MSA-C. The first symptoms of MSA are frequently autonomic and may predate recognition of motor manifestations. Orthostatic hypotension and, in men, erectile failure are among the first symptoms that, when evaluated in the context of associated clinical findings, may facilitate accurate and earlier diagnosis.
Dynamic Structure of Competition Networks in Affordable Care Act Insurance Market

Stimulating competition is one of the main topics in most health care reform debates, and it has been a central issue in the Affordable Care Act (ACA), USA, since 2009. The goal of this paper is to use complex network methods to study dynamic and structure of competition under ACA and its evolution over time since its beginning until 2017. Using publicly available data, we construct a bipartite network of counties and insurance providers, create associated weighted single-mode networks, and analyze the evolution of network parameters that are related to competition and potential collusion in complex networks. These parameters have been previously tied to the dynamics of collaboration and competition in earlier theoretical works. We argue that three parameters ( network modularity , and the mean and skewness of eigenvector centrality ) are appropriate indicators of the overall competition in the insurance market. Based on these parameters, we show that the level of systemic competition among insurers as a function of time is an inverse U-shape trend, and that competition has returned back to what it was at the very beginning of ACA, indicating an undesirable resilience in the national health care system.
Addressing Cancer Pain Inequities Through Intervention

The Power Over Pain-Coaching (POP-C) intervention was developed to improve functional status and decrease pain and pain-related distress among ambulatory African American patients with cancer. By bypassing the effects of disparities, the POP-C intervention may help to decrease suffering among African American patients with cancer pain; consequently, it contributes to improving quality of life and addressing social and other determinants of health among members of this population. .
Bureaucratic characteristics and citizen trust in civil service in OECD member nations

Do various bureaucratic characteristics explain different levels of public trust in civil service? While studies have suggested various desirable traits for public administration in democratic soci...
Role of NO in Neurodegeneration

Nitric oxide (NO) is an unprecedented biological messenger molecule. NO is synthesized by the enzymes NO synthases, that catalyze the essential amino acid l-arginine into NO and l-citrulline. In the central nervous system, NO is an unusual neuronal messenger molecule; due to its small size and ability to move through lipids, NO reaches its targets through diffusion. NO forms covalent and noncovalent linkages with protein and nonprotein targets and is involved in a wide range of physiological and pathophysiological actions. NO has been linked to the development and progression of neural injury in stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Genotype-driven dosing of irinotecan and adverse events in patients receiving irinotecan with UGT1A1 gene variants.

e15544Background: Pharmacogenomic testing can be used to optimize drug doses and increase tolerability.The main adverse effects of irinotecan include gastrointestinal toxicity such as nausea,vomiti...
Theory of transport in high bootstrap fraction H-modes with internal transport barriers

A review of the recent progress in understanding the transport in fully non-inductive, high bootstrap fraction H-mode discharges, developed on the DIII-D tokamak, is given in this paper. Experiments have demonstrated improved energy confinement due to the formation of an internal transport barrier in high bootstrap fraction H-mode discharges. Gyrokinetic analysis, and quasi-linear predictive modeling, demonstrates that the observed transport barrier is due to the suppression of turbulence, primarily due to the large Shafranov shift. E × B velocity shear does not play a significant role in the transport barrier due to the high safety factor. The ion energy transport is reduced to neoclassical for DIII-D discharges and electron energy and particle transport is reduced, but still turbulent, within the barrier. Deeper into the plasma, high levels of electron transport are observed. The electron energy transport in DIII-D is found to be due to electromagnetically enhanced electron scale modes. A contribution from fast ion driven instabilities is also possible. The kinetic ballooning mode plays a strong role in the region between the internal and H-mode edge transport barriers with two types of self-organized pedestal states observed.
Youth Mentor Dietary Outcomes and Waist Circumference Improvement: Camp NERF Study Findings.

Background. The health impact of youth mentors serving in the delivery of child nutrition and physical activity (PA) interventions on youth mentors themselves has been understudied. Objective. The ...
Configuration-interaction many-body perturbation theory for La ii electric-dipole transition probabilities

Accurate transition probabilities of La ii ion are calculated using configuration-interaction many-body perturbation theory with 10 adjustable parameters, seven of which are evaluated from energies of the La iii single-valence electron ion. Comparison is given for transitions probabilities and lifetimes with experiments and theories. Close agreement with experiment is observed for most transitions. The theoretical approach can be extended to other divalent atoms and ions with strong valence-core interactions and to more complex atoms. The theory will be useful for opacity evaluation and astrophysical applications.
Ablation of Hepatocyte Smad1, Smad5, and Smad8 Causes Severe Tissue Iron Loading and Liver Fibrosis in Mice.

A failure of iron to appropriately regulate liver hepcidin production is central to the pathogenesis of hereditary hemochromatosis. SMAD1/5 transcription factors, activated by bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling, are major regulators of hepcidin production in response to iron; however, the role of SMAD8 and the contribution of SMADs to hepcidin production by other systemic cues remain uncertain. Here, we generated hepatocyte Smad8 single (Smad8fl/fl ;Alb-Cre+ ), Smad1/5/8 triple (Smad158;Alb-Cre+ ), and littermate Smad1/5 double (Smad15;Alb-Cre+ ) knockout mice to investigate the role of SMAD8 in hepcidin and iron homeostasis regulation and liver injury. We found that Smad8;Alb-Cre+ mice exhibited no iron phenotype, whereas Smad158;Alb-Cre+ mice had greater iron overload than Smad15;Alb-Cre+ mice. In contrast to the sexual dimorphism reported for wild-type mice and other hemochromatosis models, hepcidin deficiency and extrahepatic iron loading were similarly severe in Smad15;Alb-Cre+ and Smad158;Alb-Cre+ female compared with male mice. Moreover, epidermal growth factor (EGF) failed to suppress hepcidin in Smad15;Alb-Cre+ hepatocytes. Conversely, hepcidin was still increased by lipopolysaccharide in Smad158;Alb-Cre+ mice, although lower basal hepcidin resulted in lower maximal hepcidin. Finally, unlike most mouse hemochromatosis models, Smad158;Alb-Cre+ developed liver injury and fibrosis at 8 weeks. Liver injury and fibrosis were prevented in Smad158;Alb-Cre+ mice by a low-iron diet and were minimal in iron-loaded Cre- mice. Conclusion: Hepatocyte Smad1/5/8 knockout mice are a model of hemochromatosis that encompasses liver injury and fibrosis seen in human disease. These mice reveal the redundant but critical role of SMAD8 in hepcidin and iron homeostasis regulation, establish a requirement for SMAD1/5/8 in hepcidin regulation by testosterone and EGF but not inflammation, and suggest a pathogenic role for both iron loading and SMAD1/5/8 deficiency in liver injury and fibrosis.
Duramycin Effects on Mitochondrial Structure and Function

Duramycin is a polypeptide antibiotic (MR = 2012) isolated from culture broth of Streptoverticillium cinnamomeus (formerly Streptomyces cinnamomeus forma azacoluta, NRRL B-1699) (Shotwell et al., 1958). The antibiotic interferes with the function of several membrane transport systems including the chloride transporter of clathrin-coated vesicles (Stone et al., 1984), the Ca2+-ATPase of rabbit sarcoplasmic reticulum (Navarro et al., 1985), and the proton secretion system of B. subtilis(Navarro et al., 1985). Recently duramycin has been reported to interact specifically with the non-bilayer lipids phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and monogalactosyldiglyceride (MGDG) (Navarro et al., 1985).
Oncofertility in Adult and Pediatric Populations: Options and Barriers

Cancer and its treatments can affect fertility in a variety of ways, and recent advances in cancer detection and treatment have led to an increasing number of cancer survivors for whom future fertility is a primary concern. Oncofertility is the study of interactions between cancer, anti-cancer therapy, fertility, and reproductive health. Fertility preservation aims to optimize fertility potential before initiation of gonadotoxic therapies. Sperm cryopreservation from an ejaculated sample is the gold standard for adults and post-pubertal adolescents, though added maneuvers such as medical therapy, penile vibratory stimulation, and electroejaculation can be employed when appropriate. When all these approaches fail, testicular sperm extraction can be used to obtain and cryopreserve testicular sperm from the azoospermic patient. Fertility preservation in the pre-pubertal pediatric patient is still experimental, but recent scientific breakthroughs with use of spermatogonial stem cells and testicular tissue transplantation offer great promise for the future. While there may be several practical, cultural, religious, and other barriers to fertility preservation, the establishment of a dedicated fertility preservation team can help to overcome these obstacles and optimize the utilization of fertility preservation in cancer patients of all ages.
Brackish water desalination for greenhouse agriculture: Comparing the costs of RO, CCRO, EDR, and monovalent-selective EDR

Abstract Greenhouses are a rapidly growing agricultural sector that uses desalination systems. However, the desalination requirements of the greenhouse industry and an economic evaluation of desalination technologies for greenhouses have not been reported previously. Several greenhouse operators in North America using desalination systems were interviewed to identify key design specifications. A detailed cost comparison was conducted for key technologies: reverse osmosis (RO), closed circuit RO (CCRO), electrodialysis reversal (EDR) and monovalent selective EDR (MS-EDR). Capital, energy and membrane replacement costs, savings in feedwater costs from operating at higher recovery, and potential savings in fertilizer from using MS-EDR, were calculated. For 10-hectare greenhouses, alternatives can be considered. MS-EDR is economically competitive if it can retain at least 20% of the calcium and magnesium needed for growing and if membranes last 7 years. CCRO is competitive if the sum of feedwater and brine disposal costs are >$0.24/m3. If this cost was $0.32/m3, additional investment over RO for CCRO, EDR and MS-EDR, could pay itself back in 2.4, 3.4 and 2.1 years. In Ventura county where municipal water costs $1.05/m3, RO, CCRO, EDR and MS-EDR had payback periods of 7.1, 8.4, 7.8 and 8.2 months.
Reality TV: Instilling Fear to Avoid Prison

This chapter analyzes how reality television shows like Lock-Up and the Netflix original Girls Incarcerated use what Gary T. Marx notes as soft forms of control and helps to instill fear into the viewing public as a way to promote conformity to what is deemed “socially acceptable behavior.” These shows promote the heavy-handed surveillance that is prominent within our society and invokes a fear that since we are constantly under surveillance, and since we feed into this surveillance, we must conform to avoid the dangers of the prison life. Using the concept provided by the works of Brian Massumi, these shows invoke fear, much as the terror alert systems do, and force a reaction from the viewers. The utilization of the confessional forum, which was popular in shows like The Real World, gives a human face to the criminal world, making fear tangible. This confessional/interview style allows the acceptance of the surveillance within our society but also within the prison walls. Viewers conform to social expectations out of fear of encountering those in prison, not necessarily on the streets, because it is up to the viewer to behave appropriately and avoid a stint in prison.
Tracking the Development of Cerebrovascular Risk Factors Following Pregnancy With Preeclampsia.

Abstract Objective To evaluate the development and management of cerebrovascular risk factors following a pregnancy with preeclampsia. Methods This is a retrospective chart review including women diagnosed with preeclampsia between 2012 and 2013 with later encounters within 2014-2016. For each subject that met inclusion criteria, the development of cerebrovascular risk factors was determined using ICD codes within the 2014-2016 electronic medical record (EMR). For subjects who developed risk factors, current treatment was determined from the EMR. Demographic data was also documented. Differences in the development and treatment of risk factors were compared among racial groups and age. Descriptive statistics were calculated using SAS statistical software. Results Compared to prepregnancy health status, the incidence of hypertension increased by 1.7 times (P Conclusions This study shows a significant increased risk of the development of cerebrovascular risk factors such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, migraines, and diabetes following a diagnosis of preeclampsia. Opportunities exist for the early treatment of these risk factors, which could reduce the long-term rate of stroke in these women
Reconsidering Risks of Gun Ownership and Suicide in Unprecedented Times

In March 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic spread throughout the United States, Americans bought nearly 2 million guns — the second highest monthly total in the decades since such records have been...
Exploring a Co-Creative Problem Solving Toolbox in the Context of Norwegian High-Tech Industry

Norwegian high-tech industries face a rapidly changing market need. Staying ahead of competitors and developing significant innovative solutions are essential for business value. Systems engineering has proven to be an effective approach for developing technical (hard) systems. People, organizations, and technical functionality contribute to an increasing complexity in today's high-tech systems. This makes the traditional systems engineering approach insufficient for innovation in a socio-technical context. This article looks toward systems architecting, systems oriented design, and participatory design for collaborative and creative ways of working to support systems engineers in developing significant innovations. We explore a rich toolbox and the outline of a new methodology for such co-creative problem solving. First, we identify industry needs for the new methodology and derive success criteria for the toolbox embodied in the new methodology. Through ten industry cases within Norwegian high-tech industries, we analyze and discuss the toolbox composed of methods and tools for early exploration, validation, and knowledge transfer in the concept phase. Finally, we provide examples on how the toolbox supports the industry needs and outline the new methodology.
The red purse and human remains: personal and professional experiences of 9/11 mental health workers

Mental health research on the 9/11 attacks has primarily focused on posttraumatic stress disorder among survivors. Fewer studies have examined mental health effects on workers who provided postdisa...
Optional Learning in Games

In educational games, players have to engage with the learning material to make progress in-game compulsorily. This project aims to make learning activity optional yet maintain player engagement with the educational content. To test the idea, we developed four game variants by integrating educational material in various game mechanics. Specific game mechanics are chosen, which may motivate players to engage in solving computer puzzles voluntarily.
SHARE: a System for Hierarchical Assistive Recipe Editing.

We introduce SHARE: a System for Hierarchical Assistive Recipe Editing to assist home cooks with dietary restrictions -- a population under-served by existing cooking resources. Our hierarchical recipe editor makes necessary substitutions to a recipe's ingredients list and re-writes the directions to make use of the new ingredients. We introduce the novel RecipePairs dataset of 84K pairs of similar recipes in which one recipe satisfies one of seven dietary constraints, allowing for supervised training of such recipe editing models. Experiments on this dataset demonstrate that our system produces convincing, coherent recipes that are appropriate for a target dietary constraint (contain no prohibited ingredients). We show that this is a challenging task that cannot be adequately solved with human-written ingredient substitution rules or straightforward adaptation of state-of-the-art models for recipe generation. We further demonstrate through human evaluations and real-world cooking trials that recipes edited by our system can be easily followed by home cooks to create delicious and satisfactory dishes.
Association between residential proximity to hydraulically fractured oil and gas wells and adverse birth outcomes in California (2006-2015)

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Hydraulic fracturing (HF) is a chemically intensive oil and gas extraction method. Although studies indicate exposure to HF during pregnancy may be associated with adverse birth...
Prevention through Design in New Technologies.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the fatal work injury rate is at 3.5 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers for all industries combined. In 2018, the agriculture, forestry, fishing, a...
Geodesic Motion on $$\mathsf {SL}(n)$$ SL ( n ) with the Hilbert–Schmidt Metric

We study the geometry of geodesics on $$\mathsf {SL}(n)$$ , equipped with the Hilbert–Schmidt metric which makes it a Riemannian manifold. These geodesics are known to be related to affine motions of incompressible ideal fluids. The $$n = 2$$ case is special and completely integrable, and the geodesic motion was completely described by Roberts, Shkoller, and Sideris; when $$n = 3$$ , Sideris demonstrated some interesting features of the dynamics and analyzed several classes of explicit solutions. Our analysis shows that the geodesics in higher dimensions exhibit much more complex dynamics. We generalize the Virial-identity-based criterion of unboundedness of geodesic given by Sideris, and use it to give an alternative proof of the classification of geodesics in 2D obtained by Roberts–Shkoller–Sideris. We study several explicit families of solutions in general dimensions that generalize those found by Sideris in 3D. We additionally classify all “exponential type” geodesics, and use it to demonstrate the existence of purely rotational solutions whenever n is even. Finally, we study “block diagonal” solutions using a new formulation of the geodesic equation in first order form, that isolates the conserved angular momenta. This reveals the existence of a rich family of bounded geodesic motions in even dimension $$n \ge 4$$ . This in particular allows us to conclude that the generalization of the swirling and shear flows of Sideris to even dimensions $$n \ge 4$$ are in fact dynamically unstable.
Chapter 28. Quantitative Structure Activity Relationships Applied to Drug Design

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the research on the application of quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) studies to drug design. QSAR studies of drug metabolism and distribution have been discussed in this chapter. The chapter mentions various methods by which the three dimensional conformation of the molecule is used to generate descriptors. These techniques include conformational energy minimization and exhaustive computerized search of conformational space with computation of ligand and receptor geometry. Mathematical methods researched on series design, including criteria for the measurement of the suitability of a proposed series and two-dimensional mapping of descriptors. The pattern recognition technique of adaptive least squares is applied to the discrimination of categorical biological data. Various parameters are argued upon. Partition coefficient is expressed either as log P or is still the most important parameter considered in developing QSAR relationships. It is rather tedious to measure log P by the solvent partition method, so recent workers have concentrated upon the correlation between partition coefficients and other accessible physical parameters. Reverse phase HPLC has been correlated with log P, using phenols, and with π, using nonionic pesticides. Structural diagrams are explained in the chapter. Applications of the QSAR techniques have been used to study inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). Molecular properties, obtained from CND0/2 molecular orbital calculations, have been used to correlate the inhibition of DHFR by substituted quinazolines. Regression analysis was applied to quinazolines as inhibitors of DHFR from human and mouse leukemia cells. The antifibrinolytic activity of a series of arylacetic acids is correlated with lipophilicity. Estimation of lipophilicity by reversed phase thin layer chromatographic correlated poorly with the anti-fibrinolytic activity but tabulated π values correlate well. DNA-dependent inhibition of DNA polymerase, DNA binding, mammalian toxicity, and tumor selectivity of a series of bisguanylhydrazones is described in the chapter. The mammalian toxicity of these compounds is effectively correlated with chromatographically determined R m values. Other parameters are also considered.
Oxygen consumption in critically ill children

Measurement of oxygen consumption (VO2) in the critically ill patient has become an important tool because of its prognostic value and therapeutic implications. If oxygen delivery does not match VO2, tissue hypoxia ensues followed by organ failure. It is well known that critically ill patients have increased VO2, however what has not been fully explored is whether different disease categories have varying degrees of VO2. The purpose of this study was to determine if VO2 differs between subgroups of critically ill children.
Arkansas Indians: Roots, Removal and Rebirth. Arkansas Museum of Science and History

Arkansas Indians: Roots, Removal and Rebirth. Arkansas Museum of Science and History, Little Rock, AR (Permanent exhibit opened in October 1992).
Islam and Muslim Politics in Africa

‘The timely interest of Islam in politics and in the international arena needs no emphasis in the context of the post 9/11 world. While much attention has been focused on these issues by academics and policymakers, sub-Saharan African has been largely ignored. This volume is thus a very welcome addition to the literature, filling a real need in terms of close, research-based accounts of the dynamics of Islam in a wide range of countries.’ Leonardo Villalon, Director, Center for African Studies, University of Florida
Small Mammal Abundance and Diversity in Forests With and Without Canada Yew, Taxus canadensis

Canada Yew ( Taxus canadensis ) has been extirpated from much of its former range in northeastern North America possibly due to logging, fire, agriculture, and browsing by White-tailed Deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ). We compared the relative abundance and species diversity of small mammals in five northern hardwood stands containing Canada Yew to five adjacent stands without Canada Yew in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, during October-November 2000. Overall, 72 individuals were captured (53 in yew, 19 in non-yew); dominant species were Short-tailed Shrew ( Blarina brevicauda ), Deer Mouse ( Peromyscus maniculatus ), and Red-backed Vole ( Clethrionomys gapperi ). Overall mean (+ sd) capture rate (individuals/100 adjusted trap nights) in sites with yew (5.5 + 2.2) was greater ( P = 0.04) than mean capture rate in sites without yew (1.9 + 1.0). Three indices of species diversity suggested greater small mammal diversity in stands with Canada Yew understories in northern hardwood forests.
Differences in cytochrome c oxidase capacity in smooth muscle of opossum esophagus and lower esophageal sphincter.

The tonic contraction that defines the lower esophageal sphincter is exclusively aerobic, whereas the rhythmic contractions that characterize the smooth muscle of the esophageal body can be partially sustained anaerobically. Also, relative mitochondrial mass is greater in the sphincter than it is in the body of the esophagus. Full-thickness strips of the muscularis propria of the opossum esophagus were examined as to cytochrome c oxidase capacity to test the hypothesis that differences in oxidative metabolism exist among different levels of the smooth-muscled esophagus. Homogenates were examined as to rate of cytochrome c oxidation, deoxyribonucleic acid content, and protein content. The rate of cytochrome c oxidation was greatest at the top of the smooth muscle segment and declined distally to reach the lowest value in the lower esophageal sphincter. Deoxyribonucleic acid content did not differ among the levels examined. Protein/deoxyribonucleic acid ratios were lower in the sphincter than at other levels of the smooth-muscled esophagus. The results indicate that the sphincter muscle has a lower capacity for oxidative metabolism than does the body, that a gradient exists along the esophageal body in oxidative capacity, and that smooth muscle cells in the sphincter are likely to be smaller than are those of the esophageal body. The gradient in oxidative capacity along the esophageal body may be related to other gradients that have been described in this region.
CXCR2-dependent mucosal neutrophil influx protects against colitis-associated diarrhea caused by an attaching/effacing lesion-forming bacterial pathogen.

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is a major cause of diarrheal disease in young children, yet symptoms and duration are highly variable for unknown reasons. Citrobacter rodentium, a murine model pathogen that shares important functional features with EPEC, colonizes mice in colon and cecum and causes inflammation, but typically little or no diarrhea. We conducted genome-wide microarray studies to define mechanisms of host defense and disease in C. rodentium infection. A significant fraction of the genes most highly induced in the colon by infection encoded CXC chemokines, particularly CXCL1/2/5 and CXCL9/10, which are ligands for the chemokine receptors CXCR2 and CXCR3, respectively. CD11b+ dendritic cells were the major producers of CXCL1, CXCL5, and CXCL9, while CXCL2 was mainly induced in macrophages. Infection of gene-targeted mice revealed that CXCR3 had a significant but modest role in defense against C. rodentium, whereas CXCR2 had a major and indispensable function. CXCR2 was required for normal mucosal influx of neutrophils, which act as direct antibacterial effectors. Moreover, CXCR2 loss led to severe diarrhea and failure to express critical components of normal ion and fluid transport, including ATPase β2-subunit, CFTR, and DRA. The antidiarrheal functions were unique to CXCR2, since other immune defects leading to increased bacterial load and inflammation did not cause diarrhea. Thus, CXCR2-dependent processes, particularly mucosal neutrophil influx, not only contribute to host defense against C. rodentium, but provide protection against infection-associated diarrhea.
CONTRAST-ENHANCED HARMONIC ULTRASONOGRAPHY OF MEDIAL ILIAC LYMPH NODES IN HEALTHY DOGS

Herein, we describe the normal contrast-enhanced harmonic, color, and power Doppler ultrasonographic characteristics of the medial iliac lymph nodes in healthy dogs. Contrast-enhanced harmonic ultrasonography of the medial iliac lymph nodes was performed on 14 healthy dogs after intravenous administration of the lipoprotein-bound inert gas-filled microbubble contrast media Definity. Time-pixel intensity curves were generated for 1-min postinjection. Quantification of these curves was performed using Philips QLab software. Non-contrast-enhanced power and color Doppler examinations were performed in each node to assess vascular patterns subjectively. Normal lymph nodes exhibited a mean contrast wash-in phase beginning at 6.3 s from the time of injection with mean peak pixel intensity at 12.1s. Angioarchitecture was best visualized with contrast-enhanced harmonic ultrasound compared with power and color Doppler. Normal lymph nodes in dogs have a central artery with a centrifugal and uniform branching pattern. Contrast-enhanced harmonic ultrasonography is a noninvasive examination that demonstrates improved visibility of the intranodal architecture of healthy medial iliac lymph nodes in dogs compared with conventional, non-contrast-enhanced Doppler methods that may have future clinical applications.
Knowledge In Optical Symbolic Pattern Recognition Processors

Definitions of symbolic processing, explicit and implicit declarative knowledge, and procedural knowledge are given. Architectures for optical symbolic correlation processors for pattern recognition problems are given, and the uses of explicit and implicit declarative knowledge as well as procedural knowledge are discussed.
The miR-30 miRNA family regulates Xenopus pronephros development and targets the transcription factor Xlim1/Lhx1

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. They are involved in diverse biological processes, such as development, differentiation, cell proliferation and apoptosis. To study the role of miRNAs during pronephric kidney development of Xenopus, global miRNA biogenesis was eliminated by knockdown of two key components: Dicer and Dgcr8. These embryos developed a range of kidney defects, including edema formation, delayed renal epithelial differentiation and abnormal patterning. To identify a causative miRNA, mouse and frog kidneys were screened for putative candidates. Among these, the miR-30 family showed the most prominent kidney-restricted expression. Moreover, knockdown of miR-30a-5p phenocopied most of the pronephric defects observed upon global inhibition of miRNA biogenesis. Molecular analyses revealed that miR-30 regulates the LIM-class homeobox factor Xlim1/Lhx1, a major transcriptional regulator of kidney development. miR-30 targeted Xlim1/Lhx1 via two previously unrecognized binding sites in its 3′UTR and thereby restricted its activity. During kidney development, Xlim1/Lhx1 is required in the early stages, but is downregulated subsequently. However, in the absence of miR-30 activity, Xlim1/Lhx1 is maintained at high levels and, therefore, may contribute to the delayed terminal differentiation of the amphibian pronephros.
Combining cross-metathesis and activity-based protein profiling: New β-lactone motifs for targeting serine hydrolases

β-Lactones are a privileged structural motif as enzyme inhibitors and chemical probes, particularly for the inhibition of enzymes from the serine hydrolase class. Herein, we demonstrate that cross-metathesis (CM) of α-methylene-β-lactones offers rapid access to structurally diverse, previously unexplored β-lactones. Combining this approach with competitive activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) identified lead β-lactone inhibitors/probes for several serine hydrolases, including disease-associated enzymes and enzymes of uncharacterized function. The structural diversity afforded by the α-methylene-β-lactone scaffold thus expands the landscape of serine hydrolases that can be targeted by small-molecule inhibitors and should further the functional characterization of enzymes from this class through the optimization of target-selective probes.
Developmental Foix-Chavany-Marie syndrome in identical twins

Foix, Chavany, and Marie described a syndrome of faciopharyngoglossomasticatory diplegia resulting from bilateral anterior opercular infarction. We describe identical twins who have a developmental form of the syndrome. The twins, aged 41 years, were the product of a normal pregnancy and birth, but had subsequent delayed motor milestones, seizures, poor language development, mild mental retardation, drooling, absent gag reflexes, inability to protrude the tongue, brisk jaw jerks, impaired fine finger movements, symmetrical brisk reflexes, flexor plantar responses, and mildly spastic gait. Magnetic resonance imaging showed bilateral perisylvian cortical dysplasia compatible with polymicrogyria and incomplete opercular formation.
Detergent effects in rabbit liver microsomal UDP-glucuronosyltransferase studied by means of a continuous spectrophotometric assay with p-nitrophenol.

UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UDPGT) has been studied with a continuous spectrophotometric assay employing UDP-glucuronic acid and p-nitrophenol as substrates. Activity is linearly dependent on the microsomal protein concentration. Male rabbit liver phenobarbital-induced microsomes exhibited a rate of 7.10 μM p-nitrophenol conjugated per minute at 37°C. Addition of small amounts of Tergitol NP-10 caused an ∼4-fold increase in conjugation activity; maximal activation was observed at 0.01% (v/v) detergent. However, inclusion of additional detergent caused significant inhibition of activity, such that 0.5% Tergitol caused the rate to fall 2.5-fold below the activity observed in the absence of detergent. Membrane solubilization was studied by light scattering. At maximal stimulation of p-nitrophenol UDPGT activity, the membrane was solubilized only ∼17%. At the point of 50% solubilization, activity was still 91% of maximum. Complete membrane solubilization was achieved at ∼0.2% Tergitol, and transferase activity had fallen slightly below the rate observed in the absence of detergent. Possible explanations for the unusual detergent-dependence of microsomal p-nitrophenol UDPGT activity are discussed.
Elodontoma in Captive Southern Red-Backed Voles (Myodes gapperi)

Abstract Five southern red-backed voles (Myodes gapperi) of the first generation of a wild-caught breeding colony were presented with lesions at the maxillary incisors consistent with elodontoma. The affected animals had a history of chronic weight loss, were >16 months of age, and were siblings. Radiographs of the head showed multiglobular to irregularly outlined mineral opacity masses at the apices of the maxillary incisors. On necropsy, maxillary incisor teeth were not grossly visible, and a gingival ulceration was observed at the expected site of eruption. Microscopically, the apical region of the maxillary incisors was thickened or replaced by irregular dental tissue masses consistent with elodontoma. This is the first report to describe elodontoma in red-backed voles.
Research on Educational Administration: The State-of-the-Art:

M y task is to assess the "stateof-the-art" in a research domain labeled "educational administration." But the phrase "educational administration" does not accurately indicate what area of inquiry I should assess. I have never encountered a satisfying discussion of the parameters of that field. In practical terms, the field consists of whatever scholars associated with university programs in "educational administration" con-
Functional impact of polar and acidic substitutions in the lactose repressor hydrophobic monomer.monomer interface with a buried lysine.

Despite predicted energetic penalties, the charged K84 side chains of tetrameric lactose repressor protein (LacI) are found buried within the highly hydrophobic monomer·monomer interface that includes side chains of V94 and V96. Once inducer binding has occurred, these K84 side chains move to interact with the more solvent-exposed side chains of D88 and E100′. Previous studies demonstrated that hydrophobic substitutions for K84 increased protein stability and significantly impaired the allosteric response. These results indicated that enhanced hydrophobic interactions at the monomer·monomer interface remove the energetic driving force of the buried charges, decreasing the likelihood of a robust conformational change and stabilizing the structure. We hypothesized that creating a salt bridge network with the lysine side chains by including nearby negatively charged residues might result in a similar outcome. To that end, acidic residues, D and E, and their neutral amides, N and Q, were substituted for the v...
Efficiency enhancement in Si solar cells by textured photonic crystal back reflector

An efficient light-trapping scheme is developed for solar cells that can enhance the optical path length by several orders of magnitude using a textured photonic crystal as a backside reflector. It comprises a reflection grating etched on the backside of the substrate and a one-dimensional photonic crystal deposited on the grating. Top-contacted crystalline Si solar cells integrated with the textured photonic crystal back reflector were designed and fabricated. External quantum efficiency was significantly improved between the wavelengths of 1000 and 1200nm (enhancement up to 135 times), and the overall power conversion efficiency was considerably increased.
Prevention of stenosis after vascular reconstruction: pharmacologic control of intimal hyperplasia--a review.

Most diseased blood vessels can be reconstructed as long as there is reasonable inflow and outflow distal to the stenotic or occluded segment. All forms of reconstruction, whether they directly attack the occluding lesion (endarterectomy, angioplasty), or bypass it (vein or prosthetic bypass), cause injury and a wound healing response. ~'2 Although necessary for long-term function, this wound healing response can also be the cause of luminal narrowing and ultimate failure of the reconstruction. In this review we will define the scope of the problem and provide a brief description of the biology of the injury response as well as a survey of the current thinking regarding pharmacologic control o f restenosis. Luminal narrowing as a result of excessive intimal hyperplasia is a particular problem after carotid endarterectomy, 3"4 femoropopliteal vein bypass, 5 superficial femoral angioplasty or atherectomy, 6 and coronary angioplasty. 7 The stenosing intimal lesions tend to appear during the first 6 months after surgery. On gross examination they are white, firm, and fibrous and are not associated with thrombus; at late times (more than 2 years), they can accumulate thrombus and resemble the primary atherosclerotic plaque. 3 To the extent these lesions reduce blood flow and cause ischemia, they produce symptoms; hence, a recurrent stenosis in the coronary circulation will cause angina, whereas a recurrent stenosis in an operated carotid artery usually is asymptomatic.
Dynamic Modeling of Hand Push Force to Close a Disconnect Switch at Switching Stations and Substations

Electric utility switching stations and substations in the U.S. typically have hundreds of disconnect switches in outdoor yards that are manually closed and opened. For safety reasons, these switches are usually located at least 10 ft above the ground and require specialized methods to open and close the switch. The most common manual method to open or close a disconnect switch is through the use of an insulated pole that ranges from 6 to 20 ft long. Due to the shear number of required independent tasks (workers may have to open or close 100 disconnect within 30 min), the manual opening and closing of disconnect switches is physically demanding and presents risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), particularly to the upper extremities. The purpose of this study was to model the hand push force exerted by the worker on the insulated pole to close a disconnect switch. A force gauge was attached to the end of the insulated stick while a worker closed a switch. An average of 510 lbs of peak reaction force wa...
The use of patient satisfaction surveys and alternative coding procedures to predict malpractice risk

Purpose:Because costs associated with malpractice litigation draw substantial resources away from patient care, many health care organizations are seeking efficient methods to manage these risks. The purpose of this study was to identify methods by which commonly available patient satisfaction indic