cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aspirin in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in diabetes mellitus: A new perspective

Abstract Although the improved control of hyperglycaemia and other cardiovascular risk factors was associated with a parallel decline of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and death in both type 1 (T1) and type 2 (T2) diabetes mellitus (DM), the burden of death and hospitalization for ASCVD remains significantly higher by about 2-fold versus the matched non-DM population. Life style interventions, such as physical activity and healthy diet, and drugs, such as statins and low-dose aspirin, may have beneficial effects by targeting one or multiple pathways responsible for accelerated atherosclerosis and its thrombotic complications. The debate on the benefit-risk balance of primary cardiovascular prevention with aspirin has been especially vivacious over the past two years, following the publication of three large randomized, placebo-controlled, primary prevention trials in different settings, spanning from healthy elderly to DM subjects. The aim of this review is to discuss the pathophysiological, pharmacological and clinical evidence supporting the appropriate use of low-dose aspirin in DM, within the context of the current multifactorial approach to primary cardiovascular prevention.
Introducing BSW Students to Social Work Supervision Prior to Field: A BSW-MSW Student Partnership

Little empirical information exists about how social work students are prepared to utilize supervision in practice. This study describes an experiential exercise designed to introduce BSW students to social work supervision prior to their field experience. MSW students enrolled in a supervision practice course provided mentored supervision to 42 BSW students in an introductory skills course. The skills course involved a progressive role-play that spanned the whole semester. Mixed methods were used to investigate BSW student perceptions of the exercise. According to survey data, BSW students reported a strong working alliance with MSW students and high satisfaction with the supervision they received. Qualitative data revealed two overarching categories of students: 1) students who reported benefiting from the exercise, and 2) students who reported mixed benefits or no benefits. Students who understood the role of the supervisor were also more likely to reported that they benefited from the exercise. Students who were unclear about the role of the supervisor reported mixed or no benefits of the exercise. Recommendations for social work educators relate to the need for educators to provide information on the use of supervision for BSW students, the necessity for guiding student reflections as part of the supervision exercises, and considering the developmental levels of students when crafting educational interventions.
“A Learning Process Versus a Moment”: Engaging Black Male Teacher Education Candidates in Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy at Jackson State University

This qualitative case study provides a deep dive into a teacher education program at Jackson State University, a Historically Black University (i.e. HBCU) located in Mississippi that is intentional...
Diagnosis and treatment of 109 cases of testicular torsion in children and adolescents

Objective To investigate the diagnosis and treatment of testicular torsion in children and adolescents and to analyze the postoperative outcomes. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 109 cases of unilateral testicular torsion treated in our hospital between 2015 and 2017, including 62 cases of left (56.9%) and 47 cases of right torsion (43.1%), and 98 cases of intravaginal (89.9%) and 11 cases of extravaginal torsion (10.1%), clinically 96 cases with scrotal pain (88.1%), 70 with scrotal redness and swelling (64.2%), 25 with abdominal pain (22.9%), and 33 with nausea and vomiting (30.3%). The patients ranged in age from 4 days to 15 years, averaging 9.7 ± 3.3 years, and fell into 3 groups according to the time of onset: 24 h. We analyzed the results of scrotal ultrasonography, clinical manifestations, and intraoperative and follow-up data of the patients. Results Scrotal ultrasonography showed no or decreased testicular blood flow in 96 cases (88.1%) and unconspicuously reduced testicular blood flow with scrotal wall thickening and vaginal sac effusion in 13 cases (11.9%). Eighty-three (76.1%) of the patients were treated by orchiectomy and the other 26 by testis-sparing surgery. Of the latter 26 cases, 2 were lost to follow-up, 16 (66.6%) achieved testis survival, and 8 (33.3%) developed testicular atrophy at 6 months after surgery. The rates of orchiectomy were 9.1%, 47.4% and 92.4%, and the incidences of postoperative testicular atrophy were 10.0%, 25.0% and 83.3% in the 24 h groups, respectively, both with statistically significant differences among the three groups (P Conclusions Testicular torsion is common in children and adolescents, with clinical symptoms of scrotal pain, scrotal redness, abdominal pain, and nausea and vomiting. Scrotal ultrasonography can effectively display the status of testicular blood flow, and surgery is the most accurate treatment. Testis-sparing surgery is most valuable for the cases with the onset time of 24 hours.
Making a Commitment to EBLIP: The Role of Library Leadership

Purpose - The role of library management and administration is pivotal to successful adoption of evidence-based practice by library practitioners. As part of its long-standing commitment to a learning organization, the leadership team of the biomedical research library serving the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD, USA planned and implemented a systematic approach to fostering EBLIP practice. Method - The library initiated a program to build an environment conducive to EBLIP that included support and release time for library research projects, formal training in EBLIP methods, and team mentoring as research projects evolved. Library staff participating in the EBLIP initiative were the library’s 32 professional librarians as well as four other staff members. Many had scientific research experience but few if any had designed a library research study. All considered training as very important to the EBLIP initiative, as well as opportunities to collaborate with colleagues and present at professional meetings. Five teams undertook research projects; highlights of these team studies are described briefly. Conclusions - By providing a supportive framework for EBLIP practice, library leadership can successfully engage staff in EBLIP thinking and small research studies. Librarians with some training in the research process and ongoing mentoring can design and conduct studies that find important practical answers to the questions that arise in daily practice.
Automatically preparing safe SQL queries

We present the first sound program source transformation approach for automatically transforming the code of a legacy web application to employ PREPARE statements in place of unsafe SQL queries. Our approach therefore opens the way for eradicating the SQL injection threat vector from legacy web applications.
Quantitative assessment of pancreatic islets using laser scanning cytometry.

Insulin-dependent (type II) diabetes is characterized by an inability to metabolize glucose, resulting from insufficient insulin function for glucose transport from the blood to tissues. One cause of insufficiency is malfunction of the insulin-producing beta cells within the pancreatic islets. Various compounds to stimulate and restore normal islet function are under development. Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rat animal models are used to measure efficacy of drug candidates, as they show clinical effects similar to those in diabetic patients. Drug effects are evaluated by removing the pancreas from ZDF rats, processing the tissue with paraffin and sectioning it, and then analyzing the sections utilizing antibodies against targeted proteins to quantify morphology and metabolic activity. This protocol describes quantitative analysis of insulin, glucagon, mitochondria (all on a per-islet basis), and insulin-positive proliferating cells in ZDF and lean rat pancreatic tissue sections using the iCyte Imaging Cytometer. Curr. Protoc. Cytom. 56:6.32.1-6.32.17. © 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: imaging cytometry; laser scanning cytometry; multi-parameter tissue analysis; pancreatic islets biomarkers
Significant Current Developments in Oil and Gas Taxation

The most important developments in this area relate to a series of proposed regulations issued on percentage depletion. However, the Service has been particularly active in addressing narrow issues of statutory interpretation through the Revenue Ruling process.
State-structures and minimal state-structures for arbitrary digital filters

This paper presents a formal procedure for determining the state space representations of any digital network consisting of adders, multipliers and delays. Such representations are called state-structures whenever the state variables are exclusively identified to the appropriately chosen internal node variables of the network. In general, the state-structures corresponding to a given network are not unique, and for non-canonic networks, it is sometimes possible to find state-structures for state vectors of the lowest dimension. Procedures for determining such minimal structures are also discussed.
Cellular Therapy Models: Ex Vivo Chimera Model by Cell Fusion

Cell fusion is a ubiquitous process fundamental to physiological and pathophysiological events common to multiple cell types and species. Performed ex vivo, cell fusion is a versatile research and therapeutic tool for gene mapping, antibody production, discovering new mechanisms in biological processes, inventing alternative therapies for cell reprogramming, restoring organ function, and creating cellular therapeutics for cancer treatment.
S-Curve dynamics of trade between Egypt and her two largest partners

The ‘S-Curve’ phenomenon postulates that while cross correlation coefficients between past values of the trade balance and current exchange rate could be negative, the same cross-correlation between future values of the trade balance and current exchange rate could be positive. In this study, we test the S-Curve using bilateral trade data between Egypt and its two largest trading partners. We test the phenomenon for 36 industries (59 industries) that trade between Egypt and USA (Egypt and EU). Out of a total of 95 industries, we were able to support the S-Curve hypothesis in 20, mostly small, industries.
VOLUME-ACTIVATED OSMOLYTE CHANNEL IN SKATE ERYTHROCYTES : INHIBITION BY PYRIDOXAL DERIVATIVES

Volume expansion of erythrocytes of little skate, Raja erinacea, triggers the opening of an osmolyte channel. We review this transport mechanism and further investigate the channel's physicochemical nature by probing the channel with a series of pyridoxine derivatives in skate RBC as well as in epithelial cells: MDCK and C6 glioma cells and in skate hepatocytes. The identity of the transport mechanism (band 3 vs. an anion channel) which mediates the swelling-activated efflux of osmolytes in fish RBC is controversial. Therefore, we compared taurine and Cl- effluxes in similar conditions. We found that there is significant Cl- loss from volume-expanded skate RBC. However, there was no effect of either hypotonicity or a number of taurine transport inhibitors on this loss. Utilizing changes in intracellular pH as a means of indirectly measuring H+/Cl- cotransport, we found that a rise in cell pH accompanied the loss of Cl-. This suggests that Cl- efflux could occur via a H+/Cl- cotransporter. To probe and compare the osmolyte channel (taurine efflux) of the skate RBC and three other cell types we used a family of pyridoxine inhibitors. The inhibitory patterns for the skate erythrocytes and hepatocytes differed from those for MDCK and C6 glioma cells and the two former cell types differed from each other. Therefore, the results show that the osmolyte channel in the skate differs from that in other epithelial cells with regard to pyridoxine derivative binding properties.
Myeloid metaplasia presenting as a splenic mass: Report of a case with fine-needle aspiration cytology

Myeloid metaplasia, i.e., the formation of bone marrow elements outside of the medullary cavity, may occur in any patient with anemia, regardless of the etiology of the anemia itself. The spleen is frequently the site of myeloid metaplasia, and it may present with varying degrees of splenomegaly; however, no cases have been reported where this entity presented as an isolated splenic mass. Our case was a 79-yr-old man who presented with anemia and a splenic mass by CT scan and who underwent fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of that mass. The smears revealed megakaryocytes admixed with other hematopoietic elements. No fatty elements were identified in the smears. We conclude that splenic myeloid metaplasia may present as a discrete splenic mass lesion, and may be diagnosed using the FNA technique.
Reduced CCK-induced fos expression in the hindbrain, nodose ganglia, and enteric neurons of rats lacking CCK-1 receptors

Many of the actions of cholecystokinin (CCK) are mediated by CCK-1 receptors, expressed by enteric and vagal afferent neurons. Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rats (OLETF) do not express CCK-1 receptors, and do not exhibit the vagally mediated responses to CCK. To determine whether the OLETF rat's failure to respond to CCK is correlated with failure of CCK to activate enteric and vagal neurons, we quantified neuronal Fos immunoreactivity in the dorsal vagal complex of the hindbrain, the nodose ganglia, and the ganglia of the myenteric and submucosal plexuses of the duodenum following intraperitoneal injection of CCK-8 (20 microg/kg). Compared to vehicle injection, CCK administration resulted in significant increases in the number of Fos-immunopositive neurons in the nucleus of the solitary tract, area postrema, and dorsal vagal motor nucleus of control, LETO rats. In OLETF rats, however, CCK did not increase numbers of Fos-immunoreactive neurons in any of these brain structures. CCK also induced significantly larger numbers of Fos-immunoreactive neuronal nuclei in the nodose ganglia of LETO rats, but not in the nodose ganglia of OLETF rats. Finally, LETO, but not OLETF rats exhibited striking increases in the number of Fos-immunoreactive nuclei of myenteric and submucosal neurons, following CCK injection. Absence of CCK-induced Fos expression in OLETF rats is consistent with attenuation of ingestive and gastrointestinal responses to CCK in the CCK-1 receptor deficient rats. These results also suggest that CCK-induced Fos expression in enteric and vagal sensory neurons of rats can be accounted for entirely by activation of CCK-1 receptors and is not due to occupation of CCK-2 (gastrin) receptors, which also are expressed in the intestine and by some vagal afferent neurons.
Direct Classification and Selection of Superior Alleles for Crop Improvement

The use of conventional breeding methods has resulted in consistent crop improvement within the cultivated gene pool by producing genotypes with new combinations of alleles that produce better phenotypes than either of the parents (transgressive segregation). Biotechnology has provided new methods to generate, identify, characterize, and manipulate genetic variation. Among these methods, marker assisted selection (MAS) with DNA markers has been applied in plant improvement programs. However, MAS is limited by the effort required to generate information about map location and breeding value of genes controlling important traits. Comparative genetic analysis across the domesticated grasses facilitates the identification and localization of gene sequences controlling specific traits of interest. The emerging databases of gene sequences will allow directed discovery of genes in higher plants and classification of alleles present within breeding germplasm. Identification of the genes controlling a trait and knowledge of their DNA sequence would facilitate classification of variation in the germplasm pool based on gene fingerprinting or characterization of variation in key DNA sequences. Classification of sequence variants at a targeted locus would substantially reduce the amount of work required to determine their relative breeding value and lead to the identification of superior alleles. Combining direct allele selection (DAS) with conventional selection, would allow more rapid and precise improvement of populations and breeding lines. Limitations of current technology can be minimized by transfer of genetic information across species, identification of highly variable genes, and focusing on the most important genes and traits for the species of interest.
Can curcumin provide an ideal contraceptive

The population explosion, unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, and cancer (cervical and breast) continue to cause major public health issues worldwide. Curcumin, diferuloyl methane, the yellow pigment component of the curry spice turmeric (Curcuma longa), has immense biological effects and has recently drawn considerable attention. Curcumin has antibacterial, antiviral, antiinflammatory, and anticancer properties. It has shown a lack of toxicity in animals and human clinical trials. Yet, its effect on reproduction has not been examined. The present study was conducted to examine if curcumin affects sperm function in vitro and fertility in vivo. Sperm (human and murine) were collected and incubated with curcumin to examine the effect on motility, capacitation/acrosome reaction, and in vitro fertilization. The effect on in vivo fertility using the mouse model was also examined. Incubation of sperm with curcumin caused a concentration-dependent decrease in sperm forward motility, capacitation/acrosome reaction, and murine fertilization in vitro. At higher concentrations, there was a complete block of sperm motility and function within 5-15 min. Administration of curcumin, especially intravaginally, caused a significant (P<0.001) reduction in fertility. The antifertility effect of curcumin was reversible. This is the first study to report the inhibitory effect of curcumin on sperm function, fertilization, and fertility. The findings suggest that curcumin may constitute a double-edged sword to block conception, infection, and cancer, thus providing an ideal contraceptive.
Timing analysis in P2P botnet traffic using probabilistic context-free grammars

Botnets are becoming a major source of spam, private data and money steal and other cybercrime. During the battle with security communities, botnets became Tailored Trustworthy Spaces (TTS). Bot herders first used encryption and access control of the botnet command and control channel to secure botnet communications. The use of fastflux and P2P technologies help botnets become more resilient to detection and takendown. Their fast evolving propagation, command and control, and attacks make botnets good examples of moving targets. Detecting and removing botnets has become a difficult and important task for security community. In this paper, we apply timing analysis on P2P hierarchical botnet traffic, since timing signatures commonly exist in automated network processes. We extend previous work to use probabilistic context-free grammars (PCFGs), a more expressive grammar in the Chomsky hierarchy. Experiment results of simulated P2P botnet show that PCFGs have accurate detection rates. Our approach provides possible "exploits" to compromise TTS and moving target systems. Therefore timing signatures should be considered in design to make the system more secure and resilient.
ITS2 is a double-edged tool for eukaryote evolutionary comparisons

Abstract The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the nuclear rDNA cistrons is one of the more frequently utilized regions for phylogenetic analyses at the genus and species levels. It has proven valuable for phylogenetic reconstruction of species and genus relationships, using comparisons of primary sequence. Although potential transcript secondary structure homology is often utilized to aid alignment in comparisons of ribosomal gene sequences, such consideration has rarely been applied to ITS primarily because secondary structures for its transcript were not available. Here, we describe the value of applying ITS2 RNA transcript secondary structure information to improve alignments, which then allows comparisons at even deeper taxonomic levels. The evolutionarily conserved subportions of ITS2, apparently necessary for positioning of the multimolecular transcript processing machinery, also provide material for distinguishing evolutionarily rare events, ‘Compensatory Base Changes' in the relatively conserved regions, that might be useful in recognizing how arbitrary are the assignments of classical taxonomic ranks in disparate groups of eukaryotes. This relatively short and easily sequenced region of DNA – ITS2 – has yet to be fully exploited in phylogenetics.
Long-term prospective evaluation of an inpatient voiding reeducation program for lower urinary tract conditions in children.

Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of our treatment program for children with lower urinary tract conditions, developed at the Department of Pediatric Nephrology of the University Children’s Hospital in Ljubljana. Sixty-four patients with lower urinary tract conditions were randomly allocated to two groups. Group A received treatment immediately, whereas patients of group B received no treatment for a period of 3 months—the amount of time it takes to complete our program. No child in group B experienced spontaneous regression of their symptoms in the 3-month delay period, while the patients of group A were already being treated and were achieving results. Thus, all the patients of group B then entered the program in exactly the same way as patients of group A. The final success rate in both groups did not differ significantly (p = 0.706–1.000) and ranged from 86.2 % for group A and 86.7 to 90 % for group B. Long-term follow-up showed statistically identical success rates (p = 1.000). This prospective controlled study with long-term follow-up (48 months) shows that our treatment program, applied as an inpatient voiding school program, is an effective method, with durable results.
Robust classification using support vector machine in low-dimensional manifold space for automatic target recognition

Target classification is a crucial component in automatic target recognition systems, yet one of the most difficult to develop due to the high level of variability in target signatures. Classification in low-dimensional manifold space is a promising approach since the manifold learning algorithm embeds the target chips into a low-dimensional space using key class features, and therefore is effective in the presence of noise and when the training and testing data exhibit variations due to differences in target range, aspect angles or other factors. This work develops an approach using support vector machine (SVM) classification in a nonlinear manifold space learned from real target imagery, outperforming classification in the image space. The proposed approach is very robust with respect to the dimensionality of the embedding as well as to the parameter settings, demonstrating the practicality of this approach for automatic target recognition applications.
Energy balance concept in the evaluation of water table management effects on corn growth: Experimental investigation

The effects of water table management practices (WTMP) on corn growth in 1989 and 1990 at two field sites, Ames and Ankeny, Iowa, were evaluated by calculating crop water stress index (CWSI) and monitoring plant physiological parameters during the growing seasons. Experiments were conducted on field lysimeters at the Ames site by maintaining water tables at 0.3-, 0.6-, and 0.9-m depths and in a subirrigation field at the Ankeny site with 0.2-, 0.3-, 0.6-, 0.9-, and 1.1-m water table depths, and periodically measuring leaf and air temperature, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) using leaf chamber techniques. Net radiation of canopy was estimated using the leaf energy balance equation and leaf chamber measurements and then correlated with PAR. Analysis of data revealed that net radiation, leaf air temperature differential, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and CWSI were strongly related to WTMP during vegetative and flowering stages of corn growth. Excess water in the root zone with a water table depth of 0.2 m caused the maximum crop water stress and ceased crop growth. Both water and oxygen could be adequately maintained for favorable crop growth by adopting the best WTMP. Results indicate that plant physiological parameters and CWSI could be used to evaluate the effectiveness of WTMP and develop the best WTMP for corn growth in the humid region.
Countee Cullen's Uranian "Soul Windows"

Although Countee Cullen was once hailed "poet laureate" of the Harlem renaissance, today his reputation has waned due, in part, to the absence of biographical study which would elucidate the relationship of his life and literary output. One consequential component of Cullen's life--his homosexuality--played an integral part in the creation and development of his poetry. To miss this significant aspect of Cullen's artistic life is to invite misinterpretation. Unfortunately, most African American scholars of the Harlem Renaissance have dismissed, ignored, or denied Cullen's homosexuality. Yet, this weighty element of his life was at the core of his literary imagination. This bio-critical study examines the import of Cullen's homosexuality on his poetry in an attempt to position the poet as the inaugurator of Black gay poetry in the United States.
Does public mean an engineer's nation?

The questions considered here is: how should engineers interpret "public" in provisions of codes of engineering ethics? Should engineers interpret "public" as ending at the national or juridical border of their own country? Or are the obligations of an engineer to the public "international", "global", or otherwise "cosmopolitan"? My answer has two main parts. The first is that we should understand "public" to refer to all those whose lack of information, technical knowledge, ability, or time for deliberation renders them more or less vulnerable to the powers engineers wield on behalf of their client or employer---those whom, for convenience, I shall call "the innocent". The second part of my answer is that "innocence" should not be limited by jurisdiction, citizenship, space, or even time.
On the blow-up of solutions of the 3-D Euler equations in a bounded domain

It is shown that if [0,\(\hat T\)) is the maximal interval of existence of a smooth solutionu of the incompressible Euler equations in a bounded, simply connected domain Ω\( \subseteq\)R3, then\(\int_0^{\hat T} {\left| {\omega ( \cdot ,t)} \right|_{L^\infty (\Omega )} } dt = \infty\), where ω=∇×u is the vorticity. Crucial to this result is a special estimate proven in Ω of the maximum velocity gradient in terms of the maximum vorticity and a logarithmic term involving a higher norm of the vorticity.
Efficacy of bronchoscopic lung volume reduction: a meta-analysis

Background Over the last several years, the morbidity, mortality, and high costs associated with lung volume reduction (LVR) surgery has fuelled the development of different methods for bronchoscopic LVR (BLVR) in patients with emphysema. In this meta-analysis, we sought to study and compare the efficacy of most of these methods.
Mechanism of acetylcholine action on pacemaker current (if) in canine Purkinje fibers

We have recently reported in canine Purkinje fibers that acetylcholine (ACh) can reverse the positive voltage shift of the pacemaker current (if) induced by β-adrenergic stimulation while having no direct action of its own [3]. We have now investigated this effect of ACh on the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) cascade in more detail. We find that addition of a membrane permeable analogue of cAMP (8-chlorophenylthio cAMP), 0.5–1 mM, increased the amplitude of if.This action was not reversed by 1 μM ACh, implying that ACh acts at a step prior to cAMP action. We then looked at the steps controlling intracellular concentration of cAMP. Inhibiting the phosphodiesterase with 100 μM isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) increased if. This action, however, was reversed by ACh. Finally we investigated whether the action of forskolin, a direct activator of adenylyl cyclase, could be reversed by ACh. Forskolin (10–20 μM) increased if, and ACh at 1 μM partially reversed this action of forskolin. These results suggest that, in canine Purkinje fibers, ACh reverses the positive action of β-adrenergic agents on if via a decrease in cAMP production.
Structural insight into the mechanisms of Wnt signaling antagonism by Dkk.

Dickkopf (Dkk) proteins are antagonists of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway and are crucial for embryonic cell fate and bone formation. Wnt antagonism of Dkk requires the binding of the C-terminal cysteine-rich domain of Dkk to the Wnt coreceptor, LRP5/6. However, the structural basis of the interaction between Dkk and low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) 5/6 is unknown. In this study, we examined the structure of the Dkk functional domain and elucidated its interactions with LRP5/6. Using NMR spectroscopy, we determined the solution structure of the C-terminal cysteine-rich domain of mouse Dkk2 (Dkk2C). Then, guided by mutagenesis studies, we docked Dkk2C to the YWTD β-propeller domains of LRP5/6 and showed that the ligand binding site of the third LRP5/6 β-propeller domain matches Dkk2C best, suggesting that this domain binds to Dkk2C with higher affinity. Such differential binding affinity is likely to play an essential role in Dkk function in the canonical Wnt pathway.
Quasimaximality and principal filters isomorphism between

Let I be a quasimaximal subset of a computable basis of the fully efective vector space V ∞ . We give a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of an isomorphism between the principal filter respectivelly. We construct both quasimaximal sets that satisfy and quasimaximal sets that do not satisfy this condition. With the latter we obtain a negative answer to Question 5.4 posed by Downey and Remmel in [3].
Antimicrobial activity of extractable conifer heartwood compounds toward Phytophthora ramorum.

Ethyl acetate extracts from heartwood of seven western conifer trees and individual volatile compounds in the extracts were tested for antimicrobial activity against Phytophthora ramorum. Extracts from incense and western redcedar exhibited the strongest activity, followed by yellow-cedar, western juniper, and Port-Orford-cedar with moderate activity, and no activity for Douglas-fir and redwood extracts. Chemical composition of the extracts varied both qualitatively and quantitatively among the species with a total of 37 compounds identified by mass spectrometry. Of the 13 individual heartwood compounds bioassayed, three showed strong activity with a Log10 EC50 less than or equal to 1.0 ppm (hinokitiol, thymoquinone, and nootkatin), three expressed moderate activity ranging from 1.0–2.0 ppm (nootkatol, carvacrol, and valencene-11,12-diol), four compounds had weak activity at 2.0–3.0 ppm [α-terpineol, valencene-13-ol, (+)-β-cedrene, (−)-thujopsene], and three had no activity [(+)-cedrol, δ-cadinene, and methyl carvacrol]. All of the most active compounds contained a free hydroxyl group, except thymoquinone. The importance of a free hydroxyl was demonstrated by the tremendous difference in activity between carvacrol (Log10 EC50 1.81 ± 0.08 ppm) and methyl carvacrol (Log10 EC50 >3.0 ppm). A field trial in California, showed that heartwood chips from redcedar placed on the forest floor for 4 months under Umbellularia californica (California bay laurel) with symptoms of P. ramorum leaf blight significantly limited the accumulation of P. ramorum DNA in the litter layer, compared with heartwood chips from redwood.
Delivering maximum clinical benefit at an affordable price: engaging stakeholders in cancer care

Cancer costs continue to increase alarmingly despite much debate about how they can be reduced. The oncology community needs to take greater responsibility for our own practice patterns, especially when using expensive tests and treatments with marginal value: we cannot continue to accept novel therapeutics with very small benefits for exorbitant prices. Patients, payers, and pharmaceutical communities should be constructively engaged to communicate medically and economically possible goals, and eventually, to reduce use and costs. Diagnostic tests and treatments should have to show true value to be added to existing protocols. In this article, we discuss three key drivers of costs: end-of-life care patterns, medical imaging, and drugs. We propose health-care models that have the potential to decrease costs and discuss solutions to maintain clinical benefit at an affordable price.
The role of TNFα and TNF receptors in obesity and insulin resistance

Insulin resistance, a smaller than expected response to a given dose of insulin, is associated with many common diseases including, ageing, polycystic ovarian disease, syndrome X, cancer, infections, trauma and, most significantly, obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The biochemical basis of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes has been the subject of many studies. Earlier studies have indicated that quantitative regulation of the insulin sensitive glucose transporters (Glut-4) and insulin receptors themselves may contribute to this disorder, however, these two factors are probably inadequate to explain the extent of insulin resistance. This point also became apparent by the development of only mild hyperinsulinaemia in mice with a targeted mutation in the Glut-4 gene. Studies on postreceptor defects in type 2 diabetes has recently focused on the intrinsic catalytic activity of the insulin receptor and downstream signalling events. A reduction in tyrosine phosphorylation of both the insulin receptor (IR) and the insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) has been noted in both animal and human type 2 diabetes. Importantly, this appears to occur in all of the major insulin-sensitive tissues, namely the muscle, fat and liver. It is now clear that decreased signalling capacity of the insulin receptor is an important component of this disease. I will review some of the potential mechanisms underlying this deficiency.
Endocrine Dysfunction following Traumatic Brain Injury in Children

Objective To identify the incidence of endocrine dysfunction in children following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Study design This was a prospective evaluation of 31 children after TBI. Inclusion criteria included Glasgow Coma Scale score ≤12 and age 1.5-18 years. We evaluated thyroid function, insulin-like growth factor I, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3, and cortisol at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after injury, and assessed prolactin at 3 and 6 months. At 6 months, we also assessed overnight spontaneous growth hormone secretion, nocturnal thyrotropin surge, adrenal reserve, and serum and urine osmolarity. Results The average patient age was 11.6 years, and mean Glascow Coma Scale score was 6. The incidence of endocrine dysfunction was 15% at 1 month, 75% at 6 months, and 29% at 12 months. At 12 months after injury, 14% had precocious puberty, 9% had hypothyroidism, and 5% had growth hormone deficiency. Endocrine dysfunction at 1 year did not correlate with the severity of injury. Conclusions Endocrine dysfunction after TBI is common in children, but most cases resolve by 1 year. We recommend endocrine surveillance at both 6 and 12 months following moderate or severe TBI to ensure early intervention for persistent or late-occurring endocrine sequelae.
A REEVALUATION OF SERUM IONIZED CALCIUM CONCENTRATIONS IN THE NEONATE

Neonatology textbooks define neonatal hypocalcemia (NHC) as a serum total calcium (Ca) concentration of <7.0 to <8.0 mg/dl, or a serum ionized Ca (iCa) concentration of <2.5 to 4.0 mg/dl. Studies leading to these figures used pooled data over the first few days of life, when dramatic changes in serum Ca occur, and when iCa was measured with ion-specific electrodes with much less accuracy & reliability than those used today. Studies in adults showed that newer electrodes yield higher results than older electrodes. We hypothesized that the normal range for iCa concentration in neonate would be higher than the published figures even at the nadir at 24 hours of age. The present study examined serum Ca (atomic absorption) & iCa (radiometer iCa electrode) concentrations in 30 full term infants born following uncomplicated pregnancies, labors & deliveries in order to determine the lowest normal newborn range. The serum Ca concentration averaged 9.0 mg/dl (2.3 mmol/l) with a 95% confidence limit of 7.8 to 10.2 mg/dl (2.0 to 2.6 mmol/1). The serum iCa concentration averaged 4.9 mg/dl (1.2 mmol/l), with a 95% confidence limit of 4.4 to 5.4 mg/dl (1.1 to 1.4 mmol/l). The range of serum total Ca concentrations fell within previously published ranges but the serum iCa concentration was markedly greater than previously believed. There was a significant correlation between Ca & iCa in serum (r = 0.71, p<0.001) but the predictive value of iCa concentration from total Ca concentration was clinically unacceptable. Because of the many factors which influence serum total Ca measurements & not the ionized fraction, and since iCa is the biologically active fraction of serum Ca, we propose the use of a serum iCa concentration of <4.4 mg/dl (1.1 mmol/l) to define the population at risk for NHC.
ZN65 UPTAKE BY BENTHIC MARINE ALGAE1

The effects of various environmental factors on Zn65 uptake and loss were investigated in benthic algae. Increasing the pH promoted Zn65 uptake and retarded Zn65 loss in Ulva lactuca, Porphyra umbilicalis, and Laminaria agardi. A similar pH dependency was displayed by killed algae of the same species which in all cases absorbed more Zn65 than the live seaweed. The addition of carrier zinc to natural sea-water wash solutions had little effect on the rate of Zn65 loss from radioactive algae. Increasing the temperature of the wash resulted in a slight increase in the rate of Zn65 loss. Polarographic determinations of the natural zinc content of algae were made. Fucus had the highest zinc concentration, 829 mg/kg dry wt, while Porphyra showed the lowest, 123 mg/kg. Exposure to light stimulated both the uptake and loss of Zn65. Uptake was retarded by two inhibitors, uranyl nitrate and phenylurethane. The biological half-life of Zn65 in algae in the light and in the dark was estimated. Fucus showed a much higher retention of Zn65 than either Porphyra or Ulva. The effects of photosynthesis-related pH changes on both metabolic and nonmetabolic uptake mechanisms are considered.
Gate‐controlled modulation of charge transport in long‐channel, δ‐doped, heterojunction Hall‐bar structures

The charge‐transport properties of the two‐dimensional electron gas (2DEG) generated by δ‐doping lattice‐matched InxGa1−xAs/InyAl1−yAs heterojunctions, x≤0.4, grown on GaAs substrates by means of compositionally step‐graded, strain‐relaxed, InyAl1−yAs buffer layers were investigated. Gate‐controlled, long‐channel, eight‐arm Hall‐bridge specimens using Shubnikov–de Haas (SdH) oscillatory magnetoresistance measurements, made at 1.6 K, low‐field Hall‐effect and resistivity measurements, and field‐effect transistor measurements were made on the same specimens at 1.6 and 77 K. Fast Fourier transform analysis of the SdH data indicates that the displacement of the Fermi level produced by a quasistatic applied gate voltage can populate one, two, or three subbands of the 2DEG in its quantum well. The experimental data are in good agreement with theoretical Poisson/Schrodinger simulations of the equilibrium properties of such gate‐controlled heterostructures. The effective electron density, mobility, and threshold ...
Mo1559 Evaluating the Optimal Time for Colonoscopy Withdrawal: a Prospective Randomized Comparison of 3 Minute Versus 6 Minute Withdrawal

Mo1559 Evaluating the Optimal Time for Colonoscopy Withdrawal: a Prospective Randomized Comparison of 3 Minute Versus 6 Minute Withdrawal Sheila Kumar*, Rajan Kochar, Shai Friedland, Uri Ladabaum, Ann M. Chen, Subhas Banerjee Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA Introduction: A minimum withdrawal time for screening colonoscopy of 6 minutes has been proposed, based on an observational study, and has become the de-facto standard of care. The 6-minute withdrawal time remains controversial and has not been compared in a standardized fashion to alternative withdrawal times. Aims: To perform a prospective randomized study to compare Polyp Miss Rates, Adenoma Miss Rates and Adenoma Detection Rates in patients undergoing colonoscopy with a 3-minute versus a 6-minute withdrawal time. Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing colonoscopy at Stanford University and the Palo Alto Veterans Administration Hospital were enrolled. Patients were prospectively randomized to undergo colonoscopy with either a 3-minute or 6minute withdrawal time during the 1st pass. A second pass was then performed with a 6-minute withdrawal in both groups to determine Polyp Miss Rates and Adenoma Miss Rates. The Adenoma Detection Rate (#colonoscopies where at least 1 adenoma was detected on the first pass/total #colonoscopies) was also determined for both groups. Results: 107 patients (73 men, 24 women) have been enrolled. 52 underwent 3-minute withdrawal and 55 underwent 6-minute withdrawal. Indications and baseline characteristics for both groups were similar (Table 1). The Polyp Miss Rate was significantly higher in the 3-minute withdrawal group compared to the 6-minute withdrawal group (57% vs. 26%, p 0.0012). The Adenoma Miss Rate was also significantly higher in the 3-minute withdrawal group compared to the 6-minute withdrawal group, (57% vs. 33%, p 0.013) (Table 2). The Adenoma Detection Rates were similar in both groups (31% vs. 24%, p NS). Conclusion: The Polyp Miss Rate and Adenoma Miss Rate were significantly higher in the 3-minute withdrawal group compared to the 6minute withdrawal group, suggesting that a 3-minute withdrawal may be inadequate and that a 6-minute withdrawal may be more appropriate for colorectal cancer screening. No significant difference was noted in the Adenoma Detection Rate between the two groups, which may be due to inadequate sample size.
Heat shock treatment releases Penicillium phosphoglycopeptide

Abstract Filtrates of heat (54°) treated day-5 Penicillium fellutanum cultures contained 70 mg of peptidophosphogalactomannan-II; an unheated control contained 30 mg. The polymer contained up to 60 phosphodiesters, and 5-O-β- d -galactofuranosyl , mannopyranosyl, amino acyl and 2-aminoethanol residues. Its 13C NMR spectrum was nearly identical with that of the control polymer. The major 31P NMR signal was phosphocholine phosphodiester at δ 0.22 ppm; significant phosphodiester signals occurred at δ 1.15, 1.33 and 1.47. Dilute mineral acid released galactofuranosyl residues from the mannan. Signals at δ 1.15–1.47 ppm were associated with molecules of mass less than 3500 and contained galactose, 2-aminoethanol and peptide(s). After this acid treatment, signals at δ 1.0-0.22 remained associated with the mannan. Heat released up to 4-fold more of peptidophosphogalactomannan-III compared with the untreated control; carbohydrate and phosphate content, per mg polymer, were reduced by 4- and 2-fold, respectively. A galactofuranosyl-, phosphoryl- and amino acyl-containing polymer of Mr greater than 14 000 was solubilized by alkali treatment of P. fellutanum cell walls.
Comparison of four strategies for diagnosing deep vein thrombosis: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

Abstract Purpose: Four strategies for the diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis have been validated recently. The strategies use various combinations of assessment of a patient's clinical probability of having deep venous thrombosis, serial lower limb venous compression ultrasonography, and measurement of plasma D-dimer levels. We compared the cost-effectiveness of these diagnostic strategies. Materials and Methods: We performed a formal cost-effectiveness analysis using a decision-analysis model. Outcomes considered were costs per patient, 3-month quality-adjusted survival, number of lives saved per 1,000 patients, and incremental costs per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained. Results: Under baseline conditions, with a 24% prevalence of deep vein thrombosis in tested patients, the effectiveness of all strategies was similar (4.6 to 4.8 lives saved per 1,000 patients managed). The most expensive strategy was serial ultrasound (repeat ultrasound on day 7 in all patients with a normal initial ultrasound) at a cost-effectiveness of $10,716 per additional QALY. Performing a repeat ultrasound only in patients with an elevated D-dimer level (serial ultrasound with D-dimer) was somewhat less expensive at $10,281 per additional QALY. Taking clinical probability into account by repeating ultrasound only in patients with an intermediate clinical probability of deep vein thrombosis (risk-based serial ultrasound) yielded further savings and cost $10,090 per additional QALY. The least expensive and most cost-effective option was to perform D-dimer as the initial test, followed by a single ultrasound if the D-dimer level was abnormal, and by phlebography in patients with a normal ultrasound and a high clinical probability of deep vein thrombosis (D-dimer with risk-based single ultrasound) at $8,897 per additional QALY. This strategy allowed a 17% reduction in incremental costs compared with the most expensive algorithm and reduced resource consumption (70 ultrasound procedures per 100 patients managed vs 130 to 170 with the other diagnostic strategies). Conclusions: Combining clinical probability and D-dimer with a single ultrasound in the diagnostic workup of patients with possible deep vein thrombosis is highly cost-effective, allowing a reduction in costs and resource use without any substantial increase in mortality. Serial ultrasonography is less cost-effective.
Superprecipitation of gizzard actomyosin, and tension in gizzard muscle skinned fibers in the presence of nucleotides other than ATP

Abstract 1. Nucleotides which are known to be poor substrates for myosin kinase (ITP, GTP, UTP and CTP) are poor relative to ATP at producing Ca2+ -sensitive superprecipitation or tension in smooth-muscle-derived experimental systems. The ability of these nucleotides to support Ca2+ -sensitive superprecipitation or tension in striated muscle fibers depends on fiber type, but ranges from poor for GTP to excellent for CTP. 2. Thiophosphate analogs of ITP and GTP (ITPγS and GTPγS) are poor at irreversibly activating superprecipitation in smooth muscle actomyosin relative to ATPγS. 3. [γ-32P]ITP is poor relative to [γ-32P]ATP as a substrate of the endogenous myosin light-chain kinase in gizzard actomyosin. 4. The results provide further independent evidence in both gizzard actomyosin and skinned fibers that the smooth muscle Ca2+ -control system is based on myosin phosphorylation.
Thinking Inside the Tool Box: Creativity, Constraints, and the Colossal Portraits of Chuck Close

This article presents a problem-solving model to examine the often problematic relationship between expertise and creativity. The model has two premises, each the opposite of a common cliche. The first cliche asserts that creativity requires thinking outside-the-box. The first premise argues that experts can only think and problem solve inside the tool boxes of their expertise. The second cliche, that creativity requires freedom from constraints, points to the problem with expertise. Free to do anything, experts repeat what has worked best in the past. A solution is suggested by the second premise: to circumvent the liabilities of expertise, creativity requires constraints of a particular paired kind. The model is introduced as an expansion of prior process models focused on problem identification and construction. Problem-finding is reanalyzed as constraint-finding. A case study shows how one recognized creator, painter Chuck Close, uses constraints as a tool to solve the expertise-creativity problem.