cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
UDP-glucuronosyltransferase inducers reduce thyroid hormone levels in rats by an extrathyroidal mechanism

As many microsomal enzyme inducers have been shown to reduce thyroid hormone levels, this study was conducted to determine if this reduction is produced by directly blocking the synthesis of thyroid hormones, or by indirectly increasing the biotransformation and deactivation of thyroxine (T4) by microsomal enzymes. Surgically thyroidectomized male rats received thyroid hormone replacement therapy by implanted osmotic minipumps, resulting in T4 and T3 serum levels that were similar to those observed in euthyroid controls. Three days after minipump implantation (Day 0), rats were fed diets containing four UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UDP-GT) inducers: phenobarbital (PB), 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC), pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile (PCN), or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) for 10 days. PB, 3MC, and PCN reduced total (Days 3-10) and free (Days 7-10) T4 serum concentrations 30-50%, whereas PCB produced a 70-75% reduction in total and free serum T4 (Days 3-10). Treatment with PB, PCN, and PCB decreased levels of total T3 (Days 7-10). UDP-GT activity toward T4 was increased by PB, 3MC, PCN, and PCB 270, 400, 570, and 660%, respectively, and was found to correlate with serum T4 levels (total and free). These results demonstrate that reduction of thyroid hormone levels by microsomal enzyme inducers is produced in part by an extrathyroidal mechanism, quite possibly an increase in T4 glucuronidation.
Short-term changes in 10-km race pace aerobic demand and gait mechanics following a bout of high-intensity distance running.

Following treadmill accommodation and a 3-day period of tapered running, ten well-trained male distance runners [\(\bar x\) maximum oxygen uptake (\(\dot VO_{2max} \)) = 71.3 ml · kg−1 · min−1] performed two 10-min level treadmill runs designed to assess running economy at 90%\(\dot VO_{2max} \). Video recordings were obtained during the last minute of each run to quantify selected gait descriptors. Two to 3 days following the second economy run, each subject completed 30 min of high-intensity (HI) running at 90%\(\dot VO_{2max} \). One, 2, and 4 days after the HI run, subjects repeated the 10-min economy runs. Compared to pre HI-run values, no significant change (P > 0.05) in running economy was observed during the post-HI runs. Biomechanical analyses also revealed that running style remained unaltered after the HI run. These results support earlier findings obtained on moderately trained subjects featuring measurement of running economy and gait mechanics at less-demanding intensities and suggest that among well-trained athletes, 30 min of HI running does not elicit an increase in\(\dot VO_2 \) or disrupt gait mechanics over the short term in subsequent distance runs performed at near-maximal speeds.
Retrievable vena cava filters for preventing pulmonary embolism in trauma patients: a cautionary tale.

Background:Retrievable vena cava filters (RFs) offer the appeal of short-term prophylaxis for trauma patients temporarily at risk for pulmonary embolism (PE) without the long-term risks of permanent vena cava filters (PFs). However, the evidence that RFs and PFs reduce the risks of PE and death in t
Pathogenic phenotype and genotype of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from spontaneous canine ocular infections.

Purpose This study was designed to determine whether the ability to adversely affect corneal epithelial cell health is a factor common to Pseudomonas aeruginosa keratitis strains and to assess the prevalence of each pathogenic phenotype and genotype in a canine model of naturally-acquired P. aeruginosa ocular infection.
The effects of self-instruction on immoral behavior.

Abstract The effects of self-instruction on immoral behavior were investigated. Forty-eight first grade boys were taught what was “right” and “wrong” with one of four different procedures. After this initial training E told them they could play the game by themselves to earn tokens exchangeable for prizes. The E told them that there were “right” ones and “wrong” ones and that sometimes they were allowed to press the key and that sometimes they were not allowed to press the key, even though it was possible to earn tokens when both “right” and “wrong” stimuli were presented. Half the S s were told to instruct themselves whether they could or could not respond each time a stimulus was presented. Boys who used self-instructions “cheated” less than S s who did not use self-instruction regardless of the method of discrimination training.
Observations of Dairy Cow Activities in Loose-Housing

Summary The activity patterns of a herd of Brown Swiss cows wintered in a loose-housing barn with outside self-feeding of hay and silage are described. When the cows had access to silage, they spent an average of 5.2 hours daily eating, 5.1 hours loitering in the yard, 4.3 hours loitering in the lounge, and 8.2 hours resting. When hay alone was available, the eating time remained unchanged, but the cows spent 2.7 hours daily loitering in the yard, 5.1 hours loitering in the lounge, and 10.7 hours resting. Eighteen weekly determinations of the rectal temperatures, pulse, and respiration rates of six Holstein cows in a stanchion barn were compared with those of Brown Swiss Cows. The rectal temperatures and respiration rates of the Brown Swiss were significantly lower than the average of the Holsteins. The average pulse rate of the Brown Swiss was significantly higher than that of the Holsteins for the first 9 weeks. During the second 9 weeks the Brown Swiss pulse rate was significantly lower than that of the cows in the stanchion barn. These measurements could not be correlated with changes in environmental temperature.
Second generation antidepressants: The pharmacological and clinical significance of selected examples

Until recently, tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors were the only therapies available for mental depression. These compounds, while effective, have significant cardiovascular and autonomic side effects and it was recognized that there was room for improvement. As a result of the labors of chemists and pharmacologists over the last 10 years, new or “second generation” compounds are being studied in man. Many of these compounds are structurally, biochemically, and pharmacologically distinct from tricyclic compounds and monoamine oxidase inhibitors and therefore hold out the promise of more effective therapy with fewer side effects. As an interesting offshoot of these structural, biochemical, and pharmacological differences it appears that the prevailing catecholamine theory of affective disorders and of the mode of action of therapeutic agents is challenged. Iprindole, mianserin and bupropion are discussed as examples of second generation antidepressants.
Use of thymosin β15 as a urinary biomarker in human prostate cancer

BACKGROUND Additional prostate cancer (CaP) biomarkers are needed to increase the accuracy of diagnosis and to identify patients at risk of recurrence. In tissue-based assays, thymosin β15 (Tβ15) has been linked to an aggressive CaP phenotype and correlated with future tumor recurrence. We hypothesized that Tβ15 may have clinical utility in biological fluids. METHODS Tβ15 was measured in urine from CaP patients; untreated (N = 61), prostatectomy (RP, N = 46), androgen deprivation therapy (ADT, N = 14) and control groups; normal (N = 52), genitourinary carcinoma (N = 15), non-malignant prostate disease (N = 81), and other urology (N = 73). We evaluated the utility of urinary Tβ15 for CaP diagnosis, alone or in combination with prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and the relationship to CaP progression. RESULTS A normal threshold of 40 (ng/dl)/(μg_protein/mg_creatinine) was defined using receiver operating characteristic analysis and marked the 19th centile for age-matched controls. The proportion of untreated CaP patients with urinary Tβ15 above the threshold was significantly higher than normal and genitourinary disease controls (P 4, or PSA > 2.5, Tβ15 > 40, or PSA = 2.5, Tβ15 > 90) provided the same sensitivity as a 2.5 ng/ml PSA cutoff, but markedly improved diagnostic specificity. CONCLUSIONS We report that Tβ15 is a urinary biomarker for CaP and suggest that Tβ15, in combination with PSA, can be used to improve both the sensitivity and specificity of CaP diagnosis. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Assessment of Voluntary Exercise Behavior and Active Video Gaming Among Adolescent and Young Adult Patients During Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

This pilot study sought to examine the exercise behavior and preferences among adolescent and young adult (AYA) hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. Eighteen patients aged 19 to 25 years were recruited to engage in unsupervised exercise activities lasting at least 60 minutes/week during hospitalization for HSCT. Enrolled patients had access to standard exercise activities (walking, resistance training, and basketball) and active video gaming equipment. Physical function (6-Minute Walk Test and Timed-Up-and-Go test) and quality of life (Behavioral, Affective, and Somatic Experiences Scale) were assessed at different time points during admission. Participants exercised an average of 76% of the days during admission and spent an average of 36.5 minutes per day exercising. The Nintendo Wii was the preferred active video gaming equipment, but standard exercises accounted for 73% of all exercise time. Neither functional capacity nor quality of life improved. Results suggest that AYAs voluntarily exercise during HSCT admission, prefer to use standard exercise activities, and may require supervision in order to derive maximum benefits from their efforts. These results provide guidance for developing rehabilitation interventions for AYA HSCT recipients.
Multi-Length Scale Modeling of High-Pressure-Induced Phase Transformations in Soda-Lime Glass

Molecular-level modeling and simulations are employed to study room-temperature micro-structural and mechanical response of soda-lime glass when subjected to high (i.e., several giga-Pascal) uniaxial-strain stresses/pressure. The results obtained revealed the occurrence of an irreversible phase-transformation at ca. 4 GPa which was associated with a (permanent) 3-7% volume reduction. Close examination of molecular-level topology revealed that the pressure-induced phase transformation in question is associated with an increase in the average coordination number of the silicon atoms, and the creation of two- to fourfold (smaller, high packing-density) Si-O rings. The associated loading and unloading axial-stress versus specific-volume isotherms were next converted into the corresponding loading Hugoniot and unloading isentrope axial-stress versus specific-volume relations. These were subsequently used to analyze the role of the pressure-induced phase-transformation/irreversible-densification in mitigating the effects of blast and ballistic impact loading onto a prototypical glass plate used in monolithic and laminated transparent armor applications. The results of this part of the study revealed that pressure-induced phase-transformation can provide several beneficial effects such as lowering of the loading/unloading stress-rates and stresses, shock/release-wave dispersion, and energy absorption associated with the study of phase-transformation.
Revolutionary Journeys, Revolutionary Practice: The Hajj Writings of Jalal Al-e Ahmad and Malcolm X

Nikpour’s article explores the emergence of new iterations of Islamic universalism in the mid-twentieth century by examining two important 1960s texts that are rarely if ever discussed in the same context: The Autobiography of Malcolm X and a travelogue titled Khasi Dar Miqhat ( Lost in the Crowd ) by Iranian intellectual Jalal al-e Ahmad. Malcolm X’s famous autobiography was published in 1965, just a few months after both he and Al-e Ahmad had returned to Iran from the hajj trip that is narrated in the 1966 Khasi Dar Mighat . Nikpour argues that these hajj texts signal a new political and ethical imaginary of the anticolonial era. Malcolm X and Jalal Al-e Ahmad were both political thinkers whose lives were marked by restless intellectual and political exploration. Though both men had worldly concerns, they are each more generally read from within the provincial national concerns found in American and Iranian studies respectively. Whereas Malcolm’s sudden death in 1965 is often interpreted as the tragic cutting short of his newfound ethical engagements, Al-e Ahmad’s abrupt death in 1969 is seen as minor footnote in the locomotive momentum of the Islamic ideology of the Islamic Republic he is said to have helped found with his writing. This essay asks whether it is possible to read the ethical horizons imagined by these political theorists without collapsing them into common tropes of black nationalism (for Malcolm) and linear precursors to the 1979 Iranian revolution (Al-e Ahmad).
On the numerical condition of polynomials in Berstein form

Abstract The Bernstein-Bezier curve and surface forms have enjoyed considerable popularity in computer aided design applications, due to their elegant geometric properties and the simple recursive algorithms available for processing them. In this paper we describe a different and largely unexplored favorable aspect of Bernstein-Bezier methods: their inherent numerical stability under the influence of imprecise computer arithmetic or perturbed input data. We show that the condition numbers of the simple real roots of a polynomial on the unit interval are always smaller in the Bernstein basis than in the power basis. These arguments are then generalized to accommodate multiple roots and roots on an arbitrary interval. We further show that the standard Bernstein polynomial subdivision and degree elevation procedures induce a strictly monotonic decrease in root condition numbers. Finally, we prove that among a large family of polynomial bases characterized by certain simple properties, the Bernstein basis exhibits optimal root conditioning. Some well-known examples are employed to illustrate these results, and their practical implications for floating-point implementation of curve and surface intersection algorithms in a geometric modeling system are discussed. Important issues requiring further attention in the processing of polynomials in Bernstein form are also briefly indicated.
Conformational transitions of glucagon in solution: The α → β transition

Summary The two predicted conformational states of glucagon [Chou and Fasman (1975) Biochemistry 14 , 2536–2541] have been found in solution by circular dichroism measurements. The conformation is dependent on solvent and concentration, as is the conformational transition from a predominately α-helical structure to that of a predominately β-pleated sheet structure. On prolonged standing, the polypeptide hormone finally adopts a β-pleated sheet structure, regardless of concentration and pH in aqueous media. The relevance of this result to the conformation found in the crystal structure, as well as the possible conformation at the receptor site, is discussed.
RESEARCH SUGGESTIONS ON SPATIAL INTERACTION MODELS

Abstract This discussion presents a brief review of the spatial interaction literature with particular emphasis on parameter estimation.
Evolutionary models of color categorization based on discrimination

Specifying the factors that contribute to the universality of color categorization across individuals and cultures is a longstanding and still controversial issue in psychology, linguistics, and anthropology. This article approaches this issue through the simulated evolution of color lexicons. It is shown that the combination of a minimal perceptual psychology of discrimination, simple pragmatic constraints involving communication, and simple learning rules is enough to evolve color-naming systems. Implications of this result for psychological theories of color categorization and the evolution of color-naming systems in human societies are discussed.
Why do B cells mutate their immunoglobulin receptors

B cells have the unique ability to acquire large numbers of point mutations in the variable segment of rearranged immunoglobulin (Ig) genes during a germinal center reaction. It is broadly accepted that somatic hypermutation (SHM) and affinity maturation are required to generate memory B cells and to produce antibodies capable of accomplishing the host defense functions of the humoral component of the adaptive immune system. However, several studies illustrate that low-avidity interactions between antigen and the B-cell receptor can induce deletion, receptor editing and a T-dependent immune response, suggesting that the high-avidity binding of antigen is not essential. If enhanced antigen binding is not essential for immune responses, what is the purpose of SHM? An alternative benefit of SHM might be to enhance the ability of B cells to track antigens expressed by rapidly mutating microorganisms.
A multisensor evaluation of the Asymmetric Convective Model, Version 2, in Southeast Texas

There currently exist a number of planetary boundary layer (PBL) schemes that can represent the effects of turbulence in daytime convective conditions, although these schemes remain a large source of uncertainty in meteorology and air quality model simulations. This study evaluates a recently developed combined local and nonlocal closure PBL scheme, the Asymmetric Convective Model, version 2 (ACM2), against PBL observations taken from radar wind profilers, a ground-based lidar, and multiple daytime radiosonde balloon launches. These observations were compared against predictions of PBLs from the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model version 3.1 with the ACM2 PBL scheme option, and the Fifth-Generation Meteorological Model (MM5) version 3.7.3 with the Eta PBL scheme option that is currently being used to develop ozone control strategies in southeast Texas. MM5 and WRF predictions during the regulatory modeling episode were evaluated on their ability to predict the rise and fall of the PBL during day...
Designing for transportation safety in the light of perception, attention, and mental models

Most recent research on error has concentrated on errors of planning, judgement, and action. This paper is concerned with errors in the acquisition of information which are caused by perceptual and attentional mechanisms. Failures to schedule attentional sampling of the environment will lead to accidents. Theoretical models exist for attention and for data acquisition. These models suggest how designers might approach human-machine systems so as to reduce error. A brief summary of the author's feelings about probabilistic risk assessment and related attempts to predict error is provided.
Gender-based violence.

On Nov 14 2004 the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) announced grant awards to 17 groups in developing countries for projects to address gender-based violence in conflict and postconflict situations. Totalling US $900000 the grants will fund projects that include: a training programme for community leaders in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to deal with the communal effects of violence against women in that war-torn country; a project in southern Sudan to improve women’s access to services during post-conflict reconstruction and to train them to participate in the peace process; education for government officials in Georgia and Azerbaijan on how to use violence prevention and prosecution mechanisms at institutional and policy levels; and studies of the extent of gender-based violence in Honduras Guatemala El Salvador Nicaragua and Costa Rica to raise awareness of the problem in those countries lobby for legislative and policy reforms and increase accountability of offenders. Money for the grants comes from the UN Trust Fund to Eliminate Violence Against Women which was established by UNIFEM in 1997. Within 3 years of its inception the Trust Fund had raised $4.3 million in government and private donations which in turn has funded more than 105 projects in over 65 countries throughout the world. (excerpt)
Pharmacokinetics of an extended-release human interferon alpha-2b formulation.

The in vivo half-life of human interferon alpha-2b (hIFN-α-2b) is relatively short, and frequent injections over prolonged periods are required for efficacy. An extended-release formulation of hIFN-α-2b (Depo/IFN) was created by encapsulation into a lipid-based drug-delivery system. The capture efficiency was 51%±13% and the release half-life in human plasma at 37°C was 16 days. The pharmacokinetics of Depo/IFN was compared with that of unencapsulated standard hIFN-α-2b (Std/IFN) in the peritoneal cavity of male BDF1 mice. Depo/IFN exhibited a 13-fold longer intraperitoneal (i.p.) half-life as compared with Std/IFN (20 vs 1.5 h). The release of free hIFN-α-2b from Depo/IFN into the peritoneal cavity was slow and protracted, with a 10-fold lower peak concentration and a 13-fold longer apparent half-life being observed in comparison with Std/IFN. The areas under the curve of free hIFN-α-2b in the peritoneal cavity were comparable for Depo/IFN and Std/IFN. hIFN-α-2b was detectable in plasma only after the i.p. administration of Std/IFN. These data suggest the possibility that Depo/IFN may be useful as an extended-release formulation of hIFN-α-2b.
Enhanced Monte Carlo Sampling through Replica Exchange with Solute Tempering.

With a view to improving the consistency of free energy perturbation calculations in Monte Carlo simulations of protein–ligand complexes, we have implemented the replica exchange with solute tempering (REST) method in the MCPRO software. By augmenting the standard REST approach with regular attempted jumps in selected dihedral angles, our combined method facilitates sampling of ligand binding modes that are separated by high free energy barriers and ensures that computed free energy changes are considerably less dependent on the starting conditions and the chosen mutation pathway than those calculated with standard Monte Carlo sampling. We have applied the enhanced sampling method to the calculation of the activities of seven non-nucleoside inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, and its Tyr181Cys variant, and have shown that a range of binding orientations is possible depending on the nature of the ligand and the presence of mutations at the binding site.
Belimumab Is Approved by the FDA: What More Do We Need to Know to Optimize Decision Making?

The March 2011 approval of belimumab (Benlysta) by the US Food and Drug Administration has left rheumatologists in a bit of a quandary regarding its use. It is officially intended for adult patients with autoantibody-positive systemic lupus erythematosus whose disease remains active despite receipt of standard-of-care therapy. The approved indication is broad and leaves interpretation to individual rheumatologists. Analyses of the phase 2 and 3 clinical trials of belimumab help answer some of the commonly asked questions, such as the following: 1) Who is the appropriate patient for belimumab? 2) How does one measure response? 3) When should results be expected in a patient newly treated with belimumab? 4) When should belimumab be discontinued?
Climate signal mapping and an application to atmospheric tides

When analyzing irregularly sampled data to obtain climate signals, a typical starting point is to use spatial analysis methods to map observations onto a regular grid. Clear benefits are possible, however, from an alternative approach in which the desired signals are first estimated directly at the observing locations. The most important benefits relate to accuracy and error analysis. These principles are illustrated using the example of atmospheric tides. When properly estimated, the tides agree remarkably well with those simulated by the Goddard Earth Observing System general circulation model and, above the tropopause, are comparable to the mean meridional flow.
Climate Change and Individual Responsibility

How much harm does a single individual act, such as an afternoon pleasure ride in a gas-guzzling car, cause with regard to its effects on climate change? None, according to Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, who argues that there is thus nothing wrong with doing so, since such acts are too small to make any difference.1 Sinnott-Armstrong's detailed argument encapsu lates a lot of common thinking about the effects of small-scale individual actions in a very large world. As Ronald Sandler puts it, "even a person's entire lifetime impacts on any longitudinal collective action problem is likely to still be inconsequential."2 On this view, most or all common in dividual actions, and even full individual lives, are too causally insignificant to make any difference with regard to climate change. I shall call this the claim of individual causal inefficacy, (ICI). As Sinnott-Armstrong writes, "Global warming and climate change occur on such a massive scale that my individual drive makes no difference to the welfare of anyone."3 In this paper, I argue that ICI is false not just for its claim about whole human lives but even for its far weaker claim of the incfficacy of single individual actions, such as a Sunday drive. I claim that it fails for two main reasons. First, if individual actions such as Sunday drives are not causes of climate change, then what does cause climate change? The cause would have to be some metaphysically odd emergent entity. Second, an expected (dis-)utility calculation shows that individual acts do make an expected difference, and one that is not insignificant. My argument becomes quite general about the many ways in which people fail to account properly for potential harms of actions where the causes are many and the effects are indirect. Since this is a common phenomenon, I discuss several possible explanations of why it is difficult for people to grasp individual moral responsibility with regard to global phenomena. I will use two unargued-for assumptions (along with Sinnott Armstrong). First, I assume that there will be (or, that given our current state of knowledge, it is epistemically likely that there will be) anthro
Midwives in the Mexican health system

The health care system in Mexico was built upon a western model in which curative rather than preventive medicine is emphasized. However, the incorporation of indigenous midwives into maternal and child care and family planning programs by several public health agencies is an exception to the governmental health policies. An analysis of midwife preferences among rural women indicates that primarily poor illiterate women with children, living in remote areas with difficult access, rely on midwives. The continued reliance on midwives by this sector of the population makes the government programs most important. These programs are a unique case in which the incorporation of traditional practitioners in the modern health system has occurred. However, in order to implement programs that have the capability to offer rural women the benefits of both health systems, the incorporation of the traditional midwives requires not only the upgrading of their skills in modern antiseptic techniques, but the recognition of the contributions of traditional health practices, and the research of elements and practices to foster its understanding.
Evaluation of Various Methods for Roasting Frozen Turkeys

Frozen turkeys were roasted to a lower than normal final temperature (71.1°C, 160°F) by one of the following methods: (1) foil tent, 93.3°C (200°F) oven; (2) foil wrap, 93.3°C (200°F) oven; (3) foil tent, 162.8°C (325°F) oven; (4) roasting bag, 176.7°C (350°F) oven; (5) foil wrap, 204.4°C (400°F) oven; or (6) microwave oven. Birds roasted by low temperature roasting methods received highest ratings for most attributes. Basted birds were preferred for all eating quality attributes. Microwave roasted birds reached final temperature fastest and with least energy consumption, but were rated low in appearance and eating qualities, and often had undesirably pink thigh joints. Turkeys inoculated with Salmonella typhimurium and Clostridium perfringens vegetative cells were essentially sterilized by all roasting methods. These methods can be considered as convenient alternatives to conventional roasting procedures.
Fact or fabrication? A diagnostic problem

Methods used by drug addicts to obtain drugs, symptoms of drug withdrawal, and general physical signs that suggest drug addiction are described. The management of the drug addict as a surgical patient is also discussed. Drug addiction presents a major problem in the United States today. Unfortunately, it is also big business for the narcotic pushers. Therefore, the problem is a constantly menacing one, especially among the younger age groups. It has been estimated that 77 % of all known ad­ dicts are concentrated in four states, 45% in New York, 14% in Illinois, 13% in California, and 5% in Michigan;1 the rest are scattered throughout the United States. The majority of these persons are located in the large metropolitan areas of these states, namely, New York, Chicago, San Francis­ co, and Detroit. It is important, therefore, that dentists practicing in such metropolitan areas be aware of the problems associated with drug addicts which may arise in the diagnostic and therapeutic phases of dentistry. A thorough understanding and familiarity with the symptoms of drug withdrawal are necessary for the practitioner so that he will not be tricked by the contrivances of the drug addict, because these persons generally are seen only when they need drugs. The symptoms of the addict who needs a drug vary considerably; the condition is referred to as “cold turkey.” During withdrawal, the ad­ dict is an extremely nervous patient who is hyper­ active and who may alternately demonstrate pro­ fuse sweating and chills and gooseflesh. He may have generalized muscle twitching and complain bitterly of leg cramps.2 He may have a variety of intestinal symptoms such as vomiting, hyperper­ istalsis, abdominal cramping with pain of severe nature, gastric hypersecretion, and profuse diar­ rhea.2 In a simple physical appraisal of the patient many characteristic signs will often be revealed. The most common of these signs are lighter linear tracts appearing in darkly pigmented and often scarred areas of skin overlying the veins of the antecubital fossae, forearm, hands, and feet. Ab­ scesses or scars from healing abscesses are usually seen on the extremities but may occur anywhere on the body. The absence of easily recognizable patent veins in an otherwise normal extremity is common. A bluish discoloration or mottled skin or both are seen in those who have used subcuta­ neous injection for a long period of time. Flexor contraction of the proximal interphalangeal joints of the finger are often encountered.1 This con­ traction is due to the continued use of a small surface vein that often can be seen coursing in this region. The number of devices that desperate drug ad­ dicts will use to obtain a narcotic is amazing. Ad-
Argon Laser—Induced Cataract: A Clinicopathologic Study

A patient with diabetic retinopathy and senile anterior cortical and nuclear cataract was treated with argon laser photocoagulation of the fundus. During the treatment, white ovoid opacities appeared in the lens cortex, extending into the nucleus. They remained nonprogressive for five weeks, when cataract extraction was performed. The lens was studied by light and electron microscopy. The lenticular opacities contained rows of damaged, spindle-shaped lens fibers, with laminated cellular debris and clear spaces. We compared the unique features of the laser-induced lenticular lesions with the senile cataractous changes in the same crystalline lens.
High-power distributed Bragg reflector lasers for green-light generation

We report on the design, fabrication and performance of high-power and high-modulation-speed 1060-nm DBR lasers for green-light emission by second harmonic generation. Single-spatial-mode and single-wavelength power more than 450 mW of 1060-nm wavelength was achieved with a 3-section DBR laser with non-absorbing DBR and phase sections created by an impurity-free quantum-well intermixing technique. A thermally-induced wavelength tuning of 2.4 nm and a carrier-induced wavelength tuning of -0.85 nm were obtained by injecting current into the DBR section. The green power as high as 104.6 mW was demonstrated by coupling the DBR laser output to a second-harmonic-generation waveguide. Measured rise/fall times of 0.2 ns for direct intensity modulation and 0.6 ns for wavelength modulation make the DBR lasers suitable for >=50-MHz green-light-modulation applications. The detrimental thermally-induced patterning effect and a differential-phase modulation scheme as a solution are discussed.
Evaluation of geochemical associations as a screening tool for identifying anthropogenic trace metal contamination

Geochemical association plots are used as a screening tool for environmental site assessments and use empirical log-log relationships between total trace metal concentrations and concentrations of a major (i.e., reference) soil metal constituent, such as iron (Fe), to discern sites with naturally elevated trace metal levels from sites with anthropogenic contamination. Log-log relationships have been consistently observed between trace metal and reference metal concentrations and are often considered constant. Consequently, we used a regional geochemistry data set to evaluate background trace metal/Fe log-log associations across soils with highly diverse composition. Our results indicate that, although geochemical associations may be proportional, they significantly differ across predominant United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) soil orders. This suggests that highly complex interactions between soil-forming factors and variable secondary clay mineral composition affect the ratio of trace metals to Fe concentrations in soils. Also, intra-order variability in trace metal/Fe ratios generally ranged multiple orders of magnitude which suggest that the order level of the USDA soil taxonomic system is insufficient to reasonably classify background trace metal concentrations. Consequently, geochemical association plots are a useful screening tool for environmental site assessments, but ubiquitous application of generic background metal data sets could result in erroneous conclusions. Because significantly different ratios were observed across predominant USDA soil orders, an agglomerative clustering technique was used to elucidate hierarchical patterns of association. We present these results as a mechanism to aid environmental assessors in screening candidate background metal data sets for their applicability to site-specific soil composition; although site-specific background metal data should be utilized if ample pristine reference sites with similar (i.e., sub-order) soil composition can be identified and sampled.
Mechanisms of Gal-knockout pig cell selection for somatic cell nuclear transfer.

DOI of original article: 10.1016/j.jss.2012.1 * Corresponding author. Departments of Cl Kalamazoo, MI 49008. E-mail address: luis.toledo@med.wmich.e 0022-4804/$ e see front matter a 2014 Elsev http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2013.02.007 The Gal alpha (1,3) Gal epitope has been shown to play a significant role in mediating hyperacute rejection of end organs in xenotransplantation. For the past two decades, scientists have experimented with pig cells lacking the alpha-Gal antigen by knocking out the galactyltransferase gene, a method that has shown to improve xenograft survival in pig-to-primate transplants [1e6]. In a recently published article in the Journal of Surgical Research, Reyes et al. share their procedure by which they were able to efficiently select double Gal-knockout (KO) cells for somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), through which they successfully produced healthy Gal-null piglets [7]. The alpha-Gal epitope is commonly synthesized on glycolipids and glycoproteins of nonprimate mammals, but it does not exist in humans. The terminal carbohydrate, formed by alpha 1,3-galactosyltransferase enzyme, serves as the primary target for IgM and IgG antibodies, present in all immunocompetent humans, mediating complement fixation, coagulation, and ultimately rapid rejection of vascularized transplanted organs [8]. This immune reaction is antigen dependent and can be avoided by knocking out the enzyme responsible for coding the alpha-Gal epitope, a principle demonstrated in
Disparities in the emergency department evaluation of chest pain patients.

Background: The existence of race and gender differences in the provision of cardiovascular health care has been increasingly recognized. However, few studies have examined whether these differences exist in the emergency department (ED) setting. Objectives: To evaluate race, gender, and insurance differences in the receipt of early, noninvasive diagnostic tests among persons presenting to an ED with a complaint of chest pain. Methods: Data were drawn from the U.S. National Hospital Ambulatory Health Care Survey of EDs. Visits made during 1995–2000 by persons aged 30 years or older with chest pain as a reason for the visit were included. Factors affecting the likelihood of ordering electrocardiography, cardiac monitoring, oxygen saturation measurement using pulse oximetry, and chest radiography were analyzed using multivariate probit analysis. Results: A total of 7,068 persons aged 30 years or older presented to an ED with a primary complaint of chest pain during the six-year period, corresponding to more than 32 million such visits nationally. The adjusted probability of ordering a test was highest for non–African American patients for all tests considered. African American men had the lowest probabilities (74.3% and 62% for electrocardiography and chest radiography, respectively), compared with 81.1% and 70.3%, respectively, among non African American men. Only 37.5% of African American women received cardiac monitoring, compared with 54.5% of non–African American men. Similarly, African American women were significantly less likely than non–African American men to have their oxygen saturation measured. Patients who were uninsured or self-pay, as well as patients with ‘‘other’’ insurance, also had a lower probability than insured persons of having these tests ordered. Conclusions: This study documents race, gender, and insurance differences in the provision of electrocardiography and chest radiography testing as well as cardiac rhythm and oxygen saturation monitoring in patients presenting with chest pain. These observed differences should catalyze further study into the underlying causes of disparities in cardiac care at an earlier point of patient contact with the health care system.
Redox properties of mesophilic and hyperthermophilic rubredoxins as a function of pressure and temperature.

The formal equilibrium reduction potentials of recombinant electron transport protein, rubredoxin (MW = 7500 Da), from both the mesophilic Clostridium pasteurianum (Topt = 37 °C) and hyperthermophilic Pyrococcus furiosus (Topt = 95 °C) were recorded as a function of pressure and temperature. Measurements were made utilizing a specially designed stainless steel electrochemical cell that easily maintains pressures between 1 and 600 atm and a temperature-controlled cell that maintains temperatures between 4 and 100 °C. The reduction potential of P. furiosus rubredoxin was determined to be 31 mV at 25 °C and 1 atm, −93 mV at 95 °C and 1 atm, and 44 mV at 25 °C and 400 atm. Thus, the reduction potential of P. furiosus rubredoxin obtained under standard conditions is likely to be dramatically different from the reduction potential obtained under its normal operating conditions. Thermodynamic parameters associated with electron transfer were determined for both rubredoxins (for C. pasteurianum, ΔV° = −27 mL/mol,...
Evaluation of the air‐sea bulk formula and sea‐surface temperature variability from observations

moisture flux associated with the onset of wave breaking coupled with advection of cold dry air from land. In near-collapsed turbulence, the observed momentum flux is smaller than predicted, and there is no clear indication of a smooth flow viscous regime. The scatter between observed and bulk fluxes generally decreases with averaging the observed fluxes over greater length scales even with variations in sea-surface temperature (SST). The reduction in random flux sampling errors more than compensates for capturing increased surface heterogeneity with increasing averaging scale. Since similarity theory does not apply to heterogeneous surfaces, the bulk model does break down in the extreme case where the averaging window includes a sharp SST front. The response of the flow to changes in SST is presented for different amplitudes of SST variability. The change in vertical structure and acceleration of the low-level wind over warm pools is discussed.
Cultural macroevolution among high latitude hunter–gatherers: a phylogenetic study of the Arctic Small Tool tradition

This study tests alternative hypotheses regarding the underlying conditions favoring variation in degree of differentiation between cultures in an evolving lineage. To accomplish this we develop a phylogenetic analysis of the early Arctic Small Tool tradition (ASTt) of eastern Siberia and northern North America. The use of early ASTt data permits us to monitor change while largely eliminating the possibility of influence by other cultural traditions. It also allows us to explore lingering questions regarding ASTt migrations. We examine correlations between tree branch length as a measure of cultural differentiation and geographic distance (from the oldest site), mean radiocarbon date, and three measures of terrestrial ecological variation. Outcomes suggest that only geographic distance and radiocarbon dates correlate with tree branch length. We offer conclusions regarding ASTt evolution and migrations along with ideas for future research.
Protein adsorption on bovine enamel.

Abstract The adsorption of eleven different proteins on bovine enamel was compared by exposing them at four different concentrations to 100–200 mesh enamel powder and measuring adsorption both by the decrease in protein concentration in the solution and by increased nitrogen content in the enamel samples. Different types of adsorption isotherms were given. At the highest equilibrium concentration tested (1.7 mg/ml) casein, gamma globulin and beta globulin were adsorbed in the greatest and serum albumin and egg albumin in the least amounts. Although there were some indications that molecular weight and isoelectric point influenced adsorption, these factors could not be directly correlated with it. Protein treatment made the enamel hydrophobic. It is suggested that by attracting organic material to the enamel surface protein adsorption may modify the progress of caries in the enamel.
A prototype expert system for fault detection of the incinerator control system

Abstract A prototype expert system is presented in this paper for detecting failures of the incinerator steam temperature control system. The causal relationships of the steam temperature instrumentation system are represented by a Bayesian network which is a directed acyclic graph in which the nodes represent failure events, the arcs signify the existence of direct causal influence between the linked failure events, and the strengths of these influences are quantified by conditional probabilities. Based on the created Bayesian network, a reasoning inference engine is formulated to infer the most probable causes of instrumentation system malfunctions, predict the most probable future upsets or failure events for given initiating events, and interpret the observed evidence of the incinerator steam temperature control system. The inference engines for diagnosis, prediction, and interpretation presented in this paper are system or process independent. In other words, they can be applied to any other fault detection problem as long as the problem can be well defined by probabilistic causal networks.
The Relationship between Acute Mountain Sickness and Pulmonary Ventilation at 2,835 Meters (9,300 ft)

We have demonstrated a snudi but statistically significant decrease in forced vital capacity and in pulmonary flow rates among 126 persons studied daily for the first three days after arrival at an altitude of 2,835 meters (9,300 ft). Nearly half of these individuals had symptoms attributabie to attitude sickness, and those with the most dyspnea and worst headache also showed the greatest changes in pulmonary function studied. We suggest that there is a relationship between the symptoms of altitude sickness and pulmonary function consistent with the appearance of early interstitial or alveolar edema.
Periodic projectile linear theory for aerodynamically asymmetric projectiles

A new analytical tool is proposed to aid in the design and performance evaluation of advanced guided projectile concepts. A projectile linear theory applicable to aerodynamically asymmetric configurations is created, leading to a linear, periodic dynamic system. Utilizing concepts in Floquet theory, stability of asymmetric projectile configurations is explored. While stability of many asymmetric projectile configurations can be accurately predicted using averaged linear, constant coefficient system dynamics, there are some configurations where the use of linear periodic systems theory is required for accurate stability prediction. This fact is shown by comparing stability boundaries of an example projectile configuration using the conventional projectile linear theory model and the new periodic projectile linear theory model.
AIDS—The Second Decade: A Global Perspective

This paper explores AIDS in the second decade on a global perspective. HIV and AIDS epidemic merits its designation as a pandemic. 163 countries are officially reporting AIDS cases to the WHO and HIV infection has been documented in all nations. It was reported that about 10 million adults have been infected with HIV. The pandemic is relatively a new phenomenon and therefore it remains dynamic stable and volatile. This dynamism suggests that the virus continue to spread in areas which are already affected as well as to new areas and the pandemic will continue to become more differentiated and complex. In general regardless of which population is first affected with the crisis HIV has demonstrated its ability to spread across all social cultural economic and political borders. But the major impact of this global crisis is yet to come. As projected a 10-fold increase in infection rate will occur in the 1990s with 10 million adult and 5 million child victims. To look into the future the problem of global vulnerability to further spread of HIV should also be taken into account. To move ahead a new global AIDS agenda an innovative renewal of efforts is needed for the treatment and prevention of AIDS to address various health related issues and to catalyze a revolution in health based on human rights. The community national and international approach to address the problem must continue to evolve giving due consideration to the specific conditions of the modern world.
The unipolar exit: beyond the Pax Americana

In this article I show that the unipolar era already is drawing to a close. Three main drivers explain the impending end of the Pax Americana. First, the rise of new great powers—especially China—is transforming the international system from unipolarity to multipolarity. Second, the United States is becoming the poster child for strategic over-extension, or as Paul Kennedy dubbed it, imperial overstretch. Third, the United States' relative economic power is declining, and mounting US fiscal problems and the dollar's increasingly problematic role as the international financial system's reserve currency are undermining US hegemony. After examining how these trends undermine the argument for ‘unipolar stability’, I conclude by arguing that over the next two decades the Pax Americana's end presages dramatic changes in international politics.