cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The implications for Europe of revised FDA guidelines for clinical trials with anti-infective agents.

This article summarizes the current collaborative effort between the US Food und Drug Administration and the Infectious Diseases Society of America for the purpose of generating new General and Disease/Organism Specific Guidelines for the evaluation of anti-infective agents. Examples of proposed changes from draft documents are presented. The final documents may assist European colleagues in their efforts to establish a standardized new drug registration process by 1992. An area of mutual interest is the acceptability of safety and efficacy data from international clinical trials. In the interest of human and financial economies, both US and European Guidelines need to clarify the conditions, or criteria, for the conduct of valid ‘off-shore’ clinical trials.
The Outcomes of Perineal Urethrostomy With Preservation of the Dorsal Urethral Plate and Urethral Blood Supply

OBJECTIVES To describe the surgical technique and outcomes for perineal urethrostomy. We sought to identify factors that predicted surgery failure within our patient cohort and to describe key aspects of the operation aimed at preservation of the dorsal urethral plate and longitudinal blood supply within the urethra. METHODS We reviewed our prospectively collected database and identified 45 men who underwent definitive perineal urethrostomy from 1989 to 2009. Primary success was defined as no need for additional treatment. If 1 urethral dilation was performed, outcome was defined as a secondary success. Statistical analyses were performed to determine variables associated with failure. RESULTS Urethral pathology was varied and included idiopathic strictures (20%), lichen sclerosis (20%), infection (16%), radiation for prostate cancer (13%), prior hypospadias repair (11%), instrumentation or catheter trauma (11%), and penile cancer or condyloma (9%). Of these men, 21 (48%) had prior urethroplasty. Forty patients had follow-up greater than 3 months (median, 31 months). Postoperative stenosis occurred in 7 (18%) patients. Previous radiation therapy was a significant risk factor for postoperative stenosis on univariate (OR 12.4, 95% CI 1.8-84.3, P <.01) and multivariate analysis (OR 11.2, 95% CI 1.4-87.2, P <.02). Primary success rate for perineal urethrostomy was 83% (33/40 patients) and secondary success rate was 93% (37/40). CONCLUSIONS During creation of perineal urethrostomy, when the longitudinal blood supply within the bulbar urethra is preserved rather than transected, stenosis of the perineal urethrostomy is a rare complication primarily in patients who have a history of radiation therapy.
BiP Clustering Facilitates Protein Folding in the Endoplasmic Reticulum

The chaperone BiP participates in several regulatory processes within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER): translocation, protein folding, and ER-associated degradation. To facilitate protein folding, a cooperative mechanism known as entropic pulling has been proposed to demonstrate the molecular-level understanding of how multiple BiP molecules bind to nascent and unfolded proteins. Recently, experimental evidence revealed the spatial heterogeneity of BiP within the nuclear and peripheral ER of S. cerevisiae (commonly referred to as ‘clusters’). Here, we developed a model to evaluate the potential advantages of accounting for multiple BiP molecules binding to peptides, while proposing that BiP's spatial heterogeneity may enhance protein folding and maturation. Scenarios were simulated to gauge the effectiveness of binding multiple chaperone molecules to peptides. Using two metrics: folding efficiency and chaperone cost, we determined that the single binding site model achieves a higher efficiency than models characterized by multiple binding sites, in the absence of cooperativity. Due to entropic pulling, however, multiple chaperones perform in concert to facilitate the resolubilization and ultimate yield of folded proteins. As a result of cooperativity, multiple binding site models used fewer BiP molecules and maintained a higher folding efficiency than the single binding site model. These insilico investigations reveal that clusters of BiP molecules bound to unfolded proteins may enhance folding efficiency through cooperative action via entropic pulling.
Predictors of Do Not Resuscitate Orders in the Nursing Home

Background: The outcome of cardiopulmonary resuscitation of residents of long-term care facilities is poor. However, only about one half of residents of long term care facilities have a do not resuscitate (DNR) order. The remainder usually have resuscitation by order or by default policy. Understanding predictors of DNR may help clinicians address end-of-life issues with the older long-term care population. Objectives: To determine (1) the prevalence of DNR orders, and (2) predictors of DNR orders in older institutionalized individuals in a large community teaching nursing home. Methods: A cross-sectional chart review study of 177 consecutively located older patients from an 899-bed academic long-term care facility. Results: The prevalence of a DNR order was 40%. The frequency of ordering DNR was greater in subjects who were 85 years or older compared with subjects who were younger than 85 years (57% vs. 30%, P .05). Ordering DNR was associated significantly with race (49% of whites compared with 13% African Americans, P .05) but not with sex. Subjects with a DNR order were more likely to have been diagnosed with depression (52% vs. 35%, P .05) but not dementia, and overall had greater number of medical conditions (5.9 2 vs. 5.1 2, P .05) compared with subjects without DNR orders. The frequency of DNR orders did not significantly differ between subjects who were able to ambulate (with or without assistance) compared with subjects who were wheelchair or bed bound. Using logistic regression analysis, only age (with a B of 1.04 and P of .017) and race (with a B of 1.4 and a P of .01) were independent predictors of DNR status. Conclusion: Fewer than half of this sample of longterm care residents had a DNR order. Among seven factors studied, only age and race were independent predictors of DNR status in the nursing home. (J Am Med Dir Assoc 2005; 6: 18–21)
Endoglin Regulates Cancer-Stromal Cell Interactions in Prostate Tumors

Endoglin is an accessory receptor for TGF-β that has been implicated in prostate cancer cell detachment, migration, and invasiveness. However, the pathophysiologic significance of endoglin with respect to prostate tumorigenesis has yet to be fully established. In this study, we addressed this question by investigation of endoglin-dependent prostate cancer progression in a TRAMP (transgenic adenocarcinoma mouse prostate) mouse model where endoglin was genetically deleted. In this model, endoglin was haploinsufficient such that its allelic deletion slightly increased the frequency of tumorigenesis, yet produced smaller, less vascularized, and less metastatic tumors than TRAMP control tumors. Most strikingly, TRAMP:eng(+/-)-derived tumors lacked the pronounced infiltration of carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAF) that characterize TRAMP prostate tumors. Studies in human primary prostate-derived stromal cells (PrSC) confirmed that suppressing endoglin expression decreased cell proliferation, the ability to recruit endothelial cells, and the ability to migrate in response to tumor cell-conditioned medium. We found increased levels of secreted insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins (IGFBP) in the conditioned medium from endoglin-deficient PrSCs and that endoglin-dependent regulation of IGFBP-4 secretion was crucial for stromal cell-conditioned media to stimulate prostate tumor cell growth. Together, our results firmly establish the pathophysiologic involvement of endoglin in prostate cancer progression; furthermore, they show how endoglin acts to support the viability of tumor-infiltrating CAFs in the tumor microenvironment to promote neovascularization and growth.
Facing changes and changing faces in adolescence: a new model for investigating adolescent-specific interactions between pubertal, brain and behavioral development.

Abstract Adolescence is a time of dramatic physical, cognitive, emotional, and social changes as well as a time for the development of many social–emotional problems. These characteristics raise compelling questions about accompanying neural changes that are unique to this period of development. Here, we propose that studying adolescent-specific changes in face processing and its underlying neural circuitry provides an ideal model for addressing these questions. We also use this model to formulate new hypotheses. Specifically, pubertal hormones are likely to increase motivation to master new peer-oriented developmental tasks, which will in turn, instigate the emergence of new social/affective components of face processing. We also predict that pubertal hormones have a fundamental impact on the re-organization of neural circuitry supporting face processing and propose, in particular, that, the functional connectivity, or temporal synchrony, between regions of the face-processing network will change with the emergence of these new components of face processing in adolescence. Finally, we show how this approach will help reveal why adolescence may be a period of vulnerability in brain development and suggest how it could lead to prevention and intervention strategies that facilitate more adaptive functional interactions between regions within the broader social information processing network.
The Use of Dried Blood Spot Sampling in the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project

Objectives. This paper describes the methods used for and issues associated with collection and analysis of dried blood spot (DBS) samples for the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project and provides the basic distributions of the resulting analytes. Methods. DBSs from capillary fi nger sticks were collected by nonmedically trained interviewers from 2,044 individuals, aged 57 – 85 years. The quality and quantity of DBS samples were evaluated to allow for analysis of interviewer performance. Levels of C-reactive protein, antibodies to the Epstein – Barr virus, hemoglobin, and glycosylated hemoglobin were assayed using various analytic methods. Results. Cooperation rate for DBS collection was 84.5%, with 99% of the cards yielding enough sample for at least one analysis. The distribution, mean, and standard deviation of the analytes obtained from DBSs are also presented in this paper. Conclusions. The high cooperation rate and quality of the spots collected suggest that the collection of DBSs in population-based research is a feasible and viable alternative to venous blood draws. The relative ease of sample collection, transport, and storage are signifi cant benefi ts. Care should be taken, however, when comparing results from analysis of DBS samples with those obtained from serum or plasma samples.
Diagnosing breast lesions with contrast-enhanced 3-dimensional power Doppler imaging.

OBJECTIVE To compare mammography with contrast-enhanced 2- and 3-dimensional power Doppler imaging for the diagnosis of breast cancer. METHODS Fifty-five patients, who underwent breast biopsies with histopathologic assessment, participated in a study of mammography and contrast-enhanced sonography. Levovist (Berlex Laboratories, Montville, NJ) and Optison (Mallinckrodt, St Louis, MO) were administrated to 22 and 33 patients, respectively. Precontrast and postcontrast 2-dimensional power Doppler data of the lesion were obtained with an HDI 3000 system (Philips Medical Systems, Bothell, WA), and 3-dimensional data were acquired with an LIS 6000A system (Life Imaging Systems Inc, London, Ontario, Canada). Two independent and blinded readers assessed diagnosis. Receiver operating characteristic curves were computed individually and in combination for mammography and 2- and 3-dimensional sonography (before and after contrast). Histopathologic and imaging parameters were compared by Mann-Whitney statistics. RESULTS Mammographic findings were available for 50 patients, biopsy for 54, and 2- and 3-dimensional sonographic images for 53 and 52, respectively. Of the 50 patients who had all 4 measures, 15 (30%) had malignancies. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the diagnosis of breast cancer were 0.51 for 2-dimensional contrast-enhanced imaging, 0.60 for 3-dimensional power Doppler imaging, and 0.76 for 3-dimensional contrast-enhanced imaging (P < .01). Mammography produced an area of 0.86, which increased when combined with 3-dimensional contrast-enhanced imaging to 0.90 and with all sonographic modalities to 0.96 (P < .001). The histopathologic diagnosis of benign or malignant correlated with the presence or absence of anastomoses and with the degree of vascularity assessed with contrast-enhanced 3-dimensional power Doppler imaging (P = .007 and .02). CONCLUSIONS Contrast-enhanced 3-dimensional power Doppler imaging increases the ability to diagnose breast cancer relative to conventional 2- and 3-dimensional sonographic imaging.
Modelling the spectral sensitivity of the human circadian system

It is now well established that the spectral, spatial, temporal and absolute sensitivities of the human circadian system are very different from those of the human visual system. Although qualitati...
Intermedia Attribute Agenda Setting in the New York Times: The Case of Animal Abuse in U.S. Horse Racing

In 2012, the New York Times published a series of reports addressing doping and fatal breakdowns in U.S. horse racing. This study examines the extent to which the Times transferred the salience of certain story attributes to news media at the regional and national levels. Reports appearing after the Times began its investigation were more likely to mention (1) an injured or deceased horse, (2) equine drug use, and (3) a trainer suspension or other disciplinary action. The study concludes that, in addition to transferring object salience, the Times also may affect how news organizations characterize issues and events.
Neoadjuvant dual HER2-targeted therapy with lapatinib and trastuzumab improves pathologic complete response in patients with early stage HER2-positive breast cancer: a meta-analysis of randomized prospective clinical trials.

Background. Randomized clinical trials (RCT) that evaluated the addition of lapatinib to trastuzumab plus neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC)inpatientswithHER2-positive,operable breast cancer revealed a questionable improvement in pathologic complete response (pCR) rate. We performed a metaanalysisofprospectiveRCTsthatexaminedtheeffectofadding
Aesthetics in the Swamps

Next began the muskegs, which almost entirely stood under water; these we had to cross for miles; think with what misery, every step up to our knees. . . . The whole of this land of the Lapps was mostly muskeg, here called stygx. A priest could never so describe hell, because it is no more horrible. Never have poets been able to picture the Styx so foul, since that is no fouler.—CAROLUS LINNAEUS (1732) [1, vol. l, pp. 141-42]
Root contraction helps protect the "living rock" cactus Ariocarpus fissuratus from lethal high temperatures when growing in rocky soil.

 Premise of the study : We investigated how the “ living rock ” cactus Ariocarpus fi ssuratus , like other low-growing desert plants, can endure potentially lethal high temperatures at the soil surface. Specifi cally, we examined how shoot descent by root contraction in the presence or absence of soil rocks infl uences shoot temperatures and transpiration.  Methods : Root contraction was identifi ed by measuring shoot descent and anatomical analysis. Temperatures and transpiration were measured for plants at two heights in sandy and rocky soil, and temperature tolerances were determined by vital staining.  Key results : Plants embedded in rocky soil survived an extreme heat episode, unlike plants in sandy soil, though rocks did not moderate low temperatures. Root contraction occurred regardless of season and soil moisture. Xylem conduits (wide-band tracheids) formed a compressible lattice that decreased root length as rays enlarged the root base radially. Plant position in the soil did not affect transpiration.  Conclusions : Contractile roots pulled plants of A. fi ssuratus into the soil at rates of 6 – 30 mm yr – 1 . Maintaining shoots level with the soil surface kept plant temperatures below the high lethal temperature and improved survivorship in soil shaded by surface rocks.
The Second Chalmers J. Lyons Academy Study of Fractures of the Edentulous Mandible

A review of 167 fractures in 104 edentulous mandibles treated by several surgeons using a variety of methods was undertaken. Most patients (81.5%) had open reduction and internal fixation using bone plates. Problems in healing, either delayed or fibrous union, occurred in 21 of 167 fractures (12.6%) in 16 of 104 patients (15%). One fourth of patients treated by closed reduction techniques had problems with union, whereas extraoral open reduction with bone plate fixation produced very good results. The factors involved in treating these challenging fractures is discussed and comparisons are made with the previous Chalmers J. Lyons Academy study.
The treatment of night eating: the patient's perspective

Night eating (NE) is recognizable and treatable. The purpose of this study was to assess patients' satisfaction with their doctors' treatment of NE and to compare it to that of treatment of a control condition, ‘headache’. An Internet-based questionnaire assessed patients' (n = 103) perceptions of their doctors' knowledge and treatment of NE versus headache, levels of treatment satisfaction and demographic and descriptive aspects of their NE. Most patients (61%) were ‘not at all satisfied’ with their doctors' treatment of NE. Patients reported low recognition and high levels of dismissal of NE by their doctors. Of patients who had been treated for both NE and headache by the same doctor, 29% were ‘not at all satisfied’ with their treatment of headache compared to 76% ‘not at all satisfied’ with their treatment of NE (p = 0.02). In conclusion, most patients reported that their doctors did not identify or treat NE, which led to dissatisfaction with their care. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.
Gelatinization and Pasting Properties of Waxy and Non-waxy Rice Starches

Gelatinization and pasting properties of diverse rice types grown in two locations were examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and rotational rheometry, respectively. The data were compared to previously reported molecular starch properties for these samples: specifically, amylose content, starch molecular weight (Mw), and amylopectin side-chain-length distributions. Significant correlations were observed between amylose content, starch Mw, and the weight degree of polymerization of the long side chains of amylopectin F1(DPw) and many of the gelatinization and pasting properties measured. Higher amylose content corresponded with increased gelatinization onset (To) and peak temperatures (Tp), pasting onset and peak temperatures, and decreased peak and trough viscosity. Starch Mw correlated negatively with To, Tp, pasting onset, and peak temperature and positively with peak, trough, final, and breakdown viscosity. Amylopectin with DPw 59-78 of F1(DPw) correlated with increased To, Tp, pasting onset and peak temperature, and decreased peak, trough, final and breakdown viscosity. Pasting properties were also somewhat related to DPw 21 of shorter side chains of amylopectin (F2(DPw)). Significant correlations between F2(DPw) and peak, final, and breakdown viscosity were observed (r = −0.447*, −0.391*, −0.388*, peak, final, and breakdown viscosity, respectively).
Two‐level multiscale enrichment methodology for modeling of heterogeneous plates

A new two-level multiscale enrichment methodology for analysis of heterogeneous plates is presented. The enrichments are applied in the displacement and strain levels: the displacement field of a Reissner–Mindlin plate is enriched using the multiscale enrichment functions based on the partition of unity principle; the strain field is enriched using the mathematical homogenization theory. The proposed methodology is implemented for linear and failure analysis of brittle heterogeneous plates. The eigendeformation-based model reduction approach is employed to efficiently evaluate the non-linear processes in case of failure. The capabilities of the proposed methodology are verified against direct three-dimensional finite element models with full resolution of the microstructure. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stochastic scanning multiphoton multifocal microscopy.

Multiparticle tracking with scanning confocal and multiphoton fluorescence imaging is increasingly important for elucidating biological function, as in the transport of intracellular cargo-carrying vesicles. We demonstrate a simple rapid-sampling stochastic scanning multiphoton multifocal microscopy (SS-MMM) fluorescence imaging technique that enables multiparticle tracking without specialized hardware at rates 1,000 times greater than conventional single point raster scanning. Stochastic scanning of a diffractive optic generated 10x10 hexagonal array of foci with a white noise driven galvanometer yields a scan pattern that is random yet space-filling. SS-MMM creates a more uniformly sampled image with fewer spatio-temporal artifacts than obtained by conventional or multibeam raster scanning. SS-MMM is verified by simulation and experimentally demonstrated by tracking microsphere diffusion in solution.
Investigation of LiAlH4–THF formation by direct hydrogenation of catalyzed Al and LiH

The formation of LiAlH4–THF by direct hydrogenation of Al and LiH in tetrahydrofuran (THF) was investigated using spectroscopic and computational methods. The molecular structures and free energies of the various possible adducts (THF–AlH3, THF–LiH and THF–LiAlH4) present in a LiAlH4/THF solution were calculated and the dominant species were determined to be contact ion pairs where three THF molecules coordinate the lithium. Raman and X-ray absorption spectroscopy were used to investigate the effect of different Ti precursors on the formation of Al–H species and LiAlH4–THF and determine the optimal reaction conditions. A unique sample stage was developed from a microfluidic cell to evaluate the catalysts in situ. The effectiveness of two types of catalysts, titanium chloride (TiCl3) and titanium butoxide (Ti(C4H9O)4), and the catalyst concentration were evaluated under similar reaction conditions. Both catalysts were effective at facilitating hydrogenation, although TiCl3 was more effective over the first few cycles with the greatest kinetic enhancement achieved with a low concentration of around 0.15 mol%. These results were qualitatively supported by infrared spectroscopy, which indicated that although a small amount of Ti is necessary for disassociating H2, excess surface Ti (>0.1 ML) hinders the formation of Al–H species.
Reduced Order Modeling of Interconnected Multimachine Power Systems Using Time-Scale Decomposition

Time-scale decomposition is used to systematically produce improved reduced order models of interconnected multimachine power systems. The method is illustrated with two fundamental examples. The first shows that the I = YV interface equation used for studying multimachine electromechanical transients is a zero order representation of the fast network transients. As such, the time-scale theory can be used to produce improved electromechanical models without adding the network transient equations. The second example shows how linear models for small change stability analysis can be improved to virtually any degree of accuracy. The advantages of the improved models are shown with both a two- and three-machine system.
Public opinion about FDA regulation of menthol and nicotine

Objective Regulations that reduce nicotine and eliminate menthol in cigarettes have been proposed to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as product alterations that could reduce smoking prevalence in the USA. This study sought to assess the public response to either action. Methods A mail survey of a representative sample of 1074 adults was conducted in two major metropolitan areas to determine the level of support for immediate, gradual or no reduction of menthol and nicotine in cigarettes. Results There was more support for reducing nicotine (79%) than for reducing or removing menthol (59.5%). Most smokers (59.2%; 95% CI 50.7 to 67.2) and 36% of non-smokers (95% CI 31.7 to 40.8) opposed eliminating menthol, but few smokers (23.8%) or non-smokers (20.3%) were opposed to reducing nicotine. Logistic regression showed no significant effect of smoking status on support for reductions in nicotine, but that smokers were significantly less supportive than non-smokers of FDA action on menthol (OR=0.32, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.49). A significant race by smoking status interaction showed that African-American smokers were more supportive of removing menthol than non-African-American smokers. Conclusions The greater smoker support for reductions in nicotine than menthol could be due to inaccurate beliefs about the disease risk associated with the two substances (ie, a belief that nicotine is more harmful than menthol), or to greater awareness of the sensory role that menthol plays in smokers’ satisfaction. In any case, if FDA goes ahead with regulations to remove menthol, it will be important to develop strategies to reduce smoker resistance.
Kubische flüssigkristalline Nanopartikel

Kubische flussigkristalline Nanopartikel, die aus wassrigen Dispersionen kubischer Lipid-Wasser-Phasen hergestellt werden, sind bei Anwesenheit bestimmter Dispersionsmittel kinetisch stabil. Die Eigenschaften kubischer Nanopartikel aus Monoolein-Wasser- und anderen Lipid-Wasser-Systemen wurden mit verschiedenen experimentellen Techniken untersucht. Die kubischen Nanopartikel konnen durch die Polymerisation reaktiver Lipide in den kubischen Lipidsystemen stabilisiert werden. Zur einfacheren Herstellung und Anwendung kubischer Nanopartikel wurden verschiedene energiesparende Methoden entwickelt. Kubische Nanoparkikel sind wegen ihrer Fahigkeit, lipophile, amphiphile und hydrophile Molekule gesteuert aufzunehmen und abzugeben, sowie ihrer guten Biokompatibilitat hervorragende Kandidaten fur die Anwendung beim Transport von Wirkstoffen.
Informed passion: addressing the intersection of violence against women and contemporary obstetrical practice.

Charles (2011) offers an interesting perspective on a topic that has received scant empirical attention to date: how violence against women enters the realm of obstetrical and gynecological care fo...
The Riddle of Nonsustained Ventricular Tachycardia and Sudden Cardiac Death Are We Approaching a Solution

The graveyard of cardiovascular therapeutics is littered with common-sense ideas. Premature ventricular contractions trigger episodes of ventricular fibrillation; therefore, suppression of premature ventricular contractions should lessen the risk of cardiac arrest and sudden death–and yet it has not.1–2 Sudden cardiac death (SCD), which is responsible for between 184 000 and 450 000 deaths in the United States per year,3–6 remains a conundrum, both in prevention and prediction of those at risk. The epidemiology of SCD presents challenges for clinical care; patients who are in the known highest-risk subgroups, such as those with abnormal systolic left ventricular function, account for the minority of events.7 Even among this high-risk subgroup with a mortality benefit afforded by implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) placement, the majority of implanted patients never require therapy for arrhythmic events from the device.8–9 This actuality emphasizes the need to better identify those at highest risk, even within subpopulations in jeopardy of SCD. Article see p 455 In the prethrombolytic era of therapy for myocardial infarction (MI), ventricular ectopy and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) were known to predict increased mortality post MI.10–12 However, with reperfusion and use of β-blockers, NSVT after MI has not always been demonstrated to be an independent predictor of mortality, especially after ejection fraction (EF) is taken into account, and its prognostic significance is ambiguous.13–16 Moreover, whether NSVT is causative in the genesis of SCD or simply a marker of imperiled substrate or disordered autonomic regulation is unknown. In one of the most simultaneously enlightening and discouraging clinical trials, the Cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial, not only did suppression of ventricular ectopy not result in a decreased risk of SCD, treatment with flecainide was associated with an increased risk of SCD, possibly due to proarrhythmia.1 Subsequent pharmacological trials also have demonstrated …
Water Conservation in Artemisia tridentata through Redistribution of Precipitation

Water conservation is important for plants that maintain physiologically active foliage during prolonged periods of drought. A variety of mechanisms for water conservation exist including stomatal regulation, foliage loss, above- and below-ground allocation patterns, size of xylem vessels and leaf pubescence. Using the results of a field and simulation study with Artemisia tridentata in the Great Basin, USA, we propose an additional mechanism of water conservation that can be used by plants in arid and semi-arid environments following pulses of water availability. Precipitation redistributed more uniformly in the soil column by roots (hydraulic redistribution of water downward) slows the rate at which this water can subsequently be taken up by plants, thus prolonging water availability during periods of drought. By spreading out water more uniformly in the soil column at lower water potentials following precipitation events, water use is reduced due to lower soil conductivity. The greater remaining soil water and more uniform distribution result in higher plant predawn water potentials and transpiration rates later in the drought period. Simulation results indicate that plants can benefit during drought periods from water storage following both summer rain events (small summer pulses) and overwinter recharge (large spring pulse). This mechanism of water conservation may aid in sustaining active foliage, maintaining root-soil hydraulic connectivity, and increasing survival probability of plants which remain physiologically active during periods of drought.
The Full Extent of Alcoholism: A Worldwide Economic and Social Tragedy

Alcohol abuse affects many people directly or indirectly all over the world. Alcoholism often causes major damage and can also lead to death. It seems as though people underestimate the prevalence of alcohol abuse and the damage done by alcohol abuse. Loss of labour, birth defects, liver cirrhosis, and damage from vehicle accidents, are a small portion of the damage caused by alcohol abuse. The damage caused by alcohol abuse affects people physically, emotionally, and economically. All this damage is preventable. Treatment for this problem is available, but the effects differ among patients. Pharmacotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy are used separately or collectively. Results can vary depending upon the treatment and patient. The pharmacist plays an important role in the lives of alcoholic patients. Pharmacists can notice a patie nt’s behaviour, notice their prescription patterns, and most importantly, the pharmacist is a knowledgeable mentor that many patients look up to. Feeling comfortable with and trusting the pharmacist is very important for the patient. Patients may come to the pharmacist with their problems, and the pharmacist should be able to offer sound medical advice.
The Role of Bile Acids in Colon Cancer

Cancer of the large bowel has been a topic of intensive investigation for many years. Several epidemiologic studies suggested that colorectal cancer varies with geographic areas and socioeconomic levels. Incidence is high in Northwestern Europe and North America and low in Central and South America, Africa, and Asia. Apparently, environmental factors rather than genetic and social factors are important (Doll, 1969; Armstrong and Doll, 1975; Burkitt, 1975; Jain et al., 1980).
A Learning-Based Approach to Evaluating Boards of Directors

Uncertainty about a firm’s governance is reflected in its stock return volatility. A model of learning about director ability implies that the magnitude of the decline in volatility over a director’s tenure is a function of his value impact. This paper uses this prediction from the theory to develop a learning-based approach to evaluating corporate boards. Its estimates suggest that directors have real value effects and that governance accounts for a substantial part of stock return volatility. I use this novel framework to study the marginal value of different kinds of directors, thereby revisiting the literature on boards and testing new hypotheses. Among other findings, I find that the marginal value of independent directors depends on the degree to which firms are insulated from the market for corporate control and that incoming directors on well compensated boards have more impact on firm value.
The Measurement of Freight Rates

Freight rates, like other prices, have been fluctuating violently during the past few years. The extent of these fluctuations has been the subject of much controversy. Therefore, it seems desirable to evolve an accurate method of measuring these fluctuations. There are three methods of measurement in use at present, index numbers of the revenue per ton mile, index numbers of the percentage changes, and index numbers of actual freight rates. Of these, the first two are much more commonly used. Both, however, are subject to inaccuracies to a considerable extent. The index number of the revenue per ton mile is lower than the actual rates, while the index number of percentage changes is higher. The revenue per ton mile is too low because the average length of haul is steadily increasing. This fact is shown in the so-called Disque scale for rate making established by a decision of the Interstate Commerce Commission on June 29th, 1917, as reported in 45, Interstate Commerce Commission 254. There have been several changes in the actual rates employed in this scale during the intervening time, consequently the present rates are somewhat different from those given in the citation. The present Class 1 rates in southern Michigan under the Disque scale together with the revenue per ton mile for the various distances are shown in Table 1. It is apparent that the revenue per ton mile is considerably lower for long than for short hauls.
On Nonperiodic Euler Flows with Hölder Regularity

In (Isett, Regularity in time along the coarse scale flow for the Euler equations, 2013), the first author proposed a strengthening of Onsager’s conjecture on the failure of energy conservation for incompressible Euler flows with Holder regularity not exceeding \({1/3}\). This stronger form of the conjecture implies that anomalous dissipation will fail for a generic Euler flow with regularity below the Onsager critical space \({L_t^\infty B_{3,\infty}^{1/3}}\) due to low regularity of the energy profile. This paper is the first and main paper in a series of two, the results of which may be viewed as first steps towards establishing the conjectured failure of energy regularity for generic solutions with Holder exponent less than \({1/5}\). The main result of the present paper shows that any given smooth Euler flow can be perturbed in \({C^{1/5-\epsilon}_{t,x}}\) on any pre-compact subset of \({\mathbb{R}\times \mathbb{R}^3}\) to violate energy conservation. Furthermore, the perturbed solution is no smoother than \({C^{1/5-\epsilon}_{t,x}}\). As a corollary of this theorem, we show the existence of nonzero \({C^{1/5-\epsilon}_{t,x}}\) solutions to Euler with compact space-time support, generalizing previous work of the first author (Isett, Holder continuous Euler flows in three dimensions with compact support in time, 2012) to the nonperiodic setting.
A pivot-hinged, multilayer SU-8 micro motion amplifier assembled by a self-aligned approach

The design, fabrication, and characterization of an out-of-plane micro tactile actuator that employs pivot hinges fabricated by a multilayer self-aligned approach to deliver exceptional high force and large displacement are demonstrated. The device includes a piezoelectric extensional actuator that vibrates in plane and a micro-fabricated motion amplifier to convert the in-plane vibrations to larger out-of-plane vibrations. These advances are enabled by a self-aligned assembly process that eliminates the need to fabricate re-entrant SU-8 multilayers. For pivot-hinged actuators with 10 mm2 and 2 mm2 areas, maximum displacements of 9.8 μm and 5.5 μm respectively and maximum forces of 9.6 mN and 5.9 mN respectively are reported.
Stapled Peptides with γ-Methylated Hydrocarbon Chains for the Estrogen Receptor/Coactivator Interaction.

"Stapled" peptides are typically designed to replace two non-interacting residues with a constraining, olefinic staple. To mimic interacting leucine and isoleucine residues, we have created new amino acids that incorporate a methyl group in the γ-position of the stapling amino acid S5. We have incorporated them into a sequence derived from steroid receptor coactivator 2, which interacts with estrogen receptor α. The best peptide (IC50 =89 nm) replaces isoleucine 689 with an S-γ-methyl stapled amino acid, and has significantly higher affinity than unsubstituted peptides (390 and 760 nm). Through X-ray crystallography and molecular dynamics studies, we show that the conformation taken up by the S-γ-methyl peptide minimizes the syn-pentane interactions between the α- and γ-methyl groups.
KATP channels in rat heart: blockade of ischemic and acetylcholine-mediated preconditioning by glibenclamide

The objective of this study was to examine if the opening of ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels play an important role in ischemic preconditioning (PC) in the rat heart. A second goal was to test the...
Spectroscopic and Ion Probe Characterization of the Transport Process Following Laser Ablation of Yba2Cu3Ox

Spatial and temporal measurements of the optical absorption, optical emission and ion probe response in the ablation plume formed following pulsed 248 nm irradiation of Y1Ba2Cu3Ox are reported over laser energy densities from near threshold into the film growth regime. Time of flight absorbance-velocity profiles in vacuum indicate the formation and acceleration of a plasma front, with ions leading neutrals on the edge of the expanding plume. Ion probe screening measurements show that the laser plume is a well-shielded plasma with Debye lengths <10 μm at film deposition distances. Velocity distributions and estimates of ground state Ba+, Ba, Y+, and Y densities indicate that the populations of the ions outnumber those of the neutrals at high energy densities in vacuum. Measurements of the slowing of the plasma front and attenuation of the total charge reaching the substrate are reported for laser ablation in background pressures of oxygen. Absorption by ground state YO and BaO in the region close to the pellet indicates oxide densities ∼5 × 1013 cm−3 close to the pellet.
Egg Weight, Fecundity, and Longevity Are Increased by Adult Feeding in Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Two experiments were conducted to assess the influence of sugar and protein foods for adult Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner) females on selected reproductive parameters. Individuals were fed diets of sugar plus protein (fructose-egg-agar) in all possible combinations and diets with one of three sugars (glucose-agar, fructose-agar, sucrose-agar). Free water served as a control in both experiments. Diets with sugars significantly increased oviposition period, fecundity, and adult longevity. Total numbers of eggs and egg masses oviposited were significantly higher in females that received sugar diets. Weight of individual eggs remained constant for females that received a sugar diet but decreased by the 3rd d of oviposition for females that did not receive sugar. Adult nutrition may be an important factor in the population ecology of O. nubilalis .
Molecular Control of Floral Fragrance

Flowers of many plants attract pollinators by producing and emitting volatile compounds. The scent emitted by such flowers is typically a complex mixture of low-molecular-mass compounds (100–200 Da) which gives the flower its unique, characteristic fragrance. The chemical composition of flower fragrances varies widely among species in terms of the number, identity, and relative amounts of constituent volatile compounds (Knudsen and Tollsten, 1993; Knudsen et al.,1993). Such species-specific floral odors can enhance pollinator specificity, which in turn can reduce the chance of pollen loss and inappropriate interspecific pollination. Moreover, closely related plant species that rely on different types of insects for pollination produce different odors, reflecting the olfactory sensitivities or preferences of the pollinators (Henderson, 1986; Raguso and Pichersky, 1995). Characteristic floral odors are correlated with the type of pollinators. Species pollinated by bees and flies have sweet scents, whereas those pollinated by beetles have strong musty, spicy, or fruity odors (Dobson, 1994).
Ore Wars: A Prisoner's Dilemma Simulation-Game for Small Groups

Ore Wars is a scoreable, iterated, prisoner's dilemma-style negotiation between representatives of two planets over the monthly price for the rare mineral their planets produce. It is specifically designed to be used with small classes.For larger groups, see the prisoner's dilemma simulation game to be found here: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2200350
Investigating the role of chain and linker length on the catalytic activity of an H2 production catalyst containing a β-hairpin peptide

AbstractBuilding on our recent report of an active H2 production catalyst [Ni(PPh2NProp–peptide)2]2+ (Prop = para-phenylpropionic acid, peptide (R10) = WIpPRWTGPR-NH2, p = D-proline and P2N = 1-aza-3,6-diphosphacycloheptane) that contains structured β-hairpin peptides, here we investigate how H2 production is effected by: (1) the length of the hairpin (8 or 10 residues) and (2) limiting the flexibility between the peptide and the core complex by altering the length of the linker: para-phenylpropionic acid (three carbons) or para-benzoic acid (one carbon). Reduction of the peptide chain length from 10 to 8 residues increases or maintains the catalytic current for H2 production for all complexes, suggesting a non-productive steric interaction at longer peptide lengths. While the structure of the hairpin appears largely intact for the complexes, NMR data are consistent with differences in dynamic behavior which may contribute to the observed differences in catalytic activity. Molecular dynamics simulations d...
Following patients for tumor recurrence after radiofrequency ablation.

This HIPAA-compliant pilot study had internal review board approval; informed consent was waived. The purpose was to determine retrospectively the diagnostic performance of a computer-aided three-dimensional (3D) analytic tool for assessing local recurrences of liver metastases by quantifying shape changes in ablated tumors on computed tomographic (CT) scans for follow-up of radiofrequency (RF) ablation. Positron emission tomographic and long-term CT follow-up images were reference standards. Fifty-six follow-up CT scans of 12 liver metastases (mean size, 4.0 cm) in nine patients treated with RF ablation were retrospectively analyzed. After the 1st month following RF ablation, the 3D analytic tool helped quantify ablated tumor shape variations and revealed recurrences even in the absence of abnormal enhancement (sensitivity, seven of seven; specificity, three of five). The 3D tool would have revealed a recurrence before it was reported clinically in two patients. Although results are preliminary, a 3D analytic tool based on shape may be useful in assessing RF ablation results.
[Non-occurrence of spirochetes in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis].

SummarySpinal fluids from 32 patients not having multiple sclerosis, 22 patients having multiple sclerosis, and 3 patients having probable multiple sclerosis, were cultured according to the method of Ichelson except that the distilled water used was made in our laboratories. All cultures, carried a minimum of 18 months, were negative for spirochetes.
The "Seven Pillars" Response to Patient Safety Incidents: Effects on Medical Liability Processes and Outcomes.

Objective To determine whether a communication and resolution approach to patient harm is associated with changes in medical liability processes and outcomes. Data Sources/Study Setting Administrative, safety, and risk management data from the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, from 2002 to 2014. Study Design Single health system, interrupted time series design. Using Mann–Whitney U tests and segmented regression models, we compared means and trends in incident reports, claims, event analyses, patient communication consults, legal fees, costs per claim, settlements, and self-insurance expenses before and after the implementation of the “Seven Pillars” communication and resolution intervention. Data Collection Methods Queried databases maintained by Department of Safety and Risk Management and the Department of Administrative Services at UIH. Extracted data from risk module of the Midas incident reporting system. Principal Findings The intervention nearly doubled the number of incident reports, halved the number of claims, and reduced legal fees and costs as well as total costs per claim, settlement amounts, and self-insurance costs. Conclusions A communication and optimal resolution (CANDOR) approach to adverse events was associated with long-lasting, clinically and financially significant changes in a large set of core medical liability process and outcome measures.
Incidence, Risk Factors and Outcomes of Critical Illness Related Neuromuscular Weakness: A Population Based Case-Control Study (P07.045)

OBJECTIVE: We studied the incidence, risk factors and outcomes of Critical illness polyneuropathy and/or myopathy (CIPNM) in a case-control study. BACKGROUND: Though hospital-based studies have found critical illness polyneuropathy and/or myopathy (CIPNM) as a common cause of weakness in ICU patients, CIPNM remains an underdiagnosed condition. DESIGN/METHODS: Nationwide Inpatient Sample from years 2005-2010 was screened for adult patients with CIPNM by using ICD-9 codes. Cases with additional diagnoses of myasthenia, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and other causes of polyneuropathies and myopathies were excluded for diagnostic accuracy. Age and severity matched control group was selected from the same database with ratio of cases to controls of 1:25. Discharge outcomes and resource utilization were compared between the two groups. Independent predictors of CIPNM were identified by multivariate logistic regression. Population estimates were calculated by complex sample analysis using discharge weights. RESULTS: We included 59,672 weighted cases of CIPNM in our analysis. Age-adjusted incidence of CIPNM was 4.2 (95% CI: 3.5-5) per 100,000 population. Patients with CIPNM were more likely (46.4% vs. 35.7%, p CONCLUSIONS: Incidence of CIPNM in this study was lower than expected from the previous hospital based studies thus likely suggesting underdiagnosis in the US hospitals. CIPNM is associated with lower inpatient mortality and higher functional morbidity than age and severity matched controls. CIPNM associated factors should be explored in prospective studies to assess their predictive validity. Disclosure: Dr. Moradiya has nothing to disclose. Dr. Modi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Personna-Policard has nothing to disclose. Dr. Becker has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bulic has nothing to disclose. Dr. Anziska has received research support from Pfizer.