cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental Therapeutic Strategies for Severe Sepsis

Severe sepsis is the leading cause of mortality in intensive care units. The limited ability of current therapies to reduce sepsis mortality rates has fueled research efforts for the development of novel treatment strategies. Through the close collaboration between clinicians and scientists, progress can be seen in the struggle to develop effective therapeutic approaches for the treatment of sepsis and other immune and inflammatory disorders. Indeed, significant advances in intensive care, such as lung protective mechanical ventilation, improved antibiotics, and superior monitoring of systemic perfusion, are improving patient survival. Nonetheless, specific strategies that target the pathophysiological disorders in sepsis patients are essential to further improve clinical outcomes. This article reviews current clinical management approaches and experimental interventions that target pleiotropic or late-acting inflammatory mediators like caspases, C5a, MIF, and HMGB1, or the body's endogenous inflammatory control mechanisms such as the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway. These inflammatory mediators and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, respectively, show significant potential for the development of new experimental therapies for the treatment of severe sepsis and other infectious and inflammatory disorders.
Monitoring VIV fatigue damage on marine risers

Long flexible cylinders (e.g., risers, tendons and mooring lines) exposed to the marine environment encounter ocean currents leading to vortex-induced vibration (VIV). These oscillations, often driven at high frequencies over extended periods of time, may result in structural failure of the member due to fatigue damage accumulation. Recent developments in instrumentation and installation of data acquisition systems on board marine risers have made accurate measurement of riser responses possible. This paper aims at using the data from these data acquisition devices (typically strain gages and accelerometers) in order to understand the evolution of the riser VIV, with the final aim of estimating the fatigue damage. For this purpose we employ systematic techniques to reconstruct riser VIV response using the data from the available sensors. The reconstructed riser response allows estimation of the dynamic axial stresses due to bending and consequently the estimates of the fatigue damage along the entire riser. The above methods can take into account the fatigue damage arising from complicated riser motions involving the presence of traveling waves even with the use of very few sensors. An alternate approach using a Van der Pol wake oscillator model is also explored to obtain fatigue life estimates caused by riser VIV.
Analysis of complex contagions in random multiplex networks.

We study the diffusion of influence in random multiplex networks where links can be of $r$ different types, and, for a given content (e.g., rumor, product, or political view), each link type is associated with a content-dependent parameter ${c}_{i}$ in $[0,\ensuremath{\infty}]$ that measures the relative bias type $i$ links have in spreading this content. In this setting, we propose a linear threshold model of contagion where nodes switch state if their ``perceived'' proportion of active neighbors exceeds a threshold $\ensuremath{\tau}$. Namely a node connected to ${m}_{i}$ active neighbors and ${k}_{i}\ensuremath{-}{m}_{i}$ inactive neighbors via type $i$ links will turn active if $\ensuremath{\sum}{c}_{i}{m}_{i}/\ensuremath{\sum}{c}_{i}{k}_{i}$ exceeds its threshold $\ensuremath{\tau}$. Under this model, we obtain the condition, probability and expected size of global spreading events. Our results extend the existing work on complex contagions in several directions by (i) providing solutions for coupled random networks whose vertices are neither identical nor disjoint, (ii) highlighting the effect of content on the dynamics of complex contagions, and (iii) showing that content-dependent propagation over a multiplex network leads to a subtle relation between the giant vulnerable component of the graph and the global cascade condition that is not seen in the existing models in the literature.
A Buddhist Perspective on Industrial Engineering and the Design of Work

The modern way of life is highly dependent upon the production of goods by industrial organizations that are in turn dependent upon their workers for their ongoing operations. Even though more than a century has passed since the dawn of the industrial revolution, many dangerous aspects of work, both physical and mental, remain in the workplace today. Using Buddhist philosophical principles, this paper suggests that although many sources of the problem reside within the larger society, the industrial engineer is still a key factor in bettering work and providing a workplace suitable for their fellow workers. Drawing on these insights, we present a number of work design guidelines that industrial engineers who abide by Buddhist principles could practice to help overcome some of the many sufferings produced by modern work.
Evaluation of non-English dietary supplement advertisements in an ethnic minority community in America.

Objective: The primary objective was to evaluate the rate at which non-English dietary supplement advertisements distributed in a sampled ethnic minority community are in compliance with the federal advertising regulations. The secondary objective was to assess the availability of supporting evidence to substantiate the advertised health claims. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: The contents of dietary supplement advertisements from the Los Angeles Korea Times and the Los Angeles Korea Dailywere evaluated during the month of July 2005. After removing duplicate advertisements, the percentage of advertisements making prohibited disease claims and DSHEA (Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act) disclaimer statements was determined. The presence of data substantiating advertised claims was determined by requesting data from the manufacturers and browsing the manufacturers' websites. An observational technique was utilised for content analysis, and data analysis was conducted using quantitative descriptive statistics. Results: Disease claims were present in 84.5%, while DHSEA disclaimer statements were present in only 18.4% of the advertisements. Data to substantiate the claims were provided by 53.4% of the manufacturers. The majority of the additional information consisted of repetition of the advertised claims and consumer testimonies. Experimental data were available for only 13.6% of the products. Conclusions: The high rate of non-compliance with federal regulations suggests a need for better oversight of non-English promotions of dietary supplements.
EFFECTS OF CHAR CONTENT AND SIMPLE ADDITIVES ON BIOMASS PYROLYSIS OIL DROPLET COMBUSTION

Over the past few years, a laminar-flow, isolated-droplet combustion facility has been used to evaluate the fundamental combustion properties of biomass pyrolysis oils. This work has focused on characterizing oils produced from various feedstocks with a small-scale, fast-ablative vortex reactor coupled with various hot-gas filtration techniques. Recently, combustion of an oak oil produced in a large-scale, entrained fluidized bed has been characterized. This oil exhibits microexplosions very early in the combustion process, presumably as a consequence of the significant loading of small char particles in the oil. Backlit stroboscopic imaging of the burning droplets reveals that the oak oil microexplosions are characterized by the formation of a cellular network of vapor bubbles that ultimately contracts and results in the formation of coke particles. In addition, combustion experiments have been performed on a low-char poplar oil with small amounts of water and methanol additives. These simple additives have been suggested as an inexpensive means of reducing the viscosity and rate of chemical aging of biomass oils. Stroboscopic imaging of the droplets of these mixtures reveals a dramatic effect of both additives on the microexplosion process. However, long-exposure photographs of the complete combustion history suggest that the addition of methanol does not improve the shattering effect of the microexplosion and hence the total droplet burnout time. The addition of water delays the occurrence of microexplosion but improves its effectiveness, resulting in a small reduction in the droplet burnout time. Addition of both methanol and water yields the shortest burnout time.
Organic brain syndrome in rheumatoid arthritis following corticosteroid withdrawal

Six patients with seropositive nodule-forming rheumatoid arthritis developed severe central nervous system manifestations consistent with a diagnosis of organic brain syndrome. Organic brain syndrome occurred while 5 of these patients were undergoing corticosteroid withdrawal after prolonged administration. Neuropsychiatric symptoms rapidly cleared, responding to reinstitution of oral or parenteral corticosteroids in large doses in 4 patients, to increase in dosage in 1 patient, and to no drug therapy in the remaining 1. Marked reduction in rheumatoid factor in sera and demonstration of IgM deposits in the choroid plexus in 1 of the patients raised the possibility of immune complex-mediated central nervous system vasculitis.
Partial nephrectomy for patients with a solitary kidney: the Memorial Sloan‐Kettering experience

OBJECTIVE To report the experience of partial nephrectomy in patients with a solitary kidney at one institution, with analysis of renal function, complications, oncological efficacy and survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS We identified 54 consecutive patients with a solitary kidney who had a partial nephrectomy between December 1989 and July 2003. Variables examined included patient age and gender, renal function, renal ischaemia time, surgical margin status and complications. Pathological features, e.g. tumour size, histological subtype and tumour stage, were also assessed. Disease-free probability and overall and cancer-specific survivals were determined. RESULTS The histological subtype was clear cell in 35 cases (65%), papillary in 10 (19%), oncocytoma in four (7%), chromophobe in two (4%), unclassified in one (2%) and multiple subtypes in two (2%). The median creatinine level before surgery was 14 mg/L, which increased to 16 mg/L 6 months afterward, and at 1 and 2 years after surgery it was 15 mg/L. Two patients developed end-stage renal disease requiring haemodialysis, one soon after surgery and another 8 years after nephron-sparing surgery. In all, 26% of patients developed at least one perioperative complication, with acute renal failure and urinary fistula being the most common. At 5 years the overall and cancer-specific survival, and disease-free probability were 68%, 88% and 73%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Partial nephrectomy is safe in patients with a solitary kidney, with an acceptable decline in renal function and low likelihood of requiring temporary or permanent haemodialysis. After an initial decline, renal function appears to stabilize during the first year.
The Rorschach Z score.

(1955). The Rorschach “Z” Score. Journal of Projective Techniques: Vol. 19, No. 4, pp. 443-452.
Consciousness of time and time for the development of consciousness: health awareness among women flight attendants

The occupational health beliefs and experiences of flight attendants in five United States airlines were analysed in a three-year interview and field study. The development of career longevity in the flight attendant occupation, once seen as short-term ‘women's work’, has given rise to increasing occupational health problems. The health concerns of flight attendants have correspondingly heightened their consciousness of collective occupational interests as self-care practices alone have proved insufficient to combat environmental health hazards. The case of flight attendants illustrates the problems workers face in legitimising health concerns in a female-identified occupation, yet suggests the changes in consciousness that occur when women no longer view their work as temporary but as a long-term career.
On the formulation of the zero creep method for small diameter wires

Abstract A mechanically consistent variational derivation of the zero creep relationship between surface energy and critical load is put forward for polycrystalline wires of small diameter. This entails the inclusion of necking, and it is found that for grain length/diameter ratios greater than unity there exist two possible equilibrium configurations, one moderately necked and one heavily necked. All equilibrium configurations are shown to be stable in the sense that the second variation of the energy is positive. It is found that the correct equilibrium expression for critical load differs from the formula currently in use by an amount which is negligible for grain length/diameter ratios below 0.5, but which increases with increasing length/diameter ratios.
Larval host plant affects fitness consequences of egg size variation in the seed beetle Stator limbatus

Egg size variation often has large effects on the fitness of progeny in insects. However, many studies have been unable to detect an advantage of developing from large eggs, suggesting that egg size variation has implications for offspring performance only under adverse conditions, such as during larval competition, periods of starvation, desiccation, or when larvae feed on low-quality resources. We test this hypothesis by examining the consequences of egg size variation for survivorship and development of a seed-feeding insect, Stator limbatus, on both a low-quality (Cercidium floridum) and a high-quality (Acacia greggii) host plant. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis. S. limbatus larval performance was affected by egg size only when developing on the poor-quality host (C. floridum); larvae from large eggs survived better on C. floridum than those from small eggs, while there was no evidence of an effect of egg size on progeny development time, body weight, or survivorship when larvae developed on A. greggii. These results indicate intense selection for large eggs within C. floridum-associated populations, but not in A. greggii-associated populations, so that egg size is predicted to vary among populations associated with different hosts. Our results also support this hypothesis; females from a C. floridum-associated population (Scottsdale) laid larger eggs than females from an A. greggii-associated population (Black Canyon City).
Perceptions of the availability of recreational physical activity facilities on a university campus.

Objective: The author's purpose in this study was to assess perceptions of recreational physical activity (PA) facilities on a university campus. Participants: Four-hundred and sixtyseven undergraduate students participated in this study (women = 293; men = 174). Results: The author found a significant percentage difference between women and men concerning the availability of racquetball courts on campus, 47% vs 63%, t(465) = -3.274. The author similarly found a significant percentage difference between women and men's perceptions concerning the availability of tennis courts. Twenty-seven percent of women were unaware or did not know tennis courts were available for PA, in comparison with 19% of men t(465) = -2.413. Awareness of recreational facilities revealed significant differences (Pillai's Trace = .189, p < .05) between freshmen and upperclassmen. Freshmen perceived themselves to have access to fewer recreational facilities on campus. Conclusion: More efforts to increase awareness of PA facilities ar...
MARKETING DECISION ANALYSIS BY TURF AND SHAPLEY VALUE

We consider a problem of marketing decisions for the choice of a product with maximum customer appeal. A widely used technique for this purpose is TURF, or Total Unduplicated Reach and Frequency, which evaluates a union of the events defined by the sample proportion of many products, or flavors of one product. However, when using TURF, it is often impossible to distinguish between subsets of different flavor combinations with practically the same level of coverage. An appropriate tool can be borrowed from cooperative game theory, namely, the Shapley Value, that permits the ordering of flavors by their strength in achieving maximum consumers' reach and provides more stable results than TURF. We describe marketing strategy reasons for using these techniques in the identification of the preferred combinations in media or product mix.
Limited Effects of Bile Acids and Small Heterodimer Partner on Hepatitis B Virus Biosynthesis In Vivo

Multiple nuclear receptors, including hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α), retinoid X receptor α (RXRα) plus peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), RXRα plus farnesoid X receptor α (FXRα), liver receptor homolog 1 (LRH1), and estrogen-related receptors (ERRs), have been shown to support efficient viral biosynthesis in nonhepatoma cells in the absence of additional liver-enriched transcription factors. Although HNF4α has been shown to be critical for the developmental expression of hepatitis B virus (HBV) biosynthesis in the liver, the relative importance of the various nuclear receptors capable of supporting viral transcription and replication in the adult in vivo has not been clearly established. To investigate the role of the nuclear receptor FXR and the corepressor small heterodimer partner (SHP) in viral biosynthesis in vivo, SHP-expressing and SHP-null HBV transgenic mice were fed a bile acid-supplemented diet. The increased FXR activity and SHP expression levels resulting from bile acid treatment did not greatly modulate HBV RNA and DNA synthesis. Therefore, FXR and SHP appear to play a limited role in modulating HBV biosynthesis, suggesting that alternative nuclear receptors are more critical determinants of viral transcription in the HBV transgenic mouse model of chronic viral infection. These observations suggest that hepatic bile acid levels or therapeutic agents targeting FXR may not greatly modulate viremia during natural infection.
Girl Power in a Digital World: Considering the Complexity of Gender, Literacy, and Technology.

The power of culture to shape gender identities becomes particularly crucial for adolescents as they make the transition from child to adult. Yet as adults we offer little coherent, direct instruction in such matters. The author advocates supporting girls as they explore complex and empowering literacy practices, particularly online.
How long to treat and what to do when you stop

those generally inherent in genetic studies). For instance, good animal models for age-related sarcopenia have not been established (although primates experience muscle loss very similar to that in humans and represent a powerful genetic opportunity), the phenotypic definition of sarcopenia is unsettled, it is difficult to account for non-genetic comorbidities in aged populations, and large, well phenotyped human cohorts are relatively rare. Nevertheless, as interest in this area increases and genetic research tools continue to evolve (including sequencing, informatics and systems biology) rapid progress is expected.
Circular single-stranded RNA replicon in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Abstract Circular RNA replicons have been reported in plants and, in one case, in animal cells. We describe such an element in yeast. In certain yeast strains, a 20S RNA species appears on transfer of cells to acetate medium. This phenotype shows cytoplasmic (non-Mendelian) inheritance and the 20S RNA is associated with 23-kDa protein subunits as a 32S particle. We demonstrate that yeast 20S RNA is an independent replicon with no homology to host genomic, mitochondrial, or 2-microns plasmid DNA or to the L-A, L-BC, or M1 double-stranded RNA viruses of yeast. The circularity of the 20S RNA is shown by the apparent absence of 3' and 5' ends, by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and by electron microscopy. Replication of yeast 20S RNA proceeds through an RNA-RNA pathway, and a 10,000-fold amplification occurs on shift to acetate medium. The copy number of 20S RNA is also reduced severalfold by the SKI gene products, a host antiviral system that also lowers the copy numbers of yeast double-stranded RNA viruses. Yeast 20S RNA and the hepatitis delta virus show some similarities.
Analysis of p-3He elastic scattering using analyticity

Abstract The techniques of an optimum expansion, obtained by a conformal mapping, are used to obtain the spectroscopic factor for 3 He → p + d . The results are in remarkable agreement with the value obtained from the theory of the three-body problem, and indicates great promise of this technique for nuclear physics.
A Comparison of Verbal Instruction and Nonverbal Teacher Student Modeling in Instrumental Ensembles.

This study concerns the comparative effectiveness of verbal instruction and modeling instruction in instrumental music classrooms. The primary hypothesis maintains that modeling is more effective than verbal instruction. Four middle school band classes (N = 128), two taught for 10 weeks with verbal instruction and two with modeling instruction, were pretested and posttested for ear-to-hand skills, kinesthetic response skills, and music discrimination skills. Students in the two classes receiving modeling instruction achieved significantly higher scores on tests of ear-to-hand skills and kinesthetic skills than did those in the two classes receiving verbal instruction, although those in the modeling classes did not achieve significantly different scores in a test of general music discrimination skills. These findings suggest that the use of modeling strategies and devices such as melodic echoes and rhythmic movement to music can lead to increased ear-to-hand skills and kinesthetic response skills.
Efficient algorithms for substring near neighbor problem

In this paper we consider the problem of finding the approximate nearest neighbor when the data set points are the substrings of a given text T. Specifically, for a string T of length n, we present a data structure which does the following: given a pattern P, if there is a substring of T within the distance R from P, it reports a (possibly different) substring of T within distance cR from P. The length of the pattern P, denoted by m, is not known in advance. For the case where the distances are measured using the Hamming distance, we present a data structure which uses O(n1+1/c) space1 and with O(n1/c + mno(1)) query time. This essentially matches the earlier bounds of [Ind98], which assumed that the pattern length m is fixed in advance. In addition, our data structure can be constructed in time O(n1+1/c + n1+o(1)M1/3), where M is an upper bound for m. This essentially matches the preprocessing bound of [Ind98] as long as the term O(n1+1/c) dominates the running time, which is the case when, e.g., c
Measurement of mutual-diffusion coefficients for the system KNO3−H2O at 25°C

Mutual-diffusion coefficients measured on the volume fixed frame of reference are reported for KNO3−H2O at 25°C over the concentration range 0.025 to 2.61M. The diffusion coefficients decrease monotonically from 1.928×10−9 m2-sec−1 to 1.166×10−9 m2-sec−1 as the concentration increases from 0.0 to 2.61M. A series of density measurements are reported for this system over the molar concentration range of 0.082 to 2.513M.
Diels–Alder reactions of pyrrolo[3,4-b]porphyrins

Abstract In the presence of excess dimethylacetylene dicarboxylate (DMAD), nickel(II) pyrrolo[3,4- b ]porphyrins undergo both Diels–Alder cycloaddition and Michael addition in toluene to give two bis-adducts, identified as compounds 4 and 5 ; the reaction can be accelerated by the addition of Lewis or Bronsted–Lowry acids. Refluxing the reaction mixture in 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (220 °C) leads to a nickel(II) monobenzoporphyrin 2 as the main product. The structure of compound 4 was confirmed by X-ray crystallography.
Progesterone-induced changes in the phosphoryl potential during the meiotic divisions in amphibian oocytes: Role of Na/K-ATPase

Background Progesterone triggers resumption of the first meiotic division in the Rana pipiens oocyte by binding to the N-terminal external loop of the catalytic subunit of Na/K-ATPase, releasing a cascade of lipid second messengers. This is followed by internalization of specific membrane proteins, plasma membrane depolarization and nuclear membrane breakdown, culminating in arrest at second metaphase.
Wikis at work: success factors and challenges for sustainability of enterprise Wikis

We examined wiki use in a range of enterprise settings. We found many thriving wikis, but they were a minority of the thousands for which we obtained data. Even an actively used wiki can disappoint some important stakeholders. Careful stakeholder analysis and education may be crucial to successful wiki deployment. We identify a range of success factors, sources of wiki abandonment, and approaches to addressing the challenges. Some of our observations may extend to other social media.
An HLA-restricted, p53 specific immune response from HLA transgenic p53 knockout mice.

Background: p53 is over-expressed in most human malignancies and is therefore an attractive target for immunotherapy. Unfortunately, a human cytotoxic T cell response to p53 is difficult to generate. p53 knockout transgenic mice may provide a model to circumvent immunologic tolerance to p53 and develop high-affinity p53-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Methods: p53 knockout, HLA A2.1 transgenic mice were generated and immunized with the immunodominant wild-type p53 nonamer peptide epitope p53149-157. Two weeks later splenocytes were harvested and stimulated in vitro with acid-treated, p53 peptide-pulsed syngeneic blast cells. Cultures were restimulated weekly with acid-treated, p53 peptide-pulsed Jurkat cells transfected with the HLA A2.1 gene. Peptide-specific cytotoxic activity was measured by chromium release assay, and the resulting CD8+ effectors were cloned via limiting dilution. Results: P53 peptide-specific CTL were generated against p53149-157. Clones generated from the p53149-157 cell line demonstrated high affinity and specificity for p53149-157 when presented by HLA A2.1+ antigen-presenting cells. The p53149-157 CTL killed only cells overexpressing p53 cells that were HLA A2.1+ and did not kill cells with normal levels of p53 expression or those that were HLA A2.1-. Conclusion: HLA transgenic mice not previously exposed to the p53 protein provide a useful model for generating high-affinity p53-specific CTL.
Money for Research Participation: Does It Jeopardize Informed Consent?

Some are concerned about the possibility that offering money for research participation can constitute coercion or undue influence capable of distorting the judgment of potential research subjects and compromising the voluntariness of their informed consent. The author recognizes that more often than not there are multiple influences leading to decisions, including decisions about research participation. The concept of undue influence is explored, as well as the question of whether or not there is something uniquely distorting about money as opposed to a chance for treatment or medical care. An amount of money that is not excessive and is calculated on the basis of time or contribution may, rather than constitute an undue inducement, be an indication of respect for the time and contribution that research subjects make.
Use of a delayed signal to stop a visual reaction-time response.

In a visual RT experiment, 5 male Ss were each confronted with 2lights and instructed to respond to 1 light but not respond whenboth lights occurred. The onset of the 2 lights was made asynchronousby 0, 12, 33, or 63 msec. Probability of inhibiting the responsedeclined markedly for each delay and increased with RT. It was con-cluded that choice RT is correlated with the extent of the stimulusinformation processing and the duration of effective stimulation whichhas preceded initiation of the motor event.
The effect of dietary protein on the growth and digestive physiology of larval Heliothis zea and Spodoptera exigua

We compared the ability of larval H. zea (Boddie) and S. exigua (Hubner) to digest and utilize dietary protein by: (a) determining the ability of different concentrations of dietary protein to support larval growth, and (b) determining the effect of different concentrations of dietary protein on the digestive physiology of the organisms, as measured by in vivo digestion of protein and proteolytic activity. Using an artificial diet containing casein as the primary source of protein, we found that H. zea was able to grow at very low levels of casein (≤0.6%), while optimal growth occurred at 1.2% casein. For S. exigua, dietary casein levels of >0.6% were required for growth, and optimal growth occurred at ≥1.2% casein. However, optimal growth in both species was not correlated with the degree of in vivo digestion of protein. The level of in vivo digestion of protein and tryptic activity in S. exigua was proportional to the concentration of dietary protein (under both acute and chronic exposure), and not the amount of food in the gut, suggesting that enzyme synthesis and/or secretion is controlled by a secretagogue mechanism. H. zea only demonstrated a secretagogue mechanism of control of tryptic activity while under acute exposure to different concentrations of casein; under chronic exposure, tryptic activity was uniform regardless of the concentration of dietary casein. When comparing the two species of noctuid, H. zea, which is the larger of the two species, produced less tryptic activity on a unit weight basis, and also digested less of the available dietary protein than S. exigua. Hence, these closely related organisms are processing dietary protein at different efficiencies.
Regulation of VEGF expression in human retinal cells by cytokines: Implications for the role of inflammation in age‐related macular degeneration

Chronic inflammation is implicated in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) observed in exudative form of AMD results in vision loss. Human retinal pigment epithelial cell (HRPE) layer and choroidal tissue are the primary pathological sites in AMD. Pathological and therapeutic evidences have strongly indicated the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) molecules as critical components in CNV pathogenesis. In these studies, we used human primary HRPE and choroidal fibroblast cells (HCHF) prepared from adult donor eyes. The effects of inflammatory cytokine (IFN-γ + TNF-α + IL-1β) mix (ICM) on global gene expression profiles in HRPE cells, revealed 10- and 9-fold increase in VEGF-A and VEGF-C expression, respectively. The microarray results were validated by quantitative RT-PCR and secretion of VEGFs proteins. IL-1β is the most potent in inducing VEGFs secretion followed by IFN-γ and TNF-α, and the secretion was more effective in the presence of 2 and 3 cytokines. NF-κB and JAK-STAT pathway, but not HIF-1α, Sp-1, Sp-3, and STAT-3, transcription factors were upregulated and translocated to nucleus by ICM treatment. The mRNA levels of VEGF-A and VEGF-C and secretion of these proteins were also significantly enhanced by ICM in HCHF cells. The secretion of other angiogenic molecules, PEDF, SDF-1α, endostatin, and angiopoietins was not affected by ICM. Our results show that the inflammatory cytokines enhance secretion of VEGF-A and VEGF-C by HRPE and HCHF cells. These studies indicate that VEGFs secreted by these cells initiate and promote pathological choroidal and retinal noevascularization processes in AMD. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 116–126, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
On sequential distinguishability for the exponential family

Let {X,, n ~ l } be an iid (independent and identically distributed) stochastic sequence assumed to be governed by a member of a countable family of probability measures 4 = {P,: 8 e ~} where P, are defined on an appropriate probability space and ~ is countable. Observing sequent/ally the stochastic sequence {X,, n>=l} we want to stop at some finite stage and decide in favour of a member of the family 9 with a uniformly small probability of error. The family 9 is said to be "Sequentially Distinguishable" i f for any given ~ (O l and ~,(~l~___e for a given s (0<~<1) and V].
Sustained effect of early physical activity on body fat mass in older children.

Background Physical activity is assumed to reduce excessive fatness in children. This study examined whether the benefits of early childhood moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) on fatness are sustained throughout childhood. Methods MVPA minutes per day (min/d) and fat mass (kilograms; kg) were measured using accelerometry and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in 333 children aged 5, 8, and 11 years who were participating in the Iowa Bone Development Study. Mixed regression models were used to test whether MVPA at age 5 years had an effect on fat mass at age 8 years and age 11 years, after adjustment for concurrent height, weight, age, maturity, and MVPA. The analysis was repeated to control for fat mass at age 5 years. Using mixed-model least-squares means, adjusted means of fat mass at age 8 years and age 11 years were compared between the highest and lowest quartiles of MVPA at age 5 years. Data were collected between 1998 and 2006 and analyzed in 2008. Results For boys and girls, MVPA at age 5 years was a predictor of adjusted fat mass at age 8 years and age 11 years ( p p Conclusions Some effects of early-childhood MVPA on fatness appear to persist throughout childhood. Results indicate the potential importance of increasing MVPA in young children as a strategy to reduce later fat gains.
The professional responsibility model of obstetric ethics and caesarean delivery

In this chapter, we provide an account of the professional responsibility model of obstetric ethics, and identify its implications for two major topics: patient-choice caesarean delivery and trial of labour after caesarean delivery. The professional responsibility model of obstetric ethics is based on the ethical concept of medicine as a profession and the ethical principles of beneficence and respect for autonomy. The obstetrician has beneficence-based and autonomy-based obligations to the pregnant woman and beneficence-based obligations to the fetus when it is a patient. Because the viable fetus is a patient, the ethics of caesarean delivery requires balancing of obligations to the pregnant and fetal patient. The implication of the professional responsibility model for patient-choice caesarean delivery is that the obstetrician should respond to such requests with a recommendation against non-indicated caesarean delivery and for vaginal delivery. These recommendations should be explained and discussed in the informed consent process. It is ethically permissible to implement an informed, reflective decision for non-indicated caesarean delivery. The implication for trial of labour after caesarean delivery is that, in settings properly equipped and staffed, the obstetrician should offer both trial of labour after caesarean delivery and planned caesarean delivery to women who have had one previous low transverse incision. The obstetrician should recommend against trial of labour after caesarean delivery for women with a previous classical incision.
Chiral Lagrangian parameters for scalar and pseudoscalar mesons

The results of a high-statistics study of scalar and pseudoscalar meson propagators in quenched lattice QCD are presented. For two values of lattice spacing, $\ensuremath{\beta}=5.7(a\ensuremath{\approx}.18\mathrm{fm})$ and 5.9 $(a\ensuremath{\approx}.12\mathrm{fm}),$ we probe the light quark mass region using clover improved Wilson fermions with the modified quenched approximation pole-shifting ansatz to treat the exceptional configuration problem. The quenched chiral loop parameters ${m}_{0}$ and ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{\ensuremath{\Phi}}$ are determined from a study of the pseudoscalar hairpin correlator. From a global fit to the meson correlators, estimates are obtained for the relevant chiral Lagrangian parameters, including the Leutwyler parameters ${L}_{5}$ and ${L}_{8}.$ Using the parameters obtained from the singlet and nonsinglet pseudoscalar correlators, the quenched chiral loop (QCL) effect in the nonsinglet scalar meson correlator is studied. By removing this QCL effect from the lattice correlator, we obtain the mass and decay constant of the ground state scalar, isovector meson ${a}_{0}.$
Feed Processing. V. Effect of an Expansion-processed Mixture of Grain and Urea (Starea) on Nitrogen Utilization in Vitro,

Abstract An expansion-processed mixture of grain starch and urea called Starea has been effective in increasing urea utilization by the ruminant. This in vitro study was designed to give a quantitative evaluation of nitrogen utilization by measuring ammonia nitrogen and bacterial protein concentrations following a four-hour fermentation period. Starea supplements markedly reduced the ammonia compared with that from unprocessed corn and urea supplements. The lowered rumen ammonia was, at least in part, the result of more efficient utilization of the ammonia by conversion to microbial protein. Substrates used were: A) 34% crude protein Starea; B) 39% crude protein Starea; C) 44% crude protein Starea; D) 39% crude protein expanded corn + urea; E) 44% crude protein ground corn + urea. Bacterial protein (mg/100 ml) and ammonia N (mg/100 ml) were: A) 64.2 and 117.2; B) 66.3 and 122.5; C) 63.8 and 124.1; D) 59.6 and 126.3; E) 41.9 and 156.0. Similar differences were obtained when all substrates contained 44% crude protein or when all substrates were diluted to 16% crude protein with ground grain. Amino acid analyses were used to evaluate the quality of bacterial protein formed during in vitro fermentation. There were indications that bacterial protein contained more isoleucine, leucine, methionine, tyrosine, and phenylalanine when the substrate was soybean meal or Starea rather than ground grain and urea.
The Engineering World Health Summer Institute: a new educational opportunity

The Engineering World Health Summer Institute is a unique educational paradigm. EWH is a study abroad program which offers students an opportunity to receive hands-on technical training while volunteering in a developing country and earning college credit. The program is aimed at undergraduate and graduate students.
Kinetics of carbon dioxide uptake by phytoplankton at high pH1

When phytoplankton assimilate CO, at the low concentrations existing at high pI1 their uptake rates may be limited by diffusion transport. Dehydroxylation of IICO, to CO, will, however, reduce the effect of transport limitation. In this paper the equation for diffusion with chemical reaction that produces the diffusing substance is solved for a spherical ccl1 with a surface absorption rate given by an equation of the Monod form to yield uptake rate as a function of CO, concentration when transport limited. The influence of cell motility is included. A criterion is derived by which the importance of transport limitation can be ascertained for a cell whose half-saturation constant and maximmn uptake rate are known. In an attempt to explain phytoplankton succession in lakes during summer, King ( 1970) assumed that some species of planktonic algae are limited in growth rate by the very low concentrations of aqueous COZ present in lake water as the pI1 rises during the course of summer. He suggested that organisms that can assimilate CO2 most rapidly at very low concentrations replace those less able to assimilate COz rapidly, Hc also assumed that HC03-, present at equilibrium with and in large concentration relative to C’OQ, acts as a reservoir for COa. King recognized that organisms may assimilate CO2 at such a rapid rate that diffusion transport cannot maintain its concentration near the cell surface at the same magnitude as the equilibrium concentration in the medium in which the cell is immerscd. Hc noted that mixing processes in the water would diminish this effect of the limitation of the supply of COZ by diffusional transport. However, hc assumed that CO2 is formed so rapidly from HC03- that an equilibrium concentration of CO2 is maintained, but did not reconcile this with the lower CO8 concentration near the cell. Goldman et al. ( 1974)) in a study of the kinetics of inorganic carbon uptake by algae, maintained that the uptake rate of or
eMOLST: a documentation flow for distributed health informatics

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) have many potential advantages over traditional paper records, such as wide scale access, error checking, and protection from physical damage to a record. As with any medical record, paper or electronic, both the patient's privacy and the document's integrity must be guaranteed. With initiatives such as Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE), computerized healthcare systems are able to share EHRs on a large scale, while protecting the patient's privacy rights. However, IHE does not yet meet the needs of all healthcare systems, as we will show with the eMOLST project. The eMOLST project delivers software in support of Medical Order for Life Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) forms and uses IHE specifications for cross enterprise document storage and sharing, patient identification, and user authentication and authorization. The Web-based system provides secure access to electronic MOLST documents regardless of the patient's or healthcare provider's location. The eMOLST project allows a user to have Single Sign On (SSO) access to the system from either the user's associated enterprise, or through a Web portal shared amongst all users across all enterprises. In this paper, we show a security solution to allow SSO from multiple access points for IHE compliant systems. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
LAND USE POLICY AS AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE

Land use is not an end in itself; it is a means to the realization of a broad range of human objectives – social, economic and political. Few public issues appear to be more strictly national. In environment-related United Nations conferences, Third World representatives in particular have asserted the absolute control of nations over their land and natural resources. Nevertheless, international concern over land use has been growing. This concern is both scientific and political and derives from the perception that use and misuse of land may have international repercussions. Developing countries facing disastrous consequences of unwise land use practices (e.g., soil erosion, desertification, water logging and salinization, laterization, and loss of agricultural land to urbanization) have appealed to international organizations for aid. FAO, UNEP, IUCN, ICSU, and the UN Economic Commissions have undertaken land-use related research and assistance programs. Political sensitivities preclude external involvement in national land use policy except in dire circumstances as, for example, in the drought-stricken African Sahel. Thus legitimate international concerns must find indirect strategies to influence governments from among their own national constituents. The IUCN World Conservation Strategy suggests a route that might lead toward concerted action among nations in the formulation of genuine international land use policy.
Differential Tolerances of Amaranthus Strains to High Levels of Aluminum and Manganese in Acid Soils

Abstract Species of Amaranthus are grown extensively as leafy green vegetables in tropical Africa and Asia and as high yielding grain crops in Western South America, Central America, Northern India, Western Nepal, and Pakistan. The crop is often grown on acid, marginal soils, under subsistence conditions, where liming even the soil plow layer may not be economically feasible. Hence, the identification or development of strains with high tolerance to acid soils would be beneficial. Aluminum and Mn toxicities are the most important growth‐limiting factors in many acid soils. The objective of our research was to determine the tolerances of selected Amaranthus strains to high levels of these elements in acid soils. Fifteen strains, representing five species, were grown in greenhouse pots of an acid, Al‐toxic Tatum soil limed to pH 4.8 and 5.8. Strains differed significantly in tolerance to the acid soil. Relative yields (pH 4.8/pH 5.8%) ranged from 50.1 to 6.3% for tops and from 54.5 to 5.7% for roots. Four s...
New generation of isolated electron-injection imagers

This paper describes a novel electron-injection based short-wave infrared imager. The first generation of electron-injection imager achieved two orders of magnitude better signal to noise ratio compared with a commercial high-end SWIR camera. In the second generation, detectors are isolated and achieve extremely low dark current, record low noise levels and fast rise times while maintaining the very large internal amplification. Furthermore, electron-injection imager shows superior noise performance compared with imagers made with the state-of-the-art InGaAs PIN and MCT eAPDs.
Taking the Dogma out of Econometrics: Structural Modeling and Credible Inference

Without a doubt, there has been a "credibility revolution" in applied econometrics. One contributing development has been in the improvement and increased use in data analysis of "structural methods"; that is, the use of models based in economic theory. Structural modeling attempts to use data to identify the parameters of an underlying economic model, based on models of individual choice or aggregate relations derived from them. Structural estimation has a long tradition in economics, but better and larger data sets, more powerful computers, improved modeling methods, faster computational techniques, and new econometric methods such as those mentioned above have allowed researchers to make significant improvements. While Angrist and Pischke extol the successes of empirical work that estimates "treatment effects" based on actual or quasi-experiments, they are much less sanguine about structural analysis and hold industrial organization up as an example where "progress is less dramatic." Indeed, reading their article one comes away with the impression that there is only a single way to conduct credible empirical analysis. This seems to us a very narrow and dogmatic approach to empirical work; credible analysis can come in many guises, both structural and nonstructural, and for some questions structural analysis offers important advantages. In this comment, we address the criticism of structural analysis and its use in industrial organization, and consider why empirical analysis in industrial organization differs in such striking ways from that in fields such as labor, which have recently emphasized the methods favored by Angrist and Pischke.
The link between early onset drinking and early onset alcohol-impaired driving in young males

AbstractBackground: Young drivers represent a disproportionate number of the individuals involved in alcohol-impaired driving. Although there is a known association between drinking and alcohol-impaired driving in young drivers, the link between early onset drinking and early onset alcohol-impaired driving has not been explored. Objectives: The present study aimed to assess this link along with potentially confounding factors. Methods: The assessment used a proportional hazards model with data collected from the Buffalo Longitudinal Study of Young Men, a population-based sample of 625 males at aged 16–19. Results: Controlling for the effects of potentially relevant confounds, the early onset of drinking was the most influential factor in predicting the early onset of alcohol-impaired driving. Race and the early onset of other forms of delinquency also played a significant role in the early onset of alcohol-impaired driving. Conclusion: Preventing an early start of drinking among adolescents may be the mos...