cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association between summer temperature and precipitation patterns over the great lakes region and water supplies to the great lakes

Empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis was applied to the combined set of summer temperature precipitation over the Great Lake region, and water supplies to the Great Lakes. The purpose of this analysis to determine the association between these three variables. The results show that the predominant association between temperature and precipitation is a negative one, although a positive association is important central and eastern portions of the region. The water supplies to the lakes are more closely associated (positively) with precipitation than with temperature. Comparison between the results of the EOF analysis of the combined set of temperature, precipitation, water supplies (TPS) and the results of separate EOF analyses of temperature (T), precipitation ( P ), and supplies (S) shows that although the first loading patterns of T, P and S do appear in the combined loading of TPS, they do not appear together in the same pattern of TPS. This result provides further insight into the of the association between these variables.
Effects of prediction and contextual support on lexical processing: Prediction takes precedence

Readers may use contextual information to anticipate and pre-activate specific lexical items during reading. However, prior studies have not clearly dissociated the effects of accurate lexical prediction from other forms of contextual facilitation such as plausibility or semantic priming. In this study, we measured electrophysiological responses to predicted and unpredicted target words in passages providing varying levels of contextual support. This method was used to isolate the neural effects of prediction from other potential contextual influences on lexical processing. While both prediction and discourse context influenced ERP amplitudes within the time range of the N400, the effects of prediction occurred much more rapidly, preceding contextual facilitation by approximately 100 ms. In addition, a frontal, post-N400 positivity (PNP) was modulated by both prediction accuracy and the overall plausibility of the preceding passage. These results suggest a unique temporal primacy for prediction in facilitating lexical access. They also suggest that the frontal PNP may index the costs of revising discourse representations following an incorrect lexical prediction.
A novel Eyes Absent 2 protein is expressed in the human eye

Abstract The Drosophila eyes absent (eya) gene has a role in regulating cell death and/or differentiation and is expressed throughout development. We evaluated the transcripts and proteins encoded by one of the human homologues of Drosophila eya coined Eyes Absent 2 (EYA2). Interestingly, EYA2 was expressed in several neuroblastoma cell lines as four distinct transcripts having alternative 5′-ends, whereas only one EYA2 transcript was expressed in the normal human eye. Due to different translation start sites on the four unique transcripts, two isoforms of EYA2 protein (one previously identified and one novel) could be generated in neuroblastoma cells, but the sole EYA2 transcript expressed in the eye can only encode the novel isoform. Immunoblot analyses suggest that EYA2 may also be post-translationally modified. Finally, the alternative EYA2 transcripts have dissimilar numbers of upstream open reading frames in their 5′-untranslated regions. Therefore, in addition to encoding alternative isoforms of EYA2, regulation of EYA2 expression appears to involve both transcriptional and translational components.
Isolation of a toxic factor from jojoba meal.

Summary A new toxic glucoside from jojoba meal called simmondsin, has been isolated and identified as a 2-(cyanomethylene)-3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethoxycyclohexyl β-D-glucoside by application of conventional chemical fractionation and animal bioassay techniques. Preliminary rat and mouse toxicological data implicates the benzyl cyanide derivative of simmondsin as the toxicant.
Interactions of Sodium, Potassium, and Chloride on Lactation, Acid-Base Status, and Mineral Concentrations

Objectives were to determine responses to graded dietary concentrations of Na, K, and Cl and to cation-anion difference. The design was a partially balanced incomplete block with 48 cows, four 28-d periods, and 15 treatments. Five concentrations each of Na, K, and Cl, ranging from .31 to .85%, .86 to 1.96%, and .32 to 1.15%, respectively, were fed in a TMR based on corn silage. Cation-anion difference (Na+K-Cl) ranged from +12 to +62 meq/100 g of dietary DM. Dry matter intake was affected by interactions between Na and K and between Na and Cl. Yield of 3.5% FCM increased as Na increased (independent of K and Cl concentrations); FCM yield response to dietary K depended on dietary Cl. Milk fat percentage responded quadratically to Na, K, and Cl. Milk fat percentage was maximum at .60% Na, 1.34% K, and .69% Cl. Dry matter intake, BW gain, and blood partial pressure of CO2 responded in a cubic fashion; FCM yield, milk protein percentage, and blood HCO3 concentrations responded quadratically; and blood base excess increased linearly with increasing cation-anion difference. Based on regression models, 3.5% FCM yield and DMI were highest when the cation-anion difference was between +30 and +50. These results indicate that interrelationships among Na, K, and Cl were abundant and were related to blood acid-base status and mineral element concentrations.
A new version of vibrating-tube flow densitometer for measurements at temperatures up to 730 K

A new version of a vibrating-tube densitometer for determining the difference between densities of two fluids is described. The new design made it possible to obtain reliable values in regions of higher compressibility. The main new features were a (platinum + rhodium) alloy for all the tubing in the high-temperature zone and a new design of the vibrating-tube assembly. An electronic circuit used a phase-locked loop to drive the tube making it possible to get a stable pick-up signal even at high temperatures where noise from the heater was high. Temperature and pressure control were improved to ±0.02 K and ±0.01 MPa over an extended beriod of time. The density differences which could be detected varied from ≈0.08 kg·m−3 at 600 K to ≈0·14 kg·m−3 at 670 K.
Improved charge control and the frequency performance in InAs/AlSb HFET's

Summary form only given. It is shown how the well thickness and the buffer layers influence the charge control properties of InAs/AlSb HFETs (heterostructure field-effect transistors) and how the kink can be eliminated from the drain characteristics of micron-sized HFETs, resulting in low output conductances and well-behaved drain characteristics. It is also demonstrated that a proper buffer layer structure is most beneficial in submicron devices, and results in great improvements in operational range and frequency performance. >
Branch Misprediction Prediction: Complementary Branch Predictors

In this paper, we propose a new class of branch predictors, complementary branch predictors, which can be easily added to any branch predictor to improve the overall prediction accuracy. This mechanism differs from conventional branch predictors in that it focuses only on mispredicted branches. As a result, this mechanism has the advantages of scalability and flexibility (can be implemented with any branch predictor), but is not on the critical path. More specifically, this mechanism improves the branch prediction accuracy by predicting which future branch will be mispredicted next and when that will occur, and then it changes the predicted direction at the predicted time. Our results show that a branch predictor with the branch misprediction predictor achieves the same prediction accuracy as a conventional branch predictor that is 4 to 16 times larger, but without significantly increasing the overall complexity or lengthening the critical path.
The effect of tumor necrosis factor-alphaon cardiac structure and function: A tale of two cytokines

The ability of the myocardium to successfully compensate for and adapt to stress, ultimately determines whether the heart will decompensate and fail, or whether instead it will maintain preserved function. Despite the importance of the myocardial response to environmental stress, very little is known with respect to the biochemical mechanisms that are responsible for mediating and integrating the stress response in the heart. In the present review we will summarize recent experimental material which suggests that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a pro-inflammatory cytokine that has been identified consistently in virtually all forms of cardiac injury, may play an important role in mediating and integrating the myocardial response to stress. The theme that will emerge from this discussion is that the short-term expression of TNF-alpha within the heart may provide the heart with an adaptive response to stress, whereas long-term expression of TNF-alpha may be frankly maladaptive by producing cardiac decompensation.
ISOLEV: a level surface cutting-plane program for fluid flow data

A computer program, ISOLEV, allows interactive visualization of CFD scalar and vector functions by means of user-specified sections of the data. The application is based on table lookups which govern both isosurface generation on hexahedral grid cells and recursive subdivision of the cells. The program supports Gouraud-shaded color maps of the data, surface-on-surface maps, and deformation surfaces of vector fields. The execution of the code for animated sweeps is improved by resorting to the cells in the database and maintaining an active set of cells to be rendered.
Algorithms for detecting complementary SNPs within a region of interest that are associated with diseases

Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) comprehensively compare common genetic variants in affected and control populations to identify variants that are potentially associated with diseases. In recent years, GWAS successfully identified susceptible genes for many diseases. However, limitations of GWAS in uncovering the cellular mechanisms of complex diseases have been increasingly pronounced. In particular, GWAS analyze disease associations at the single variant level (e.g., single nucleotide polymorphism -- SNP), however the functional links between these variants and the disease manifest at the level of genes, their products, and interactions. Since many genes are associated with multiple SNPs (within their coding and regulatory regions, i.e., regions of interest), it is not straightforward to characterize the association of individual genes with diseases based on SNP-level genotype data. Many of the existing studies that study functional implications of GWAS assess disease-gene association by simply taking the most statistically significant SNP in the gene's region of interest. Recently, some alternate approaches have been proposed to integrate the genotypes of all SNPs within the region of interest. In this study, we take an algorithmic approach to the problem and identify the optimal subset of SNPs that provide the maximum disease association score within each region of interest. The proposed algorithms represent the "genotype" of a gene as a combination of a subset of SNPs within its region of interest and search for the subset that maximizes the test statistic comparing this representative genotype in case and control samples. In order to handle the multiple testing problem, we compute the statistical significance of these scores by using permutation tests and using a background population that takes into account the number of variants lying in the region of interest (gene). We apply the proposed algorithms on a GWAS dataset for Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). To assess the performance of different algorithms, we use a manually curated set of genes known to be associated with T2D and compare different algorithms using ROC curves. Our experimental results show that the proposed algorithms are able to identify disease genes missed by other methods, with better sensitivity against the false positive rate.
Computer simulations of helix folding in homo- and heteropeptides

We present the results of microsecond length simulations of folding for three model helix-forming peptides, penta-alanine Ac-A5-NH2 (acA5a), a modified pentapeptide Ac-WA3H+-NH2 (WH5) and a 21-residue peptide Ac-WA3H+-(AAARA)3-A-NH2 (WH21), employing three protein force fields, AMBER03, CHARMM27 and OPLS-AA. The calculated helix populations are in good agreement with observations for all peptides, and the measured kinetic rate constants of WH5 are well reproduced. Our results yield new and interesting insights into the mechanism of α-helix folding. For acA5a, representing a flexible generic helical nucleus, we find significant variation of the folding pathway with employed force field. For the WH5 helix, which includes a stabilising side chain interaction, the nucleation step also varies with force field, but an intermediate with first two hydrogen bonds formed is a common feature in all models. For WH21 the three employed force fields differed in details of the helix initiation stage. However, the main s...
Simple Lessons in Biomechanics & Biological Materials Using Everyday Objects

Learning begins by making observations and then asking questions. Primitive humans must have marveled at solar eclipses and pondered the causes of thunder and lightning, tides and earthquakes. So too children begin life by wondering about everything they encounter, particularly phenomena of nature. Biologists retain this curiosity about the natural world and never stop making observations and asking questions. This is nowhere more evident than in the field of morphology, the study of form. This term was coined in the 18th century by the German naturalist/poet Goethe (1749–1832), who believed every organic design concealed an underlying meaning or intention (Kardong 1998). Morphologists no longer presume that such forms imply a divine plan or purpose, so while they still seek to explain the design and construction of plants, animals, and other organisms, they now place such explanations in an evolutionary context. In fact, the very reason morphological explanations are often sought in the first place—aside from the need to satisfy curiosity—is to provide just such a context. Morphology has always supplied some of the best evidence for evolution. Even if you don’t teach a class in biomechanics and biological materials, odds are you will at some point (and at some level) wish to explain organismal design and construction. Why does that leaf, horn or snail shell look the way it does, and is there a reason for its shape, size and texture? What makes this fossil so dense and asymmetrical; why does it have these bumps and ridges? Why is this cactus short and round, and that one tall and slender? Why is this bone present at all: what
Effects of Group B Streptococci on Cord and Adult Mononuclear Cell Interleukin-12 and Interferon-γ mRNA Accumulation and Protein Secretion

Group B streptococci (GBS) are a major cause of early-onset infection in neonates. Neonates, who have defects in neutrophil function that likely contribute to susceptibility to GBS infection, are deficient in the production of the phagocyte activator interferon (IFN)‐g. GBSstimulated mRNA accumulation and protein secretion of IFN-g and interleukin (IL)‐12, a major enhancer of IFN-g production, by mixed mononuclear cells (MMCs) from umbilical cord and adult peripheral blood was examined. GBS-exposed cord blood MMCs secreted lower concentrations of both IL-12 and IFN-g proteins than did MMCs from adults. IL-12 and IFN-g mRNA accumulation was examined by use of comparative reverse transcriptase‐ polymerase chain reaction. Cord blood MMCs accumulated less mRNA for both IL-12 and IFN-g than did adult blood MMC. The deficiency in cord blood cell production of IL-12 may have a role in inadequate IFN-g production, which contributes to the unique susceptibility of neonates to GBS infections. Early-onset group B streptococcal (GBS) infections in neonates often lead to sepsis and shock, with an »15% mortality
The flavonoid luteolin prevents lipopolysaccharide-induced NF-κB signalling and gene expression by blocking IκB kinase activity in intestinal epithelial cells and bone-marrow derived dendritic cells

The nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB transcriptional system is a major effector pathway involved in inflammation and innate immune responses. The flavonoid luteolin is found in various herbal extracts and has shown anti-inflammatory properties. However, the mechanism of action and impact of luteolin on innate immunity is still unknown. We report that luteolin significantly blocks lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced IkappaB phosphorylation/degradation, NF-kappaB transcriptional activity and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) gene expression in rat IEC-18 cells. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation, we demonstrate that LPS-induced RelA recruitment to the ICAM-1 gene promoter is significantly reduced in luteolin-treated cells. Moreover, in vitro kinase assays show that luteolin directly inhibits LPS-induced IkappaB kinase (IKK) activity in IEC-18 cells. Using bone-marrow derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) isolated from interleukin (IL)-10(-/-) mice or from recently engineered transgenic mice expressing the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under the transcriptional control of NF-kappaB cis-elements (cis-NF-kappaB(EGFP)), we found that luteolin blocks LPS-induced IkappaB phosphorylation and IKK activity, and decreases EGFP, IL-12 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha gene expression. Moreover, intraperitoneal administration of luteolin significantly inhibited LPS-induced EGFP expression in both peripheral blood mononuclear cells and splenocytes isolated from cis-NF-kappaB(EGFP) mice. These results indicate that luteolin blocks LPS-induced NF-kappaB signalling and proinflammatory gene expression in intestinal epithelial cells and dendritic cells. Modulation of innate immunity by natural plant products may represent an attractive strategy to prevent intestinal inflammation associated with dysregulated innate immune responses.
Analysis of process models

Process modeling tools, such as the integrated definition (IDEF) methodology, allow for a systematic representation of processes in manufacturing, product development, and service applications. Most of the process modeling methodologies are based on informal notation, lack mathematical rigor, and are static and qualitative, and thus can be difficult to use for analysis. In this paper, a new analysis approach for process models based on signed directed graphs (SDGs) and fuzzy sets is presented. A membership function of fuzzy sets quantifies and transforms incomplete and ambiguous information of process variables into an SDG qualitative model. The effectiveness of the approach is illustrated with an industrial example. The architecture of an intelligent system for qualitative/quantitative analysis of process models is presented.
Effects of tamoxifen on nitric oxide synthesis and neoplastic transformation in C3H 10T1/2 fibroblasts.

Abstract Tamoxifen (TAM) is used in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer, however, its mechanisms of therapeutic action as well as its pathologic effects are not fully understood. We report that TAM (10−7–10−5 M) inhibits 3-methylcholanthrene-induced transformation of C3H 10T1/2 murine fibroblasts in a dose-responsive manner. Over this concentration range, TAM (>10−6 M) potentiates inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity in 10T1/2 cells. This increase in NO synthase activity was mediated through an increase in iNOS protein for cells stimulated with interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Significant increases in NO formation were observed when TAM (10−5) was added prior to or simultaneously with IFN-γ/LPS treatment, whereas the addition of TAM 48 h after IFN-γ/LPS treatment had no effect on NO synthesis. The morphologic changes seen with cells treated with TAM are similar to those observed in cells treated with TGF-β1. TGF-β1 inhibited NO production at high doses and slightly enhanced NO formation at low doses in IFN-γ/LPS-stimulated cells. The transformation inhibitory effects of TAM did not appear to be related to the effects on cellular proliferation of neoplastic cells as TAM did not inhibit the growth of neoplastic cells into foci in the presence of normal confluent C3H 10T1/2 fibroblasts.
Creation Ex Nihilo as Mixed Metaphor

This article makes the following three programmatic points. First, an understanding of divine transcendence, prominent in Christian theology's apophatic strain, developed in tandem, both historically and logically, with ideas about creation that eventuated in a creation ex nihilo viewpoint. Such an account of divine transcendence, second, fosters an account of creation (and a general understanding of the God/world relationship) that typically mixes both natural and personalistic images and categories. The loss of such an account of transcendence since the early modern period, I suggest thirdly and in conclusion, is therefore responsible in great part for the dualistic, mutually exclusive alternation between a deistic, interventionist God and pan(en)theism so common in modern Christian thought.
Revision neural monitored surgery for recurrent thyroid cancer: Safety and thyroglobulin response.

Objectives/Hypothesis To evaluate the quantitative biochemical response, recurrence rate, and rate of surgical complications for thyroid cancer revision surgery. Study Design Retrospective review. Methods This is a single institution analysis of a prospective database of 181 patients undergoing reoperation for local recurrent thyroid cancer by the same surgeon from 2004 to 2013 with intraoperative neural monitoring. Main outcome measures included pathologic findings, surgical complications, effect of reoperation on thyroglobulin (Tg) levels, and recurrence rate. We defined biochemical complete remission as postoperative stimulated Tg of 0.2 ng/mL or less. Results Fourteen percent of the patients presented with permanent vocal cord palsy (VCP), and 20% of the patients presented with hypocalcemia prior to surgery. Among them, 70% of the patients underwent first revision surgery; whereas in 30% the surgery represented second or higher revision surgery, with 8% being a third or higher revision. None developed temporary or permanent VCP. Temporary hypocalcemia occurred in 9% of the patients, and permanent hypocalcemia occurred in 4.2%. The rate of cervical node recurrence was 5% at a median follow-up of 3.4 years. There were no disease-specific deaths. Mean preoperative basal Tg was 22.3 ng/mL and mean postoperative Tg was 5.7 ng/mL, a decline of 74% (P = 0.023, paired t test). Biochemical complete remission was achieved in 58% of all revision cases. Conclusion Reoperative neural monitored surgery for recurrent thyroid cancer is a safe and effective procedure with limited morbidity in experienced hands, even in the setting of multiple prior revision surgeries and existing comorbidities such as VCP and hypocalcemia. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 2015
High-efficiency reprogramming of fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes requires suppression of pro-fibrotic signalling

Direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into cardiomyocytes by forced expression of cardiomyogenic factors, GMT (GATA4, Mef2C, Tbx5) or GHMT (GATA4, Hand2, Mef2C, Tbx5), has recently been demonstrated, suggesting a novel therapeutic strategy for cardiac repair. However, current approaches are inefficient. Here we demonstrate that pro-fibrotic signalling potently antagonizes cardiac reprogramming. Remarkably, inhibition of pro-fibrotic signalling using small molecules that target the transforming growth factor-β or Rho-associated kinase pathways converts embryonic fibroblasts into functional cardiomyocyte-like cells, with the efficiency up to 60%. Conversely, overactivation of these pro-fibrotic signalling networks attenuates cardiac reprogramming. Furthermore, inhibition of pro-fibrotic signalling dramatically enhances the kinetics of cardiac reprogramming, with spontaneously contracting cardiomyocytes emerging in less than 2 weeks, as opposed to 4 weeks with GHMT alone. These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac conversion of fibroblasts and would enhance efforts to generate cardiomyocytes for clinical applications.
Cl−-dependent secretory mechanisms in isolated rat bile duct epithelial units

Cholangiocytes absorb and secrete fluid, modifying primary canalicular bile. In several Cl−-secreting epithelia, Na+-K+-2Cl− cotransport is a basolateral Cl− uptake pathway facilitating apical Cl− ...
Comparative Competition Law as a Form of Empiricism

This short essay makes a plea for a comparative approach to the formulation of competition policy as an important type of empiricism. The United States is no longer alone, or even unusual, in having a robust form of competition policy. Competition law has enjoyed unparalleled growth throughout the world over the past twenty years. Virtually every western developed nation has created a sophisticated legal system capable of dealing with restrictive agreements, abuses of market power, as well as the notification and regulation of mergers and acquisitions that pose the threat of lessening competition. The United States is out of step with the rest of the world's competition community in two important ways, At a time when the rest of the world looks to competition law for its transformative and normative potential, the United States remains locked into a narrow vision geared largely to the reflexive application of various competing microeconomic theories. While in many ways United States antitrust has reached an impasse without any visible solution, it is the rest of the world that looks to antitrust for answers to the fundamental questions about how to control economic power in their society, the role and limits of markets and economic activity in a democracy, and the political role and consequences of antitrust rules.
Color, Class and Consciousness

(1973). Color, Class and Consciousness. The Black Scholar: Vol. 5, Black Soldier II, pp. 57-60.
Acute Ischemic Stroke with Very Early Clinical Improvement: A National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator Stroke Trials Exploratory Analysis.

Background A high proportion of patients excluded from recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) treatment because of rapid improvement occurring before treatment decision had incomplete recovery. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) rt-PA Stroke Trials dataset allows for systematic analyses of very early postrandomization improvement (VEPRIM) in stroke severity as a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was available for all subjects enrolled in the study at baseline (NIHSS B ) and at 2 hours after randomization (NIHSS 2H ). We explored various definitions of VEPRIM to characterize predictive values for clinical outcomes. Methods Post hoc analyses of the NINDS rt-PA Stroke Trials were conducted. VEPRIM was defined as the difference between the NIHSS B and the NIHSS 2H scores using 3 approaches: raw, percent, and normalized change. We assessed the association between VEPRIM and 3-month favorable outcome (mRS score of 0-1), symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH), and death. Results In the 624 subjects, every VEPRIM definition was independently associated with an increased probability of favorable outcome: for each unit of change within the VEPRIM definitions, there were 2%-24% (all P P P B and prestroke mRS scores, there was a significant rt-PA treatment effect for improvement seen for all 3 VEPRIM definitions. Conclusions VEPRIM predicted favorable outcomes independent of definition and treatment arm. Patients with VEPRIM by any definition, while doing better than patients without VEPRIM, also derived increased clinical benefit when treated with rt-PA compared to placebo. Even with VEPRIM, a substantial percentage of patients had unfavorable outcomes.
Uncomplicated removal of epidural catheters in 4365 patients with international normalized ratio greater than 1.4 during initiation of warfarin therapy.

Background and objectives Current guidelines from the American Society of Regional Anesthesia state that an international normalized ratio (INR) of 1.4 is the upper limit of warfarin anticoagulation for safe removal of an epidural catheter. However, these guidelines are based primarily on expert consensus, and there is controversy regarding this recommendation as being "too conservative." Methods Prospective (3211) and retrospective (1154) patients undergoing total joint replacement followed by daily warfarin thromboprophylaxis were enrolled in this observational study. All nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and anticoagulants were held before surgery, and all patients had normal coagulation test results before surgery. Patients were followed twice a day by the acute pain service, no other anticoagulants except nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were administered, and epidural analgesia was discontinued per institutional protocol. Only patients with INR greater than 1.4 at the time of removal of epidural catheter were included. Neurologic checks were performed for 24 hrs after removal. Results A total of 4365 patients were included, and 79% underwent knee replacement and 18% hip replacement. Mean age was 68 yrs, and mean weight was 81 kg. Mean (SD) duration of epidural analgesia was 2.1 (0.6) days. Mean (SD) INR at the time of epidural removal was 1.9 (0.4), ranging from 1.5 to 7.1. No spinal hematomas were observed (0% incidence with 95% confidence interval, 0%-0.069%). Conclusions Our series of 4365 patients had uncomplicated removal of epidural catheters despite INRs ranging from 1.5 to 5.9. Removal was only during initiation of warfarin therapy (up to approximately 50 hrs after warfarin intake) when several vitamin K factors are likely to still be adequate for hemostasis.
Value of the psychiatrist in the juvenile diabetic clinic

The advantages of psychiatric liaison in an outpatient Juvenile Diabetic Clinic are not widely appreciated. The potential values of such a collaboration are described.
ASCUS on cervical cytologic smears. Clinical significance.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the significance of the category atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) in predicting the presence of underlying squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) and to determine the best follow-up method. STUDY DESIGN : Follow-up studies of all cervical cytologic smears with a diagnosis of ASCUS within 14 months were reviewed. RESULTS: SIL was diagnosed in 66.67% of ASCUS patients upon follow-up with biopsies with and without smears. SIL was diagnosed in 17.39% of ASCUS patients upon follow-up with smears only. CONCLUSION: Based on this study, ASCUS on smears serves as a good marker of underlying SIL. Follow-up studies with biopsies with and without smears appear to be more effective in detecting underlying low grade SIL than repeat smears only.
Erythropoietin Production in the Anephric Rat. I. Relationship Between Nephrectomy, Time of Hypoxic Exposure, and Erythropoietin Production

The serum erythropoietin levels of adult male and female rats exposed immediately after nephrectomy to a simulated altitude of 22,000 ft for 5 hr is measurable but decreased to about l5% of normal. Erythropoietin is not detected in the serum of adult female and male rats when the interval between nephrectomy and the beginning of the hypoxic exposure is increased to 8 and 16 rr, respectively. The ability of an anephric rat to respond to this hypoxic stimulus progressively decreases with increasing time after nephrectomy. The ability of young anephric rats to increase their serum erythropoietin levels is little altered if the rats are exposed to hypoxia immediately after nephrectomy, but exposure to the same hypoxic stimulus 24 hr later results in a significant reduction in erythropoietin production. The ability of both normal and anephric rats to produce erythropoietin is reduced or abolished by actinomycin D. The serum erythropoietin produced in hypoxic anephric rats is immunologically indistinguishable from normal erythropoietin.
The Retreat to Utopia

I America’s involvement in the Great War demonstrated graphically the role of U.S. economic and military power in the affairs of the world at war. Diplomatic tradition properly understood and applied, presented the only program available to sustain the hard-won peace. But Woodrow Wilson’s vision of a new world order, based primarily on democratic and judicial procedures, was designed specifically to eliminate both force and an accommodating diplomacy as the essential, historical ingredients in international peace and stability. Wilson defied history and experience in his assumption that he had actually created a new world order through the negotiations at Versailles and the resulting treaty. Certainly the British and French negotiators did not really agree with Wilson’s perception of what had been accomplished there, but tragically they all behaved as if the new world order had actually been achieved and universally accepted thereafter, and assumed that this world order needed only the reliance of moral force to ensure its compliance. Realists in the British, French, and U.S. governments, and Maxim Litvinov in the Soviet government, warned that the treaty either needed revision or the implementation of collective security agreements to enforce it, or both, but to no avail. These people understood that what provided the president his fleeting moment of leadership in world affairs was not his appealing design for a peaceful future, but the fact that he led a country with a remarkable capacity to wage total war – indeed, the nation that had made the defeat of Germany possible.
Chapter 6 – Viral Cofactors in the Immune Pathogenesis and Clinical Manifestations of HIV Infection

Virulence is a property of host-parasite interactions, but host fitness is exceedingly difficult to assess in nature. Investigations of the extremes of this interplay in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection—the rapid progressors to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) versus long-term delayed progressors—suggest models by which to sort out protective vs. pathologic mechanisms in HIV infection. These observations also provide an opportunity to assess the role of cofactors in the progression of HIV disease. Viral persistence may be viewed at three distinct levels: persistence in the population as a whole, in the individual host, and within a cell or group of cells. In terms of the latter, viruses may survive, despite an intact immune system, by limited growth in a cell population; continuous multiplication without eliciting cytopathic effects; true latency; or cell-to-cell passage without maturation. Furthermore, cofactor viruses implicated in AIDS tend to be highly antigenic. Viral cofactors may also activate HIV cell targets via superantigen (SAg) phenomena, blockade of factors linked to suppression of viral and cell growth, or do both.
News orgs post more often on Twitter than on Facebook

This study uses a content analysis to examine Twitter and Facebook postings from six news organizations. A sample of 1,232 items was coded for author type, news topic, timeliness, and story type. O...
Urinary Tract Infection

One out of two women will have a urinary tract infection (UTI) at least once during their life. UTI causes frequent and painful urination, suprapubic pressure, and an urgent need to urinate. Although usually self-limiting, some women suffer multiple infections. In this review, we define UTI, describe who gets them, our understanding of where UTI comes from and what women can do to prevent them.
Why Freud Matters: Psychoanalysis and IR Revisited

I take scholars of international relations to task for eschewing the discipline of psychoanalysis . The renewed and fierce attacks on Freud and his fractious followers over the last generation evidently discouraged political scientists from exploring the considerable usefulness of psychoanalytic methods both in case studies and in wider methodological terms. This chapter demonstrates under what kinds of circumstances psychoanalysis can prove to be a valid and enlightening interpretive approach. What indeed is the significance in human behavior of the unconscious , that is, of motives and forces of which we are commonly unaware? The argument I make is that in most, if not all, cases, psychoanalytically attuned approaches will yield important insights that expose ‘masks of reason’ and illuminate motives for the way power is wielded in specific cases.
Uncalibrated Helium-Neon Lasers in Length Metrology

The vacuum wavelength of a gas laser cannot vary from its central value by more than a few parts in 106. Consequently, an uncertainty of this magnitude can be assigned for the wavelength of the las...
Abstract 4083: Basic mechanisms ofVernonia amygdalinaexert antitumor activities in breast cancer cells

Breast cancer continues to represent the largest cause of mortality in the world especially among women. It is estimated that cancer kills more women in the USA than any other illness and it is also the leading cause of death among all Americans. Traditional medicine represents the first-choice of healthcare treatment for at least 80% of people living in developing countries. Preliminary studies from our laboratory have shown that a novel natural product, extracts of Vernonia amygdalina (VA) leaf exerts DNA-damaging anticancer activities against breast cancer. There is a need to develop targeted approaches for the treatment of human breast cancer. Therefore, the goal of this research was to determine the therapeutic mechanisms of V. amygdalina leaf extracts as anti-cancer agent in the management of breast cancer. To achieve our goal, cell viability, live and death cells were determined by trypan blue exclusion test. The extent of oxidative cell/tissue damage was determined by measuring malondialdehydes (MDA) levels. Expression of p53 tumor suppressor gene was assessed both by immunofluorescent and western blot analyses. Cell apoptosis was measured both by flow cytometry analysis and DNA laddering assay. Data obtained from the Trypan blue indicated that V. amygdalina significantly reduced the viability of MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent response, showing gradual increase in the loss of viability in V. amygdalina-treated cells due to membrane damage. We observed an up-regulation of p53 tumor suppressor gene in V. amygdalina-treated cells compared to the control. Flow cytometry data showed a strong dose-response relationship between V. amygdalina exposure and caspase-3 positive cells. These results were confirmed by data of DNA laddering assay showing a clear evidence of nucleosomal DNA fragmentation in V. amygdalina-treated cells. Collectively, data generated from the present study demonstrated that V. amygdalina destroys breast cancer cells by reducing the percentage of cell viability and inducing apoptosis through up-regulation of p53 tumor suppressor gene, activation of caspase-3, and induction of nucleosomal DNA fragmentation associated with the formation of MDA, a by-product of lipid peroxidation and biomarker of oxidative stress. This result suggests that V. amygdalina treatment may be a good anti-cancer candidate for the treatment of breast cancer. Research supported by NIH Grant No. NIMHDG12MD007581) Citation Format: Clement G. Yedjou, Paul B. Tchounwou. Basic mechanisms of Vernonia amygdalina exert antitumor activities in breast cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4083. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-4083
Shunt-Dependent Hydrocephalus After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Predictors and Long-Term Functional Outcomes.

BACKGROUND Although chronic hydrocephalus requiring shunt placement is a known sequela of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), its effect on long-term functional outcomes is incompletely understood. OBJECTIVE To identify predictors of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus and shunt complications after aSAH and determine the effect of shunt dependence on functional outcomes in aSAH patients. METHODS We evaluated a database of patients treated for aSAH at a single center from 2000 to 2015. Favorable and unfavorable outcomes were defined as modified Rankin Scale grades 0 to 2 and 3 to 6, respectively. We performed statistical analyses to identify variables associated with shunt-dependent hydrocephalus, unfavorable outcome, and shunt complication. RESULTS Of the 888 aSAH patients, 116 had shunt-dependent hydrocephalus (13%). Older age (P = .001), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) (P = .004), higher World Federation of Neurological Surgeons (WFNS) grade (P < .001), surgical aneurysm treatment (P = .002), and angiographic vasospasm (P = .005) were independent predictors of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus in multivariable analysis. Functional outcome was evaluable in 527 aSAH patients (mean follow-up 18.6 mo), with an unfavorable outcome rate of 17%. Shunt placement (P < .001), shunt infection (P = .041), older age (P < .001), and higher WFNS grade (P = .043) were independently associated with an unfavorable outcome in multivariable analysis. Of the shunt-dependent patients, 18% had a shunt-related complication. Higher WFNS grade (P = .011), posterior circulation aneurysm (P = .018), and angiographic vasospasm (P = .008) were independent predictors of shunt complications in multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION aSAH patients with shunt-dependent hydrocephalus have significantly poorer long-term functional outcomes. Patients with risk factors for post-aSAH shunt dependence may benefit from increased surveillance, although the effect of such measures is not defined in this study.
Inferring Commitment from Rates of Organizational Transition

When organizations implement changes, people may take those changes as signals about their values. Across seven experiments, we explore how different rates of transition influence people’s percepti...
Supplemental surveillance: a review of 2015 and 2016 agricultural injury data from news reports on AgInjuryNews.org

Background Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting industry is the most hazardous occupational sector in the USA. Even with this level of occupational risk, several national and state-level occupational injury surveillance programmes have been eliminated, leaving regional efforts to analyse multiple sources and compile data on agricultural injuries and fatalities. No up-to-date centralised national database for agricultural injuries/fatalities in the USA currently exists. Objective Using the public data on AgInjuryNews.org, this study considered a wide range of variables to examine fatalities and injuries of the industry in 2015 and 2016. The results reported in this paper sought to explore and understand common data elements of US news reports. Methods As of 5 April 2017, more than 3000 articles across 36 years were contained in the dataset. We selected 2 years to review, 2015 and 2016, which represented the most complete years to date; 2015 was the first year in which systematic collection was initiated by the AgInjuryNews.org team. Data were coded based on the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System source and event/exposure types. Results A total of 1345 victims were involved in 1044 incidents. Leading sources of injuries were vehicles and machinery, and the most common event/exposure type was transportation. Conclusions This study demonstrated that data from AgInjuryNew.org is consistent with previous literature, and it can supply up-to-date data as an open-source surveillance supplement, disseminated for health and safety stakeholders.
An exploratory study of stress and coping among Black college men.

This project was supported by grants awarded to Daphne C. Watkins from the Vivian A. and James L. Curtis School of Social Work Research and Training Center and the Comprehensive Depression Center Phil Jenkins Award at the University of Michigan.
GM Food and Nanotechnology

In matters characterized by a high degree of complexity or uncertainty, such as the social and ethical dimensions of an emerging technology, it is often useful to begin with historical analogies (Steinbruner 2002). In the case of nanotechnology, one of the favored analogs is genetically modified (GM) foods. Even a cursory read of the first generation of social and ethical issues (SEI) literature on nanotechnology reveals that the GM food analogy plays prominently in motivating and framing the discourse, if not the agenda of SEI research. This chapter offers critical reflections on the comparisons between nanotechnology and GM foods. The aim is to identify the respects in which the comparisons are helpful in clarifying and responding to the SEI associated with emerging nanotechnologies, as well as the respects in which the comparisons are unhelpful or misleading. After reviewing several similarities and dissimilarities between the two types of technologies, three potential lessons from the GM food experience for emerging nanotechnologies are evaluated: a lesson on public engagement; a lesson on technological fixes; and a lesson on case by case assessment.
The Effect of Adenotonsillectomy for Childhood Sleep Apnea on Cardiometabolic Measures.

Study objectives Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) has been associated with cardiometabolic disease in adults. In children, this association is unclear. We evaluated the effect of early adenotonsillectomy (eAT) for treatment of OSAS on blood pressure, heart rate, lipids, glucose, insulin, and C-reactive protein. We also analyzed whether these parameters at baseline and changes at follow-up correlated with polysomnographic indices. Design Data collected at baseline and 7-mo follow-up were analyzed from a randomized controlled trial, the Childhood Adenotonsillectomy Trial (CHAT). Setting Clinical referral setting from multiple centers. Participants There were 464 children, ages 5 to 9.9 y with OSAS without severe hypoxemia. Interventions Randomization to eAT or Watchful Waiting with Supportive Care (WWSC). Measurements and results There was no significant change of cardiometabolic parameters over the 7-mo interval in the eAT group compared to WWSC group. However, overnight heart rate was incrementally higher in association with baseline OSAS severity (average heart rate increase of 3 beats per minute [bpm] for apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] of 2 versus 10; [standard error = 0.60]). Each 5-unit improvement in AHI and 5 mmHg improvement in peak end-tidal CO2 were estimated to reduce heart rate by 1 and 1.5 bpm, respectively. An increase in N3 sleep also was associated with small reductions in systolic blood pressure percentile. Conclusions There is little variation in standard cardiometabolic parameters in children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) but without severe hypoxemia at baseline or after intervention. Of all measures, overnight heart rate emerged as the most sensitive parameter of pediatric OSAS severity. Clinical trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov (#NCT00560859).
Liquid Scintillation Counting of Tritium

The intensive development of the liquid scintillation counter for the measurement of tritium has come about in response to a need for a sensitive, reliable, and simple counting method for this difficult-to-measure nuclide. A number of groups participated in this development, but the workers at Los Alamos deserve special mention [1, 2]. Our own work [3] has been almost entirely with C14, although the instrument is the same.
Blindness, Diabetes, and Amputation: Alleviation of Depression and Pain through Thermal Biofeedback Therapy.

A 39-year-old man who was blind, diabetic, and had a double amputation with chronic renal failure and peripheral vascular disease was treated with thermal biofeedback to reduce his depression throu...
Integration in the Study of Homosexuality, GLBT Issues, and Sexual Identity

This article examines integration in the areas of homosexuality, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) issues, and sexual identity. It provides a brief account of where we have been as a f...