cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acute pancreatitis induces FasL gene expression and upregulates apoptotic pathways in the liver

Background: Liver injury is of prognostic importance in acute pancreatitis. We previously demonstrated that Kupffer cell-derived cytokines mediate liver injury. Aim: To determine the role of Fas Ligand (FasL) in liver injury during acute pancreatitis. Methods: CCK was used to induce pancreatitis in mice; serum FasL (ELISA), AST, and liver FasL, p38-MAPK and Caspase-3 (western) were measured. Rat Kupffer cells were treated with elastase (1U/ml) to mimic acute pancreatitis; FasL and its receptor (Fas) (western) and FasL mRNA (RT-PCR) were determined. Apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. Immunoblots were done in triplicates and quantified with densitometry. Results: CCK-induced pancreatitis increased serum AST and FasL, upregulated liver FasL (1315 ± 111, vs. 310 ± 164, p = 0.002 vs. sham), and induced phosphorylation of p38-MAPK (p < 0.01 vs. sham) and cleavage of Caspase-3 (p < 0.04 vs. sham); all of which were attenuated by pre-treatment with the Kupffer cell inhibitor, Gadolinium (all p < 0.003). In-vitro, elastase induced a time-dependent increase in Kupffer cell FasL protein (FasL= 512 ± 53 vs. 170 ± 40, p = 0.01, 2hrs vs. control), a 100-fold increase in FasL mRNA and upregulated FasL receptor (Fas) (Figure; E: elastase, G: Gadolinium, ′: min). Gadolinium significantly attenuated the elastase-induced increase in FasL and FasL mRNA (FasL= 230 ± 20 vs. 512 ± 53, p = 0.01, Gadolinium vs. elastase) but had little effect on Fas (receptor). The medium of elastase-primed Kupffer cells induced apoptosis in fresh rat hepatocytes (29 ± 1 vs. 16 ± 1%; vs. control, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Acute pancreatitis induced liver injury and hepatocyte death, upregulated FasL production and activated hepatic p38-MAPK and Caspase-3. Utilizing Gadolinium, Kupffer cell-derived FasL production was significantly attenuated both in-vivo and in-vitro. Similar to other immune cells, FasL receptor (Fas) was upregulated within Kupffer cells suggesting that FasL may auto-regulate its production by inducing its originator-cell death. The ability to manipulate interactions between Kupffer cells and hepatocytes may have important therapeutic implications. Download high-res image (58KB) Download full-size image
Semen extenders for artificial insemination in the American alligator

Abstract Semen was collected post-mortem from 19 male alligators (Alligator mississipiensis) by dissection of the genitalia. In 12 of 13 wild alligators, two of two farmed alligators, and three of four zoo alligators adequate numbers of spermatozoa (>1 × 109 total cells) were collected for semen preservation and artificial insemination studies. Semen extended in solutions containing a combination of egg yolk and milk, rather than either of these constituents alone, was superior for long-term liquid storage. The addition of either penicillin with dihydrostreptomycin, or gentamycin, in combination with yolk and milk enhanced the longevity of sperm cells as compared to maintenance of motility in solutions without antibiotics. Both glycerol and DMSO were detrimental to sperm cell motility. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was less detrimental than glycerol. Semen frozen by pelleting on dry ice resulted in loss of motility of all but 0–2% of spermatozoa in all extenders tested. Neither DMSO nor glycerol was beneficial in protecting sperm cells during freezethaw compared with extenders not containing these compounds.
Design of X-ray Differential Phase Contrast Imaging System for High Energy and Wide Spectrum X-ray Applications

The optimum design of a grating-based X-ray differential phase contrast imaging system is relatively insensitive to the source spectrum. High energy and wide field of view applications eventually require grating-less sources and detectors.
Cardiogenic Causes of Pediatric Syncope

Syncope is a common presentation for children in the emergency department (ED). Cardiac causes of pediatric syncope are rare but may be life threatening and have the highest risk of morbidity and mortality. An extensive workup for syncope is usually unnecessary. All children presenting to the ED with syncope should have a detailed history, physical examination, and electrocardiogram performed. These components should be used to guide further diagnostic studies and subspecialty referrals. Cardiology consultation or referral should be considered if a cardiac etiology is suspected due to "red flags" identified during the history, physical examination, or electrocardiogram. An algorithmic approach to the evaluation of pediatric syncope in the ED is recommended.
Growth hormone and muscle ribonucleic acid metabolism

Because of recent reports that growth hormone stimulates the synthesis of RNA in the liver, a study was made of the effect in vitro of bovine growth hormone on the incorporation of radioactive uridine into the RNA of the isolated diaphragm of the hypophysectomized rat. The hormone had no effect on the incorporation of labeled uridine into the total RNA of the diagphram when incubation periods as long as 2 h were used. When diaphragms were fractionated after incubation into a “heavy” fraction rich in nuclei and a “light” fraction containing mitochondria, microsomes and cell sap, it was found that the incorporation of radioactivity into the RNA of these fractions was unaltered by the hormone. Also, sucrose density-gradient centrifugation analyses of RNA, isolated from diaphragms that had been incubated with growth hormone and uridine, did not reveal any effect of the hormone on the incorporation of tracer into RNA. Thus, while growth hormone added in vitro promptly increases amino acid permeability and protein synthesis in the rat diaphragm, it appears to have no immediate effect on RNA synthesis in this muscle.
Permeability Parametrization Using Higher Order Singular Value Decomposition (HOSVD)

Model reduction is of highly interest in many science and engineering fields where the order of original system is such high that makes it difficult to work with. In fact, model reduction or parametrization defined as reducing the dimensionality of original model to a lower one to make a costly efficient model. In addition, in all history matching problem, in order to reduce the ill-posed ness of the problem, it is necessary to de-correlate the parameters. Proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) as an optimal transformation is widely used in parameterization. To obtain the bases for POD, it is necessary to vectorize the original replicates. Therefore, the higher order statistical information is lost due to slicing the replicates. Another approach that deals with the replicates as they are, is high order singular value decomposition (HOSVD). In the present work permeability maps dimension is reduced using HOSVD image compression method. Unknown permeability maps are also estimated using HOSVD and results of both parts compared to those of SVD.
Cell relationship in a Wistar rat model of spontaneous prostatitis.

Purpose: Prostatitis in men is a painful, noninfectious inflammatory condition. It is similar to interstitial cystitis which is associated with increased bladder mast cell and sensory nerve fiber density as well as suprapubic pain. Certain strains of rats may provide a useful model for studies of the development of spontaneous prostatitis. We evaluated the time course, and involvement of mast cells and sensory nerve fibers in this process using Wistar rats.Materials and Methods: The prostates of 4, 6, 8, 10 and 13-week-old male Wistar rats were examined for the degree of inflammation, innervation, mast cell density and nerve mast cell relationship using histochemical and immunocytochemical studies. Bacterial cultures of tissue were performed at 13 weeks.Results: The inflammatory cell index increased progressively with age. Inflammation was moderate and consisted mostly of lymphocytes and macrophages associated with occasional glandular epithelial necrosis and edema. The density of nerve fibers immunoreact...
Finite cylindrical deformations of a reinforced elastic tube

Abstract We consider the deformation of an elastic and incompressible cylindrical tube of circular cross-section into a cylinder of a given shape under the action of end forces, uniform external pressure and normal forces applied on the inside surface. The outside surface of the undeformed tube is reinforced by a two parameter family of inextensible helical cords. The only restriction imposed on the cross-section of the deformed inside surface is that it has a continuous curvature. The equations are given for the general strain-energy function. Subsequently, it is assumed that the thickness of the tube is small compared to its overall diameter and the solutions to the equations are obtained, to the second order, for a neo-Hookean solid. Since the deformations considered are plane, the analysis is also valid for a Mooney-Rivlin material. Applications to specific boundary value problems are also given.
Exploring hereditary cancer among dying cancer patients--a cross-sectional study of hereditary risk and perceived awareness of DNA testing and banking.

Hereditary cancer assessment at the end of life is a relatively unexplored area, but it could be critical for surviving family members. This study explored the prevalence of hereditary cancer among dying cancer patients and assessed patients’ perceived awareness of DNA testing and/or banking in a public access hospital. Palliative care patients with cancer from a single institution (or their medical-decision-making surrogates for patients unable to answer for themselves) completed structured interviews. Information was collected through medical records review and structured interviews for 43 dying cancer patients. Information for 9 patients was collected from surrogates. Nine patients (21%, 95% CI = 8.8% to 33.1%) had strong genetic risk. Currently available genetic tests could have addressed this risk for several patients. None had previous genetic counseling, testing or DNA banking. Among strong-risk patients, about half of patients/surrogates had heard/read “almost nothing” about genetic testing (44%) and DNA banking (67%). Perceived genetic awareness was not associated with genetic risk, and neither were sociodemographic characteristics. The proportion of hereditary cancer may be at least as high in the palliative care population as in other clinical settings, but awareness and uptake among patients are low. These conditions are not being recognized upstream and families are losing valuable information.
A quality assessment of a Weibull based growth projection system

Abstract Different error budgets were approximated for a Weibull based growth projection system used to develop short- and long-term management plans for even-aged loblolly pine plantations. These budgets were developed as part of a ‘total quality’ program for a medium sized forest products corporation in the United States. The purpose of the assessment was to learn in a systematic and comprehensive fashion about the strengths and weaknesses of the overall system, as well as its components. More than twenty sources of error were considered in the development of the budgets through time. It was found in general that the predictions made with the projection system did not meet the precision standards required by the corporation.
The Stock Market Reaction to Plant Closings

This paper is an event time study of the valuation effects of a sample of eighty‐two permanent plant closings. The traditional approach to project termination decisions suggests that common stock prices should increase around the date on which firms publicly announce the termination of a project. However, the empirical results of this study indicate that, on average, no significant changes in share holder wealth are associated with the closing down of capital assets.
Retention of physician assistants in rural health clinics.

CONTEXT Improvement of rural health care access has been a guiding principle of federal and state policy regarding physician assistants (PAs). PURPOSE To determine the factors that influence autonomous rural PAs (who work less than 8 hours per week with their supervising physician) to remain in remote locations. METHODS A qualitative exploratory study was undertaken in 8 rural Texas towns, including direct observation of clinics, semi-structured interviews with PAs, and focus groups with community residents. FINDINGS The major factors contributing to retention among autonomous rural PAs include: confidence in the ability to provide adequate health care, desire for small-town life, residing in the community, and being involved with the community. Both PAs and residents thought the level of their town's health care was moderately good but could be improved. The clinic allowed easy access for primary care and minor injuries. Town residents and PAs also expressed a desire for major improvements including a pharmacy, visiting specialists, and additional medical equipment. Not all residents sought medical care at the clinic, with some electing to travel to physicians in larger towns. CONCLUSIONS Rural community residents have more confidence in and satisfaction with PAs who have remained in a clinic for several years. In order to increase retention rates, PAs committed to autonomous, rural primary care would benefit from additional training, particularly in emergency medicine, the benefits of community involvement, and adaptation to the local culture.
The effects of control risk and litigation risk on decision aid reliance

Decision aids hold the potential to improve audit quality; yet, immense legal and regulatory pressures on audit firms to improve audit quality could lead to a 'check list' mentality where auditors subordinate their audit judgements for the sake of compliance. Based on an experiment involving 118 audit practitioners, we find that auditors rely more on decision aid recommendations when either litigation risk or internal control risk is high relative to low. When both risks are simultaneously high, we find that litigation risk amplifies the auditors' awareness of legal defensibility, which in turn increases decision aid reliance, even as their confidence in the quality of their judgements deteriorates.
Unhealthy lifestyles among older adults: exploring transitions in Mexico and the US

Lifestyle risk factors are important precursors of old age disease and disability, and the population level impact of these factors likely differs across countries that vary in their economic growth and the attributes of the populations that adopt and abandon unhealthy lifestyles. This paper describes the stage of “lifestyle transition” among older adults in two countries with vastly different trajectories of socio-economic development. A series of hypotheses are proposed on the socioeconomic patterns of health risk factors that would be expected in the two countries, given their economic circumstances and the historical timing of policy interventions that were initiated to mitigate lifestyle risks in these populations. The paper compares the prevalence of smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol, obesity, and lack of physical exercise, as well as the socioeconomic and demographic covariates of these risk factors, among adults aged 55 and older in Mexico and the United States. The findings indicate that smoking- and physical-activity-related transitions toward healthier lifestyles are well under way among older adults in the United States but not in Mexico, whereas a trend toward reduced levels of obesity has just begun in the United States but not in Mexico. There is no evidence of a transition in heavy alcohol drinking in either country among older adults.
Inhibition of hormone-dependent and independent breast cancer cell growth in vivo and in vitro with the antiestrogen toremifene and recombinant human interferon-α2

The antiproliferative action of the antiestrogen toremifene and recombinant human interferon-α2a (IFN-α2a) were examined on human breast cancer cell lines grown in culture and in the athymic mouse.
In Vivo Quantification of Cortical Bone Water with Ultrashort Echo-Time MR Imaging: A New Parameter to Measure Bone Quality?

In this issue of Radiology, Techawiboonwong et al (1) report on a method to quantify water content of cortical bone by using ultrashort echo-time radial magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, which may be used as a surrogate marker for cortical bone porosity. The investigators validated the technique in cortical bone specimens before using it clinically at the tibial midshaft in healthy pre- and postmenopausal women and in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis. In vitro, the investigators found excellent agreement with cortical water assessed with an isotope exchange experiment. In vivo, substantial differences in cortical bone water between the three subject groups wore found.
Linear Analogues of Acid- and Ester-Terminated Polyamido Dendrimers: Design, Syntheses, and Physical Properties

The synthesis of linear, unnatural amines and carboxylic acids, based on amide connectivity and possessing identical repeat unit architecture to that of analogous dendrimers, was undertaken to assess and compare their physical characteristics. For the series, unexpected insoluble behavior was observed at low molecular weights in contrast to their branched counterparts or other known linear dendritic analogs. Molecular modeling suggests a high degree of intra- and intermolecular H-bonding for the series. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2003)
Strength and vulnerability after Egypt's Arab Spring uprisings

Following the revolts that unseated Hosni Mubarak in February 2011, a contradictory discourse has emerged in which Egyptians imagine themselves to be resilient in body and spirit but also enfeebled by years of political corruption and state negligence. During the mass protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square, the regime's orchestrated violence neither crushed the movement nor provoked activists to abandon their vow of peaceful protest. However, Egyptians’ pride in the physical and moral resilience that enabled this feat is infused with an understanding of its fragility; many face vulnerabilities to disease within the context of environmental toxins, malnutrition, and a broken, overtaxed health care system. And they mourn the deterioration of moral principles and values after years of brutal oppression and social injustice. These conflicting views—of vitality and vulnerability—have led to a dizzying oscillation between optimism and despair; even as people celebrate the accomplishments of the uprisings, they are also keenly aware of the formidable challenges that lie ahead. [Egypt, revolution, Arab Spring, political awakening, Mubarak, doctors]
Posterior Amalgam Restorations—Usage, Regulation, and Longevity

The use of dental amalgam has declined, but in most of the world, amalgam is the most widely used and widely taught direct restorative material for load-bearing posterior restorations. There are few national regulations on the use of amalgam; however, there are several nations where few amalgam restorations are placed. Long-term studies have shown that under optimum conditions, posterior restorations of amalgam and resin composite last longer than reported previously and that amalgam restorations outlast composite restorations. In general practice settings, posterior amalgam and composite restorations both have lower longevities.
Differential Object Marking in Child and Adult Spanish Heritage Speakers

We report the results of two studies that investigate the factors contributing to non-native-like ability in child and adult heritage speakers by focusing on oral production of Differential Object Marking (DOM), the overt morphological marking of animate direct objects in Spanish. In study 1, 39 school-age bilingual children (ages 6–17) from the United States and 20 monolingual children from Mexico completed a Story Retelling Task and a Picture Description Task. In study 2, 64 young adult heritage speakers (ages 18–25), 23 adult immigrants to the United States (ages 40–60), and 40 native speakers from Mexico (ages 18–60) completed the same oral tasks. Results showed significant rates of omission of DOM in animate direct objects in all the experimental groups from the United States and ceiling performance in the groups from Mexico (both children and adults). We discuss how the combined effects of reduced input, potential attrition in the first generation of immigrants, incomplete acquisition in the second ...
Measuring Solar Magnetism

The importance of magnetic fields in astrophysical processes has long been recognized. A thriving field of research is centered on the life cycle (the creation, evolution, and destruction) of magnetic fields in astrophysical plasmas, and prominently in solar physics. The discovery by Hale in 1908 that sunspots are associated with strong magnetic fields ( 1 ) spurred advances in spectroscopy, polarimetry, instrument development, and research into solar magnetism. Magnetism is now known to be the key to most unsolved problems in solar physics, including the 11-year activity cycle, chromospheric and coronal heating, flares, coronal mass ejections, and space weather. Even though more than a century has passed since the discovery of magnetism in the solar atmosphere, these measurements remain difficult.
Pre- and post-conjugate vaccine epidemiology of pneumococcal serotype 6C invasive disease and carriage within Navajo and White Mountain Apache communities.

Background. A second-generation 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, PCV13, was recently licensed. Although PCV13 includes serotype 6A, the usefulness of that antigen may be limited by the emergence of a new serotype, 6C, which was identified among isolates initially characterized (Quellung reaction) as serotype 6A. The epidemiology of serotype 6C prior to and after 7-valent PCV (PCV7) introduction is incompletely understood. Methods. We analyzed conventionally serotyped 6A (CS6A) pneumococci from invasive disease case patients of all ages and carriage isolates from children and adults obtained in population-based studies among Navajo and White Mountain Apache communities during 1994-2009. Samples were tested by triplex polymerase chain reaction to resolve serotypes 6C and 6A. Results. A total of 74 invasive CS6A episodes occurred. All were retyped by polymerase chain reaction; 40 (54.1%) were serotype 6C. The mean annual incidence of serotype 6C invasive disease was 0.3 (95% confidence interval, 0.03-0.9), 0.7 (95% confidence interval, 0.2-1.3), and 1.5 (95% confidence interval, 1.0-2.1) cases per 100,000 population in the years prior to the PCV7 efficacy trial, during the time the PCV7 trial was conducted, and following PCV7 introduction and routine use, respectively (P = .01). In the routine vaccination era, 76% of invasive CS6As were serotype 6C; nearly all cases occurred in adults. The proportion of serotype 6C among CS6A carriage isolates increased from 42% to 61% to 94% in the prevaccine, early vaccine, and routine vaccination eras, respectively. Conclusion. In the PCV7 routine use era, virtually all serogroup 6 invasive pneumococcal disease and carriage strains among Navajo and White Mountain Apache communities are 6C. Monitoring and evaluation of this and other emerging serotypes among invasive disease and carriage isolates is warranted.
Good Reads in Psychology: Recommended Books beyond the Required Textbook:

In both introductory and upper division psychology courses, recommended books may be successfully used to supplement required textbook assignments. Several approaches to the compilation of a recomm...
Monkeys in space: Primate neural data suggest volumetric representations

The target article does not consider neural data on primate spatial representations, which we suggest provide grounds for believing that navigational space may be three-dimensional rather than quasi-two-dimensional. Furthermore, we question the authors' interpretation of rat neurophysiological data as indicating that the vertical dimension may be encoded in a neural structure separate from the two horizontal dimensions.
Characterization of the nuclear export adaptor protein Nmd3 in association with the 60S ribosomal subunit

The nucleocytoplasmic shuttling protein Nmd3 is an adaptor for export of the 60S ribosomal subunit from the nucleus. Nmd3 binds to nascent 60S subunits in the nucleus and recruits the export receptor Crm1 to facilitate passage through the nuclear pore complex. In this study, we present a cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) reconstruction of the 60S subunit in complex with Nmd3 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The density corresponding to Nmd3 is directly visible in the cryo-EM map and is attached to the regions around helices 38, 69, and 95 of the 25S ribosomal RNA (rRNA), the helix 95 region being adjacent to the protein Rpl10. We identify the intersubunit side of the large subunit as the binding site for Nmd3. rRNA protection experiments corroborate the structural data. Furthermore, Nmd3 binding to 60S subunits is blocked in 80S ribosomes, which is consistent with the assigned binding site on the subunit joining face. This cryo-EM map is a first step toward a molecular understanding of the functional role and release mechanism of Nmd3.
Allocating applications in distributed computing

We can use grid computing and virtualization to distribute computing applications on the Internet, letting a collection of interconnected servers host a set of applications to balance the processing load and improve performance. An important question is which applications to assign to which servers so we can meet the applications' quality of service (QoS) goals, given the servers' bandwidth and capacity constraints. In this column, the author precisely defines the problem and discusses a solution through a motivating numerical example.
Scientific and Religious Metaphors

For quite some time, critics have attacked religious language on the grounds that theologians employed metaphors that were irreducible.1 By irreducible, they meant metaphors that could not be paraphrased in literal language. And any such language that could not be reduced to words that can be taken in a literal sense, would be devoid of cognitive meaning or truth value. Since theologians claimed that statements like 'God is love' cannot be reduced to a literal sense without robbing the concept of God of its trans cendent status, sceptics replied that such failures merely indicated the meaninglessness of religious language. Or, if apologists did assert that 'God is love' can be paraphrased by statements describing the love of one man for another, the sceptic claimed that such a move reduced religious language to anthropological language where terms like 'God' were superfluous. Critics argued that metaphors of religion posed the following dilemma: either religious metaphors could not be reduced to literal paraphrases and were, therefore, meaningless; or, religious metaphors could be reduced to literal paraphrases, but the method by which they were reduced eliminated the necessity for theological terminology. Like most dilemmas, a solution can be found by rejecting one of the horns, in this case, the first one. The assertion that metaphors which cannot be reduced to a literal statement are meaningless is based upon the assumption that metaphors used in everyday language and in science can be reduced, and it is this reduction that justifies these metaphors as meaningful. And there certainly are numerous metaphors that appear in ordinary discourse, and, while they are new and startling when first used, they become common place after a time. When someone first said, 'he was struck by her likeness to Jane', the audience probably was surprised by the use of 'struck' for the literal meaning of this word once was 'to hit' or 'touch with force'. Although at the beginning a misuse, gradually through continued utterance, the word 'struck' came to mean 'affect emotionally' as well as 'to hit'. When we are no longer startled, 'to be struck by a resemblance' has become a dead metaphor and may be considered to be part of ordinary discourse. Since science is considered to be composed of meaningful language, the pre sumption is often made that its metaphors are similarly reducible to ordinary
Monounsaturated Versus Polyunsaturated Dietary Fat and Serum Lipids A Meta-analysis

The objective of this study was to examine whether oils high in monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats have a differential effect on serum lipid levels, using a meta-analytical approach. Fourteen studies (1983 through 1994) were identified that met six inclusion criteria, the primary criterion being that a study have at least two intervention diets that varied in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat content but were otherwise similar in total fat, saturated fat, fiber, and dietary cholesterol. Seven studies included a comparable high-saturated fat diet. Standardized effect sizes observed treatment difference in mean end-point lipid levels, divided by the pooled (SD) were calculated for individual studies, then individual effect sizes were pooled. The results indicated no significant differences in total, LDL, or HDL cholesterol levels when oils high in monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats were compared directly. Triglyceride levels were modestly but consistently lower on the diets high in polyunsaturated fats (P = .05). Replacement of saturated fat with either monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fat led to significant decreases in total and LDL cholesterol (P < .001), and the pooled effect sizes were comparable for either type of unsaturate (effect sizes ranged from -0.64 to -0.68, ie, roughly a decrease of 0.65 mmol/L [25 mg/dL] relative to the high-saturated fat diets). Neither type of unsaturated fat significantly changed HDL cholesterol or triglyceride levels relative to the high-saturated fat diets. In conclusion, the evidence from this meta-analysis strongly indicates there is no significant difference in LDL or HDL cholesterol levels when oils high in either monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats are exchanged in the diet. Any dietary recommendations for the use of one in preference to the other should be based on outcomes other than serum cholesterol levels.
Impact of Governance, Legal System and Economic Freedom on Foreign Investment in the MENA Region

While there is substantial literature examining the flow of foreign investments into various regions of the world, there is still lack of research focus on foreign investment activities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). One objective of this paper is to remedy this neglect and extend previous empirical work by focusing on foreign investments in that region. The second objective is to focus on non-traditional determinants that have tended to be overlooked or underestimated in previous research. The paper will focus on factors such as governance, legal environment, and economic freedom and examine their impact on foreign investment activities in the MENA region.
Instrumentation for biomedical and environmental applications based on microtechnology: lessons learned

Over the last ten years, LLNL has been developing Microtechnology for instrumentation with applications in the biosciences and environment. In order to build and field high-performance instruments, they have often had to alter their original premises and assumptions, significantly. This meant that they were forced to abandon materials and dimensions that were appealing to them when they began the R and D. Examples include work on silicon-based electrophoresis systems, etched-fluidics for sample/sheath flow nozzles in flow cytometers, and polymerase-chain-reaction thermal-cycling chambers based on silicon-nitride. This presentation discusses these and their work on other devices and instruments.
Determining the Relative Importance of Predictors in Logistic Regression: An Extension of Relative Weight Analysis:

Techniques such as dominance analysis and relative weight analysis have been proposed recently to evaluate more accurately predictor importance in ordinary least squares (OLS) regression. Similar q...
Nephrology co-management versus primary care solo management for early chronic kidney disease: a retrospective cross-sectional analysis

Background: Primary care physicians (PCPs) typically manage early chronic kidney disease (CKD), but recent guidelines recommend nephrology co-management for some patients with stage 3 CKD and all patients with stage 4 CKD. We sought to compare quality of care for co-managed patients to solo managed patients. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional analysis. Patients included in the study were adults who visited a PCP during 2009 with laboratory evidence of CKD in the preceding two years, defined as two estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) between 15–59 mL/min/1.73 m 2 separated by 90 days. We assessed process measures (serum eGFR test, urine protein/albumin test, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker [ACE/ARB] prescription, and several tests monitoring for complications) and intermediate clinical outcomes (mean blood pressure and blood pressure control) and performed subgroup analyses by CKD stage. Results: Of 3118 patients, 11 % were co-managed by a nephrologist. Co-management was associated with younger age (69 vs. 74 years), male gender (46 % vs. 34 %), minority race/ethnicity (black 32 % vs. 22 %; Hispanic 13 % vs. 8 %), hypertension (75 %v s. 66 %),diabetes (42 % vs. 26 %), and more PCP visits (5.0 vs. 3.9; p 0.50) or blood pressure control. A subgroup analysis of Stage 4 CKD patients did not show a significant association between co-management and ACE/ARB prescription (80 % vs. 73 %, p=0.26). Conclusion: For stage 3 and 4 CKD patients, nephrology co-management was associated with increased stage-appropriate monitoring and ACE/ARB prescribing, but not improved blood pressure control.
LABORATORY ASTROPHYSICS EXPERIMENTS FOR SIMULATION CODE VALIDATION: A CASE STUDY

The growing field of Laboratory Astrophysics seeks to study the extreme environments found in many astrophysical events in the controlled setting of a laboratory. In addition to the opportunity to perform basic research into the nature and properties of materials in astrophysical environments, laboratory astrophysics experiments serve beautifully for validating calculations performed by simulation codes designed to model astrophysical phenomena. I present results from our ongoing validation effort for FLASH, a parallel adaptive-mesh hydrodynamics code for the compressible, reactive flows of astrophysical environments. The first test case is a laser-driven shock propagating though a multilayer target introducing Rayleigh-Taylor and Richtmyer-Meshkov fluid instabilities at the material interfaces. The second is an accelerating fluid interface that is subject to the Rayleigh-Taylor instability. We found good agreement between simulations and experiment for the multilayer target case, but disagreement between experiment and simulation in the Rayleigh-Taylor case. I discuss our findings and possible reasons for the disagreement.
Physicians as Good Samaritans. Should they receive immunity for their negligence when responding to hospital emergencies

(1999). Physicians as good Samaritans. Journal of Legal Medicine: Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 157-193.
Brain stem blood flow, pupillary response, and outcome in patients with severe head injuries.

OBJECTIVE: Acute pupillary dilation in a head-injured patient is a neurological emergency. Pupil dilation is thought to be the result of uncal herniation causing mechanical compression of the IIIrd cranial nerve and subsequent brain stem compromise. However, not all patients with herniation have fixed and dilated pupils, and not all patients with nonreactive, enlarged pupils have uncal herniation. Therefore, we have tested an alternative hypothesis that a decrease in brain stem blood flow (BBF) is a more frequent cause of mydriasis and brain stem symptomatology after severe head injury. We determined the relation of BBF to outcome and pupillary response in patients with severe head injuries. METHODS: One hundred sixty-two patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 8 or less underwent stable xenon computed tomographic blood flow determination at the level of the superior colliculus, and this blood flow was correlated with pupillary features, intracranial pressure, computed tomographic scan pathology, and outcome. RESULTS: A BBF of less than 40 ml/100 g/min was significantly associated with poor outcome (P < 0.009). In patients with bilaterally nonreactive pupils, the BBF was 30.5+/-16.8 ml/100 g/min, and in those with normally reactive pupils, the BBF was 43.8+/-18.7 ml/100 g/min (P < 0.001). Intracranial pressure and the presence of a brain stem lesion observed on the computed tomographic scan did not correlate with BBF, pupillary size, or reactivity. Unfavorable outcome at 12 months was directly related to age (P = 0.062) and inversely related to pupillary responsiveness (P = 0.0006), pupil size (P = 0.005), and BBF of less than 40 ml/100 g/min (P = 0.009). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that pupillary dilation is associated with decreased BBF and that ischemia, rather than mechanical compression of the IIIrd cranial nerve, is an important causal factor. More important, pupil dilation may be an indicator of ischemia of the brain stem. If cerebral blood flow and cerebral perfusion pressure can be rapidly restored in the patient with severe head injury who has dilated pupils, the prognosis may be good.
Postmenopausal women with minimal trauma fractures are unapprised of the existence of low bone mass or osteoporosis

Objectives: To explore barriers to medical care for osteoporosis following a minimal trauma fracture (MTF). MTFs occur from a fall while in a seated, recumbent or standing position; during normal walking, or from a height less than 4 feet. Methods: Prospective study and focus groups of women with MTF performed in Chicago from June to December of 2003. Study protocol approved by Institutional Review Board (IRB) and all participants signed consent forms. Focus groups were audiotaped and transcribed, transcripts analyzed using Atlas.ti. Survey results analyzed with SPSS 11.5. Results: Twenty nine participants recruited with average age of 74 ± 16 years. MTF occurred at the mean age of 61 ± 8 years, with fifteen (15/29) reporting more that one prior MTF. The age distribution was 40–49 years 2 (2/29) participants, 50–59 years 2 (2/29), 60–69 years 6 (6/29), 70–79 years 10 (10/29), 80 and above 9 (9/29). Most participants (21/29, 70%) reported knowledge about osteoporosis obtained from written media. Osteoporotic fractures were rated on a single item Likert Scale (1 = not important to 5 = most important) as 2.5 (compared with breast cancer 2.3, and myocardial infarction 2.8). Half (16/29) had osteoporosis counseling with their PCP and 9 were receiving medications for bone loss. We observed a positive correlation between osteoporosis counseling and BMD testing (r = 0.6, p < 0.001), and a trend toward osteoporosis treatment (r = 0.372, p = 0.09). Half of the participants had reported the occurrence of MTF to their PCP (14/29), however this did not lead to counseling, BMD testing (r = 0.07, p = 0.78), or treatment (r = −0.14, p = 0.53). None of the women believed that low BMD or osteoporosis had contributed to their fracture. Women studied believed that they were “too young” (12/29) to have osteoporosis. Conclusion: Women are not receiving adequate information about osteoporosis; they remain unaware of the connection between MTFs and osteoporosis. Post-menopausal women with MTF do not identify osteoporosis as a cause for the fracture, may exhibit ageism and thereby fail to seek adequate medical care. © 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
The Relationship Between Specific Capacity and Aquifer Transmissibility in the Houston Area, Texas

Water well drillers gather information essential to recovery tests as part of normal procedure. Added effort could yield additional valuable information. More care in measurement of water levels both before and after a period of pumping can be used with ground-water formulae to determine approximate well efficiency. A relationship exists between the ability of an aquifer to perform (transmissibility) and the specific capacity of a well. By means of pumping tests, both transmissibility and specific capacity may be measured. The theoretical specific capacity can be obtained based on the measured transmissibility. Well efficiency may be estimated from a comparison between measured specific capacity and theoretical specific capacity. Tests of wells owned by the City of Houston, Texas, were selected for analysis. Test results were compared with curves showing theoretical relationships. From the comparison, wells in the Houston area are not completely developed. It may not be economical to develop a well to 100 percent efficiency, but theoretical relationships should be used in well development.
Detection of Prostaglandins in Bovine Gingival Tissue

Lipids were extracted from bovine gingival tissues and examined by thin-layer chromatography and ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy for the presence of prostaglandins. Results indicated that these tissues contained a variety of prostaglandins, including PGE1, PGE2, PGF2, and certain of their metabolites.
Transcriptional mapping of the varicella-zoster virus regulatory genes encoding open reading frames 4 and 63

Four of the 68 varicella-zoster virus (VZV) unique open reading frames (ORFs), i.e., ORFs 4, 61, 62, and 63, encode proteins that influence viral transcription and are considered to be positional homologs of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) immediate-early (IE) proteins. In order to identify the elements that regulate transcription of VZV ORFs 4 and 63, the encoded mRNAs were mapped in detail. For ORF 4, a major 1.8-kb and a minor 3.0-kb polyadenylated [poly(A)+] RNA were identified, whereas ORF 63-specific probes recognized 1.3- and 1.9-kb poly(A)+ RNAs. Probes specific for sequences adjacent to the ORFs and mapping of the RNA 3' ends indicated that the ORF 4 RNAs were 3' coterminal, whereas the RNAs for ORF 63 represented two different termination sites. S1 nuclease mapping and primer extension analyses indicated a single transcription initiation site for ORF 4 at 38 bp upstream of the ORF start codon. For ORF 63, multiple transcriptional start sites at 87 to 95, 151 to 153, and (tentatively) 238 to 243 bp upstream of the ORF start codon were identified. TATA box motifs at good positional locations were found upstream of all mapped transcription initiation sites. However, no sequences resembling the TAATGARAT motif, which confers IE regulation upon HSV-1 IE genes, were found. The finding of the absence of this motif was supported through analyses of the regulatory sequences of ORFs 4 and 63 in transient transfection assays alongside those of ORFs 61 and 62. Sequences representing the promoters for ORFs 4, 61, and 63 were all stimulated by VZV infection but failed to be stimulated by coexpression with the HSV-1 transactivator Vmw65. In contrast, the promoter for ORF 62, which contains TAATGARAT motifs, was activated by VZV infection and coexpression with Vmw65. These results extend the transcriptional knowledge for VZV and suggest that ORFs 4 and 63 contain regulatory signals different from those of the ORF 62 and HSV-1 IE genes.
Effect of various adrenal steroids on plasma magnesium and the electrocardiogram of adrenalectomized dogs.

Plasma Mg increases in adrenal insufficiency and remains elevated for several days after plasma K and other electrolytes have returned to normal and symptoms have disappeared under medication with adrenal steroids such as 2-methyl-9α-fluorohydrocortisone, aldosterone and desoxycorticosterone. Electrocardiographic changes commonly occur in adrenal insufficiency and cardiac arrythymia may be severe enough to cause collapse and death. These disturbances arc generally assumed to be due to hyperkalemia per se but other factors such as low plasma Na, Cl and plasma volume plus high plasma Mg may be involved along with increased plasma K in inducing the cardiac irregularities. The effect of the various steroids upon water and electrolyte shifts are also discussed.
QUALITY ISSUES IN UNDERGRADUATE ENGINEERING EDUCATION

The quality of undergraduate engineering education is at the center of the discussion on global competitiveness and innovation. Engineering schools in the United States are being compelled to evaluate the quality of their “products”, and to redesign them to meet or exceed the expectations of their constituents. Any effort aimed at redesigning an engineering curriculum must begin with an understanding of the gap that exists between the present and desired input into the educational process. This gap is manifested in the form of the following key components: i) The Curriculum, ii) Teaching Quality, iii) Faculty Quality, iv) Support Services, v) Advising Quality, vi) Accreditation Standards, and vii) Undergraduate Faculty. The gap between the present and desired input is largely responsible for a second gap between the present and desired output. The concept of Total Quality Management (TQM) can be of great benefit to reform-minded engineering schools. This paper seeks to establish congruency between the needs of engineering schools and the ultimate goals of TQM. If engineering schools are to fulfil their academic and professional objectives, they must pay attention to the needs of their constituents, particularly the students, employers of its graduates, and the faculty.
Commentary to 'vesicoureteral reflux in children with urachal anomalies'.

Several questions come to mind when reviewing this paper, one being whether a VCUG is helpful or even necessary in the management of an urachal anomaly. But the only important question raised by this paper is not asked: What is the management of incidentally discovered VUR? The answer is not yet known, but I do not believe this paper, or any other, supports the notion that a population of asymptomatic children with a potentially higher incidence of VUR requires radiologic identification and treatment. What is the best management protocol to recommend to these patients or, put another way, what is the exit strategy? Soon the RIVUR