cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular Pathways: The Metabolic Regulator Estrogen-Related Receptor α as a Therapeutic Target in Cancer

The Estrogen Related Receptor alpha (ERRα) is an orphan member of the nuclear receptor superfamily of transcription factors whose activity is regulated by the expression level and/or activity of its obligate coregulators, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha and beta (PGC-1α or PGC-1β). Under normal physiological conditions, and in responding to different environmental stimuli, the ERRα/PGC-1 complex is involved in regulating metabolic homeostasis under conditions of high energy demand in brown adipocytes, proliferating T-cells and in muscle. Interestingly, increased expression/activity of the ERRα/PGC-1 axis has also been shown to correlate with unfavorable clinical outcome in both breast and ovarian tumors. The observation that ERRα activity is manifest in all breast tumor sub-types with particularly high activity being evident in ERα-negative, HER2 positive and triple negative breast cancers has raised significant interest in targeting this receptor for the treatment of those breast cancers where therapeutic options are limited.
Wind-Powered Wheel Locomotion, Initiated by Leaping Somersaults, in Larvae of the Southeastern Beach Tiger Beetle (Cicindela dorsalis media)

Rapid movement is challenging for elongate, soft-bodied animals with short or no legs. Leaping is known for only a few animals with this “worm-like” morphology. Wheel locomotion, in which the animal's entire body rolls forward along a central axis, has been reported for only a handful of animals worldwide. Here we present the first documented case of wind-powered wheel locomotion, in larvae of the coastal tiger beetle Cicindela dorsalis media. When removed from their shallow burrows, larvae easily can be induced to enter a behavioral sequence that starts with leaping; while airborne, larvae loop their body into a rotating wheel and usually either “hit the ground rolling” or leap again. The direction larvae wheel is closely related to the direction in which winds are blowing; thus, all our larvae wheeled up-slope, as winds at our study site consistently blew from sea to land. Stronger winds increased both the proportion of larvae wheeling, and the distance traveled, exceeding 60 m in some cases. In addition, the proportion of larvae that wheel and the distance traveled by wheeling larvae are significantly greater on smooth sandy beaches than on beach surfaces made rough and irregular by pedestrian, equestrian, and vehicular traffic. Like other coastal species of tiger beetles, C. dorsalis media has suffered major declines in recent years that are clearly correlated with increased human impacts. The present study suggests that the negative effects of beach traffic may be indirect, preventing larvae from escaping from predators using wheel locomotion by disrupting the flat, hard surface necessary for efficient wheeling.
Role of laminin autoantibodies on the embryo toxicity of sera from mercuric chloride treated brown Norway rats

Abstract In previous studies, antilaminin antibodies were found to be toxic to cultured rat embryos. In order to extend these studies, Brown Norway rats were treated with mercuric chloride, which led to the production of laminin autoantibodies. Sera samples from Brown Norway rats treated with mercuric chloride were found to be teratogenic as well as lethal to cultured rat embryos. This embryotoxicity was not associated with sera mercury levels, but was related to the levels of antilaminin antibodies in sera. Affinity purified laminin antibodies from these mercuric chloride treated Brown Norway rats, when added to control sera, were found to be teratogenic but not lethal. These antibodies were found to bind to the laminin sequences IKVAV (A chain) and YIGSR (B1 chain), but not RGD (A chain) or YD (B1 chain). These observations suggested the possibility that an environmental pollutant such as mercury could cause the formation of embryotoxic autoantibodies that could persist in the body as embryotoxic factors for extended periods of time.
Thriving with low vision: an editorial

This is an editorial, based on the introductory lecture and case reports given in the June 2005, Vision Enhancing Technology conference at West Virginia University.
Diisopropyl tartrate modified (E)-γ-[(cyclohexyloxy)dimethylsilyl]- and (E)-γ-(dimethylphenylsilyl)allylboronates: Chiral Reagents for the Enantio- and Diastereoselective synthesis of anti 1,2-diols and 2-butene-1,4-diols via the formal α- and γ-hydroxyallylation of aldehydes

Abstract Enantioselective synthesis of 4-substituted (E)-2-butene-1,4-diols and anti 1,2-diols are described. Highly diastereoselective reactions of aldehydes and the chiral PhMe 2 Si- and (C 6 H 11 O)Me 2 Si- substituted allylboronates 25 and 26 provide anti homoallylic 29 and 50 , respectively. Epoxidation of 29 with dimethyl dioxirane followed by acid catalyzed Petersen rearrangement of the intermediate epoxysilanols provides butene-1,4-diols 27 with excellent enantioselectivity (81–87% e.e.). Tamao oxidation of 50 provides anti diols 22 (64–72% e.e). These procedures give excellent results especially in matched double asymmetric reactions with a range of oxygenated, chiral aldehydes (Figures 1 and 2). These methods promise to find application in diastereoselective syntheses of carbohydrates from acyclic precursors.
The Effects of Graphics and Cognitive Style on Managerial Decision Making

This article describes an experiment that examined the effects of two versus three-dimensional graphs for two modes of information presentation, paper or computer, for a managerial decision-making problem. The effects of these variables on the problem solving strategies and cognitive styles of experienced and non-experienced decision makers were also examined. The experimental results indicated that solution times were faster for computer than for paper presentations of information, no significant effects for dimensionality were found, and there was no significant correlation between solution time and cognitive styles (visual acuity, Myers-Briggs test) across modes of information presentation.
Determination of eight biogenic amines in selected seafood products by MSPD extraction followed by UHPLC-Orbitrap MS ☆

Abstract A quantitative method was previously explored in canned and frozen tuna utilizing matrix solid-phase dispersion for extraction of agmatine, cadaverine, histamine, phenyethylamine, putrescine, tryptamine, tyramine, and urocanic acid with separation and quantification of these compounds by ultra-high performance hydrophilic interaction chromatography (UHPLC-HILIC) with orbitrap mass spectrometric detection. In the current work, the method was extended onto analysis of biogenic amines in non-tuna food matrices known to be associated with scombroid poisoning, including canned/frozen mackerel and frozen mahi–mahi. For method applicability across a wider range of sample types, a non-scombroid species, sockeye salmon, as well as a Thai fish sauce made with anchovy, were also tested. The method was validated with respect to accuracy, repeatability, linearity, and limits of detection and quantitation for all eight analytes in each of these sample types. Recoveries fell in the 80–109% range, percent relative standard deviation ranged from 0.2 to 9.5%, and correlation coefficients for linear regressions were not less than 0.9951 for all samples and analytes. Limits of detection and quantitation were found to be appropriate for the analysis for each sample and analyte combination.
Cardiovascular disease in women: Gender-specific aspects of hypertension and the consequences of treatment

The epidemiology, clinical course, response to treatment, and ultimate outcome of essential hypertension vary as a function of gender. Three early trials on hypertension reported an increase in all-cause mortality in treated white women compared with black women or with men of both races. Later studies, however, suggest that drug therapy has similar and beneficial effects in hypertensive men and women. Women may tolerate hypertension better than do men. Diastolic hypertension correlates with higher mortality from coronary artery disease in men than in women. Special considerations apply to treating the hypertensive woman. Use of oral contraceptives may precipitate or accentuate the problem. In contrast, in the postmenopausal female, estrogen replacement may actually improve hypertension, via several mechanisms. These include the impact of the hormone on vasomotricity, its enhancement of baroreceptor sensitivity, and its impact on the hyperinsulinemia characteristic of menopause. Treatment of hypertension must be individualized with respect to gender. More data on the consequences of treatment of women with hypertension are needed, particularly longterm studies to assess the impact of treatment on mortality.
Accuracy of FDG-PET in Gastric Cancer. Preliminary Experience.

OBJECTIVE: Currently available imaging modalities, including CT, ultrasound, and MRI are unsatisfactory in the detection of metastatic gastric cancer, especially lymph node metastases and peritoneal spread. The aim of this study is to evaluate FDG-PET in the diagnosis of primary as well as metastatic gastric cancer.METHOD: All patients (18M/5F; mean age 62, range 33-81) with gastric cancer referred for FDG-PET scan from 1/1/97 to 3/20/98 were studied. PET images of the neck, chest, and abdomen were acquired using a dedicated whole body scanner. A final diagnosis was reached in 21 patients by histology, surgical findings, or clinical follow-up.RESULTS: All but 1 primary tumor (12 out of 13) and both cases with local recurrence showed a high degree of FDG uptake, with mean SUV of 8.9 (range 4.8-17.6). The one false negative (FN) occurred in a poorly controlled diabetic with blood sugar of >400 at the time of study. Six cases with prior gastrectomy were true negative (TN) in the region of the stomach. This translates to a sensitivity of 93%, specificity of 100%, and accuracy of 95% for the primary site. In contrast, for intra-abdominal lymph node (LN) stations PET was true positive (TP) in 2, FN in 7, false positive (FP) in 1, and TN in 32, yielding a sensitivity of 22% and accuracy of 81%. PET detected only 2 out of 9 perigastric lymph node metastases. For the 8 patients in this series who had documented M1 disease, PET detected two with liver metastasis, one with colon metastasis, and one with submandibular LN. However, four cases of peritoneal spread were missed.CONCLUSION: FDG-PET is highly sensitive in detecting the primary lesion in gastric cancer and shows promise in the detection of liver and extra-abdominal metastasis. However, PET appears limited in the detection of perigastric lymphadenopathy as distinct from the primary tumor and in assessing peritoneal spread. Our preliminary assessment suggests that staging of gastric cancer with FDG-PET scanning is relatively effective at detecting distant metastatic disease and will complement standard staging methods such as laparoscopy, which are more effective at staging local nodal spread and peritoneal disease.
Grazing in a California silvopastoral system: effects of defoliation season, intensity, and frequency on deerbrush, Ceanothus integerrimus Hook. & Arn.

When understory species that suppress tree growth are preferred by livestock to tree species, selective herbivory has practical application for forest or woodland management as part of a silvopastoral agroforestry system. Results of two studies of the prescriptive application of selective grazing designed to suppress growth of a common understory shrub, deerbrush (Ceanothus integerrimus Hook. & Am.), to favor growth of conifer species are presented. Grazing for vegetation manipulation requires the same information needed to apply any chemical or mechanical method: knowledge of the effective timing, frequency, and intensity of application, and the selectivity of impact. The first study, a two-year series of grazing trials, examined the degree of cattle preference for deerbrush as compared to conifers, and response of deerbrush to grazing on a forest site. The second, a three-year study based on grazing trial results, used clipping to examine the specifics of deerbrush response to patterns of herbivory. Deerbrush was highly preferred by cattle in the grazing trials. Even at 90% utilization of the shrubs, no conifers were browsed. High degrees of utilization did not suppress shrub growth in the grazing trials. The clipping study found deerbrush significantly responsive to frequency and intensity of defoliation (P 0.1). High intensity, frequent grazing is required to suppress the shrub. Intermediate prescriptions can be used to manage for various combinations of wildlife, timber, or forage-related objectives. These results and methods are applicable to any silvopastoral system where prescriptive grazing is used in conjunction with tree crops.
Insulin "inhibition" of gluconeogenesis by stimulation of protein synthesis.

Abstract The effect of insulin on gluconeogenesis in diabetic rabbits has been studied by measurement of both pool size and specific activity of alanine, lactate, glucose, and protein during the infusion of labeled alanine, acetate, glycerol, and lactate. Insulin administration causes an immediate net drop in the pool sizes of alanine, lactate, glucose, pyruvate, and glycerol. The radioactivity of tracer alanine is found to be shunted from glucose to protein on insulin administration concurrent with the fall in the plasma levels of three-carbon compounds measured. This is consistent with the net pool size experiments and suggests that the major carbon flow is directed away from glucose toward protein synthesis by insulin. The recovery of most of the counts from alanine which did not go into glucose in protein also supports the proposition that the major effect of insulin on gluconeogenesis is to stimulate protein synthesis. Further experiments with [14C]acetate which can be only incorporated into glucose through the activity of PC and PEPCK show that although its incorporation into protein is increased significantly by insulin its incorporation into glucose is unaffected. All these results are consistent with the conclusion that insulin “inhibits” gluconeogenesis by stimulating resynthesis of amino acids into protein before they are converted to glucose. In this way insulin modulates hyperglycemia induced by gluconeogenetic hormones.
The association of vitamin D use with hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia in hemodialysis patients: a case-crossover study.

Purpose Elevated levels of phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca) have been shown in observational studies to be associated with an increased risk of adverse clinical outcomes including mortality. Vitamin D sterols have been shown to increase the risk of hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia in clinical trials. We sought to explore these risks in real-world clinical practice. Methods We employed a case–crossover design, which eliminates confounding by non-time-varying patient characteristics by comparing, within each patient, vitamin D doses before the event with those at an earlier period. Using this method, we estimated the risk of hypercalcemic (Ca ≥ 11 g/dL) and hyperphosphatemic (P ≥ 8 g/dL) events for patients at different dose quartiles of vitamin D relative to patients not on a vitamin D sterol. Results There was a dose-dependent association between vitamin D dose quartile and risk of hypercalcemia or hyperphosphatemia. In adjusted analyses, each increase in vitamin D quartile was associated with a multiple of hypercalcemia risk between 1.7 and 19 times compared with those not on vitamin D and a multiple of hyperphosphatemia risk between 1.8 and 4. Conclusion Use of vitamin D sterols is associated with an increased risk of hypercalcemic and hyperphosphatemic events in real-world clinical practice. Other potential predictors of these events, such as phosphate binder use and dialysate Ca levels, were not examined in this analysis. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Radical Behaviorism in Organizations: Misconceptions in the Locke-Gray Debate

The authors examine how behaviorism has been studied as a theory of human behavior. They set forth their argument of radical behaviorism in organizations and discuss some of the misconceptions of Locke in his examination of behaviorism. They examines these issues in four categories; Locke's interpretation of behavior modification, epiphenomenalism, rejection of introspection and determinism. They also address the work of psychologist B. F. Skinner and examine his views on behaviorism. The authors believe that there exists a great deal of misunderstanding over radical behaviorism and aim to clear up what they see as the most fundamental issues.
Termination Revisited: American Indians on the Trail to Self-Determination, 1933-1953

"Termination Revisited": 'In this essential contribution to twentieth-century Native history, Kenneth R. Philp reassesses the controversial and ultimately failed federal policy of termination. In the years after World War II, federal policy toward the Indian reservation system changed markedly. Reservations were seen as bastions of an old colonial order, as economically deprived areas in need of revitalization, and as obstacles to large-scale federal projects. Motivated by these views, President Truman, Commissioner of Indian Affairs Dillon Myer, and certain members of Congress worked to end the reservation system. Federal policies set during this period strongly encouraged Native peoples to terminate their status as wards of the American government, relocate to prosperous cities, and develop long-range plans to secure greater political and economic power for themselves'.'Until recently scholars have largely portrayed the termination years as a regressive era in which Indians encountered renewed assaults on tribalism, lost important rights, and were placed on the road to dispossession. "Termination Revisited" offers a more complex portrait of Native responses to termination. By focusing on the diverse reactions of Native peoples to the concept of self-determination, Philp demonstrates how widely the interpretations of this important concept and the proposed strategy of termination varied. Kenneth R. Philp is chair of the history department at the University of Texas, Arlington. He is the author of John Collier's "Crusade for Indian Reform, 1920-1954"'.
Hierarchical tandem feature extraction

We present a hierarchical architecture for tandem acoustic modeling. In the tandem acoustic modeling paradigm a Multi Layer Perceptron (MLP) is discriminatively trained to estimate phoneme posterior probabilities on a labeled database. The outputs of the MLP after nonlinear transformation and whitening are used as features in a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) based recognizer. In this paper we replace the large monolithic MLP with hierarchies of MLP experts. We apply this approach on Speech in Noisy Environments (SPINE 1) evaluation conducted by the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). We observe a reduction in word error rate of 30% with context-independent models and 5% WER with context-dependent models relative to PLP features.
Post-transcriptional modification of pro-BNP in heart failure: Is glycosylation and circulating furin key for cardiovascular homeostasis?

This editorial refers to ‘Post-translational modifications enhance NT-proBNP and BNP production in acute decompensated heart failure,’ by N. Vodovar et al. , on page doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehu314. With the discovery that the heart is an endocrine organ, we now know that the heart produces and releases hormones, including the natriuretic peptides (NPs). NPs are thought to be produced and released mainly in response to mechanical stretching, due to increased intravascular volume or under pathophysiological conditions, especially in heart failure (HF).1 B-type NP (BNP) molecular forms, especially BNP and NT-proBNP, are currently in widespread used as biomarkers in HF. Human BNP is produced as a 134-amino acid preproBNP which is subsequently processed to proBNP1-108 by cleavage of its signal peptide. ProBNP 1-108 is then processed into inactive NT-proBNP 1-76 and the GC-A receptor activator BNP 1-32 by proprotein convertases corin or furin.2 The processing of BNP molecular forms is therefore critical for its bioavailability. Critical regulators in proBNP processing have been revealed, including the proteases corin and furin and the role of glycosylation of proBNP. Corin—a cardiac transmembrane serine protease that is abundantly expressed in the heart and kidneys, with a functional soluble form that is shed into the circulation—cleaves both proANP and proBNP into active hormones.2 It has …
Mortality of Elderly Patients After Two-Stage Reimplantation for Total Joint Infection: A Case–Control Study

The mortality of two-stage reimplantation for periprosthetic joint infection in patients over the age of 80 has not previously been studied. We retrospectively reviewed 134 elderly patients undergoing two-stage reimplantation at 90 days, 1 year and 5 years and compared them to a matched cohort who underwent single-stage aseptic total joint revision. There was no significant difference in preoperative comorbidities between groups. The mortality rates for the two-stage and aseptic groups were 39.9% and 34.1% respectively with an overall mortality rate of 36.7%. There was no significant difference in mortality at any time point (95% CI: 29.4, 43.1). Two-stage reimplantation does not significantly increase the mortality of patients over the age of 80 when compared to a matched cohort undergoing aseptic revision at our institution.
Support for Polyarchy in the Americas

This study measures support for the basic rights, liberties, and practices associated with polyarchy in 12 Latin American democracies. Specifically, it identifies five profiles of support for polyarchy’s core values and norms—public contestation, inclusive participation, limits on executive authority, and institutional checks and balances. Although citizens who fit the polyarch profile accept all of polyarchy’s principles, those who fit one of the four mixed support profiles (power constrainer, power checker, power delegator, power restrainer) accept only some of them while rejecting other core democratic principles. Long-run factors emphasized by modernization and cultural theories (e.g., education, wealth, political engagement) are closely associated with the polyarch support profile. However, short-range performance factors (e.g., economic perceptions; crime, discrimination, and corruption victimization; voting for losing presidential candidates; presidential approval) may better explain why citizens f...
The question of aromaticity in open-shell cations and anions as ion-radical offsprings of polycyclic aromatic and antiaromatic hydrocarbons.

Arene cation-radicals and anion-radicals result directly from the one-electron oxidation and reduction of many aromatic hydrocarbons, yet virtually nothing is known of their intrinsic (thermodynamic) stability and hence “aromatic character”. Since such paramagnetic ion radicals lie intermediate between aromatic (Huckel) hydrocarbons with 4n+2-electrons and antiaromatic analogues with 4n-electrons, we can now address the question of π-delocalization in these odd-electron counterparts. Application of the structure-based “harmonic oscillator model of aromaticity” or the HOMA method leads to the surprising conclusion that the aromaticity of these rather reactive, kinetically unstable arene cation and anion radicals (as measured by the HOMA index) is actually higher than that of their (diamagnetic) parentcontrary to conventional expectations.
Genetics, Paleontology, and Macroevolution (Second Edition)

Jeffrey S. Levinton, 2001, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 617 p. (Paperback $54.95) ISBN 0-521-00550-7. The second edition of Genetics, Paleontology, and Macroevolution is an expanded and updated version of an important, if sometimes polemical, text. More than a decade has passed since Levinton published the first edition, and much has happened in that interval of time. Major strides have been made in our understanding of the Cambrian explosion and biotic innovations preceding the onset of Phanerozoic time; subdivision of geologic time has undergone scrutiny and recalibration; and perhaps most importantly, molecular approaches have come to center stage in the quest for understanding evolution and development. Major themes developed in the …
Height as a Marker of Childhood Development and Late-life Cognitive Function: The Honolulu–Asia Aging Study

Objective. Growing evidence suggests that structural and functional brain reserves, thought to develop in childhood and adolescence, may be crucial in determining when cognitive impairment begins. The purpose of this report is to examine the relationship of height, as a marker of childhood development, to late-life cognitive function in a sample of elderly Japanese-American men. Method. Cognitive performance was assessed from 1991 to 1993 in the Honolulu–Asia Aging Study in 3733 men aged 71 to 93 years and related to height that was measured 25 years earlier. Results. Among the study sample, shorter men were older, leaner, and less educated than taller men. Shorter men also spent more years of their childhood living in Japan and were more likely to have had fathers in unskilled professions. After adjustment for age, the prevalence of poor cognitive performance declined consistently with increasing height from 25% in men shorter than 154 cm (61 in) to 9% in those taller than 174 cm (69 in). Excluding men with stroke or dementia did not alter the association between height and cognitive performance. Apolipoprotein E4 was unrelated to height and did not effect the association between height and cognitive function. The prevalence of Alzheimer9s disease was higher in men who were 154 cm (61 in) or shorter as compared with men who were taller (4.7% vs 2.9%, respectively). There was no association between height and vascular dementia. Conclusion. Efforts to improve prenatal and early life conditions to maximize growth in childhood and adolescence could diminish or delay the expression of cognitive impairments that occur later in life. Prevention of some late-life cognitive impairments may have pediatric origins.
Virus-Induced Gene Silencing as a Tool for Delivery of dsRNA into Plants

The inherent RNA silencing mechanism in plants has been effectively manipulated as a tool for the targeted down-regulation of genes. Numerous methods have been employed to initiate this homology-based RNA degradation process, but all rely on the activity of double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) corresponding to the gene of interest. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) has gained acceptance as the tool of choice for transient induction of silencing. It involves creation of engineered viruses carrying sequences corresponding to the host gene to be silenced. Infection leads to synthesis of viral dsRNA, an intermediate step in viral replication. This activates the anti-viral RNA silencing pathway, resulting in down-regulation of the host gene transcript. While several VIGS vectors have been developed, the Tobacco Rattle Virus (TRV) provides the most robust results in terms of efficiency, ease of application, and absence of disease symptoms. Engineered TRV vectors carrying host-derived segments are transformed into Agrobacterium tumefaciens, which is then introduced into the plant. This protocol outlines a simple procedure for introducing the TRV-based binary vectors pTRV1 and pTRV2 into solanaceous plants such as Nicotiana benthamiana and Solanum lycopersicon (tomato), as well as Arabidopsis.
Über Thiazolyl-isopropylamine

Es wird die Darstellung von 1-[Thiazolyl-(4′)]-2-aminopropan und 1-[Thiazolyl-(5′)]-2-aminopropan beschrieben. Beide Amine wurden aus den entsprechenden Thiazol-carbonsaureestern Uber die Aldehyde, Kondensation derselben mit Nitroathan und Reduktion der so erhaltenen Nitro-olefine mit LiAlH4 gewonnen. Zum Vergleich wurde 1-[Thiazolyl-(4′)]-2-aminopropan noch auf einem anderen Wege dargestellt. Ausgehend von DL-β-Phtalimidobuttersaure konnte auf bekannte Art der Thiazolring aufgebaut werden. Weiterhin wurden die Darstellungsmethoden fur die als Ausgangsmaterial benotigten Thiazol-4-carbonsaure-athylester und Thiazol-5-carbonsaure-methylester wesentlich verbessert.
Children with Warts: A Retrospective Study in an Outpatient Setting

Background: The purpose is to investigate the demographics and course of common warts in children in an outpatient setting. Methods: A retrospective medical chart review and telephone survey study were completed on an outpatient cohort of children (0–17 yrs) with a clinical diagnosis of warts at a single-center, university-based pediatric dermatology practice. The main outcome measures included management, time to resolution, and associated factors of warts in children. Results: Of the 254 patients we contacted, 214 agreed to participate in the survey. The most commonly involved sites were the hands and the head and neck area. Most children received some form of therapy, but it is unclear that any form of treatment altered the course. However, children with a medical history of childhood infections or more than one anatomic site had significantly greater risk of having a longer time to resolution. Conclusion: Warts resolved in 65% of children by 2 years and in 80% within 4 years, regardless of treatment. With the exception of a history of childhood infections and having more than one anatomic site, time to resolution was not altered by wart or patient characteristics. Thus counseling without aggressive destructive treatment is a reasonable approach to managing warts in most children. Our findings will provide guidance in the process of shared decision making with parents and children.
In vivo regulation of SREBP-1c in skeletal muscle: effects of nutritional status, glucose, insulin, and leptin.

Sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), a transcription factor that is important for mediating insulin effects on metabolic gene expression in liver during the fasted-to-fed transi...
Dancing on a Volcano: The Latin American Drug Trade.

Dancing on a Volcano: The Latin American Drug Trade. SCOTT B. MacDONALD. New York: Praeger, 1988. xi + 166 pp., notes, bibliography, index. $34.95 (cloth), $12.95 (paper). ISBN 0-275-92752-0, ISBN 0-275-93105-6.
Constraints of philanthropy on determining the distribution of biodiversity conservation funding

Caught between ongoing habitat destruction and funding shortfalls, conservation organizations are using systematic planning approaches to identify places that offer the highest biodiversity return per dollar invested. However, available tools do not account for the landscape of funding for conservation or quantify the constraints this landscape imposes on conservation outcomes. Using state-level data on philanthropic giving to and investments in land conservation by a large nonprofit organization, we applied linear regression to evaluate whether the spatial distribution of conservation philanthropy better explained expenditures on conservation than maps of biodiversity priorities, which were derived from a planning process internal to the organization and return on investment (ROI) analyses based on data on species richness, land costs, and existing protected areas. Philanthropic fund raising accounted for considerably more spatial variation in conservation spending (r(2) = 0.64) than either of the 2 systematic conservation planning approaches (r(2) = 0.08-0.21). We used results of one of the ROI analyses to evaluate whether increases in flexibility to reallocate funding across space provides conservation gains. Small but plausible "tax" increments of 1-10% on states redistributed to the optimal funding allocation from the ROI analysis could result in gains in endemic species protected of 8.5-80.2%. When such increases in spatial flexibility are not possible, conservation organizations should seek to cultivate increased support for conservation in priority locations. We used lagged correlations of giving to and spending by the organization to evaluate whether investments in habitat protection stimulate future giving to conservation. The most common outcome at the state level was that conservation spending quarters correlated significantly and positively with lagged fund raising quarters. In effect, periods of high fund raising for biodiversity followed (rather than preceded) periods of high expenditure on land conservation projects, identifying one mechanism conservation organizations could explore to seed greater activity in priority locations. Our results demonstrate how limitations on the ability of conservation organizations to reallocate their funding across space can impede organizational effectiveness and elucidate ways conservation planning tools could be more useful if they quantified and incorporated these constraints.
Electrostatic Field Simulation Study of Nanoparticles Suspended in Synthetic Insulating Oil

Electrostatic field simulations have been performed to investigate the effect of barium strontium titanate (BST) nanoparticle suspensions on electric fields within synthetic oil dielectrics. We predict that by physically integrating nanoparticles of high dielectric constants into the breakdown regime, the self-break jitter in rep-rate oil switches might be reduced. The simulations show that the nanoparticle suspensions generate nonlinear and random electric field enhancements within the oil dielectric and also on the electrode surfaces. The BST nanoparticles have been modeled as perfect spheres which have an approximate dielectric constant of 2000. The oil in the simulation was given a dielectric constant of 2.33 and the electrodes are modeled as perfect electrical conductors with no field enhancements. A comparison is made between simulated electric fields on the surface of the cathode with increasing nanoparticle concentration, radius, and distance from cathode. Effects on capacitance with increasing nanoparticle concentration and radii are also investigated. All electrostatic simulations were performed with CST EM Studio. Preliminary experimental electric field breakdown data are included to validate simulation results.
Preliminary Results on the Evolution of Supernova Remnants and their X-ray Spectrum

Many authors have treated the problem of the evolution of supernovae remnants in an analytical or semianalytical fashion (see the review paper by Woltjer, 1972 and the recent work of Cox, 1972a, b, c). Recently, Rosenberg and Scheuer (1973) have presented a numerical solution to the problem. In general, the broad features of the evolution of supernovae remnants are fairly well understood. In the present paper we will discuss some preliminary results of a detailed numerical study of the evolution of supernovae remnants and their associated thermal X-ray spectrum. A more complete description of our methods and results will be given in a paper that is in preparation for publication.
Biomedical: For diabetics: An electronic pancreas: A bionic device implanted below the human diaphragm will deliver insulin into the peritoneum and be inductively programmable

A bionic device implanted below the human diaphragm will deliver insulin into the peritoneum and be inductively programmable.
Passive cascaded lattice digital filters

Energy and power analogies are used for the analysis of cascaded (possibly time varying) lattice digital filters. This approach leads to the requirements for passivity of the sections, and a procedure for the removal of zero-input parasitic oscillations, and a few miscellaneous results.
Integrin-dependent induction of early growth response genes in capillary endothelial cells

Studies were carried out to explore how extracellular matrix molecules, such as fibronectin (FN), promote capillary endothelial (CE) cell growth. When G0-synchronized cells were plated on FN-coated dishes, expression of the immediate-early mRNAs, c-fos, c-myc and c-jun, was rapidly induced, even in the absence of serum or soluble growth factors. Moreover, plating cells on different FN densities (5-200 micrograms/150 mm dish), resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the steady state levels of these mRNAs. Addition of FGF potentiated gene activation and was required for maximal DNA synthesis, however, the overall steady-state level of gene induction was dictated primarily by the density of immobilized FN. Expression of junB also was induced when suspended cells bound RGD-peptide coated microbeads that promote integrin clustering, but not when the suspended cells bound beads coated with other receptor ligands (e.g. acetylated low density protein) or when they were stimulated by soluble FN or FGF in the absence of substrate adhesion. c-Jun exhibited a similar requirement for gene induction except that it also was partially induced by binding to soluble FN alone. In contrast, c-fos expression was induced by all stimuli tested. Interestingly, inhibition of Na+/H+ exchange using hexamethylene-amiloride prevented most of the FN-induced increase in c-jun expression whereas it was relatively ineffective when cells were simultaneously stimulated by both FN and FGF. These data demonstrate that cell adhesion to extracellular matrix and associated integrin binding can directly activate signaling cascades in quiescent CE cells that lead to induction of immediate-early genes associated with the G0/G1 transition and thereby, stimulate these cells to reenter the growth cycle.
Heterogeneity, evidence and salt.

1While reading this article I was struck by the heterogeneity of the subjects. I realized that I’d been naively thinking of “compartment syndrome” as a homogeneous entity. But these authors demonstrate that penetrating trauma, blunt trauma, and even non-traumatic problems funnel into a final common pathway that leads to acute compartment syndrome and fasciotomy. This prompted me to consider other heterogeneous conditions that are inappropriately viewed as homogeneous and to ponder the role that heterogeneity plays in the “evidence” used to make clinical decisions.
Abstract 650: Ceramide as a Mediator of Insulin Resistance--Associated Atherosclerosis

Objectives: Insulin resistance-induced hyperlipidemia and hyperlipoproteinemia are risk factors of atherosclerosis. Spingolipid ceramide is involved in insulin resistance and lipoprotein metabolism, and sphingomyelin, a ceramide metabolite, is an independent risk factor for CVD. Here we studied the role of spingolipids in insulin resistance associated atherosclerosis. Methods: Low density lipoprotein receptors knockout (LDLR -/- ) mice, a diet induced mouse model of insulin resistance and atherosclerosis, were fed a standard chow diet or a western diet (high fat with 0.2% cholesterol) for 12 weeks with or without myriocin, an inhibitor of de novo ceramide synthesis. A targeted lipidomics approach was used for hepatic and plasma profiling of ceramides. Metabolic 2 H 2 O-labeling technique was applied to quantify turnover rates of hepatic and plasma lipids and lipoproteins, including ApoB and ApoAI - the principle proteins of VLDL/LDL and HDL. Hepatic and intestinal expression of genes and proteins involved in insulin signaling, lipid and lipoprotein metabolism were characterized. Results: A western diet caused insulin resistance, increased hepatic and serum triglycerides and the altered distribution of hepatic ceramides, i.e. hepatic levels of long chain ceramides (C16 & C18), involved in apoptosis, were increased by 80% and 27%, respectively, while a very-long chain ceramide C24 was reduced more than twice. A western diet also induced dyslipidemia, hepatic oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, mild fibrosis, and atherosclerosis. The plasma ratio of ApoB/ApoA1 was increased >2 fold which was due to increased production of ApoB. HDL turnover was not affected. Pharmacologic inhibition of sphingolipid biosynthesis with myriocin improved insulin sensitivity, hepatic steatosis, fibrosis, apoptosis, and prevented atherosclerosis. These changes were associated with decreased lipogenesis and ApoB production. In addition, myriocin significantly increased both plasma levels and flux of HDL. Conclusions: Modulation of sphingolipid metabolism may lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of insulin resistance and associated atherosclerosis.
Ω Decay in a composite-particle model

A quasi-relativistic composite-particle model is presented which is suited for the study of the long-range behavior of the strongly bound composite system. Arguments are given to justify a particular form for the Bethe-Salpeter wave-function with emphasis placed on the treatment of the relative-energy dependence. As an application of the model, the weak decay rates of the Ω are calculated. Only one free parameter, an effective cut-off to which our results are insensitive, remains in the calculated decay amplitudes after a normalization condition on the Bethe-Salpeter wave-function is imposed.
Religion, Race/Ethnicity, and Perceived Barriers to Marriage among Working-Age Adults

While a great deal of scholarly attention has been focused on correlates and predictors of obstacles to marriage, little attention has been given to the role of religion in predicting self-reported reasons for nonmarriage. This oversight in the literature is surprising, given the recent focus among researchers on the role of religious factors in shaping intimate relationships. Further, few scholars have explored racial/ethnic variations in the association between religion and perceived barriers to marriage. Our study addresses this gap in the literature using data from the National Survey of Religion and Family Life (NSRFL), a 2006 telephone survey of working-age adults that contains oversamples of African Americans and Latinos. Results indicate that church attendance is associated with a reduction in perceived barriers to marriage, at least among non-Hispanic White respondents.
Low-pressure, microwave-induced plasma spectrometry method for the determination of subnanogram quantities of mercury.

Abstract A simple, sensitive, and rapid method for the determination of subnanogram quantities of mercury has been devised using a tantalum-filament vaporization system and low-pressure, microwave-induced emission spectrometry. This method is applied to the analysis of mercury-substituted carboxypeptidase with a sample volume of 5 μl and an analysis time of 3 min. The coefficient of variation for 2 × 10 −10 g of mercury in mercury-carboxypeptidase is 6.0%, and the detection limit is 3 × 10 −12 g.
Parasites of the Leafminer Phytomyza vomitoriae (Diptera: Agromyzidae)

The dipterous leafminer Phytomyza vomitoriae Kulp is one of the most serious pests of dwarf yaupon holly, Ilex vomitoria. Kulp (1968) reported that yaupon holly was the only known host and that the bionomics of the leafminer was largely unknown. Apparently there are no reports of parasites from P. vomitoriae.
Assessment of inpatient admissions and top 25 medications for obese pediatric patients at two academic hospitals

Purpose Inpatient admissions and the top 25 medications for obese pediatric patients at two academic hospitals were assessed. Methods Children age 2–17 years were included if they were obese and admitted to either hospital on or after January 1, 2011, and discharged before December 31, 2011. Obesity was defined as a body mass index of ≥95th percentile for age and sex. The objectives of this study were to determine the percentage of hospital admissions involving obese children and compile a list of medications prescribed to these patients. The top 25 medications prescribed were further evaluated to determine their pharmacokinetic disposition in obese patients. Results Obese children accounted for 18.8% of the 15,119 admissions for children age 2–17 years at the two study hospitals. No significant difference was noted in the number of obese pediatric children admitted between institutions. A total of 28,234 medications were ordered for this population, with a median number of 8 medications prescribed per admission. Sixteen of the same medications (64.0%) ranked in the top 25 at each facility. The most commonly prescribed medications for these patients included analgesics, antimicrobials, corticosteroids, bronchodilators, and gastrointestinal agents. Conclusion Obese children accounted for 18.8% of admissions for patients age 2–17 years at two academic hospitals over a 1-year period. The most commonly prescribed medications for these children included analgesics, antimicrobials, corticosteroids, bronchodilators, and gastrointestinal agents. The literature guiding the dosing of these medications in this population was limited to seven studies, representing just three medications.
DUE software highlights therapeutic issues.

Abstract Drug use evaluation (DUE) or drug use review (DUR) for the ambulatory care setting is creating many opportunities to improve the pharmaceutical care provided by pharmacists. This study documents one year of peer-review interventions based on a retrospective drug utilization review software system (Qualisure, Q-A, Inc.) that screens patient profiles for a high likelihood of drug therapy problems. Letters are written to physicians and pharmacists providing care to these patients. The software identifles frequent opportunities for selecting therapeutic class alternatives to prescribed agents. Antibiotics, antihistamines, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and antidepressants were the classes for which therapeutic class alternatives were most often recommended.
Advantages of Bayesian monitoring methods in deciding whether and when to stop a clinical trial: an example of a neonatal cooling trial

Decisions to stop randomized trials are often based on traditional P value thresholds and are often unconvincing to clinicians. To familiarize clinical investigators with the application and advantages of Bayesian monitoring methods, we illustrate the steps of Bayesian interim analysis using a recent major trial that was stopped based on frequentist analysis of safety and futility. We conducted Bayesian reanalysis of a factorial trial in newborn infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy that was designed to investigate whether outcomes would be improved by deeper (32 °C) or longer cooling (120 h), as compared with those achieved by standard whole body cooling (33.5 °C for 72 h). Using prior trial data, we developed neutral and enthusiastic prior probabilities for the effect on predischarge mortality, defined stopping guidelines for a clinically meaningful effect, and derived posterior probabilities for predischarge mortality. Bayesian relative risk estimates for predischarge mortality were closer to 1.0 than were frequentist estimates. Posterior probabilities suggested increased predischarge mortality (relative risk > 1.0) for the three intervention groups; two crossed the Bayesian futility threshold. Bayesian analysis incorporating previous trial results and different pre-existing opinions can help interpret accruing data and facilitate informed stopping decisions that are likely to be meaningful and convincing to clinicians, meta-analysts, and guideline developers. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01192776 . Registered on 31 August 2010.