cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Response: On economic growth, business fluctuations, and health progress

Demographic research on preindustrial societies has documented links between harvest yields, grain prices, real wages, and changes in mortality, but mortality hikes as a result of agricultural failures or grain price inflation become more muted as the level of development increases. 1–5 During the early industrialization period in the 19th century, decades of rapid economic growth coincided with stagnating or even increasing mortality in the United States and Britain. 6,7 During the Second World War, deaths from coronary disease declined in Norway and other German-occupied countries as fats and calories were drastically cut in the diet. Then, in 1945, pre-war levels returned both in diet and coronary deaths. 8 It also appears that the blockage of Confederate cotton exports at the start of the US civil war and the subsequent work stoppage improved both adult and infant health in the textile districts of England. Adults were no longer exposed to exhausting work and fumes in the factories, and infants could be breastfed by their mothers, who no longer gave them the Godfried’s cordial, a ‘baby syrup’ made with opiates. 9 Though opiate syrups sold as medicines have been considered a major contributor to deaths of children,3 years old in 19th century England, 10 the health hazards of the early industrialization period have been generally attributed to overcrowding and lack of sanitary conditions in cities, as well as working conditions that packed workers (including children), animals, fumes, and water in mines and factories for working days of 12 and even more hours. 7,11,12 These examples of health declines during periods of prosperity and health improvements during periods of economic hardship show how the relationship between affluence and health is not a univocal one. 13 Two recent major pandemics—nicotine addiction and obesity—are unequivocally associated with increased purchasing power of multitudes who consume marketed commodities that are harmful to health. Most researchers studying the secular decline of mortality would accept ‘some kind’ of link between demographic transition—in which death rates drop because of the decline in infectious disease mortality—and various factors associated with social and economic advancement in the past two centuries, including increasing levels of education; the abolition of slavery; significant reductions in discrimination by gender, ethnic, or religious issues; rising availability ofmaterial resources; urbanization; and improvement in physical infrastructure. But there is no consensus on which particular aspect is the major cause of the mortality decline. 14–21 Early in the 20th century, the secular drop in mortality was attributed to advances in medical technology, improvements in the standard of life or in urban sanitation, and, even, to changes in the virulence of germs. But Dubos questioned these ideas 8,22 andMcKeown 17,18
Aurora image denoising with a modified bidimensional empirical mode decomposition method

The bidimensional empirical mode decomposition (BEMD) technique is a recent development in the area of image processing. Like facilitating many different applications, it enables noise removal from an image as well. However, the original BEMD process is associated with high computation time and other artifacts because of the application of two dimensional (2D) scattered data interpolation methods. In this paper, a modified BEMD (MBEMD) process is devised to make the process faster and reduce the decomposition artifacts. This modified BEMD is then utilized for noise removal from aurora images. In the proposed scheme, denoising filters are applied to the image components obtained from the BEMD process and then filtered components are combined to get the reconstructed image. Simulation results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed approach for successful denoising of aurora images.
Exploring birth outcome disparities and the impact of prenatal care utilization among North Carolina teen mothers.

Abstract Background This study investigated the role of prenatal care utilization in explaining disparities in birth outcomes between African-American and White teen mothers in North Carolina. Methods This cross-sectional study analyzed birth record data for African-American and White teen mothers provided by the North Carolina State Center of Health Statistics for 2009 (n = 10,515). Hierarchical moderated multiple regression models were completed to explore associations between racial status, prenatal care utilization, and birth outcome disparities amid multiple demographic and medical risk factors. Findings Racial status as African American was identified as a significant predictor for lower birth weight and gestational age in each regression model when accounting for other demographic variables, medical risk factors, and prenatal care utilization. Results illuminate significant associations between higher prenatal care utilization levels and higher infant birth weight and gestational age for the overall teen population. However, these results did not identify protective effects in reducing racial disparities in birth weight or gestational age. Conclusion Given these results, a more in-depth exploration of prenatal care client assessment, education, and alternative prenatal care models is warranted to identify strategies for reducing birth outcome disparities between these populations. These findings also suggest the need for further examination of other potential social and economic factors that explain racial disparities in birth outcomes between African-American and White teen populations.
Physaria scrotiformis (Brassicaceae), a New High-Elevation Species from Southwestern Colorado and New Combinations in Physaria

ABSTRACT Physaria scrotiformis O'Kane (Brassicaceae) is a newly described, diminutive, long-lived perennial from the upper subalpine–lower alpine zone of the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. The species grows on windswept, nearly barren exposures of Leadville limestone on West Silver Mesa. The species is another example of a taxon bridging the gap between the synonymized genera Lesquerella S. Watson and Physaria (Nuttall ex Torrey & A. Gray) A. Gray s. str. Additionally, the following new combinations and changes in status are made and keys are provided where needed: P. carinata (Rollins) O'Kane & Al-Shehbaz subsp. paysonii (Rollins) O'Kane, P. carinata (Rollins) O'Kane & Al-Shehbaz subsp. pulchella (Rollins) O'Kane, P. didymocarpa (Hooker) A. Gray subsp. lanata (A. Nelson) O'Kane, P. didymocarpa (Hooker) A. Gray subsp. lyrata (C. L. Hitchcock) O'Kane, P. floribunda Rydberg subsp. osterhoutii (Payson) O'Kane, P. geyeri (Hooker) A. Gray subsp. purpurea (Rollins) O'Kane, P. hitchcockii (Munz) O'...
Chronic glutamine supplementation increases nasal but not salivary IgA during 9 days of interval training

Oral glutamine supplementation during and after exercise abolishes exercise-induced decreases in plasma glutamine concentration but does not affect secretory IgA (sIgA) salivary output. Whether chr...
Strain intensity factor approach for predicting the strength of continuously reinforced metal matrix composites

A method was previously developed to predict the fracture toughness (stress intensity factor at failure) of composites in terms of the elastic constants and the tensile failing strain of the fibers. The method was applied to boron/aluminum composites made with various proportions of 0 to + or - 45 deg plies. Predicted values of fracture toughness were in gross error because widespread yielding of the aluminum matrix made the compliance very nonlinear. An alternate method was developed to predict the strain intensity factor at failure rather than the stress intensity factor because the singular strain field was not affected by yielding as much as the stress field. Strengths of specimens containing crack-like slits were calculated from predicted failing strains using uniaxial stress-strain curves. Predicted strengths were in good agreement with experimental values, even for the very nonlinear laminates that contained only + or - 45 deg plies. This approach should be valid for other metal matrix composites that have continuous fibers.
Ethnicity and Eldercare: Comparison of Attitudes Toward Adult Care Homes and Care by Families

This study examines attitudes toward rest homes among elderly African Americans and Whites and their caregivers. Dislike of rest homes, preference for family care, and unwillingness to consider rest home placement are analyzed by linear structural equation and logistic regression models. Results show significant ethnic differences among elderly persons and caregivers. Among elders, African Americans are stronger in their desire for family care but dislike rest homes less than Whites do. African American elders are less willing than Whites to consider rest home placement; care-givers’ differences are not as pronounced. Results suggest that the cultural preference for family care often attributed to ethnic differences is also partly determined by dislike of institutionalized care and social structural factors. The authors propose a theoretical framework that models attitudes toward health service use as outcomes of ethnicity and social structural factors and interpret the results against a backdrop of ethnic differences in historical and material conditions.
Slip of the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman Earthquake from Joint Inversion of Long-Period Global Seismic Waveforms and GPS Static Offsets

The 26 December 2004 Great Sumatra-Andaman earthquake opened a new era for seismologists to understand the complex source process of a great earth- quake. This is the first event with moment magnitude greater than 9 since the de- ployment of high-dynamic-range broadband seismic and Global Positioning System (GPS) sensors around the globe. This study presents an analysis of the ruptured fault- plane geometry and slip distribution using long-period teleseismic data and GPS- measured static surface displacements near the fault plane. We employ a rupture geometry with six along-strike segments with and without a steeper down-dip ex- tension. The fault segments are further subdivided into a total of 201 � 30 30 km fault patches. Sensitivity tests of fault-plane geometry and the variation in rupture velocity indicate that the dip and curvature of the fault plane are not well resolved from the given data set and the rupture velocity is constrained to be between 1.8 and 2.6 km/sec. Error estimations of the slip distribution using a random selection of seismic and GPS station subsets (50% of all stations) illustrate that slip is well re- solved along the whole rupture and the mean slip uncertainty is less than 1.5 m (about 11%). Although it is possible that near-field GPS data include contributions from additional postseismic transient deformation, our preferred model suggests that the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake had a magnitude of Mw 9.20 0.05/0.06. Online material: Comparison of slip models, GPS modeling, waveform fit, fault geometry, and inversion parameters.
Structural plasticity and hippocampal function

The hippocampus is a region of the mammalian brain that shows an impressive capacity for structural reorganization. Preexisting neural circuits undergo modifications in dendritic complexity and synapse number, and entirely novel neural connections are formed through the process of neurogenesis. These types of structural change were once thought to be restricted to development. However, it is now generally accepted that the hippocampus remains structurally plastic throughout life. This article reviews structural plasticity in the hippocampus over the lifespan, including how it is investigated experimentally. The modulation of structural plasticity by various experiential factors as well as the possible role it may have in hippocampal functions such as learning and memory, anxiety, and stress regulation are also considered. Although significant progress has been made in many of these areas, we highlight some of the outstanding issues that remain.
Names proposed for newly identified features on venus

Based on data returned by Pioneer Venus, scientists are beginning to identify major features on the cloud-shrouded planet and are working with an international nomenclature group to name them after mythical goddesses. The orbiting spacecraft now has mapped a belt of terrain that extends completely around the planet, except for a narrow strip of 38° which is currently being filled. The spacecraft radar mapper instrument measures terrain from 75° north latitude to 63° south latitude. Pioneer is mapping 83% of Venus' total surface.
Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Lead Performance

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) have revolutionized the treatment of patients at risk for sudden cardiac death. In the nearly 3 decades since the first human ICD implant,1 millions of devices have been implanted worldwide and innumerable lives have been saved. Successful resuscitation of a potentially lethal ventricular arrhythmia by an ICD system depends on successful arrhythmia detection and timely delivery of therapy. Both the ICD generator and the ICD lead are critical components of this system. The lead, in particular, is literally a lifeline whose purpose is to convey critical information about the heart’s rhythm to the ICD generator and, in turn, to deliver life-sustaining therapy when needed. Failure of an ICD lead may result in significant clinical events, including failure to pace, failure to defibrillate, inappropriate shocks, and even death. Article p 2727 ICD leads, like many medical technologies, have undergone a remarkable transformation. Epicardial leads, which necessitated a thoracotomy for lead placement, have given way to transvenous leads, which are easier to implant, less costly, and associated with decreased morbidity and mortality.2 Important advances in transvenous lead technology, such as the development of steroid elution, smaller diameter leads, novel insulations, and multipolar leads, have translated into meaningful clinical benefits for patients. Although modern ICD leads consist primarily of electrodes, conductors, insulation, and a fixation mechanism to attach the lead to the myocardium, lead design and performance vary from model to model. Indeed, monitoring of performance is critical not only to identify products with increased failure rates but also to provide physicians and patients with realistic expectations of device performance. In the current issue of Circulation , Eckstein et al add to our understanding of ICD lead performance.3 The investigators conducted a retrospective analysis of 1317 consecutive patients who received ICD systems (including 38 different ICD lead …
Block of muscle nicotinic receptors by choline suggests that the activation and desensitization gates act as distinct molecular entities.

Ion channel block in muscle acetylcholine nicotinic receptors (AChRs) is an extensively reported phenomenon. Yet, the mechanisms underlying the interruption of ion flow or the interaction of the blocker with the channel's gates remain incompletely characterized. In this paper, we studied fast channel block by choline, a quaternary-ammonium cation that is also an endogenous weak agonist of this receptor, and a valuable tool in structure–function studies. Analysis of the single-channel current amplitude as a function of both choline concentration and voltage revealed that extracellular choline binds to the open-channel pore with millimolar apparent affinity (KB ≅ 12 mM in the presence of ∼155 mM monovalent and 3.5 mM divalent, inorganic cations), and that it permeates the channel faster than acetylcholine. This, together with its relatively small size (∼5.5 A along its longest axis), suggests that the pore-blocking choline binding site is the selectivity filter itself, and that current blockages simply reflect the longer-lived sojourns of choline at this site. Kinetic analysis of single-channel traces indicated that increasing occupancy of the pore-blocking site by choline (as judged from the reduction of the single-channel current amplitude) is accompanied by the lengthening of (apparent) open interval durations. Consideration of a number of possible mechanisms firmly suggests that this prolongation results from the local effect of choline interfering with the operation of the activation gate (closure of blocked receptors is slower than that of unblocked receptors by a factor of ∼13), whereas closure of the desensitization gate remains unaffected. Thus, we suggest that these two gates act as distinct molecular entities. Also, the detailed understanding gained here on how choline distorts the observed open-time durations can be used to compensate for this artifact during activation assays. This correction is necessary if we are to understand how choline binds to and gates the AChR.
On waveform coding using wavelets

We consider a novel baseband waveform coding technique based on wavelets. Wavelets are recognized for their temporal and spectral localization and for their orthogonality across scale and location. We exploit these fundamental properties of wavelets and propose a wavelet-based modulator-demodulator structure to improve communication efficiency. Numerical results for bandwidth occupancy and bandwidth efficiency are given, and a detailed comparison between different families of wavelets is presented. >
A simple solid phase assay for the detection of 2,4-D in soil.

Abstract Contaminated soils are usually characterized using chemical analyses. However, these do not assess the bioavailability of pollutants, a factor which may be important in estimating the risks associated with contamination. Thus there is a need to support chemical analyses with information on biological effects to determine the potential risks a pollutant may pose in the soil. Although bacterial bioreporters have been used to detect the presence of contaminants in soils, in general these studies have been carried out in slurries or soil extracts rather than soil itself. The following study presents the development of a simple solid-phase bioassay for the direct detection of the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) in soil using Ralstonia eutropha JMP 134-32, a luxCDABE-based 2,4-D whole cell bioreporter. The bioreporter was spotted onto glass microfibre filter discs that allowed its retrieval and analysis after exposure to 2,4-D amended soils. These disc-fixed cells responded in a concentration dependent manner to 2,4-D in solution (0–25 mg/L) and in spiked soil (0–50 mg/kg). The influence of environmental factors on bioavailability was demonstrated in soil with a low moisture content which prevented 2,4-D-induced bioluminescence but which did not affect bioluminescence from already induced cells. This rapid and low cost bioassay provides a proof of concept demonstrating that retrievable disk-fixed cells can be induced in soil, thus providing a measure of solid-phase bioavailability. This method overcomes some of the limitations associated with the inoculation and monitoring of bioreporters directly in soil. Additionally, this simple system should be amenable to use with other bioreporters.
Effect of Side Chains on Charge Transfer in Quaterthiophene-Naphthalene Diimide Based Donor-Bridge-Acceptor Dyads

We have probed the effect of side chains on the charge transfer dynamics in dyads containing quaterthiophene (QT) donor and naphthalene diimide (NDI) acceptor. The donor and the acceptor are covalently linked using a flexible linker. Four dyads (1–4) were synthesized with the quaterthiophene bearing hexyl side chain and the naphthalene diimide bearing hydrocarbon, fluorocarbon, branched or polar side chains. The UV-Vis spectra for these dyads showed the existence of a donor-acceptor complex. The time-resolved fluorescence (TRF) decay studies show a rapid quenching of fluorescence in all the dyads upon excitation of the donor. We found that the side chains on the NDI did not alter the quenching rates in solution.
Sources of Variation in Survival of Breeding Female Wood Ducks

Abstract In waterfowl, reproduction is physiologically demanding and females are exposed to varying risks of mortality at different periods of the breeding cycle. Moreover, differences among females may influence survival within breeding periods. We captured and fitted female Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) with radio-transmitters before nest initiation during two breeding seasons to estimate survival and investigate sources of variation in survival. We partitioned the breeding season into three periods (preincubation, incubation, postnesting) according to breeding status of individual females, and used information-theoretic methods to compare models in which daily survival varied among periods, between successful and failed nesting females, and with parameters describing individual heterogeneity. Our analysis suggested that daily survival was best modeled as a function of breeding period, differences between successful and failed nesting females during postnesting, and early incubation body condition of successf...
Tau-driven 26S proteasome impairment and cognitive dysfunction can be prevented early in disease by activating cAMP-PKA signaling

The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) degrades misfolded proteins including those implicated in neurodegenerative diseases. We investigated the effects of tau accumulation on proteasome function in a mouse model of tauopathy and in a cross to a UPS reporter mouse (line Ub-G76V-GFP). Accumulation of insoluble tau was associated with a decrease in the peptidase activity of brain 26S proteasomes, higher levels of ubiquitinated proteins and undegraded Ub-G76V-GFP. 26S proteasomes from mice with tauopathy were physically associated with tau and were less active in hydrolyzing ubiquitinated proteins, small peptides and ATP. 26S proteasomes from normal mice incubated with recombinant oligomers or fibrils also showed lower hydrolyzing capacity in the same assays, implicating tau as a proteotoxin. Administration of an agent that activates cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA) signaling led to attenuation of proteasome dysfunction, probably through proteasome subunit phosphorylation. In vivo, this led to lower levels of aggregated tau and improvements in cognitive performance.
Girl on a white porch

Digitized at the University of Missouri--Columbia MU Libraries Digitization Lab in 2013. Digitized at 600 dpi with Zeutschel, OS 15000 scanner. Access copy, available in MOspace, is 400 dpi, grayscale.
Water treatment options for dissolved cyanotoxins

When treating water subject to a cyanobacterial bloom the first priority should be removal of intact cells using separation techniques such as coagulation or membrane filtration. Chlorination and ozonation are effective for the destruction of residual dissolved microcystins and cylindrospermopsin. Anatoxin-a can be effectively removed using ozone, although chlorine is relatively ineffective. Oxidation techniques do not appear to be the best method for the treatment of saxitoxins under normal treatment plant operating conditions. Powdered activated carbon can be effective for the removal of all toxins, except, perhaps, microcystin LA, provided the appropriate carbon and the correct dose is applied. Granular activated carbon filters show a limited lifetime for the adsorption of most microcontaminants, including cyanotoxins. The biodegradation of cyanotoxins across GAC filters shows great potential as a treatment process.
Predictive theory for the addition and insertion kinetics of 1CH2 reacting with unsaturated hydrocarbons

The reactions of singlet methylene, (1)CH2, with unsaturated hydrocarbons are of considerable significance to the formation and growth of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In this work, we employ high level ab initio transition state theory to predict the high pressure rate coefficient for singlet methylene reacting with acetylene (C2H2), ethylene (C2H4), propyne (CH3CCH), propene (CH3CHCH2), allene (CH2CCH2), 1,3-butadiene (CH2CHCHCH2), 2-butyne (CH3CCCH3), and benzene (C6H6). Both addition and insertion channels are found to contribute significantly to the kinetics, with the insertion kinetics of increasing importance for larger hydrocarbons due to the increasing number of CH bonds and increasingly attractive interactions. We treat the addition kinetics with direct CASPT2 based variable-reaction-coordinate transition state theory. One-dimensional corrections to the CASPT2 interaction energies are obtained from geometry relaxation calculations and CCSD(T)/CBS evaluations. The insertion kinetics is treated with traditional variational TST methods employing CCSD(T)/CBS energies obtained along the CASPT2/cc-pVTZ distinguished coordinate reaction paths. The overall rate constant and branching fractions are obtained from a multiple transition state model that accounts for the physical distinction between tight inner and loose outer transition states. The predicted rate constants, which cover the range from 200 to 2000 K, are found to be in excellent agreement with the available experimental data, with a maximum observed discrepancy of about 40%.
0108 Characterisation of Wet Work and Glove Use in Healthcare Occupations

Objectives Wet work (contact and/or use of liquids) could lead to skin exposures to chemical irritants and sensitizers among healthcare workers. The objective of this study was to characterise the frequency and duration of glove use when wet work was performed by healthcare workers. Method Direct observational studies were conducted from 2009 to 2011 at five hospitals on selected healthcare occupations. Information on tasks, chemical product use, and glove use was collected at five-minute intervals by trained research technicians using a standardised data collection form. Results Between five and 51 person-days were observed for each occupation. Any glove use during wet work ranged from 62% to 100% of person-days for occupations with more than 10 person-days observed. Endoscopy technicians had the highest proportion of time of glove use when wet work was observed (1845/2055 min = 90%), followed by medical equipment preparers, dental assistants, and housekeepers (1645/1950 min = 84%, 315/395 min = 80%, and 6090/7720 min = 79% respectively). Floor strippers/waxers (585/1225 min = 48%), respiratory therapists (65/160 min = 41%), and clinical laboratory technicians (10/60 min = 17%) had lower proportions of time of glove use. When a sensitizer was used during wet work, the proportion of time of glove use increased among all healthcare occupations with adequate data. Conclusions This analysis demonstrates that the duration of wet work and glove use vary by healthcare occupation. This assessment will be valuable for developing health and safety training programs and identifying possible avenues for intervention.
Effect of endotoxemia on myocardial cation concentrations.

SummarySodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc and copper concentrations in intact myocardium and radiozinc uptake into intact myocardium and its subcellular fractions (nuclear, mitochondrial, microsomal and soluble protein) were compared in 8 dogs 15 hr after administration of an LD50 dose of endotoxin against 8 control animals. No differences were found, thus providing further evidence of the intact metabolism and function of the heart in endotoxemia.The authors acknowledge the technical assistance of Mrs. Eleanor Haygood, Mrs. Dee Hammarsten, Mr. Howard Guiles, Mrs. Norma Luster and Mrs. Dorothy Shirey and the surgical assistance of Mr. Carl Haygood. We also acknowledge the assistance of Dr. L. B. Hinshaw and Mrs. Linda T. Archer in producing the endotoxin shock in our study animals.
Identification of the location of damaged part a simple supported beam model based EMD

To identify the location of the damaged part of a structure is a difficult task for structure health monitoring. To solve it, a system of signal acquisition and analysis consisting of a vibration signal generator, acceleration sensors, signal acquisition and a computer has been established. The acceleration data of a simple supported steel beam model are collected separately under the conditions intact and injury, then data processed by using EMD and shape factor, the damage locations are found by comparing the change of shape factor. Experiment indicates that damage locations are accurately identified.
Diverse manifestations and evolving treatments of autoimmune hepatitis.

Abstract Autoimmune hepatitis has a global occurrence and diverse manifestations. Patients are frequently asymptomatic (34%), and an acute, even fulminant, presentation is possible. Concurrent immune disorders may obscure the liver disease, and perivenular (Rappaport zone 3) necrosis is within the histological spectrum. Clinical phenotypes and outcomes vary among different ethnic groups, and genetic factors strongly affect susceptibility. Non-disease specific autoimmune modifiers include female gender and gene polymorphisms that affect immunocyte activation and differentiation. Antibodies to soluble liver antigen/liver pancreas may have prognostic importance and reflect a genetic propensity for severe disease. Subtypes based on serological profiles do not have distinctive outcomes or therapies. Variant forms include patients with bile duct injury or loss, absence of conventional serological markers, abnormal cholangiograms, or coincidental hepatitis C. Treatment is empiric and based on the predominant manifestations (hepatitic, cholestatic, or viral). New treatment strategies must be strengthened by predictive indices that accurately forecast individual differences in disease outcome. Drugs with site-specific actions on immunocyte activation and proliferation (cyclosporine, tacrolimus and myco-phenolate mofetil) must be assessed by clinical trial, and site-specific molecular interventions (blocking peptides, recombinant immune modulators, T cell vaccination, oral tolerance, gene silencing and gene therapy) require confident experimental animal models for evaluation. Better prognostic indices, new immunosuppressive agents, and site-specific molecular interventions promise to improve care.
Effect of aldosterone on renal potassium conservation in the rat

The importance of reduced plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) in renal potassium (K) conservation is unclear. Thus we examined the effect of aldosterone on incipient, developing, and established renal K conservation. Adrenalectomized (ADX) dexamethasone-replaced rats were continuously treated with high, normal, or low dosages of aldosterone during 4 days of dietary K restriction and were compared with rats without aldosterone replacement. High and normal aldosterone replacement reduced the fall in urinary K excretion and led to significantly lower plasma [K], skeletal muscle tissue K content, renal tissue K content, and greater negative cumulative balance of K compared with low aldosterone replacement. Likewise, plasma [K] and skeletal muscle tissue K content were significantly less in intact rats after 3 days of K deprivation and chronic treatment with aldosterone. Acute aldosterone treatment significantly increased urinary K excretion by isolated perfused kidneys. We conclude that incipient, developing, and established renal K conservation is not independent of mineralocorticoid activity and that the rapid fall in PAC during K depletion is necessary for maximal renal K conservation.
The Law Library: Looking into the Future, Remembering the Past

This piece discusses innovative measures the University of Louisville Law Library is taking to serve its clients, especially the students and faculty of the law school, and the members of the local bar. The article then highlights two unique collections: the Law Library Digital Collection, which provides online access to Kentucky legal history materials and items from the history of the law school, and the Kentucky Archive, which includes statutory codes from 1792 to the present, an excellent collection of historical legislative materials, and copies of state administrative regulations and registers since they were first published.
The History and Scope of Tissue Engineering

Abstract We have always sought ways to improve the human condition, and to restore damaged bodies. This desire was first manifested through myth, and then made real through early experiments and through the emergence of modern surgery in the nineteenth century. In our current era, whole fields of reconstructive surgery have emerged to improve the quality of life by replacing missing function through rebuilding the body’s structures. The molecular and cellular events of the immune response have been elucidated sufficiently to suppress the response in the clinical setting of transplantation and to prolong graft survival and function in patients. Transplantation from one individual into another, although very successful, has severe constraints, and it is within this context that the field of tissue engineering has emerged. In essence, new and functional living tissue is fabricated using living cells, which are usually associated in one way or another with a matrix or scaffolding to guide tissue development. The field draws heavily on an explosion of new knowledge from several interrelated well-established disciplines, but faces a huge range of challenges – both scientific and social. Ultimate success will rely on the dedication, creativity, and enthusiasm of those who have chosen to work in this exciting but still unproved field.
The Department of Energy’s Center of Excellence for the Synthesis and Processing of Advanced Materials

AbstractThe Department ofEnergy (DOE) Center ofExcellence for the Synthesis and Processing ofAdvanced Materials (CSP) represents a new kind ofresearch partnership among twelve DOE laboratories. It includes appropriate university grant research funded by DOE’s Division ofMaterials Sciences as well as in-kind industrial collaborations. An overview of this distributed Center and its seven current focused projects is presented. Guidelines for industrial participation in Center projects are defined.
Generalization Analysis for Ranking

In this chapter, we introduce the generalization analysis on learning-to-rank methods. In particular, we first introduce the uniform generalization bounds and then the algorithm-dependent generalization bounds. The uniform bounds hold for any ranking function in a given function class. The algorithm-dependent bounds instead consider the specific ranking function learned by the given algorithm, thus can usually be tighter. The bounds introduced in this chapter are derived under different ranking frameworks, and can explain behaviors of different learning-to-rank algorithms. We also show the limitations of existing analyses and discuss how to improve them in future work.
Assessment and use of drug information references in Utah pharmacies.

Objective : To determine which drug references Utah pharmacists use most frequently. To determine which types of drug information questions are most commonly asked, and whether Utah pharmacists have access to adequate references to respond to these questions. Methods : A 19-question survey was created using Qualtrics, LLC (Provo, Utah) software. An electronic survey link was sent to 1,431 pharmacists with a valid e-mail address listed in the Department of Professional Licensing database. Questions focused on available references in the participant’s pharmacy, how current the references are, and the participant’s use of the references. Surveys were analyzed for participants practicing in either community or hospital pharmacies in the state of Utah. Results : A total of 147 responses were included in the analysis. Approximately 44% of respondents practiced in the community, and 56% practiced in a hospital setting. The most commonly used references by Utah pharmacists are Micromedex, Lexicomp, UpToDate, Clinical Pharmacology, and Drug Facts & Comparisons. Pharmacists in the community frequently receive questions related to adverse drug reactions, drug interactions, and over-the-counter medications. Pharmacists in the hospital frequently receive questions relating to dosage and administration, drug interactions, and adverse drug reactions. About 89% of community pharmacists and 96% of hospital pharmacists feel available references are adequate to answer the questions they receive. Conclusions : Utah pharmacists generally use large reference suites to answer drug information questions. The majority of pharmacists consider the references available to them to be adequate to answer the questions they receive.
Benefits and challenges of using an Assessment of Ecosystem Services approach in land-use planning

This research investigates the use of an Assessment of Ecosystem Services (AES) approach as a planning tool in Florida through the use of an online survey. Target respondents were professionals who had been involved in AES projects. The majority of the respondents perceive an AES approach as a comprehensive and holistic approach that results in better land-use planning decisions. However, AES does not appear to be widely used to guide planning decisions. Despite some challenges, respondents across multiple agencies and institutions in Florida are supportive of using AES in combination with traditional land-use planning tools. More rigorous testing and validation and clarification of guidelines for best practice could improve political and economic support and thereby facilitate the use of AES to guide land-use planning efforts.
Site-Directed Mutagenesis Study of an Antibiotic-Sensing Noncoding RNA Integrated into a One-Semester Project-Based Biochemistry Lab Course

A laboratory sequence is described that is suitable for upper-level biochemistry or molecular biology laboratories that combines project-based and traditional laboratory experiments. In the project-based sequence, the individual laboratory experiments are thematically linked and aim to show how a bacterial antibiotic sensing noncoding RNA (the ykkCD riboswitch) recognizes its target antibiotic, tetracycline. The novelty of the curriculum lies in its extensive coverage of bioinformatics as well as its focus on synthesis, purification, and functional studies of a biologically active RNA. Further advantage of the curriculum is that the model system, the ykkCD riboswitch, regulates expression of a gene that is involved in bacterial antibiotic resistance. Hence, the project makes this important issue part of the undergraduate biochemistry curriculum. The curriculum is available in Open Access format as part of a biochemistry laboratory manual by Gerczei and Pattison. This manuscript summarizes the curriculum a...
Temporal Analysis of Stress Classification Using QRS Complex of ECG Signals

This paper demonstrates that electrocardiogram (ECG) signals can be used to detect and classify stress in a person using as low as 5 s data stream. The analysis focuses on determining the minimum ECG data required to classify stress levels. Time taken to detect level of stress can be crucial to prevent cardiac arrest and other abnormalities. The ECG data of 10 drivers driving through different traffic conditions is segmented into 60, 30, 20, 15, 10, and 5 s instances. Two levels of stress, low and high, and features from Q-, R-, and S-fiducial points and classifiers such as Naive Bayes, logistic, multilayer perceptron, SMO (sequential minimal optimization), IB1 (nearest neighbor), J48 (decision tree), and random forest are used for experiments. The results show that stress can be identified with high accuracy. It is found that even a 5 s data stream provides an 87.98% accuracy using random forest twofold cross validation test, opening the door for rapid stress detection.
Lobular Oxygen Gradients: Possible Role in Alcohol-Induced Hepatotoxicity

Alcoholic liver disease is a major health problem, and specific therapies are lacking because we still do not understand how alcohol causes liver damage. The purpose of this chapter is to evaluate the evidence for and against the hypothesis that hypoxia is involved in this disease. We shall review hepatic oxygen uptake, ethanol metabolism and adaptations, and hypoxic tissue damage in general briefly.
Approximation of Discontinuous Processes by Continuous Processes

There is a close relationship between methods of characterizing stochastic processes and methods for justifying approximations. In this paper we will consider two methods of characterizing processes, (1) as solutions of stochastic equations involving multidimensional random time transformations, and (2) (for Markov processes) by specifying their generators, and we will consider examples of how these methods lead naturally to approximation theorems.
Mifepristone inhibits ovarian cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo

4344 A major clinical problem in the treatment of ovarian cancer is the resistance to current chemotherapy, the high toxicity of standard chemotherapeutic drugs, and the repopulation of cells escaping chemotherapy. Therefore, the development of novel strategies to treat ovarian cancer is of significant importance. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the synthetic steroid mifepristone inhibits ovarian cancer growth in vitro and in vivo and the molecular mechanism involved. The effect of mifepristone on ovarian cancer cell growth in vitro was studied in ovarian cancer cell lines of different genetic backgrounds (SK-OV-3, Caov-3, OV2008, and IGROV-1). In addition, the growth inhibition capacity of mifepristone on ovarian carcinoma xenografts was tested in nude mice. Dose-response and time-course experiments revealed that mifepristone inhibited ovarian cancer cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, and, at the highest dose tested, it completely abrogated proliferation within 24 h of treatment. The cytostatic effect of mifepristone was confirmed in a clonogenic survival assay, and was not linked to loss of viability as revealed in a two-color fluorescence cell viability assay. Mifepristone blocked DNA synthesis demonstrated by decreased bromodeoxyuridine incorporation, and arrested the cell cycle at the G1-to-S transition as shown by flow cytometry. Western blot analysis demonstrated that mifepristone up-regulated cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) inhibitors p21cip1and p27kip1, down-regulated transcription factor E2F1, decreased expression of the E2F1 regulated genes, cdk1 (cdc2) and cyclin A, and to some extent declined cdk2 abundance. The abrupt arrest in cell growth induced by mifepristone correlated with reduced cdk2 activity assessed in an in vitro kinase assay, whereas immunoprecipitation of whole protein extracts from mifepristone-treated cells with an anti-cdk2 antibody revealed an increased association of cdk2 with p21cip1 and p27kip1. Finally, mifepristone significantly delayed the growth of ovarian carcinoma xenografts in a dose-dependent manner and without apparent toxic effects for the animals. In conclusion, these preclinical studies demonstrate that mifepristone is effective as a single agent in vitro and in vivo inhibiting growth of human epithelial ovarian cancer cells. Mifepristone markedly reduces cdk2 activity likely due to increased association of cdk2 with the cdk inhibitors p21cip1 and p27kip1. Acting as a cytostatic agent mifepristone promises to be of translational significance in ovarian cancer therapeutics.
Thermal expansion in the garnet-type solid electrolyte (Li7−xAlx/3)La3Zr2O12 as a function of Al content

Abstract The thermal expansion (TE) coefficients of the lithium-stable lithium-ion conducting garnet lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (LLZ) and the effect of aluminum substitution were measured from room temperature up to 700 °C by a synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction. The typical TE value measured for the most reported composition (LLZ doped with 0.3 wt.% or 0.093 mol% aluminum) was 15.498 × 10 −6 K −1 , which is approximately twice the value reported for other garnet-type structures. As the Al(III) concentration has been observed to strongly affect the structure observed and the ionic conductivity, we also assessed its role on thermal expansion and noted only a small variation with increasing dopant concentration. The materials implications for using LLZ in a solid state battery are discussed.
Fluid Resuscitation in Burns: 2 cc, 3 cc, or 4 cc?

A variety of burn resuscitation formulas, each with varying volumes and types of fluid being given, have been developed. The recommended fluid rate in these formulas ranges from 2 to 4 mL/kg/%total body surface area (TBSA), which could lead to variability among practitioners. As such, the purpose of this study is to evaluate which starting fluid rate is optimal for burn resuscitation. Multiple small trials have shown that a lower starting intravenous fluid rate yields no difference with respect to ventilator days, mortality, or renal failure. However, the preponderance of smaller studies precludes definitive conclusions. Larger, prospective, randomized trials are needed in a variety of aspects of burn resuscitation. In this review, we describe the history of burn resuscitation, summarize the data on fluid rates for burn resuscitation, discuss adjuncts to burn resuscitation, and highlight future research directions for burn care.
Cognitive Disconnect and Information Overload: Electronic Health Record Use for Rounding and Handover Communications in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Bedside working rounds can be one of the most cognitively complex situations in clinical medicine. Team members develop a mental model of the patient synthesizing electronic health record (EHR) information and information that is verbally transmitted during shift-to-shift communication. Each provider must synthesize and filter a large amount of information, which can be error prone. Rounds are also prone to interruptions. Despite interruptions, because the EHR allows for each individual provider to interact with the patient chart and there is an expectation that each team member fulfills a different role for the same patient, the team should develop a shared mental model to enable optimal workflow and provide optimal care. In this case study describing the bedside working rounds in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), we will explore each of these issues in depth.
Aversiveness and Meaningfulness of Uncomfortable Experiences with Edible Cannabis

ABSTRACTCannabis remains the most frequently used illicit drug in the United States. As its legal status has changed, more people have turned to oral administration (“edibles”). 172 individuals who...
Addition Rate of Exogenous Tannin for Optimal Tannin Retention in Hybrid Red Wines

Winemakers often add exogenous products to increase the tannin content in red hybrid wines, but the recommended dosage of 50 to 400 mg/L may not increase the final concentration of condensed tannins effectively. In 2013, wines were made from Marechal Foch, Corot noir, and Cabernet franc to compare retention of exogenous tannins in interspecific hybrids and Vitis vinifera. After analyzing 12 commercial tannin products for condensed tannin concentration via high-performance liquid chromatography solid phase extraction-phloroglucinolysis, the product with the highest concentration (38%) was added at 400, 800, and 1200 mg/L after crush but prior to yeast inoculation. One lot of each cultivar was also pressed off the skins immediately, fermented in the presence of 1600 mg/L exogenous tannin, then back-blended postfermentation with a control wine for a final theoretical concentration of 400 mg/L condensed tannin. At bottling, tannin concentrations in all treatments were greater than their respective controls. Tannin retention rates varied by cultivar, ranging from 19 to 24% in Marechal Foch wines, 25 to 43% in Corot noir, and 34 to 48% in Cabernet franc. The back-blended wines had similar tannin retention rates to those with 400 mg/L additions in Corot noir and Cabernet franc, but greater tannin retention in Marechal Foch (75 mg/L with a 400 mg/L addition and 93 mg/L in the back-blended wines). Though concentrations of condensed tannins were greater in all treated wines, none exceeded 50% retention. This suggests that high concentration additions of exogenous tannin increase the condensed tannins in hybrid red wines, but retention rates vary by cultivar.