cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Circalunar and ultralunar periodicities in women with partial seizures.

Purpose Little consensus exists for the definition of catamenial epilepsy. Few studies have evaluated the periodicity of seizures to test the hypothesis that seizures in women have periodic patterns of occurrence independent of a priori hormonal considerations. In the present study, we determined seizure periodicity according to a "menstrual clock" provided by a common phase marker of the onset of menses. Methods Seizure and menstrual diaries of approximately 3 months duration were obtained from women enrolled in a trial of hormonal therapy for localization-related epilepsy. Midluteal progesterone levels identified ovulatory (>or=5 ng/ml, OC) from anovulatory cycles (AC). Individual cycles were normalized to a common phase and period (day 0 = menses onset, intervening days = 28 bins). Periodicity of combined data was estimated with cosinor-nonlinear least squares analysis. Best-fit rhythms were estimated with 95% confidence limits. Results 100 patients provided 3344 seizures within 293 cycles (77% OC, 20% AC, indeterminate 3%). OC seizures displayed a circalunar rhythm with peak phase of occurrence at onset of menses. AC seizures also featured a circalunar rhythm that peaked at menses onset but also had ultralunar rhythms of approximately 14 and approximately 9 days. Discussion Seizures in women with epilepsy occur in circalunar rhythms. OC and AC seizures differ in seizure timing with the latter occurring in ultralunar rhythms in addition to the predominant circalunar rhythm. This finding supports the existence of catamenial epilepsy and differences in patterns of seizure occurrence between OC and AC.
SRT and SBRT: Current practices for QA dosimetry and 3D

The major feature that separates stereotactic radiation therapy (cranial SRT) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) from conventional radiation treatment is the delivery of large doses in a few fractions which results in a high biological effective dose (BED). In order to minimize the normal tissue toxicity, quality assurance of the conformation of high doses to the target and rapid fall off doses away from the target is critical. The practice of SRT and SBRT therefore requires a high-level of confidence in the accuracy of the entire treatment delivery process. In SRT and SBRT confidence in this accuracy is accomplished by the integration of modern imaging, simulation, treatment planning and delivery technologies into all phases of the treatment process; from treatment simulation and planning and continuing throughout beam delivery. In this report some of the findings of Task group 101 of the AAPM will be presented which outlines the best-practice guidelines for SBRT. The task group report includes a review of the literature to identify reported clinical findings and expected outcomes for this treatment modality. Information in this task group is provided for establishing an SBRT program, including protocols, equipment, resources, and QA procedures.
Effect of Antisymmetric Interactions on Critical Phenomena: A System with Helical Ground State

A classical Heisenberg Hamiltonian, to which is added single-ion anisotropy and antisymmetric Dzialoshinsky-Moriya interactions is studied with use of Wilson theory. The phase diagram is obtained; it consists of ferromagnetic, spiral, and ferromagnetic-spiral regions, with critical exponents that are Ising-like, $\mathrm{xy}$-like, and Heisenberg-like, respectively. These results lead to the conclusion that breaking of exchange symmetry does not change the nature of the phase transition. Crossover behavior is also discussed.
Visual disinhibition with binocular and interocular presentations.

Subjects were given combinations of two and three brief concentric flashes of equal luminance under backward masking conditions. Intervals between the first (TF) and second (CF) flashes were 10, 20, 50, 75, 100, and 200 msec. When third flashes (DF) were present, they were separated from CF by the same intervals. Two modes of presentation were employed: binocular presentations in which all flashes were presented to both eyes and interocular presentations in which TF and CF were presented to the left eye and DF to the right. With binocular view, the backward masking of CF by DF resulted in the disinhibition of TF, otherwise masked by CF under two-flash conditions. Disinhibition was not obtained under interocular presentations. A major conclusion is that recurrent influences within the human retina are not preserved more centrally (retrochiasmally) in the visual system.
Mass and Elite Foreign Policy Opinions

THE CONFLICT between strong executive direction and building the necessary consensus for action makes the conduct of foreign policy in a democracy extremely difficult. The expression of public support for foreign policy initiatives is a source of strength in diplomacy, but such support is difficult to gain because the mass public is generally regarded as less informed and unconcerned about foreign policy problems than about domestic issues (Almond, 1950; Caspary, 1970). In fact, the distinction between the foreign and domestic spheres is seen as so great by some scholars that the office of the American chief executive has been described as two presidencies-one oriented to domestic policy and one for foreign policy (Wildavsky, 1966; Cronin, 1980). According to this perspective, the president chooses to exercise initiatives on foreign policy questions precisely because the public is relatively unconcerned and the extreme conflict which erupts between various domestic factions can be avoided. Furthermore, the mass public is viewed as teachable in foreign policy matters; the president can set the agenda, persuade opinion leaders, and lead the
Comment: The Resource-Based View of the Firm and "Austrian" Economics: Integration to Go Beyond the S-C-P Paradigm of Industrial Organization Economics

The Austrian school of economics has informed current thinking in strategy, such as in the area of dynamic competitive action and response. Austrian economics also is likely to contribute to theory...
Technology for Organizational Training in Schools.

We describe some training designs, exercises, and procedures that have been used in laboratory training for organizational development in schools. We have selected and developed these methods over some years to serve as components in a training strategy that focusses on teaching, legitimizing, and making normative a specific procedure for group problem-solving. A vital adjunct is training in specific skills in face-to-face communication. These processes are illustrated by descriptions of actual interventions in schools.
Therapeutic action of fructose-1,6-diphosphate in traumatic shock.

Traumatic shock was induced in 130 rats by tumbling them in a Noble-Collip drum for a total of 600 revolutions at 40 rotations/min. The experimental protocol was designed to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of fructose 1,6-diphosphate (FDP) in reducing the mortality rate when given both prior to and following the trauma, or only following the trauma. In the first group (n=50) in which the treatment was given prior to and after trauma, the animals were randomly assigned to 3 subgroups as follows: 20 rats received 350 mg/kg of FDP prior to and an additional 350 mg/kg after trauma; 20 other rats received in the same manner equal amounts of glucose; and 10 rats received no treatment. In the group treated only after inflicting the injury (n=80), 35 rats received 350 mg/kg of FDP after trauma; another 35 received glucose; and 10 received no treatment. The rats from the different subgroups were tumbled at the same time.
Multiresolution fragmentation profiles for assessing hierarchically structured landscape patterns

For landscapes that are cast as categorical raster maps, we present an entropy based method for obtaining a multiresolution characterization of spatial pattern. The result is a conditional entropy profile which reflects the rate of information loss as map resolution is degraded by increasing the pixel size through a resampling filter. We choose a random filter because of desirable properties that simplify calculations. Neutral landscapes that are simulated by stochastic generating models provide a way to evaluate the behavior of conditional entropy profiles under known hierarchically scaled generating mechanisms. When the random filter is used, we provide a method to directly compute the conditional entropy profile for specified generating models. Such profiles can provide benchmarks for comparing results obtained from raster maps of actual landscapes that are classified from satellite images. These profiles appear to capture much of the information about a landscape pattern that is otherwise obtained by a suite of landscape measurements which characterize different aspects of spatial pattern.
Phylogenetic relationships of the Aurantioideae (Rutaceae) based on the nuclear ribosomal DNA ITS region and three noncoding chloroplast DNA regions, atpB-rbcL spacer, rps16, and trnL-trnF

The tribes and subtribes of Aurantioideae, an economically important subfamily of the Rutaceae, have a controversial taxonomic history because a phylogenetic framework has been lacking. In order to construct an evolutionary history and evaluate the most recent classification system [Swingle and Reece 1967. The botany of Citrus and its wild relatives, in: The Citrus Industry, vol. 1, History, World Distribution, Botany, and Varieties. University of California, Berkeley, pp. 190–430], one nuclear and three noncoding chloroplast genes were sequenced and analyzed phylogenetically along with selected non-molecular characters. Taxa representing tribes Citreae and Clauseneae and their six subtribes were sampled. In all analyses Aurantioideae is monophyletic. The majority-rule consensus tree from the combined analysis indicates that the two tribes are not monophyletic. The combined topology is not congruent with the widely used classification of Aurantioideae by Swingle and Reece (1967). The tribes and subtribes are in need of revision.
The eigenvalues of Hermite and rational spectral differentiation matrices

We derive expressions for the eigenvalues of spectral differentiation matrices for unbounded domains. In particular, we consider Galerkin and collocation methods based on Hermite functions as well as rational functions (a Fourier series combined with a cotangent mapping). We show that (i) first derivative matrices have purely imaginary eigenvalues and second derivative matrices have real and negative eigenvalues, (ii) for the Hermite method the eigenvalues are determined by the roots of the Hermite polynomials and for the rational method they are determined by the Laguerre polynomials, and (iii) the Hermite method has attractive stability properties in the sense of small condition numbers and spectral radii.
Transforming growth factor-β activated kinase 1 is an essential regulator of myogenic differentiation

Satellite cells/myoblasts account for the majority of muscle regenerative potential in response to injury and muscular adaptation to exercise. Although the ability to influence this process would provide valuable benefits for treating a variety of patients suffering from muscle loss, the regulatory mechanisms of myogenesis are not completely understood. We have tested the hypothesis that transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) is an important regulator of skeletal muscle formation. TAK1 is expressed in proliferating C2C12 myoblasts, and its levels are reduced upon differentiation of myoblasts into myotubes. In vivo, TAK1 is predominantly expressed in developing skeletal muscle of young mice. However, the expression of TAK1 was significantly up-regulated in regenerating skeletal muscle of adult mice. Overexpression of a dominant negative mutant of TAK1 or knockdown of TAK1 inhibited the proliferation and differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts. TAK1 was required for the expression of myogenic regulatory factors in differentiating myoblasts. Genetic ablation of TAK1 also inhibited the MyoD-driven transformation of mouse embryonic fibroblasts into myotubes. Inhibition of TAK1 suppressed the differentiation-associated activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Akt kinase. Overexpression of a constitutively active mutant of MAPK kinase 6 (MKK6, an upstream activator of p38 MAPK) but not constitutive active Akt restored the myogenic differentiation in TAK1-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Insulin growth factor 1-induced myogenic differentiation was also found to involve TAK1. Collectively, our results suggest that TAK1 is an important upstream regulator of skeletal muscle cell differentiation.
4-hydroxynonenal levels are enhanced in fetal liver mitochondria by in utero ethanol exposure

Lipid peroxidation has been implicated in ethanol-induced liver injury and observed in fetal liver and brain after maternal ethanol consumption with mitochondria being the target organelles. This process generates a highly reactive and toxic product, 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE). In the present study, HNE levels and metabolism were assessed in mitochondria of fetal and maternal liver after in vivo ethanol exposure. Female Sprague-Dawley rats received five doses of ethanol (4 g/kg orally at 12-hour intervals) and were killed on day 19 of gestation. The results showed that HNE levels were enhanced in hepatic mitochondria of fetal rats exposed to ethanol, far in excess of that in adult liver mitochondria. Measurement of HNE metabolism showed that fetal mitochondria had a lower capacity for HNE catabolism than adult mitochondria. In adult mitochondria, HNE could be metabolized by nicotine adenine dinucleotide-dependent oxidation, reduced glutathione conjugation, and reduced nicotine adenine dinucleotide-dependent reduction, whereas in fetal liver only the former two pathways were active, but to a lesser degree than in adult mitochondria. On the other hand, mitochondria from fetal liver showed a higher production of HNE when oxidative stress was induced with t-butyl hydroperoxide. Prior in vivo ethanol exposure further potentiated HNE formation in t-butyl hydroperoxide-stimulated fetal liver mitochondria, but not in adult mitochondria. These findings indicate that increased levels of HNE in fetal liver mitochondria after maternal ethanol consumption reflect a higher susceptibility to HNE formation in addition to a lesser capacity to metabolize it. The enhanced accumulation of this toxic aldehyde may contribute to oxidative damage observed in fetal tissues after in utero ethanol exposure.
Paediatric aneurysmal bone cysts of the head and neck.

Objective To provide an up to date review of the literature on aneurysmal bone cysts, including their diagnosis, pathology, pathophysiology, radiology and management. Method Retrospective review of six cases over a 15-year period. Results Six patients (age range, eight months to 17 years; mean, 9.6 years) presented with an aneurysmal bone cyst in the mandible (n = 3), maxilla (n = 2) or occipital soft tissue (n = 1). Each patient underwent primary excision, with one subsequent recurrence. Conclusion Aneurysmal bone cysts are benign but locally destructive entities which may occasionally present to otolaryngologists, since they can involve the head and neck region, in particular the mandible.
A Closer Look at the Second Demographic Transition in the US: Evidence of Bidirectionality from a Cohort Perspective (1982–2006)

Second demographic transition (SDT) theory posits that increased individualism and secularization have contributed to low fertility in Europe, but very little work has directly tested the salience of SDT theory to fertility trends in the US. Using longitudinal data from a nationally representative cohort of women who were followed throughout their reproductive years (National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 cohort, NLSY79), this study examines the role of several key indicators of the SDT (secularization, egalitarianism, religious affiliation, and female participation in the labor market) on fertility behavior over time (1982–2006). Analyses employ Poisson estimation, logistic regression, and cross-lagged structural equation models to observe unidirectional and bidirectional relationships over the reproductive life course. Findings lend support to the relevance of SDT theory in the US but also provide evidence of “American bipolarity” which distinguishes the US from the European case. Furthermore, analyses document the reciprocal nature of these relationships over time which has implications for how we understand these associations at the individual-level.
Chloroplast FtsY, Chloroplast Signal Recognition Particle, and GTP Are Required to Reconstitute the Soluble Phase of Light-harvesting Chlorophyll Protein Transport into Thylakoid Membranes

The integration of light-harvesting chlorophyll proteins (LHCPs) into the thylakoid membrane proceeds in two steps. First, LHCP interacts with a chloroplast signal recognition particle (cpSRP) to form a soluble targeting intermediate called the transit complex. Second, LHCP integrates into the thylakoid membrane in the presence of GTP, at least one other soluble factor, and undefined membrane components. We previously determined that cpSRP is composed of 43- and 54-kDa polypeptides. We have examined the subunit stoichiometry of cpSRP and find that it is trimeric and composed of two subunits of cpSRP43/subunit of cpSRP54. A chloroplast homologue of FtsY, an Escherichia coli protein that is critical for the function of E. coli SRP, was found largely in the stroma unassociated with cpSRP. When chloroplast FtsY was combined with cpSRP and GTP, the three factors promoted efficient LHCP integration into thylakoid membranes in the absence of stroma, demonstrating that they are all required for reconstituting the soluble phase of LHCP transport.
Computational neural networks : enhancing supervised learning algorithms via self-organization

A neural network processing scheme is proposed which utilizes a self-organizing Kohonen feature map as the front end to a feedforward classifier network. The results of a series of benchmarking studies based upon artificial statistical pattern recognition tasks indicate that the proposed architecture performs significantly better than conventional feedforward classifier networks when the decision regions are disjoint. This is attributed to the fact that the self-organization process allows internal units in the succeeding classifier network to be sensitive to a specific set of features in the input space at the outset of training.
FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE CONGRUENCE TECHNIQUE '

Summary.-This paper reports on the replication and refinement of a technique for assessing the discrepancy between public social behavios and private interaction proclivities. Generally, we replicated previous findings that this discrepancy predicts concurrent signs of maladjustment. The technique will prove valuable to those interested in the psychology of incongruence. Ford and Hook (1993) recently reported the Public-Private Congruence Technique as a way to assess the incongruence or the discrepancy between public behavior and private experience. The technique was used in the context of social interaction wherein incongruence was defined as the presentation of prosocial behaviors (like smiling and reciprocal conuersation) in the context of private experiences of a less amicable and sociable nature. Essentially, an individual's overtly prosocial "glow" can belie a covert desire not to be engaged in an ongoing interaction with others. Subjects are measured on this incongruence by examining seven artistically rendered pictures which illustrate the target, with whom the subject is instructed to identify, engaged in various social interactions; privately, the target wishes to terminate or to have avoided these interactions (e.g., smiling and conversing while privately wishing to escape the interaction). For each picture the subject completes a 5-point scale measuring how frequently the subject has been in the target's incongruent situation. An advantage of the technique's score (the mean frequency) is that it measures a psychological discrepancy-high public versus low private prosociability-without using a literal discrepancy value (like X - Y) which can be attended by a number of quantitative and conceptual liabilities. Ford and Hook (1993) reported high reliabilities as well as significant validity indices for the technique. They also found that the correlation between public-private incongruence and maladjustment (see Rogers, 1961) was stronger for college-age women than men. The present study was done to replicate and extend the findings for Ford and Hook's (1993) study of 50 women subjects. In this study we individually tested 45 college-age women on the seven public-private pictures and an over-all incongruence score was obtained for each subject. Two days later the subjects completed the following scales: anx
Congenital neutropenia: studies of pathogenesis.

Congenital neutropenia (CN) was diagnosed in a five-month-old boy. A variety of studies was performed to define the pathogenesis of his disease. Opsonic antineutrophil antibodies were present in his serum. Transfused normal granulocytes circulated poorly. Incubation of the patient's serum with normal granulocytes failed to alter their metabolic or functional activity. The patient's marrow demonstrated increased numbers of colony-forming units (CFUs) in vitro compared with control marrow. The patient's parents had low marrow CFU activity. The patient's serum and peripheral lymphocytes failed to inhibit normal marrow CFU activity. The patient's marrow did inhibit CFU growth of an HLA-identical-sibling's marrow in coculture. Histocompatibility studies demonstrated the HLA-B12 antigen in this patient, a histocompatibility marker previously associated with CN. These studies suggest some cases of CN are associated with a genetically transmitted marrow factor capable of suppressing myelopoiesis in normal marrow.
Osiris: an integrated promoter database for Oryza sativa L.

Summary: Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important model monocot and cereal crop. While the rice genome sequence has been published and annotated, relatively little is known about the transcriptional networks that regulate rice gene expression. For this reason, we have developed Osiris, a database containing promoter sequences, predicted transcription factor (TF) binding sites, gene ontology annotation and microarray expression data for 24 209 genes in the rice genome. These tools are seamlessly integrated in the Osiris web site, allowing the user to visualize TF binding sites in multiple promoters; analyze the statistical significance of enriched TF binding sites; query for genes containing similar promoter regulatory logic or gene function and visualize the microarray expression patterns of queried or selected gene sets.
Regions of exponential stability for LTI systems on nonuniform discrete domains

For LTI systems on a class of nonuniform discrete domains, we establish a region in the complex plane for which pole placement is a necessary and sufficient condition for exponential stability of solutions of the system. We study the interesting geometry of this region, comparing and contrasting it with the standard geometry of the regions of exponential stability for ODE systems on R and finite difference/recursive equations on Z. This work connects other results in the literature on the topic and explains the connection geometrically using time scales theory.
Biosensing approaches for rapid genotoxicity and cytotoxicity assays upon nanomaterial exposure.

The increased utilization of nanomaterials could affect human health and the environment due to increased exposure. Several mechanisms regarding the negative effects of nanomaterials have been proposed, one of the most discussed being oxidative stress. Many studies have shown that some metal oxide nanoparticles can enhance reactive oxygen species generation, inducing oxidative stress, DNA damage, and unregulated cell signaling, and eventually leading to changes in cell motility, apoptosis, and even carcinogenesis. 8-Hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) is one of the predominant forms of oxidative DNA damage, and has therefore been widely used as a biomarker for oxidative stress and carcinogenesis. Ther are two major objectives to this study. Firstly, the development of a novel lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) is presented to measure the concentration of 8-OHdG in cells and thus reveal the nanotoxicity on the genomic level. The feasibility of this new method is validated by comparison with two other established methods: Alamar Blue assay and a recently developed electrical impedance sensing (EIS) system on the level of cell proliferation/viability. Secondly, the toxicological effects of three metallic nanoparticles (CuO, CdO, and TiO2) are investigated and compared using these three methods with completely different mechanisms. The results show that there is a high variation among different nanoparticles concerning their ability to cause toxic effects. CuO nanoparticles are the most potent regarding cytotoxicity and DNA damage. CdO shows a fallen cell viability as well as DNA damage, however, to a lesser extent than CuO nanoparticles. TiO2 particles only cause very limited cytotoxicity, and there is no obvious increase in 8-OHdG levels. In conclusion, LFIA as well as the EIS system are useful methods for quantitative or qualitative nanotoxicity assessments with high sensitivity, specificity, speed of performance, and simplicity.
Towards Minimizing Service Degradation during MIPv6 Handovers

Since the correspondent registration messages in MIPv6 go through all the nodes that are responsible for QoS configuration after handover, we propose to extend the binding update (BU) messages of standard MIPV6 to carry scheme-dependent QoS data. Correspondent registration is performed by these new agent update (AU) messages. The AU messages are intercepted by QoS Agents, which are located in the "critical" nodes that are responsible for QoS configuration. Thus by the time that the correspondent registration is complete, the QoS configuration has also been updated along the data path, which minimizes the service degradation due to handover. This approach also provides a unified solution for heterogeneous QoS schemes that may be applied along the data path
Impact of isometric handgrip exercises on cephalic vein diameter in non-AVF candidates, a pilot study

PurposeIncident arteriovenous fistula (AVF) rates remain low. AVF placement is often not attempted because of small cephalic vein (CV) diameter. We postulated that isometric handgrip exercises woul...
Convert Alert: German Muslims and Turkish Christians as Threats to Security in the New Europe

At the turn of the twenty-first century two countries—one at the center of Europe and the other at its periphery—officially declared converts to minority religions to be threats to national security. The first is Germany, where since early 2006 Minister of Interior Affairs Wolfgang Schauble has repeatedly warned against the danger posed by German converts to Islam (e.g., Schmid 2007). Recently, after two German Muslims were caught collecting chemicals used to make explosives, the Christian Democrat Union (CDU) faction's leader Wolfgang Bosbach and its Bavarian Interior Minister Gunther Beckstein suggested the government register and follow all who have converted to Islam (Kuchen 2007). Bosbach said, “A convert registry only makes sense given that we know some of them may be radicalized after converting” (Ringel 2007).
Interfacing molecular dynamics with continuum dynamics in computer simulation: toward an application to biological

A clear challenge in the field of computer simulation of biological systems is to develop a simulation methodology that incorporates the vast temporal and spatial scales observed in living systems. At present, simulation capabilities generally operate in either microscopic or macroscopic regimes. Microscopic molecular dynamics simulations can examine systems up to the order of 100000 atoms on time scales of the order of nanoseconds. This is still orders of magnitude below the scales required to model complete biological structures such as a living cell. Continuum-based simulations, frequently employed in mechanical engineering problems, can model complete biological assemblies but do not contain any explicit molecular information. To fully capture the intricate interplay between microscopic processes and macroscopic events, a method of "information transfer" between these two disparate time and length scales is required. We present a new simulation methodology based on fundamental aspects of statistical and continuum mechanics that allows microscopic fluctuations to propagate to macroscopic scales and vice versa. A feedback mechanism is developed in which microscopic-level molecular dynamics simulations are coupled to corresponding macro-scale continuum-level simulations. The techniques of non-equilibrium molecular dynamics are used to create the micro-to-macro interface, where transport coefficients that are required input at the continuum level are calculated from detailed microscopic models. We present results for a model membrane in which the material is modeled at both spatial and temporal levels. The effect of non-elastic perturbations at the molecular level on macroscopic material properties is examined as a demonstration of the viability of the technique.
Review: Imaging to assess effect of medical therapy in patients with diabetes mellitus

The incidence of type 2 diabetes is rapidly increasing throughout the world. As an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease both at the microvascular and macrovascular level, diabetes is a condition that deserves the most aggressive medical management. The effectiveness of risk factor modification and glycaemic control on retarding atherosclerosis progression has been assessed by several invasive and non-invasive imaging methods that will be reviewed in this article. Br J Diabetes Vasc Dis 2007;7:157‐64
A new methology to simulate circuits with nonlinear devices

In this presentation, we are offering a new approach to handling circuits with nonlinear devices. Instead of regular biasing this method presents a way to localize the biasing by using "port nullification". The method is built around the concept of additivity, a property of superposition that has been widely used in linear circuits. This method allows the circuit designer to select a scheme of applying dc (or ac) sources in multiple steps to better control the dc operation of the circuit and get faster convergence. The method is tested through some examples and by using SPICE simulator
Pharmacological Induction of Fetal Hemoglobin: Why Haven't We Been More Successful in Thalassemia?

The first studies of the pharmacological induction of fetal hemoglobin were conducted in patients with sickle cell disease and thalassemia. Although hydroxyurea was approved by the FDA for the treatment of sickle cell disease in 1996, no similar pharmacological agent(s) has been approved for the treatment of patients with thalassemic disorders. The small-scale studies of the induction of fetal hemoglobin in thalassemia have been generally disappointing. The aim of this report is to provide a critical analysis of the factors that may be responsible for our failure to develop an effective fetal hemoglobin induction therapy for patients with thalassemia. We also describe several areas for future investigation that may be critically important for the development of an effective therapy for thalassemia.
Civilians Versus Police: Mediation Can Help to Bridge the Divide

The increasing frequency of notorious cases of conflicts between police officers and members of the general public (which in New York City has led to incidents of death, battery, and sexual assault) is cause for alarm. At the root of many police-community conflicts are an incomplete understanding of the work of the police, poor communication on the part of the police and the public, or simple misunderstanding. A number of communities, including New York City, are turning to mediation to provide a forum for the potential resolution of complaints made against police by citizens. After a brief survey of the work of such programs nationally, the author focuses on three New York cases in which she served as a mediator, using them to illustrate the pitfalls and special rewards of mediating in this context. The author believes that the mediation process itself can work in a transformative way, improving strained relations between police and the general population.
Aging, articular cartilage chondrocyte senescence and osteoarthritis

The incidence of osteoarthritis (OA), the disease characterized by joint pain and loss of joint form and function due to articular cartilage degeneration, is directly correlated with age. The strong association between age and increasing incidence of osteoarthritis (OA) marks OA as an age related disease. Yet, like many other age related diseases, OA is not an inevitable consequence of aging; instead, aging increases the risk of OA. Articular cartilage aging changes that may lead to articular cartilage degeneration include fraying and softening of the articular surface, decreased size and aggregation of proteoglycan aggrecans and loss of matrix tensile strength and stiffness. These changes most likely are the result of an age related decrease in the ability of chondrocytes to maintain and repair the tissue manifested by decreased mitotic and synthetic activity, decreased responsiveness to anabolic growth factors and synthesis of smaller less uniform aggrecans and less functional link proteins. Our recent work suggests that progressive chondrocyte senescence marked by expression of the senescence associated enzyme beta-galactosidase, erosion of chondrocyte telomere length and mitochondrial degeneration due to oxidative damage causes the age related loss of chondrocyte function. New efforts to prevent the development and progression of OA might include strategies that slow the progression of chondrocyte senescence or replace senescent cells.
Studies on the effects of the N-terminal domain antibodies of calcitonin receptor-like receptor and receptor activity-modifying protein 1 on calcitonin gene-related peptide-induced vasorelaxation in rat uterine artery.

The vascular relaxation sensitivity to calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is enhanced during pregnancy, compared with nonpregnant human and rat uterine arteries. In the rat uterine artery, two types of CGRP receptors have been shown to coexist, CGRP-A receptor, which is a complex of calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CRLR), and receptor activity‐modifying protein (RAMP1) and CGRP-B receptor, which is different from CRLR. In the present study, we hypothesized that: 1) CGRP-induced vasorelaxation in rat uterine artery is mediated through CGRP-A receptor and 2) N-terminal (Nt) domain of CRLR (Nt-CRLR) has a major contribution in ligand binding and mediating CGRPinduced relaxation effects in rat uterine artery. Polyclonal antibodies against Nt-domain of CRLR and RAMP1 (Nt-RAMP1) were raised in rabbits and characterized for their specificity and were used to inhibit CGRP-induced vasorelaxation in rat uterine artery. For vascular relaxation studies, uterine arteries from Day 18 pregnant rats were isolated, and responsiveness of the vessels to CGRP was examined with a small vessel myograph. CGRP (10 210 to 10 27 M) produced a concentration-dependent relaxation of norepinephrine-induced contractions in Day 18 pregnant rat uterine arteries. These effects were significantly (P , 0.05) inhibited when uterine arteries were incubated with the antibody raised against Nt-CRLR (PD2 5 6.75 6 0.20) and were totally abolished in presence of antibodies for both Nt-CRLR and Nt-RAMP1 (PD2 5 6.14 6 0.35). In contrast, a monoclonal antibody for CGRP-B receptor had no effect on CGRP-induced rat uterine artery relaxation. These studies suggest that CGRP effects in rat uterine artery are mediated through CGRP-A receptor and that Nt-domain of CRLR may play a predominant role in CGRP binding and thus in causing CGRP-induced uterine artery relaxation. neuropeptides, pregnancy, uterus
Percutaneous coronary revascularization for myocardial infarction in chronic kidney disease: recognizing the risk while seizing the benefits.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) with an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min is seen in over 30% of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) ([1][1]). The prevalence of CKD continues to rise, in part because of increasing diabetes and hypertension ([2][2]). In patients
Comparing statistical and process-based flow duration curve models in ungauged basins and changing rain regimes

Abstract. The prediction of flow duration curves (FDCs) in ungauged basins remains an important task for hydrologists given the practical relevance of FDCs for water management and infrastructure design. Predicting FDCs in ungauged basins typically requires spatial interpolation of statistical or model parameters. This task is complicated if climate becomes non-stationary, as the prediction challenge now also requires extrapolation through time. In this context, process-based models for FDCs that mechanistically link the streamflow distribution to climate and landscape factors may have an advantage over purely statistical methods to predict FDCs. This study compares a stochastic (process-based) and statistical method for FDC prediction in both stationary and non-stationary contexts, using Nepal as a case study. Under contemporary conditions, both models perform well in predicting FDCs, with Nash–Sutcliffe coefficients above 0.80 in 75 % of the tested catchments. The main drivers of uncertainty differ between the models: parameter interpolation was the main source of error for the statistical model, while violations of the assumptions of the process-based model represented the main source of its error. The process-based approach performed better than the statistical approach in numerical simulations with non-stationary climate drivers. The predictions of the statistical method under non-stationary rainfall conditions were poor if (i) local runoff coefficients were not accurately determined from the gauge network, or (ii) streamflow variability was strongly affected by changes in rainfall. A Monte Carlo analysis shows that the streamflow regimes in catchments characterized by frequent wet-season runoff and a rapid, strongly non-linear hydrologic response are particularly sensitive to changes in rainfall statistics. In these cases, process-based prediction approaches are favored over statistical models.
Commentary on "Gemcitabine: single-agent and combination therapy in non-small cell lung cancer". The Oncologist 1999;4:241-251.

Dr. Sandler has presented an important summary of the rationale and utilization of gemcitabine in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [1]. In this commentary, I will endeavor to place this summary in the context of recent developments in NSCLC, more fully explore some of the significant toxicity issues raised by Dr. Sandler with regard to platinum/gemcitabine combinations, and describe potential future trials utilizing this important drug.
A career in forensic psychiatry: the ultimate unconscious resistance?

I never really believed in the idea of unconscious resistance in psychotherapy. For the four years of my training in a predominantly psychoanalytic residency program, I tried my best to understand the basic tenets of psychodynamic therapy, but none of it came easily to me. When I was growing up, my
Nutritional therapy in pediatric Crohn disease: the specific carbohydrate diet.

ABSTRACTObjectives:Crohn disease is characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation in the absence of a recognized etiology. Nutritional therapy in the form of exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) has an established role within pediatric Crohn disease. Following exclusive enteral nutrition's success,
Fluoride Anion Chelation by a Bidentate Stibonium–Borane Lewis Acid

The stibonium–borane [o-(Ph2MeSb)(Mes2B)C6H4]+ (4+) has been synthesized and isolated as a triflate salt. Competition experiments carried out with [o-(Ph2MeP)(Mes2FB)C6H4] indicate that 4+ exhibits a much higher fluoride affinity than its lighter phosphorus congener. Structural studies show that the higher fluoride affinity of 4+ is correlated to the Lewis acidity of the stibonium center, which engages the boron-bound fluoride anion in the formation of a B–F→Sb bridge. These results illustrate that the Lewis acidity of main-group onium ions increases as the group is descended.
The Epipharynx of Lamellicorn LarvÆ (Coleop.), with a Key to Common Genera.

A study of the distinguishing characters of American Lamellicorn larvae has been a long felt need. Moreover, their economic importance makes such a study of extreme value. A reiteration here of the importance of this group of insects is scarcely warranted, except to point out that because of the diversity of their habits and the various lengths of their lifecycles, it is highly desirous to be able to recognize, at least the different genera and when possible the species belonging to the genera. Forbes (1894, p. 97) in his Eighteenth Report stated that “life-histories are not sufficiently different to make discrimination of species a matter of practical importance and for economic purposes consequently, the white grubs may usually be classed as one.” A little later in the same report (footnote, p. 105), in speaking of the verification of life-histories he says “it is necessary that the observer should learn to distinguish species or at least groups of species of these insects in the grub and larval stage.” Forbes then pointed out differences between Ochrosidia (Cyclocephala) and Phyllophaga (Lachnosterna) grubs. The latter genus was divided into three groups— the hirticula-rugosa, fusca-inversa and gibbosa (now futilis ) group. Except for the work of Forbes and scattered isolated descriptions, no attempt was made in this country to characterize the various groups of the family until Boving (1921) published a short key dealing with several allied genera of the Green Japanese Beetle ( Popillia japonica Newm.) which is based in part on Schiodte's (1874) work. This generic key indicated the distinguishing characters of one European and five American genera.
Global Ionospheric Model with International Reference Ionosphere Constraint

An optimized method for global ionospheric modeling with an international reference ionosphere constraint is proposed.It constrains the total electron content of the ionosphere over the equatorial anomaly area,southern hemisphere and the area where the value of the total electron content is negative.The vertical total electron content was modeled in a solar-geomagnetic reference frame using a spherical harmonics expansion up to degree and order 15.The standard deviation of unit weight derived from processing was about 1.6TECU.The proportion of absolute residual errors was less than3 TECU achieves above 90%.Global ionosphere maps have a good agreement with IGS,and the RMS of difference is around 3.7TECU.The difference of the satellite's differential code bias is just about0.1ns when compared with CODE,and 0.2ns compared with IGS.The difference of receivers differential code bias is about 1ns(mostly 0.5ns)when compared with CODE,and 1.5ns when compared with IGS.The results indicate that the global ionosphere model with international reference ionosphere constraint ensures that the values of total electron content all over the globe are positive,and enhances total electron content precision of ionosphere over the equatorial anomaly area,ocean and southern hemisphere.
Visual Impairment and Blindness in Adults in the United States: Demographic and Geographic Variations From 2015 to 2050

Importance The number of individuals with visual impairment (VI) and blindness is increasing in the United States and around the globe as a result of shifting demographics and aging populations. Tracking the number and characteristics of individuals with VI and blindness is especially important given the negative effect of these conditions on physical and mental health. Objectives To determine the demographic and geographic variations in VI and blindness in adults in the US population in 2015 and to estimate the projected prevalence through 2050. Design, setting, and participants In this population-based, cross-sectional study, data were pooled from adults 40 years and older from 6 major population-based studies on VI and blindness in the United States. Prevalence of VI and blindness were reported by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and per capita prevalence by state using the US Census projections (January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2050). Main outcomes and measures Prevalence of VI and blindness. Results In 2015, a total of 1.02 million people were blind, and approximately 3.22 million people in the United States had VI (best-corrected visual acuity in the better-seeing eye), whereas up to 8.2 million people had VI due to uncorrected refractive error. By 2050, the numbers of these conditions are projected to double to approximately 2.01 million people with blindness, 6.95 million people with VI, and 16.4 million with VI due to uncorrected refractive error. The highest numbers of these conditions in 2015 were among non-Hispanic white individuals (2.28 million), women (1.84 million), and older adults (1.61 million), and these groups will remain the most affected through 2050. However, African American individuals experience the highest prevalence of visual impairment and blindness. By 2050, the highest prevalence of VI among minorities will shift from African American individuals (15.2% in 2015 to 16.3% in 2050) to Hispanic individuals (9.9% in 2015 to 20.3% in 2050). From 2015 to 2050, the states projected to have the highest per capita prevalence of VI are Florida (2.56% in 2015 to 3.98% in 2050) and Hawaii (2.35% in 2015 and 3.93% in 2050), and the states projected to have the highest projected per capita prevalence of blindness are Mississippi (0.83% in 2015 to 1.25% in 2050) and Louisiana (0.79% in 2015 to 1.20% in 2050). Conclusions and relevance These data suggest that vision screening for refractive error and early eye disease may reduce or prevent a high proportion of individuals from experiencing unnecessary vision loss and blindness, decrease associated costs to the US economy for medical services and lost productivity, and contribute to better quality of life. Targeted education and screening programs for non-Hispanic white women and minorities should become increasingly important because of the projected growth of these populations and their relative contribution to the overall numbers of these conditions.
Identification and management of eating disorders in gynecology: menstrual health as an underutilized screening tool

Eating disorders are life-threatening conditions that disproportionately affect females, often during child-bearing years. Although the endocrinological and reproductive sequelae of these conditions often fall within the treatment purview of obstetrician-gynecologists, the assessment of eating pathology is challenging and often not part of routine clinical care. This commentary focuses on one of the common presenting symptoms of eating disorders in women, menstrual dysfunction, and discusses considerations for its clinical management in gynecology. Assessment of menstrual status provides a natural starting point for provider-patient discussion of disordered eating and weight behavior. Routine screening for eating disorders is critical and must be universal given the serious long-term consequences of these disorders.