cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Leukemia and the disruption of normal hematopoiesis.

The goal of this review is to highlight recent advances in our understanding of the pathobiology of leukemias and lymphomas. Our theme throughout will be to relate specific mechanisms involved in the initiation and progression of leukemia to the alteration of the normal homeostatic mechanisms used to regulate the production of blood cells. Advances in the definition of hematopoietic growth factors and their receptors and cellular oncogenes provide a reservoir of possibilities to consider for growth deregulation. When possible we will concentrate on mechanisms defined for human leukemias and lymphomas and use data from experimental animal models for contrast or to demonstrate unique concepts. Although many of the points we will describe could relate to most leukemias (e.g., clonality, or block to differentiation), we have chosen specific leukemias or lymphomas to exemplify such concepts. Advancement in the isolation and characterization of the pluripotent stem cell has furthered our understanding of its related malignancies. Most leukemias, however, have classically been categorized as lymphoid or myeloid (Figure 1). We have favored grouping hematopoietic neoplasias according to related molecular and cell biologic mechanisms. We will discuss selected examples that appear to function as regulators of cell growth or differentiation. We define leukemia as the uncontrolled proliferation
Control of Adaptive Immune Responses by Staphylococcus aureus through IL-10, PD-L1, and TLR2

Microbes induce innate immune responses in hosts. It is critical to know how different microbes control adaptive responses through innate pathways. The impact of gram-positive bacteria on the innate and adaptive responses is unclear. Herein we report that Staphylococcus aureus induces IL-10, Th17-inducing cytokines IL-6 and IL-23, chemokines, and regulates dendritic cell markers. S. aureus inhibits T-cell IL-2 responses through modulation of HLA-DR, CD86 and PD-L1. IFN-gamma, Src kinase inhibitors, or TLR2 antibodies prevented the down-modulation of HLA-DR by S. aureus. Our data demonstrate that innate TLR signaling induces multi-dimensional inhibition of adaptive immune responses, which may contribute to the lack of protective immunity to bacteria or microbe tolerance. IL-10 and PD-L1 antagonists may boost immunity to vaccines for S. aureus and other microbes.
Mechanisms of motor recovery after subtotal spinal cord injury: insights from the study of mice carrying a mutation (WldS) that delays cellular responses to injury.

Partial lesions of the mammalian spinal cord result in an immediate motor impairment that recovers gradually over time; however, the cellular mechanisms responsible for the transient nature of this paralysis have not been defined. A unique opportunity to identify those injury-induced cellular responses that mediate the recovery of function has arisen from the discovery of a unique mutant strain of mice in which the onset of Wallerian degeneration is dramatically delayed. In this strain of mice (designated Wld S for Wallerian degeneration, slow), many of the cellular responses to spinal cord injury are also delayed. We have used this experimental animal model to evaluate possible causal relationships between these delayed cellular responses and the onset of functional recovery. For this purpose, we have compared the time course of locomotor recovery in C57BL/6 (control) mice and in Wld S (mutant) mice by hemisecting the spinal cord at T8 and evaluating locomotor function at daily postoperative intervals. The time course of locomotor recovery (as determined by the Tarlov open-field walking procedure) was substantially delayed in mice carrying the Wld S mutation: C57BL/6 control mice began to stand and walk within 6 days (mean Tarlov score of 4), whereas mutant mice did not exhibit comparable locomotor function until 16 days postoperatively. Interpretation and conclusion: (a) The rapid return of locomotor function in the C57BL/6 mice suggests that the recovery resulted from processes of functional plasticity rather than from regeneration or collateral sprouting of nerve fibers. (b) The marked delay in the return of locomotor function in Wld S mice indicates that the processes of neuroplasticity are induced by degenerative changes in the damaged neurons. (c) These strains of mice can be effectively used in future studies to elucidate the specific biochemical and physiological alterations responsible for inducing functional plasticity and restoring locomotor function after spinal cord injury.
Quantification of catechol 2,3-dioxygenase gene homology and benzoate utilization in intertidal sediments

The catechol 2,3-dioxygenase (C230) gene, xylE, from the TOL plasmid pathway was used to probe naturally occurring bacterial communities in an intertidal microbial mat. Bound probe was quantified by densitometric analysis of slot blots using colorimetric detection of hybridization between the probe and total DNA extracts from the sediments. The C230 gene encodes the key ringbrealung enzyme of the toluene degradation pathway, of which benzoate is an intermediate. Radiotracer experiments using I4C-benzoate detected benzoate mineralization in these sedirnents, corroborating the presence of both the genetic potential and in situ actlvity for this transformation.
The modern management of minimally symptomatic atrial fibrillation in the Post-AFFIRM era

Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and presents a unique management challenge for the physician. Given the variability of clinical presentation as well as the variability of clinical sequelae, no single approach meets all patients' needs. This challenging arrhythmia has recently been reviewed in the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association/European Society of Cardiology guidelines. This comprehensive document goes a long way toward organizing clinical treatment approaches. However, new information gathered in the Atrial Fibrillation Follow-up Investigation of Rhythm Management (AFFIRM) trial further helps the clinician with clinical assessment. Together, these major documents are invaluable to the clinician and provide a rational basis on which to make clinical decisions.
Radon: current challenges in cellular radiobiology.

Radon is by far the most important contributor to the collective dose equivalent. Most of what is known about the hazards of radon daughters comes from epidemiological studies of miners. There are a few well defined areas in which in vitro research can complement such studies: First, more data on the relative effects of differing energy (LET) α-particles would help: (1) understand the significance of the depth of sensitive cells in the bronchial epithelium—which varies between individuals, as well as between smokers and non-smokers, and between miners and non-miners; (2) understand the relative hazards of radon and thoron daughters. Second, reliable methods for predicting high LET responses from low LET response, would enable Japanese A-bomb survivor data to be applied with confidence. Third, understanding the effects of single-particle traversals of cells relative to multiple traversals could allow reliable extrapolation of epidemiological miner data to low exposures. Fourth, a better understanding of th...
Age and Race Differences in the Trajectories of Self-Esteem

The purpose of this research was to assess age- and race-based variation in within-persons changes in self-esteem over a 16-year period. We used hierarchical linear modeling with data from 3,617 adults 25 years of age and older who were interviewed up to 4 times. Self-esteem increased, on average, over the course of the study period. At the same time, significant age variations around this trend were observed, with younger adults experiencing increases in self-esteem and older adults experiencing decreases. In general, race differences were not evident with respect to average levels or rates of change in self-esteem. However, a significant Age x Race interaction suggested that late-life declines in self-esteem were steeper for Blacks compared with Whites. These findings suggest the presence of age- and race-based stratification with respect to self-esteem. Future work in this area should examine the health and well-being effects of declining self-esteem during old age.
Phytoplankton Community Indicators of Short- and Long- term Ecological Change in the Anthropogenically and Climatically Impacted Neuse River Estuary, North Carolina, USA

Estuarine and coastal systems represent a challenge when it comes to determining the causes of ecological change because human and natural perturbations often interact. Phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll a) and group-specific photopigment indicators were examined from 1994 to 2007 to assess community responses to nutrient and climatic perturbations in the Neuse River Estuary, NC. This system experienced nutrient enrichment and hydrologic variability, including droughts, and an increase in hurricanes. Freshwater input strongly interacted with supplies of the limiting nutrient nitrogen (N) and temperature to determine the location, magnitude, and composition of phytoplankton biomass. Multi-annual, seasonal, and episodic hydrologic perturbations, including changes in the frequency and intensity of tropical storms, hurricanes and droughts, caused significant shifts in phytoplankton community structure. Climatic oscillations can at times overwhelm anthropogenic nutrient inputs in terms of controlling algal bloom thresholds, duration, and spatial extent. Eutrophication models should incorporate climatically driven changes to better predict phytoplankton community responses to nutrient inputs and other anthropogenic perturbations.
Molecular Mechanisms of Drug Reinforcement and Addiction

Drug reinforcement is a form of behavioral plasticity in which behavioral changes occur in response to acute exposure to a reinforcing drug. Drugs are classified as reinforcers if the probability of a drug-seeking response is in­ creased when the response is temporally paired with drug exposure. Such rapid and powerful associations between a drug reinforcer and a drug-seeking re­ sponse probably reflect the drug's ability to directly modulate preexisting brain-reinforcement systems. These preexisting systems normally mediate the reinforcement produced by natural reinforcers such as food, sex, and social interaction. Upon acute exposure most abused drugs function as positive rein­ forcers, presumably because they produce a positive affective state (e.g. eu­ phoria). Chronic exposure to reinforcing drugs can lead to drug addiction, which is also characterized by an increase in drug-seeking behavior. Clinically, this sustained increase in drug-seeking behavior (Le. craving) is a core feature of drug addiction. However, unlike drug reinforcement in nonaddicted subjects, addicted subjects exhibit a sustained increase in drug-seeking behavior even when the drug is absent or withdrawn. In some of these situations drugs can function as negative reinforcers in that they offer relief from a negative affec­ tive state (e.g. dysphoria). Since acute drug reinforcement and the addicted state are both characterized by an increase in drug-seeking behavior, common
The Struggle between Security and Democracy: An Alternative Explanation of the Democratization of South Korea

South Korea experienced democratic reform relatively recently. Before its significant democratic reform in 1987, South Korea had been dominated by a series of authoritarian regimes over a few decades since its liberation from Japanese colonial rule. This study aims to uncover a set of variables that helped the democratic development of South Korea. For that purpose, I will demonstrate that prior to democratization the politics of South Korea were characterized by the struggle between democracy and security, and that the authoritarian leaders were successful in utilizing the unstable international security environment to strengthen their power during those years. I will also show that the favorably changing security environment played a significant role in the process of democratic transition. In so doing, I will argue that consideration of the external security environment is essential in the discussion of democratization.
The movement of cod and haddock larvae onto the shoals of Georges Bank

Larval haddock and cod spawned on northeastern Georges Bank during spring have continuous recruitment to the shoal central part of the bank (< 55 m) as they develop and are advected along the southern flank in a sheared flow field. Larval age distribution data from an intensive grid of sampling stations across the flank in spring of 1981 and 1983 show a consistent cross-shelf age gradient, with older larvae found nearer the shoals. The estimated average shoalward movement of larvae is 0.65 cm s−1, which is consistent with both estimated dispersion rates and observed and predicted near bottom cross-isobath currents of < 1-2 cm s−1. The retention of larvae on the shoals of Georges Bank appears to be enhanced by their residing nearer to the bottom in waters shallower than 70 m, but the degree to which their swimming behaviour interacts with currents remains uncertain.
Identification of New Genetic Regions More Prevalent in Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae Otitis Media Strains than in Throat Strains

Nontypeable (NT) Haemophilus influenzae strains cause significant respiratory illness and are isolated from up to half of middle ear aspirates from children with acute otitis media. Previous studies have identified two genes, lic2B and hmwA, that are associated with NT H. influenzae strains isolated from the middle ears of children with otitis media but that are not associated with NT H. influenzae strains isolated from the throats of healthy children, suggesting that they may play a role in virulence in otitis media. In this study, genomic subtraction was used to identify additional genetic regions unique to middle ear strains. The genome of NT H. influenzae middle ear strain G622 was subtracted from that of NT H. influenzae throat strain 23221, and the resultant gene regions unique to the middle ear strain were identified. Subsequently, the relative prevalence of the middle ear-specific gene regions among a large panel of otitis media and throat strains was determined by dot blot hybridization. By this approach, nine genetic regions were found to be significantly more prevalent in otitis media strains. Classification tree analysis of lic2B, hmwA, and the nine new potential otitis media virulence genes revealed two H. influenzae pathotypes associated with otitis media.
Intensionality, extensionality, and proof irrelevance in modal type theory

We develop a uniform type theory that integrates intensionality, extensionality and proof irrelevance as judgmental concepts. Any object may be treated intensionally (subject only to /spl alpha/-conversion), extensionally (subject also to /spl beta//spl eta/-conversion), or as irrelevant (equal to any other object at the same type), depending on where it occurs. Modal restrictions developed by R. Harper et al. (2000) for single types are generalized and employed to guarantee consistency between these views of objects. Potential applications are in logical frameworks, functional programming and the foundations of first-order modal logics. Our type theory contrasts with previous approaches that, a priori, distinguished propositions (whose proofs are all identified - only their existence is important) from specifications (whose implementations are subject to some definitional equalities).
Risk analysis and port security: some contextual observations and considerations

Using the literature and drawing upon several decades of experience in risk analysis, the author identifies three elements that appear particularly challenging for port security applications. The first of these is identifying a set of realistic scenarios for risk assessment. The second is estimating the likelihood of a successful attack on a port. The third is understanding the regional and national economic consequences of these events. The author offers suggestions for addressing these challenges.
The Meaning of Grieving for Families Living with AIDS

Parse's research method was used to study the meaning of grieving for families living with AIDS. In videotaped dialogues, diverse families living with AIDS described their experiences of grieving in relation to death and other losses. Narratives of the grieving experiences of each family were constructed. Through the process of extraction-synthesis, the structure of grieving was generated. The four concepts within the structure are explicated in this article as essential in family grieving. Further interpretation led to a theoretical structure of grieving within the human becoming belief system. This view of grieving, as a multidimensional rhythmical process of intersubjective becoming, expands and specifies nursing's theory base. The study also confirms that Parse's methodology is valuable for family-centered nursing research.
Giving the wrong impression: food and beverage brand impressions delivered to youth through popular movies

Background Marketing on television showcases less-healthful options, with emerging research suggesting movies promote similar products. Given the obesity epidemic, understanding advertising to youth should be a public health imperative. The objective of this study was to estimate youth impressions to food and beverages delivered through movies. Methods Impressions were calculated by dividing US receipts annually into average movie ticket prices, then multiplying this by the number of brand appearances. Examination by ratings, product types and ages were conducted by Spearman rank correlation coefficient tests. Results Youth in the USA saw over 3 billion food, beverage or food‐retail establishment (FRE) impressions on average, annually from 1996 to 2005. Those aged 12‐18 viewed over half of all impressions, with PG-13-rated movies containing 61.5% of impressions. There were no significant trends in brand appearances by food, beverage or FRE impressions over the decade, although there was a decreasing trend in R-rated impressions for both foods (P , 0.01) and beverages (P , 0.01), but not FREs (P ¼ 0.08).
Rapamycin increases mitochondrial efficiency by mtDNA-dependent reprogramming of mitochondrial metabolism in Drosophila

Downregulation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway by its inhibitor rapamycin is emerging as a potential pharmacological intervention that mimics the beneficial effects of dietary restriction. Modulation of mTOR has diverse effects on mitochondrial metabolism and biogenesis, but the role of the mitochondrial genotype in mediating these effects remains unknown. Here, we use novel mitochondrial genome replacement strains in Drosophila to test the hypothesis that genes encoded in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) influence the mTOR pathway. We show that rapamycin increases mitochondrial respiration and succinate dehydrogenase activity, decreases H2O2 production and generates distinct shifts in the metabolite profiles of isolated mitochondria versus whole Drosophila. These effects are disabled when divergent mitochondrial genomes from D. simulans are placed into a common nuclear background, demonstrating that the benefits of rapamycin to mitochondrial metabolism depend on genes encoded in the mtDNA. Rapamycin is able to enhance mitochondrial respiration when succinate dehydrogenase activity is blocked, suggesting that the beneficial effects of rapamycin on these two processes are independent. Overall, this study provides the first evidence for a link between mitochondrial genotype and the effects of rapamycin on mitochondrial metabolic pathways.
Capacitive Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducers for Therapeutic Ultrasound Applications

Therapeutic ultrasound guided by MRI is a noninvasive treatment that potentially reduces mortality, lowers medical costs, and widens accessibility of treatments for patients. Recent developments in the design and fabrication of capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) have made them competitive with piezoelectric transducers for use in therapeutic ultrasound applications. In this paper, we present the first designs and prototypes of an eight-element, concentric-ring, CMUT array to treat upper abdominal cancers. This array was simulated and designed to focus 30-50 mm into tissue, and ablate a 2- to 3-cm-diameter tumor within 1 h. Assuming a surface acoustic output pressure of 1 MPa peak-to-peak (8.5 W/cm2) at 2.5 MHz, we simulated an array that produced a focal intensity of 680 W/cm2 when focusing to 35 mm. CMUT cells were then designed to meet these frequency and surface acoustic intensity specifications. These cell designs were fabricated as 2.5 mm x 2.5 mm test transducers and used to verify our models. The test transducers were shown to operate at 2.5 MHz with an output pressure of 1.4 MPa peak-to-peak (16.3 W/cm2). With this CMUT cell design, we fabricated a full eight-element array. Due to yield issues, we only developed electronics to focus the four center elements of the array. The beam profile of the measured array deviated from the simulated one because of the crosstalk effects; the beamwidth matched within 10% and sidelobes increased by two times, which caused the measured gain to be 16.6 compared to 27.4.
Altered T cell responses in children with autism.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by impairment in social interactions, communication deficits, and restricted repetitive interests and behaviors. A potential etiologic role for immune dysfunction in ASD has been suggested. Dynamic adaptive cellular immune function was investigated in 66 children with a confirmed diagnosis of ASD and 73 confirmed typically developing (TD) controls 2–5 years-of-age. In vitro stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with PHA and tetanus was used to compare group-associated cellular responses. The production of GM-CSF, TNFα, and IL-13 were significantly increased whereas IL-12p40 was decreased following PHA stimulation in ASD relative to TD controls. Induced cytokine production was associated with altered behaviors in ASD children such that increased pro-inflammatory or TH1 cytokines were associated with greater impairments in core features of ASD as well as aberrant behaviors. In contrast, production of GM-CSF and TH2 cytokines were associated with better cognitive and adaptive function. Following stimulation, the frequency of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressing activation markers CD134 and CD25 but not CD69, HLA-DR or CD137 were significantly reduced in ASD, and suggests an altered activation profile for T cells in ASD. Overall these data indicate significantly altered adaptive cellular immune function in children with ASD that may reflect dysfunctional immune activation, along with evidence that these perturbations may be linked to disturbances in behavior and developmental functioning. Further longitudinal analyzes of cellular immunity profiles would delineate the relationship between immune dysfunction and the progression of behavioral and developmental changes throughout the course of this disorder.
Primary Empty Sella Syndrome in Childhood: Association with Precocious Puberty

Primary empty sella syndrome has been considered an infrequent finding in childhood. One hundred and twelve cases have been reported in children ages 0.7 to 18 years. The frequency of primary empty sella ranged from 1% to 58%. Endocrine abnormalities were described in nearly all children while visual abnormalities were noted in only 6%. Growth hormone deficiency was the single most common hormonal dysfunction noted in children with primary empty sella. Precocious puberty has been rarely reported in association with primary empty sella. We report the case of a 7-1/2 year old girl with gonadotropin dependent central precocious puberty and a partially empty sella who had no other hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction. We suggest that pubertal abnormalities be included among the endocrine disorders potentially associated with the primary empty sella syndrome.
Idiopathic spinal cord herniation: an imaging diagnosis with a significant delay.

Abstract Background context Idiopathic spinal cord herniation (ISCH) is an underrecognized entity that is often underappreciated by the neurosurgery and neuroradiologic communities. This leads to delayed diagnosis, multiple imaging studies, other diagnostic tests, inappropriate surgeries, and repeat office visits. Purpose To evaluate common associations between ISCH and patient demographics/clinical presentation and to analyze the potential for delayed diagnosis. Patient sample Patient sample included those diagnosed with ISCH on imaging at our institution from June 20, 2005 to December 3, 2012. Outcome measures These were based on the patient improvement/stability/decline based on the patients' most recent clinic/office visit when compared with initial presentation. Methods A retrospective search of radiology reports was performed using Illuminate software from June 20, 2005 to December 3, 2012, using the search term “idiopathic spinal cord herniation.” Clinical data were reviewed including patient's age, sex, presenting clinical symptoms, number and type of imaging studies performed as part of the workup, other diagnostic tests, pain procedures, surgeries, and time between original presentation and diagnosis of ISCH on imaging. Results A total of 55 patients had the search term “idiopathic spinal cord herniation” included in their radiology report, of which 37 patients were found to meet the imaging and clinical diagnosis of ISCH. The median time from presentation to imaging diagnosis was 20 months in patients younger than 60 years and 5 months in those 60 years or older (p=.02). Of the 37 patients evaluated, 27 (73%) had no change in symptoms, 5 patients (14%) experienced worsening of symptoms, and 5 (14%) experienced symptom improvement from original presentation to most recent office visit. Among all patients evaluated, three underwent repair of the ventral dural defect in ISCH, resulting in clinical improvement. There was a median of nine outpatient office visits, three magnetic resonance images (MRIs), and one electromyography (EMG) per patient presenting with ISCH. The most frequent complaints were neck/upper back pain in 70%, upper/lower extremity numbness/paresthesias/weakness in 49%, hyperreflexia in 22%, and burning chest pain in 22%. Conclusions Prolonged time to diagnosis and subsequent treatment of ISCH protracts patient symptoms and is associated with redundant diagnostic tests and patient visits. Earlier use of MRI in younger patients (younger than 60 years) may be warranted in those with a clinical presentation suggestive of Brown-Sequard symptomatology. Increasing recognition of ISCH in imaging and surgical communities would lead to improved patient care.
Effects of substrate stiffness on cell morphology, cytoskeletal structure, and adhesion

The morphology and cytoskeletal structure of fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and neutrophils are documented for cells cultured on surfaces with stiffness ranging from 2 to 55,000 Pa that have been laminated with fibronectin or collagen as adhesive ligand. When grown in sparse culture with no cell-cell contacts, fibroblasts and endothelial cells show an abrupt change in spread area that occurs at a stiffness range around 3,000 Pa. No actin stress fibers are seen in fibroblasts on soft surfaces, and the appearance of stress fibers is abrupt and complete at a stiffness range coincident with that at which they spread. Upregulation of 5 integrin also occurs in the same stiffness range, but exogenous expression of 5 integrin is not sufficient to cause cell spreading on soft surfaces. Neutrophils, in contrast, show no dependence of either resting shape or ability to spread after activation when cultured on surfaces as soft as 2 Pa compared to glass. The shape and cytoskeletal differences evident in single cells on soft compared to hard substrates are eliminated when fibroblasts or endothelial cells make cell-cell contact. These results support the hypothesis that mechanical factors impact different cell types in fundamentally different ways, and can trigger specific changes similar to those stimulated by soluble ligands. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 60:24 –34, 2005. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Phloem Transport Velocity Varies over Time and among Vascular Bundles during Early Cucumber Seedling Development

We use a novel dye-tracing technique to measure in vivo phloem transport velocity in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) plants during early seedling development. We focus on seedlings because of their importance in plant establishment and because they provide a simple source and sink model of phloem transport. The dye-tracing method uses a photodiode to track the movement of a bleach front of fluorescent dye traveling in the phloem from the cotyledons (source) to the roots (sink). During early seedling development, phloem transport velocity in this direction can change 2-fold depending on vascular connectivity and the number of actively growing sinks. Prior to leaf expansion, vascular bundles attached to the first developing leaf demonstrate a decline in basipetal phloem transport that can be alleviated by the leaf’s removal. At this stage, seedlings appear carbon limited and phloem transport velocity is correlated with cotyledon area, a pattern that is apparent both during cotyledon expansion and after source area manipulation. When the first leaf transitions to a carbon source, seedling growth rate increases and basipetal phloem transport velocity becomes more stable. Because bundles appear to operate autonomously, transport velocity can differ among vascular bundles. Together, these results demonstrate the dynamic and heterogeneous nature of phloem transport and underline the need for a better understanding of how changes in phloem physiology impact growth and allocation at this critical stage of development.
Kidney Function and Use of Recommended Medications after Myocardial Infarction in Elderly Patients

Several studies have found reduced use of recommended medications after myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with impaired kidney function. However, the reasons for such undertreatment are not well understood. A total of 1380 Medicare patients who survived at least 90 d after MI and had prescription drug coverage through Pennsylvania's medication assistance program for the elderly were studied. Filled prescriptions were used to assess use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), beta blockers, and statins within 90 d of MI. Patients' demographics, comorbidities, and health care utilization before MI also were ascertained. We used logistic regression to test the association between kidney function and postdischarge use of each medication. Overall, 619 (45%) patients filled a prescription for a beta blocker, 675 (49%) received an ACEI or ARB, and 406 (29%) received a statin after discharge but within 90 d after their admission for MI. Reduced kidney function was associated with both lower beta blocker and statin use (P = 0.01 and P = 0.002, respectively), but after multivariate adjustment, these associations disappeared (P = 0.23 and P = 0.62, respectively). Use of ACEI or ARB was nearly half in patients with estimated GFR <30 ml/min compared with patients with better kidney function in univariate and multivariate analyses (P < 0.001). Analyses using serum creatinine measurements rather than estimations of GFR yielded similar results. Differences in other characteristics such as age, rather than kidney function, may be responsible for much or all the reported reduction in use of preventive medications after MI seen in patients with chronic kidney disease.
Mining CVS Repositories to Understand Open-Source Project Developer Roles

This paper presents a model to represent the interactions of distributed open-source software developers and utilizes data mining techniques to derive developer roles. The model is then applied on case studies of two open-source projects, ORAC-DR and Mediawiki with encouraging results.
Looking at Journals from Both Sides

The author, a professor in the field of communication, describes his contrasting experiences with publishing an open access society journal and advising a regional association in regards to turning over publication of its journal to a major commercial publishing firm. Using his experience of producing an open access journal as a foundation, he argues for the intrinsic importance of establishing credibility and exercising personal care in the production and maintenance of a journal. The author argues that current efforts by some societies to increase access to their journals through outsourcing to commercial publishers may be counterproductive to the fundamental goal of disseminating knowledge.
Incoherent Inelastic Neutron Scattering: Vibrational Spectroscopy of Adsorbed Molecules on Surfaces

Given the variety of laboratory-based, surface-sensitive vibrational spectroscopies, the need for an additional vibrational spectroscopy such as incoherent inelastic neutron scattering (IINS), which is based on a centralized user facility, may not be immediately obvious. In the absence of special capabilities or suitability for probing relevant classes of materials, it would be difficult to justify such experiments owing to both the expense and the limited accessibility of these facilities. However, the range of incident wavelengths (0.5–15.0 A) and corresponding energies (0.8–300 meV) accessible with neutrons clearly distinguishes IINS from more conventional probes of molecular vibrations. In fact, incoherent inelastic neutron scattering embodies a number of attributes that make this reactor-based technique an often unique method for surface characterization and a powerful complement to other techniques.
Using Performance Assessments to Determine Competence in Clinical Athletic Training Education: How Valid Are Our Assessments?.

Context: Validity arguments can be used to provide evidence that instructors are drawing accurate conclusions from the results of students' clinical performance assessments (PAs). Little research h...
The In Silico Genotyper (ISG): an open-source pipeline to rapidly identify and annotate nucleotide variants for comparative genomics applications

The identification and annotation of nucleotide variants, including insertions/deletions and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), from whole genome sequence data is important for studies of bacterial evolution, comparative genomics, and phylogeography. The in silico Genotyper (ISG) represents a parallel, tested, open source tool that can perform these functions and scales well to thousands of bacterial genomes. ISG is written in Java and requires MUMmer (Delcher, et al., 2003), BWA (Li and Durbin, 2009), and GATK (McKenna, et al., 2010) for full functionality. The source code and compiled binaries are freely available from https://github.com/TGenNorth/ISGPipeline under a GNU General Public License. Benchmark comparisons demonstrate that ISG is faster and more flexible than comparable tools.
Orthodromic field potentials and recurrent inhibition during anoxia in turtle brain

Recent evidence suggests that suppression of electrical activity, with the likely reduction of energy use, provides a necessary strategy for prolonged anoxic tolerance of turtle brain. The present study was aimed toward defining mechanisms underlying anoxia-induced suppression of electrical activity in turtle brain. Goals were to determine whether effects of anoxia were selective to excitatory or inhibitory processes and to test the hypothesis that enhanced inhibition underlies suppression of orthodromic field potentials in olfactory bulb. Amplitudes of "conditioning" and "test" responses, provoked by pairs of stimulus pulses to the olfactory nerve, were evaluated before, during, and after anoxic insults in the brains of turtles anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium. Suppression of conditioning responses was proportionally greater than that of test responses, indicating that inhibition was decreased and that enhanced inhibitory activity is not responsible for suppression of field potentials in turtle olfactory bulb during anoxia. When normoxia was restored, conditioning responses recovered but test responses remained suppressed. These data confirm that the inhibitory effect of a conditioning pulse on responses to a second pulse of stimulation results from a recurrent circuit and suggest that anoxia-induced changes in field potentials are independent of this recurrent circuit. Enhanced inhibition during the early period of recovery after anoxic insults may provide advantages for restoring energy status and cell physiology by suppressing electrical activity and energy use.
Anhydrous Proton Conducting Polymer Electrolyte Membranes via Polymerization-Induced Microphase Separation

Solid-state polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) exhibiting high ionic conductivity coupled with mechanical robustness and high thermal stability are vital for the design of next-generation lithium-ion batteries and high-temperature fuel cells. We present the in situ preparation of nanostructured PEMs incorporating a protic ionic liquid (IL) into one of the domains of a microphase-separated block copolymer created via polymerization-induced microphase separation. This facile, one-pot synthetic strategy transforms a homogeneous liquid precursor consisting of a poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) macro-chain-transfer agent, styrene and divinylbenzene monomers, and protic IL into a robust and transparent monolith. The resulting PEMs exhibit a bicontinuous morphology comprising PEO/protic IL conducting pathways and highly cross-linked polystyrene (PS) domains. The cross-linked PS mechanical scaffold imparts thermal and mechanical stability to the PEMs, with an elastic modulus approaching 10 MPa at 180 °C, without sacrificing the ionic conductivity of the system. Crucially, the long-range continuity of the PEO/protic IL conducting nanochannels results in an outstanding ionic conductivity of 14 mS/cm at 180 °C. We posit that proton conduction in the protic IL occurs via the vehicular mechanism and the PEMs exhibit an average proton transference number of 0.7. This approach is very promising for the development of high-temperature, robust PEMs with excellent proton conductivities.
Studies on Antigens of Human Red Cells. II. Serological Properties of Rh Factor in Elinin.

Summary1. Elinin, a lipoprotein fraction of the red cell exhibiting Rh activity has been isolated in relatively pure form largely by physical methods.2. Injection of elinin from Rh positive cells into animals has so far failed to yield a measurable titer of anti-Rh antibodies.3. Injection of elinin into human subjects who have been sensitized to the Rh factor by pregnancy or transfusion failed to increase the titer of Rh antibodies in the serum. Two of the subjects injected showed subsequent response to injection of whole Rh positive cells.4. Injection of 1 to 1.5 g of active elinin intramuscularly failed to effect a change in titer of circulating antibodies.
Transient boiling of liquefied cryogens on a water surface: I. Nitrogen, Methane and Ethane

Abstract An experimental study of the transient boiling rates of pure liquefied nitrogen, methane, and ethane on a water surface is reported. Measured heat fluxes were lowest for nitrogen and highest for ethane. The former is believed to film boil on a water-ice surface while ethane nucleate boils on a solid ice or hydrate crust formed very early in the run. Liquefied methane data fall between those of nitrogen and ethane. For spills of all three cryogens, the water temperatures several mm below the surface did not change appreciably but only decreased very slowly during a test. Significant vapor superheat was noted for liquid nitrogen spills but not when methane or ethane boiled on the water-ice surface.
Senate Voting on Supreme Court Nominees: A Neoinstitutional Model

We develop and test a neoinstitutional model of Senate roll call voting on nominees to the Supreme Court. The statistical model assumes that Senators examine the characteristics of nominees and use their roll call votes to establish an electorally attractive position on the nominees. The model is tested with probit estimates on the 2,054 confirmation votes from Earl Warren to Anthony Kennedy. The model performs remarkably well in predicting the individual votes of Senators to confirm or reject nominees. Senators routinely vote to confirm nominees who are perceived as well qualified and ideologically proximate to Senators' constituents. When nominees are less well qualified and are relatively distant, however, Senators' votes depend to a large degree on the political environment, especially the status of the president.
Reporter-Embedded TiO2 Core—Mixed Metal Shell Nanoparticles with Enormous Average Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Enhancement Factors

We report the development of Raman reporter-embedded TiO2 nanoparticles coated with mixed Ag and Au shells, showing enormous ensemble surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) enhancement factors (up to 1010). Effects of shell composition on the enhancement are investigated both experimentally and theoretically. Colloidal TiO2 nanoparticles are first tagged with meso-tetra(4-carboxyphenyl)porphine or tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) chloride, used as reporter molecules. They are subsequently coated with either a Ag shell or a mixed Au−Ag shell with different compositions. The resulting nanostructures are characterized by UV−visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, particle size analyzer, and Raman spectroscopy. These Raman reporter-embedded TiO2 core−metal shell nanoparticles exhibit reproducible SERS signals of the reporter molecules with very high average enhancement factors. Interestingly, depending on the excitation wavelength, bimetallic Au−Ag shel...
Law as a Discovery Procedure: An Informational Rationale for Broad Judicial Decisions?

Unlike constitutional courts in civil law countries, which can rule on the constitutionality of governmental policies “in the abstract,” the US Supreme Court can exercise constitutional review only in the context of specific “cases or controversies.” The fact that the Court’s powers of review are so closely tied to particular disputes has naturally given rise to competing views regarding the appropriate scope for Supreme Court decisions.1 One position, exemplified among current justices by Antonin Scalia, holds that while the Court’s decisions are issued in the context of specific disputes, opinions should not be tied too closely to the facts of particular cases. Instead, the justices ought to develop broad rules that enhance predictability in the law and provide clear guidance to policymakers, lower courts, and society more generally (e.g., see Scalia 1989). Others, including former Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and Chief Justice John Roberts, have argued for the opposite approach. In this view, judicial opinions should be narrow, that is, they should “stick to the issues at hand” and avoid, to the extent possible, rules that wander beyond the current case. As Chief Justice Roberts put it in a commencement address at Georgetown University Law School in 2006: “If it’s not necessary to decide more to dispose of a case, in my view, it’s necessary not to decide more.” ∗Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Yale University, 77 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06520.
Review of rural power network energy conservation technology

Our rural network has the characteristics of widespread and dispersed network distribution,unbalanced development,longer power supply radius,obviously seasonal load.Line loss rate is higher than the city power grid.Energy loss reduction occupies a huge space.All kinds of comprehensive loss reduction technologies are integrated to settle energy loss problems.The measures are reviewed including comprehensive energy saving,optimization of power supply mode,energy-efficient distribution transformers,the economy operation technology,line loss analysis and DSM management in rural areas.
Variation in sperm penetration assay related to viral illness

Semen specimens from a single pregnancy-proven fertile donor were evaluated in the SPA on a weekly basis over a 4-month period that included a febrile viral illness. This report documents the time course for recovery of decreased sperm density and decreased egg-penetrating ability of human sperm after a febrile viral illness. Observations from these data suggest that egg penetration ability monitored in the SPA is acquired in the testicle during early to midspermiogenesis. This finding contrasts with the more commonly held belief that fertilization capabilities are acquired during epididymal transit.
Economic Outcomes Associated with a Pharmacist-Adjudicated Formulary Consult Service in a Veterans Affairs Medical Center

BACKGROUND: Several cost analysis studies have been conducted looking at clinical and economic outcomes associated with clinical pharmacist services in a variety of health care settings. However, there is a paucity of data regarding the economic impact of clinical pharmacist involvement in formulary management at the hospital level. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate economic outcomes of a pharmacist-adjudicated formulary management consult service in a Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center offering outpatient and inpatient services. METHODS: This VA medical center uses a pharmacist-adjudicated formulary management system for review of restricted drug consults. A retrospective review of electronic medical records was conducted to identify restricted drug consults at this institution between January 1, 2014, and March 31, 2014. Only restricted drug consults that were not approved were included for evaluation in order to best characterize the effects of formulary interventions by pharmacists. Economic outcomes were dete...