cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
BUTTERFLIES AND PLANTS: A STUDY IN COEVOLUTION

One of the least understood aspects of population biology is community evolution-the evolutionary interactions found among different kinds or organisms where exchange of genetic information among the kinds is assumed to be minimal or absent. Studies of community evolution have, in general, tended to be narrow in scope and to ignore the reciprocal aspects of these interactions. Indeed, one group of organisms is all too often viewed'as a kind of physical constant. In an extreme example a parasitologist might not consider the evolutionary history and responses of hosts, while a specialist in vertebrates might assume species of vertebrate parasites to be invariate entities. This viewpoint is one factor in the general lack of progress toward the understanding of organic diversification. One approach to what we would like to call coevolution is the examination of patterns of interaction between two major groups of organisms with a close and evident ecological relationship, such as plants and herbivores. The considerable amount of information available about butterflies and their food plants make them particularly suitable for these investigations. Further, recent detailed investigations have provided a relatively firm basis for statements about the phenetic relationships of the various higher groups of Papilionoidea (Ehrlich, 1958, and unpubl.). It should, however, be remembered that we are considering the butterflies as a model. They are only one of the many groups of herbivorous organisms coevolving with plants. In this paper, we shall investigate the relationship between butterflies and their food
Anatomical and physiological evidence for a cerebellar nucleo-cortical projection in the cat.

Abstract Combined neuroanatomical and electrophysiological experiments were performed to test the hypothesis that axon collaterals of neurons in the cerebellar nuclei project to the cerebellar cortex in cats. The anatomical studies demonstrated that (a) following the injection of tritiated leucine into the deep cerebellar nuclei, labeled fibers could be traced into the granular layer of the cerebellar cortex, and (b) following the injection of horseradish peroxidase into the cerebellar cortex, retrogradely labeled horseradish peroxidase-positive neurons were identified in the deep nuclei. The electrophysiological experiments confirmed the anatomical findings. Neurons in the dentate and interposed nuclei, identified by their antidromic activation from the brachium conjunctivum, could also be activated antidromically from the cerebellar surface. Collision experiments demonstrated that projections from the deep cerebellar nuclei to the cerebellar cortex are in part collaterals of efferent neurons projecting through the brachium conjunctivum. Care was taken to ensure that all recordings were obtained from the region of cell somata in order to minimize the likelihood of recording from neuronal elements passing through the cerebellar nuclei. These combined neuroanatomical and electrophysiological studies provide strong evidence supporting the existence of a collateral system from cerebellar output neurons to the cerebellar cortex. The existence of this collateral system emphasizes that the cerebellar cortex and cerebellar nuclei may comprise a functional unit in which these collaterals may serve as a substrate for feedback control of the cerebellar cortex by the cerebellar output.
Major hepatectomy at interval debulking for stage IV ovarian carcinoma: a case report.

Abstract Background. Previous studies have reported the results of hepatic resection for metastatic ovarian cancer at the time of primary cytoreductive surgery and at the time of recurrence. Case. We present the first case of major hepatic resection performed at the time of interval cytoreduction for metastatic ovarian carcinoma. Conclusion. Interval debulking with hepatic resection may be a promising approach for patients left with bulky parenchymal liver metastasis after primary cytoreductive surgery.
Bivalirudin Compared With Heparin During Coronary Angioplasty for Thrombus-Containing Lesions

Abstract Objectives. We investigated whether bivalirudin is more effective than heparin in preventing ischemic complications in high risk patients undergoing coronary angioplasty for thrombus-containing lesions detected by angiography. Background. Heparin is administered during coronary angioplasty to prevent closure of the dilated vessel. Bivalirudin (Hirulog) is a direct thrombin inhibitor that can be safely substituted for heparin during angioplasty. Bivalirudin has several theoretic advantages over heparin as an anticoagulant agent. Methods. We performed an observational analysis of the Hirulog Angioplasty Study in which 4,098 patients with unstable or postinfarction angina were randomized to receive either bivalirudin or heparin during coronary angioplasty. The study group for this analysis consisted of 567 patients who had thrombus-containing lesions on angiography. The primary end point was death, myocardial infarction, emergency coronary artery bypass graft surgery or abrupt vessel closure before hospital discharge. Results. Patients with thrombus-containing lesions had a higher incidence of myocardial infarction (5.1% vs. 3.2%, p = 0.03) and abrupt vessel closure (13.6% vs. 8.3%, p Conclusions. Bivalirudin is not more effective than heparin in preventing ischemic complications in patients undergoing coronary angioplasty for thrombus-containing lesions detected by angiography. Other approaches, perhaps involving potent antiplatelet agents, should be considered for patients with thrombus-containing lesions.
How do desynchronous response systems relate to the treatment of agoraphobia: a follow-up evaluation.

Abstract A follow-up assessment was conducted on 21 of a group of 28 treated agoraphobics in order to examine the relationship between follow-up status and both response desynchrony and heart rate (HR) throughout treatment. Response status was determined on the basis of a composite-measure criterion, which unfortunately, yielded very few non-responders. Response desynchrony between physiological and subjective measures of fear during a behavioral test was not strongly related to outcome at follow-up assessment. HR levels were consistently related to outcome: high HR characterized treatment responders. HR elevation was associated with a willingness to approach the feared situation. Toleration of physical sensations associated with intense fear was viewed as an important element in treatment success.
Pancreatic-biliary imaging and triage.

The pancreas and biliary tree (and their confluence at the papilla of Vater) are frequent sites for disease. In recent years there has been a proliferation of relevant technologies. Diagnostic methods include percutaneous ultrasound, standard CT scans, helical CT, magnetic resonance imaging, MRCP, endoscopic ultrasound, angiography, ERCP, laparoscopy, and laparoscopic ultrasound. Cytology and biopsy specimens can be taken in conjunction with many of these techniques. In addition to standard open surgical intervention, there are now many alternative therapeutic approaches wielded by endoscopists, interventional radiologists and laparoscopic surgeons. Novel chemotherapy and radiation oncology techniques and further dimensions. Many studies have attempted to evaluate the role of one particular modality, or to compare two diagnostic or therapeutic techniques. It is more important (and more difficult) to devise and test relevant management algorithms. These assessments are bedevilled by the problem of generalizability, since the results of many techniques are operator-dependent. This raises another issue-whether patients with these problems should be managed in regional specialty centers. Another complexity is that the management of a particular problem is influenced not only by the disease and its stage but also by the type of patient in whom it occurs (age, comorbidities, etc.). Multidisciplinary collaboration is a great challenge (12, 13). Copyright © 1998 Taylor and Francis Ltd.
Urban Black Adolescents Who Obtain Contraceptive Services Before or After Their First Pregnancy Psychosocial Factors and Contraceptive Use

This paper compares three groups of urban black teenagers at their enrollment in a contraceptive program and at a one-year follow-up. The groups comprise 263 never-pregnant, postabortion, and postpartum teens ages ≤ 17 years at their initial family planning visit. Self-report questionnaires examined attitudes and information about pregnancy and contraceptive use, sources of contraceptive information, sexual and contraceptive experience, family and partner support for contraceptive use, and demographic background factors. Emotional, personality, and psychosocial factors were assessed with standard measures. Age, partner relationships, and items relating to the mother's communication about contraception and pregnancy were significant variables in the outcome of never-pregnant and delivery of pregnancy. Self-esteem was highest in the never-pregnant group. Personality factors, emotional distress, and social adjustment scores were in the normal ranges and did not differ between the groups. Contraceptive use at follow-up was most consistent in the never-pregnant group. These data suggest the need for earlier family involvement in educating and guiding teens together with access to contraceptive services in preventing unwanted adolescent pregnancies.
Application of twin screw extrusion to the manufacture of cocrystals: scale-up of AMG 517–sorbic acid cocrystal production

The application of twin screw extrusion (TSE) in the scale-up of cocrystal production was investigated by using AMG 517–sorbic acid as a model system. Extrusion parameters that influenced conversion to the cocrystal such as temperature, feed rate and screw speed were investigated. Extent of conversion to the cocrystal was found to have a strong dependence on temperature and a moderate dependence on feed rate and screw speed. Cocrystals made by the TSE process were found to have superior mechanical properties than solution grown cocrystals. Additionally, moving to a TSE process eliminated the need for solvent.
Medical ethics in an era of bioethics: Resetting the medical profession’s compass

What it means to be a medical professional has been defined by medical ethicists throughout history and remains a contemporary concern addressed by this paper. A medical professional is generally considered to be one who makes a public promise to fulfill the ethical obligations expressed in the Hippocratic Code. This presentation summarizes the history of medical professionalism and refocuses attention on the interpersonal relationship of doctor and patient. This keynote address was delivered at the Founders of Bioethics International Congress (June, 2010).
Twin Pleas: Probing Content and Compositionality

So called dual factor theories are proposed in an attempt to provide an explanation of the meaning of our utterances and the content of our mental states in terms that involve two different theories, each one serving separate concerns. One type of theory deals with the causal explanatory aspect of contentful mental states and/or sentences. The other type deals with those contentful mental states and/or sentences as related to propositions, i.e., as objects that can be assigned referential truth-conditions (Cfr. McGinn, 1982; Block, 1986). I take dual component approaches to meaning to be yet another variety of the Fregean tradition. This may seem odd since Frege -but certainly not two-factor theorists- wants a thoroughly non-psychologized account of meaning. So, an explanation of my statement is needed. Because this story is well known, I will be brief. The sense of a sentence is the thought it expresses, where this thought is understood as something objective and fully independent of our ideas in any psychological sense. Its reference is nothing but a truth-value -true or false- (Cfr. Frege, 1892). The concept of truth that arises out of postulating this kingdom of objective thoughts is, Frege believes, the necessary mediating tool between the symbols and the entities of which the world is made. The very possibility of a proper scientific account of the world can be guaranteed only by appealing to objective scientific laws that, like objective thoughts, are immune to relativistic challenges. But, at the same time, for this objective kingdom of thoughts to play the role of a mediating entity between language and world, it is necessary to introduce an essential, but new idea. The idea is that not only can we grasp those thoughts, but, also in this grasping process, their objective content -their sense- remains the same.
Modeling aqueous ferrous iron chemistry at low temperatures with application to Mars

Abstract Major uncertainties exist with respect to the aqueous geochemical evolution of the Martian surface. Considering the prevailing cryogenic climates and the abundance of salts and iron minerals on Mars, any attempt at comprehensive modeling of Martian aqueous chemistry should include iron chemistry and be valid at low temperatures and high solution concentrations. The objectives of this paper were to (1) estimate ferrous iron Pitzer-equation parameters and iron mineral solubility products at low temperatures (from Ferrous iron Pitzer-equation parameters were derived in this work or taken from the literature. Six new iron minerals [FeCl2·4H2O, FeCl2·6H2O, FeSO4·H2O, FeSO4·7H2O, FeCO3, and Fe(OH)3] were added to the FREZCHEM model bringing the total solid phases to 56. Agreement between model predictions and experimental data are fair to excellent for the ferrous systems: Fe-Cl, Fe-SO4, Fe-HCO3, H-Fe-Cl, and H-Fe-SO4. We quantified a conceptual model for the aqueous geochemical evolution of the Martian surface. The five stages of the conceptual model are: (1) carbonic acid weathering of primary ferromagnesian minerals to form an initial magnesium-iron-bicarbonate-rich solution; (2) evaporation and precipitation of carbonates, including siderite (FeCO3), with evolution of the brine to a concentrated NaCl solution; (3) ferrous/ferric iron oxidation; (4) either evaporation or freezing of the brine to dryness; and (5) surface acidification. What began as a dilute Mg-Fe-HCO3 dominated leachate representing ferromagnesian weathering evolved into an Earth-like seawater composition dominated by NaCl, and finally into a hypersaline Mg-Na-SO4-Cl brine. Weathering appears to have taken place initially under conditions that allowed solution of ferrous iron [low O2(g)], but later caused oxidation of iron [high O2(g)]. Surface acidification and/or sediment burial can account for the minor amounts of Martian surface carbonates. This model rests on a large number of assumptions and is therefore speculative. Nevertheless, the model is consistent with current understanding concerning surficial salts and minerals based on Martian meteorites, Mars lander data, and remotely-sensed spectral analyses.
Blunt Cerebrovascular Injuries: Anatomic and Pathologic Heterogeneity Create Management Enigmas

I have never spoken to such a large group, and it is rather intimidating. However, a few years ago Dr Anna Ledgerwood, the 64th Scudder Orator, told me that when you are giving a talk like this, make sure you have fun. I’m going to try to have fun and I hope you have some fun too. Charles Locke Scudder was a surgeon-in-chief at Massachusetts General Hospital, who initiated the activities that resulted in establishment of the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (COT). Dr Scudder organized the progenitor of the Committee on Trauma, the Committee on Fractures, in 1922. That committee developed the first hospital standardization manuals, which have evolved into the series of Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient, which continue to this day, and they have become the cornerstone for establishment of trauma systems throughout the world. I have had the good fortune in my career to participate in the drafting of several of the manuals during my 15 years serving on the Committee on Trauma. Those experiences were fun but challenging, as Carol Williams can testify, and although at the beginning of each edition we said we would not spend an overabundance of time on wordsmithing, each time we did! Dr Scudder delivered the first Oration in 1929, and the Committee on Fractures became the Committee on Trauma in the mid-1930s. I am humbled to join the list of Scudder Orators. I am sure there are several people in the auditorium today who are more deserving. I can only say that your day will come. Before starting the Oration I must make some acknowledgments. Those of us who have achieved anything usually owe much to others. We really do “stand on the shoulders of giants.” That is certainly the case with me. I started out in medical school at Loyola in the early 1970s. Dr Robert Freeark was the chairman of
Screening the Watermelon Germplasm Collection for Resistance to Papaya Ringspot Virus Type-W

Papaya ringspot virus watermelon strain (PRSV-W), formerly watermelon mosaic virus-1, is a major disease of watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai]. The objectives of this study were (i) to screen the USDA watermelon germplasm collection for PRSV-W resistance, (ii) to verify the disease rating for the most resistant and most susceptible accessions, (iii) to determine the number of escapes on the basis of the retest of the germplasm screening test. The experiment was a randomized complete block with five replications and 1275 accessions. 'Charleston Gray' susceptible checks were used to verify that the PRSV-W inoculum was virulent. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed after the last rating to determine whether the virus was in the plant tissue. The PI accessions with the highest resistance to PRSV-W that also had resistance to other watermelon viruses (ZYMV, zucchini yellow mosaic virus or WMV, watermelon mosaic virus, formerly watermelon mosaic virus-2) were PI 244018, PI 244019, PI 255137, and PI 482299. The first retest of the most resistant 21 PI accessions showed that there were some escapes that were not resistant to PRSV-W. Of the 21 PI accessions in the retest, seven PI accessions were identified for further testing. Of the 60 resistant PI accessions in the final retest, eight had resistance with a rating of 3.6 or less for the best, average, and maximum ratings: PI 244017 (best over all tests), PI 244019, PI 482342, PI 482318, PI 485583, PI 482379, PI 595203, and PI 244018.
Growth, Decline, Stability, and Disruption: A Longitudinal Analysis of Social Well‐Being in Four Western Rural Communities

Abstract During the 1970s and 1980s, social scientists focused considerable attention on patterns of community change in boomtowns affected by large-scale energy resource development in the western United States. The resulting literature has provided inconsistent and relatively inconclusive evidence about the extent of various forms of social disruption caused by the rapid economic and demographic changes associated with such developments. In particular, because of a lack of in-depth longitudinal research, little is known about the degree to which social problems observed during rapid growth periods in such locations may persist after the boom. This research addresses some of those questions through a longitudinal examination of various dimensions of social well-being in four western rural communities. Community surveys conducted four times across a 13-year span provide data on patterns of change for 10 distinct indicators of social well-being. Results show that although social disruptions occur in several dimensions of well-being during boom periods, not all dimensions appear to be affected by such growth. Also, when boom-induced declines in well-being occur, they are consistently followed by a sharp rebound, with no evidence of lasting disruption.
Casshern and the spectre of Japan's war crimes in Asia

AbstractThe science fiction film Casshern (Kiriya, 2004), through references to Japan's war crimes in Asia during World War II, particularly human experimentation at Unit 731, suggests that lingering memories of the war have not lost their grip on the Japanese psyche, even in the twenty-first century. This article examines how this film stages the return of repressed war memories through the portrayal of monstrous bodies, drawing on Igarashi Yoshikuni's theory of Japanese post-war popular culture. Additionally, the dystopic, retro setting contrasts with the types of cities more commonly seen in Japanese science fiction, and contributes to the damning portrayal of Japan's war guilt.
A coupled-cluster study of HNO2 and FNO2

The CCSD(T) method has been used with a TZ2P basis set to predict the structure, dipole moment, and vibrational spectrum of HNO2. The ab initio results should be of high accuracy based on comparison to the related compounds FNO2 and ClNO2. The ΔH298f for HNO2 (−10.3±1.0 kcal/mol) is determined from an isodesmic reaction involving ClNO, HNO, and ClNO2, and also by comparison to trans-HONO. Using this data, a revised ΔH298f for FNO2 (−22.1±1.0 kcal/mol) is determined, which is more accurate than the currently accepted experimental estimate. HNO2 is ≈9 kcal/mol less stable than trans-HONO, suggesting that it is only of minor importance in atmospheric chemistry.
Calculation of the effective permeabilities of field-scale porous media

The problem of estimating the effective grid block permeabilities of a field-scale porous medium with long-range correlations is studied. Both isotropic and anisotropic porous media are considered. The grid blocks are represented by networks of bonds the permeabilities of which are distributed according to three different stochastic functions that generate long-range correlations, two of which are fractal distribution. A new perturbation expansion for estimating the effective permeabilities of the system is presented which, at the lowest order, yields an anisotropic effective-medium approximation (AEMA). The effective permeabilities are also estimated by a renormalization group (RG) method, as well as computer simulations. The RG method and AEMA both provide reasonable estimates of the effective permeabilities. However, if the porous medium contains zones of very low permeabilities, then the predictions of the two methods are not very accurate. Two methods are suggested to increase the accuracy of the predictions. We also show that as the volume fraction p of the low-permeability zones of the porous medium increases, the anisotropy of the medium decreases.
Withdrawal from continuous or intermittent cocaine: effects of NAN-190 on cocaine-induced locomotion.

Abstract Rats were pretreated with 40 mg/kg/day cocaine for 14 days by either SC injections or osmotic minipumps. Rats were then withdrawn from the pretreatment regimen for 7 days. In Experiment 1, rats received 0- to 2.0-mg/kg IP injections of 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-4[4-(2-pthalimido)butyl]piperazine (NAN-190), a putative 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A (5-HT 1A ) receptor antagonist. In Experiment 2, rats received the same doses of NAN-190 in combination with a 15-mg/kg IP injection of cocaine. The results of Experiment 1 indicate that the continuous-infusion group demonstrated a dose-dependent suppression of locomotor behavior by single doses of NAN-190. NAN-190 had no consistent dose-dependent effect on the locomotor behavior of subjects in the other pretreatment groups. The results of Experiment 2 indicate that rats receiving intermittent, daily injections tended to exhibit behavior consistent with 5-HT 1A receptor supersensitivity. In contrast, rats receiving continuous cocaine tended to exhibit behavior consistent with 5-HT 1A receptor subsensitivity. Changes in 5-HT 1A receptor sensitivity may contribute to some of the anxiety and depressive symptoms exhibited by human cocaine abusers.
Evolution of Drop Size Distributions in Fully Developed Turbulent Pipe Flow of a Liquid-Liquid Dispersion by Breakage

The population balance equation for the evolution of drop size distributions in fully developed turbulent flow of a liquid−liquid dispersion in a circular pipe has been solved “exactly” using spectral expansion of the self-adjoint diffusion operator with a radially varying diffusion coefficient to obtain the number density at any location in the pipe. The breakage frequency is allowed to vary with position, although the size distribution of broken fragments is assumed to satisfy a form of similarity assumed in the work of Narsimhan et al. (AIChE J. 1980, 26, 991; 1984, 30, 457) that rids it of explicit spatial dependence. Of course, insofar as numerical methods are used to calculate the spectral data (eigenvalues and eigenvectors), such an exact solution is still to be regarded as approximate. Furthermore, because the solution is expressed in terms of a transient well-mixed batch dispersion evolving by breakage, the actual number density may be obtained by any of the methods for solving population balance...
Light-driven microfluidic platforms for droplet-based biochemical analysis

We report on two light-induced droplet actuation mechanisms, floating electrode optoelectronic tweezers (FEOET) and lateral field optoelectrowetting (LOEW), for manipulating aqueous droplets immersed in oil on a featureless photoconductive surface with an open chamber configuration. Droplet functions including transporting, merging, mixing, and splitting, and multi-droplet manipulation have been accomplished. Droplet manipulation in FEOET is based on light-induced dielectrophoretic forces in an electrically insulating medium such as oil. It has been shown that oilimmersed aqueous droplets can be actuated by a light beam with an intensity as low as 400 μW/cm 2 in FEOET. However, due to the weak force generated by the DEP-based droplet actuation, the droplet moving speed is limited to hundreds of μm/s and performing other droplet manipulation functions such as splitting and injection is challenging on FEOET. On the other hand, LOEW-based droplet actuation is realized by modulating the interfacial surface tension of a droplet on a hydrophobic surface through a light-induced electrowetting effect. Since surface tension provides large forces than DEP on a droplet with a diameter from mm to hundreds of μm, LOEW allows transporting droplets at a speed in the range of cm/s and performing droplet-based functions such as splitting and injection. The open chamber configuration of these platforms provides flexibility in integration with other microfluidic components such as external reservoirs and tubing for broad chemical and biochemical applications.
Development of chick embryo liver during organ culture: Requirement for zinc‐insulin

Livers from five-day chick embryos maintained as organ cultures on Eagle's minimum essential medium (MEM) develop an ultrastructure similar to more mature liver cells, except for glycogen deposits and the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) normally associated with such deposits. The enzymes, glycogen synthetase and glycogen phosphorylase, failed to develop in these cells. The addition of zinc-free insulin (insulin-HCl) to MEM promoted the development of small amounts of SER in the cultured cells, as well as an increase in both glycogen synthetase and phosphorylase activities. The addition of zinc-insulin also stimulated an increase in the activities of both enzymes, and promoted the development of greater amounts of SER and the deposition of glycogen, as well. In addition, both forms of insulin not only prevented the fall of total tissue protein which occurs during organ culture on MEM, but also stimulated net protein synthesis in the explanted liver (Benzo and de la Haba, '71).
Role of vitamin D in ovarian physiology and its implication in reproduction: a systematic review.

Objective To report an update on the role of vitamin D (VD) in ovarian physiology with a focus on genes involved in steroidogenesis, follicular development, and ovarian reserve, as well as ovulatory dysfunction associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and ovarian response to assisted reproductive technology (ART). Design Systematic review. Setting Not applicable. Patient(s) Human, animal, and cell culture models. Intervention(s) Pubmed literature search. Main Outcome Measure(s) Granulosa cell function, serum antimullerian hormone (AMH), AMH and its receptor gene expression, soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products (sRAGE), PCOS parameters, and ART outcome. Result(s) In human granulosa cells, VD alters AMH signaling, FSH sensitivity, and progesterone production and release, indicating a possible physiologic role for VD in ovarian follicular development and luteinization. In the serum, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OH-D) is positively correlated with AMH, and appropriate VD supplementation in VD-depleted women can suppress the seasonal changes that occur in serum AMH. In VD-deficient women with PCOS, VD supplementation lowers the abnormally elevated serum AMH levels, possibly indicating a mechanism by which VD improves folliculogenesis. The antiinflammatory sRAGE serum levels significantly increase in women with PCOS after VD replacement. Although follicular fluid 25OH-D correlates with IVF outcomes, there is a lack of data pertaining to the impact of VD supplementation on pregnancy rates following IVF. Conclusion(s) This review underscores the need for understanding the mechanistic actions of VD in ovarian physiology and the critical need for randomized trials to elucidate the impact of VD supplementation on controlled ovarian hyperstimulation/IVF outcome and ovulatory dysfunction associated with PCOS.
Discharge of the asthmatic patient.

Asthma continues to be a challenging disease to treat in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. The growing database on therapeutic interventions at the time of transition from the acute to chronic phase of this disease is encouraging. Glucocorticoids and inhaled \-agonists clearly reduce readmission and relapse. Other medications and educational interventions also appear effective. Still, no true discharge guidelines have been established. Multiple statements by consensus panels have recommended using FEV1 or PEFR as indicators of readiness for discharge, but this has not been prospectively validated from either the emergency department or inpatient setting. In contrast, some studies argue that pulmonary functions do not accurately predict relapse and readmission, so the usefulness of these discharge recommendations is debatable. Large studies, especially in the adult asthmatic population, are needed to validate these recommendation.
Telemedicine for access to quality care on medical practice and continuing medical education in a global arena

Health care practices continue to evolve with technological advances integrating computer applications and patient information management into telemedicine systems. Telemedicine can be broadly defined as the use of information technology to provide patient care and share clinical information from one geographic location to another. Telemedicine can lower costs and increase access to health care, especially for those who live in remote or underserved areas. The mechanism of telemedicine raises some difficult legal and regulatory issues as well since technology provides remote diagnosis and treatment across state lines resulting in unclear definitions for liability coverage. Physician licensing becomes an issue because telemedicine facilitates consultations without respect to state or national borders. With the increased access to current information and resources, continuing medical education becomes more feasible with synchronous or asynchronous access to educational content. The challenge in implementation of these unique educational tools is the inclusion for standards of practice and appropriate regulatory mechanisms to cover the audiences.
A STATISTICAL EVALUATION OF THE CAUSE‐EFFECT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MONEY AND INCOME*

ECONOMIC THEORETICIANS and empirical analysts have long been concerned with the nature of the relationship between the money stock and economic activity or one of its proxies, aggregate income. Four postulates exhaust the possibilities: (1) money and income are not causally related; (2) causality is unidirectional from income to money; (3) causality is unidirectional from money to income; and (4) a two way causal relationship exists between money and income. Few economists assert that money does not matter or that money is purely passive as suggested in the first two postulates. The empirical relevance of the last two postulates constitutes an important issue in monetary economics. Empirical studies of the cause-effect relationship between money and income are based on the assumption that a theoretical connection exists between the two variables. Theoretical models can be made to exhibit any of the connections described by the four postulates. The models which result from alternative simplifying assumptions which produce the various results are often tested empirically. Empirical studies of the money-income nexus have produced conflicting results, however. One or both of two weaknesses are responsible: (1) precise, testable definitions of causality have not been employed; (2) conventional hypothesis-testing procedures have been used to evaluate empirical data which may not meet the assumptions of such tests. The purpose of this study was to test the nature of the causal relationship between money and income by using a procedure designed to deal with both weaknesses. A theoretical causality criterion developed by C. W. J. Granger was adopted and the cause-effect statements were statistically evaluated by ordinary least-squares regression combined with the jackknifing technique. Jackknifing is a general, distribution-free method for reducing the bias in a statistic and for producing approximate confidence intervals. Computer simulation experiments within the study demonstrated the sensitivity of the F and t statistics to nonnormality; the jackknife statistic was found to be an attractive alternative. The insensitive F test allowed the acceptance of the null hypothesis that nominal gross national product (GNP) is purely passive; the test of the jackknife statistic required that this hypothesis be rejected. The alternative hypothesis that causality is bidirectional is consistent with the empirical results. For the period 1947 through 1972, tests on the components of GNP revealed that most of the detectable causal influences of money on nominal GNP worked through the price components of GNP; real GNP was relatively unaffected by money. The feedback effects of income on the money stock were found to operate through both the real and the price components of GNP. The results were generally the same for three alternative measures of money: (1) M1, the narrowly defined money
Activation of calcium mobilization and calcium influx by alpha1-adrenergic receptors in a smooth muscle cell line

Alpha 1-adrenergic receptor (alpha 1R) mediated increases in the cytosolic levels of free Ca+2 and the inositol phosphates were measured in a smooth muscle cell line, DDT1. Norepinephrine (NE) stimulated a rapid increase in cytosolic Ca+2 by two distinct components: 1) release of Ca+2 from intracellular sites (mobilization), and 2) influx of extracellular Ca+2. The mobilization component was not affected by removal of extracellular Ca+2 or addition of La+3 or Co+2 to the buffer. The influx component was abolished by EGTA, La+3, or Co+2, but was not affected by the voltage-operated Ca+2 channel blockers diltiazem or nifedipine. Depolarization of DDT1 cells with 100 mM KCl or with gramicidin did not induce Ca+2 influx. NE also increased inositol trisphosphate to 78% over basal levels within 1 minute. These results suggest that alpha 1R on DDT1 cells are coupled to both the mobilization of intracellular Ca+2 and to receptor-operated Ca+2 channels in the plasma membrane, and that polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis may play a role in these phenomena.
Itraconazole, a commonly used antifungal, inhibits Fcγ receptor-mediated phagocytosis: alteration of Fcγ receptor glycosylation and gene expression.

Itraconazole (ICZ) is commonly used for the treatment of fungal infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients. In addition, ICZ has been recently found to have antiangiogenic effects and is currently being tested as a new chemotherapeutic agent in several cancer clinical trials. We have previously shown that ICZ impaired complex N-linked glycosylation processing, leading to the accumulation of high-mannose glycoproteins on the surface of macrophages (Mos). This investigation was directed at determining the effects of ICZ on phagocytosis as a major function of Mos. We found a significant decrease in the phagocytosis of opsonized bacterial particles in ICZ-treated murine Mos in comparison with nontreated Mos. Furthermore, the impairment of phagocytosis was associated with a decrease in cell surface expression of Fcγ receptors (FcγRs) as well as alteration of their glycosylation pattern. Concomitantly, a reduction in all three isoforms of the FcγR family (i.e., Fcgr1, Fcgr2, and Fcgr3) mRNA levels was observed after incubation with ICZ. The effect of ICZ on phagocytosis and FcγR expression was reversed by addition of low-density lipoprotein. These studies indicate that ICZ treatment certainly has a dramatic effect on macrophage function, which could result in a potential impairment of the immune system';s ability to respond to pathogens and may lead to an elevated incidence of infections.
Radiation Sensitivity of Transforming DNA

SummaryBiologically active DNA isolated from Bacillus subtilis was exposed in vitro to X-rays at a concentration of 10 μg/ml in 29 mM phosphate buffer. Radiation-induced damage to the DNA was quantitatively determined by measuring the decrease in its transforming activity (try2 locus) using B. subtilis 168M (try−) as recipient. In O2, which removes ·H and eaq−, the radiation sensitivity of the DNA is less than that in N2-saturated water. In N2O, which has been shown to increase yields of ·OH in irradiated aqueous solutions, the radiation sensitivity of transforming DNA is twice that observed in O2 and 1·5 times that in N2. Addition of 5 × 10−2 M ethanol or 1·7 × 10−1 M t-butanol, both ·OH scavengers, causes large (about tenfold) reduction in the radiation sensitivity in all three saturating gases. These results suggest the importance of the ·OH radical in the loss of biological activity of DNA.
An improved method of MOSFET modeling and parameter extraction

A method is presented to accurately determine MOSFET modeling parameters from a single linear region (V DS BT/q )I D - V GS measurement based on the operation of a single transistor in the strongly inverted regime. The intrinsic values of the surface scattering parameter θ s and the transistor gain β 0 may be separated from the series resistance R s and drain bias V DS effects while including band bending beyond the 2φ F point. The mobility (excluding surface scattering effects), threshold voltage, bulk doping, and flat-band voltage are also determined.
Intimal lesions in arteries of vit. E deficient rats.

Summary1) The aorta and carotid arteries of rats maintained on a Vit. E-deficient diet for 280 to 450 days were characterized by presence of intimal changes. Addition of 15-20% Vit. E-free hydrogenated fat accelerated formation of lesions. A daily supplement of pure alpha-tocopherol to Vit. E-deficient diet inhibited formation of intimal changes. Addition of cholesterol to the diet had no effect on incidence or severity of the lesions. 2) Intimal alterations varied from a simple thickening of endothelium to large well formed plaques with fibrotic subendothelial tissue.
A synthetic cartilage extracellular matrix model: hyaluronan and collagen hydrogel relaxivity, impact of macromolecular concentration on dGEMRIC

To develop and characterize the MR properties of a synthetic model for cartilage extra-cellular matrix using hydrogels and to determine the concentration dependence of spin–lattice (T1) and spin-spin (T2) relaxation times of hydrogels and their glycosaminoglycan and collagen components in the presence and absence of gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA) for use in dGEMRIC. T1 and T2 measurements were made at 3 Tesla on a range of gelatin (i.e., collagen) and hyaluronan (i.e., glycosaminoglycan) solutions (6.25–100 g/l), alone, together in a composite, and as dityramine-bridged hydrogels. Relaxivity was calculated as a function of macromolecular concentration. Even at the highest concentrations, gelatin and hyaluronan solutions had T1 and T2 values significantly larger than those reported for cartilage. Only composite hydrogels with gelatin and hyaluronan concentrations naturally found in cartilage resulted in T1 values, but not T2 values, representative of cartilage. Relaxivities were slightly dependent on both hyaluronan concentration (R1 = 0.0027 l g–1 s–1; R2 = 0.025 l g–1 s–1) and gelatin concentration (R1 = 0.0032 l g–1 s–1; R2 = 0.020 l g–1 s–1) alone and as a composite (R1 = 0.0068 l g–1 s–1; R2 = 0.101 l g–1 s–1). Gd-DTPA relaxivities were dependent upon macromolecular concentration and varied by 14–32% (R1 = 4.24 to 5.55 mM–1 s–1; R2 = 4.60 to 6.27 mM–1 s–1) over the range of cartilage biochemistry. Without the contrast agent, hyaluronan and gelatin, alone or in a composite, have a very small impact on the relaxivities of the model system. The impact on R1 was approximately tenfold less than on R2. In contrast, macromolecular concentrations above 50 g/l significantly impacted Gd-DTPA relaxivity and should be accounted for when measuring the glycosaminoglycan content of cartilage in vivo using dGEMRIC.
Effects of NPC16377, a potent and selective σ receptor ligand, on the activity of mesencephalic dopamine-containing neurons in the rat

NPC16377 is a highly selective σ receptor ligand with low affinity for other neurotransmitter receptors. Preclinical studies indicate that the drug exhibits a pharmacological profile similar to that previously ascribed to atypical antipsychotic drugs. In the present series of experiments, extracellular recording techniques were used to assess the acute effects of NPC16377 on the electrophysiological properties of mesencephalic dopamine-containing neurons in the rat. Systemac administration of NPC16377 produced marginal increases in the firing rate of these neurons but failed to fully reverse the inhibitory effects of the dopamine agonists apomorphine and d-amphetamine. Low doses of the drug potentiated the rate-decreasing effects of d-amphetamine in the substantia nigra but not in the ventral tegmental area. Some of these effects are similar to the actions of atypical antipsychotic drugs, while others appear to be unique to this compound and may involve a direct interaction with σ sites.
On the Functional Equivalence of Monolinguals and Bilinguals in “Monolingual Mode”: The Bilingual Anticipation Effect in Picture-Word Processing

Previous evidence indicates that bilinguals are slowed when an unexpected language switch occurs when they are reading aloud. This anticipation effect was investigated using a picture-word translation task to compare English monolinguals and Spanish-English bilinguals functioning in “monolingual mode.” Monolinguals and half of the bilinguals drew pictures or wrote English words for picture or English word stimuli; the remaining bilinguals drew pictures or wrote Spanish words for picture or Spanish word stimuli. Production onset latency was longer in cross-modality translation than within-modality copying, and the increments were equivalent between groups across stimulus and production modalities. Assessed within participants, bilinguals were slower than monolinguals under intermixed but not under blocked trial conditions. Results indicate that the bilingual anticipation effect is not specific to language-mixing tasks. More generally, stimulus-processing uncertainty prevents establishment of a “base” symbo...
The Secreted Effector Protein EspZ Is Essential for Virulence of Rabbit Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

Attaching and effacing (A/E) pathogens adhere intimately to intestinal enterocytes and efface brush border microvilli. A key virulence strategy of A/E pathogens is the type III secretion system (T3SS)-mediated delivery of effector proteins into host cells. The secreted protein EspZ is postulated to promote enterocyte survival by regulating the T3SS and/or by modulating epithelial signaling pathways. To explore the role of EspZ in A/E pathogen virulence, we generated an isogenic espZ deletion strain (ΔespZ) and corresponding cis-complemented derivatives of rabbit enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and compared their abilities to regulate the T3SS and influence host cell survival in vitro. For virulence studies, rabbits infected with these strains were monitored for bacterial colonization, clinical signs, and intestinal tissue alterations. Consistent with data from previous reports, espZ-transfected epithelial cells were refractory to infection-dependent effector translocation. Also, the ΔespZ strain induced greater host cell death than did the parent and complemented strains. In rabbit infections, fecal ΔespZ strain levels were 10-fold lower than those of the parent strain at 1 day postinfection, while the complemented strain was recovered at intermediate levels. In contrast to the parent and complemented mutants, ΔespZ mutant fecal carriage progressively decreased on subsequent days. ΔespZ mutant-infected animals gained weight steadily over the infection period, failed to show characteristic disease symptoms, and displayed minimal infection-induced histological alterations. Terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining of intestinal sections revealed increased epithelial cell apoptosis on day 1 after infection with the ΔespZ strain compared to animals infected with the parent or complemented strains. Thus, EspZ-dependent host cell cytoprotection likely prevents epithelial cell death and sloughing and thereby promotes bacterial colonization.
60 Years After Brown: Trends and Consequences of School Segregation

Since the Supreme Court's 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision, researchers and policy makers have paid close attention to trends in school segregation. Here we review the evidence regarding trends and consequences of both racial and economic school segregation since Brown. The evidence suggests that the most significant declines in black-white school segregation occurred in the late 1960s and early 1970s. There is disagreement about the direction of more recent trends in racial segregation, largely driven by how one defines and measures segregation. Depending on the definition used, segregation has either increased substantially or changed little, although there are important differences in the trends across regions, racial groups, and institutional levels. Limited evidence on school economic segregation makes documenting trends difficult, but students appear to be more segregated by income across schools and districts today than in 1990. We also discuss the role of desegregation litigation, demogra...
Viibryd (Vilazodone): Viable option or for the byrds?

Vilazodone was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in January of 2011. This article reviews clinically significant aspects of this new drug including: the FDA-approved indications, mechanism of action, administration, drug interactions, adverse effects, clinical trial evidence, innovative properties and place in therapy.