cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Novel Approach to Removal of Rectal Foreign Bodies.

Background Retained rectal foreign bodies are a common concern in patients presenting to the emergency department. Thankfully, the rates of injury from these retained objects are low. Numerous techniques have been described for the extraction of these foreign bodies, including using endoscopic snares, Foley catheters to break suction mechanisms, and various kinds of clamps to grasp the objects. Some foreign bodies may not be amenable to snaring or grasping with forceps. We describe the use of laparoscopic specimen extraction bags to remove such objects. Technique The patient is placed in the lithotomy position under the appropriate level of anesthesia. The extraction bag is opened out of the pouch, and the metallic ring is lubricated. The ring is then compressed with 1 hand and gently guided into the rectum between the rectal wall and the foreign body with the other hand. The ring is then allowed to expand, and the foreign body is encircled. The bag is then closed around it, and the object is removed. Results The specimen-extraction bag works especially well for spherical objects and objects that are hard to grasp with clamps. We were able to extract a billiard ball and a glitter ball with this technique. It has minimal risk of injury to the rectum. Conclusions Colorectal surgeons have a wide array of tools to use, and it is prudent to cater the tool to the task at hand. We can refashion the laparoscopic specimen extraction bag for removal of certain foreign bodies. It behooves the surgeon to consider all the tools at his or her disposal and to consider the best one for the job.
86808 Adverse Childhood Experiences are associated with a higher prevalence of asthma among adolescents with sickle cell disease

ABSTRACT IMPACT: This research highlights Adverse Childhood Experiences as a potential risk factor and intervention target contributing to the disproportionate number of individuals with sickle cell disease affected by asthma, a well-established catalyst to the increased morbidity and mortality impacting this high-risk population. OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are strongly associated with asthma. A disproportionate number of individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) also have asthma. Asthma is strongly associated with increased SCD morbidity and mortality. This study compared the prevalence of asthma among children and adolescents with SCD with and without ACEs. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: This retrospective cohort study involved 45 children and 30 adolescents with SCD. ACEs were captured using the Center for Youth Wellness Adverse Childhood Experiences Child and Teen Questionnaires, which encompass the original 10 ACEs as well as 7 (child) and 9 (teen) expert-recommended ('expanded') ACEs. ACE exposures were categorized as: Original 0-1 vs. ≥2; Original + Expanded 0-1 vs. ≥2. Asthma prevalence was compared among ≥2 and 0-1 ACE groups using the chi-square (or Fisher’s exact) test. A binary logistic regression was performed to predict the likelihood of asthma while adjusting for characteristics (age, household income and gender) that were statistically different among ACE comparison groups at baseline. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Among the 45 child participants, 64% had a history of asthma; whereas 50% of teens had a history of asthma. Asthma prevalence was higher among teens with ≥2 vs. 0-1 Original ACEs (89% v. 33%, p=0.014). A history of ≥2 ACEs remained significant (p=0.024) among teens after adjusting for age, household income and gender. There was no significance in asthma prevalence among child ACE comparison groups. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: Adolescents with ≥2 ACEs had a higher prevalence of asthma compared to subjects with 0-1 ACE. This study, coupled with the cumulative nature of ACEs and the graded-dose response relationship between ACEs and poor health outcomes, highlight the need for larger, longitudinal studies examining the relationship between ACEs, asthma and SCD outcomes.
Small pigmented eukaryote assemblages of the western tropical North Atlantic around the Amazon River plume during spring discharge.

Small pigmented eukaryotes (⩽ 5 µm) are an important, but overlooked component of global marine phytoplankton. The Amazon River plume delivers nutrients into the oligotrophic western tropical North Atlantic, shades the deeper waters, and drives the structure of microphytoplankton (> 20 µm) communities. For small pigmented eukaryotes, however, diversity and distribution in the region remain unknown, despite their significant contribution to open ocean primary production and other biogeochemical processes. To investigate how habitats created by the Amazon river plume shape small pigmented eukaryote communities, we used high-throughput sequencing of the 18S ribosomal RNA genes from up to five distinct small pigmented eukaryote cell populations, identified and sorted by flow cytometry. Small pigmented eukaryotes dominated small phytoplankton biomass across all habitat types, but the population abundances varied among stations resulting in a random distribution. Small pigmented eukaryote communities were consistently dominated by Chloropicophyceae (0.8-2 µm) and Bacillariophyceae (0.8-3.5 µm), accompanied by MOCH-5 at the surface or by Dinophyceae at the chlorophyll maximum. Taxonomic composition only displayed differences in the old plume core and at one of the plume margin stations. Such results reflect the dynamic interactions of the plume and offshore oceanic waters and suggest that the resident small pigmented eukaryote diversity was not strongly affected by habitat types at this time of the year.
India’s Digital Divide

India with the second-largest base of ICT users globally has made progress but faces challenges of inadequate infrastructure, electrical shortages, and regulatory hurdles. Nevertheless, some states are exemplary such as the national ICT leader Delhi State, followed by the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, which are somewhat proximate to Delhi and the southern states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The lowest ICT level is the rural, impoverished northeast. The conceptual model for India posits that twelve independent factors influence four IFCT factors. The key associated factors for ICTs are registered newspapers and periodicals and higher education, as, with Delhi removed, electrical capacity, higher education, and cooperative society membership, the latter a factor unique to India which expresses the importance of social capital. Case studies of DakNet in Bhoomi and the Warana Village Project exemplify the potential of how rural, deprived users can leapfrog forward to productive ICT use. Policies recommended include stressing educational progress, reducing broadband cost, and strengthening cooperative societies.
The Rhizobial hemA Gene Is Required for Symbiosis in Species with Deficient [delta]-Aminolevulinic Acid Uptake Activity.

Most rhizobial hemA mutants induce root nodules on their respective legume hosts that lack nitrogen fixation activity and leghemoglobin expression. However, a Bradyrhizobium japonicum hemA mutant elicits effective nodules on soybean, and we proposed previously that synthesis and uptake of the heme precursor [delta]-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) by the plant and bacterial symbiont, respectively, allow mutant rescue (I. Sangwan, M.R. O'Brian [1991] Science 251: 1220-1222). In the present work, the B. japonicum hemA mutant MLG1 elicited normal nodules on three hosts, including cowpea, a plant that is not effectively nodulated by a hemA mutant of Rhizobium sp. These data indicate that B. japonicum rather than soybean possesses the unique trait that allows normal nodule development by a hemA mutant. Cowpea expressed glutamate-dependent ALA formation activity in nodules induced by B. japonicum strains I110 or MLG1 and by Rhizobium sp. ANU240. Exogenous ALA was taken up by B. japonicum bacteroids isolated from soybean or cowpea nodules, and the kinetics of uptake were biphasic. By comparison, Rhizobium sp. ANU240 had very low ALA uptake activity. In addition, ALA uptake was observed in cultured cells of B. japonicum but not in cultured cells of three other rhizobial species tested. We suggest that the differential success of legume-rhizobial hemA symbioses is due to an ALA uptake activity in B. japonicum that is deficient in other rhizobia, thereby further validating the ALA rescue hypothesis.
The Competitive Road to Proportional Representation: Partisan Biases and Electoral Regime Change under Increasing Party Competition

One of the most noteworthy political regularities in the early twentieth century was the shift away from majoritarian electoral rules in Western Europe. The conventional wisdom suggests that proportional representation (pr ) was introduced by elites who believed that under the existing majoritarian rules (simple plurality, block-vote, two-ballot rules) they would soon lose power to rapidly growing socialist parties. But this does not explain why many electoral reforms were carried out in countries with weak or nonexistent socialist parties. The author shows that increasing the number of parties distorts the seat-vote properties of electoral rules to a larger degree than previously anticipated. Under increasing party competition, electoral regimes display larger partisan biases than those observed in two-party races and crowd out minority parties that have territorially dispersed constituencies in favor of minority parties that have territorially concentrated constituencies. Using a dynamic Bayesian model for seats and votes, the author measures the partisan biases brought about by the expansion of voting rights in the late nineteenth century to explain the drive to reform majoritarian electoral systems.
Acquired Granular Pool Defect in Stored Platelets

Platelets stored as concentrates (PC) for 72 h at 22 degrees C develop a functional defect. Alterations in adenine nucleotides of platelets have been shown to affect platelet function. Adenine nucleotide content of platelets was measured before and after storage and a decrease of 27.1 /+- 1.7% (mean /+- SE) in ATP and 39.1 /+- 2.6% in ADP were found in 34 PC stored with final volume of 50 ml. In 11 PC with 30 ml volume. ATP and ADP decreased by 39.4 /+- 3.2% and 49.4 /+- 2.1%, respectively. The mean ATP to ADP ratio of stored platelets was significantly higher than of fresh platelets in both groups, suggesting a relatively greater decrease in granular than metabolic pool nucleotides. Levels of low affinity platelet factor 4 measured by radioimmunoassay in plasma from 0.86 /+- 0.08 microgram/ml in the fresh PC to 8.59 /+- 0.39 microgram/ml in stored PC, indicating a concomitant alpha-granular secretion. Labeling of metabolic pool with 14C-adenine revealed a mean decrease in the adenylate energy charge of 2.0 /+- 0.4% in 12 of 16 stored PC, with a lower ATP and higher hypoxanthine labeling in stored as compared to fresh platelets. These observations suggest that stored platelets develop an acquired defect in both dense and alpha granules and in their ability to maintain ATP homeostasis.
New Faces in New Places: The Changing Geography of American Immigration – Edited by Douglas S. Massey

A review of the book "New Faces in New Places: The Changing Geography of American Immigration," edited by Douglas S. Massey is presented.
Parents' Role in Adolescent Depression Care: Primary Care Provider Perspectives

Objective To understand how primary care providers (PCPs) perceive barriers to adolescent depression care to inform strategies to increase treatment engagement. Study design We conducted semistructured interviews with 15 PCPs recruited from community pediatric offices with access to integrated behavioral health services (ie, low system-level barriers to care) who participated in a larger study on treating adolescent depression. Interviews addressed PCP perceptions of barriers to adolescents' uptake of care for depression. Interviews were audiorecorded, transcribed, and coded for key themes. Results Although PCPs mentioned several adolescent barriers to care, they thought parents played a critical role in assisting adolescents in accessing mental health services. Important aspects of the parental role in accessing treatment included transportation, financial support, and social support. PCPs perceived that parental unwillingness to accept the depression diagnosis, family dysfunction, and trauma were common barriers. PCPs contrasted this with examples of good family support they believed would enable adolescents to attend follow-up appointments and have a "life coach" at home to help monitor for side effects and watch for increased suicidality when starting antidepressants. Conclusions In this PCP population, which had enhanced access to mental health specialists, PCPs primarily reported attitudinal barriers to adolescent depression treatment, focusing mainly on perceived parent barriers. The results of these qualitative interviews provide a framework for understanding PCP perceptions of parental barriers to care, identifying that addressing complex parental barriers to care may be important for future interventions.
Description and expression: Physicalism restricted

‘Material thing’ is a two‐level concept. In ‘first‐order extension’ ‐ the field of perceptual experience ‐ it is a ‘body’ that may ‘body forth’ (show, express) a ‘content’, like the bodies of persons or pictures. In ‘second‐order extension’ ‐the physical field or space ‐ it is a ‘physical object’ whose micro‐constitution is the target of the reference of theoretical terms or formulae. As such, it has no content ‐ nothing to ‘express’. In the description of a material thing in first‐order extension, terms are used whose reference is fixed by ostension. (The picture's pigment is cracked, the person's eyes are blue.) The reference of theoretical terms ‐ to the material thing in second‐order extension ‐ is fixed by their interrelationships in the theory.
Suitability of Selected Legumes and the Effect of Nymphal and Adult Nutrition in the Southern Green Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

Performance of nymphs and adults of the southern green stink bug, Nezara Viridula (L.), depended on their legume diet and on whether the food of nymphs and adults was the same or different. No nymphs survived to adults on leaves or stems of Glycine max (L.) Merrill (cv. Bedford), or on green pods of Albizia julibrissin Durazzini, Chamaecrista fasciculata (Michaux) Greene, Indigofera hirsuta L., and Sesbania vesicaria (Jacquin) Elliott. When the pod wall of S. vesicaria (which is separated by a large airspace from the seeds) was removed, the immature seeds provided intermediate nymphal mortality, fast development, and high body weight of new adults. Green pods of Sesbania emerus (Aublet) Urban were a superior food, whereas intermediate nymphal performance occurred on green pods of Phaseolus vulgaris L., Desmodium tortuosum (Swartz) DeCandolle, and G. max , and immature seeds of the latter. Scraping the pubescence from G. max pods reduced nymphal mortality by about half. Green pods of Crotalaria lanceolata Meyer and mature seeds of G. max and Arachis hypogaea L. caused poor nymphal performance. Females and males had similar developmental times but 1-d-old females were significantly heavier, weighing 20-40% more depending on food. For each sex across all foods, fresh weight of new adults declined significantly as developmental time increased. Few females laid few eggs with low or 0% hatch when fed pods of C. lanceolata or S. vesicari a, or mature seeds of A. hypogaea or G. max . Egg production was also low on pods of G. max and D. tortuosum , and it was high on pods of S. emerus and P. vulgaris . On most foods, there were no significant differences in longevity between females and males. Adult fresh weight generally increased during the first 2 wk, with females tending to exhibit larger percentage increases than males, although weight loss occurred on pods of C. lanceolata and D. tortuosum and on mature seeds of G. max . Rearing nymphs on P. vulgaris pods and then switching the new adults to the various foods improved longevity and reproductive performance of adult females on those foods that resulted in generally poor performance when fed to nymphs and adults. Thus, foodswitching may be an important component of the nutritional ecology of N. viridula .
New antibody to stop tumor angiogenesis and lymphatic spread by blocking receptor partnering.

Tvorogov et al. (2010) describe in this issue of Cancer Cell an antibody that inhibits homodimerization of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) and its heterodimerization with VEGFR-2, but not ligand binding. The work provides mechanistic insights into receptor dimerization and an approach to suppress both angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis.
Comparison of watershed disturbance predictive models for stream benthic macroinvertebrates for three distinct ecoregions in western US

The successful use of macroinvertebrates as indicators of stream condition in bioassessments has led to heightened interest throughout the scientific community in the prediction of stream condition. For example, predictive models are increasingly being developed that use measures of watershed disturbance, including urban and agricultural land-use, as explanatory variables to predict various metrics of biological condition such as richness, tolerance, percent predators, index of biotic integrity, functional species traits, or even ordination axes scores. Our primary intent was to determine if effective models could be developed using watershed characteristics of disturbance to predict macroinvertebrate metrics among disparate and widely separated ecoregions. We aggregated macroinvertebrate data from universities and state and federal agencies in order to assemble stream data sets of high enough density appropriate for modeling in three distinct ecoregions in Oregon and California. Extensive review and quality assurance of macroinvertebrate sampling protocols, laboratory subsample counts and taxonomic resolution was completed to assure data comparability. We used widely available digital coverages of land-use and land-cover data summarized at the watershed and riparian scale as explanatory variables to predict macroinvertebrate metrics commonly used by state resource managers to assess stream condition. The “best” multiple linear regression models from each region required only two or three explanatory variables to model macroinvertebrate metrics and explained 41–74% of the variation. In each region the best model contained some measure of urban and/or agricultural land-use, yet often the model was improved by including a natural explanatory variable such as mean annual precipitation or mean watershed slope. Two macroinvertebrate metrics were common among all three regions, the metric that summarizes the richness of tolerant macroinvertebrates (RICHTOL) and some form of EPT (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera) richness. Best models were developed for the same two invertebrate metrics even though the geographic regions reflect distinct differences in precipitation, geology, elevation, slope, population density, and land-use. With further development, models like these can be used to elicit better causal linkages to stream biological attributes or condition and can be used by researchers or managers to predict biological indicators of stream condition at unsampled sites.
Density Measurements of a Turbulent Wake Using Acetone Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence

The application of a planar density measurement technique for compressible flowfields based on acetone planar laser-induced fluorescence is presented. An error analysis indicates a minimum inherent uncertainty of ∼2.5% in density measurements due to uncertainty in local pressure and a total experimental uncertainty of 8%, primarily driven by shot noise due to low-signal levels. The technique is demonstrated through the visualization of the separated shear layer and turbulent wake of a wall-mounted hemisphere at a freestream Mach number of 0.78 and a Reynolds number of approximately 900,000. The flow is marked by a large-scale flapping motion of the wake and low-density vortex cores, where density drops of up to 50% of the freestream density are detected. In addition, closeup images of the shear layer near the separation point reveal the formation of lambda shocks. The density fields are used to perform aerooptic distortion calculations through spatial integration of the density field. A correlation is fou...
Biochemical changes in the composition of the testes during spermatogenesis in the sea star Asterias vulgaris

ABSTRACT Examination of major biochemical classes during the spermato- genic cycle provides a definition of the changing chemical microenvironment influencing germinal cells and also suggests temporal relationships among successive spermatogenic events. Testes from sea stars collected throughout the year were homogenized and lyophilized, and aliquots were assayed for DNA, RNA, total protein, free amino acids, total lipids, glycogen, and other carbohydrates; spermatogenic stage was determined by examination of paraf- fin sections. The resulting data, expressed as 1) mglg dry mass, 2) mghg DNA, and 3) total content, were analyzed by weighted periodic regression and circu- lar-linear correlation with spermatogenic stage and time of year. With the exception of lipid/DNA, all components show a significant regres- sion against time. DNA concentration increases during the proliferative and differentiative phases, attaining maximal values late in the differentiative phase; DNA synthesis appears to be essentially complete by the end of March. RNA concentration increases in the late aspermatogenic phase, as testicular cells begin preparations for proliferation, and remains high until late in the differentiative phase. Protein accumulates during proliferation, preceding the accumulation of DNA, but then gradually declines during differentiation. Free amino acids, simple sugars, and glycogen all increase during the aspermato- genic phase, possibly as a result of nutritive input. The observed patterns of change correlate closely with cytological variations observed within the germinal epithelium. Biochemical data thus complement existing data on the cytology of the germinal epithelium. Asteroid testes are a useful model system for the study of mechanisms regulating sper- matogenesis. Because fertilization is exter- nal in
The relationship between mindfulness and self-promoting illusions

It was hypothesized that people who are mindful will exhibit less self-enhancing illusions than those who are less mindful, based on the nature of mindfulness and Zen Buddhist philosophy. Self-enhancing illusions were measured using the Self Attributes Questionnaire, and mindfulness was measured using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale among a sample of 151 students. Contrary to predictions, results revealed a positive correlation between mindfulness and self-enhancing illusions. Possible reasons for this seeming contradiction are discussed.
Adverbial qualification of adjectives connoting activity

Nine intensive, 10 probabilistic, and 10 frequency adverbs were combined with 14 adjectives connoting activity. Three groups of 140 college students, a different group for each class of adverbs, rated the word combinations as to the degree of activity implied. The results supported a multiplicative function, relating the successive-interval scale value of an adverb-adjective combination to its component words. The multiplying values of the adverbs were also found to be stable across three different types of adjectives—evaluative, potency, and activity.
Towards Auto-calibration of Smart Phones Using Orientation Sensors

In this paper, we address the problem of auto calibration of cameras which can rotate freely and change focal length, and we present an algorithm for finding the intrinsic parameters using only two images. We utilize orientation sensors found on many modern smart phones to help decompose the infinite homography into two equivalent upper triangular matrices based only on the intrinsic parameters. We account for small translations between views by calculating the homography based on correspondences on objects that are far away from the camera. We show results based on both real and synthetic data, and quantify the tolerance of our system to small translations and errors in the orientation sensors. Our results are comparable to other recent auto-calibration work while requiring only two images and being tolerant to some translation.
Genetics of interracial crosses in Hawaii.

(1962). Genetics of interracial crosses in Hawaii. Eugenics Quarterly: Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 23-24.
Relationship between change in core temperature and change in cortisol and TNFα during exercise

The combined thermal load created by exercise and a hot environment is associated with an exaggerated core temperature response. The elevated core temperature is believed to increase the total stress of the exercise. Increased stress during exercise has been associated with increased levels of cortisol. The association of cortisol with increased inflammatory responses following exercise in the heat is equivocal. Thus, the purpose of the current investigation was to explore the relationship between increases in rectal temperature (Tre) and TNFa and cortisol. To induce Tre changes, 8 male subjects (mean7 SD, age ¼ 23.67 2 yr, VO2max¼ 52.87 3.7 mL/kg/min, BMI¼24.27 1.9) participated in two 40 min trials of cycle ergometry at 65% of VO2peak immersed to chest level in cool (25 1C) and warm (38.5 1C) water. Tre was monitored throughout each trial, with blood samples taken immediately pre and post of each trial. Neither cortisol nor TNFa changed significantly during exercise in the cool water; however, in the warm trial, both cortisol and TNFa significantly increased (po 0.004). Concordance correlations (Rc) between D cortisol and D TNFa indicated a strong but non-significant correlation (Rc¼0.833, p¼ 0.135). In conclusion, changes in core temperature may be impacting the relationship between exercise induced changes in cortisol and TNFa. Therefore, acute moderateintensity exercise (40 min or less) in warm water impacts the stress and inflammatory response. Understanding this is important because exercise load may need to be adjusted in warm and hot environments to avoid the negative effects of elevated stress and inflammation response. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Antiaromatic ions and their value in quantifying aromaticity, as probes of delocalization, and potential as stable diradicals*

Antiaromatic dications and dianions are available through oxidation or reduction of unsaturated precursors as well as through ionization of diols. Their experimental accessibil- ity allows them to be used to evaluate the effectiveness of theoretical treatments of antiaro- maticity such as the nucleus-independent chemical shift (NICS). Because measures of antiaromaticity are generally larger in magnitude than corresponding measures of aroma - ticity, they demonstrate relationships between different measures of aromaticity-anti - aromaticity, such as those based on magnetic and energetic properties, more effectively than do aromatic measures. Antiaromatic species are more sensitive probes of delocalization than are aromatic species, giving the possibility of observation of subtle effects. Antiaromatic species possess a small highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO-LUMO) gap, giving rise to species with diradical character.
Resistive inspiratory muscle training in subjects with chronic cervical spinal cord injury

Abstract Objective: To determine whether pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength, and dyspnea can be improved in individuals with chronic cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). Study Design: Ten subjects participated in an 8-week resistive inspiratory muscle training (IMT) program for 15 minutes twice daily. Spirometry, lung volumes, maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), and dyspnea were measured at baseline, week 4, and week 8. Six months after the study, spirometry, MIP, and MEP were re-measured in a subgroup of the original participants. Results: We found that regular IMT in subjects with cervical SCI significantly improved forced vital capacity (means ± SE) (11% ± 2.82% increase), forced inspiratory vital capacity (21% ± 6.91%), vital capacity (8% ± 4.36%), total lung capacity (12% ± 3.23%), functional residual capacity (15% ± 5.96%), and MIP (24% ± 6.98%) ( p Conclusions: Our findings suggest that in individuals with cervical SCI regular resistive IMT may result in decreased restrictive ventilatory impairment and reported dyspnea and, thus, reduced incidence of chronic respiratory complaints, respiratory infection, and other pulmonary complications.
Rational Citizens Against Reform Poverty and Economic Reform in Transition Economies

The debate on the political obstacles to economic reform in postcommunist countries has centered around two interrelated theories. Adam Przeworski argues that short-term negative distributional consequences can stall economic reform. Joel Hellman contends that industry insiders and political elites have incentives to stall economic reform. Although both sets of theories contend that the distributional aspects of economic transition affect reform, important differences remain in their interpretation of the relationship between the rising levels of poverty and income inequality in transition economies. This article empirically examines the relationship between the pretransition levels of poverty and income inequality in 17 postcommunist transition economies using cross-sectional regressions. The central finding in this article is that countries with large spans of the population hovering above poverty are less likely to achieve high levels of economic reform, lending support to theory that adverse socioecon...
Use of blood-pressure-lowering medication and risk of prostate cancer in the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort

To examine the association between use of anti-hypertensive drugs and prostate cancer incidence among 48,389 men in the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort. Proportional hazards models were used to calculate rate ratios (RR) for use of Beta-Blockers (BBs), Calcium Channel Blockers (CCBs), and ACE Inhibitors (ACE) and incident prostate cancer in time-dependent analyses. During follow-up from 1997 to 2005, we identified 3,031 cases of incident prostate cancer. Anti-hypertensive use was associated with slightly decreased risk of all (RR = 0.90, 95% CI 0.83–0.98) and organ-confined low-grade prostate cancer (RR = 0.89, 95% CI 0.81–0.99), but was not statistically significantly associated with aggressive-fatal prostate cancer (RR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.79–1.10). BB and ACE inhibitor treatment was associated with an approximately 10% lower risk for all prostate cancer in models adjusted for age and race. These associations were attenuated and lost statistical significance when adjusted for history of heart disease. No trend with duration of use was detected. These results do not support the hypothesis that anti-hypertensive medication is strongly associated with risk of prostate cancer. Confounding by concurrent illness may explain inverse associations seen in other studies.
Long-term memory of individual neighbours in a migratory songbird

CAPABILITIES for long-term memory and recall of information have evolved in non-human animals primarily for special requirements such as for learning species-typical vocalizations and caching food1–6. Long-term memory of individual social partners has, however, not been demonstrated previously for non-human animals. The ability to recognize individuals has important consequences for the evolution of intricate social interactions7–11 and provides a basis for more sophisticated forms of cognition in animal societies12,13. Recognition of social partners has been documented for territorial songbirds, which discriminate between songs of different neighbours14–16 as well as between the songs of strangers and neighbours17. Here I show that male hooded warblers ( Wilsonia citrina, Parulinae) not only recognize their neighbours individually by song during the breeding season, but also retain the memory of neighbours' songs after an 8-month period during which they cease singing and migrate to Central America before they return to former breeding territories.
Splenorenal Arterial Bypass: Description of Technique and Case Example in an Instance of Renal Revascularization during Adrenalectomy for Adrenocortical Carcinoma

We present a patient with a 16 cm adrenocortical carcinoma that underwent a left adrenalectomy en bloc with resection of the involved segment of the left renal artery. A splenectomy and splenorenal bypass was performed to revascularize the left kidney. To our knowledge, this is the first instance in the literature of a splenorenal arterial bypass being reported for renal revascularization during an extirpative oncologic procedure. A 64-year-old male patient, with history significant for adrenocortical carcinoma, status post prior right adrenalectomy with partial right nephrectomy, presented for an elective left adrenalectomy. Preoperative work-up revealed an 11.4 × 13.2 × 16 cm left adrenal mass, most consistent with an adrenocortical carcinoma. At the time of surgery, the mass was found to be intimately adherent to the aorta at the takeoff of the left renal artery. Moreover, the left renal artery appeared to be coursing directly through the mass. The involved segment of the left renal artery was resected en bloc with the tumor. Because of concerns for a small and likely poorly functioning right renal remnant, a decision was made to attempt to salvage the left kidney. This was accomplished by performing a splenectomy and constructing a splenorenal bypass. Serial Duplex Doppler renal ultrasound studies were obtained over the first three postoperative days and demonstrated improved arterial waveforms. Serum creatinine reached a peak level of 3.76 mg/dL on postoperative day 3, and then began to slowly trend down to 3.37 mg/dL on the day of discharge (postoperative day7).
Agrobacterium-mediated infectivity of cloned digitaria streak virus DNA.

Abstract A monomeric clone of double-stranded DNA synthesized in vitro from virion DNA of the geminivirus Digitaria streak (DSV) was subcloned as a tandem dimeric unit into a binary vector of Agrobacterium tumefaciens , creating a plasmid pDS2. Inoculation of Digitaria sanguinalis with A. tumefaciens carrying pDS2 resulted in viral infection. The symptoms, virus particles, and DNA forms obtained were indistinguishable from those of a natural DSV infection of D. sanguinalis . Inoculations have also induced infections in Zea mays and Avena sativa . The sequence of the Agrobacterium-mediated infectious clone of DSV has been determined.
Blakea penduliflora (Melastomataceae): A new green-flowered species from Costa Rica

Blakea penduliflora, a highland epiphyte from Costa Rica, is described, illustrated and compared with the three known Mesoamerican congeners characterized by pendent green flowers and copious nectar.
Human hepatocellular pigments and lysosomes.

The fine structure of human hepatocellular granules containing lipofuscin, the pigment of chronic idiopathic jaundice (Dubin-Johnson), or bile pigment (obstructive jaundice) are described. Because of their fine structure and acid phosphatase activities all these granules are considered to be altered lysosomes. Iron-containing granules in human liver cells are also considered to be derived from lysosomes. This is based on their pericanalicular arrangement, size, and acid phosphatase activity. Parallel studies in spleen macrophages of the rat are referred to. Our findings provide evidence for the suggestion that the pericanalicular dense bodies are the lysosomes of the hepatic cell. Of special interest to pathologists are: (a) the unique structure of bile pigment deposits found within the cells, bile canaliculi, and sinusoids of the obstructed liver; (b) the differences in fine structure and distribution of acid phosphatase activity between the pigment of chronic idiopathic jaundice (Dubin-Johnson) and hepatocellular lipofuscin; (c) the fine structure of lipofuscin granules; and (d) the general roles suggested for lysosomes in the physiology and pathology of cells, including a role in the intracellular transport of bile.
TORCs rev up gluconeogenesis

Transducer of regulated CREB activity (TORC) proteins promote transactivation by the cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) and mediate effects of cAMP agonists on gene expression. Koo et al. now report that TORC phosphorylation and nuclear/cytoplasmic shuttling play a key role in the regulation of gluconeogenesis by cAMP. Control of TORC phosphorylation and function may integrate the effects of multiple factors involved in metabolic control, including cAMP agonists, insulin, and AMP kinases. TORCs, and kinases affecting TORC function, are promising new therapeutic targets for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.
The in-situ synthesis of protective coatings on steel through a surface spontaneous polymerization process

This article reports a new method of forming protective coatings on metal surfaces. The process is very simple and environmentally friendly. Polymerization occurs spontaneously on the metal surface after the immersion of a cleaned metal substrate into a dominantly aqueous monomer solution. A layer of coating with uniform thickness is formed in situ. The coating thickness can be controlled from 1 to 50 μm. This article will describe the spontaneous polymerization process as it occurs specifically on steel and for a 4-carboxyphenyl maleimide-styrene monomer system. The polymerization propagation mechanism is free radical, and alternating copolymers are always obtained in this system, even with significant changes in the monomer feed composition. This could be attributed to the formation of a charge transfer complex between the monomer pair. The incorporation of the rigid imide ring into the copolymer backbone significantly improves the coating's thermal properties, and styrene enhances the electrical properties. These properties are relatively insensitive to the monomer feed composition, supporting the formation of alternating copolymer. The effects of several process variables have been evaluated, including solution pH, monomer concentration, solution temperature, and monomer feed composition. The proposed initiation mechanism involves the direct electrochemical reduction of the monomer by the steel surface to generate the initiating free radicals.
A new approach to sulfenylated enolates

Abstract Bissulfenylation followed by monodesulfenylation with a Grignard reagent cleanly provides magnesium enolates of α-phenylthiocarbonyl compounds for aldol condensation.
Quenching of anthracene fluorescence by dialkylanilines in saturated hydrocarbons

Abstract The bimolecular quenching constants of anthracene fluorescence by dialkylanilines in saturated hydrocarbons depend on the solvent viscosity and may exceed theoretical diffusion controlled limit in viscous hydrocarbons.
Alternative eye care

“History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all the other alternatives.” Abba Eban, 1915– As ophthalmologists we tend to stick to what we know. We mostly use only four main groups of drugs that act on the eye—anti-infectives, anti-inflammatories, antiglaucoma medications, and lubricants—a limited formulary, but one that is evidence based according to our medical training. But there are alternative therapies which are becoming a growing part of our health care and for which eye conditions present an ideal substrate. In the United States alone an estimated $14 billion a year is spent on alternative treatments and 37 medical schools are starting to devote a small part of their training to this subject.1 Medline lists 24 main headings under “Alternative medicine” and indexes a number of relevant journals including ones on acupuncture, biofeedback, Chinese medicine, manipulative and physiological therapeutics, and natural products. In his Foundations of Ophthalmology (Vol VII, 1962) Duke-Elder covers a great deal more than pharmacology in his “Ocular therapeutics” section.2 He describes some unconventional biological and physical treatments which may have had their day but which do not seem so incongruous when compared with the vast array of alternative treatments revealed by searching the world wide web today. In their time many of these treatments represented attempts to treat the untreatable. They demonstrated an inventive ingenuity influenced by the scientific knowledge of the day and were applied with great enthusiasm to unsuspecting patients. Some techniques that have been used include protein shock (milk, serum, or vaccine), biogenic stimulation with tissue such as placenta, injected subconjunctivally for a host of incurable eye conditions, and the injection of cobra venom for macular degeneration. Physical treatments that have been dreamt up over the years include environmental therapy (for the affluent sick), ocular …
Consequences of plantation harvest during tropical forest restoration in Uganda

Abstract Timber plantations have recently received considerable attention as a forest restoration strategy for heavily degraded lands in the humid tropics. Plantations can facilitate secondary forest regrowth by providing an understory environment more favorable for native plant recruitment than unmanaged degraded habitats. To better understand secondary forest development and to evaluate plantation use as a restoration strategy, we studied natural forest succession after plantation harvest in Kibale National Park, Uganda. We asked four questions concerning using plantations as a restoration tool. How does timber harvest affect forest succession? How does initial on-site recruit availability (e.g., seeds, seedlings) after logging influence successional pathways? How easily can forest succession be enhanced through intervention? How does using exotic timber plantations to restore forests compare with fire exclusion as a restoration strategy? Timber harvesting killed or severely damaged many native stems, hindering subsequent forest regrowth. Despite this setback, native stem densities 4–6 years after logging equaled or surpassed native stem densities in unlogged plantations, suggesting timber removal accelerated forest succession. Successional habitats with high and low initial densities of on-site recruits first diverged in forest structure and composition, but then converged for many of these variables within 6 years of logging. Intervening to accelerate forest succession met with mixed results. Removing non-tree vegetation did not enhance tree establishment, growth, or survival after 2 years. However, leaving standing, dead timber trees as perches for seed-dispersing birds seemed to increase seedling establishment relative to control areas. Mortality and growth of seedlings planted into successional habitats 1–2 and 5–6 years after logging were similar, and predicting individual species responses based on successional status was unsuccessful. We compared succession in unlogged and logged (5–6 years after logging) plantations to a similar aged site where fires were excluded but no plantation species established. Our results suggest excluding fire is a better strategy for promoting forest succession than establishing then not harvesting plantations. Fire exclusion versus establishing then harvesting timber are comparable restoration strategies differentially enhancing tree sapling recruitment and growth, respectively. While forest regeneration was successful where fire was excluded long-term fire exclusion may be difficult, and several non-ecological challenges to using plantations exist (e.g., the conflict of managing for biodiversity versus timber production). In summary, our research suggests managers should carefully weigh the risks of using plantations or fire exclusion against other forest restoration strategies.
Protein kinase activity in African swine fever virus.

Mention of a trademark or proprietary product does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products that may also be suitable.
Coronary arteriographic findings in patients with axis shifts or S-T-segment elevations on exercise-stress testing.

Abstract The exercise ECG's and coronary arteriograms of 158 patients were examined to evaluate the relationship of exercise-induced axis shifts and S-T-segment elevations to coronary artery disease. Eighteen of the 158 patients had exercise-induced S-T-segment elevations. Seventeen of these 18 patients had severe obstruction of the major coronary artery most compatible with the zone of ischemic localization. This obstruction was greater than 85 per cent in 16 patients and greater than 50 per cent in a seventeenth patient. The remaining patient had a normal coronary arteriogram and the most minimal exercise-induced S-T-segment elevations. Nine of the 158 patients had exercise-induced right axis shifts. Only 4 of these 9 patients had greater than 50 per cent obstruction of a major coronary artery, as compared to 103 of 154 patients in the total group studied. Also, there was no trend toward predominant involvement of any particular coronary artery in these 4 patients. Hence, it appears that this finding is not predictably associated with severe localized coronary artery disease. Only 4 of the 158 patients had exercise-induced left axis shifts. Three of these four patients had complete obstruction of the left anterior descending artery. But the group size was small, and the fourth patient had a normal coronary arteriogram. Hence, it is only possible to suggest that this finding may be associated with severe disease of the left anterior descending artery. The results of coronary artery surgery are discussed in a patient who had both a left axis shift and precordial S-T-segment elevations on his preoperative exercise ECG.
Theorems about the existence and uniqueness of solutions of a semilinear evolution nonlocal Cauchy problem

Abstract The aim of this paper is to give three theorems about the existence and uniqueness of mild, strong, and classical solutions of a nonlocal Cauchy problem for a semilinear evolution equation. The method of semigroups and the Banach theorem about the fixed point are used to prove the existence and uniqueness of solutions of the problem considered. The results obtained are a continuation of those reported previously by this author and can be applied in physics with better effects than the classical Cauchy problem for the semilinear equation. The theorems proved in this paper generalize some results obtained by A. Pazy (“Semigroups of Linear Operators and Applications to Partial Differential Equations,” Springer-Verlag, Berlin/New York, 1983) .
Assessing variability in audiovisual speech integration skills using capacity and accuracy measures

AbstractObjective: While most normal-hearing listeners rely on the auditory modality to obtain speech information, research has demonstrated the importance that non-auditory modalities have on language recognition during face-to-face communication. The efficient utilization of the visual modality becomes increasingly important in difficult listening conditions, and especially for older and hearing-impaired listeners with sensory or cognitive decline. First, this report will quantify audiovisual integration skills using a recently developed capacity measure that incorporates speed and accuracy. Second, to investigate sensory factors contributing to integration ability, high and low-frequency hearing thresholds will be correlated with capacity, as well as gain measures from sentence recognition. Design: Integration scores were obtained from a within-subjects design using an open-set sentence speech recognition experiment and a closed set speeded-word classification experiment, designed to examine integratio...