cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Constitutive Model for Swelling Pressure and Volumetric Behavior of Highly-Hydrated Connective Tissue

The fluid pressure within water-filled connective tissues such as cartilage, intervertebral disk and cornea facilitates a vital part of their functionality. Cartilage and intervertebral disk must resist compressive loading, and even the cornea uses fluid pressure loading to form its precise refractive geometry. The fluid pressure is composed of hydrostatic and swelling pressure components, with the latter deriving primarily from osmotic forces associated with ion concentrations. The tissues, like electrolyte gels in general, have a strong tendency to absorb water and swell. The goal of this work is to formulate an in vivo tissue theory from first principles and to arrive at the simplest possible model which captures the essential features of tissue charge effects and swelling behavior. The Gibbs free energy of the tissue, including elastic, hydrostatic, and electrostatic components, is characterized and equilibrium thermodynamics is employed to find explicit constitutive equations for the tissue osmotic pressure and osmotic compressibility over a unit cell. It is shown that the osmotic compressibility essentially defines the tissue macroscopic pressure-volume relationship at equilibrium. To illustrate the theory in detail, the human cornea is taken as a model tissue, and it is shown how the nanometer features of the glycosaminoglycan charge distribution can be modeled within the proposed theory. The cornea model is further extended to include the effects of the pump-leak hydration control mechanism based on active ion and passive water transport across the corneal endothelium. The model has been implemented in a standard finite element code and is shown to be capable of reproducing fundamental in vitro swelling experiments, including massive swelling, and typical in vivo swelling observed in disease states such as Fuch’s dystophy.
Emphasizing the Importance of Qualitative Research in Anatomy Education: A “How-to-Guide” on Case Study Design, Implementation, and Data Analysis

In a scientific domain brimming with grant-funded biomedical research and a heavy emphasis on the scientific method, qualitative anatomy education research is frequently and lamentably over-shadowe...
Environmental effect on health: Air pollution and smoke

This review has discussed various topics related to environmental health. The major findings highlighted are air pollution, children and adult vulnerability, cytokines related to interleukin-33, thymic stromal lymphopoietin, tobacco smoke related to neonates, women, and their families, and perinatal outcomes. The Emergency Department was also highlighted related to asthma and air pollution concentrations within the emergency department, admissions for respiratory effects in pediatrics, and in patients with asthma that often present to the emergency department for treatment for acute exacerbations.
Respect Detectors: A support and educational group engaging LGBTQ activists to prevent violence in their community

Abstract: Respect Detectors is a manualized community education program designed to inform workshop participants on the specialized needs of LGBTQ-identified people experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault. The pilot of the program, hosted by University of Southern Maine’s Center for Sexualities and Gender Diversity, involved a small group of dedicated community members, most of whom were LGBTQ. Information generated by group participants included discussion of the intersectionality of their sexual and gender identities with the experience of being a domestic violence or sexual assault survivor. Details about several experiences of oppression in the context of multiple cultural identities is a particularly valuable component of these discussions. Professional social workers and other mental health providers should consider this information an important insight about cultural sensitivity to LGBTQ clients, particularly those who experience domestic violence or assault. The authors highlight how the group participants motivated each other to continue to be politically active around this issue in their community. Recommendations include being attentive to the specialized needs of LGBTQ people as a group, and how the experience of belonging to a group that is discriminated against further impacts traumatic events like domestic violence. Keywords: LGBTQ; LGBT; support group; domestic violence; sexual violence; oppression; sexual assault; prevention; active by-stander
Reevaluating the Efficacy and Predictability of Antidepressant Treatments: A Symptom Clustering Approach

Importance Depressive severity is typically measured according to total scores on questionnaires that include a diverse range of symptoms despite convincing evidence that depression is not a unitary construct. When evaluated according to aggregate measurements, treatment efficacy is generally modest and differences in efficacy between antidepressant therapies are small. Objectives To determine the efficacy of antidepressant treatments on empirically defined groups of symptoms and examine the replicability of these groups. Design, Setting, and Participants Patient-reported data on patients with depression from the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) trial (n = 4039) were used to identify clusters of symptoms in a depressive symptom checklist. The findings were then replicated using the Combining Medications to Enhance Depression Outcomes (CO-MED) trial (n = 640). Mixed-effects regression analysis was then performed to determine whether observed symptom clusters have differential response trajectories using intent-to-treat data from both trials (n = 4706) along with 7 additional placebo and active-comparator phase 3 trials of duloxetine (n = 2515). Finally, outcomes for each cluster were estimated separately using machine-learning approaches. The study was conducted from October 28, 2014, to May 19, 2016. Main Outcomes and Measures Twelve items from the self-reported Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology (QIDS-SR) scale and 14 items from the clinician-rated Hamilton Depression (HAM-D) rating scale. Higher scores on the measures indicate greater severity of the symptoms. Results Of the 4706 patients included in the first analysis, 1722 (36.6%) were male; mean (SD) age was 41.2 (13.3) years. Of the 2515 patients included in the second analysis, 855 (34.0%) were male; mean age was 42.65 (12.17) years. Three symptom clusters in the QIDS-SR scale were identified at baseline in STAR*D. This 3-cluster solution was replicated in CO-MED and was similar for the HAM-D scale. Antidepressants in general (8 of 9 treatments) were more effective for core emotional symptoms than for sleep or atypical symptoms. Differences in efficacy between drugs were often greater than the difference in efficacy between treatments and placebo. For example, high-dose duloxetine outperformed escitalopram in treating core emotional symptoms (effect size, 2.3 HAM-D points during 8 weeks, 95% CI, 1.6 to 3.1;P Conclusions and Relevance Two common checklists used to measure depressive severity can produce statistically reliable clusters of symptoms. These clusters differ in their responsiveness to treatment both within and across different antidepressant medications. Selecting the best drug for a given cluster may have a bigger benefit than that gained by use of an active compound vs a placebo.
Does a herniated nucleus pulposus contribute significantly to a decrease in height of the intervertebral disc? Quantitative volumetric MRI.

A lumbar intervertebral disc with a herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) often exhibits a decrease in the height of the intervertebral space. Our purpose was to ascertain whether the loss of volume of an HNP is sufficient to cause a perceptible decrease in the height of the intervertebral space. MRI of 44 patients with 51 HNPs were reviewed. The volumes of the herniated material and of the intervertebral discs were calculated for every level from L 1–2 to L 5–S 1. The average volume of the HNP was 503 ± 301 mm3. The average volumes of all 220 intervertebral discs and of the 127 normal-appearing discs were 14 442 ± 4200 mm3 and 17 476 ± 2885 mm3 respectively. The average volume of the HNP represented 3.5 % of the parent disc. An average HNP caused a decrease in intervertebral space height of 0.35 mm (0.56 pixels). Therefore, the loss of the volume of the HNP does not cause a significant decrease in the intervertebral space height. The average calculated decrease in the disc height is less than that reported in normal diurnal variation.
How Do Domestic Regulatory Traditions Shape CSR in Large International US and UK Firms

This article examines corporate social responsibility (CSR) pertaining to labor standards in apparel and tax transparency in extractives and explores how domestic regulatory traditions shape CSR in large international US and UK firms. Reflecting their more collaborative business-government traditions, British firms are more willing to join international CSR multi-stakeholder initiatives with business-critical actors such as unions and civil society actors. The US has a more top-down regulatory approach, which promotes hard law international CSR or encourages business-driven voluntary CSR initiatives. This article makes three contributions. First, it argues that while corporations are the key actors in international CSR, their behavior reflects their respective national business systems. Second, focusing on a range of international CSR initiatives, this article finds that UK firms are more interested in adopting international (multi-stakeholder) CSR initiatives than US firms. Finally, the article shows that the US and the UK governments play a key role in driving an international CSR agenda, and in doing this it highlights government agency more so than other research has.
Acute demyelinating neuropathy in a patient with neurolymphomatosis.

Peripheral neurological complications of lymphomas are rare and much less frequent than central complications. Nonetheless, on occasion, systemic non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma may directly infiltrate the peripheral nervous system at various levels. This report describes a man with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and leptomeningeal disease who developed progressive areflexic quadraparesis. Initial electromyography (EMG) was consistent with a polyradiculopathy and a repeat EMG performed 1 month later for worsening symptoms showed evidence of demyelination. The patient expired due to systemic complications of his illness. Autopsy of the sural nerve showed moderately severe distal sensory axonal loss, direct infiltration of the brachial plexus by malignant lymphocytes and demyelination in brachial and lumbar plexus, most prominent in areas of neoplastic infiltration. Based on this patient’s course and pathology, we suggest that widespread demyelination may accompany neurolymphomatosis and the clinical presentation may be indistinguishable from an acute demyelinating neuropathy.
Agricultural Burning and Air Quality over Northern India: A Synergistic Analysis using NASA’s A-train Satellite Data and Ground Measurements

In the recent years, New Delhi, the capital city of India, has ranked among the most polluted cities in the world regarding its air quality related to the submicron Particulate Matter (PM(sub 2.5)). Using NASA's A-train satellite data (MODIS, OMI, and CALIOP), ground-level PM2.5 measured in New Delhi (2013-2016), and back-trajectory calculations, we show that the PM(sub 2.5). over New Delhi is strongly affected by the agricultural fires in the northwestern Indian states of Punjab and Haryana during the post-monsoon season (October and November). The mass concentration of PM2.5 escalates from ~50 μg m(exp -3) measured prior to the onset of residue burning in early October to as high as 300 μg m(exp -3) (24-hour averaged, 7- day running mean) during the peak burning period in early November. A linear regression analysis reveals that the variations in PM(sub 2.5) over New Delhi can be attributed to the concurrent changes in the satellite retrievals of fire counts and aerosols over the crop burning area. The back-trajectory analysis shows that most clusters (> 80%) of the northwesterly flow near the ground intercepted the crop burning region before arriving at the receptor location in New Delhi; this further corroborates the transport patterns inferred from the satellite data. A 15-year long satellite record (2002-2016) reveals an increasing trend in agricultural fires (~617 per year) and aerosol loading (0.031 and 0.04 per year in aerosol optical depth and UV aerosol index) in November. Increasing levels of crop residue burning and resulting particulate matter pollution at an alarming rate over northern India is a pressing concern demanding corrective measures to substantially reduce or completely diminish the crop burning through an effective residue management system.
Walkie-Markie: indoor pathway mapping made easy

We present Walkie-Markie - an indoor pathway mapping system that can automatically reconstruct internal pathway maps of buildings without any a-priori knowledge about the building, such as the floor plan or access point locations. Central to Walkie-Markie is a novel exploitation of the WiFi infrastructure to define landmarks (WiFi-Marks) to fuse crowdsourced user trajectories obtained from inertial sensors on users' mobile phones. WiFi-Marks are special pathway locations at which the trend of the received WiFi signal strength changes from increasing to decreasing when moving along the pathway. By embedding these WiFi-Marks in a 2D plane using a newly devised algorithm and connecting them with calibrated user trajectories, Walkie-Markie is able to infer pathway maps with high accuracy. Our experiments demonstrate that Walkie-Markie is able to reconstruct a high-quality pathway map for a real office-building floor after only 5-6 rounds of walks, with accuracy gradually improving as more user data becomes available. The maximum discrepancy between the inferred pathway map and the real one is within 3m and 2.8m for the anchor nodes and path segments, respectively.
Active Hybrid Solar Cooling Systems

Systems that combine a desiccant dehumidification cycle with a second cycle that produces sensible cooling are discussed. The thermodynamic and possible economic advantages over simple cycles are outlined, and the literature that describes the behavior of such cycles is reviewed.
Impressions of message compliance-gaining strategies for considering robot rights

This experiment was conducted to determine interpersonal impressions of two types of compliance-gaining strategies (warning and obligation) used to ask for the consideration of robot rights. Findings demonstrated that the strategy of obligation produced higher levels of petitioner perceived caring (a factor of source credibility) and higher perceptions of task attraction. Social attraction, competence, and character did not significantly differ by type of message strategy utilized.
Neurodegenerative Disease Caregivers' 5-HTTLPR Genotype Moderates the Effect of Patients' Empathic Accuracy Deficits on Caregivers' Well-Being.

Abstract Objective To test the hypothesis that a functional polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene (serotonin-transporter-linked polymorphic region [5-HTTLPR]), which is thought to be associated with differential environmental sensitivity, moderates the association between low levels of empathic accuracy (i.e., ability to recognize emotions in others) in patients with neurodegenerative disease and caregivers’ well-being. Methods Participants were 54 patients with neurodegenerative disease and their caregivers. Patients’ empathic accuracy was measured using a dynamic tracking task in which they continuously rated the emotions of a character in a film; accuracy was determined by comparing patient ratings with those made by an expert panel. Caregivers provided a saliva sample for genotyping. Caregivers’ well-being was measured as a latent construct indicated by validated measures of depression, anxiety, and negative affect. Results Lower levels of patients’ empathic accuracy were associated with lower levels of caregivers’ well-being. Importantly, caregivers’ 5-HTTLPR genotype moderated this association such that lower empathic accuracy in patients predicted lower well-being for caregivers with the short/short genotype (standardized β = 0.66), but not for caregivers with the short/long (standardized β = 0.05) or long/long genotypes (standardized β = −0.21). Conclusion Consistent with previous findings that the short/short variant of 5-HTTLPR is associated with greater sensitivity to environmental influences, caregivers with the short/short variant manifest lower well-being when caring for a patient with low levels of empathic accuracy than caregivers with the other variants. This finding contributes to the authors’ understanding of biological factors associated with individual differences in caregiver vulnerability and resilience.
High-efficiency ultrafast optical-to-electrical converters based on InAs nanowire-plasmonic arrays.

There has been a growing interest in developing high-efficiency ultrafast optical-to-electrical converters for advanced imaging and sensing applications. Here, we propose a three-dimensional (3D) plasmonic platform based on InAs nanowire arrays with self-assembled gold gratings, which converts a telecom-wavelength (1550 nm) optical beam to sub-picosecond current pulses with quantum efficiency up to 18.3%, while operating in photovoltaic mode, i.e., at zero bias. Using a comprehensive 3D photoresponse model, we reveal that the incident photons form tightly confined fields near the gratings at nanowire tips, and thus a majority of the photogenerated carriers are efficiently routed to the metal within a few tens of nanometers distance, resulting in ultrafast current pulses. In addition, we show that the amplitude of current pulses is robust to the nanowire surface quality and can be effectively tuned by varying the doping levels in nanowires. This work paves a way to realizing a low-power, highly compact, and low-cost device scheme for ultrafast pulse generation.
Altered brain structures in the dorsal and ventral language pathways in individuals with and without developmental language disorder (DLD)

Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulty learning and using language, and this difficulty cannot be attributed to other developmental conditions. The aim of the current study was to examine structural differences in dorsal and ventral language pathways between adolescents and young adults with and without DLD (age range: 14–27 years) using anatomical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Results showed age-related structural brain differences in both dorsal and ventral pathways in individuals with DLD. These findings provide evidence for neuroanatomical correlates of persistent language deficits in adolescents/young adults with DLD, and further suggest that this brain-language relationship in DLD is better characterized by taking account the dynamic course of the disorder along development.
Development of a Culture of Scholarship: The Impact of a Structured Roadmap for Scholarly Activity in Family Medicine Residency Program.

Introduction The Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) mandates resident scholarship in all residency programs. Resident scholarship requirement continues to be one of the most common citations by the Residency Review Committee (RRC). This study evaluates the impact of a structured roadmap for resident scholarly activity in a single-family medicine residency program. Methods This retrospective study compares resident scholarship before and after exposure to a structured roadmap for scholarly activity as well as characteristics associated with higher scholarship productivity. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL) version 16.0. Student's t-test was used to calculate the statistically significant difference. Results There were a total of 16 residents who graduated in the first cohort whereas the second cohort consisted of 18 residents. There was a steady increase in resident scholarly activity over time. The number of publications by those who were exposed to a 13-step structured roadmap for scholarly activity was more than twice when compared with the first cohort. Those who pursued a fellowship after residency published three times more than those who did not. Conclusion Exposure to a structured roadmap for scholarly activity may be associated with higher production of resident scholarly activity. Larger studies comparing national level data from isolated community hospitals and big academic centers are needed for a conclusive argument. Although the availability of resources may increase the likelihood of more scholarship, the establishment of a research culture is more important. Further studies are needed to determine the factors which lead to the establishment of research culture in a residency program.
Treatment of an Acromial Stress Fracture After Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty With Teriparatide: A Case Report.

Case A 78-year-old woman who underwent reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) for proximal humerus fracture developed a Type-3 acromial stress fracture, resulting in increased pain and decreased function 9 months post-op. She was managed nonoperatively with adjunctive teriparatide (FORTEO), and after a 4-month course, she had regained excellent motion and achieved union. Conclusion Teriparatide is a viable adjunct in treating patients nonoperatively with acromial stress fractures after RTSA.
Centromere studies in the era of ‘telomere-to-telomere’ genomics

We are entering into an exciting era of genomics where truly complete, high-quality assemblies of human chromosomes are available end-to-end, or from 'telomere-to-telomere' (T2T). This technological advance offers a new opportunity to include endogenous human centromeric regions in high-resolution, sequence-based studies. These emerging reference maps are expected to reveal a new functional landscape in the human genome, where centromere proteins, transcriptional regulation, and spatial organization can be examined with base-level resolution across different stages of development and disease. Such studies will depend on innovative assembly methods of extremely long tandem repeats (ETRs), or satellite DNAs, paired with the development of new, orthogonal validation methods to ensure accuracy and completeness. This review reflects the progress in centromere genomics, credited by recent advancements in long-read sequencing and assembly methods. In doing so, I will discuss the challenges that remain and the promise for a new period of scientific discovery for satellite DNA biology and centromere function.
Surgical Residents in the Battle Against COVID-19.

PERSPECTIVES In times of public health crises, medical residency program leaders are responsible to maintain the wellbeing of their residents and ensure uninterrupted training. COVID-19 caused significant impact on healthcare industry, depleting resources and manpower, which led to disruption to graduate medical education and residency training. Surgical residents were affected by the pandemic both by reduced operative opportunities in most training centers and inducing stress and concerns about safety and wellbeing among residents. Spread of the SARS-Cov-2 was naturally accompanied with a gradual decrease in numbers of healthcare personnel which consequently increased the burden on residents. During these times of crisis and uncertainty, it is crucial that residency programs find alternative learning opportunities and deploy pre-designed, dynamic operational strategies to ensure high quality surgical services while optimizing resident safety and wellbeing. The COVID-19 crisis was a natural call for the essential need to add another dimension to residency competencies, which is Crisis-based learning and practice. Times of public health crisis are opportunities to reflect on the medical practice from an interdisciplinary and interprofessional perspective and train the residents to function as part of a larger, globally responsible team. It also calls upon adopting innovative instructional and learning strategies such as utilizing digital and online learning tools to complement learning. A holistic approach to the crisis was taken by the surgical residency program at the University of Illinois in Chicago, which addressed the issue from a resident, hospital, and public health standpoints. An operational strategy was introduced to optimize resident safety, maximize learning opportunities, support other non-surgical services, and promote online teaching and learning. This strategy is meant to serve as a dynamic reference for surgical residency programs and as an infrastructure for dealing with this and any upcoming healthcare crises in an efficient and resident-centered way.
Randomized Controlled Trial of a Novel Communication Device Assessed During Noninvasive Ventilation Therapy.

Background Noninvasive ventilation (NIV), a form of positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, is the standard of care for various forms of acute respiratory failure (ARF). Communication impairment is a side effect of NIV, impedes patient care, contributes to distress and intolerance, and potentially increases intubation rates. This study aimed to evaluate communication impairment during CPAP therapy and demonstrate communication device improvement with a standardized protocol. Research Question How does an oronasal mask affect communication intelligibility? How does use of an NIV communication device change this communication intelligibility? Study Design and Methods A single-center randomized controlled trial (36 outpatients with OSA on CPAP therapy) assessed exposure to CPAP 10 cm H2O and PAP communication devices (SPEAX, Ataia Medical). Communication impairment was evaluated by reading selected words and sentences for partners to record and were tabulated as %words correct. Each outpatient-partner pair performed three assessments: (1) baseline (conversing normally), (2) mask baseline (conversing with PAP), and (3) randomized to functioning device (conversing with PAP and device) or sham device. After each stage, both outpatients and partners completed Likert surveys regarding perceived intelligibility and comfort. Results While conversing with PAP, word and sentence intelligibility decreased relatively by 52% (87% vs 41%) and relatively by 57% (94% vs 40%), respectively, compared with normal conversation. Word and sentence intelligibility in the intervention arm increased relatively by 75% (35% vs 61%; P Interpretation Use of this PAP communication device significantly improves both intelligibility and comfort. This is one of the first studies quantifying communication impairment during PAP delivery. Trial Registry ClinicalTrials.gov ; No.: NCT03795753; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov
Preparing the Patient

Preparing your patient is one of the key factors in achieving that first-pass success. Remember your motto: Plan for success but prepare for failure. This step should not be skipped. Even for patients in extremis, many of these steps take very little time but are worth their weight in gold when you are searching for the magic epiglottis.
Under a money tree? Comparing the determinants of Western and Chinese development finance flows to Africa

China’s breakneck economic growth has been accompanied by an expanding development finance agenda. Many have hypothesized thatChina is undermining the West’s drive to promote good governance globa...
Anthrax Edema Toxin Co-Opts IGF1R and EGFR Signaling to Promote Cell-Cell Barrier Dysfunction

Cell-cell barrier dysfunction induced by the anthrax edema toxin (ET) is central to bacterial dissemination and lethal vascular collapse during disease progression. Available treatments including antimicrobial and early-stage antitoxin measures do not prevent lethal anthrax toxemia during fulminant stages of infection. This study identifies cell-based therapeutic measures that target the late-stage intracellular activities of ET and their potential to mitigate consequences of ET toxemia. We uncover a critical involvement of IGF1R and EGFR in promoting ET-dependent barrier disruption through effects on cellular F-actin network that are separate from, but have an impact upon, previously characterized cAMP-mediated inhibition of vesicular trafficking. ET rapidly trans-activates IGF1R and EGFR, resulting in the activation of downstream effectors PI3K and MEK, and subsequently a Rac1- and cofilin-dependent actin remodeling. Finally, we provide in vivo pre-clinical validation of the therapeutic potential of PI3K, MEK and Rac1 inhibitors in preventing ET-dependent edema in a mouse footpad model.
Rare Causes of Hypercalcemia: 2021 Update

Context Primary hyperparathyroidism and malignancy are the etiologies in 90% of cases of hypercalcemia. When these entities are not the etiology of hypercalcemia, uncommon conditions need to be considered. In 2005, Jacobs and Bilezikian published a clinical review of rare causes of hypercalcemia, focusing on mechanisms and pathophysiology. This review is an updated synopsis of rare causes of hypercalcemia, extending the observations of the original article. Evidence acquisition Articles reporting rare associations between hypercalcemia and unusual conditions were identified through a comprehensive extensive PubMed-based search using the search terms "hypercalcemia" and "etiology," as well as examining the references in the identified case reports. We categorized the reports by adults vs pediatric and further categorized the adult reports based on etiology. Some included reports lacked definitive assessment of etiology and are reported as unknown mechanism with discussion of likely etiology. Evidence synthesis There is a growing understanding of the breadth of unusual causes of hypercalcemia. When the cause of hypercalcemia is elusive, a focus on mechanism and review of prior reported cases is key to successful determination of the etiology. Conclusions The ever-expanding reports of patients with rare and even unknown mechanisms of hypercalcemia illustrate the need for continued investigation into the complexities of human calcium metabolism.
Primary Glomerular Disease Clinical Trials: A Critical Appraisal

The evidence base upon which a rational approach to the management of primary glomerular disease has been building slowly over many decades. Unfortunately, the quality of the studies encompassing this database has varied widely, in part due to difficulties in study design and subject enrolment. Many studies have been small and underpowered and have used surrogate endpoints, such as a change in proteinuria. Unintentional or unavoidable biases have crept into study execution and few have been sufficiently long term to evaluate “hard” outcomes such as avoidance of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The use of estimated rather than measured GFR may have added a further bias in the few studies with renal function endpoints. Due to the limited knowledge of etiology and pathogenesis of primary glomerular disease, most studies have examined the effects of “non-specific” empirical treatments (such as the use of glucocorticoids or immunosuppressive agents). Nevertheless, there is a “ray of sunshine”. Recent trials have employed more rigorous trial design and sample sizes appropriate to minimize the β-error (false negatives). Increasingly, the focus has been on more homogeneous group of enrolees with a reasonably well-defined prognosis, in the absence of treatment. Active comparator rather than placebo-controlled trials dominate the landscape and many trials are not double-blinded leading to the potential for bias.
Radiography of secondary hyperparathyroidism. A case of hyperparathyroidism resulting from chronic glomerulonephritis.

Abstract A case of hyperparathyroidism secondary to chronic glomerulonephritis has been presented. Radiographically, this case demonstrated (1) generalized demineralization of bone, (2) loss of cortical bone, (3) metastatic calcification of soft tissues, and (4) an unusual malocclusion.
Recognizing the common problem of child automobile restraint misuse

The effectiveness of safety restraints in protecting children from motor vehicle injuries has been well documented,1 prompting all states to require that child passengers ride in appropriate restraints.2 Although the prevalence of child restraint device use has increased following the passage of child restraint device laws, many drivers use restraints incorrectly on their child passengers. For example, in a recent study of child restraint device use, we reported that, although 75% of children were riding in restraints on seat belts, 62.9% of those children were incorrectly restrained.3 In a 1984 study, Cynecki and Goryl4 reported a similar misuse rate of 64.6%.
Photodynamic therapy of disseminated non-small cell lung carcinoma in a murine model

Background and Objective Photodynamic therapy (PDT) of thoracic malignancies involving the pleural surfaces is an active area of clinical investigation. The present report aims to characterize a model for PDT of disseminated non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) grown orthotopically in nude mice, and to evaluate the effect of PDT on tumor and normal tissues. Study Design H460 human NSCLC cells were injected percutaneously into the thoracic cavity of nude mice. HPPH-PDT (1 mg/kg, 24 hours) was performed via the interstitial delivery (150 mW/cm) of 661 nm light to the thoracic cavity at fluences of 25–200 J/cm. Results H460 tumors exhibited exponential growth within the thoracic cavity consisting of diffuse, gross nodular disease within 9 days after intrathoracic injection. Tumor volume, measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), was highly correlated with the aggregate tumor mass extracted from the corresponding animal. Intrathoracic PDT at fluences of ≥50 J/cm produced significant decreases in tumor burden as compared to untreated controls, however, mortality increased with rising fluence. Accordingly, 50 J/cm was selected for MRI studies to measure intra-animal PDT effects. Tumor distribution favored the ventral (vs. dorsal), caudal (vs. cranial), and right (vs. left) sides of the thoracic cavity by MRI; PDT did not change this spatial pattern despite an overall effect on tumor burden. Histopathology revealed edema and fibrin deposition within the pulmonary interstitium and alveoli of the PDT-treated thoracic cavity, as well as occasional evidence of vascular disruption. Prominent neutrophil infiltration with a concomitant decline in the lymphocyte compartment was also noted in the lung parenchyma within 24 hours after PDT. Conclusion HPPH-PDT of an orthotopic model of disseminated NSCLC is both feasible and effective using intracavitary light delivery. We establish this animal model, together with the treatment and monitoring approaches, as novel and valuable methods for the pre-clinical investigation of intrathoracic PDT of disseminated pleural malignancies. Lasers Surg. Med. 43:663–675, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Gaseous Inclusions in Float Glass

L'analyse chimique des bulles de gaz formees lors de la fabrication du verre flotte permet de detecter l'origine de leur formation et ainsi d'eviter leur apparition qui est la cause de perte de production. Differentes methodes d'analyses plus ou moins fines sont proposees et comparees
Interactive Marine Analysis and Forecast System (IMAFS): the oceanographic workstation of the future

The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the US Navy have begun development of the Interactive Marine Analysis and Forecast System (IMAFS). The system will provide forecasters, research scientists, and data managers with the means to access and integrate interdisciplinary data sets from several sources, including both archived and real-time data. The system will support NOAA's programs, including climate and global change, fisheries productivity, environmental quality, coastal hazards, and marine weather. The authors describe the objective, the rationale, the implementation, and the benefits of IMAFS. >
Geografía lingüística y cultural del Perú contemporáneo

En este informe se tratara de elaborar el mapa de las regiones culturales del Peru, empleando los datos cuantitativos de lenguaje y etnicidad como aparecen en los diversos censos.
Acute behavioral effects of nicotine in male and female HINT1 knockout mice.

Human genetic association and brain expression studies, and mouse behavioral and molecular studies implicate a role for the histidine triad nucleotide-binding protein 1 (HINT1) in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety. The high comorbidity between smoking and psychiatric disorders, schizophrenia in particular, is well established. Associations with schizophrenia and HINT1 are also sex specific, with effects more predominant in males; however, it is unknown if sex differences associated with the gene extend to other phenotypes. Thus, in this study, using a battery of behavioral tests, we elucidated the role of HINT1 in acute nicotine-mediated behaviors using male and female HINT1 wild-type (+/+) and knockout (−/−) mice. The results show that male HINT1 −/− mice were less sensitive to acute nicotine-induced antinociception in the tail-flick, but not hot-plate test. At low nicotine doses, male and female HINT1 −/− mice were less sensitive to nicotine-induced hypomotility, although the effect was more pronounced in females. Baseline differences in locomotor activity observed in male HINT1 +/+ and −/− mice were absent in females. Nicotine did not produce an anxiolytic effect in male HINT1 −/− mice, but rather an anxiogenic response. Diazepam also failed to induce an anxiolytic response in these mice, suggesting a general anxiety phenotype not specific to nicotine. Differences in anxiety-like behavior were not observed in female mice. These results further support a role for HINT1 in nicotine-mediated behaviors and suggest that alterations in the gene may have differential effects on phenotype in males and females.
Aurintricarboxylic acid is a potent inhibitor of phosphofructokinase.

Aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA) was found to be a very potent inhibitor of purified rabbit liver phosphofructokinase (PFK), giving 50% inhibition at 0.2 microM. The inhibition was in a manner consistent with interaction at the citrate-inhibitory site of the enzyme. The data suggest that inhibition of PFK by ATA was not due to denaturation of the enzyme or the irreversible binding of inhibitor, since the inhibition could be reversed by addition of allosteric activators of PFK, i.e. fructose 2,6-bisphosphate or AMP. Two other tricarboxylic acids, agaric acid and (-)-hydroxycitrate, were found to inhibit PFK. ATA at much higher concentrations (500 microM) was shown to inhibit fatty acid synthesis from endogenous glycogen in rat hepatocytes; however, protein synthesis was not altered.
Dynamic mechanical analysis of advanced composites

Abstract Advanced composites of the epoxy/fiber type were studied by dynamic mechanical analysis. The technique was used to study the curing process and to observe the quantitative mechanical and viscoelastic properties of the fully cured composition. Fiber orientation effects and anisotropic behavior are discussed.
Note on duality on polarized symplectic manifolds

In this note we use some of the results of [3] to derive a general duality theorem for the cohomologies of foliated structures on a manifold. The result is applied to the special case of a symplectic manifold M on which the foliation is given by a complex polarization F in the sense of geometric quantization. We obtain, for example, a rigorous proof of the fact that for a smooth function ƒ on M whose Hamiltonian vector field leaves F invariant, the spectrum of the corresponding prequantization operator v(ƒ) coincides with the spectrum of its transpose, under the above duality. This latter result was obtained by Simms in [12] under certain hypotheses. Proofs of the validity of those hypotheses are now available in the literature; cf. [3] and [7].
Allergic sensitization can be induced via multiple physiologic routes in an adjuvant-dependent manner.

Background Oral exposure to food allergens may be limited in infancy, and the initial site of antigen exposure likely plays an important role in food allergy induction. Objective To examine the impact of different routes of exposure by using milk allergens, with and without adjuvant, on sensitization. Methods C3H/HeJ mice were repeatedly exposed to the milk allergen α-lactalbumin (ALA), with or without cholera toxin (CT). Sensitization routes used were intragastric, cutaneous, intranasal, and sublingual. Anaphylaxis severity was assessed by symptoms and body temperature in response to oral challenge. Antigen-specific serum antibodies were measured by ELISA. The mechanism of adjuvant activity of cutaneous CT was also determined. Results Sensitization to ALA as measured by allergen-specific IgE occurred by all routes of sensitization and was maximal in response to cutaneous exposure. Sensitization was dependent on CT and did not occur to antigen alone by any route. Mucosal, but not cutaneous, exposure resulted in a robust allergen-specific IgA response. Anaphylaxis occurred in all sensitized groups when orally challenged with ALA. Topical CT induced migration of langerin neg dermal dendritic cells to the lymph node, resulting in enhanced proliferation and T H 2 cytokine production from responder T cells. Conclusions Sensitization can occur via all physiologic routes when adjuvant is present. The skin is a potent and likely important physiologic route of sensitization whereby adjuvant induces an efflux of antigen-bearing dermal dendritic cells to the lymph node that generate a proallergic T H 2 response.
Ultrafast Spectroscopy of Laser-Driven Nanoshocks in Molecular Solids

Using a moderate energy picosecond pulse laser, 4 GPa shock waves are reproducibly generated at a high repetition rate in molecular solids. These tiny but powerful shocks are termed “nanoshocks”. Time resolved vibrational spectra with high signal to noise can be obtained using coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS). Applications of nanoshocks in research and industry are discussed briefly. Results are presented on a molecular crystal, anthracene, and an energetic material, NTO. The temperature and pressure of the shocked material, and the risetime and velocity of the shock front are determined spectroscopically. Ultrafast material relaxation processes are investigated.
Judicious resection and/or radiosurgery for parasagittal meningiomas: outcomes from a multicenter review. Gamma Knife Meningioma Study Group.

BACKGROUND: Parasagittal meningiomas, especially when associated with the middle or posterior third of the superior sagittal sinus, pose difficult management challenges. Initial surgical excision is associated with high morbidity and frequent tumor recurrence after subtotal resection. Neurological deficits are cumulative when multiple resections are required. No consistent management approach exists for patients with such tumors. In addition to observation, management options include resection, stereotactic radiosurgery, or fractionated radiation therapy used alone or in combination. METHODS: Sixteen centers where resection, gamma knife radiosurgery, and/or radiation therapy were available provided management data on 203 patients with histologically benign meningiomas from the time of initial diagnosis through follow-up after radiosurgery. The timing of resections, parameters of radiosurgery, rates of tumor control, morbidity, and functional patient outcomes were studied. The median follow-up duration in this study was 3.5 years (maximum, 33 yr after presentation and 6 yr after radiosurgery). RESULTS: The tumors were located in the anterior superior sagittal sinus in 52 patients, at the middle of the sinus in 91, and at the posterior portion of the sinus in 60. The mean tumor volume at the time of radiosurgery was 10 cc. In patients who underwent radiosurgery as the primary therapy (n = 66), the 5-year actuarial tumor control rate was 93 ± 4%. No clinical failure (need for additional therapy or worsened neurological function) occurred in patients who had smaller tumors (<7.5 cc) and who had never undergone resection (n = 41). The 5-year control rate for patients with previous surgery was only 60 ± 10%; the control rate for the radiosurgerytreated volume was 85%. Most failures resulted from remote tumor growth. Multivariate analyses identified significantly decreased tumor control with increasing tumor volume (P = 0.002) and previous neurological deficits (P = 0.002). The rate of transient, symptomatic edema after radiosurgery was 16%, was more common with larger tumors, and occurred within 2 years. Of 33 patients who were employed at the time of radiosurgery for whom a minimum of 1 year of follow-up data were available, 30 remained employed (91%). A decrease in functional status after radiosurgery was noted in only 3 of 33 (9%) employed and 7 of 77 (9%) unemployed patients. CONCLUSION: In patients with smaller tumors (<3 cm in diameter) and patent sagittal sinuses, we advocate radiosurgery alone as the first surgical procedure. Patients with larger tumors and those with progressive neurological deficits resulting from brain compression should first undergo resection. Planned second-stage radiosurgery should be performed soon afterward for any residual tumor nodule or neoplastic dural remnant. Multimodality management may enhance long-term tumor control, reduce the need for multiple resections, and maintain the functional status of the patient.
Nomifensine and hemolytic anemia — experience of a post-marketing alert

The antidepressant nomifensine was withdrawn worldwide by the manufacturer in January 1986 following a rising incidence of reports of acute immune hemolytic anemia with serious clinical sequelae, including a number of fatalities. This short report describes the chronology of events leading up to the drug's withdrawal in one country, the United Kingdom, 9 years after it was first made available. The known incidence of hemolytic anemia reports was related to prescription data and showed that the risk-benefit ratio was tipped against continued availability of the drug only in the latter part of 1985, shortly before the drug was withdrawn. Factors related to the increased reporting of the adverse events are discussed, but increased awareness by prescribers of drug-related events and their willingness to report them as a result of medical literature and media reports, including publications by the Committee on Safety of Medicines of Yellow Card data, are thought to have been major contributors.
Rapid quantification of bacterial and fungal growth in burn wounds: biopsy homogenate Gram stain versus microbial culture results.

Abstract A prospective analysis of 370 burn wound biopsies was done to correlate Gram-stain results from biopsy homogenates with quantitative culture results. The number of bacteria seen in a total of 10 oil immersion microscope fields of Gram-stained homogenates was correlated with significant microbial growth (1×10 5 organisms/gram of tissue) of the same biopsy homogenate plated on trypticase soy agar. Of the biopsies examined, Gram-negative rods were present in 36·8 per cent, Gram-positive cocci in 49·7 per cent and yeast in 15·9 per cent. Mixtures of organisms were present in 24·3 per cent. When Gram stains showed one or more organisms per oil immersion microscope field, the correlation with significant microbial growth was 94·5 per cent or more. When five or more organisms were seen per field, the correlation with significant growth became 97 per cent or greater. When no organism was seen on Gram stain, the cultures grew significant numbers of organisms 19·1 per cent of the time or less. This false-negative rate was considered to be high. It is believed, however, that this method of early detection of significant burn wound microbial growth may prove to be valuable in the management of severely burned patients.