cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Contingent tolerance to carbamazepine is associated with lowering of amygdala-kindled seizure thresholds.

Amygdala-kindled seizure thresholds were studied in animals which were or were not tolerant to the anticonvulsant effects of carbamazepine. The seizure threshold was defined as the lowest current that elicited a major motor seizure (stage 3 or greater). Amygdala-kindled rats received carbamazepine, once daily, either before each electrical stimulation (carba-before) or after each stimulation (carba-after). The rats given carbamazepine before, but not after, each once-daily kindling stimulation became tolerant to its anticonvulsant effects. Following this manipulation, seizure thresholds were redetermined in both groups of animals while medication-free. The carba-before (i.e., tolerant) animals showed a decreased seizure threshold, while the carba-after (i.e., nontolerant) animals showed no change. Tolerance to carbamazepine was reversed by giving the rats kindled seizures for a period of 7 days without drug; nontolerant animals received the same stimulation and seizures. When seizure thresholds were reevaluated, the carba-before animals (now not tolerant) had returned to their pretolerance values, while the carba-after group again showed no change. This effect of carbamazepine tolerance and its reversal being associated with respective decreases and increases in basal seizure threshold was replicated two more times. In each case the change in the generalized seizure threshold mirrored the change in responsivity of the animals to carbamazepine. These findings, consistent with the formulations of Siegel regarding conditioned compensatory response mechanisms mediating contingent drug tolerance, may have important clinical and theoretical implications.
South Brazil: Its vegetation, natural resources, research centers, and other economic aspects

Although the five southern coastal states constitute only about 11% of the total area of Brazil, the core of the country’s agricultural activities, the principal commercial centers, and a high proportion of the population are concentrated within their boundaries. This article discusses the vegetation, some of the research institutions, agricultural and forest crops, and other economic features of those states.
HOMOPHOBIA AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS AIDS PATIENTS AMONG MEDICAL, NURSING, AND PARAMEDICAL STUDENTS

For a previously developed 28-item questionnaire and a sample of 161 students training for careers in health professions, homophobia was inversely associated wth empathy for AIDS victims. Homophobia was also a better predictor of fear of AIDS than age, sex, marital status, or desired health career. It was concluded that students in the health professions may need additional instruction related to AIDS and homosexuality.
The Effect of Food Stamps on Food Expenditures: An Assessment of Findings From the Nationwide Food Consumption Survey

Estimates of the marginal propensity to consume food out of food stamp benefits based upon the low-income supplement to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's "Nationwide Food Consumption Survey" are very sensitive to whether weighted or unweighted data are used in the analysis. Based on data from the 1977–78 survey, we estimated identical models of household food expenditures using unweighted and weighted data. Weighted estimates of the marginal propensity to consume food out of food stamps are approximately double the unweighted estimates, even when sample stratifiers are included in the model. A small number of cases with large sampling weights are responsible for almost all of the difference between the weighted and unweighted estimates.
A method for the measurement of the electron-impact excitation cross section of argon

Abstract A method is described for the measurement of absolute values of the total electron-impact excitation cross sections of argon to metastable states ( 3 P). The method utilizes measurements of the ratio of the excitation to ionization cross section. Results are reported from 60 to 100 eV.
Spillover effects, linkage structure, and research and development

Abstract We use US input-output data for the 1947–1977 period to analyse the relations among research and development (R&D), technical change, and intersectoral linkages. Our most novel finding is that among manufacturing industries, an industry's rate of technological progress is positively and significantly related to that of its supplying sectors. Another new finding is that among all sectors of the economy, a sector's R&D intensity and rate of technological progress positively affect its degree of linkage with other sectors. We also find significant spillovers from R&D embodied in new investment.
Design and simulation of closed-loop ground alignment of inertial platforms with sway motion

This paper is concerned with the application of optimal estimation and control concepts to the ground alignment of inertial platforms subjected to random sway motion. A seventh-order Kalman filter has been designed for estimating the platform misalignments and sway motion. Using the linear quadratic optimal regulator techniques, feedback controller gains have been designed to drive the initial misalignments to a small value. A reconfiguration of the filter controller scheme has been proposed and verified by Monte Carlo simulation for improving the speed of alignment without changing the alignment accuracy.
Differential effects of nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) on B-cell subsets: reversal of NDGA-induced antibody suppression by cyclic GMP is subset specific.

Abstract Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (4,4′-[2,3-dimethyl tetramethylene]-dipyrocatechol) (NDGA), a reportedly specific lipoxygenase inhibitor, suppressed the in vitro murine plaque-forming cell (PFC) response to a thymus-dependent (TD) antigen, and the two subclasses of thymus-independent (TI) antigens, TI1 and TI2, at a final concentration of 33 μM. Suppression kinetics were inconsistent with those observed in previous experiments for other lipoxygenase inhibitors, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), in that BHA and BHT exert suppression early in the 5-day PFC culture system, whereas NDGA suppressed through the 96th h of the 120 h culture period. The sulfhydryl-protective agent 2-mercaptoethanol (2ME) protected both the TD and TI responses. Dibutyryl cyclic GMP (dbcGMP) failed to restore NDGA-suppressed TD and TI1 PFC responses but restored the TI2 response when added at 0-, 24-, 48-, 72-, and 96-h at concentrations of 1–2 mM. NDGA inhibited lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced increases in murine splenocyte cyclic GMP (cGMP) levels, and dbcGMP failed to accelerate the onset of the TI2 PFC response appreciably. The results of these and other laboratory studies indicated that NDGA may not be a specific inhibitor of lipoxygenase. Furthermore, the B-cell subset responding to TI2 antigens may be separated from the TD- and TI1-responding subsets because of the ability of dbcGMP to restore NDGA-suppressed TI2 responses but not the TD or TI1 response. The results suggest a fundamental difference in the biochemical pathways of B-cell subsets, and that cGMP metabolism in some cells may be linked to specific protein synthesis.
Experimental and Clinical Study of a New Permanent Myocardial Atrial Sutureless Pacing Lead

A new permanent lead has been developed for atrial epicardial use. Early clinical evaluation (26 human implants) following thorough canine studies indicates that the new lead is safe, effective, and reliable. Canine thresholds and P-wave amplitudes as a function of implant time are similar to those of transvenous alrial “J” leads. Human thresholds at implant are higher than canine, but change less with time. Implant and acute repositioning were found to be easy. There have been no lead-related operations.
Inspiratory muscle training in clinical practice. Physiologic conditioning or habituation to suffocation

Six healthy volunteers and 19 patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease underwent a multistage, maximal, ventilatory stress test, ie, serial imposition of increasingly severe resistances to inspiration by means of a commercially available device (Pflex Inspiratory Trainer). Patients consistently underventilated and suffered desaturation during the test; healthy individuals did not. Eight patients completed three weeks or more of daily training stints using the inspiratory resistive device. There was no significant improvement in performance of the test after training. Those individuals whose condition improved showed no discernible change in ventilatory pattern but did suffer further desaturation.
Pregnancy intention from men's perspectives: does child support enforcement matter?

CONTEXT: Most research on pregnancy intention has focused on women’s perspectives and characteristics. Because decisions about sexual activity and contraceptive use usually involve both men and women, it is important to understand factors associated with men’s intentions—for example, child support enforcement—to maximize the potential for reducing unwanted pregnancies. METHODS: Data from the 1982‐2002 waves of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth were used in multinomial logit analyses to examine the determinants of pregnancy intention from men’s perspectives. RESULTS: Forty-six percent of pregnancies reported by never-married men were unwanted, compared with 21% of those reported by married men. Stronger child support enforcement was marginally associated with men’s decreased likelihood of being involved in an unwanted pregnancy compared with no pregnancy (coefficient, ‐0.14) and of being involved in an unwanted pregnancy compared with a wanted pregnancy (‐0.15). Without the improvement of child support enforcement over the survey period, the rate of unwanted pregnancies would have been an estimated 7% higher than the observed rate. CONCLUSIONS: Strengthening child support enforcement may have a positive impact on preventing unwanted pregnancies. Programs designed to reduce unwanted pregnancies and nonmarital births should include information on child support enforcement to increase their success. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 2005, 37(3):119‐124 By Chien-Chung Huang
A comparative study of manual and automated refactorings

Despite the enormous success that manual and automated refactoring has enjoyed during the last decade, we know little about the practice of refactoring. Understanding the refactoring practice is important for developers, refactoring tool builders, and researchers. Many previous approaches to study refactorings are based on comparing code snapshots, which is imprecise, incomplete, and does not allow answering research questions that involve time or compare manual and automated refactoring. We present the first extended empirical study that considers both manual and automated refactoring. This study is enabled by our algorithm, which infers refactorings from continuous changes. We implemented and applied this algorithm to the code evolution data collected from 23 developers working in their natural environment for 1,520 hours. Using a corpus of 5,371 refactorings, we reveal several new facts about manual and automated refactorings. For example, more than half of the refactorings were performed manually. The popularity of automated and manual refactorings differs. More than one third of the refactorings performed by developers are clustered in time. On average, 30% of the performed refactorings do not reach the Version Control System.
Deliberate practice and the acquisition and maintenance of expert performance in medicine and related domains.

The factors that cause large individual differences in professional achievement are only partially understood. Nobody becomes an outstanding professional without experience, but extensive experience does not invariably lead people to become experts. When individuals are first introduced to a professional domain after completing their education, they are often overwhelmed and rely on help from others to accomplish their responsibilities. After months or years of experience, they attain an acceptable level of proficiency and are able to work independently. Although everyone in a given domain tends to improve with experience initially, some develop faster than others and continue to improve during ensuing years. These individuals are eventually recognized as experts and masters. In contrast, most professionals reach a stable, average level of performance within a relatively short time frame and maintain this mediocre status for the rest of their careers. The nature of the individual differences that cause the large variability in attained performance is still debated. The most common explanation is that achievement in a given domain is limited by innate factors that cannot be changed through experience and training; hence, limits of attainable performance are determined by one’s basic endowments, such as abilities, mental capacities, and innate talents. Educators with this widely held view of professional development have focused on identifying and selecting students who possess the necessary innate talents that would allow them to reach expert levels with adequate experience. Therefore, the best schools and professional organizations nearly always rely on extensive testing and interviews to find the most talented applicants. This general view also explains age-related declines in professional achievement in terms of the inevitable reductions in general abilities and capacities believed to result from aging. In this article, I propose an alternative framework to account for individual differences in attained professional development, as well as many aspects of age-related decline. This framework is based on the assumption that acquisition of expert performance requires engagement in deliberate practice and that continued deliberate practice is necessary for maintenance of many types of professional performance. In order to contrast this alternative framework with the traditional view, I first describe the account based on innate talent. I then provide a brief review of the evidence on deliberate practice in the acquisition of expert performance in several performance domains, including music, chess, and sports. Finally, I review evidence from the acquisition and maintenance of expert performance in medicine and examine the role of deliberate practice in this domain.
The Relationship between Age and Driving Attitudes and Behaviors among Older Americans

Due to a decreasing birth rate and longer life expectancy, the proportion of Americans over the age of 65 is expected to rise in coming years. Drivers over 65 drive two billion miles yearly, a number that will increase. For that reason, it is imperative to understand their attitudes and perceptions. It is also important to understand whether drivers over 65 can be treated as one cohesive group, or if there are differences among them. A web-enabled survey was conducted among Americans in the years 2011–2013. Responses from 1793 persons over 65 regarding attitudes towards driving behaviors, support for safety interventions, and engagement in unsafe behaviors were analyzed. Respondents were stratified by age: 65–69, 70–74, and 75 and older. Age groups were compared using logistic regression. Other potential explanatory factors were analyzed and controlled for. The three groups were similar on many outcomes. However, statistically significant differences were found between them with regard to perceptions on speeding and the support for speed cameras, among other outcomes. In nearly all cases, those 75 and older were the most “pro-safety.” However, when adjusted for demographic characteristics other than age, a larger proportion of respondents 75 and older reported engaging in red light running and drowsy driving in the last 30 days, and the difference was statistically significant. Older drivers are strongly “pro-traffic safety.” However, the finding that those 65–69 are less so is concerning. This is especially true if it is the result of a cohort effect instead of an age effect. The increase in certain behaviors among those 75 and older is also concerning; drivers over this age are more prone to fatal injury when involved in a motor vehicle crashes. This poses a public health issue as the 75and older population expands.
Choice of Kernel Function for Density Estimation

Let l=f^n(x) be the kernel estimate of a density f(x) from a sample of size n. Wahba [6] has developed an upper bound to E[f(x)-l=f^n(x)]2. In the present paper, we find the kernel function of finite support [m=-T, T] that minimizes Wahba's upper bound. It is Q(y) = (1 + am=-1) (2T)m=-1 [1-m=-a|y|a] where a = 2-pm=-1, p m=ge 1.
Pre-colonoscopy bowel preparation intolerance: a sign of upper gastrointestinal pathology.

Severe vomiting and abdominal pain were precipitated by polyethylene glycol-based gut lavage (peg) in two patients out of 585 referred for colonoscopy in a 2 year period. Both patients had primary adenocarcinoma of the large bowel but both were also found to have gastroduodenal problems severe enough to need surgical treatment. Both cases are presented.
Mapping the structure and the marking system of a territory of the Thornson's gazelle*

Summary A tommy territory (about 8000 m2) was mapped in the Serengeti National Park (Tanzania). The techniques and principle guidelines for mapping the marking system are described. Several animal trails crossed the territory, but were not established by its owner. The male had several preferred bedding sites in the centre and in the boundary region of the territory. Eighteen dung piles and 110 preorbital gland secretion marks were recorded. One dung pile was in the centre, the others occurred along the boundary, most abundantly in sections of frequent agonistic encounters. The secretion marks generally followed the same pattern as the dung piles, but they formed a broader belt along the boundary, leaving a central area unmarked. Factors which may influence the position of dung piles and secretion marks are discussed. Landmarks can be incorporated in the establishment of the centre and boundary of a territory, but its basic structure is subjectively determined by the territorial in dividual. The marking system does not seem to be a means of ‘territorial defence’ in this species, but appears to be important primarily for the owner's orientation. Resume Un territoire de Gazelle de Thomson, d'environ 8000 m2, fut cartographie dans le Parc National du Serengeti en Tanzanie. Les techniques et principes conducteurs pour la cartographie du systeme de marquage sont decrits. Plusieurs pistes d'animaux traversent le territoire, mais ne furent pas tracees par le possesseur de celui-ci. Le mâle a plusieurs sites de repos preferentiels au centre et dam la zone limitrophe du territoire. Dix-huit points de defecation et 110 marquages de secretion de la glande pre-orbitale furent enregistres. Un point de defecation est au centre, les autres se trouvent le long de la limite, plus abondants dans les zones ou se produisent des rencontres antagonistes frequentes. Les marquages de secretion suivent generalement le meme repartition que les points de defecation, mais elles forment une bande plus large le long de la limite, laissant une surface centrale non marquee. Les facteurs qui pour-raient influencer la position des points de defecation et les marquages de secretion sont discutes. Des points de repere peuvent etre incorpores dans l‘establissement du centre et de la limite du territoire, mais leur structure de base est determinee sub-jectivement par l'individu territorial. Le systeme de marquage ne semble pas etre un moyen de “defense territoriale” chez cette espece, mais parait etre fondamentalement important pour l'orientation du possesseur de ce territoire.
PCBs in school-persistent chemicals, persistent problems.

The issue of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) exposures resulting from occupancy of PCB-contaminated buildings is not new, but the contribution of building materials to that contamination is largely...
Biaxial Fracture Studies of a Glass-Ceramic

Uniaxial and equibiaxial tensile strengths are reported for glass-ceramic specimens exhibiting strength isotropy. Uniaxial strengths were determined in both 3- and 4-point bend tests. Stressing rate was a controlled variable and the tests were conducted in both dry N2 and water environments, to provide data for different conditions of slow crack growth. There was little or no difference between strengths in the 3- and 4-point bend tests, indicating the absence of a size effect. In comparable tests, the strength under equibiaxial tension was greater than under uniaxial tension. The biaxial strengthening became less pronounced with increased slow crack growth during testing. A maximum observed biaxial-to-uniaxial strength ratio of 1.21 resulted from ball-on-ring and uniaxial bend tests in dry N2. These results are attributed to differences in flaw severity between biaxial and uniaxial stressing. The decreasing strength ratios can be explained by a change in configuration of critical flaws due to slow crack growth. Numerical calculations, using a simplified two-dimensional model of the strength-controlling flaw, supported this hypothesis. The calculations also indicate that the slow crack growth exponent is smaller for the biaxial tension mode of stressing than for the uniaxial mode.
Enhanced effectiveness of radiochemotherapy with tirapazamine by local application of electric pulses to tumors.

Abstract Maxim, P. G., Carson, J. J. L., Ning, S., Knox, S. J., Boyer, A. L., Hsu, C. P., Benaron, D. A. and Walleczek, J. Enhanced Effectiveness of Radiochemotherapy with Tirapazamine by Local Application of Electric Pulses to Tumors. Radiat. Res. 162, 185–193 (2004). Tumor hypoxia is associated with resistance to radiotherapy and anticancer chemotherapy. However, it can be exploited to therapeutic advantage by concomitantly using hypoxic cytotoxins, such as tirapazamine (TPZ). Tumor electroporation offers the means to further increase tumor hypoxia by temporarily reducing tumor blood flow and therefore increase the cytotoxicity of TPZ. The primary objective of this work was to determine whether electric pulses combined with TPZ and radiotherapy (electroradiochemotherapy) was more efficacious than radiochemotherapy (TPZ + radiation). In these studies using the SCCVII tumor model in C3H mice, electroradiochemotherapy produced up to sixfold more tumor growth delay (TGD) than TPZ + radiation. In these studi...
Phenotypic plasticity of fine root growth increases plant productivity in pine seedlings.

Background The plastic response of fine roots to a changing environment is suggested to affect the growth and form of a plant. Here we show that the plasticity of fine root growth may increase plant productivity based on an experiment using young seedlings (14-week old) of loblolly pine. We use two contrasting pine ecotypes, "mesic" and "xeric", to investigate the adaptive significance of such a plastic response.
Infanticide in captive collared peccaries (Tayassu tajacu)

Housing animals in groups that are typical of the normal social system can be very important to the success of captive husbandry. Collared peccaries normally live in mixed-sex territorial groups of 13–40 individuals with little evidence for movement between groups. We recorded 21–30 cases of infanticide in a captive group composed of animals from several wild groups. In five observed cases, the attacker was a female unrelated to the mother, but related females helped defend neonates. Victims did not differ in sex ratio or size from individuals that survived. We recommend that peccaries be housed as related female lineages.
Effects of copper on production of periphyton, nitrogen fixation and processing of leaf litter in a Sierra Nevada, California, stream

SUMMARY. 1 Production of periphyton, nitrogen fixation and processing of leaf litter were examined in an oligotrophic Sierra Nevada stream and the responses of these processes to copper (2.5, 5 and 10μg 1-1 CuT [total filtrable copper]; approximately 12, 25 and 50 ng 1-1 Cu2+) were determined. 2 Autotrophic and total production were estimated from 3-week accumulations of biomass on artificial substrates. Mean autotrophic production in the control ranged from 0.22 to 0.58 mg C m-2 h-1 in summer-autumn 1979, but declined to 0.08–0.28 mg C m 2 h-1 after peak discharge in summer 1980, apparently due to phosphorus-limited growth. Total production in the control ranged from 0.30 to 0.82 mg C m-2 h -1 in summer-autumn 1979 and from 0.16 to 0,68 mg C m -2 h -1 in 1980. Mean autotrophic productivity, estimated by l4C-bicarbonate uptake in daylight, ranged from 0.30 to 2.8 mg C m-2 h-1. 3 Autotrophic productivity was reduced by 57–81% at 2.5μg 1-1 CuT, 55–96% at 5μg 1-1 CuT, and 81–100% at 10μg 1-1 CUT, Heterotrophic productivity (based on dark 35S-sulphate uptake) was inhibited to a lesser extent (28–63% at 2.5μg 1-1 CuT, 24–84% at 5μg 1-1 CuT, and 67–92% at 10μg 1-1 CuT), The inhibition of autotrophic and heterotrophic productivity persisted through the year of exposure. Production in stream sections previously exposed to 2.5 and 5μg 1-1CuT increased to control levels within 4 weeks after dosing, but remained depressed for more than 7 weeks after exposure to 10μg 1-1 CuT. 4 The specific rate of photosynthesis (mg C mg chlorophyll a-1 h-1) of mature periphyton communities declined at all test concentrations of copper, but the rate for periphyton on newly-colonized surfaces did not change. The species composition of benthic algae shifted during exposure to an assemblage more tolerant of copper. Achrtanthes minutissima and Fragilaria crotonensis were the primary replacement species on newly-colonized surfaces. 5 The nitrogenase activity of blue-green algae was low. with controls ranging from 2.4 to 12 nmol C2H2 m-2 h-1. Nitrogenase activity was inhibited during the initial weeks of exposure by 5 and 10μg 1-1 CuT. However, after 9 months of exposure, control and copper-treated sections did not differ. 6 The rate of processing of leaf litter, estimated by microbial respiration and nutrient quality of litter of resident riparian woodland taxa, was inhibited at all test concentrations of copper.
Children's command of quantification.

In this article we present data from two sets of experiments designed to investigate how children and adult speakers of English and Kannada (Dravidian) interpret scopally ambiguous sentences containing numerally quantified noun phrases and negation (e.g. Donald didn't find two guys). We use this kind of sentence as a way to find evidence in children's linguistic representations for the hierarchical structure and the abstract relations defined over these structures (in particular, the relation of c-command) that linguists take to be at the core of grammatical knowledge. Specifically, we uncover the existence of systematic differences in the way that children and adult speakers resolve these ambiguities, independent of the language they speak. That is, while adults can easily access either scope interpretation, 4-year-old children display a strong preference for the scopal interpretation of the quantified elements which corresponds to their surface syntactic position. Crucially, however, we show that children's interpretations are constrained by the surface hierarchical relations (i.e. the c-command relations) between these elements and not by their linear order. Children's non-adult interpretations are therefore informative about the nature of the syntactic representations they entertain and the rules they use to determine the meaning of a sentence from its structure.
Statistical Properties of Phase-Decorrelation in Phase-Resolved Doppler Optical Coherence Tomography

Decorrelation noise limits the ability of phase-resolved Doppler optical coherence tomography systems to detect smaller vessels exhibiting slower flow velocities, which limits the utility of the technique in many clinical and biological settings. An understanding of the statistical properties of decorrelation noise can aid in the optimal design of these systems and guide the development of noise mitigating strategies. In this work, the statistical properties of decorrelation noise are derived from the underlying statistics of the coherent imaging system and validated through comparison with empirical results and Monte Carlo modeling. Expressions for the noise distribution and the noise variance as a function of relevant imaging system parameters are given, and the implications of these results on both system and algorithm design are discussed.
mTOR kinase inhibitors synergize with histone deacetylase inhibitors to kill B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells

High activity of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is associated with poor prognosis in pre-B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), suggesting that inhibiting mTOR might be clinically useful. However, emerging data indicate that mTOR inhibitors are most effective when combined with other target agents. One strategy is to combine with histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, since B-ALL is often characterized by epigenetic changes that silence the expression of pro-apoptotic factors. Here we tested combinations of mTOR and pan-HDAC inhibitors on B-ALL cells, including both Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) and non-Ph cell lines. We found that mTOR kinase inhibitors (TOR-KIs) synergize with HDAC inhibitors to cause apoptosis in B-ALL cells and the effect is greater when compared to rapamycin plus HDAC inhibitors. The combination of TOR-KIs with the clinically approved HDAC inhibitor vorinostat increased apoptosis in primary pediatric B-ALL cells in vitro. Mechanistically, TOR-KI and HDAC inhibitor combinations increased expression of pro-death genes, including targets of the Forkhead Box O (FOXO) transcription factors, and increased sensitivity to apoptotic triggers at the mitochondria. These findings suggest that targeting epigenetic factors can unmask the cytotoxic potential of TOR-KIs towards B-ALL cells.
The Distribution of Larval Sea Lampreys, Petromyzon marinus, and Their Nutritional Sources in the Hudson River Basin

Abstract We studied the distribution and food sources of larval Petromyzon marinus (Sea Lamprey) in the Hudson River basin, NY, and found ammocoetes of Sea Lampreys in four tributaries of the Hudson River: 1) Cedar Pond Brook, 2) Catskill Creek, 3) Roeliff Jansen Kill, and 4) Rondout Creek. The largest numbers of Sea Lampreys in the Hudson River basin appears to come from Catskill Creek. Sea Lampreys could increase their range in the Hudson River basin in the near future as barriers to migration are removed. Isotopic analysis demonstrated that Sea Lamprey larvae depended on both terrestrial plant material (i.e., allochthonous) and aquatic primary production (i.e., autochthonous), but that site characteristics influenced the importance of each to nutrition. Larval lampreys from the Kaaterskill Creek depended on allochthonous sources for about half of their nutrition, while those at Cedar Pond Brook obtained only ∼1% of their nutrition from these same sources. Gut contents of larval Sea Lampreys were isotop...
Kinetics of serotonin uptake in the dog lung

A bolous containing [3H]serotonin and indocyanine green dye was rapidly introduced into the pulmonary artery on an isolated blood-perfused left lower dog lung lobe. Sequential samples of the venous...
Interaction of NaCl and behavioral stress on endogenous sodium pump ligands in rats

Our study investigated the hypothesis that the combination of a high NaCl diet and social isolation stress would increase systolic blood pressure (SBP) and endogenous sodium pump ligands (SPL), oua...
Lorentz force megahertz optical coherence elastography

Optical Coherence Elastography (OCE) is a rapidly developing technique for assessing tissue biomechanical properties. This study demonstrates the first use of the Lorentz force to induce elastic waves within tissue to quantify the elasticity of tissue in combination with a phase-sensitive OCE system at ~1.5 million A-scans per second. The feasibility of this technique was tested on tissue-mimicking agar phantoms of various concentrations. The results as assessed by OCE were in good agreement with standard mechanical testing of the samples. After the preliminary experiments, the stiffness of porcine liver was examined. The results demonstrate that Lorentz force MHz OCE can be applied to study the elasticity of biological tissue effectively and has the potential for clinical applications due to rapid excitation and imaging.
Genetic and environmental influences on parenting and marital relationships: Current findings and future directions

SUMMARY There have been an increasing number of studies that have examined genetic influences on measures of family relationships, which have typically been conceptualized as environmental. These measures include parenting, sibling relationships, marital relationships and divorce. The current review discusses these findings and presents newly emerging results that suggest the mechanisms that may be involved, at least in mother-child relationships. The best way to understand how genetic factors can influences “environmental” measures is through genotype-environment correlation. The different types of genotype-environment correlation that are likely to be operating in each type of relationship are described and the implications of these findings are discussed. Finally, new studies that are currently underway are described including a longitudinal study of family relationships that is currently collecting DNA in an effort to better disentangle genotype-environment correlations and interactions.
Associations between the Family Nutrition and Physical Activity screening tool and the Youth Activity Profile

Childhood obesity affects one third of children and adolescents and is expected to increase in coming years. Obesity has been linked to both genetic and environmental factors with more recent research focusing on the role parents play in childhood obesity. The Family Nutrition and Physical Activity (FNPA) Screening tool was developed to provide practical ways to evaluate home obesogenic environments. However, no study to date has examined associations between FNPA scores and child behaviors. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine associations between FNPA scores from parents and child reported lifestyle behaviors as assessed by an established self-report tool called the Youth Activity Profile (YAP). There were 464 4 and 5 graders who successfully complete the YAP. Out of the 464 students, 64 parents successfully completely the FNPA with a corresponding student ID number. Correlations were computed to assess associations between parental practices and child’s behaviors related to three distinct categories: physical activity (PA), sedentary activity (SA), and nutrition (NUTR). High scores for PA and NUTR parenting practices and low scores for the SA practices indicate healthier parenting practices. High scores for all categories of the YAP indicate healthier behaviors. Within the FNPA survey there was a moderate correlation between positive NUTR practices and positive SA practices (r = 0.51). Within the YAP survey there were negative correlations between PA behaviors and SA behaviors (r = -0.30) and between NUTR behaviors and SA behaviors (r = -0.34, and positive correlations between PA behaviors and NUTR behaviors (r = 0.35). . Between surveys there was a positive correlation between FNPA PA and YAP PA (r = 0.27) and positive correlations between FNPA NUTR and YAP NUTR (r = 0.23). There was a negative correlation between higher FNPA SA scores and negative YAP SA behaviors (r = -0.42). In conclusion, there is a small to moderate association between the home
RISK FACTORS FOR MORTALITY IN PEDIATRIC CARDIAC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT PATIENTS MANAGED WITH EXTRACORPOREAL MEMBRANE OXYGENATION IN A CONTEMPORARY COHORT

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) utilization for children with cardiac disease has increased over the past 20 years, yet mortality remains high. In a previous study (1995-2001), we reported 39% survival to discharge. This study aims to report mortality for pediatric cardiac patients
In vivo Photoacoustic Blood Test

Recent advances in early diagnosis of cancer, infections, and cardiovascular disorders with ~1000-fold improved sensitivity are presented with focus on in vivo photoacoustic
Improved residents' knowledge after an advanced regional anesthesia education program.

BACKGROUND Although residents in anesthesia are confident in performing neuraxial anesthesia, many are not confident in performing peripheral nerve blocks. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured regional anesthesia teaching program in a large academic medical center. METHODS Residents participated in regional anesthesia didactics that took place in a unique resident education program scheduled during two fully protected teaching days a month. The curriculum included hands-on cadaver workshops in the anatomy lab, hands-on ultrasound workshops, hands-on nerve stimulator and surface anatomy workshops, and simulator sessions related to complications of regional anesthesia. Before beginning the formal regional anesthesia teaching program, residents completed a pretest composed of 25 multiple choice questions (MCQ) and a three-section observed standardized clinical examination (OSCE). Seven months later, approximately 1 month after completion of the regional anesthesia curriculum, the residents were evaluated again with the exact same tests. Pretest and post-test results for both the MCQ and the OSCE were compared by using a paired t-test for statistical means. RESULTS Post-test results were significantly improved (P < 0.05) across all clinical anesthesia (CA) years and for both the MCQ and OSCE examinations. Post-test results were also significantly improved (P < 0.05) across all CA years for each of the three sections of the OSCE. CONCLUSION The formal regional anesthesia teaching program developed by the departmental faculty was effective in improving resident knowledge.
O-102 Systematic advance care planning in the nursing home: preliminary outcomes from the optimistic (optimising patient transfers, impacting medical quality, and improving symptoms: transforming institutional care) demonstration project

Background Advance Care planning (ACP) has promise as an important strategy to reduce potentially avoidable hospitalizations by eliciting goals and preferences to guide treatment decisions. Aim To assess the status of ACP implementation for currently enrolled patients approximately halfway through the four-year project. Methods Participants (n = 1516) are long-stay patients at 19 nursing homes. Nurse interventionists (n = 18 RNs), who are certified Respecting Choices Last Steps POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) are embedded full time in the nursing facilities and engage in ACP discussions as a core function. Results About half (44% or 665/1516) of patients had engaged in ACP either with the RN or someone else. The most common reason for no ACP was that the RN had not gotten to the resident yet (61% or 521/851). ACP discussions with RNs resulted in a change in orders 74% of the time. About a third (30% or 462/1516) of residents had a POLST form and most (77% or 356/462) were prepared by the project RN. A majority of POLST forms contained orders for Do Not Resuscitate (84%) and Comfort Measures/hospitalise for comfort only (54%). Discussion Findings suggest that systematic ACP in the nursing home setting is feasible and often results in a change of orders to reflect resident/surrogate preferences. However, competing demands create challenges in the early stages of implementation. Conclusion Systematic ACP is achievable in the nursing home but requires a champion with dedicated time to engage in conversations.
Who Treats Patients with Diabetes and Compensated Cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND Increasingly, patients with multiple chronic conditions are being managed in patient-centered medical homes (PCMH) that coordinate primary and specialty care. However, little is known about the types of providers treating complex patients with diabetes and compensated cirrhosis. OBJECTIVE We examined the mix of physician specialties who see patients dually-diagnosed with diabetes and compensated cirrhosis. DESIGN Retrospective cross-sectional study using 2000-2013 MarketScan® Commercial Claims and Encounters and Medicare Supplemental Databases. PATIENTS We identified 22,516 adults (≥ 18 years) dually-diagnosed with diabetes and compensated cirrhosis. Patients with decompensated cirrhosis, HIV/AIDS, or liver transplantation prior to dual diagnosis were excluded. MAIN MEASURES Physician mix categories: patients were assigned to one of four physician mix categories: primary care physicians (PCP) with no gastroenterologists (GI) or endocrinologists (ENDO); GI/ENDO with no PCP; PCP and GI/ENDO; and neither PCP nor GI/ENDO. Health care utilization: annual physician visits and health care expenditures were assessed by four physician mix categories. KEY RESULTS Throughout the 14 years of study, 92% of patients visited PCPs (54% with GI/ENDO and 39% with no GI/ENDO). The percentage who visited PCPs without GI/ENDO decreased 22% (from 63% to 49%), while patients who also visited GI/ENDO increased 71% (from 25% to 42%). CONCLUSIONS This is the first large nationally representative study to document the types of physicians seen by patients dually-diagnosed with diabetes and cirrhosis. A large proportion of these complex patients only visited PCPs, but there was a trend toward greater specialty care. The trend toward co-management by both PCPs and GI/ENDOs suggests that PCMH initiatives will be important for these complex patients. Documenting patterns of primary and specialty care is the first step toward improved care coordination.
Sensory and autonomic function and structure in footpads of a diabetic mouse model

Sensory and autonomic neuropathy affects the majority of type II diabetic patients. Clinically, autonomic evaluation often focuses on sudomotor function yet this is rarely assessed in animal models. We undertook morphological and functional studies to assess large myelinated and small unmyelinated axons in the db/db type II diabetes mouse model. We observed that autonomic innervation of sweat glands in the footpads was significantly reduced in db/db mice compared to control db/+ mice and this deficit was greater compared to reductions in intraepidermal sensory innervation of adjacent epidermis. Additionally, db/db mice formed significantly fewer sweat droplets compared to controls as early as 6 weeks of age, a time when no statistical differences were observed electrophysiologically between db/db and db/+ mice studies of large myelinated sensory and motor nerves. The rate of sweat droplet formation was significantly slower and the sweat droplet size larger and more variable in db/db mice compared to controls. Whereas pilocarpine and glycopyrrolate increased and decreased sweating, respectively, in 6 month-old controls, db/db mice did not respond to pharmacologic manipulations. Our findings indicate autonomic neuropathy is an early and prominent deficit in the db/db model and have implications for the development of therapies for peripheral diabetic neuropathy.
On the relation between exchange rates and stock prices: a non-linear ARDL approach and asymmetry analysis

The relationship between stock prices and exchange rates has received a great deal of attention. In investigating the link between the two variables most studies have concluded that the relation is short run and the two variables have no long run relationship. Furthermore, all existing studies have assumed that the effects of exchange rate changes on stock prices are symmetric. In this paper we use monthly time-series data from 24 countries and non-linear ARDL method to show that the effects of exchange rate changes on stock prices could be asymmetric. The same is true when we consider the effects of changes in stock prices on the exchange rate. Introducing nonlinearity yields relatively more support for asymmetric cointegration compared to symmetric cointegration.
Leadership Help — Advisors and Negotiating Leaders

It’s not always lonely at the top. Despite romantic images of leaders engaged in solitary struggles to guide their organizations and nations to security and prosperity, the fact of the matter is that leaders usually have lots of help. Indeed, their success or failure is vitally dependent on the quality of help they receive. Leadership help has two basic dimensions. First, a helper may carry out actions on behalf of a leader to assist him or her in the process of leading an organization or group. Thus, a leader may delegate certain leadership functions to an assistant, for example approving business decisions made by subordinates, monitoring the operations of specific parts of the organization, or writing speeches for the leader to deliver. A second important type of leadership help is advice to guide a leader’s actions and decisions, particularly those actions and decisions that relate to negotiating leadership.
Differential reinforcement of low rate responding in social skills training

Abstract Social skills are unique in that excessive rates of responding may be just as socially undesirable as deficient responding. Furthermore, most social skills training programs utilize group formats such that one intervention (e.g., differential reinforcement) is applied universally to children with varied behavioral repertoires. Following exposure to continuous schedules of reinforcement for pro-social behaviors, we observed excessive levels of peer-directed compliments and physical contact. Thus, we evaluated the effectiveness of a full-session differential reinforcement of low rate responding (DRL) schedule in maintaining socially appropriate levels of these interactions. We used descriptive observations of typically developing children to establish normative criteria for the DRL schedules. Results indicated full-session DRL schedules were effective in maintaining participants’ responding at levels below criterion levels without wholly eliminating responding.
Messages About Abstinence, Delaying Sexual Debut and Sexual Decision-Making in Conversations Between Mothers and Young Adolescents.

Abstract Study Objective Little is known about the information shared during family discussions about sexuality. From a public health perspective, abstinence is one of the most important sexuality topics parents can talk about with adolescents. We sought to characterize the messages mothers communicate to young adolescents regarding abstinence. Design Content analysis of dyadic discussions that occurred between June 2011-December 2012 between mothers and their 10- to 14-year-old adolescent sons and daughters. Discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed, and a grounded theory approach to content analysis performed. Setting Urban city in Western Pennsylvania. Participants Twenty-one dyads; 15 mother-daughter dyads and 6 mother-son dyads. Interventions None. Main Outcome Measures None. Results Four key themes emerged reflecting the high priority mothers placed on abstinence, delaying their adolescent's sexual debut, and nurturing sexual decision-making skills. Theme 1 focused on ensuring that adolescents understand what abstinence means. In defining abstinence, only 1 mother explained what sex is. The 3 remaining themes emphasized sexual decision-making and emphasized when it is acceptable to stop being abstinent (theme 2), why abstinence is important (theme 3), and mothers' desire to engage in ongoing discussions, particularly when an adolescent was considering becoming sexually active (theme 4). Messages did not vary according to mothers' age or according to adolescent age, gender, or race. Conclusion Mothers convey complex information about abstinence and sexual decision-making to young, non-sexually active adolescents. Message tailoring on the basis of the adolescents’ age or sex was not observed.