cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of delayed effects on human old-age mortality

Author(s): Verhulst, Andrea; Beltran-Sanchez, Hiram; Palloni, Alberto | Abstract: BackgroundThere is growing empirical evidence supporting theories of developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD). However, the implications of DOHaD conjectures for aggregate population patterns of human disease, disability, mortality and aging are poorly understood.ObjectiveWe empirically test two predictions derived from a formal model of aggregate population-level impacts of DOHaD. This model predicts that populations potentially influenced by delayed effects should experience singularities in their adult mortality patterns that can be empirically detected from aggregate data.MethodsWe test predictions using a large mortality database for populations in the Latin American and Caribbean region (LAC) spanning nearly one hundred years of mortality history.ResultsResults are consistent. within explicit bounds of uncertainty, with expected patterns. We find that younger cohorts in countries whose mortality decline starts more recently experience deceleration in survival gains at older ages, attenuation of the rate of aging at older ages and a decline in the association between early childhood and adult mortality.ConclusionsResults point to the importance of adverse early conditions for human longevity. Future research should shed light on the impact on morbidity, disability and healthy life expectancy.ContributionTo our knowledge this is the first time that implications of DOHaD conjectures for populations' mortality patterns are formulated precisely and empirically tested with aggregate population data.
Validation and Recommendation Engine from Service Architecture and Ontology

The Cloud has emerged as a common platform for data convergence. Structured data, unstructured, serialized, or even chunks of data in various formats are now being transferred, processed, and exchanged by a multitude of services. New applications, service-oriented, rely heavily on the managing of these flows of data. The situation is such, that the perspective is changing, placing data at the center. In this context, end-users must rely on new derivative services to validate these flows of information; and expect from these services accurate feedback and some degree of intelligent recommendations. In this article, we introduce a new validation and recommendation engine encapsulated in a service, backed by ontology and a knowledge structure based on reusable components for fast integration and increased resilience.
Higher naloxone dosing may be required for opioid overdose

PURPOSE Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid with an estimated potency that is 10,000 times more than that of morphine and 100 times more than that of fentanyl. Although there is a paucity of evidence, when considering the potency of carfentanil, it is reasonable to speculate that larger doses of naloxone may be required to resuscitate patients after carfentanil ingestion. This case report discusses the use of high-dose naloxone in 2 patients with suspected carfentanil overdose presenting to a small community hospital. SUMMARY Two patients with suspected carfentanil overdose presented to a 30-bed emergency department at a community hospital in New Hampshire. Cyanosis and respiratory distress were noted in both instances, and airway intervention was ultimately deemed necessary. Patient 1 required a total of 12 mg of naloxone to be successfully resuscitated, while patient 2 required a total of 10 mg for resuscitation. Both patients were successfully resuscitated with high doses of naloxone. The use of high-dose naloxone prevented the need for intubation in these patients. CONCLUSION While more robust studies should be considered, emergency personnel should be comfortable using higher-than-standard doses of naloxone in appropriate cases.
Transcriptional analysis of scar-free wound healing during early stages of tail regeneration in the green anole lizard, Anolis carolinensis

Abstract While tail regeneration is observed in a number of vertebrate groups, including teleost fish such as the zebrafish, urodeles such as the axolotl, and anurans such as Xenopus tadpoles, mammalian and avian amniote vertebrates have lost this capacity. Among the amniotes, squamate reptiles such as lizards retain the ability to regrow their tails and also display the capacity to autotomize, or self-amputate, these structures as a predator evasion response. The regenerated tail is a biomechanically functional structure consisting of regrown and repatterned tissues including spinal cord, peripheral nerves, cartilage, skeletal muscle, vasculature, and skin. The green anole lizard, Anolis carolinensis, was the first reptile with a sequenced and annotated genome, thus allowing transcriptomic analyses. Furthermore, anoles exhibit a high degree of conservation of both innate and adaptive immune pathways with mammals. In histological analyses of tail regeneration in the green anole, we observed early cellular infiltration of the tail stump followed by a second phase of epithelial formation of the wound surface. These events preceded the period of rapid tail outgrowth, which typically starts at 10 days post autotomy. To identify genes activated during the initial phase of tail regeneration, we carried out whole transcriptome sequencing at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 days post-autotomy. We identified that 5315 genes were differentially expressed between any of these time points and clustered into two major groups with elevated expression either in a first phase (0.5–1 DPA) or in a later second phase (3–5 DPA), with a marked shift in expression at 2 DPA. Genes with elevated expression in the first phase included those regulating the immune system, T cell receptor signaling, and the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. Genes upregulated in the second phase included those regulating cell proliferation, developmental growth, and Wnt/Hippo signaling pathways. Identifying the immunomodulatory events that set the stage for regenerative cell proliferation and outgrowth in an amniote model may help guide post-injury treatments as part of regenerative medical therapies.
On the hydrogen environment-assisted cracking resistance of a compositionally complex Co–Ni–Cr–Fe–Mo–Ti alloy

Abstract The hydrogen environment-assisted cracking (HEAC) behavior of a compositionally complex Co–Ni–Cr–Mo–Fe–Ti–Al alloy (MP98T) proposed for marine fastener applications was evaluated via slow-rising stress intensity testing while immersed in 0.6 M NaCl at applied potentials ranging from −1.0 to −1.2 VSCE (vs. saturated calomel electrode). Results indicate that MP98T is resistant to HEAC at applied potentials representative of cathodic protection. In particular, minimal crack growth was observed across the tested applied potential range, which represented conditions known to promote aggressive HEAC in legacy Ni-based fastener alloys, such as Monel K-500. Measurement of the diffusible hydrogen concentration (CH,Diff) of MP98T as a function of applied potential in 0.6 M NaCl suggests this improved susceptibility may be linked to a reduced efficacy for hydrogen uptake in MP98T at hydrogen overpotentials where Monel K-500 is susceptible. Specifically, the CH,Diff of MP98T at a given applied potential was consistently observed to be less than 50% of that measured for Monel K-500.
Association of Drug Rebates and Competition With Out-of-Pocket Coinsurance in Medicare Part D, 2014 to 2018.

Importance Prior research has documented the increase in prescription drug rebates and the coincident increase in out-of-pocket burden for patients paying coinsurance tied to list prices. Objective To describe the out-of-pocket burden on patients with coinsurance and assess its association with pharmaceutical competition, which increases payers’ leverage to seek higher rebates. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective cohort study used branded prescription drugs with US sales reported by publicly traded companies. The study included drugs with nonmissing, nonnegative rebates between 2014 and 2018 from SSR Health. Data analysis was conducted from June to December 2020. Exposures Level of branded and generic competition and calendar year. Main Outcomes and Measures Retail price markup (ie, the ratio of rebate to net price) paid by patients at the point of sale and effective out-of-pocket share (ie, coinsurance multiplied by list price divided by net price) of a standard Part D plan. Trends in these outcomes were examined and then stratified by degree of competition. Results There were 3322 unique National Drug Codes in the analysis, representing 232 distinct molecules from 138 therapeutic classes in 34 disease areas. The ratio of rebate to net prices was higher and increased faster for drugs with branded and generic competitors (from 83% to 172%) than for drugs with only branded competitors (from 61% to 115%) and those without generic equivalents (from 33% to 49%). Hypothetical patients paying standard Part D coinsurance on drug list prices would have experienced an effective out-of-pocket share increase from 48% to 64% in the initial coverage phase, and from 10% to 13% in the catastrophic coverage phase between 2014 and 2018. In the coverage gap, the share increased from 92% in 2014 to 98% in 2016 and then decreased to 90% in 2018. Compared with drugs with no competition, effective out-of-pocket share paid by patients grew 50% faster for drugs with branded competitors and 100% faster for those with branded and generic competitors. Conclusions and Relevance This study found substantial increases in cost-sharing burden for patients paying coinsurance on drug list prices between 2014 and 2018, especially in markets with more pharmaceutical competition. Payers passing rebates through to patients at the point of sale could restore the benefits of competition and rebates.
The Gromov-Hausdorff distance between ultrametric spaces: its structure and computation.

The Gromov-Hausdorff distance ($d_\mathrm{GH}$) provides a natural way of quantifying the dissimilarity between two given metric spaces. It is known that computing $d_\mathrm{GH}$ between two finite metric spaces is NP-hard, even in the case of finite ultrametric spaces which are highly structured metric spaces in the sense that they satisfy the so-called \emph{strong triangle inequality}. Ultrametric spaces naturally arise in many applications such as hierarchical clustering, phylogenetics, genomics, and even linguistics. By exploiting the special structures of ultrametric spaces, (1) we identify a one parameter family $\{d_\mathrm{GH}^{(p)}\}_{p\in[1,\infty]}$ of distances defined in a flavor similar to the Gromov-Hausdorff distance on the collection of finite ultrametric spaces, and in particular $d_\mathrm{GH}^{(1)} =d_\mathrm{GH}$. The extreme case when $p=\infty$, which we also denote by $u_\mathrm{GH}$, turns out to be an ultrametric on the collection of ultrametric spaces. Whereas for all $p\in[1,\infty)$, $d_\mathrm{GH}^{(p)}$ yields NP-hard problems, we prove that surprisingly $u_\mathrm{GH}$ can be computed in polynomial time. The proof is based on a structural theorem for $u_\mathrm{GH}$ established in this paper; (2) inspired by the structural theorem for $u_\mathrm{GH}$, and by carefully leveraging properties of ultrametric spaces, we also establish a structural theorem for $d_\mathrm{GH}$ when restricted to ultrametric spaces. This structural theorem allows us to identify special families of ultrametric spaces on which $d_\mathrm{GH}$ is computationally tractable. These families are determined by properties related to the doubling constant of metric space. Based on these families, we devise a fixed-parameter tractable (FPT) algorithm for computing the exact value of $d_\mathrm{GH}$ between ultrametric spaces. We believe ours is the first such algorithm to be identified.
Maillard reactions: nonenzymatic browning in food systems with special reference to the development of flavor.

Publisher Summary For an individual, especially a civilized person, the selection of foods is determined largely by flavor. Concern for physical well-being and the nutritional values involved come far behind flavor as a factor determining human dietary choice. The gradual recognition that complex, presumably nonenzymatic transformations, which take place in certain foods, responsible for deterioration in some cases and for the development of traditionally valued flavors in others, have a common chemical basis leading to the carrying out of experiments in relatively simple model systems. The reaction initiating the sequence between a carbonyl group and a trivalent nitrogen atom is the most thoroughly investigated and best understood of all the reactions. Many bland or even downright unpleasant-tasting substances are transformed into some of the most desirable flavors and popular foods by roasting. The enormous variety in flavor is due almost entirely to the large number of permutations from the interactions of a relatively few primary reactants and to the importance of balance among the components finally present. Since humans began to cook meat and bake bread, they have been familiar with the aromas and flavors produced by Maillard browning reactions. The presence and the consumption of products of browning reactions in foodstuffs present two possible problems for human health, one nutritional and the other mutagenic. Investigations in the field of Maillard chemistry are now directed to the solution of an ever-widening circle of problems, which differ more and more from each other, though each is still attached to the core.
GETTIN' RIGHT WITH HUMPTY: OR HOW SOCIOLOGISTS PROPOSE TO BREAK UP GANGS, PATCH BROKEN COMMUNITIES, AND MAKE SCARY CHILDREN INTO CONVENTIONAL ADULTS

A critical reappraisal of the soc1al scientific literature on gang research and mtervention strategies finds the social disorgan1zat1on parad1gm employed by most experts in the field sorely wanting Its central problem is that it severely undervalues ordisnesses altogether the viability of the civil society in those communities where gangs have emerged Based on this premtse . experts end up predtcting that gangs will appea r anywhere and are content to recommend Intervention strategtes that do not work and further erode the capactty of local groups to respond to the ir gang problems An alternattve perspecttve on youth culture and gangs in communities is offered based on a strongervtewofcivil soctety and thecapactty of communities to integrate young persons tnto a grownup world
The Term Mesolithic

I HOPE I may be allowed to call myself an archaeologist, although a very humble one, yet I find myself in complete disagreement with my friend Mr. Reid Moir in NATURE of December 30, p. 1006. After C. J. Thomsen1 had in 1836 revived the idea of Lucretius2 and divided the past history of man into the three ages of stone, bronze and iron, there was one stone age, but when the discoveries of Boucher de Perthes had been recognised by English savants, Sir John Evans3 in 1859 pointed out that this age must be divided into two, that in which the fauna was extinct and that in which it was recent. Later on, Sir John Lubbock4 suggested that these two periods should be termed respectively the palaeolithic and neolithic ages. It was soon noted, however, that these ages did not pass into one another, but that between them there was a great gulf fixed, and this became known as the great hiatus.
Retention of Indexical Belief and the Notion of Psychological Continuity

A widely accepted view in the discussion of personal identity is that the notion of psychological continuity expresses a one–many or many–one relation. This belief is unfounded. A notion of psychological continuity expresses a one–many or many–one relation only if it includes, as a constituent, psychological properties whose relation with their bearers is one–many or many–one; but the relation between an indexical psychological state and its bearer when first tokened is not a one–many or many–one relation. It follows that not all types of psychological continuity may take a one–many or many–one form. This conclusion casts doubt on the Lockean approach to the issue, by showing that the notion of psychological continuity Lockeans rely on may not be available.
Identification of the bud emergence gene BEM4 and its interactions with Rho-type GTPases in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The Rho-type GTPase Cdc42p is required for cell polarization and bud emergence in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To identify genes whose functions are linked to CDC42, we screened for (i) multicopy suppressors of a Ts- cdc42 mutant, (ii) mutants that require multiple copies of CDC42 for survival, and (iii) mutations that display synthetic lethality with a partial-loss-of-function allele of CDC24, which encodes a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for Cdc42p. In all three screens, we identified a new gene, BEM4. Cells from which BEM4 was deleted were inviable at 37 degrees C. These cells became unbudded, large, and round, consistent with a model in which Bem4p acts together with Cdc42p in polarity establishment and bud emergence. In some strains, the ability of CDC42 to serve as a multicopy suppressor of the Ts- growth defect of deltabem4 cells required co-overexpression of Rho1p, which is an essential Rho-type GTPase necessary for cell wall integrity. This finding suggests that Bem4p also affects Rho1p function. Bem4p displayed two-hybrid interactions with Cdc42p, Rho1p, and two of the three other known yeast Rho-type GTPases, suggesting that Bem4p can interact with multiple Rho-type GTPases. Models for the role of Bem4p include that it serves as a chaperone or modulates the interaction of these GTPases with one or more of their targets or regulators.
The Domain of WTO Dispute Resolution

While trade diplomats and scholars have expressed pride at the Uruguay Round achievement of more binding and more "law-oriented" dispute resolution, the same group and a variety of NGO and other commentators question the jurisdictional scope of dispute resolution. After all, should these small tribunals, lacking direct democratic legitimacy, determine profound issues confronting the international trading community, such as the relationship between trade values and environmental values? Many voices, including this author's, have called for greater international legislation (specific treaty-making) in these important fields. This article is intended to outline a more realistic and nuanced view, based on law and economics analytical techniques. It is intended to suggest the reasons why dispute resolution could be the appropriate place to determine these issues. Conversely, it is intended to suggest a way to determine or predict when these issues might better be subjected to more specific legislative action. This article seeks to begin to delineate the role of dispute resolution in the international trade law system. In order to do so, I first examine the function and vocation of WTO dispute resolution. I explore the discontinuity between the domain of WTO dispute resolution and the body of general international law. The disparity between the positive law dispute resolution system of the WTO and the more political, natural law style of dispute resolution available in connection with most other forms of international law raises jurisprudential and practical concern. Second, I examine two related analytical techniques of law and economics to attempt to suggest the reasons for the assignment of competences to WTO dispute resolution, as opposed to WTO legislation (treaty- making). These two techniques are (i) incomplete contracts, and (ii) rules and standards. Finally, I apply these techniques to two important examples in the WTO legal system: (a) the kind of trade and environment conflict exemplified by the recent Shrimp/Turtle decision of the Appellate Body, and (b) the problem of non-violation nullification or impairment, addressed in the recent Film panel decision.
Water-gas shift: steady state isotope switching study of the water-gas shift reaction over Pt/ceria using in-situ DRIFTS

The stability of surface formates generated by reaction of bridging OH groups with CO is an important first criterion supporting the idea that the rate limiting step of WGS involves formate decomposition. The second important factor is that, in the presence of water, shown directly by the measurements obtained during this steady state isotope switching study, the forward decomposition of surface formates to CO2 and H2 is strongly auto-catalyzed by H2O, in agreement with the findings of Shido and Iwasawa. Based on a normal kinetic isotope effect previously observed with H2O:D2O switching and the response of surface formate coverages to the WGS rate under steady state conditions when a high H2O:CO ratio is employed, the conclusion is drawn that a surface formate mechanism is likely operating for the low temperature water gas shift reaction.
The C-terminal tail of the rat lutropin/choriogonadotropin (CG) receptor independently modulates human (h)CG-induced internalization of the cell surface receptor and the lysosomal targeting of the internalized hCG-receptor complex.

The analysis of 21 progressive truncations of the C-terminal tail of the rat LH/CG receptor (rLHR) revealed the presence of a region delineated by residues 628–649 that, when removed, enhanced the degradation of the internalized human (h)CG. The analysis of these truncations also revealed the presence of a region delineated by residues 624–631 that, when removed, enhanced the rate of internalization of hCG. Since there is little overlap between these two regions, we conclude that the structural features of the rLHR that mediate internalization and degradation of the internalized hormone are different. Detailed analyses of cells expressing a truncation at Y637 (designated rLHR-t637) showed that the enhanced degradation of hCG observed in the these cells is due to an increase in the rate of transfer of the internalized hCG-rLHR complex from the endosomes to the lysosomes rather than to the enhanced dissociation of the hCG-rLHR complex in the lysosomes.
Minimum superficial gas velocity for onset of foaming

This paper is concerned with semi-batch foams generated by injecting gas bubbles in a vertical column containing a liquid phase at rest. Its aim is to better understand the physical mechanisms responsible for foam formation at the liquid free surface and to predict the superficial gas velocity for onset of foaming. The model for predicting the onset of foaming is derived from the one-dimensional drift-flux model for gravity driven flow in the absence of wall shear. The analysis is based on experimental data reported in the literature and covers a wide range of physico-chemical properties, bubble sizes and shapes, and flow regimes. It identifies the inhibition of coalescence between rising bubbles and bubbles at rest at the free surface as a key mechanism responsible for the onset of foaming. A semi-empirical correlation for high viscosity fluids has been developed and good agreement with experimental data is found.
Isolation of an androgen acceptor from salt extract of rat prostatic chromatin.

Abstract The soluble androgen acceptor has been isolated from 0.35 M NaCl extract of rat prostatic chromatin by affinity chromatography on DNA-cellulose. The acceptor activity was assayed by interaction with 5α-dihydrotestosterone-receptor. Native DNA enhances this interaction. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the acceptor under denaturing conditions reveals a single polypeptide of molecular weight of 14,000. Amino acid analysis shows that the acceptor protein contains a higher content of acidic amino acid residues than basic amino acid residues. In an in vitro RNA synthesizing system catalyzed by rat RNA polymerase II, addition of the acceptor stimulates RNA synthesis. Based on incorporation of [γ-32P]ATP and [γ-32P]GTP, the stimulation by the acceptor is mainly on the initiation of RNA chains.
Ca2+ uptake by endoplasmic reticulum of renal cortex. I: ionic requirements and regulation in vitro

A subcellular fraction enriched in cytochrome c reductase (7.9-fold) and relatively de-enriched (0.64-fold) in Na+/K+-ATPase was prepared from canine kidney cortex by sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation. It was shown by electron microscopy to consist primarily of a light fraction of endoplasmic reticulum (LER). LER vesicles displayed ATP-dependent 45Ca2+ uptake that was insensitive to 10 mM KCN or NaN3, and was promptly released by 20 μM A23187 or ionomycin. Inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) appeared to produce a time-dependent release of 45Ca2+. Vanadate inhibited 45Ca2+ uptake with a Ki≈0.3 mM, further suggesting that the activity resided in the ER rather than the plasma membrane. 45Ca2+ uptake by LER, at 5 μM total [Ca2+], displayed a strong dependence on divalent cations (Mg2+>Co2+>Mn2+≫Ba2+≥Cd2+≥Sr2+, present at 2 mM) as well as on monovalent cations (Na+≥K++Na+ >K+>Li+>choline+), and anions (Cl->acetate-≥NO3-≥F->H2PO4-≫gluconate-≥oxalate=≫SO4=). It had a fairly narrow pH optimum (7.25–7.50). Preincubation (10 min) of LER vesicles with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) stimulated LER Ca2+ uptake; this effect was enhanced in the presence of renal cytosol [5% (vol/vol)]. However, Ca2+ uptake was not affected by preincubation with dibutyryl cyclic AMP, calmodulin, or 1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D3, either in the absence or presence of renal cytosol. Thus, the Mg2+-ATP dependent 45Ca2+ uptake activity of this canine renal cortical LER fraction displays modulation by IP3, TPA, and pH that appears to be physiologically relevant.
Childhood Trauma and Risk for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Association With Neuroendocrine Dysfunction

Context Childhood trauma appears to be a potent risk factor for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Evidence from developmental neuroscience suggests that early experience programs the development of regulatory systems that are implicated in the pathophysiology of CFS, including the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. However, the contribution of childhood trauma to neuroendocrine dysfunction in CFS remains obscure. Objectives To replicate findings on the relationship between childhood trauma and risk for CFS and to evaluate the association between childhood trauma and neuroendocrine dysfunction in CFS. Design, Setting, and Participants A case-control study of 113 persons with CFS and 124 well control subjects identified from a general population sample of 19 381 adult residents of Georgia. Main Outcome Measures Self-reported childhood trauma (sexual, physical, and emotional abuse; emotional and physical neglect), psychopathology (depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder), and salivary cortisol response to awakening. Results Individuals with CFS reported significantly higher levels of childhood trauma and psychopathological symptoms than control subjects. Exposure to childhood trauma was associated with a 6-fold increased risk of CFS. Sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and emotional neglect were most effective in discriminating CFS cases from controls. There was a graded relationship between exposure level and CFS risk. The risk of CFS conveyed by childhood trauma further increased with the presence of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Only individuals with CFS and with childhood trauma exposure, but not individuals with CFS without exposure, exhibited decreased salivary cortisol concentrations after awakening compared with control subjects. Conclusions Our results confirm childhood trauma as an important risk factor of CFS. In addition, neuroendocrine dysfunction, a hallmark feature of CFS, appears to be associated with childhood trauma. This possibly reflects a biological correlate of vulnerability due to early developmental insults. Our findings are critical to inform pathophysiological research and to devise targets for the prevention of CFS.
Relationship Between Fog Condensation Nuclei and Fog Microstructure

Abstract Measurements of fog drop size distribution, cloud condensation nuclei and fog condensation nuclei were made at several locations along the U.S. Pacific Coast. Wide variations in fog microstructure were associated with and appeared to be mostly due to variations in nucleus concentration. Simultaneous drop and nucleus measurements were used to determine the effective supersaturations (S) in fog which wore found to be .≲0.10%.
cAMP increases K+ secretion via activation of apical IsK/KvLQT1 channels in strial marginal cells.

Abstract In the cochlea, K + is secreted by electrodiffusion across the apical membrane of strial marginal cells via the I sK /KvLQTI (‘I sK ’) channel. This channel complex has been reported to be activated in other systems by adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP). Since several reports had suggested that cAMP is a second messenger in the cochlea, the effect of the cAMP pathway on transepithelial K + secretion by strial marginal cells of the gerbil was studied. Both the transepithelial current ( I sc ) and K + flux ( J K ) across strial marginal cell epithelium were measured; I sc in a micro-Ussing chamber and J K as the gradient of K + concentration near the apical membrane. The apical membrane current ( I IsK ) and conductance g IsK ) of IsK channels were recorded with the on-cell macro-patch and the nystatin-perforated whole-cell patch clamp techniques. It has previously been shown that the apical I sK channel constitutes the primary pathway for K + secretion. Cytoplasmic cAMP was elevated by applying dibutyryl cyclic-AMP (dbcAMP) or the phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-l-methylxanthine (IBMX) at 37°C. dbcAMP (1 mM) increased I sc by 51 ± 4% and I IsK in on-cell and whole-cell recordings increased by 214 ± 63% and 390 ± 61% above the control value, respectively. IBMX (1 mM) caused transient increases of I sc by 53 ± 3% and I IsK in on-cell recordings by 177 ± 75% above the control value. The leak conductance due to all non-I sK channel sources did not change in the presence of dbcAMP or IBMX. dbcAMP (1 mM at 24°C) increased J K by 53 ± 16% and I sc by 18 ± 4%. IBMX (1 mM at 24°C) had no effect, suggesting reduced activity of adenylate cyclase at this temperature. Our results demonstrate that the cAMP pathway is constitutively active in strial marginal cells and that the cAMP pathway stimulates transepithelial K+ secretion by increasing ISK channel current rather than by altering another transport pathway.
Hypoplasia and hypodontia in Van der Woude syndrome.

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was (1) to assess maxillary development in cleft individuals with Van der Woude syndrome (VWS) and (2) to compare hypodontia in VWS and nonsyndromic cleft matched controls. Design and Setting: Retrospective case-control study from the Center for Craniofacial Anomalies, University of California, San Francisco, California. Patients and Participants: The sample consisted of 15 individuals with Van der Woude syndrome and 15 nonsyndromic cleft lip and/or palate controls paired for age, gender, and cleft type in the age range of 5 to 13 years. Main Outcome Measures: Cephalograms were digitized, and 31 linear and angular measurements were made. Serial panoramic radiographs were used to assess the presence or absence of permanent teeth. Results: The maxillary sagittal position represented by midface length (Co-A) was significantly shorter in the Van der Woude syndrome subjects than in the matched controls (p = .031), suggesting a trend towards greater maxillary hypopl...
Shear stress and particle removal measurements of a round turbulent air jet impinging normally upon a planar wall

When a round jet of air impinges normally upon a wall, it imposes a shear stress parallel to the wall in all directions from the impingement point. Particle removal from that surface is assumed to be mainly due to the imposed shear stress. This shear stress has been difficult to measure directly and has, in the past, been inferred from particle removal rates. Here we make a fundamental measurement of the mean shear stress imposed upon a planar wall by a normally-impinging turbulent air jet using the technique of oil-film interferometry. The resulting shear–stress distribution is then compared with measured removal rates of latex microspheres from a planar glass surface as a function of the radial distance from jet impingement normalized by the height of the nozzle exit above the surface. The particle removal experiments are carried out with sparse (few collisions) particle distributions. These experiments show that the efficiency of particle removal is directly but not linearly related to the imposed shear stress. A distinct shear stress threshold was found, below which little or no particle removal occurred.
The viscoelastic nature of the sliding friction of polyethylene, polypropylene and copolymers

Abstract According to the adhesion theory of sliding friction, the sliding force or frictional resistance to motion is due to making and breaking of adhesional bonds between the sliding bodies. Thus the sliding force F is proportional to the shear strength S of adhesional bonds and the area of contact A between contacting bodies. This paper reports the results of a study to find the proper relationship between F , A and S . The value of F is taken from a friction test over a sliding speed range of 10,000 to 1 and over a temperature range up to 150°C. The values of A and S are derived from shear tests, also over wide ranges of strain rate and temperature. All data were then subjected to special viscoelastic transformation. It was found that the friction data were transformable by the same transforms applicable to mechanical property data, provided changes in polymer morphology are taken into account. This coincidence is evidence of a strong connection between A , S and F which lends support to the adhesion theory of friction.
Creating foster care youth biographies: A role for the internet

ABSTRACT Large numbers of youth continue to enter foster care despite federal and state efforts to minimize placement. Some youth will experience lengthy tenure in care with multiple placements and be at risk for adverse events. They are also at risk for losing an accurate biography of their childhoods. We suggest a two-tiered approach to help youth develop a personal history. Agencies can establish a digital depository of basic information including pictures that document the life course of the youth. Agencies can help youth procure e-mail accounts. These e-mail accounts are under the control of the youth and can function as an electronic diary. Thus, youth would have a portable life biography and sense of self over time.
Herbimycins D–F, Ansamycin Analogues from Streptomyces sp. RM-7-15

Bacterial strains belonging to the class actinomycetes were isolated from the soil near a thermal vent of the Ruth Mullins coal fire (Appalachian Mountains of eastern Kentucky). High-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and ultraviolet absorption profiles of metabolites from one of the isolates (Streptomyces sp. RM-7-15) revealed the presence of a unique set of metabolites ultimately determined to be herbimycins D–F (1–3). In addition, herbimycin A (4), dihydroherbimycin A (TAN 420E) (7), and the structurally distinct antibiotic bicycylomycin were isolated from the crude extract of Streptomyces sp. RM-7-15. Herbimycins A and D–F (1–3) displayed comparable binding affinities to the Hsp90α. While the new analogues were found to be inactive in cancer cell cytotoxicity and antimicrobial assays, they may offer new insights in the context of nontoxic ansamycin-based Hsp90 inhibitors for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease.
MO-D-134-04: Calculating Size Specific Dose Estimates (SSDE): The Effect of Using Water Equivalent Diameter (WED) Vs. Effective Diameter (ED) On Organ Dose Estimates When Applying the Conversion Coefficients of TG204

Purpose: AAPM Task Group (TG) 204 described the Size‐Specific Dose Estimate (SSDE) using effective diameter (ED) as the size parameter in the conversion tables. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the effect on SSDE when a different size metric, water equivalent diameter (WED), was used with the conversion tables; and to compare these values to results from detailed Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. Methods: For a set of 101 thoracic and 82 abdomen/pelvis scans, including adult and pediatric patients, both ED and WED were calculated at the middle of the scan length. Each size metric was used as the input value to the SSDE conversion tables in TG204 to obtain two sets of SSDE values (SSDEED and SSDEWED). Additionally, voxelized patient models were generated from original scans and used in MC simulations to estimate dose to liver, spleen, and kidneys in the abdomen/pelvis, as well as lung and glandular breast tissue in the thoracic examinations under fixed tube current mode. SSDEED, SSDEWED were compared to organ doses by calculating percent differences and Root Mean Square errors. Results: For the abdomen, SSDEED and SSDEWED resulted in different RMSE from organ dose (for kidneys 8.8% and 6.4%, respectively) while SSDEWED demonstrated higher correlation with kidney dose than SSDEED (0.89 and 0.78, respectively). Similarly, for thorax, SSDEED and SSDEWED showed different RMSE (for lung 17.0% and 13.1%, respectively), with higher correlation for SSDEWED than SSDEED (0.92 and 0.78, respectively). Conclusion: Generated conversion factors based on ED appear to be applicable to WED and as originally assumed using WED not only improves dose estimates in the thorax but it also improves estimates in the abdomen. It is worth mentioning that these conclusions only apply to fixed tube current examinations while for tube current modulated (TCM) exams new set of conversion factors are recommended. Dr. Michael McNitt‐Gray Institutional research agreement, Siemens AG Recipient research support Siemens AG Consultant, Flaherty Sensabaugh Bonasso PLLC Consultant, Fulbright and Jaworski, LLC Maryam Khatonabadi: ipient research support Siemens AG
Milk and Fat Differences for Registered Cows Sired by Artificial and Natural Insemination

Abstract About four million 305-day mature equivalent lactations of cows milked twice daily registered in the herdbooks of the five major dairy breeds were studied. These lactations were by cows sired by bulls in artificial insemination studs and by cows sired by natural service and calving between 1954 and 1969. All herd years in which were both types of registered progeny had 9,629 Ayrshire, 39,646 Guernsey, 190,131 Holstein, 26,200 Jersey, and 11,753 Brown Swiss comparisons. Subsets were also formed for comparisons at the same age (2 yr, 3 and 4 yr, 5 yr and older) in a herd-year. Artificially sired cattle had larger milk and fat yields in almost all breed-age-year subclasses. Their superiority was generally greatest in cows calving at 2 year and usually declined with advancing age. Average superiorities in kg over all ages for carvings in 1966 to 1969 were, for milk: Ayrshire, 191; Guernsey, 128; Holstein, 117; Jersey, 79; Brown Swiss, 34; and for fat: Ayrshire, 6.6; Guernsey, 4.5; Holstein, 4.4; Jersey, 4.1; Brown Swiss, 1.4. In 20 of the 40 milk and fat breed-age subclasses, artificially sired superiority increased linearly over time, and it increased at a declining rate in 10 of them. Bulls in artificial insemination sired higher yielding cattle between 1954 and 1969 than bulls used by the same dairymen for natural service.
Do fewer guns lead to less crime? Evidence from Australia

Abstract The 1996 National Firearms Agreement (NFA) in Australia introduced strict gun control laws and facilitated the buyback of over 650,000 firearms. While several studies have investigated the effect of the NFA on firearm deaths, none has looked at its impact on crimes. In this paper we adopt the difference-in-difference identification approach to examine the impacts of the NFA on crimes. We find that one and two years after the NFA was enacted, there were significant decreases in armed robbery and attempted murder relative to sexual assault, with weaker evidence in relation to unarmed robbery.
Aluminum Nanocomposites via Gas Assisted Processing

Aluminum nitride (AlN) possesses superior thermal and electrical properties and is an ideal candidate for high-temperature, as well as for packaging and optoelectronic applications. Aluminum based composites reinforced with AlN have been manufactured via an in situ gas-assisted process, where nitrogen gas is injected in the molten aluminum at 1273-1323 K. The process is carried out in an inert atmosphere in order to avoid oxygen contamination. Addition of Mg lowered the oxygen content in the melt by forming MgO and thus favoring the nitridation reaction. The reinforcement phase has been detected throughout the casting in two morphologies: pockets of powders and embedded in the microstructure. Particle size formed in the matrix varied from 1- 3 µm to sub-micron scale.
Endothermy during terrestrial activity in large beetles

The large tropical American beetles Strategus aloeus (Scarabaeidae) and Stenodontes molarium (Cerambycidae) can endogenously maintain metathoracic temperatures 5 degrees to 7 degrees C or more above ambient temperature for many hours. During such periods, their activity is exclusively terrestrial and their oxygen consumption equals that of active mammals of the same size. Before and during flight they elevate metathoracic temperatures by an additional 8 degrees to 10 degrees C.
Differential visual information processing between schizophrenics and other psychiatric populations.

Abstract Deficits at the earliest stages of information processing are among the most consistent abnormalities found in schizophrenics. To better understand the deficit, the present study indirectly evaluated the functional status of two visual channels, transient and sustained, which have been implicated in early information processing. A forced-choice, two-pulse detection task was used to determine the duration that subjects required to detect a blank interval (ISI) separating a two pulse grating vs. a single pulse grating. Threshold ISI was used as the index of visible persistence. Four groups of subjects participated in the study: schizophrenics, schizoaffectives, major depressives, and normal controls. The results of the ANOVA showed a significant main effect for diagnosis, position, and spatial frequency, as well as a significant effect for diagnosis × position and diagnosis × spatial frequency. The results are discussed in terms of the differential response and retinal distribution of each channel.
Inference of transcription modification in long-live yeast strains from their expression profiles

Three kinases: Sch9, PKA and TOR, are suggested to be involved in both the replicative and chronological ageing in yeast. They function in pathways whose down-regulation leads to life span extension. Several stress response proteins, including two transcription factors Msn2 and Msn4, mediate the longevity extension phenotype associated with decreased activity of either Sch9, PKA, or TOR. However, the mechanisms of longevity, especially the underlying transcription program have not been fully understood. We measured the gene expression profiles in wild type yeast and three long-lived mutants: sch9 Δ, ras2 Δ, and tor1 Δ. To elucidate the transcription program that may account for the longevity extension, we identified the transcription factors that are systematically and significantly associated with the expression differentiation in these mutants with respect to wild type by integrating microarray expression data with motif and ChIP-chip data, respectively. Our analysis suggests that three stress response transcription factors, Msn2, Msn4 and Gis1, are activated in all the three mutants. We also identify some other transcription factors such as Fhl1 and Hsf1, which may also be involved in the transcriptional modification in the long-lived mutants. Combining microarray expression data with other data sources such as motif and ChIP-chip data provides biological insights into the transcription modification that leads to life span extension. In the chronologically long-lived mutant: sch9 Δ, ras2 Δ, and tor1 Δ, several common stress response transcription factors are activated compared with the wild type according to our systematic transcription inference.
Propagation of Stoneley waves along a perturbed interface

This paper investigates the two dimensional propagation of Stoneley waves along a perturbed interface between two semi infinite isotropic media. A perturbation technique is used to obtain the contribution due to the perturbation of the interface to the potential functions. Further, the expressions for the components of the total strain due to the perturbed and unperturbed contributions are obtained. Finally, the period equation for the case of the perturbed interface is also obtained.
Photogrammetry of the Indian pueblos of New Mexico and Arizona

Abstract The most recent project of recording the Indian pueblos of New Mexico and Arizona, on which we have been engaged at The Ohio State University for the past three years, is particularly satisfying. This work is intended to record the pueblos in their present condition and from that record to gain geometrical control for analysis of historic glass plate photographs of the pueblos taken before 1900. From these it is possible to prepare restoration drawings of the pueblos as they were before this century. In the case of the pueblo of Tesuque these drawings will be available for present restoration work by the Indians.
Development of Laboratory Testing Protocol for Rapid-Setting Cementitious Material for Airfield Pavement Repairs

Many commercial off-the-shelf products for repairing portland cement concrete (PCC) pavements provide short set times, high early strengths, and the durability to withstand aircraft traffic. Twenty-five rapid-setting cementitious materials were investigated through laboratory and field evaluations to determine their suitability for repairing critical PCC airfield pavements. Standard laboratory tests were performed to characterize the properties of the materials and provide a protocol for assessing their suitability for field repairs. Criteria for using rapid-setting cementitious materials for repairing airfield pavements were published in 2008 by the U. S. Air Force. The criteria, based on laboratory and full-scale testing, allowed users to reduce the risk of premature failure of repairs by omitting unacceptable materials from their list of potential repair materials. The American Society of Testing and Materials published a similar test protocol in 2009. On the basis of a comparison of these two certific...
Prognostic Indicators Of Survival In High‐Risk Canine Surgery Patients

Summary Canine high-risk surgical patients were identified, and the variables that distinguished between survivors and nonsurvivors were determined. Fifty-two nonsurvivors and 176 survivors were randomly drawn from a population of 615 dogs undergoing general surgical procedures and entering the intensive care unit. Forty-two variables were examined to determine which variables were significantly different between nonsurvivors and survivors. Properative variables that were significantly different were age, hospital days prior to surgery, the number of concurrent diseases, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status, PCV, TP, platelet count, albumin concentration, alkaline phosphatase activity, bilirubin concentration, and surgery site (laparotomy = highest risk). Age, PCV, TP, platelet count, albumin concentration, alkaline phosphatase activity, and bilirubin concentration were then examined, using stepwise logistic regression for their ability to predict mortality in a separate population of 169 canine patients undergoing laparotomy. Age, TP, and platelet count were identified as predictive variables.