cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Greater Loss of Central Adiposity from Low-Carbohydrate versus Low-Fat Diet in Middle-Aged Adults with Overweight and Obesity.

The objective of this study is to determine whether middle-aged adults prescribed a low carbohydrate-high fat (LCHF) or low fat (LF) diet would have greater loss of central fat and to determine whether the insulin resistance (IR) affects intervention response. A total of 50 participants (52.3 ± 10.7 years old; 36.6 ± 7.4 kg/m2 BMI; 82% female) were prescribed either a LCHF diet (n = 32, carbohydrate: protein: fat of 5%:30%:65% without calorie restriction), or LF diet (n = 18, 63%:13–23%: 10–25% with calorie restriction of total energy expenditure—500 kcal) for 15 weeks. Central and regional body composition changes from dual-x-ray absorptiometry and serum measures were compared using paired t-tests and ANCOVA with paired contrasts. IR was defined as homeostatic model assessment (HOMA-IR) > 2.6. Compared to the LF group, the LCHF group lost more android (15.6 ± 11.2% vs. 8.3 ± 8.1%, p < 0.01) and visceral fat (18.5 ± 22.2% vs. 5.1 ± 15.8%, p < 0.05). Those with IR lost more android and visceral fat on the LCHF verses LF group (p < 0.05). Therefore, the clinical prescription to a LCHF diet may be an optimal strategy to reduce disease risk in middle-aged adults, particularly those with IR.
Federal, State, and Local Immigrant-Related Policies and Child Health Outcomes: a Systematic Review

The passage of US immigrant-related policies at the federal, state, and local level is on the rise. These policies may affect child health through several mechanisms. We performed a systematic review of English-language, peer-reviewed, quantitative studies examining US immigrant-related policies and the mental and physical health of youth in immigrant families. We searched PubMed and five social science databases for studies published between 1986 and 2019. Two independent reviewers screened the studies and appraised study quality. Of the final 17 studies, ten studies examined birth outcomes and seven studies examined other outcomes in childhood and adolescence (e.g., self-rated health). Generally, exclusionary policies were associated with worse health outcomes and inclusive policies were associated with better health outcomes. Several studies did not observe an association, but only one study found an association of the opposite direction. In that study, similar trends in different policy environments and across foreign-born and US-born women suggest alternative causes for the observed association. Overall, we find that exclusionary policies are, at best, neutral, but likely harmful towards child wellbeing, while inclusive policies can be beneficial.
Parameter-Dependency of Low-Intensity Vibration for Wound Healing in Diabetic Mice

Chronic wounds in diabetic patients represent an escalating health problem, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Our group previously reported that whole body low-intensity vibration (LIV) can improve angiogenesis and wound healing in diabetic mice. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether effects of LIV on wound healing are frequency and/or amplitude dependent. Wound healing was assessed in diabetic (db/db) mice exposed to one of four LIV protocols with different combinations of two acceleration magnitudes (0.3 and 0.6 g) and two frequencies (45 and 90 Hz) or in non-vibration sham controls. The low acceleration, low frequency protocol (0.3 g and 45 Hz) was the only one that improved wound healing, increasing angiogenesis and granulation tissue formation, leading to accelerated re-epithelialization and wound closure. Other protocols had little to no impact on healing with some evidence that 0.6 g accelerations negatively affected wound closure. The 0.3 g, 45 Hz protocol also increased levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 and tended to increase levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in wounds, but had no effect on levels of basic fibroblast growth factor or platelet derived growth factor-bb, indicating that this LIV protocol induces specific growth factors during wound healing. Our findings demonstrate parameter-dependent effects of LIV for improving wound healing that can be exploited for future mechanistic and therapeutic studies.
Sex-dependent and ontogenetic effects of low dose ethanol on social behavioral deficits induced by mouse maternal separation

Early life stress can induce lifelong emotional and social behavioral deficits that may in some cases be alleviated by drugs or alcohol. A model for early life stress, rodent maternal separation, recapitulates these behavioral sequelae, which are not limited to potentiated anxiety-like behavior, attenuated social motivation, and altered reward-seeking. Here we employed mouse maternal separation with early weaning (MSEW), consisting of pup-dam separation lasting 4-8 hours on postnatal days (PD) 2-16, with early weaning on PD 17. Prior MSEW studies have limited subjects by age or sex, so we more comprehensively investigated MSEW effects in both sexes, during adolescence and adulthood. We found universal effects of MSEW to include lifelong enhancement of anxiety-like and despair behavior, as well as deficits in social motivation. We also observed some sex-dependent effects of MSEW, namely that female MSEW mice exhibited social habituation to a greater degree than their male counterparts. Low dose ethanol administration had no major effects on the social behavior of non-stressed mice. But interestingly, MSEW-induced social habituation was counteracted by low dose ethanol in adolescent female mice, and potentiated in adolescent male mice. These effects were absent in adult animals, suggesting that ethanol may exert differential effects on the developing brain in such a manner to produce age-, sex-, and stress-dependent effects upon social behavior. Together, results indicate that MSEW reliably produces long-lasting impairments in emotional and social behaviors in both sexes and across the lifespan, but may exert more salient social behavioral effects on female animals.
Rectification and Related Precepts

So far the components have been assumed to be spherical, and to radiate isotropically; a model which is not valid for close pairs. If the semiaxis major of the orbit is less than about five times the radius of the larger star, the mutual attraction of the components — other than in point-mass form — and their irradiation reach considerable amounts deforming the shape of the stars and the light distribution on their surfaces. Variable light is then observed also outside the eclipses. The rectification purports to free the light curve from these effects in order to reduce it to the more simply tractable model. Yet the knowledge of the orbital elements is already required for a good rectification. The more significant the distortion terms in the light curve, the greater thus is the need for an iterative handling, and also the need for more refined rectification formulae to replace linear approximations. The intricacies of this process in very close pairs have led quite a few investigators to prefer the alternative approach of light-curve syntheses. The dangers of reaching deficient solutions are similar in both methods: either through too simple and incomplete a model, or through an overly extensive model which exceeds the carrying capacity of the observations.
Simulation based optimization of supply chains with a surrogate model

Abstract Simulation is widely used in the decision making processes associated with supply chain management. In this paper, we present an extension of the simulation based optimization framework which has been previously proposed for analyzing supply chains. The extension consists of the iterative construction of a surrogate model based on systematically accumulated simulation results to capture the causal relation between the key decision variables and supply chain performance. The decision variables can then be optimized using the surrogate model in place of individual simulation runs to economize on the overall computational effort. The extended framework is illustrated using a small example and then applied to optimize the inventory levels in a three stage supply chain.
Scattering of atoms by solid surfaces: Critical review of the lennard-jones, devonshire and strachan theory of inelastic gas-surface interactions, and some improvements

Abstract A critical review is given of the present quantum theory of inelastic gas-surface interactions, due to Lennard-Jones, Devonshire and Strachan; this theory is, essentially, a first-order one-phonon theory in one dimension. At the same time, several improvements and generalizations are made to the theory; examples of these are: (1) a notation is developed which is easier to handle than are previous notations, (2) results are presented for arbitrary surface temperature, (a) for a single incident gas atom and (b) for arbitrary incident gas temperature, (3) the effects of bound states of the gas atom at the surface are considered in more detail, (4) the unitary correction suggested by Cabrera, Celli, Goodman and Manson is applied, where possible, to the results, (5) the questions of the ranges of validity of the first-order and of the one-phonon approximations are considered and (6) some consequences of the use of a one-dimensional model are discussed. It is concluded that there are some major difficulties associated with the present theory, and that a three-dimensional theory is required.
William and Antonio, Giotto and Mae

So the guy played by William Hurt sits at the lunch counter eating a chili dog and drollops chili on his plate and the She played by Mae West comes in and says "Cancha see I'm trying to paint out there?" And the guy eating the chili dog doesn't answer because he doesn't know if she means paint the walls or paint a picture or why either way his chili dog makes a difference so he just looks at her kind of from the side and chili drips down that side of his chin and the She who's painting says "Well?" And the guy with the dribbly chin played by William Hurt tries to swallow but he took too big a bite so he chokes and tries to get some air and the She who paints played by Mae West sees him gasping and gives him a good wallop between the shoulder blades so he spurts his chili dog out there on the counter though he's trying to aim for his plate because he's not really a slob, just a guy trying to get some lunch and then go back to the construction site. The She who walloped him is standing right there at his shoulder and sees him do that but keeps her attitude and the guy who tossed his chili dog reaches over the counter and takes a wad of napkins out of the dispenser and wipes his face and his front and covers up the mess on the counter and then he looks at her by turning all the way on the stool and he says "Ma'am?" The She standing there at his shoulder played by Mae West says "Ma'am?" back to him and "So you think I'm somebody's mother?" and throws back her head and laughs but it's not a laugh that sounds like anything was very funny. And the guy who said Ma'am looks up at her wide open mouth and sees the ridges on her upper palate and then he says "Sister?" as if that would be better and the She who's laughing brings her head forward and says "Sis ter?" as if she's never heard anything so preposterous in her life and so she gets laughing again and this time she bends forward and leans her hand on his shoulder and the laugh does sound as if something was funny, so the guy keeps on going and says "Baby?" and now her lungs are really pumping out ha-ha's so she tries to choke out a word between her laughing and says "Mister?" to the guy who said Baby, and he says "So you think I'm somebody's boss?" and he starts laughing in a kind of low chuckle and then he says
Differentiation of Sporadic Versus Tuberous Sclerosis Complex–Associated Angiomyolipoma

OBJECTIVE. We review the imaging of renal angiomyolipomas, including differentiation of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC)–associated and sporadic renal angiomyolipomas and other solid renal tumors. ...
Computer-based tutorial in MR imaging.

PURPOSE To test the effectiveness of customized software as a teaching tool to help the novice understand basic physics concepts underlying the creation of MR images via various pulse sequences. METHODS The authors have developed animating graphic and highly interactive electronic MR audiovisual software for the Macintosh computer in the C programming language, and have integrated it into the classroom setting for teaching MR imaging physics concepts such as T1, T2, T2*, proton density, RF excitation, TR, TE, TI, flip angle, static magnetic field strength, gradient magnetic fields, section thickness, number of phase-encoding gradients, number of excitations, field of view, intersection gap, receiver bandwidth, contrast agent(s), etc. The program interactively demonstrates the effects of these variables upon such imaging objectives as voxel dimensions, section quantity, total scanned volume, signal-to-noise ratio, contrast, contrast-to-noise ratios, resolving power, and scan acquisition time. Partial saturation, gradient echo, inversion recovery, and fat-saturation imaging techniques are included. Written posttests on the syllabus covered in our basic MR course were administered to three groups: 43 student professionals (technologist/physicist/radiologist) (control professional group) before, 149 student professionals (exposed professional group) after the addition of the tutorial software into the MR course as an integral part of the teaching process, and a group of 200 pharmaceutical sales staff with little to no prior MR or scientific background (exposed pharmaceutical group). The scores were then evaluated and compared among the groups. One hundred ten students exposed to this software also anonymously rated the software on a 1 to 5 scale (harmful to very helpful, respectively) as to their feeling regarding its role in their MR educational experience and the ease with which they were able to understand the material covered in the basic MR course curriculum. RESULTS Mean test scores were statistically significantly lower in the Control Professional Group (60%, +/- 2.59 standard error of the mean (SEM)) than in either the Exposed Pharmaceutical (73% +/- 0.75 SEM) or Exposed Professional Groups (77% +/- 0.99 SEM). The mean subjective assessment score regarding the software was 4.8 (scale 1 to 5). CONCLUSION This custom-developed interactive MR tutorial software is demonstrated to be effective in assisting even those new to MR imaging in understanding the concepts underlying MR imaging physics in a manner that is felt to be significantly more palatable than lectures, articles, and/or textbooks alone.
Use of embedded self-repair adhesives in certain areas of concrete bridge members to prevent failure from severe dynamic loading

While preventing structural damage caused by dynamic loading is typically addressed at a bridge's structural level, this report presents a design for the internal release of adhesives for resisting dynamic loading of reinforced concrete at the materials level. Normal reinforced concrete lacks the ability to directly respond to the formation of cracking within its own cross section during dynamic loading. Present designs for dynamic loading resistance attempt to control the structure's response by focusing on the properties of mass, stiffness, and damping, as the governing equation for structural response to dynamic loading is modeled.
Role of magnesium in the binding of tetracycline to Escherichia coli ribosomes

The fluorescence of tetracycline is enhanced when this antibiotic is bound to Escherichia coli ribosomes. This enhancement permits binding to be followed directly. If manganous ion is exchanged for magnesium, the fluorescence of bound tetracycline is virtually abolished. This result provides strong evidence for the role of magnesium chelation in tetracycline binding to ribosomes.
Arsenic exposure, hyperuricemia, and gout in US adults.

Abstract Background There is very limited information on the association between arsenic and serum uric acid levels or gout. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of arsenic with hyperuricemia and gout in US adults. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 5632 adults aged 20 years or older from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003–2010 with determinations of serum uric acid and urine total arsenic and dimethylarsinate (DMA). Hyperuricemia was defined as serum uric acid higher than 7.0 mg/dL for men and 6.0 mg/dL for women. Gout was defined based on self-reported physician diagnosis and medication use. Results After adjustment for sociodemographic factors, comorbidities and arsenobetaine levels, the increase in the geometric means of serum uric acid associated with one interquartile range increase in total arsenic and DMA levels was 3% (95% CI 2–5) and 3% (2–5), respectively, in men and 1% (0–3) and 2% (0–4), respectively, in women. In men, the adjusted odds ratio for hyperuricemia comparing the highest to lowest quartiles of total arsenic was 1.84 (95% CI, 1.26–2.68) and for DMA it was 1.41 (95% CI, 1.01–1.96). The corresponding odds ratios in women were 1.26 (0.77, 2.07) and 1.49 (0.96, 2.31), respectively. The odds ratio for gout comparing the highest to lowest tertiles was 5.46 (95% CI, 1.70–17.6) for total arsenic and 1.98 (0.64–6.15) for DMA among women older than 40 years old. Urine arsenic was not associated with gout in men. Conclusion Low level arsenic exposures may be associated with the risk of hyperuricemia in men and with the prevalence of gout in women. Prospective research focusing on establishing the direction of the relationship among arsenic, hyperuricemia, and gout is needed.
Temperature-Induced Changes in the Transbilayer Distribution of Phosphatidylethanolamine in Mitoplasts of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Liver

Increased proportions of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) are a common adaptation of poikilothermic animals to life at cold temperatures. Although amino-phospholipids such as PE are asymmetrically distributed between the two membrane hemilayers, the impact of temperature-induced changes in phospholipid composition on PE asymmetry has not been examined. Accordingly, the distribution of PE between the inner and outer hemilayers of the inner membrane of liver mitochondria was determined in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) acclimated to 20°C and 5°C. Mitochondria were isolated from trout liver by a combination of differential and Nycodenz™ density-gradient centrifugation, resulting in an 11- to 15-fold enrichment in the activity of the mitochondrial enzyme marker succinate cytochrome c reductase. Interestingly, the outer mitochondrial membrane was more stable in 5°C- than 20°C-acclimated trout as indicated by the higher concentration of digitonin (0.6 vs. 0.3 mg digitonin/mg mitochondrial protein) required for the preparation of mitoplasts. Phosphatidylethanolamines in the outer hemilayer of the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) were identified as derivatives of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS), a nonpenetrating reagent that reacts with primary amines. Our results demonstrate 1) a decrease in the phosphatidylcholine:phosphatidylethanolamine ratio in the IMM of 5°C- (1.43 ± 0.09) compared to 20°C- (2.31 ± 0.34) acclimated trout and 2) smaller amounts of PE in the outer hemilayer (6.0 ± 0.51%) of the IMM from 5°C- than 20°C-acclimated trout (8.1 ± 0.55%). These results indicate that the composition of the inner mitochondrial membrane is enriched in PE at cold temperatures and that this enrichment is largely restricted to, and therefore most likely to be of functional significance to, the inner hemilayer. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Population Dynamics of Agouti and Albino Meadow Voles in High-Quality, Grassland Habitats

Populations of agouti and albino meadow voles ( Microtus pennsylvanicus ) were censused weekly within eight 0.1-ha enclosures (four replicates per treatment) from 26 June to 4 December 1992. Results supported the hypothesis that there was no significant difference in the growth and structure of populations of albino meadow voles compared to populations of agouti meadow voles within habitats of high nutritional quality and heavy vegetative cover. No significant difference in mean-weekly densities of populations or rates of recruitment was found between coat-color treatments. Few significant differences in measures of population quality, such as the percentage of adults in breeding condition or differences in mean body mass of adults, occurred between treatments. During the removal period (6 December 1992 through 2 January 1993), 770 voles (478 albino and 292 agouti) were captured. A large percentage of albino (87%) and agouti (76%) voles removed during this period had not been captured previously suggesting that live-trapping may be a poor estimator of population density of meadow voles in habitats of high quality.
Can education do it alone

Abstract Public policy in the last decade has placed great expectations on education to energize the economy by producing a workforce with higher test scores and greater educational attainments. This paper argues that education requires a range of complementary conditions in order to provide a payoff and cannot do the job by itself. This argument is also extended to research which extrapolates longitudinal consequences of educational investments from cross-sectional studies of the relation between education and various economic and social outcomes. It is argued that this research also overstates the effects of education by not considering the complementary conditions that must be in place to realize the relation that is embedded in cross-sectional data.
Cobalamin deficiency, hyperhomocysteinemia, and dementia.

INTRODUCTION Although consensus guidelines recommend checking serum B12 in patients with dementia, clinicians are often faced with various questions: (1) Which patients should be tested? (2) What test should be ordered? (3) How are inferences made from such testing? (4) In addition to serum B12, should other tests be ordered? (5) Is B12 deficiency compatible with dementia of the Alzheimer's type? (6) What is to be expected from treatment? (7) How is B12 deficiency treated? METHODS On January 31st, 2009, a Medline search was performed revealing 1,627 citations related to cobalamin deficiency, hyperhomocysteinemia, and dementia. After limiting the search terms, all abstracts and/or articles and other references were categorized into six major groups (general, biochemistry, manifestations, associations and risks, evaluation, and treatment) and then reviewed in answering the above questions. RESULTS The six major groups above are described in detail. Seventy-five key studies, series, and clinical trials were identified. Evidence-based suggestions for patient management were developed. DISCUSSION Evidence is convincing that hyperhomocysteinemia, with or without hypovitaminosis B12, is a risk factor for dementia. In the absence of hyperhomocysteinemia, evidence is less convincing that hypovitaminosis B12 is a risk factor for dementia. B12 deficiency manifestations are variable and include abnormal psychiatric, neurological, gastrointestinal, and hematological findings. Radiological images of individuals with hyperhomocysteinemia frequently demonstrate leukoaraiosis. Assessing serum B12 and treatment of B12 deficiency is crucial for those cases in which pernicious anemia is suspected and may be useful for mild cognitive impairment and mild to moderate dementia. The serum B12 level is the standard initial test: 200 picograms per milliliter or less is low, and 201 to 350 picograms per milliliter is borderline low. Other tests may be indicated, including plasma homocysteine, serum methylmalonic acid, antiparietal cell and anti-intrinsic factor antibodies, and serum gastrin level. In B12 deficiency dementia with versus without pernicious anemia, there appear to be different manifestations, need for further workup, and responses to treatment. Dementia of the Alzheimer's type is a compatible diagnosis when B12 deficiency is found, unless it is caused by pernicious anemia. Patients with pernicious anemia generally respond favorably to supplemental B12 treatment, especially if pernicious anemia is diagnosed early in the course of the disease. Some patients without pernicious anemia, but with B12 deficiency and either mild cognitive impairment or mild to moderate dementia, might show some degree of cognitive improvement with supplemental B12 treatment. Evidence that supplemental B12 treatment is beneficial for patients without pernicious anemia, but with B12 deficiency and moderately-severe to severe dementia is scarce. Oral cyanocobalamin is generally favored over intramuscular cyanocobalamin.
The Stellarator Approach to Toroidal Plasma Confinement

An overview is presented of the development and current status of the stellarator approach to controlled thermonuclear confinement. Recent experimental, theoretical, and systems developments have made this concept a viable option for the evolution of the toroidal confinement program. Some experimental study of specific problems associated with departure from two-dimensional symmetry must be undertaken before the full advantages and opportunities of steady-state, net-current-free operation can be realized.
Simulation model analysis of seasonal beach cycles

Abstract In this paper, a simulation model is presented which describes the formation and destruction of longshore bars. The distribution of sediment in the nearshore zone is modeled using a sediment continuity equation. Mass fluxes of sediment are computed using semi-empirical equations outside the breaker zone. Inside the breaker line, transport is made proportional to the velocity inside a solitary wave, and the direction of transport is made dependent on the wave type, so that seaward transport in the surf zone is characteristic of plunging breakers. The model is successful in simulating the geometrical properties of longshore bars in two dimensions as well as the sequence of events in bar formation. Comparison with field data suggests that berm/bar transition takes place during plunging breaker conditions, therefore the wave type is probably of greater importance than wave height or steepness in predicting the profile type. Three modes of profile recovery following storms are modeled: bar stabilization, bar destruction, and bar migration. The type of response depends on the sequence of wave heights and periods during the post-storm time span.
Combined effects of aspirin and noise in causing permanent hearing loss.

• Several authors have investigated the interaction of noise and aspirin in hearing loss, with conflicting results. We studied the combined effects of noise and high doses of aspirin on hearing in rats. Thirty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the following five groups: (1) controls; (2) aspirin only; (3) noise only; (4) 8-day per 200 mg of aspirin per noise; and (5) 12-day per 200 mg of aspirin per noise. Auditory brain-stem–evoked responses were measured in each animal prior to, 24 hours after, and 3 weeks after aspirin and noise exposure. The animals were killed and hair cells were counted in 200-μm segments and expressed graphically. Results showed significant differences in permanent threshold shift and hair cell loss between all noise-exposed animals and non–noise-exposed animals. There was also a significantly greater amount of hair cell loss in group 5 when compared with groups 3 or 4. The 12-day per 200 mg of aspirin per noise regimen (group 5) also proved to be fatal for 6 of 15 of these animals, and caused significant weight loss in the survivors. No weight loss or deaths were noted in any other group. ( Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1989;113:1070-1075)
CpG island methylation profiling in human salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma

BACKGROUND DNA methylation is a fundamental epigenetic event associated with physiologic and pathologic conditions including cancer. Hypermethylation of CpG islands at active gene promoters lead to transcriptional repression while hypomethylation is associated with gene overexpression. The aim of this study was to identify genes in adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of salivary gland strongly deregulated by epigenetic CpG island methylation, to validate selected genes by conventional techniques, and to correlate the findings with clinico-pathologic factors.
The detection of pulmonary metastases by helical CT: A clinicopathologic study in dogs

Purpose: We sought to determine the accuracy of helical CT in the detection of pulmonary metastases. Method: Four anesthetized dogs with metastatic osteosarcoma underwent helical CT with a collimation of 5 mm, a pitch of 2, and a reconstruction interval of 5 mm. All macroscopically evident metastases were recorded at autopsy. CT images were independently reviewed by 10 radiologists and compared with pathologic results. Alternate slices in the dog with the most metastases were microscopically examined in their entirety. Results: Pathologic examination of the lungs revealed 132 macroscopically evident pulmonary metastases, of which 74 (56%) were detected by at least one reader. Forty-four of the 99 (44%) metastases of ≤5 mm in diameter were detected by at least one reader compared with 30 of 33 (91%) metastases of >5 mm in diameter (p < 0.0001). The 10 readers reported a total of 107 false positives. Complete microscopy of alternate slices in the dog with the most metastases In = 68) retreated an additional 38 micrometastases of ≤3 mm in diameter. None of the 32 micrometastases of 1 mm were detected by CT. Conclusion: Helical CT has some limitations in the detection of pulmonary metastases.
Relative importance of nervous control of cardiac output and arterial pressure

Abstract The relative amounts of control that the nervous system exercises over arterial pressure versus cardiac output were studied in 41 dogs divided into 2 groups—intact dogs and dogs with all or most of the central nervous system destroyed. Responses of both groups were compared during 3 different types of circulatory stress: (1) opening and closing arteriovenous (A-V) fistulas, (2) massive infusion of blood, and (3) stimulation of muscle contraction. The results showed that the intact dogs controlled arterial pressure many times as effectively as did the dogs with the central nervous system destroyed. On the other hand, there was little difference in the control of cardiac output in the 2 groups of animals. Quantitative comparisons showed a feedback gain for nervous control of arterial pressure of −6.4 versus a feedback gain for control of cardiac output of −0.23. These experiments suggest that the nervous system is of much less importance for control of cardiac output than for control of arterial pressure.
Pain control in first-trimester surgical abortion: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Abstract Background First-trimester abortions especially cervical dilation and suction aspiration are associated with pain despite various methods of pain control. Study Design Following the guidelines for a Cochrane review, we systematically searched for and reviewed randomized controlled trials comparing methods of pain control in first-trimester surgical abortion at less than 14 weeks gestational age using electric or manual suction aspiration. Outcomes included intra- and postoperative pain, side effects, recovery measures and satisfaction. Results We included 40 trials with 5131 participants. Because of heterogeneity, we divided studies into seven groups: Local anesthesia : Data were insufficient to show a clear benefit of a paracervical block (PCB) compared to no PCB. Reported mean pain scores (10-point scale) during dilation and aspiration were improved with carbonated lidocaine [weighted mean difference (WMD), −0.80; 95% confidence interval (CI), −0.89 to −0.71; WMD, −0.96; 95% CI, −1.67 to −0.25], deep injection (WMD, −1.64; 95% CI, −3.21 to −0.08; WMD, 1.00; 95% CI, 1.09 to 0.91), and with adding a 4% intrauterine lidocaine infusion (WMD, −2.0; 95% CI, −3.29 to −0.71; WMD, −2.8; 95% CI, −3.95 to −1.65). PCB with premedication : Ibuprofen and naproxen resulted in small reduction of intra- and postoperative pain. Conscious sedation : The addition of conscious intravenous sedation using diazepam and fentanyl to PCB decreased procedural pain. General anesthesia : Conscious sedation increased intraoperative but decreased postoperative pain compared to general anesthesia (GA) [Peto odds ratio (Peto OR) 14.77 (95%, CI 4.91–44.38) and Peto OR 7.47 (95% CI, 2.2–25.36) for dilation and aspiration, respectively, and WMD −1.00 (95% CI, −1.77 to −0.23) postoperatively). Inhalation anesthetics are associated with increased blood loss (p GA with premedication : The cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitor etoricoxib; the nonselective COX inhibitors lornoxicam, diclofenac and ketorolac IM; and the opioid nalbuphine improved postoperative pain. Nonpharmacological intervention: Listening to music decreased procedural pain. No major complication was observed. Conclusions Conscious sedation, GA and some nonpharmacological interventions decreased procedural and postoperative pain, while being safe and satisfactory to patients. Data on the widely used PCB are inadequate to support its use, and it needs to be further studied to determine any benefit.
Longitudinal patterns of health insurance coverage among a national sample of children in the child welfare system.

Objectives. We sought to describe health insurance coverage over time among a national sample of children who came into contact with child welfare or child protective services agencies.Methods. We used data from 4 waves of the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being to examine insurance coverage among 2501 youths. Longitudinal insurance trajectories were identified using latent class analyses, a technique used to classify individuals into groupings of observed variables, and survey-weighted logistic regression was used to identify variables associated with class membership.Results. We identified 2 latent insurance classes—1 contained children who gained health insurance, and the other contained children who stably maintained coverage over time. History of sexual abuse, and race/ethnicity other than White, Black, and Hispanic, were associated with membership in the “gainer” class. Foster care placement and poorer health status were associated with membership in the “maintainer” class. Caregiver ...
One hundred consecutive cases of selective termination of an abnormal fetus in a multifetal gestation.

Objective To determine whether transabdominal selective termination of one or more abnormal fetuses in a multifetal pregnancy with dichorionic placentation is a safe and effective procedure. Methods One hundred consecutive selective termination procedures were performed by transabdominal injection of potassium chloride into the heart or umbilical vein of an anomalous fetus in a multifetal pregnancy. All of the abnormal fetuses were presumed to have dichorionic diamniotic placentas, based on an ultrasound evaluation before the procedure. Follow-up data were obtained for each patient regarding the development of postprocedural complications, laboratory or clinical evidence of a coagulopathy, maternal or neonatal morbidity, gestational age at delivery, and birth weight of the infants. Results Ninety-one sets of twins were reduced to singletons six sets of triplets were reduced to twins, two sets of triplets were reduced to singletons, and one set of quadruplets was reduced to triplets. The anomalous fetus or fetuses were identified correctly and terminated in each case. Three patients spontaneously aborted, and one woman electively terminated her pregnancy 2 weeks after the procedure. The mean gestational age at delivery of the 96 patients who delivered surviving infants was 36.8 weeks, and 85.4% delivered at 32 weeks or later. Three women developed laboratory evidence of a coagulopathy, but there were no cases of clinically evident disseminated intravascular coagulation. Conclusion This procedure, performed at a single institution by a small number of operators using a common protocol, accomplished its objective in all cases, was accompanied by a low spontaneous loss rate, and resulted in the birth of healthy infants at or near term in the vast majority of cases. This series suggests that selective termination is a reasonable option to consider when one abnormal fetus is found in a multifetal pregnancy with dichorionic placentation.
Racial/ethnic residential segregation and cardiovascular disease risk

A growing body of research has examined whether racial/ethnic residential segregation contributes to health disparities, but recent findings in the literature, particularly with respect to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, have not been summarized. This review provides an overview of findings from studies of racial/ethnic residential segregation of non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics with CVD risk published between January 2011 and July 2014. The majority of studies of black segregation showed higher segregation was related to higher CVD risk, although relationships were less clear for certain outcomes. Relationships among Hispanics were more mixed and appeared to vary widely by factors such as gender, country of origin, racial identity, and acculturation. Implications for research on racial/ethnic disparities in CVD and lingering gaps in the literature are discussed as well.
Rapid generation of cis-constrained norstatine analogs using a TMSN3-modified passerini MCC/N-capping strategy

A novel application of the TMSN3-modified Passerini three-component reaction is disclosed for the rapid solution phase synthesis of cis constrained norstatine mimetic libraries. The reaction of an N-BOC-α-amino aldehyde, an isocyanide and trimethylsilylazide in dichloromethane, followed by deprotection and N-capping with TFP esters affords cis constrained norstatine mimetics. This efficient protocol, producing products with three diversity points, can be used to generate arrays of biologically relevant small molecules for protease targeted screening.
Normalization of CD4+ T-Lymphocyte Depletion in Patients Without HIV Infection Treated for Tuberculosis

A decrease in the number of circulating CD4+ T-lymphocytes occurs in subjects infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In those without HIV infection, depletion of T-lymphocytes in general and CD4+ cells in particular has been reported in association with many underlying conditions, including tuberculosis. A low CD4+ T-lymphocyte count at the time of diagnosis of tuberculosis does not clarify whether the low count is a predisposing factor for or a consequence of the disease. Our patients without HIV infection but with tuberculosis and CD4+ T-lymphocyte depletion on presentation normalized their CD4+ cell counts with tuberculosis treatment. This normalization strongly suggests that tuberculosis is a reversible cause of CD4+ lymphocytopenia.
Estimated phytochemical content of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is higher than in the control study diet

Abstract The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet substantially lowers blood pressure and reduces blood lipid levels. The DASH diet menus were designed to reach beneficial levels of fiber, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, and therefore contain more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains relative to the control menus, and consequently more phytochemicals. Using the US Department of Agriculture food composition databases, the polyphenol, carotenoid, and phytosterol contents of the diets used in the DASH study were estimated. When compared with the control diet, the DASH diet is higher in flavonols, flavanones, flavan-3-ols, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein+zeaxanthin, and phytosterols. Flavone levels are similar, whereas isoflavones are present in a small amount in the DASH diet. The roles of these compounds in disease risk reduction are becoming recognized. It therefore is possible that the health benefits of the DASH diet are partially attributable to the phytochemicals and might extend beyond cardiovascular disease risk reduction.
Design of a compact laparoscopic probe for optical stimulation of the cavernous nerves

The cavernous nerves are responsible for erectile function and course along the prostate surface, varying in size and location among patients, making preservation of sexual function challenging after prostate cancer surgery. Electrical stimulation has proven inconsistent and unreliable in identifying these nerves and evaluating nerve function. Optical stimulation of the rat cavernous nerves has recently been reported as a alternative to electrical stimulation, with potential advantages including noncontact stimulation and improved spatial selectivity. This study describes the design of a compact laparoscopic probe for future clinical use in optical nerve stimulation. The 10-Fr (3.4-mm-OD) prototype laparoscopic probe includes an aspheric lens for collimation of the laser beam with a 0.8- mm-diameter spot, coupled with a 200-μm-core optical fiber. A 45° gold-coated rod mirror in the probe tip provides side-firing delivery of the laser radiation. The probe handle houses a miniature linear motorized stage for lateral scanning of the probe tip over a 25-mm line along the prostate surface. A 5.5-W Thulium fiber laser with tunable wavelength range of 1850-1880 nm was tested with the probe. The probe fits through a standard 5-mm-ID laparoscopic port and is capable of delivering pulse energies up to 8 mJ (1.6 J/cm 2 ) at a 2.5-ms pulse duration, well above the threshold (~ 0.35 J/cm 2 ) for optical stimulation of the cavernous nerves.
Consistency of the earth's outgoing radiation based on remotely sensed active cavity radiometric data from the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite

As a part of the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE), the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS) has continuously acquired active-cavity radiometric measurements of the Earth's outgoing radiative flux since October 1984. We have analyzed the daily average of daytime and nighttime total and shortwave flux measurements from the ERBS, at satellite altitude, for the period from January 1985 through December 1991. We found the annual cycle of total and shortwave flux measurements to be highly repeatable. We averaged the ERBS data for the years 1985 through 1989, and used these as a mean for comparison of 1990 and 1991 data. We observed (in daytime) some differences in both the total and shortwave flux regions. Similar trends were not apparent in the derived daytime longwave data (i.e., total- sw). There is evidence of generally increasing outgoing flux (and hence a warming trend) over the years 1985 through 1991.
The Perceptual Alteration Scale: A Scale Measuring Dissociation

Abstract A Perceptual Alteration Scale (PAS) was developed which shows promise as a measure of dissociation. Dissociation is defined as a personality trait that is characterized by modification of connections between affect, cognition, and perception of voluntary control over behavior, as well as modifications in the subjective experience of affect, voluntary control, and perception. On initial testing, the PAS discriminated between college students who had normal eating habits and those who were binge eaters. Reliability analysis yielded an alpha score of .95. Three factors were extracted on a factor analysis. In addition, the scale correlated significantly with a number of personality measures. Much work must be done before the scale can be used as a clinical instrument. Continued cross validation studies and construct validity studies must be carried out. Nonetheless, the scale appears to be a reliable tool in assessing experiences described as dissociative.
SELECTIVE GAS ABSORPTION UNDER PRESSURE

Abstract For selective removal of H2S from much larger quantities of CO2 under pressure, an industrial prototype spray column has been constructed. Sodium hydroxide solution was atomized by a pressure nozzle of special design and entered the scrubber as fine spray to contact the sour gases. Several operating variables were examined in order to indicate optimal operating conditions for maximum selectivity of H2S over CO2. Fine mist and short contact time favor this selective absorption process. An optimum inlet reactant concentration was found dependent upon the H2S content relative to CO2 in the inlet sour gas mixture. A special nozzle/shield configuration to avoid contact of sour gas with highly turbulent liquid during droplet formation significantly improved the selectivity.
Liver transplantation and health-related quality of life: Scoring differences between men and women

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is the treatment of choice for end-stage liver disease of various etiologies. Its use, however, remains limited due to the scarcity of donor organs. Measures to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) are increasingly being implemented to examine the efficacy of medical therapies involving scarce resources. HRQOL was assessed and compared between 88 male and 61 female patients before and after liver transplantation. Data were gathered from subjects having completed a questionnaire pre-OLT, and again at 1 year and 2 years post-OLT. This questionnaire, developed specifically for OLT patients, contains at its core questions derived from several well-established instruments measuring health status and HRQOL. Male OLT recipients reported a higher degree of overall HRQOL than that reported by female OLT recipients, both before and after OLT. When controlling for disparity in education between the sexes, findings revealed that among the lesser educated (≤12 years), men and women scored similarly, while among the more educated (>12 years), men scored higher than women. Employment findings revealed a higher percentage of men working before transplant and at 1-year post-OLT when compared with women. At 2 years post-OLT, men and women exhibited similar employment rates. Male OLT recipients report a higher level of overall HRQOL than that reported by female OLT recipients, both before and after liver transplantation. Education appears to significantly affect HRQOL and may account for, at least in part, differences in reported HRQOL between male and female OLT recipients. (Liver Transpl 2004;10:88–96.)
Neurosteroids Modulate Nicotinic Receptor Function in Mouse Striatal and Thalamic Synaptosomes

Progesterone and its A-ring reduced metabolites are allosteric activators of GABA A receptors. The studies reported here examined the effects of these steroids on brain nicotinic receptors using an 86 Rb + efflux assay that likely measures the function of α4β2-type nicotinic receptors and [ 3 H]dopamine release, which may be modulated by an α3-containing nicotinic receptor. Both of the A-ring reduced metabolites of progesterone were noncompetitive inhibitors of both assays, whereas progesterone inhibited only the 86 Rb + efflux assay. The 86 Rb + efflux assay was slightly more sensitive than was the dopamine release assay to steroid inhibition. Inhibition developed slowly for both assays (t 1/2 = 0.4 min) and was reversed even more slowly (t 1/2 = 10-15 min). Steroid addition did not alter either the rate of association of [ 3 H]nicotine binding to brain membranes, nor was equilibrium binding changed. These findings argue that neurosteroids are allosteric inhibitors of brain nicotinic receptors.