cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Panel Discussion on Standards

The art and science of standards-making relative to safe exposure to electromagnetic fields is not trivial and includes some subtle issues. The thresholds for effects (hazardous or not) in animals at a given frequency are most simply expressed in terms of some exposure parameter, like power density, and an exposure duration.
Topical Effect of Intravesical Oxybutynin

Intravesical oxybutynin was instilled into rat bladders in graded doses by repeated catheterization to study the local bladder effects of drug concentration and incidental urinary infection. On the thirteenth day, after 5 doses, bladders were recovered for measurement and histological study. In the highest dose group, systemic absorption from the bladder caused weight loss and cachexia. However, in no group was there any clear evidence of drug-related mucosal or bladder wall change. Instead, the two high dose groups seemed somehow protected from the combined adverse effects of catheterization and infection.
Software Concepts Emphasized in Introductory Programming Textbooks

In this research study, we performed a content analysis of selected introductory programming textbooks for three languages to examine which software development concepts are emphasized in these books. Our goal was to determine which concepts are considered to be most representative of software development based on the topics emphasized by the textbook authors. We counted how often programming words appeared in samples of C++, Java, and Python books. We discovered which concepts are consistently supported for all three languages. We also noted those concepts that are favored by just one or two languages. Our summarized results lead to several conclusions that are relevant to the choice of a language for an introductory programming course.
Genetics of testicular germ cell tumors.

Purpose of review Understanding the molecular basis underlying testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) may help improve patient outcomes, particularly for patients with poorer risk or chemoresistant disease. Here, we review the major contemporary advances in elucidating TGCT genetics by discussing patterns of TGCT inheritance, recent genomic and transcriptomic discoveries in TGCT, and the role of genetics in predicting therapeutic resistance and in guiding treatment. Recent findings In the absence of a major high-penetrance TGCT susceptibility gene, inheritance is likely driven by a complex polygenic model with considerable variation. The most common genomic alterations found in TGCTs include gains in chromosome 12p and mutations in KIT, KRAS, and NRAS, particularly in seminomas. Sensitivity to cisplatin-based chemotherapy likely relies on intact TP53, reciprocal loss of heterozygosity, and high mitochondrial priming. Targetable mutations are uncommon in TGCTs, however, posing a challenge for the development of effective personalized therapies. Consistent with the characteristically low tumor mutational burden, immune checkpoint inhibitors do not appear to be effective for most TGCTs. Summary Refinements in next-generation sequencing techniques over the last few years have enabled considerable advances in elucidating the genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenetic landscape of TGCTs. Future efforts focused on developing novel treatment modalities are needed.
Rationale and design of a Scale-Up Project Evaluating Responsiveness to Home Exercise And Lifestyle Tele-Health (SUPER-HEALTH) in people with physical/mobility disabilities: a type 1 hybrid design effectiveness trial.

Introduction Rates of physical inactivity among people with physical disabilities are substantially higher than in the general population and access to home-based tailored exercise programmes is almost non-existent. Using a theory-driven eHealth platform, an innovative exercise programme referred to as movement-to-music (M2M) will be delivered as a customised, home-based exercise intervention for adults with mobility disabilities. Methods and analysis Participants are being recruited for this type 1 hybrid design based effectiveness trial through outpatient clinics at a large rehabilitation centre and randomised to one of three groups: (1) M2M, (2) M2M plus social networking (M2Mplus) and (3) attention control (AC). The intervention includes a 12-week adoption phase, 12-week transition phase and 24-week maintenance phase, at which the collection of objective measures on exercise, fitness and self-reported measures on health will be obtained at the start of each phase and at follow-up. The study compares the effectiveness of M2M and M2Mplus in increasing physical activity (primary outcome), adherence, fitness and physical functioning compared with the AC group and examines the mediators and moderators of the treatment effect. Ethics and dissemination The Institutional Review Board of The University of Alabama at Birmingham granted full approval: (IRB-160923002). Dissemination of findings will include publication in peer-reviewed journals, presentations at regional, national and/or international meetings, and the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD, www.nchpad.org). This study will strengthen our understanding of the potential benefits of eHealth exercise interventions for people with physical disabilities and build on strategies that aim to recruit larger samples in exercise trials. Trial registration number NCT03024320; Pre-results.
The catalytic reduction of azides and hydrazines using high-valent organouranium complexes

Uranium compounds act as catalysts for many reactions including the oxidation of organics, alkyne hydroamination, olefin hydrogenation, and olefin polymerization. In these processes, U(IV) metallocene compounds often show reactivity similar to lanthanide and group IV transition metal metallocenes in such steps as olefin insertion and ligand protonation. In contrast to the lanthanides and group IV metals, however, uranium can also access the +6 oxidation state, giving rise to the possibility of 2-electron (+4/+6) redox processes. The authors have recently reported the synthesis of U(VI) complexes of the type (C{sub 5}Me{sub 5}){sub 2}U({double_bond}NR){sub 2} (R = Ph, R = Ad = 1-adamantyl), it has been postulated that 5f orbitals play a significant role in stabilizing metal-ligand bonding in these species. Any catalytic process requiring the intermediacy of these higher valent complexes would also, therefore, rely upon the involvement of f orbitals in mediating chemical transformations.
Abstract 4368: Investigating the role of IDH in normal metabolic and cancer pathways

Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) has gained much attention due its frequent mutation in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and glioblastomas. This enzyme is responsible for converting isocitrate into α-ketoglutarate (α-KG); when this gene is mutated it further converts α-KG into another metabolite, D-2-HG, that competes with α-KG. Production of D-2-HG causes diversion to a new metabolic pathway, as well as inhibits the activity of other enzymes in the cell. We have created flies that express the IDH mutant protein to investigate the other metabolic changes. One of these changes results in an embryo lethality. Additional model systems investigating larval and adult brains have shown glial cell inhibition. We hypothesize that harboring the IDH mutation will have a negative impact on the stable development of progeny. Note: This abstract was not presented at the meeting. Citation Format: Nicholas DiDuca, Sarah H. Roberts, Shane Sturtevant, Marla Tipping. Investigating the role of IDH in normal metabolic and cancer pathways [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4368.
INSULIN AND THE BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER

Publisher Summary The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is the interface between the neurones, with their regulated environment, and the blood on which they depend for a rapid and constant supply of glucose and oxygen. The function of the BBB seems to be to regulate the neuronal environment, maintaining homeostatis with respect to pH, ions, and neurotransmitters and at the same time facilitate the passage of metabolically important substances. Glucose crosses the BBB by carrier-mediated transport, and as glucose transfer across brain cell membranes is extremely rapid, it can be assumed that glucose supply to the brain is governed by transfer across the BBB. Insulin plays a central role in the regulation of glucose turnover, promoting synthesis of energy reserves—glycogen and lipids—and increasing sugar transport into muscle and adipose tissue.
Grooming behaviors and fouling of the spider crab Libinia dubia (Decapoda: Epialtidae)

Abstract Body fouling has been reduced by grooming behaviors. In decapods, grooming has been focused on gills, sensory structures, and jointed appendages. In this study, grooming behaviors of the spider crab, Libinia dubia H. Milne-Edwards, 1834, were examined; this brachyuran crab decorates and camouflages body regions by attaching materials onto hooked setae. The relationship between grooming and these camouflaged body regions was unknown. Six observational and experimental studies examined the grooming frequency, duration of grooming behaviors, body regions groomed, variance of these behaviors in the presence of another individual, and the efficiency of these grooming behaviors at removing gill fouling. Sensory and respiratory structures were groomed most frequently and for the longest duration, not body regions with decorations and hooked setae. Crabs in isolation exhibited the highest grooming time budget (5.22%). The presence of another conspecific decreased the grooming time budget (0.67%), and primary actions (e.g., fighting, displaying, mating) became priority. Ablation of a gill-grooming appendage did not impact fouling on gills. Grooming as a secondary action was supported. Reasons for not grooming body regions with hooked setae were discussed. Spider crabs had a lower time budget for grooming compared to most decapods, but similar to another brachyuran.
P5 Tenfold medication errors in children: welsh paediatric surveillance unit study 2017–8 – interim one year results

Aim To establish the incidence and characteristics of tenfold or greater and a tenth or less medication errors in children Method Population-based incidence study in Wales, UK, from July 2017 – June 2018 (12 months). Cases were reported from paediatricians and hospital pharmacists using the monthly Welsh Paediatric Surveillance Unit (WPSU). Results 25 confirmed incidents in 23 children from 36 notifications were identified. Cases came from 5 hospitals in Wales with 12 (48%) from the sole tertiary hospital. Median age was 1.7 years and weight 10.7 kg (0.6 to 59). 22 were overdosing (up to 1000x fold error) and 3 underdosing. 22 different medications were involved, 10 (40%) intravenous. Of 15 cases involving enteral medication, 12 were liquid formulations. Two cases were discharge medication administrated at home by parents. Stage of errors were primarily in prescribing 20 (80%), administration 4 and dispensing 1. Ten (40%) cases reached the patient, six from prescribing. Two resulted in significant temporary harm requiring ICU admissions and the remainder received additional monitoring only without harm identified. Several human factor themes were identified: Prescribing confusion between gram milligram and microgram (none reached patient, n=4), confusing between mg and mg/kg (n=5 including all 3 underdosing errors), leading zero errors (e.g. 0.1 vs 0.001 mg, n=3) and prescribing reconciliation errors where admitting doctor attempted to prescribe chronic medication in mg by reversing calculating liquid dosage expressed in mls (n=4). Conclusion In this first ever population surveillance study, tenfold errors in children occurred at every stage of medication process and in the full range of care settings. Errors found were very different from those obtained from tertiary hospital single centre study and UK National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS). Strategies for error reduction will be more productive if designed across a whole national healthcare system.
The USMLE Step 1 Pass/Fail Reporting Proposal: The APDR Position

Background The National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) and the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) has convened a conference of “key stakeholders” on March 11–12, 2019 to consider reporting the results of the USMLE Step 1 as pass/fail. Discussion While the original purpose of the USMLE Step 1 was to provide an objective basis for medical licensing, the score is increasingly used in residency applicant screening and selection because it is an objective, nationally recognized metric allowing comparison across medical schools in and outside the United States. Excessive reliance on the Step 1 score in the matching process has led to “Step 1 Culture” that drives medical schools to “teach to the test,” increases medical student anxiety, and disadvantages minorities that have been shown to score lower on the USMLE Step 1 examination. The outsize role of the USMLE Step 1 score in resident selection is due to lack of standardization in medical school transcripts, grade inflation, and the lack of class standing in many summative assessments. Furthermore, the numeric score allows initial Electronic Residency Application Service filtering, commonly used by programs to limit the number of residency applications to review. Conclusion The Association of Program Directors in Radiology (APDR) is concerned that pass/fail reporting of the USMLE Step 1 score would take away an objective measure of medical student's knowledge and the incentive to acquire as much of it as possible. Although the APDR is not in favor of the Step 1 exam being used as a screening tool, in the absence of an equal or better metric for applicant comparison the APDR opposes the change in Step 1 reporting from the numeric score to pass/fail.
IRMOF-74(n)–Mg: a novel catalyst series for hydrogen activation and hydrogenolysis of C–O bonds

Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) that catalyze hydrogenolysis reactions are rare and there is little understanding of how the MOF, hydrogen, and substrate molecules interact. In this regard, the isoreticular IRMOF-74 series, two of which are known catalysts for hydrogenolysis of aromatic C–O bonds, provides an unusual opportunity for systematic probing of these reactions. The diameter of the 1D open channels can be varied within a common topology owing to the common secondary building unit (SBU) and controllable length of the hydroxy-carboxylate struts. We show that the first four members of the IRMOF-74(Mg) series are inherently catalytic for aromatic C–O bond hydrogenolysis and that the conversion varies non-monotonically with pore size. These catalysts are recyclable and reusable, retaining their crystallinity and framework structure after the hydrogenolysis reaction. The hydrogenolysis conversion of phenylethylphenyl ether (PPE), benzylphenyl ether (BPE), and diphenyl ether (DPE) varies as PPE > BPE > DPE, consistent with the strength of the C–O bond. Counterintuitively, however, the conversion also follows the trend IRMOF-74(III) > IRMOF-74(IV) > IRMOF-74(II) > IRMOF-74(I), with little variation in the corresponding selectivity. DFT calculations suggest the unexpected behavior is due to much stronger ether and phenol binding to the Mg(II) open metal sites (OMS) of IRMOF-74(III), resulting from a structural distortion that moves the Mg2+ ions toward the interior of the pore. Solid-state 25Mg NMR data indicate that both H2 and ether molecules interact with the Mg(II) OMS and hydrogen–deuterium exchange reactions show that these MOFs activate dihydrogen bonds. The results suggest that both confinement and the presence of reactive metals are essential for achieving the high catalytic activity, but that subtle variations in pore structure can significantly affect the catalysis. Moreover, they challenge the notion that simply increasing MOF pore size within a constant topology will lead to higher conversions.
Midline Longitudinal Sacral Fracture in an Anterior-Posterior Compression Pelvic Injury -A Surgical Decision-making and Outcome.

Introduction Anterior-posterior compression pelvic injuries occur from high-energy blunt trauma and can result in devastating outcomes. Often, widening of the pubic symphysis occurs with subsequent disruption of posterior pelvic ligamentous structures. Associated sacral fractures may increase the likelihood of neurologic injury and pelvic ring instability. The most common sacral fracture in this injury is an avulsion fracture of the sacral ala. Midline longitudinal sacral fractures into the spinal canal are an extremely rare variant of sacral injuries in conjunction with pelvic trauma. In contrast to traditional anterior-posterior pelvic ring injuries, those associated with this unique fracture type carry a decreased risk of neurologic injury. Only a small number of these cases exist in English literature. Given its rarity, further, investigation of the fracture mechanism and treatment protocol is warranted. Case report A 67-year-old Caucasian male presented with an anterior-posterior compression pelvic ring injury after he was struck by an oncoming vehicle on his motorcycle. Radiographs revealed pubic symphyseal widening of 4.7 cm. A pelvic binder was placed as a temporary measure to minimize intrapelvic hemorrhage. Advanced imaging revealed a complete, midline sagittal sacral fracture through the posterior sacral elements. During his hospital admission, the patient required multiple procedures for sustained upper extremity fractures and subsequently underwent surgical fixation of his anterior and posterior pelvic ring injuries 2 days after admission. Our patient to date has achieved sacral fracture union, minimal residual pubic diastasis, and has no evidence of neurologic injury. He has some persistent impotence and is ambulating without assistance. Despite his significant injuries, his outcome to date has been quite impressive. Conclusion It is critical to always examine the posterior pelvis and sacrum when examining anterior-posterior compression injuries. While most cases have reported fixation of only the anterior pelvis, we explain the need for additional posterior pelvic fixation to address the inherent instability of these unique sacral fractures and ultimately decrease patient morbidity. The surgical fixation technique of this patient's pelvic injuries is described, as well as his post-operative course and outcome to date.
A Novel and Easy Method to Locate and Remove First Approved Long-Term Implantable Glucose Sensors

Eversense is a long-term implantable continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system. Difficulty in locating and removing implanted sensors is one of the issues limiting its use. We propose using near-i...
Highly Active Rhenium-, Ruthenium-, and Iridium-Based Dichalcogenide Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction and Oxygen Evolution Reactions in Aprotic Media

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have garnered much attention recently due to their remarkable performance for different electrochemical systems. In this study, we report on the synthesis a...
Phosphate Recovery by a Surface-Immobilized Cerium Affinity Peptide

Cerium oxide/hydroxide adsorbents have emerged as promising phosphate removal materials due to their excellent performance and stability. In this study, an engineered cerium affinity peptide immobi...
Progress in Imaging the Human Torso at the Ultrahigh Fields of 7 and 10.5 T.

Especially after the launch of 7 T, the ultrahigh magnetic field (UHF) imaging community achieved critically important strides in our understanding of the physics of radiofrequency interactions in the human body, which in turn has led to solutions for the challenges posed by such UHFs. As a result, the originally obtained poor image quality has progressed to the high-quality and high-resolution images obtained at 7 T and now at 10.5 T in the human torso. Despite these tremendous advances, work still remains to further improve the image quality and fully capitalize on the potential advantages UHF has to offer.
Nonequilibrium thermodynamics of input-driven networks

Neural dynamics of energy-based models are governed by energy minimization and the patterns stored in the network are retrieved when the system reaches equilibrium. However, when the system is driven by time-varying external input, the nonequilibrium process of such physical system has not been well characterized. Here, we study attractor neural networks, specifically the Hopfield network, driven by time-varying external input and measure thermodynamic quantities along trajectories between two collective states. The overlap between distribution of the forward and reversal work along the nonequilibrium trajectories agrees with the equilibrium free energy difference between two states, following the prediction of Crooks fluctuation theorem. We study conditions with different stimulation protocol and neural network constraints. We further discuss how biologically plausible synaptic connections and information processing may play a role in this nonequilibrium framework. These results demonstrate how nonequilibrium thermodynamics can be relevant for neural computation and connect to recent systems neuroscience studies with closed-loop dynamic perturbations.
Combining Climate, Economic, and Social Policy Builds Political Support for Climate Action in the US

Despite the gravity of the climate threat, governments around the world have struggled to pass and implement climate policies. Today, politicians and advocates are championing a new idea: linking climate policy to other economic and social reforms. Will this approach generate greater public support for climate action? Here, we test this coalition-building strategy. Using two conjoint experiments on a representative sample of 2,476 Americans, we evaluate the marginal impact of 40 different climate, social, and economic policies on support for climate reforms. Overall, we find climate policy bundles that include social and economic reforms such as affordable housing, a $15 minimum wage, or a job guarantee increase US public support for climate mitigation. Clean energy standards, regardless of what technologies are included, also make climate policy more popular. Linking climate policy to economic and social issues is particularly effective at expanding climate policy support among people of color.
Probing Molecular Assembly of Small Organic Molecules during Meniscus-Guided Coating Using Experimental and Molecular Dynamics Approaches

Evaporation-based thin-film coating processes are ubiquitous in fields such as organic electronics, dye coatings, and the pharmaceutical industry. Based on experimental observations of enhanced thi...
Synergistic combinations of clarithromycin with doxycycline or minocycline reduce the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in Rhodococcus equi

BACKGROUND The alarming increase in rifampin and macrolide resistance among Rhodococcus equi isolates highlights the need to identify alternative therapeutic options that can effectively control rhodococcosis in foals while limiting the further development of drug resistance. OBJECTIVES To evaluate bacterial killing, antibiotic synergism and mutant prevention concentrations (MPCs) of clarithromycin alone and in combination with doxycycline, minocycline or rifampin against clinical isolates of R equi. STUDY DESIGN In vitro experiments. METHODS Bacterial time-kill, fractional inhibitory concentration (checkerboard) and mutant prevention concentration assays were evaluated in four clarithromycin- and rifampin-susceptible (ClaS /RifS ) and two clarithromycin- and rifampin-resistant (ClaR /RifR ) R equi clinical strains. RESULTS In this study evaluating a limited number of isolates, combinations of clarithromycin with doxycycline or minocycline, but not with rifampin, were generally synergistic in both ClaS /RifS and ClaR /RifR strains as determined by checkerboard testing. In time-kill assays, all antibiotics, both alone and in combination, reduced viable ClaS /RifS R equi by more than 3 log10 at 24 hours compared with control cultures without antibiotics. Combinations of clarithromycin with doxycycline, minocycline or rifampin induced significantly lower MPC values compared with the individual antimicrobials alone for all ClaS /RifS R equi strains, resulting in a narrower mutant selection window (MSW). However, clarithromycin/rifampin combination did not markedly decrease MPCs of the individual antimicrobials in ClaR /RifR R equi isolates, and the observed decrease in MPCs for doxycycline or minocycline did not generally differ when combined with clarithromycin. MAIN LIMITATIONS The number of analysed R equi isolates was limited. In vitro outcomes require clinical confirmation. CONCLUSIONS Dual therapy combinations consisting of clarithromycin with doxycycline or minocycline merit consideration as a treatment protocol against R equi in foals due to in vitro synergy. These combination therapies may also minimise the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in cases of rhodococcosis.
Economic Voting in Big-City U.S. Mayoral Elections

Retrospective voting is a central explanation for voters' support of incumbents. Yet despite the variety of conditions facing American cities, past research has devoted little attention to retrospective voting for mayors. Local economic conditions are widely reported, making them one likely source of retrospective voting. To test that possibility, we turn to the largest data set to date on big-city mayoral elections between 1990 and 2011. Neither crime rates nor property values consistently influence incumbent mayors' vote shares, nor do changes in local conditions. However, low city-level unemployment relative to national unemployment correlates with higher incumbent support. The urban voter is a particular type of retrospective voter, one who compares local economic performance to conditions elsewhere. Moreover, these effects are present only in cities that dominate their media markets. At a time when the audiences for local media are declining, this research suggests that those outlets play a critical role in facilitating retrospective voting.
The biochemical diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

Abstract Ovarian cancer has the second highest average annual increase of deaths caused by cancer in American women and an over-all 30 per cent 5 year survival rate. In an attempt to find a new diagnostic aid for ovarian cancer, peritoneal fluid and blood specimens were obtained from normal women and from women with benign and malignant neoplastic ovarian tumors. A diagnostic biochemical pattern for ovarian cancer has been established with the use of a small quantity of peritoneal fluid and analysis by the sequential multiple analyzer 12/60. Calcium, inorganic phosphorus, urea nitrogen, uric acid, cholesterol, total protein, total bilirubin, lactic dehydrogenase, and glutamicoxaloacetic acid transaminase levels were elevated above the values found in control women. The results suggest that the biochemical pattern of peritoneal fluid may be used to distinguish benign from malignant neoplastic ovarian tumors, to discover earlier residual or recurrent ovarian cancer, to allow therapy to be started sooner, to monitor therapy, and perhaps to screen normal women for ovarian cancer.
A Review of “Librarians as Community Partners: An Outreach Handbook”

Whether you are looking for a new program to reach out to your community and add variety to your current library programming or whether you are interested in a new take on one of your existing prog...
The Nonhuman Primates

The Nonhuman Primates. Phyllis Dolhinow and Agustin Fuentes. eds. Mountain View, CA. Mayfield Publishing Co., 1999. 340 pp.
Validity of reported energy intake in preadolescent girls.

Energy intake and energy expenditure were assessed in 109 girls aged 8-12 y. Intake was estimated from a 7-d dietary record based on household measures. Expenditure was measured with the doubly labeled water technique during a 2-wk period. Overall, the mean (± SD) energy intake was 7.0 ± 1.67 MJ/d and the mean energy expenditure was 8.03 ± 1.28 MJ/d. The mean difference between intake and expenditure was 1.03 ± 1.77 MJ/d (P < 0.0001). The mean proportion of actual intake reported was 88.3 ± 21.0%. Multivariate-regression analysis showed that age and total daily energy expenditure were significantly and independently related to the reporting error. Coefficients for age and total daily energy expenditure were both positive, indicating that as age and daily energy expenditure increased, the magnitude of the error of reporting increased. Income, ethnicity, parental obesity, and body fat were not significantly related to accuracy of reporting. The use of food records to determine energy intake appears to provide more accurate results in younger than in older girls, and the accuracy of the method apparently decreases as energy expenditure increases.
DOWN-REGULATION OF CYTOCHROME P450 2C FAMILY MEMBERS AND POSITIVE ACUTE-PHASE RESPONSE GENE EXPRESSION BY PEROXISOME PROLIFERATOR CHEMICALS

In this study, we show that peroxisome proliferator chemical (PPC) exposure leads to alterations in the expression of genes in rat liver regulated by the sex-specific growth hormone secretory pattern and induced during inflammation. Expression of the male-specific cytochrome P450 (P450) 2C11 and alpha2 urinary globulin (alpha2u) genes and the female-specific P450 2C12 gene was down-regulated by some PPC. Expression of P450 2C13, also under control by the sex-specific growth hormone secretory pattern, was not altered by PPC treatment, indicating that regulation of CYP2C family members does not involve perturbation of the growth hormone secretory pattern. In contrast to the increases in expression observed when inflammation was induced in male rats, two positive acute-phase response genes, alpha1-acid glycoprotein and beta-fibrinogen, were decreased by PPC exposure. The down-regulation of the P450 2C11 by WY-14,643 could be reproduced in cultured rat hepatocytes, indicating the down-regulation is a direct effect. Experiments in wild-type mice and mice that lacked a functional peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha gene showed that down-regulation by WY of alpha1-acid glycoprotein, beta-fibrinogen, and a mouse homologue of alpha2u was dependent on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha expression. Our results demonstrate that PPC exposure leads to down-regulation of diverse liver-specific genes, including CYP2C family members important in hormonal homeostasis and acute-phase response genes important in inflammatory responses.
Small Steps and Big Leaps: Implications of the National Survey of Early Childhood Health for Improving the Quality of Preventive and Developmental Care for Young Children

As pediatricians, promoting healthy development is one of the core aspects of our job. Nearly every child receives at least some health supervision visits in the first 3 years of life. An estimated 80% of families with children 0 to 5 years of age see a pediatrician for these visits.1 We thus are uniquely positioned to provide needed information regarding behavior and development, to detect and address problems, and to serve as advocates for children within our communities. The data from the National Survey of Early Childhood Health (NSECH) provide an estimate, from parents’ perspective, of our success. The NSECH was developed to assess the content and quality of health services provided to young children and the health-promoting behaviors that families routinely undertake at home. The survey demonstrates substantial gaps among recommended care, what parents want, and what children receive. Using a composite quality score, only 14% to 60% of parents received recommended care when a scoring method that takes into account parents’ perceived needs for guidance, screening, and beliefs about whether screening of families should occur was used.2 Nearly all parents identified a practice where their children receive care, yet fewer than half (46%) reported that they have a particular clinician who sees their child for well-child care.3 Barely more than half (57%) of parents reported ever having had a structured developmental assessment.4 In addition, parents who reported specific attention to development were more likely to report receiving needed developmental and psychosocial information and were more satisfied with their care. The survey also identified the importance that parents place on information from pediatricians. Most parents reported that family and social issues such as financial sufficiency and emotional resources available to the parent, as well as community resources available to address their needs, are appropriate topics …
Clearing the air: inpatient providers' knowledge, perspectives, and experience with electronic cigarettes.

Electronic cigarettes are increasingly prevalent battery-operated devices that heat a solution to generate an inhalable nicotine-containing aerosol. Despite a diverse array of devices on the market, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only recently proposed expanding its regulatory ability to include electronic cigarettes. States, municipalities, and institutions have enacted variable regulations on electronic nicotine delivery systems. Advocates of electronic cigarettes propose that they are a less-toxic alternative to tobacco cigarettes, with potential for use as a nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). Opponents argue that electronic cigarettes may undermine tobacco cessation goals and potentially expose nonusers to secondhand nicotine vapor. Hospital providers frequently care for nicotinedependent patients. We investigated inpatient healthcare providers’ knowledge, perceptions, and experience with electronic cigarettes, with the goals of informing educational efforts and guiding policy decisions around hospital-based use of electronic nicotine delivery systems.
Asteroid reflectivities from polarization curves - Calibration of the 'slope-albedo' relationship.

The relationship between h, the slope of the positive branch of a polarization curve, and A, the normal reflectance of the surface, has been calibrated using a wide range of published data. It is determined that asteroid albedos can be inferred meaningfully by this method without prior knowledge of the detailed mineralogical composition of asteroid surfaces.
Simulation of neocortical epileptiform activity using parallel computing

Abstract A scalable network model intended for study of neocortical epileptiform activity was built on the pGENESIS neural simulator. The model included superficial and deep pyramidal cells plus four types of inhibitory neurons. An electroencephalogram (EEG) simulator was attached to the model to validate model behavior and to determine the contributions of inhibitory and excitatory neuronal populations to the EEG signal. We examined effects of overall excitation and inhibition on activity patterns in the network, and found that the network-bursting patterns occur within a narrow range of the excitation–inhibition space. Further, we evaluated synchronization effects produced by gap junctions during synchronous and asynchronous states.
N-Heterocyclic carbenes : Effective organic catalysts for living polymerization

Abstract An organocatalytic approach to living and condensation polymerization using N -heterocyclic carbenes as nucleophilic catalysts is detailed. The N -heterocyclic carbene catalyst platform is extremely versatile with the nature of the substituents having a pronounced effect upon catalyst stability and activity towards different substrates. Rapid screening of libraries of catalysts provided a basic understanding of catalyst structure (sterics, electronics, etc.) as it influences the polymerization rate, control, substrate and range of molecular weights. ROP from an immiscible ionic liquid (precatalyst reservoir) and a THF solution of monomer and initiator is presented as a simplified method of carbene formation. In situ activation of the ionic liquid generated a nucleophilic N -heterocyclic carbene, which migrates to the organic phase effecting ROP. Other simplified methods of generating carbene thermally from carbene adducts are also presented as polymerization catalysts.
Exhaled nitric oxide as a marker for organic nitrate tolerance.

BACKGROUND This study was designed to demonstrate the development of biochemical tolerance to organic nitrates by measuring levels of exhaled gaseous nitric oxide (NO) in lambs given intravenous (IV) nitroglycerin or sodium nitroprusside. METHODS AND RESULTS IV injections of nitroglycerin or sodium nitroprusside produced dose-dependent and sustained increases in the exhaled levels of nitric oxide measured by chemiluminescence in awake lambs with tracheostomies. After a 6-hour IV infusion of 25 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 nitroglycerin, peak exhaled NO levels were significantly reduced (-53.6 +/- 4.9%, mean +/- SEM, P CONCLUSIONS Measurements of exhaled NO provide in vivo, noninvasive evidence for the development of biochemical tolerance to nitroglycerin. There was reduced NO release into exhaled gas from the pulmonary vasculature concomitant with evidence of tolerance to nitroglycerin vasodilation in the systemic circulation.
Antioxidant vitamins prevent cardiomyocyte apoptosis produced by norepinephrine infusion in ferrets

Background: Norepinephrine (NE) induces apoptosis in cultured neonatal rat myocytes. To determine whether this change occurred in intact animals after chronic subhypertensive doses of NE, and whether the effect was mediated via oxidative stress produced by NE, we measured myocyte apoptosis and apoptotic gene proteins in ferrets receiving chronic NE with and without antioxidant vitamin treatment. Methods: Ferrets were administered either subcutaneous NE or vehicle and simultaneously assigned to receive antioxidant vitamins (β-carotene, ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol) or vehicle for 4 weeks. Resting hemodynamics and plasma NE were measured at 4 weeks. Animals were then sacrificed for measuring cardiac myocyte size by electron microscopy, and oxidative stress by reduced to oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio and mitochrondrial DNA 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG). Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was detected by both terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay and monoclonal antibody to single-stranded DNA (Mab) staining. Western blot analysis was used to measure the expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 and apoptotic protein Bax. Results: NE administration produced a 4-fold increase in plasma NE, but had no effect on resting heart rate, heart weight, arterial pressure, left ventricular systolic function or cardiac cell size. NE infusion decreased tissue GSH/GSSG ratio, and increased mtDNA 8-oxo-dG, and TUNEL- and Mab-positive apoptotic cells. These changes were associated with a 27% decrease in Bcl-2 protein, a 42% increase in Bax and a 57% reduction in the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax. All of the changes were prevented by co-administration of antioxidant vitamins. Conclusion: NE administration at a dose which produced no significant increase in blood pressure or myocyte hypertrophy caused cardiomyocyte apoptosis in intact animals. This effect was associated with an increase in oxidative stress, up-regulation of Bax protein and down-regulation of Bcl-2 protein. Antioxidant vitamins prevented the changes produced by NE. The findings suggest that NE-induced myocyte apoptosis is mediated by oxidative stress, and that antioxidant vitamins may be beneficial in heart failure in which cardiac NE release is increased.
On the eigenvalues of the electrostatic integral operator

Abstract A fundamental result in scattering and potential theory in R 3 states that the spectrum of the electrostatic integral operator lies in the interval [−1,1]. In the case of a sphere and a prolate spheroid, it is known that the spectrum of the operator lies in the interval [−1,0]. A fundamental question arises whether the spectrum of the operator always lies in this interval, or whether there exists a smooth surface for which the electrostatic integral operator has a positive eigenvalue. In this paper, this question is answered. A surface is produced whereby the underlying integral operator has a positive eigenvalue.
Augmented Reality Simulations on Handheld Computers

Advancements in handheld computing, particularly its portability, social interactivity, context sensitivity, connectivity, and individuality, open new opportunities for immersive learning environments. This article articulates the pedagogical potential of augmented reality simulations in environmental engineering education by immersing students in the roles of scientists conducting investigations. This design experiment examined if augmented reality simulation games can be used to help students understand science as a social practice, whereby inquiry is a process of balancing and managing resources, combining multiple data sources, and forming and revising hypotheses in situ. We provide 4 case studies of secondary environmental science students participating in the program. Positioning students in virtual investigations made apparent their beliefs about science and confronted simplistic beliefs about the nature of science. Playing the game in “real” space also triggered students' preexisting knowledge, su...
Dimeric phenalenyl-based neutral radical molecular conductors.

We report the preparation, crystallization, and solid-state characterization of ethyl (3)- and butyl (4)-substituted spiro-biphenalenyl radicals. Both of these compounds are found to be conducting face-to-face π-dimers in the solid state but with different room-temperature magnetic ground states. At room temperature, 4 exists as a diamagnetic π-dimer (interplanar separation of ∼3.1 A), whereas 3 is a paramagnetic π-dimer (interplanar separation of ∼3.3 A), and both compounds show phase transitions between the paramagnetic and diamagnetic forms. Electrical resistivity measurements of single crystals of 3 and 4 show that the transition from the high-temperature paramagnetic π-dimer form to the low-temperature diamagnetic π-dimer structure is accompanied by an increase in conductivity by about 2 orders of magnitude. This behavior is unprecedented and is very difficult to reconcile with the usual understanding of a Peierls dimerization, which inevitably leads to an insulating ground state. We tentatively assi...
Friendship and Gender Differences in Task and Social Interpretations of Peer Collaborative Problem Solving

Investigations of peer collaboration often vary task or social aspects of collaborative contexts and assume that these aspects of the context are experienced similarly by individuals. The present study examined how social aspects (group friendship and gender) of a peer collaborative context related to differences in adolescents’ interpretations of task and social problems that occurred while collaborating with peers in a naturalistic classroom setting. Eighth-grade adolescents (N = 82, 44 females) worked with peers on a six-week Spanish project at school. Adolescents chose to work primarily with same-gender peers and friends. Task and social interpretations of problems were assessed twice. The salience of task problems decreased over time; social problems became somewhat more salient. Social problems were less salient to females than to males. Greater group friendship was associated with the lesser salience of task problems early in the project. The salience of social problems, gender, and friendship were important for understanding performance on the project. The value of considering the context of peer collaborative problem solving from individuals’ perspectives is discussed.
Some effects of hippocampal lesions on the behavior of mongolian gerbils

Abstract Adult male gerbils ( Meriones unguiculatus ) were subjected to one of three surgical procedures: aspiration of the hippocampus and overlying cortex, aspiration of the cortex overlying the hippocampus alone, or a sham operation. Hippocampal lesions increased the frequency of certain home cage behavior patterns (locomotion, rearing, sniffing and drinking), decreased the frequency of other patterns (sleeping/lying and shredding of nest materials) and left unchanged a third set of measures (alert inactivity, grooming and burrowing). In those cases where increments in occurrence of a given behavior were observed, there were lesion-induced shifts in frequency of initiation of certain behavior patterns (locomotion and sniffing) rather than in the duration of those patterns. This finding argues against a simple perservation view of the increment in frequency of these patterns. Lesion effects on reactivity to novel stimulation varied with the test procedure. Locomotor activity in an open field was enhanced, manipulatory and biting contacts with novel stimulus objects were reduced, and social reactions to unfamiliar visitor gerbils were relatively unaffected.
Slant-tilt: The visual encoding of surface orientation

A specific form for the internal representation of local surface orientation is proposed, which is similar to Gibson's (1950) "amount and direction of slant". Slant amount is usually quantifed by the angle ? between the surface normal and the line of sight (0°???90°). Slant direction corresponds to the direction of the gradient of distance from the viewer to the surface, and may be defined by the image direction ? to which the surface normal would project (0°???360°). Since the direction of slant is specified by the tilt of the projected surface normal, it is referred to as surface tilt (Stevens, 1979; Marr, 1982). The two degrees of freedom of orientation are therefore quantified by slant, an angle measured perpendicular to the image plane, and tilt, an angle measured in the image plane. The slanttilt form provides several computational advantages relative to some other proposals and is consistent with various psychological phenomena. Slant might be encoded by various means, e.g. by the cosine of the angle, by the tangent, or linearly by the angle itself. Experimental results are reported that suggest that slant is encoded by an internal parameter that varies linearly with slant angle, with resolution of roughly one part in 100. Thus we propose that surface orientation is encoded in human vision by two quantities, one varying linearly with slant angle, the other varying linearly with tilt angle.
Persistent headache associated with scombroid poisoning: resolution with oral cimetidine

This case report describes a classical case of scombroid fish poisoning, following which the victim suffered persistent headache, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. The sequelea of the intoxication were refractory to symptomatic therapy. An oral histamine-2 antagonist, cimetidine, successfully relieved the victim of her symptoms. This is the first description of an effective therapy for the clinical residua following a bout of scombrotoxism.
The age-dependent eigenfunctions of certain Kolmogorov equations of engineering, economics, and biology

Abstract The goal is to develop state-variable models of population dynamics. Our long-term motivation is the application of modern system theory to those engineering management tasks which can be thought of as problems of population control. Our main reference, therefore, is to populations of machines, but we do not neglect, entirely, the biological implications of what we do. It is known that eigenfunction analysis can be useful for the purpose of formulation of state-variable models. This is because of the qualitative features of the eigenvalue spectrum of the basic, partial differential operator: A small number of eigenvalues have positive real part while the remainder, though infinite in number, are in the left half-plane. Our main contributions are to account for the not quite equal rate of aging (service) of the individuals that make up the population and to complete the solution of the eigenproblem even though the eigenfunctions are not orthogonal and the operator has a variable coefficient.