cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Fate of Obamacare: Racial Resentment, Ethnocentrism and Attitudes about Healthcare Reform

Health care has been a contentious issue in American politics for decades, and scholars are beginning to understand the reasons behind public support for, and opposition to, healthcare reform. Using national survey data, we measure the impact of various racial attitudes, including Racial Resentment and Ethnocentrism, on white support for healthcare reform. We measure participants’ attitudes across a range of important dimensions of healthcare reform and examine a randomized experiment with a control group that frames legislation as “recent” healthcare reform and a treatment condition that frames legislation as “President Obama’s” healthcare reform. The findings demonstrate that racial attitudes and Ethnocentrism continue to play a role in both support and opposition to healthcare reform.
Relative importance of the distance senses in grasshopper mouse predatory behaviour

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the relative roles that audition, olfaction and vision play in the northern grasshopper mouse's (Onychomys leucogaster) predation on insects. The first experiment examined the relative importance of these three senses in the localization of a moving or a stationary cricket. Although all three senses contributed to finding an active prey, individually or in certain combinations with others, the mice relied predominantly on audition. In contrast when searching for a stationary prey, the mice used vision or olfaction interchangeably. In choice situations where prey cues of two sensory modalities were presented simultaneously, the mice preferentially approached auditory cues first at a distance. However, in close proximity to a prey when the decision to attack was involved, they responded mainly to olfactory cues.
Coronary heart disease in treated hypertensive patients and risk-matched normotensive control subjects☆

The incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) was recorded prospectively for 543 persons--335 treated hypertensive patients and a group of 208 normotensive control subjects, individually matched to a subgroup of the hypertensive patients on the basis of seven risk factors. If antihypertensive therapy reduces CHD, CHD should have occurred at a rate predicted by initial blood pressure levels in the normotensive control subjects and at a rate predicted by post-treatment blood pressure levels in the hypertensive patients. A treatment effect seemed possible in hypertensive men, since CHD occurred at the rate predicted by post-treatment blood pressure levels. However, because the reduction was not statistically significant and was similar to a reduction observed in the normotensive control subjects, a treatment effect could not be confirmed. There was no evidence of a treatment effect in hypertensive women, since CHD occurred at a rate higher than that predicted by post-treatment blood pressure levels and the normotensive control subjects showed a lower than expected rate.
Thermal stability of Pt films on TiO2(110): evidence for encapsulation

We have studied the thermal stability of ultrathin platinum films on a rutile TiO2(110) surface, using low energy ion scattering (LEIS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). At room temperature, Pt grows in three-dimensional islands on the TiO2 surface, with little indication of an interface reaction. Upon annealing to temperatures above 450 K in UHV, encapsulation of the Pt islands by Ti suboxides is observed; the rate of this process increases with annealing temperature and decreases with island thickness. The Ti layer on top of the Pt islands is identified as a reduced Tin+ species (1 ⩽ n ⩽ 3) with the degree of reduction depending on the thickness of the Pt islands. These results are discussed in the framework of the strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) effect.
Preservation of adrenal function after successful stereotactic body radiation therapy of metastatic renal cell carcinoma involving the remaining contralateral adrenal gland.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) metastases have been reported in almost every organ. The most common involved organs are the lungs, liver, kidneys, bones, and brain.1,2 Autopsy series have reported RCC adrenal metastases rates ranging from 7% to 19%.2-4 Contralateral adrenal involvement is rare. In one study the incidence was 2.5%.5 In addition contralateral adrenal metastases from RCC can present late, even after 23 years from primary tumor resection.4,6 Such unusual delay in presentation, infrequent occurrence, and confusing clinical presentation can lead to misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, or failure to treat promptly.3 Herein a case of RCC involving the contralateral adrenal gland that was successfully treated with SBRT is reported. The patient had right nephrectomy and right adrenalectomy 12 years earlier. His resulting adrenal
Photosynthate partitioning in cultured marine phytoplankton. I. Dinoflagellates

Abstract The distribution of assimilated 14 C in perchloric acid-soluble, CHCl 3 -soluble, trichloroacetic acid-soluble and residual particulate material was examined as a function of time in five dinoflagellates, a diatom, and a chrysophycean flagellate. The four fractions correspond to low molecular-weight materials, lipids, polysaccharides, and proteins, respectively. Quantitative measurements of lipids, polysaccharides, and proteins in solvent fractions show this extraction scheme readily isolated lipids and, to a lesser extent, proteins; polysaccharides were not quantitatively recovered by a single solvent in any of three methods examined. Four hours was usually sufficient to achieve a constant proportion of 14 C in the solvent fractions. Dinoflagellates had relatively less 14 C in perchloric acid-soluble material, and more 14 C in particulate material, than the diatom or chrysophycean flagellate; this pattern may be the result of large amounts of labelled, nonextractable structural material in the dinoflagellates or other biochemical differences between dinoflagellates and other phytoplankton. The proportion of 14 C in dinoflagellate CHCl 3 -soluble and particulate material approximated that estimated as cellular lipid-carbon and protein-carbon; polysaccharide-carbon, however, was not proportional to that in TCA-soluble material. The partitioning of 14 C in marine phytoplankton reflects the time of incubation and the solubility of cellular polymers in solvents, as well as the cell environment. All three factors should be considered when relating the 14 C distribution of natural populations to environmental influences.
The role of forget-cue salience in list-method directed forgetting

Research suggests that manipulating the wording of the forget cue in list-method directed forgetting affects the magnitude of directed forgetting both in younger children (Aslan, Staudigl, Samenieh, & Bauml, in press) and in older adults (Sahakyan, Delaney, & Goodmon, 2008). This occurs when the forget cue overemphasises the importance of forgetting in the current context. The present experiment investigated whether de-emphasising forgetting affected the magnitude of list-method directed forgetting in college adults. Some participants received overt forget cues that explicitly instructed them to forget earlier studied items, whereas others received covert forget cues that implied forgetting by emphasising selective remembering (e.g., "you will only need to remember some of the items"). Results indicated equivalent directed forgetting for both types of cues. However, regardless of the type of cue received, participants who reported using specific forgetting strategies in response to the forget cue showed directed forgetting, whereas those that reported doing nothing did not show any effects. The results underscore that successful directed forgetting requires engagement of controlled processes.
Effects of Regional Myocardial Lidocaine Infusion on High Energy Phosphates

Abstract High energy phosphates [phosphocreatine (PCr) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP)] are maintained in the heart under conditions of altered myocardial contractility and under certain conditions of myocardial ischemia (such as hibernating myocardium). However, the metabolic consequences of reduced regional contractility have not been investigated. This study was designed to test the hypotheses that (1) under conditions of normal blood flow, reduction in regional contractility does not result in changes in PCr or ATP and (2) under conditions of reduced blood flow, reduction in regional contractility prevents the expected decline in high energy phosphates usually seen in regional ischemia. An in situ open chest swine preparation was used in which regional contractility was reduced with the administration of intracoronary lidocaine. High energy phosphates were measured using phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) under conditions of normal flow and reduced flow. Intracoronary lidocaine infusion in 9 animals did not change blood flow from basal levels, but significantly reduced regional segment shortening from 0.16 ± 0.02 to 0.02 ± 0.01. The ratio of PCr/ATP did not change with lidocaine infusion (control: 1.53 ± 0.09; lidocaine: 1.59 ± 0.11), but oxygen content in the anterior interventricular vein increased from 8.25 ± 0.69 to 9.83 ± 0.91 ml/O 2 /100 ml blood in parallel studies ( P = 0.04). While the lidocaine infusion was maintained, subsequent coronary stenosis significantly reduced subendocardial blood flow from 0.91 ± 0.06 to 0.41 ± 0.06 ml/min/g without significantly altering high energy phosphates (PCr/ATP = 1.51 ± 0.15). In contrast to the 29% decline in PCr previously seen with regional ischemia, PCr was unchanged with this degree of flow reduction in the presence of lidocaine. Thus, PCr and ATP are unchanged under conditions of reduced contractility, consistent with equilibrium of energy synthesis and utilization. In addition, factors which reduce myocardial contractility, either pharmacologically or endogenously, protect against the metabolic consequences of reduced flow by reducing MVO 2 .
Failure of cholecystokinin antagonists to modify the discriminative stimulus effects of cocaine.

Abstract Enhancement of brain dopamine (DA) activity is believed to be an important mechanism underlying the discriminative stimulus effects of cocaine in animals and the subjective effects of cocaine in people. Cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors, which are colocalized with DA receptors in several brain regions, have been implicated as modulators of DA activity, leading to speculation that CCK-based drugs might be developed as therapeutics for cocaine abuse. In the present study, the effects of cocaine alone and after pretreatment with the selective CCK A antagonist devazepide and the selective CCK B antagonist CI 988 were determined in squirrel monkeys trained to discriminate cocaine (1.0 mg/kg) from saline. When tested alone, cocaine engendered dose-related increases in the percentage of cocaine-appropriate responses, reaching virtually exclusive responding on the cocaine-associated lever after doses of 1.0 mg/kg or greater. Pretreatment with a wide range of doses of either devazepide (0.01–3.0 mg/kg) or CI 988 (0.3–30 mg./kg) did not systematically alter the discriminative stimulus effects of any dose of cocaine. The results do not support a role for CCK antagonists in the pharmacotherapy of cocaine abuse.
Hop-Distance Estimation in Wireless Sensor Networks with Applications to Resources Allocation

We address a fundamental problem in wireless sensor networks, how many hops does it take a packet to be relayed for a given distance? For a deterministic topology, this hop-distance estimation reduces to a simple geometry problem. However, a statistical study is needed for randomly deployed WSNs. We propose a maximum-likelihood decision based on the conditional pdf of . Due to the computational complexity of , we also propose an attenuated Gaussian approximation for the conditional pdf. We show that the approximation visibly simplifies the decision process and the error analysis. The latency and energy consumption estimation are also included as application examples. Simulations show that our approximation model can predict the latency and energy consumption with less than half RMSE, compared to the linear models.
Beta-arrestin Biased Agonism/Antagonism at Cardiovascular Seven Transmembrane-spanning Receptors

Heptahelical, G protein-coupled or seven transmembrane-spanning receptors, such as the β-adrenergic and the angiotensin II type 1 receptors, are the most diverse and therapeutically important family of receptors in the human genome, playing major roles in the physiology of various organs/tissues including the heart and blood vessels. Ligand binding activates heterotrimeric G proteins that transmit intracellular signals by regulating effector enzymes or ion channels. G protein signaling is terminated, in large part, by phosphorylation of the agonist-bound receptor by the G-protein coupled receptor kinases (GRKs), followed by βarrestin binding, which uncouples the phosphorylated receptor from the G protein and subsequently targets the receptor for internalization. As the receptor-βarrestin complex enters the cell, βarrestin-1 and -2, the two mammalian βarrestin isoforms, serve as ligand-regulated scaffolds that recruit a host of intracellular proteins and signal transducers, thus promoting their own wave of signal transduction independently of G-proteins. A constantly increasing number of studies over the past several years have begun to uncover specific roles played by these ubiquitously expressed receptor adapter proteins in signal transduction of several important heptahelical receptors regulating the physiology of various organs/ systems, including the cardiovascular (CV) system. Thus, βarrestin-dependent signaling has increasingly been implicated in CV physiology and pathology, presenting several exciting opportunities for therapeutic intervention in the treatment of CV disorders. Additionally, the discovery of this novel mode of heptahelical receptor signaling via βarrestins has prompted a revision of classical pharmacological concepts such as receptor agonism/antagonism, as well as introduction of new terms such as "biased signaling", which refers to ligand-specific activation of selective signal transduction pathways by the very same receptor. The present review gives an overview of the current knowledge in the field of βarrestin-dependent signaling, with a specific focus on CV heptahelical receptor βarrestin-mediated signaling and on "biased" CV heptahelical receptor ligands that promote or inhibit it. Exciting new possibilities for cardiovascular therapeutics arising from the delineation of this βarrestin-dependent signaling are also discussed.
Right-sided neglect in a left-hander: Evidence for reversed hemispheric specialization of attention capacity

Severe hemi-spatial neglect, anosognosia, contralateral hypokinesia, aprosodia, and visual-spatial constructive difficulties--typically seen in right-handers with right hemisphere lesions--were observed in a left-handed patient with an acute left frontal cortical and subcortical infarct. There was no evidence of accompanying aphasia and the neglect syndrome gradually resolved over a 2-week period. The assumption by the left hemisphere of a classic right hemisphere attention, visuo-spatial and prosodic superiority may represent a case of reversed hemispheric specialization.
Infrared spectra of carbon monoxide on evaporated nickel films: A low temperature thermal detection technique

Abstract A novel thermal detection scheme has been developed and combined with the techniques of rapid scan Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to make sensitive, high resolution measurements of the vibrational spectrum of carbon monoxide molecules on evaporated nickel films. Adsorbed molecules are detected by attaching a germanium resistance thermometer to the sample, cooling the assembly to liquid helium temperatures, and measuring the temperature changes which occur when infrared radiation is absorbed. Spectra are presented for a range of CO coverages on an evaporated nickel film and a film damaged by ion bombardment. The positions, shapes, and intensities of the spectral lines from linear and bridge bonded CO molecules give information about the surface structure of the metal films and about the different ordered phases of the adsorbed molecules.
Abstract No. 239: Magnetic resonance imaging biomarkers predicting survivals after doxorubicin drug eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB TACE) in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

lesion was also segmented using a semi automatic segmentation software to provide 3D volumetric ADC and 3D volumetric enhancement in hepatic arterial (HAP) and portal venous phases (PVP). AFP levels (patients with baseline AFP 200ng/mL) were also utilized for assessing response. Overall patient Survival (OS) from the date of first treatment was used as primary endpoint. Statistical analysis include kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Overall median survival for 141 patients with HCC was 20.7 months (76 deaths, 54%). Responders survived longer than nonresponders based on EASL (HR 0.39, p 0.008), 25% increase in volumetric ADC (HR 0.39, p 0.001), 50% decrease in volumetric enhancement in PVP (HR 0.35, p 0.001) and 15% decrease in AFP (HR 0.32, p 0.003), but not based on RECIST, mRECIST, decrease in tumor volume or HAP assessed 3-4 weeks after TACE. Decrease in AFP could only be analyzed in a subset of 55 (39%) patients, since the remaining 86 (61%) patients had normal AFP levels at baseline. In Multivariate analysis 25% increase in ADC and 50% decrease in PVP more consistently predicted survival times than EASL or AFP decrease. Conclusion: Treatment response by volumetric functional ADC and CE-MR in PVP consistently predicted patient survival early (3-4 weeks) post treatment and could be used as oncologic imaging biomarkers of early treatment response, progression and survival.
Acquired VLDL receptor deficiency in experimental nephrosis

Acquired VLDL receptor deficiency in experimental nephrosis. Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is commonly associated with elevation of plasma very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and triglyceride concentrations. VLDL receptor (VLDL-R) is a novel protein that specifically binds and internalizes VLDL particles and is primarily distributed in heart, skeletal muscle, brain and adipose tissue. Based on these properties, VLDL-R is thought to play a role in VLDL and triglyceride metabolism. The present study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that elevation of plasma VLDL in NS may be, in part, related to VLDL-R deficiency. To this end, heart and skeletal muscle VLDL-R protein (Western blot) and mRNA (Northern blot) were measured at various points in the course of puromycin-induced NS in rats. The results were compared with those obtained in the placebo-treated normal control animals. The NS group showed a significant decline in VLDL-R protein (relative to total plasma membrane protein mass) in the heart and skeletal muscle paralleling the rise in plasma VLDL and triglyceride concentrations. The fall in VLDL-R protein was accompanied by a parallel decline in VLDL-R mRNA in the heart but not skeletal muscle. VLDL-R protein was directly related to proteinuria and inversely related to plasma VLDL and triglyceride concentrations. In conclusion, puromycin-induced NS in rats is associated with profound reduction in heart and skeletal muscle VLDL receptor protein. Acquired VLDL-R deficiency, shown for the first time here, may contribute to elevation of plasma concentration of triglyceriderich VLDL in the nephrotic rat. Recognition of this abnormality reveals another dimension of the complex dysregulation of lipid metabolism in NS. The precise mechanism responsible for NS-induced VLDL-R deficiency in this model is not clear and awaits further investigation.
Pulmonary Heart Disease: Clinical—Physiologic Variants

SUMMARY The pulmonary heart disease syndrome is a multiform complex whose evolution is determined by the natural history of the underlying disorders. It should be recognized that considerable physiologic derangement may long precede the clinical evidence of heart failure and that the recognition of this fact has significant therapeutic implications. The development of the syndrome is essentially determined by the interplay of physiologic factors such as hypoxia, pulmonary arteriolar resistance and cardiac output, acting upon varying degrees of established curtailment in the effective areas of the pulmonary vascular bed. Some highlights in therapy are discussed.
Synthesis of an 11-deoxypretetramide derivative

Abstract A short and efficient synthesis of the 4-oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid derivative ( 13a ) is described. This synthon may be converted to the dihydronaphthacenone derivative ( 18 ) in a regiocontrolled manner in only two steps using condensation with 2,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde followed by intramolecular acylation. The enol form of the dihydronaphthacenone, ( 20 ) corresponds to a derivative of 11-deoxypretetramide.
Use of a purified heterodimer to test negative cooperativity as the basis of substrate inactivation of Escherichia coli thymidylate synthase (Asn177→ASP)

Abstract Background Thymidylate synthase (TS) converts deoxyuridylate to thymidylate, an essential DNA precursor. Replacement of Asn177 with aspartate (Asn177→ Asp) in Escherichia coli TS creates a novel ability to methylate 2′-deoxycytidylate (dCMP). The dCMP-methylase activity of TS(Asn177→Asp) is transiently inactivated by reaction with deoxyuridylate and methylene-tetrahydrofolate, the methyl donor. We have tested the possibility that the inactivation is due to negative cooperativity, created in the TS dimer by the Asn177→Asp mutation. Results A heterodimeric form of TS, containing one wild type and one Asn177→Asp active site, was created to test for negative cooperativity. Substrate inactivation still occurred, even with the mutation present at only one active site. Conclusions Inactivation of TS(Asn177→Asp) by deoxyuridylate is not due to negative cooperativity created by the mutation. The ‘artificial isozyme' method we have developed for purifying heterodimers away from the progenitor homodimers is generally applicable to other hetero-oligomeric proteins.
Purified human BRCA2 stimulates RAD51-mediated recombination

Mutation of the breast cancer susceptibility gene, BRCA2, leads to breast and ovarian cancers. Mechanistic insight into the functions of human BRCA2 has been limited by the difficulty of isolating this large protein (3,418 amino acids). Here we report the purification of full-length BRCA2 and show that it both binds RAD51 and potentiates recombinational DNA repair by promoting assembly of RAD51 onto single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). BRCA2 acts by targeting RAD51 to ssDNA over double-stranded DNA, enabling RAD51 to displace replication protein-A (RPA) from ssDNA and stabilizing RAD51-ssDNA filaments by blocking ATP hydrolysis. BRCA2 does not anneal ssDNA complexed with RPA, implying it does not directly function in repair processes that involve ssDNA annealing. Our findings show that BRCA2 is a key mediator of homologous recombination, and they provide a molecular basis for understanding how this DNA repair process is disrupted by BRCA2 mutations, which lead to chromosomal instability and cancer.
Boreal temperature variability inferred from maximum latewood density and tree-ring width data, Wrangell Mountain region, Alaska

Variations in both width and density of annual rings from a network of tree chronologies were used to develop high-resolution proxies to extend the climate record in the Wrangell Mountain region of Alaska. We developed a warm-season (July–September) temperature reconstruction that spans A.D. 1593–1992 based on the first eigenvector from principal component analysis of six maximum latewood density (MXD) chronologies. The climate/tree-growth model accounts for 51% of the temperature variance from 1958 to 1992 and shows cold in the late 1600s–early 1700s followed by a warmer period, cooling in the late 1700s–early 1800s, and warming in the 20th century. The 20th century is the warmest of the past four centuries. Several severely cold warm-seasons coincide with major volcanic eruptions. The first eigenvector from a ring-width (RW) network, based on nine chronologies from the Wrangell Mountain region (A.D. 1550–1970), is correlated positively with both reconstructed and recorded Northern Hemisphere temperatures. RW shows a temporal history similar to that of MXD by increased growth (warmer) and decreased growth (cooler) intervals and trends. After around 1970 the RW series show a decrease in growth, while station data show continued warming, which may be related to increasing moisture stress or other factors. Both the temperature history based on MXD and the growth trends from the RW series are consistent with well-dated glacier fluctuations in the Wrangell Mountains and some of the temperature variations also correspond to variations in solar activity.
Wrist injuries: correlation of clinical and arthroscopic findings.

Abstract Wrist arthroscopy was done for one hundred nine patients with chronic wrist pain, averaging 22.8 months in duration. History regarding mechanism of injury, painful crepitus, pain with activity or at rest, localization of tenderness, visible swelling, and instability with examination was compared with arthroscopic findings of ligament damage, artilage, damage, and synovitis. Both pain at rest and swelling correlated significantly with synovitis. Tenderness did not correlate with specific ligament injury. Wrist ligament injuries and/or cartilage damage were noted in 96.3% of these wrists. Ligament injuries were frequently multiple, averaging 2.6 ligament injuries per wrist. No significant association was found between the presence of chondromalacia, synovitis, or specific ligament tears and the mechanism of injury, duration of symptoms, presence of clicking, or pain with activity.
Language design for distributed objects

The fundamental ideas of distributed objects have changed little in the last 20 years. Existing languages are retrofitted with transparent distribution mechanisms based on proxies. Experiments with mobile code demonstrate its power but have little impact on practice. The problems with transparency and mobile code have been well known since at least 1994. But in the absence of any fundamental new ideas, the same problematic approaches are used, for example in the design of Java RMI. In this essay we discuss a new programming construct called Remote Batch Invocation (RBI). A batch is a code block that combines remote and local execution over fine-grained object interfaces, but is executed by partitioning and remote evaluation. Remote Batch Invocation effectively addresses the shortcomings of transparent distribution with a controlled form of mobile code. Our experience leads us to believe that distribution cannot be implemented as a library, but requires specific language support. Viewing distribution as a language design problem represents a revolutionary step in the development of distributed objects.
Mapping the decision points and climate information use of agricultural producers across the U.S. Corn Belt

Abstract The usefulness of climate information for agricultural risk management hinges on its availability and relevance to the producer when climate-sensitive decisions are being made. Climate information providers are challenged with the task of balancing forecast availability and lead time with acceptable forecast skill, which requires an improved understanding of the timing of agricultural decision making. Achieving a useful balance may also require an expansion of inquiry to include use of non-forecast climate information (i.e. historical climate information) in agricultural decision making. Decision calendars have proven valuable for identifying opportunities for using different types of climate information. The extent to which decision-making time periods are localized versus generalized across major commodity-producing regions is yet unknown, though, which has limited their use in climate product development. Based on a 2012 survey of more than 4770 agricultural producers across the U.S. Corn Belt region, we found variation in the timing of decision-making points in the crop year based on geographic variation as well as crop management differences. Many key decisions in the cropping year take place during the preceding fall and winter, months before planting, raising questions about types of climate information that might be best inserted into risk management decisions at that time. We found that historical climate information and long term climate outlooks are less influential in agricultural risk management than current weather, short term forecasts, or monthly climate projections, even though they may, in fact, be more useful to certain types of decision making.
Lipopolysaccharide activates endothelial nitric oxide synthase through protein tyrosine kinase.

Vascular endothelial cell injury or activation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of endotoxin shock. However, the effect of LPS on NO production from vascular endothelial cells (ECs) is incompletely understood. In this study, bovine coronary venular ECs were treated with LPS and the release of NO and expression of the endothelial NO synthase (ecNOS) were examined. We found that the ecNOS activity is transiently enhanced by LPS within the time scale of about 10 h due to the interplay between two LPS-induced mechanisms. Within the first 10 h of LPS treatment, the specific activity of ecNOS is increased by a post-translational modification mediated through a protein tyrosine kinase cascade. After about 10 h of treatment, however, LPS destabilizes the transcript of ecNOS and thus decreased the expression level and total activity.
Isolated Skull Fractures: Trends in Management in US Pediatric Emergency Departments

Study objective Previous studies have suggested that children with isolated skull fractures are at low risk of requiring neurosurgical intervention, suggesting that admission to the hospital may not be necessary in many instances. We seek to evaluate current practice for children presenting to the emergency department (ED) for isolated skull fractures in US children's hospitals. Methods We conducted a retrospective multicenter cross-sectional study of children younger 19 years with a diagnosis of isolated skull fracture who were evaluated in the ED from 2005 to 2011, using the Pediatric Health Information System database. The primary outcome measure was the rate of hospital admission. Secondary outcomes were any neurosurgical procedure during hospitalization, repeated neuroimaging, duration of hospitalization, and cost of care. Results We identified 3,915 patients with isolated skull fractures, of whom 60% were male patients; 78% were hospitalized. Of hospitalized children, 85% were discharged within 1 day and 95% were discharged within 2 days. During hospitalization, 47 patients received repeated computed tomography imaging and 1 child required a neurosurgical procedure. Hospital costs were more than triple for hospitalized patients compared with patients discharged from the ED ($2,064 versus $619). Conclusion Most children treated in EDs of US children's hospitals with isolated skull fractures are hospitalized. The rate of neurosurgical intervention is very low. A better understanding of current practice is necessary to assess whether these admissions are warranted or not.
Where do we go from here? Clinical drug development in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Despite the recent success of the nintedanib and pirfenidone programmes [1, 2], idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) remains a high-risk disease area for drug development. There are no adequate preclinical models in which to test potential compounds, and no established early clinical development pathway on which to make quick decisions regarding potential efficacy [3]. The historical approach in IPF of moving compounds directly from phase 1 safety and tolerability studies into large phase 2 studies with clinical end-points required major commitments from sponsors and research subjects. Now, with effective therapies reducing the frequency and responsiveness of clinical end-points, sponsors may decide that IPF is too costly a disease to invest in. Efficient IPF drug development is needed to ensure unmet medical need isn't overshadowed by scientific/financial risk
Optoelectronically-pulsed antennas: characterization and applications

A brief tutorial on the picosecond photoconductive effect is given. The use of picosecond optoelectronics for the characterization of broadband antennas is described. In particular, the transient radiation properties of equiangular-spiral and exponentially tapered coplanar-strip antennas are discussed. The transient radiation behavior and the polarization and radiation patterns of these antennas are easily determined with this measurement technique, without the need for anechoic chambers. Applications of picosecond-duration transient electromagnetic radiation to filter measurements, materials measurements, and scattering studies are discussed. >
Indomethacin administration after temporary ischemia causes bowel necrosis in mice

Several reports have suggested indomethacin administration causes necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in infants. Few experimental studies have addressed this relationship. We studied the effects of indomethacin after temporary intestinal ischemia in CD-1 mice, using a previously reported method of simulating NEC in mice. This involved occlusion of both superior mesenteric vessels for 15 minutes. Three groups were studied. In group 1, 12 mice had superior mesenteric vessels occluded for 15 minutes, followed by intravenous (IV) administration of saline for three doses over 3 days. In group 2, 12 mice had sham laparotomy, without occlusion of vessels, followed by IV administration of indomethacin for three doses over 3 days. In group 3, 36 mice had mesenteric vessel occlusion for 15 minutes, followed by IV administration of indomethacin for three doses over 3 days. The results were as follows: group 1, bowel necrosis developed in 1 of 12 animals (8%); group 2, all 12 animals survived without bowel damage (0%); and group 3, 22 of 36 animals developed bowel necrosis (61%) (Fisher's Exact Test: occlusion alone v occlusion and indomethacin, P = .002; indomethacin alone v occlusion and indomethacin, P = .00015.) We conclude that whereas occlusion alone or indomethacin alone does not cause bowel necrosis, temporary intestinal occlusion followed by indomethacin causes bowel necrosis in over 60% of animals studied. In the shocked preterm infant who may have suffered temporary intestinal ischemia, administration of indomethacin may be the second step to development of NEC.
On the generation and maintenance of waves and turbulence in simulations of free-surface turbulence

One of the challenges in numerical simulation of wave-turbulence interaction is the precise setup and maintenance of wave and turbulence fields. In this paper, we investigate techniques for the generation and suppression of specific surface wave modes, the generation of turbulence in an inhomogeneous physical domain with a wavy boundary-fitted grid, and the generation and maintenance of waves and turbulence during the complex wave-turbulence interaction process. We apply surface pressure to generate and suppress waves. Based on the solution of linearized Cauchy-Poisson problem, we derive three pressure expressions, which lead to a @d-function method, a time-segment method, and a gradual method. Numerical experiments show that these methods generate waves as specified and eliminate spurious waves effectively. The nonlinear wave effect is accounted for with a time-relaxation method. For turbulence generation, we extend the linear forcing method to an inhomogeneous physical domain with a curvilinear computational grid. Effects of force distribution and computational grid distortion are examined. For wave-turbulence interaction, we develop an algorithm to instantaneously identify specific progressive and standing waves. To precisely control the wave amplitude in a complex turbulent flow field, we further develop an energy controlling method. Finally, a simulation example of wave-turbulence interaction is presented. Results show that turbulence has unique features in the presence of waves. Velocity fluctuations are found to be strongly dependent on the wave phase; variations of these fluctuations are explained by the pressure-strain correlation associated with the wave-induced strain field.
Differential PCR and DNA microarrays: the modern era of nutritional investigations.

The past century began on a positive note. The goal of learning the functions of the basic nutrients was deemed attainable. A basis for the optimism was the work of Funk, Goldberg, McCollum, and Hopkins. Their work showed that nutritional inadequacies caused serious human diseases. Such inadequacies were a bane to human health and well being, and ignorance of their cause was an affront to the fledgling science of nutrition. The consequence of omitting key nutrients from the diet occupied much of nutrition of the past. Indeed, well-designed deficiency studies discovered new nutrients and affirmed or eliminated those suspected of essentiality. Better ways to assess nutritional inadequacies were being developed to meet the challenges of clinical nutrition. As the biological complexities of the nutrients continued to grow, so did our imperative to develop new and better methods of diagnosing malnutrition. This century begins with an even stronger positive note. We now have the means to probe deep into the functions of the vitamin, minerals, and key dietary components that early pioneers have classified as essential to health. We have at our disposable methodology to tackle the challenge of assessing nutrient inadequacies in ways never thought of 100 or even 10 y ago. With its origins in biochemistry, nutrition has never hesitated to apply biochemical methodology to solve problems. Thus, many vitamin deficiencies have been linked to inactive enzymes and mineral deficiencies have been found to be at the root of bone loss, connective tissue weakness, stunted growth, and susceptibility to oxidants. Even today, the discovery of how the vitamins, minerals, essential amino acids, and fats blend into biochemical and physiologic processes is an ongoing challenge in nutrition. Investigations that were begun in the 20th century will continue as we seek solutions to these nutritional problems. The new millennium begins with remarkable advances in molecular biology and what nutritionists must recognize as unprecedented opportunities to advance our understanding of basic and aberrant nutrition. In this article, we will explore some of the newer methodologies that have emerged that promise to move nutritional understandings ahead rapidly. Differential polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA microarray technology are two techniques that are at the forefront.
The Impact on Behavior of Notifying Methadone Patients of Their HIV Serostatus

Questions have arisen about the implications of notifying drug abusers of their HIV serostatus. One major concern is that awareness of HIV infection would have a negative impact on abstinence from drug abuse. In order to ascertain the effects of serostatus notification, the authors reviewed the clinical records of 73 methadone patients who learned of their serostatus within 20 weeks after enrolling in the clinic and thereafter remained in treatment for at least 1 year. They found that, at serostatus notification, seropositive patients were more likely to be socially disadvantaged and were younger than the seronegatives at first opiate use. After serostatus notification, seropositives had more "fair hearings" for noncompliance with program norms and used more cocaine. Although the patients notified of HIV infection may have more behavioral problems, further research is needed to determine whether or not this reflects antecedent behavior patterns and drug use.
Deference and Friendship Patterns in Two Indian Municipal Councils

As part of a study of politics in two Indian cities, members of the municipal councils were asked to respond to sociometric items dealing with deference and friendship among members of these local bodies. An index of group cohesion was used to measure responses to these items in terms of two major variables in Indian political life: caste and party. While these variables appear to be important in the identification of friends, with party being slightly more important than caste, they seem less meaningful in matters of deference. An explanation for this disparity is proposed based on the characteristics of those who scored highest on the deference item. T he object of the present paper is to characterize the "web" of affiliations which exist among the elected members of two municipal corporations in India. The discussion will focus upon three dimensions of such relationships: caste; party membership; and what we will call "personal quali-
Jejunal uptake of tritiated folic acid in the rat studied by in vivo perfusion.

The jejunal uptake of tritiated folie acid was measured in male Wistar rats by in vivo perfusion. The uptake of 3H-folic acid was linear relative to concentra tions between 4 nM and l /UM,but between concentrations of l UM and 4.6 MM,uptake was similar, suggesting a saturable uptake process. A double reciprocal plot ( Lineweaver- Burk) yielded a fCâ€, value of 1.57 /IM with a Vâ€â€ value of 0.654 itmoles/cm/hour. Ex posure of the lumen to 11 /UMmethotrexate, an inhibitor of dihydrofolate reducA­ase, prior to and during perfusion of 1.1 /AM 3H-folic acid resulted in a significant decrease of jejunal dihydrofolate reducA­ase (folie acid reducA­ase, EC 1.5.1.3) with no change in the jejunal uptake of "H-folic acid. There was no observable difference in jejunal dihy drofolate reducA­ase nor of the uptake of "H-folic acid among rats fed normal diet, normal diet plus ethanol, a protein-deficient diet, or a protein-deficient diet plus ethanol. These studies suggest that the initial uptake of 3H-folic acid by the jejunal mucosa is rate limited between concentrations of 1 and 4.6 /IM, does not require metabolic reduc tion, and is not affected by protein deficiency or elhanol. J. Nulr. 104: 1674-1680, 1974.
Psychological Determinants of Voter Attitudes: Information Format and Personally-relevant Cost Estimates

Nous avons etudie la memorisation et les attitudes concernant des sujets complexes en utilisant des promesses electorates comme stimulus. Pour apprecier l'impact de la presentation de l'information, nous avons fait varier la forme de la promesse (presentation litteraire ou schematique) et l'information sur le cout (d'une part depense pour l'etat, d'autre part depense pour l'etat plus depense pour le foyer moyen). Comme prevu, quand un echantillon d'adultes (N = 129) lisait l'information schematique, la lecture etait beaucoup plus rapide, sans changement du nombre de faits memorises et sans modification des estimations de la comprehension des messages. Les sujets avaient plus de chances d'approuver une promesse quand seul le cout pour l'etat etait indique (et qu'on omettait de preciser qu'elle leur couterait personnellement entre $4 et $10 par an), mais ils se rememoraient davantage d'elements quand l'information sur le cout les concernait personnellement. Quoique ces resultats doivent etre consideres comme exploratoires, ils ont des implications importantes pour beaucoup de decisions de la vie quotidienne. We investigated memory for and attitudes towards complex topics using election bond propositions as stimulus passages. In order to examine the effect of information format, we varied the way the bond proposition was presented (prose and outline) and the way the cost information was provided (cost for the state and cost for the state plus cost for the average household). As expected, when a sample of adults (N = 129) read the information in outline format, they read the passages much more quickly, with no change in the number of facts recalled or in ratings of how well they comprehended the information. Subjects were less likely to endorse a bond proposition when they were told that it would cost them personally $4 to $10 per year in addition to information about the cost to the state than when given information only about costs to the state. Subjects also recalled more facts about the proposition when cost information was made personal. Although these findings need to be regarded as tentative, they have important implications for many real-world decisions.
A Histologic Study of the Width and Nature of Inter-radicular Spaces in Human Adult Pre-molars and Molars

Serial sections of jaw segments from a human post mortem population of 29 individuals providing 116 posterior interproximal sites were examined at the light microscopic level. Minimum inter-root distances at the locale of closest proximity ranged from more than 4 mm to less than 0.1 mm. They were located in the coronal third of pre-molars and mandibular first and second molars and the middle third of maxillary first molars and second molar interproximal spaces.Cancellous bone flanked by lamina dura was found between 89.6% of the teeth examined and was observed where inter-root distances exceeded 0.5 mm. At sites of less than 0.5 mm, cancellous bone was not observed, and, instead, adjacent laminae durae appeared fused (7.7%). Bone was not observed between root surfaces which were less than 0.3 mm apart, but in these instances the roots were connected by a periodontal ligament.
HLA-Binding Properties of Tumor Neoepitopes in Humans

Cancer genome sequencing has enabled the rapid identification of the complete repertoire of coding sequence mutations within a patient's tumor and facilitated their use as personalized immunogens. Although a variety of techniques are available to assist in the selection of mutation-defined epitopes to be included within the tumor vaccine, the ability of the peptide to bind to patient MHC is a key gateway to peptide presentation. With advances in the accuracy of predictive algorithms for MHC class I binding, choosing epitopes on the basis of predicted affinity provides a rapid and unbiased approach to epitope prioritization. We show herein the retrospective application of a prediction algorithm to a large set of bona fide T cell-defined mutated human tumor antigens that induced immune responses, most of which were associated with tumor regression or long-term disease stability. The results support the application of this approach for epitope selection and reveal informative features of these naturally occurring epitopes to aid in epitope prioritization for use in tumor vaccines.
The Classification of Muscle Dysmorphia

For some time, society’s emphasis on appearance has negatively affected women. Now we’re finding increasing numbers of men who are also overly dissatisfied with their bodies. This trend has led to a new disorder, muscle dysmorphia (MD), which is characterized by a preoccupation with muscularity accompanied by perceptual, affective, and behavioral components that interfere with daily activities. Currently, MD is not included in the DSM-IV, although it is purported to be a kind of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), which in turn is a somatoform disorder. This study investigated relationships among symptoms of MD and variables most relevant to a DSM classification of men who lift weights regularly. No relationship was found between MD and a measure of somatoform disorder. Instead, BDD, OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), body dissatisfaction, and hostility are the main predictors of MD. This suggests that MD is an OCD spectrum disorder, rather than a somatoform disorder.