cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of reflective practice in pharmacy.

Context There has been a considerable paradigm shift from a product-centred focus towards a patient-centered focus in pharmacy. Pharmaceutical care practice (Cipolle et al., 1998) can be seen as the latest proposal to transform the profession as mandated by most major professional associations in pharmacy. Pharmaceutical care is an innovative way of practicing pharmacy that has the potential to make drug-therapy safer, more effective, and more convenient for the patient. Even though pharmacists' time spent on customer communication has increased over time (Savage, 1999), this alone will not be sufficient to bring about a paradigm shift in view of what the pharmacist actually does to provide quality patient care. It appears equally important to reflect on how pharmacists practice pharmacy. Methods/objectives It is the aim of this discussion paper to argue for the importance of linking education and practice as a core part of the teaching of pharmaceutical care. Conclusion In order for pharmacists to partake in truly interdisciplinary health care teams and the profession of pharmacy to demonstrate its unique and indispensable contribution to quality health care, pharmacy curricula would teach toward reflective practice, be problem-based, be positioned in collaborative teams, and have an outside (authentic) focus.
Comparison of aerodynamically and model-derived roughness lengths (zo) over diverse surfaces, central Mojave Desert, California, USA

Abstract The vulnerability of dryland surfaces to wind erosion depends importantly on the absence or the presence and character of surface roughness elements, such as plants, clasts, and topographic irregularities that diminish wind speed near the surface. A model for the friction velocity ratio has been developed to account for wind sheltering by many different types of co-existing roughness elements. Such conditions typify a monitored area in the central Mojave Desert, California, that experiences frequent sand movement and dust emission. Two additional models are used to convert the friction velocity ratio to the surface roughness length (zo) for momentum. To calculate roughness lengths from these models, measurements were made at 11 sites within the monitored area to characterize the surface roughness element. Measurements included (1) the number of roughness species (e.g., plants, small-scale topography, clasts), and their associated heights and widths, (2) spacing among species, and (3) vegetation porosity (a measurement of the spatial distribution of woody elements of a plant). Documented or estimated values of drag coefficients for different species were included in the modeling. At these sites, wind-speed profiles were measured during periods of neutral atmospheric stability using three 9-m towers with three or four calibrated anemometers on each. Modeled roughness lengths show a close correspondence (correlation coefficient, 0.84–0.86) to the aerodynamically determined values at the field sites. The geometric properties of the roughness elements in the model are amenable to measurement at much higher temporal and spatial resolutions using remote-sensing techniques than can be accomplished through laborious ground-based methods. A remote-sensing approach to acquire values of the modeled roughness length is particularly important for the development of linked surface/atmosphere wind-erosion models sensitive to climate variability and land-use changes in areas such as the southwestern United States, where surface roughness has large spatial and temporal variations.
Simultaneous assessment of human brain functional hemodynamics by magnetic resonance and near-infrared imaging

Near-infrared spectroscopy is a relatively new imaging method, which can provide important information on concentrations of oxy-and deoxy-hemoglobin in cortical areas of the brain. We discuss the advantages of the integration of magnetic resonance and optical imaging techniques and present the results of our experimental study on the comparison of optical and fMRI signals obtained simultaneously on humans during functional activity and at rest. In all subjects we found a good collocation of the brain activity centers revealed by both methods. We also found a high temporal correlation between the BOLD signal (fMRI) and the deoxy-hemoglobin concentration (near-infrared spectroscopy) in the subjects who exhibited low fluctuations in superficial head tissues. The contamination of optical signals by superficial tissue layers urges applying algorithms of three-dimensional optical tomography.
GUIDO, a visual tool for retrieving documents

GUIDO (Graphical User Interface for Document Organization) uses an iconic interface to display large numbers of documents. The interface, whose emphasis is on the retrieval of information, reduces the dimensionality of vector space model to comprehensible two-dimensional distance display. The information hidden as the result of iconization and dimension reduction is displayed using several GUIDO tools. These include coordinations among multiple GUIDO displays. >
Design of a high resolution, monolithic crystal, PET/MRI detector with DOI positioning capability

We report on a high resolution, monolithic crystal PET detector design concept that provides depth of interaction (DOI) positioning within the crystal and is compatible for operation in a MRI scanner to support multimodal anatomic and functional imaging. Our design utilizes a novel sensor on the entrance surface (SES) approach combined with a maximum likelihood positioning algorithm. The sensor will be a two-dimensional array of micro-pixel avalanche photodiodes (MAPD). MAPDs are a new type of solid-state photodetector with Geiger mode operation that can provide signal gain similar to a photomltipiler tube (PMT). In addition, they can be operated in high magnetic fields to support PET/MR imaging. Utilizing a multi-step simulation process, we determined the intrinsic spatial resolution characteristics for a variety of detector configurations. The crystal was always modeled as a 48.8 mm by 48.8 mm by 15 mm monolithic slab of a lutetium-based scintillator. The SES design was evaluated via simulation for three different two-dimensional MAPD array sizes: 8×8 with 5.8×5.8 mm2 pads; 12×12 with 3.8×3.8mm2 pads; and 16×16 with 2.8×2.8 mm2 pads. To reduce the number of signal channels row-column summing readout was explored for the 12×12 and 16×16 channel array devices. The intrinsic spatial resolution for the 8x8 MAPD array is 0.88 mm FWHM in X and Y, and 1.83 mm FWHM in Z (i.e., DOI). Comparing the results versus using a conventional design with the photosensors on the backside of the crystal, an average improvement of ∼24% in X and Y and 20% in Z is achieved. The X, Y intrinsic spatial resolution improved to 0.66 mm and 0.65 mm FWHM for the 12×12 and 16×16 MAPDs using row-column readout. Using the 12×12 and 16×16 arrays also led to a slight improvement in the DOI positioning accuracy.
Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment of Pathogenic Vibrios in Marine Recreational Waters of Southern California

This study investigated the occurrence of three types of vibrios in Southern California recreational beach waters during the peak marine bathing season in 2007. Over 160 water samples were concentrated and enriched for the detection of vibrios. Four sets of PCR primers, specific for Vibrio cholerae, V. parahaemolyticus, and V. vulnificus species and the V. parahaemolyticus toxin gene, respectively, were used for the amplification of bacterial genomic DNA. Of 66 samples from Doheny State Beach, CA, 40.1% were positive for V. cholerae and 27.3% were positive for V. parahaemolyticus, and 1 sample (1.5%) was positive for the V. parahaemolyticus toxin gene. Of the 96 samples from Avalon Harbor, CA, 18.7% were positive for V. cholerae, 69.8% were positive for V. parahaemolyticus, and 5.2% were positive for the V. parahaemolyticus toxin gene. The detection of the V. cholerae genetic marker was significantly more frequent at Doheny State Beach, while the detection of the V. parahaemolyticus genetic marker was significantly more frequent at Avalon Harbor. A probability-of-illness model for V. parahaemolyticus was applied to the data. The risk for bathers exposed to recreational waters at two beaches was evaluated through Monte Carlo simulation techniques. The results suggest that the microbial risk from vibrios during beach recreation was below the illness benchmark set by the U.S. EPA. However, the risk varied with location and the type of water recreation activities. Surfers and children were exposed to a higher risk of vibrio diseases. Microbial risk assessment can serve as a useful tool for the management of risk related to opportunistic marine pathogens.
Stability and geometry of hydrogen‐bonded complexes of peptides

Observations of induced circular dichroism (CD) bands in chloroform solution demonstrate the formation of specific, asymmetric complexes of the aromatic ligands 2-pyridone and 2,6-dichlorobenzoic acid with cyclic dipeptides of the general formula cyclo(L-Pro-X). The induced CD changes sign with the configuration of X due to subtle influences of the side chain on the geometry of the complex. Computations of interaction energies suggest that a plausible model for the complex of an aromatic ligand with the -CONH- of the cis secondary amide is a nearly planar arrangement of six heavy atoms in a ring containing two hydrogen bonds. The observed CD is matched by that computed for a tilt of the aromatic ligand toward the side chain of X. Binding constants were determined from the induced CD as a function of ligand concentration. For dichlorobenzoic acid these are about 450m−1 for the secondary amide and 50m−1 for the tertiary amide. For pyridone the binding constant is about 45m−1 for either the secondary or tertiary amide. For comparison self-dimerization constants determined by vapor-pressure osmometry in chloroform solution at 25°C are 870, 350, 50, and 20m−1 for pyridone, benzoic acid, dichlorobenzoic acid, and cyclo(L-Pro-Gly), respectively.
The Impact of Applied Behavior Analysis on the Science of Behavior

Applied behavior analysis is increasing in popularity within the culture at large, the result of which has involved several socio-political developments in the field. This paper provides an overview of J. R. Kantor’s description of applied subsystems, as described in his text Interbehavioral Psychology (1958). In particular, the verification and exploitation aspects of applied subsystems are highlighted. The implications of this perspective for the discipline of behavior analysis are reviewed, and specifically, the dangers associated with an over-emphasis on application within the discipline are described. It is argued that adopting a systemic perspective highlights possible problems that may emerge within applied subsystems, whereby the development of such problems might be prevented or their impact made less severe.
Expression of the G-CSF receptor in monocytic cells is sufficient to mediate hematopoietic progenitor mobilization by G-CSF in mice

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), the prototypical mobilizing cytokine, induces hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) mobilization from the bone marrow in a cell-nonautonomous fashion. This process is mediated, in part, through suppression of osteoblasts and disruption of CXCR4/CXCL12 signaling. The cellular targets of G-CSF that initiate the mobilization cascade have not been identified. We use mixed G-CSF receptor (G-CSFR)–deficient bone marrow chimeras to show that G-CSF–induced mobilization of HSPCs correlates poorly with the number of wild-type neutrophils. We generated transgenic mice in which expression of the G-CSFR is restricted to cells of the monocytic lineage. G-CSF–induced HSPC mobilization, osteoblast suppression, and inhibition of CXCL12 expression in the bone marrow of these transgenic mice are intact, demonstrating that G-CSFR signals in monocytic cells are sufficient to induce HSPC mobilization. Moreover, G-CSF treatment of wild-type mice is associated with marked loss of monocytic cells in the bone marrow. Finally, we show that bone marrow macrophages produce factors that support the growth and/or survival of osteoblasts in vitro. Together, these data suggest a model in which G-CSFR signals in bone marrow monocytic cells inhibit the production of trophic factors required for osteoblast lineage cell maintenance, ultimately leading to HSPC mobilization.
Nicotine increases initial blood flow responses to local heating of human non‐glabrous skin

Nicotine affects the regulation of skin blood flow (SkBF), but the mechanisms involved are not well understood. We tested the hypothesis that acute exposure to nicotine inhibits both the initial neurally mediated component and the later sustained component of SkBF responses to local heating of non-glabrous skin in humans. SkBF (measured by laser-Doppler) responses to local heating of forearm skin from 32 to 42 degrees C were measured in 11 chronic smokers. Heating occurred at one site over 15 min (RAMP) and over 90 s (STEP) at another site, and was maintained for an additional 30 min. STEP heating was also applied to a site pretreated with bretylium via iontophoresis to inhibit noradrenergic neurotransmission. Responses were measured before and after acute administration of nicotine via cigarettes or nasal spray in two experimental sessions. Nicotine decreased resting skin blood flow (P < 0.05); this response was inhibited by bretylium. During RAMP, nicotine increased the initial SkBF at 42 degrees C (by approximately 12%, P < 0.05). For STEP, nicotine increased the initial peak response (by approximately 25%, P < 0.05), and decreased the sustained plateau value (by approximately 10%, P < 0.05). In skin pretreated with bretylium, the increase caused by nicotine in the initial peak value persisted, but the plateau value was not different from pre-nicotine. These data suggest that in abstinent cigarette smokers, nicotine augments initial responses to both gradual and rapid non-painful heating of non-glabrous skin by sensitizing the sensory nerves that mediate the axon reflex associated with rapid vasodilatation. In contrast, nicotine decreases SkBF responses to prolonged heating by activating noradrenergic nerves.
Control of mechanical stratigraphy on bed-restricted jointing and normal faulting: Eagle Ford Formation, south-central Texas

Outcrops of the middle Eagle Ford Formation in south-central Texas reveal well-developed joint networks in subhorizontal competent carbonate (chalk) beds and less well developed networks in interlayered incompetent calcareous mudrock beds. Northeast-striking bed-perpendicular joints in competent beds have the longest trace lengths and are abutted by northwest-striking joints. All observed joints terminate vertically in incompetent beds. Normal faults are common but less abundant than joints; dominantly dip north, northwest, or southeast; and are abutted by the joint sets and, thus, predated jointing. The faults cut multiple competent and incompetent beds, providing vertical connectivity across mechanical layering. Products of hybrid and shear failure, the dip of these faults is steep through competent beds and moderate through incompetent beds, resulting in refracted fault profiles with dilation and calcite precipitation along steep segments. Fluid inclusions in fault zone calcite commonly contain liquid hydrocarbons. Rare two-phase fluid inclusions homogenized between about (1) 40 and 58°C, and (2) 90 and 100°C, suggesting trapping of aqueous fluids at elevated temperatures and depths on the order of 2 km (6562 ft). Fluid inclusion and stable isotope geochemistry analyses suggest that faults transmitted externally derived fluids. These faults likely formed at depths equivalent to portions of the present-day oil and gas production from the Eagle Ford play in south Texas. Faults connect across layering and provide pathways for vertical fluid movement within the Eagle Ford Formation, in contrast to vertically restricted joints that produce bed-parallel fracture permeability. These observations elucidate natural fractures and induced hydraulic fracturing within the Eagle Ford Formation.
Using an interactive visual novel to promote patient empowerment through engagement

In this paper we describe a prototype of a serious game designed to improve hospital patients' confidence in managing their hospital stay. We present findings of an evaluation of our visual novel computer game by comparing it with traditional approaches to increasing patient empowerment and patient self-efficacy. The results indicated a significant effect of the type of intervention on improvement in empowerment, but only for participants with gaming experience or who achieved a high level of engagement in the game. This study provides evidence that games may outperform other types of health intervention under certain conditions.
The novel organic arsenical darinaparsin induces MAPK-mediated and SHP1-dependent cell death in T-cell lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma cells and human xenograft models.

Purpose: Darinaparsin (Zio-101) is a novel organic arsenical compound with encouraging clinical activity in relapsed/refractory T-cell lymphoma (TCL) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL); however, little is known about its mechanism of action. Experimental Design: TCL cell lines (Jurkat, Hut78, and HH) and HL cell lines (L428, L540, and L1236) were examined for in vitro cell death by MTT assay and Annexin V–based flow cytometry. Jurkat and L540-derived xenografts in SCID mice were examined for in vivo tumor inhibition and survival. Biologic effects of darinaparsin on the MAPK pathway were investigated using pharmacologic inhibitors, RNAi and transient transfection for overexpression for SHP1 and MEK. Results: Darinaparsin treatment resulted in time- and dose-dependent cytotoxicity and apoptosis in all TCL and HL cell lines. In addition, darinaparsin had more rapid, higher, and sustained intracellular arsenic levels compared with arsenic trioxide via mass spectrometry. In vivo experiments with Jurkat (TCL) and L540 (HL)-derived lymphoma xenografts showed significant inhibition of tumor growth and improved survival in darinaparsin-treated SCID mice. Biologically, darinaparsin caused phosphorylation of ERK (and relevant downstream substrates) primarily by decreasing the inhibitory SHP1 phosphatase and coimmunoprecipitation showed significant ERK/SHP1 interaction. Furthermore, ERK shRNA knockdown or constitutive overexpression of SHP1 resulted in increased apoptosis, whereas cotreatment with pharmacologic MEK inhibitors resulted in synergistic cell death. Conversely, SHP1 blockade (via pharmacologic inhibition or RNAi) and MEK constitutive activation decreased darinaparsin-related cell death. Conclusions: Altogether, these data show that darinaparsin is highly active in HL and TCL and its activity is dependent primarily on MAPK mechanisms. Clin Cancer Res; 20(23); 6023–33. ©2014 AACR .
Crystal Structure and Solid-state Behavior of Aspirin Anhydride Crystals

The crystal structure and solid-state behavior of aspirin anhydride were determined using single-crystal X-ray techniques and microscopic examination of the reacting crystals. The crystal structure and solid-state conformation of aspirin anhydride were similar to those of related compounds. The crystal packing of aspirin anhydride allows the initial product of the solid-state reaction to be predicted; however, this prediction could not be tested because the thermal degradation products reported in the literature appear to be those obtained from reaction in a liquid state.
Development and testing of a decision aid on goals of care for advanced dementia.

Abstract Objectives Decision aids are effective to improve decision-making, yet they are rarely tested in nursing homes (NHs). Study objectives were to (1) examine the feasibility of a goals of care (GOC) decision aid for surrogate decision-makers (SDMs) of persons with dementia; and (2) to test its effect on quality of communication and decision-making. Design Pre-post intervention to test a GOC decision aid intervention for SDMs for persons with dementia in NHs. Investigators collected data from reviews of resident health records and interviews with SDMs at baseline and 3-month follow-up. Setting Two NHs in North Carolina. Participants Eighteen residents who were over 65 years of age, had moderate to severe dementia on the global deterioration scale (5, 6, or 7), and an English-speaking surrogate decision-maker. Intervention (1) GOC decision aid video viewed by the SDM and (2) a structured care plan meeting between the SDM and interdisciplinary NH team. Measurements Surrogate knowledge, quality of communication with health care providers, surrogate-provider concordance on goals of care, and palliative care domains addressed in the care plan. Results Eighty-nine percent of the SDMs thought the decision aid was relevant to their needs. After viewing the video decision aid, SDMs increased the number of correct responses on knowledge-based questions (12.5 vs 14.2; P Conclusions The decision-support intervention piloted in this study was feasible and relevant for surrogate decision-makers of persons with advanced dementia in NHs, and it improved quality of communication between SDM and NH providers. A larger randomized clinical trial is underway to provide further evidence of the effects of this decision aid intervention.
Deep Sea Carbonates: Acoustic, Physical, and Stratigraphic Properties

ABSTRACT An examination of the relationship between acoustic, stratigraphic and physical properties of deep-sea carbonates from the eastern equatorial Pacific revealed that variations in acoustic impedance are almost entirely controlled by changes in saturated bulk density (or its inverse, porosity). Velocity changes are very small. Saturated bulk density changes are highly correlated with variations in percent calcium carbonate. High carbonate samples are dominated by high density platy carbonate material while low carbonate material is dominated by low density spiny siliceous microfossils. Stratigraphic control was achieved through: (1) comparison of the downcore variations in percent carbonate with the carbonate curves of well-dated cores (e.g., RC11-209), (2) stratigraphy of Pulleniatin coiling directions, (3) radiolarian zonation, (4) the extinction of P. lacunosa, and (5) last appearance of discoasters. Sedimentation rates in the area studied are found as 6.17 meters per million years for the last 700,000 years and 4.15 meters per million years before that time. The oxygen isotope record provided the final evidence linking the acoustic properties to the paleo-oceanographic record. Variations in saturated bulk density (or its inverse, porosity) that account for the changes in acoustic impedance are ultimately caused by climatic changes. Warm periods were times of enhanced dissolution which caused low percent carbonate and low saturated bulk density (and therefore low impedance) values. The opposite is true for cold periods. These climatic cycles can be matc ed with glacials and interglacials for the past one million years, but have also occurred before the advent of Pleistocene glaciation. Thus the acoustic record of equatorial carbonates contains a strong paleo-oceanographic signal.
NURR1, AN ORPHAN NUCLEAR RECEPTOR, IS A TRANSCRIPTIONAL ACTIVATOR OF ENDOGENOUS TYROSINE HYDROXYLASE IN NEURAL PROGENITOR CELLS DERIVED FROM THE ADULT BRAIN

Adult rat-derived hippocampal progenitor cells express many of the molecules implicated in midbrain dopaminergic determination, including FGF receptors 1, 2 and 3, the sonic hedgehog receptor components Smo and Ptc, and the region-specific transcription factors Ptx3 and Nurr1. Here we use undifferentiated progenitors to probe the events leading to the dopaminergic phenotype and find that the influences of Nurr1 can be temporally and mechanistically uncoupled from the patterning influences of sonic hedgehog and FGF-8 or the more generic process of neuronal differentiation itself. In gain-of-function experiments, Nurr1 is able to activate transcription of the tyrosine hydroxylase gene by binding a response element within a region of the tyrosine hydroxylase promoter necessary for midbrain-specific expression. This activation is mediated through a retinoid X receptor independent mechanism and occurs in all precursors, regardless of differentiation status. Overexpression of Nurr1 does not affect proliferation or stimulate neuronal differentiation and has no influence on the expression of other dopaminergic markers. This uncoupling of tyrosine hydroxylase expression from other dopaminergic markers suggests that the midbrain dopaminergic identity is dictated by a combination of pan-dopaminergic (e.g., Shh/FGF-8) and region-specific (Nurr1) mechanisms.
Daydreams, Stress and Burn-out in Women Mental Health Workers: A Preliminary Clinical Report:

This study examined the effects of an intensive stress-reduction program on changes in daydreams and levels of burn-out in twenty-seven women mental health workers who participated in two weekend conferences followed by monthly support groups. The study measured the effectiveness of intervention by evaluating changes in stress and daydreaming prior to and upon completion of the program. As hypothesized, participants showed lower levels of exhaustion and depersonalization and a fear of failure. There was a positive relationship between achievement-oriented daydreams and attendance at meetings. Results were interpreted in terms of the effect of structured intervention in affecting positive daydreams and preventing burn-out.
Pulse labeling of dissolved 13C-carbonate into tree xylem: developing a new method to determine the fate of recently fixed photosynthate

Stable carbon isotopes are often employed as tracers in plant and soil systems to study the fate and transformations of carbon as is it assimilated by the forest canopies and then translocated into the soil matrix and soil microorganisms. This experiment tested a new method of 13C-labeling. We dissolved 13C-carbonate into 12 mL of water and injected it into the xylem of a 6-cm diameter tree. The isotopic composition of foliage, stem CO2, and phloem contents were measured before the experiment and up to two weeks after the pulse label. Isotopic enrichments of 6.1‰ and 7.7‰ were observed in stem CO2 and phloem contents, respectively. No enrichment in bulk foliage was observed. The pulse came through the phloem five days after the label was injected, consistent with expectations based on transport rates through the tree. The application of this xylem pulse-labeling method may provide new insights into labile carbon sequestration in trees, perhaps even in much larger trees. Furthermore, the method could be applied under experimental treatments that would elucidate the mechanisms controlling the fate and transformation of recently fixed photosynthate in forests. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Faceted Visualization of Three Dimensional Neuroanatomy By Combining Ontology with Faceted Search

In this work, we present a faceted-search based approach for visualization of anatomy by combining a three dimensional digital atlas with an anatomy ontology. Specifically, our approach provides a drill-down search interface that exposes the relevant pieces of information (obtained by searching the ontology) for a user query. Hence, the user can produce visualizations starting with minimally specified queries. Furthermore, by automatically translating the user queries into the controlled terminology our approach eliminates the need for the user to use controlled terminology. We demonstrate the scalability of our approach using an abdominal atlas and the same ontology. We implemented our visualization tool on the opensource 3D Slicer software. We present results of our visualization approach by combining a modified Foundational Model of Anatomy (FMA) ontology with the Surgical Planning Laboratory (SPL) Brain 3D digital atlas, and geometric models specific to patients computed using the SPL brain tumor dataset.
A Woman in Her 30s in Respiratory Distress With a History of Gestational Diabetes and Hypertension

Awoman in her 30s with a history of gestational diabetes and hypertension presented to the ED with respiratory distress. She had no known cardiac or pulmonary disease. Progressively worsen ing dyspnea, including exertional and nocturnal dysp nea, began 1 month prior to presentation. At that point, she had been diagnosed as having an upper respiratory infection with fevers. Two weeks prior to presentation, the patient was treated with antibiotics for possible sinusitis without improvement. The patient did not report chest pain at any time. In the ED her BP was 220/130 mm Hg, her heart rate was 140 beats/min, and her respiratory rate was
Genetic and pharmacological intervention of the p75NTR pathway alters morphological and behavioural recovery following traumatic brain injury in mice.

AbstractPrimary objective: Neurotrophin levels are elevated after TBI, yet there is minimal regeneration. It was hypothesized that the pro-neurotrophin/p75NTR pathway is induced more than the mature neurotrophin/Trk pathway and that interfering with p75 signalling improves recovery following TBI.Research design: Lateral Fluid Percussion (LFP) injury was performed on wildtype and p75 mutant mice. In addition, TrkB agonist 7,8 Dihydroxyflavone or p75 antagonist TAT-Pep5 were tested. Western blot and immunohistochemistry revealed biochemical and cellular changes. Morris Water Maze and Rotarod tests demonstrated cognitive and vestibulomotor function.Main outcomes and results: p75 was up-regulated and TrkB was down-regulated 1 day post-LFP. p75 mutant mice as well as mice treated with the p75 antagonist or the TrkB agonist exhibited reduced neuronal death and degeneration and less astrocytosis. The cells undergoing apoptosis appear to be neurons rather than glia. There was improved motor function and spatial l...
Digital Future for Paleoclimate Estimation from Fossil Leaves? Preliminary Results

Leaf size and shape are selected by climate and are strongly correlated with climatic variables. Accordingly, fossil dicotyledonous leaves are considered to be among the most reliable indicators of terrestrial paleoclimates. However, the methods used have much potential for improvement. All currently rely on discrete, usually binary characters, but leaf morphology is better evaluated and more reproducibly measured using continuous variables. Digital leaf measurement offers the possibility of continuous, reproducible variables, with the potential to improve paleoclimate estimates as well as the ecological and evolutionary understanding of leaf form. Results are reported for five variables measured on 238 leaves representing the woody species from three living test floras—two temperate and one humid tropical. The variables are: shape factor (an area:perimeter ratio standardized to a circle); the ratio of feret diameter (diameter if leaf’s area is contained in a circle) to major axis length; the ratio of tooth area to leaf area; tooth count; and tooth count standardized to leaf perimeter. It is well known that increased mean annual temperature is correlated with a high percentage of untoothed species. By extension, increasing temperature is expected to be associated with relatively undissected, more circular leaves (i.e., with high shape factor, low tooth-area:leaf-area ratio, and low tooth count). These trends were observed in the test floras, both between the tropical and the temperate sites and between the two temperate sites. Shape factor was the variable that resolved the three sites most significantly. The five variables show promise for testing on an expanded set of floras sufficient to develop statistical models for paleoclimatic studies.
Short-term exercise training alters responses of porcine femoral and brachial arteries

McAllister, Richard M., and M. Harold Laughlin.Short-term exercise training alters responses of porcine femoral and brachial arteries. J. Appl. Physiol. 82(5): 1438–1444, 1997.—The primary purpose ...
Defining world hunger: scale and neoliberal ideology in international food security policy discourse.

AbstractThrough a reading of policy texts centering upon food security published by the World Bank and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, I problematize the concept of food security by showing how its definition and its scale have changed over time. I use scale as an analytic frame to highlight how changing definitions of food security serve neoliberal ideology. The scaled definitions of food security move from an early emphasis upon the attainment of food security at the international and national levels to a micro-level focus upon households and gendered individuals. The most recent changes link individuals to global modalities of governance with an emphasis upon the instrumentality of agricultural productivity in economic development strategies. Considering the contested and dynamic construction of scale in relation to the changing definitions of international food security reveals the political and ideological dimensions of these dynamics and their contradictions with the material h...
Predicting New Friendships in Social Networks

Predicting new links in social networks is an important problem within the network analysis literature. Many existing methods consider a single snapshot of the network as input, neglecting an important aspect of these networks, their temporal evolution over time. In this paper, we incorporate temporal information to solve the link prediction problem. Temporal information comes from the past interactions among the nodes in the network. Using a supervised learning framework, we train a binary classifier which predicts potential new links in the network in the next epoch. Anonymized Facebook data of New Orleans' users over a period of 28 months has been used in this study. Specifically, we train decision tree classifiers and feedforward neural networks to predict new relationships that are going to emerge in the underlying network. Our experiments clearly show that these models when trained with temporal information perform better compared to models trained with no temporal information.
Significance of Loss of Serum Protein in Therapy of Severe Burns

That large amounts of blood plasma are lost into burned areas has long been known; its measurement, experimentally, has shown that it may be very extensive. It is also generally realized that it is the prime, if not the only factor in the blood concentration of burned patients. But its significance in therapy has not been sufficiently emphasized.In a series of 40 patients with severe burns, many of them fatal, the degree of blood concentration was roughly estimated by the erythrocyte count. It was found that very rapidly, often within an hour or two, the red cells increased with few exceptions to values of over 6,000,000 and in 2 cases to over 8,000,000 per cmm. Comparison of venous and capillary counts in many instances revealed significant differences only in the severe cases; in them, moreover, the counts often had to be made in venous blood because capillary blood was unobtainable. The blood was often so viscid that aspiration of a sufficient amount for chemical study even from a large vein was diffic...
Healthcare costs and outcomes for pediatric inpatients with bronchiolitis: comparison of urban versus rural hospitals.

We conducted a retrospective study to compare the quality and costs of care among rural and urban hospitals for low severity pediatric bronchiolitis admissions. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 2009 Kids’ Inpatient Database provided the data for analysis. Diagnosis and severity of illness levels were based on All Patient Refined Diagnosis-Related Groups (APR-DRG) of 138: bronchiolitis and respiratory syncytial virus pneumonia. We included the lowest severity of illness, as defined by APR-DRG severity classification, comprising 58.8% of all pediatric bronchiolitis discharges. The Institutional Review Boards of Sanford Health and Sanford School of Medicine approved this study (Sanford Health Project Number 03-12-001, meets exempt status; Sanford School of Medicine Project Number 2011.210; meets exempt status).
Effects of sire growth potential, growing-finishing strategy, and time on feed on performance, composition, and efficiency of steers.

Beef production systems that increase use of unharvested forages and use animals with greater potential for gain affect age and size of animals placed on a finishing regimen. This experiment was conducted to evaluate effects of genetic potential for gain, age at the start of a finishing period, and time on feed on composition, quantity, and quality of beef produced and efficiency of production during finishing. Crossbred cows were bred by AI to Charolais or Line 1 Hereford bulls that represented potentially high (HG) or moderate growth (MG) rates, respectively, to produce spring- or fall-born calves. Steer calves from these matings were placed on an individually fed finishing diet at three ages (A). Spring-born steers were started at 6 or 18 mo of age (A6 and A18), and fall-born steers were started at 12 mo of age (A12). Slaughter times (T) were at 0, 90, 180, and 270 d for A6; 68, 136, and 204 d for A12; and 0, 45, 90, and 135 d for A18. Data collected on each animal included feed intake, growth, chemical composition of the complete body and carcass, and quantitative and qualitative assessment of the meat produced. Four steers of each sire group were slaughtered in each of the 11 A-T treatment groups, and the experiment was repeated for 2 yr in the A12 groups and 3 yr in the A6 and A18 groups (n = 237). Steers sired by HG bulls were larger and produced larger carcasses and more carcass protein than MG-sired steers (S, P .2). Steers sired by HG bulls were more efficient at producing carcass weight and carcass protein at A12 and A18 than were MG-sired steers. At the end of the finishing period, older (A18), HG-sired steers were too large with insufficient fat by current industry standards, and younger (A6), MG-sired steers were too small. Our conclusions are that both HG- and MG-sired steers can produce acceptable carcasses for current market standards with comparable efficiencies of live-weight gain, but the growing and finishing strategy must be adapted to the genotype.
Social Accountability Across the Continuum of Medical Education: A Call for Common Missions for Professional, Accreditation, Certification, and Licensure Organizations

The Problem The production of physicians is a long, arduous, fragmented, and expensive process. The transitions of education from university premedical studies to medical school, from medical school to residency, and from residency to practice and continuous professional development have strict boundaries that are governed by distinct accreditation, licensing, and governing bodies. The process is not governed by a common goal of social accountability, and this contributes to a health care system that has worse than expected health care outcomes at high monetary costs. The educational debt load for new physicians is high, and duty hour regulations have caused residency programs to struggle to maintain comprehensive education for resident physicians. There is pressure to lengthen residency training; however, economic factors that affect physician specialty choice and workforce imbalance suggest that a more efficient and less lengthy continuum, particularly for primary care specialties, may be optimal for a physician workforce that will result in better system effectiveness, efficiency, and equity. Change in the continuum will likely occur through only two mechanisms: (1) financial incentive to change and (2) change in accreditation, certification or licensure requirements.
Bridging the gap between in vitro and in vivo RNA folding

Deciphering the folding pathways and predicting the structures of complex three-dimensional biomolecules is central to elucidating biological function. RNA is single-stranded, which gives it the freedom to fold into complex secondary and tertiary structures. These structures endow RNA with the ability to perform complex chemistries and functions ranging from enzymatic activity to gene regulation. Given that RNA is involved in many essential cellular processes, it is critical to understand how it folds and functions in vivo. Within the last few years, methods have been developed to probe RNA structures in vivo and genome-wide. These studies reveal that RNA often adopts very different structures in vivo and in vitro, and provide profound insights into RNA biology. Nonetheless, both in vitro and in vivo approaches have limitations: studies in the complex and uncontrolled cellular environment make it difficult to obtain insight into RNA folding pathways and thermodynamics, and studies in vitro often lack direct cellular relevance, leaving a gap in our knowledge of RNA folding in vivo. This gap is being bridged by biophysical and mechanistic studies of RNA structure and function under conditions that mimic the cellular environment. To date, most artificial cytoplasms have used various polymers as molecular crowding agents and a series of small molecules as cosolutes. Studies under such in vivo-like conditions are yielding fresh insights, such as cooperative folding of functional RNAs and increased activity of ribozymes. These observations are accounted for in part by molecular crowding effects and interactions with other molecules. In this review, we report milestones in RNA folding in vitro and in vivo and discuss ongoing experimental and computational efforts to bridge the gap between these two conditions in order to understand how RNA folds in the cell.
The Mass Media and the Dynamics of American Racial Attitudes: Eras of Racial Liberalism and Conservatism

People think about politics. Not often. Not systematically. But they do. – James A. Stimson (1991) The disagreements between those who trace the origins of racial policy preferences to ideological commitments and those who trace them to the presence or absence of prejudice are strong and long-standing. But those disagreements are not total. Adherents of both perspectives have traditionally found common ground in the belief that racial policy preferences are stable. To be sure, this agreement stems from varying sources. Those whose explanation for racial attitudes focuses on prejudice may assume that racial policy preferences are stable because prejudice itself is resistant to change, and scholars emphasizing the role of ideology assume that the ideological commitments that drive racial policy preferences are similarly inertial. But despite the fact that they agree for disagreeable reasons, there has been scholarly consensus on the stability of racial policy preferences. In fact, public-opinion researchers of all theoretical stripes have traditionally believed that racial policy preferences (along with political-party orientation) are among the most stable elements of a person's system of political beliefs. No other cluster of attitudes, it has been believed, approaches these two in terms of their lack of volatility. The spring from which all of this research flows is, again, the famous 1964 work of Philip Converse. But just how stable are policy preferences on race? A close look at the data in this chapter will reveal considerable fluctuation over the past half-century.
On Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics of Viscoelasticity and Viscoplasticity

The present paper considers macroscopic nonequilibrium thermodynamics of viscoelastic and viscoplastic materials where the nonlinear hereditary effects are accounted for by means of a set of internal variables. On the basis of: the energy balance equation, the assumption that a measurable empirical temperature exists at nonequilibrium states, and the fact that not all observable states in any given neighbourhood of a given state are adiabatically attainable, it is shown that, under some mild smoothness conditions (1) An empirical entropy exists at nonequilibrium states. (2) This entropy is extensive. (3) There exists an absolute temperature at nonequilibrium states, which depends on the empirical temperature only. (4) The entropy function serves as a potential in exactly the same manner as in the thermodynamics of equilibrium. (5) The entropy is not unique, inasmuch as it depends parametrically on the internal variables in a manner not deducible from the stated assumptions. (6) For materials with instantaneous elasticity, and certain other materials, the entropy function is monotone, say, nondecreasing, for all adiabatic transitions (which include transitions at constant strains and internal energy), so that the set of all entropy functions satisfies the Clausius—Planck inequality (note that this result is derived rather than assumed). (7) Because of (6), the set of entropy functions is convex and admits upper and lower bounds which can serve as entropy functions, thus rendering entropy unique. (8) Both of these bounds can serve as potentials in exactly the same manner as in (4), and hence these bounds can differ from entropy itself by additive functions of the internal variables only. The final part of the chapter examines a generalisation of the classical approach in which an explicit dissipative mechanism is assumed for a given class of materials.
Time-of-flight measurement for energy-dependent intrinsic neutron detection efficiency

Shortage in the current 3He supply has prompted a search for potential alternatives to the neutron detectors currently used in many nuclear nonproliferation and safeguards applications. An alternative detector must be efficient in detecting fission neutrons, and in rejecting or discriminating against gamma-ray radiation. For characterization of numerous detector types, it is helpful to have a technique for evaluating these two characteristics which is relatively fast and easy to perform. Here, a bench-top time-of-flight technique is presented which is based on a coincidence measurement with two ‘independent’ liquid scintillators (no direct source tagging is employed). The neutron source used is 252Cf. The technique can be used to measure energy-dependent intrinsic neutron detection efficiency for incident neutron energies of 0.5–5 MeV, as well as gamma-neutron discrimination efficiency. Measurement results are presented for three 2×2-inch cylindrical liquid scintillation detectors: EJ309, EJ315, and an additional EJ315 with naphthalene added.
Selective method for identification and quantification of Bifidobacterium animalis subspecies lactis BB-12 (BB-12) from the gastrointestinal tract of healthy volunteers ingesting a combination probiotic of BB-12 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG

Aim To develop a novel validated method for the isolation of Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis BB-12 (BB-12) from faecal specimens and apply it to studies of BB-12 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) recovered from the healthy human gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Methods and Results A novel method for isolating and enumerating BB-12 was developed based on its morphologic features of growth on tetracycline-containing agar. The method identified BB-12 correctly from spiked stool close to 100% of the time as validated by PCR confirmation of identity, and resulted in 97–104% recovery of BB-12. The method was then applied in a study of the recovery of BB-12 and LGG from the GI tract of healthy humans consuming ProNutrients® Probiotic powder sachet containing BB-12 and LGG. Viable BB-12 and LGG were recovered from stool after 21 days of probiotic ingestion compared to baseline. In contrast, no organisms were recovered 21 days after baseline in the nonsupplemented control group. Conclusions We demonstrated recovery of viable BB-12, using a validated novel method specific for the isolation of BB-12, and LGG from the GI tract of healthy humans who consumed the probiotic supplement. Significance and Impact of the Study This method will enable more detailed and specific studies of BB-12 in probiotic supplements, including when in combination with LGG.
Understanding Veteran Wait Times.

The newly appointed secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) describes the response to the access crisis and his vision for the VA that is based on how veterans want to receive care.