cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biliary surgery after cardiac transplantation.

• Many patients have undergone successful cardiac transplantation. These patients are at risk of developing the same surgical diseases as the general population. The side effects of immunotherapy may mandate intervention at a different point in the natural history of these processes. From February 1984 through December 1989, 24 patients underwent an operative biliary tract procedure following cardiac transplantation. Seventeen patients underwent elective cholecystectomy with intraoperative cholangiography. The mean hospital stay was 5.4 days, and there was no morbidity or mortality. Seven patients underwent urgent procedures; four of them developed severe complications and three died as a result of their biliary tract disease. Two patients in the urgent group had previously exhibited symptoms of biliary tract disease, and five were previously asymptomatic. There was no significant difference in time from transplantation to biliary procedure between the elective group (mean, 17 months; range, 3 weeks to 47 months) and the urgent group (mean, 18 months; range, 3 weeks to 44 months). Patients who undergo cardiac transplantation should be screened for cholelithiasis. The presence of symptoms should not be required before recommending operative intervention. ( Arch Surg. 1991;126:571-573)
Wet‐spun, photoinitiator‐modified polyacrylonitrile precursor fibers: UV‐assisted stabilization

The role of dilute concentrations (∼1 wt %) of a photoinitiator, 4,4′-bis(diethylamino)benzophenone, on the processability and properties of the resulting wet-spun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers are reported. Rheology measurements show no adverse effect on the viscosities of solutions by the addition of the photoinitiator. Fibers containing photoinitiator were successfully wet-spun from PAN–DMSO solution. FTIR results prove that 4,4′-bis(diethylamino)benzophenone was retained in the fibers after coagulation and post-stretching. SEM micrographs show no deterioration of the post-stretched fiber microstructure due to the presence of photoinitiator. Tensile testing results show a small reduction in the strain-at-break of post-stretched fibers containing photoinitiator when compared with pure (control) PAN fibers. After UV treatment, fibers with 4,4′-bis(diethylamino)benzophenone display a higher tensile modulus compared with the other sets. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction results show no significant decrease in interplanar spacing and size of the crystals within the fibers containing photoinitiator, but such fibers retain a higher extent of molecular orientation after being UV treated. Conversion indices were measured from the WAXD spectra and compared with conventional thermal stabilized fibers. This correlation confirms that the addition of 1 wt % photoinitiator to PAN followed by 5 min of UV treatment leads to a conversion index that is observed in control fibers after more than an hour, which could reduce the conventional thermo-oxidative stabilization time significantly. These results indicate the potential of the dual stabilization route in generating precursor fibers with higher molecular orientation, and possibly reducing the thermo-oxidation time during carbon fiber processing. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 2494–2503, 2013
Management of pain after burn injury.

Purpose of reviewBurn pain is often under treated. Burn patients suffer from daily background pain as well as procedural pain. Direct mechanical and chemical stimulation to peripheral nociceptors, peripheral- and central sensitization contribute to the pathophysiology of pain. The purpose of this re
Sudden Death in Coronary Artery Disease Acute Ischemia Versus Myocardial Substrate

Sudden cardiac death accounts for ≈50% of the estimated 500 000 cardiovascular deaths that occur annually in the United States, and a vast majority are the result of coronary artery disease.1-4 Although in some subjects there is a history of angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, or previous cardiac arrest, a significant proportion of events occur in subjects without any history of cardiac disease.1,5 Advanced therapies such as thrombolytic agents and implantable cardioverter/defibrillators are of no value to the thousands of victims who do not survive to receive medical attention. Because so many instances of sudden cardiac death cannot be predicted, any intervention directed toward the general community would have to be applied to an estimated 1000 persons for every 1 person in whom sudden death might be prevented.6 Ventricular tachyarrhythmias are responsible for most cases of sudden cardiac death, although there is more than one mechanism for these arrhythmias. Some victims die from ventricular fibrillation, which can result from acute coronary ischemic thrombosis in an otherwise normal heart,7-9 whereas others die from tachyarrhythmias arising from chronic scar.9 The relative incidence of the two mechanisms is uncertain due to (1) the lack of a consistent definition of sudden cardiac death, especially in terms of the timing between the onset of symptoms and death, and (2) the frequent overlap of the two mechanisms. Most authors define sudden death as that which occurs within 1 hour of the onset or abrupt change of symptoms.1 Some earlier series used more liberal criteria and included subjects who died up to 24 hours after symptom onset.10 However, there are important pathophysiological differences between deaths that occur instantaneously and those that occur hours after the onset of symptoms, as noted by Friedman et al11 more than 2 decades ago. Most …
Possible mechanisms of action of cobra snake venom cardiotoxins and bee venom melittin

Cobra snake venom cardiotoxins and bee venom melittin share a number of pharmacological properties in intact tissues including hemolysis, cytolysis, contractures of muscle, membrane depolarization and activation of tissue phospholipase C and, to a far lesser extent, an arachidonic acid-associated phospholipase A2. The toxins have also been demonstrated to open the Ca2+ release channel (ryanodine receptor) and alter the activity of the Ca(2+)+Mg(2+)-ATPase in isolated sarcoplasmic reticulum preparations derived from cardiac or skeletal muscle. However, a relationship of these actions in isolated organelles to contracture induction has not yet been established. The toxins also bind to and, in some cases, alter the function of a number of other proteins in disrupted tissues. The most difficult tasks in understanding the mechanism of action of these toxins have been dissociating the primary from secondary effects and distinguishing between effects that only occur in disrupted tissues and those that occur in intact tissue. The use of cardiotoxin and melittin fractions contaminated with trace ('undetectable') amounts of venom-derived phospholipases A2 has continued to be common practice, despite the problems associated with the synergism between the toxins and enzymes and the availability of methods to overcome this problem. With adequate precautions taken with regard to methodology and interpretation of results, the cobra venom cardiotoxins and bee venom melittin may prove to be useful probes of a number of cell processes, including lipid metabolism and Ca2+ regulation in skeletal and cardiac muscle.
The effect of light on Lake Herring (coregonus artedi) reactive volume

The lake herring (Coregonus artedi) is an important coldwater planktivore in the Laurentian Great Lakes and in smaller inland lakes in portions of Canada and the northern United States. Lake herring cruise the pelagia and feed selectively in both gulping and particulate modes. They are visual predators in environments with adequate illumination. Visual predation by fish consists of a series of discrete steps. We studied the first step in the predation sequence, reaction to prey, at light intensities of 2–1500 Lx in a simulated pelagic environment at 10–13°C. We measured lake herring reactive distances, the distance at which a prey item will be detected and attacked, to live Limnocalanus macrurus, a natural prey of lake herring in Lake Superior. We used the reactive distances and associated angles of bearing and elevation, which described the location of the prey relative to the lake herring, to calculate reactive volume. This reactive volume can be envisioned as an irregular sphere surrounding the fish, within which prey are detected and attacked. All of the attacks on prey occurred in the anterior portions of the sagittal and lateral planes of the lake herring, as would be expected for a pelagic, cruising fish. The reactive volume surrounding the lake herring was generally spherical, but was more irregular than the simple spheres, hemispheres, cylinders, cones or other geometries assumed in previous studies. The reactive distances and the reactive volume changed with light intensity and were significantly smaller at 2–10 Lx than at 40–1500 Lx. At 40–1500 Lx, the reactive volume was expanded over that observed at 2–10 Lx laterally and caudally. Collectively our results indicate that lake herring can visually forage most effectively in environments with light levels >10 Lx.
Entropy production and equilibration in Yang-Mills quantum mechanics

The Husimi distribution provides for a coarse-grained representation of the phase-space distribution of a quantum system, which may be used to track the growth of entropy of the system. We present a general and systematic method of solving the Husimi equation of motion for an isolated quantum system, and we construct a coarse-grained Hamiltonian whose expectation value is exactly conserved. As an application, we numerically solve the Husimi equation of motion for two-dimensional Yang-Mills quantum mechanics (the x-y model) and calculate the time evolution of the coarse-grained entropy of a highly excited state. We show that the coarse-grained entropy saturates to a value that coincides with the microcanonical entropy corresponding to the energy of the system.
WSEmail: secure Internet messaging based on Web services

Web services offer an opportunity to redesign a variety of older systems to exploit the advantages of a flexible, extensible, secure set of standards. In this paper we explore the objective of improving Internet messaging (email) by redesigning it as a family of Web services, an approach we call WSEmail. We illustrate an architecture and describe some applications. Since increased flexibility often mitigates against security and performance, we focus on steps for proving security properties and measuring the performance of our system with its security operations. In particular, we demonstrate an automated proof using TulaFale and ProVerif of a correspondence theorem for an application called on-demand attachments. We also provide performance measures for the basic WSEmail functions in a prototype we have implemented using .NET. Our experiments show a latency of about a quarter of a second per transaction under load.
Image reconstruction with a LaBr3-based rotational modulator

Abstract A rotational modulator (RM) gamma-ray imager is capable of obtaining significantly better angular resolution than the fundamental geometric resolution defined by the ratio of detector diameter to mask-detector separation. An RM imager consisting of a single grid of absorbing slats rotating ahead of an array of a small number of position-insensitive detectors has the advantage of fewer detector elements (i.e., detector plane pixels) than required by a coded aperture imaging system with comparable angular resolution. The RM therefore offers the possibility of a major reduction in instrument complexity, cost, and power, particularly at high energies. A novel image reconstruction technique makes it possible to deconvolve the raw images, remove sidelobes, reduce the effects of noise, and provide resolving power a factor of 6–8 times better than the geometric resolution. A 19-channel prototype RM developed in our laboratory at Louisiana State University features 13.8° full-angle field of view, 1.9° geometric angular resolution, and the capability of resolving sources to within 35′ separation. We describe the technique, demonstrate the measured performance of the prototype instrument, and describe the prospects for applying the technique to either a high-sensitivity standoff gamma-ray imaging detector or a satellite- or balloon-borne gamma-ray astronomy telescope.
Does culture still matter?: The effects of individualism on national innovation rates

Abstract Does a society's culture affect its rate of inventive activity? This article analyzes several independent datasets of culture and innovation from 62 countries spanning more than two decades. It finds that most measures of individualism have a strong, significant, and positive effect on innovation, even when controlling for major policy variables. However, the data also suggest that a certain type of collectivism (i.e. patriotism and nationalism) can also foster innovation at the national level. Meanwhile, other types of collectivism (i.e. familism and localism) not only harm innovation rates, but may hurt progress in science worse than technology.
Kinetics of Octadecyltrimethylammonium Bromide Self-Assembled Monolayer Growth at Mica from an Aqueous Solution

We have studied the growth kinetics of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of octadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C18TAB) on mica below the critical micelle concentration at 22, 30, 40, and 50 °C. A combination of atomic force microscopy, contact angle goniometry, and transmission infrared spectroscopy was used to follow the growth processes to determine the rates involved in the growth of a C18TAB SAM on mica. The growth of a SAM consisted of four distinct processes: deposition of adsorbate molecules, growth of a disordered 2D liquid phase, nucleation of islands of an ordered 2D solid phase, and subsequent growth of the solid phase. The rates of these various processes are determined, and the activation energies for several processes were calculated including those for the adsorption onto a bare substrate (20 kJ/mol), adsorption into the saturated liquid phase (100 kJ/mol), and nucleation of islands (0.3 kJ/mol). Despite the small activation barrier to island nucleation, the nucleation rate is qualitativel...
The incidence of pelvic and para-aortic lymph node metastasis in uterine papillary serous and clear cell carcinoma according to the SEER registry.

OBJECTIVE: In this study we utilized the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End-Results (SEER) registry to identify risk factors for lymphatic spread and determine the incidence of pelvic and para-aortic lymph node metastases in patients with uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) and uterine clear cell carcinoma (UCCC) who underwent complete surgical staging and lymph node dissection. METHODS: Nine hundred seventy-two eligible patients diagnosed between 1998 to 2009 with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 1988 stage IA-IVA UPSC (n=685) or UCCC (n=287) were identified for analysis. Binomial logistic regression was used to determine risk factors for lymph node metastasis, with the incidence of pelvic and para-aortic lymph node metastases reported for each FIGO primary tumor stage. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to determine factors associated with overall survival. RESULTS: FIGO primary tumor stage was the only independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis (p 60 years (HR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.21 to 2.41; p<0.01), and advanced FIGO primary tumor stage (p<0.01). Tumor grade, histologic subtype, and patient race did not predict for either lymph node metastasis or overall survival. CONCLUSION: There is a high incidence of both pelvic and para-aortic lymph node metastases for FIGO stages IC and above uterine papillary serous and clear cell carcinomas, suggesting a potential role for lymph node-directed therapy for these patients.
Effect of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) infusion on Small Intestinal (SI) EGF-Receptor (EGF-R) expression in a fetal rabbit model of Intrauterine Growth Retardation (IUGR)

Abstract Introduction. IUGR infants have impaired GI function with resultant feeding difficulties. Supplemented amniotic fluid swallowed by the developing fetus is a potential prenatal treatment for IUGR. Rabbits have naturally occurring IUGR fetuses based on uterine position. Previous studies administering intra-amniotic EGF (a mucosal proliferative peptide) to IUGR rabbits normalized fetal weight, SI proliferation, and villus height. Expression of the EGF-R in response to intra-amniotic EGF infusion has not yet been determined. Methods. Eight rabbits underwent placement of intra-amniotic catheters into two normal-growth (Nl) and two IUGR fetuses per mother on gestational day 24. Mini-osmotic pumps infused either EGF (300 μg/kg/day) or control solution forming four study groups (EGF-Nl versus Cont-Nl; EGF-IUGR versus Cont-IUGR). At term on gestational day 31, the fetal GI tract was harvested. SI EGF-R expression was analyzed by RT/PCR (vs. GAPDH), immunohistochemistry, and Western blot. Statistical analysis was performed using Students’ t- test Results. Native EGF-R mRNA expression at term was lower in IUGR fetuses versus normals (0.39 ± 0.05 Cont-Nl versus 0.26 ± 0.07 Cont-IUGR; P = 0.1). EGF infusion tended to decrease EGF-R mRNA expression in normal fetuses, but had no effect in IUGR fetuses. IHC localized the EGF-R to blood vessels and the villi of luminal enterocytes. EGF infusion increased EGF-R density as seen by IHC in the IUGR fetus, being particularly prominent in the submucosa and mucosal blood vessels; no difference was seen in normals. Western blot analysis confirmed EGF-R protein throughout the SI. Conclusions. EGR-R was characterized in both normal and IUGR fetal rabbits by mRNA expression, IHC localization, and protein product expression with different patterns of native expression and response to EGF infusion. Despite a reduction in EGF-R in response to EGF infusion in normals, IUGR fetuses retained robust receptor expression, supporting the particular responsiveness of the IUGR fetus to EGF infusion. The in utero treatment of IUGR with intra-amniotic EGF infusion is further supported.
Neutrons from Deuteron Breakup on D, T, and He 4

The continuous neutron spectra produced by deuteron bombardment of D, T, and ${\mathrm{He}}^{4}$ have been studied at deuteron energies near 9 MeV with a time-of-flight spectrometer. Angular distributions of the continuous spectra from D+$d$ and ${\mathrm{He}}^{4}$+$d$ were obtained for deuteron energies of 9 and 10 MeV. The center-of-mass angular distributions are peaked forward for neutrons of all energies. Two maxima present in the 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} spectrum from ${\mathrm{He}}^{4}$+$d$ at ${E}_{d}=10$ MeV are consistent with the interpretation that ${\mathrm{He}}^{5}$ and ${\mathrm{Li}}^{5}$ are produced in their ground states as alternative intermediate steps in the reaction. Two maxima are also present in the continuous neutron spectrum from T+$d$. The higher energy maximum occurs near the maximum possible neutron energy from the $\mathrm{T}(d, np)\mathrm{T}$ reaction and cannot be caused by the $\mathrm{T}(d, 2n){\mathrm{He}}^{3}$ reaction. If this peak is caused by an excited state in ${\mathrm{He}}^{4}$, it would correspond to an excitation in ${\mathrm{He}}^{4}$ of 20.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2 MeV, and be unbound.
Bistatic Doppler-SAR DPCA imaging of ground moving targets

This paper presents a theory for moving target imaging using two channel Doppler synthetic aperture radar (SAR). Doppler-SAR is a novel SAR modality that transmits ultra-narrowband waveforms. It reconstructs high resolution images by backprojecting data onto the high resolution iso-Doppler contours provided by ultra-narrowband waveforms. We present a novel method to detect/image moving targets by combining the displaced phase center antenna technique with Doppler-SAR. The displaced phase center antenna technique has the distinct advantages of removing the response from stationary targets (clutter) by subtracting images formed by each channel. We present numerical results to demonstrate our theory. This novel method can be used for passive imaging of moving targets embedded in clutter using sources of opportunity transmitting ultra-narrowband waveforms, such as TV and radio stations.
Implicit self-stigma in people with mental illness

People with mental illness often internalize negative stereotypes, resulting in self-stigma and low self-esteem ("People with mental illness are bad and therefore I am bad, too"). Despite strong evidence for self-stigma's negative impact as assessed by self-report measures, it is unclear whether self-stigma operates in an automatic, implicit manner, potentially outside conscious awareness and control. We therefore assessed (i) negative implicit attitudes toward mental illness and (ii) low implicit self-esteem using 2 Brief Implicit Association Tests in 85 people with mental illness. Implicit self-stigma was operationalized as the product of both implicit measures. Explicit self-stigma and quality of life were assessed by self-report. Greater implicit and explicit self-stigma independently predicted lower quality of life after controlling for depressive symptoms, diagnosis, and demographic variables. Our results suggest that implicit self-stigma is a measurable construct and is associated with negative outcomes. Attempts to reduce self-stigma should take implicit processes into account.
Improving professionalism: making the implicit more explicit.

Purpose: Professionalism is one of the most challenging of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Competencies to define, teach and evaluate. At University of Washington we assessed whether defining professionalism, and training faculty and residents in the evaluation process would improve professional behavior.Materials and Methods: In 2003 the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Global Resident Competency Rating Form was distributed to faculty after each rotation to evaluate residents. The project included all 16 residents and 18 clinical faculty during a total of 15 rotations for 3 years at 4 Seattle area hospitals. After 21 months a training lecture on professionalism was presented to faculty and residents. Following this intervention all trained faculty completed a Graduate Medical Education Global Resident Competency Rating Form on every resident after each rotation. Three specific professionalism questions from the Graduate Medical Education Global Resident Compet...
Tracking of physical activity and physical fitness across the lifespan.

Although different indicators of physical activity and different methods of analysis are used, it appears that physical activity tracks at low to moderate levels during adolescence, from adolescence into adulthood, and across various ages in adulthood. Tracking of inactivity is less often studied. Measures of performance- and health-related physical fitness (strength, flexibility, motor fitness, aerobic power) track significantly across childhood and adolescence, but correlations are low to moderate. Limited data that span adolescence into adulthood indicate somewhat higher interage correlations for flexibility, static strength, and power. Data for different periods in adulthood are not available. Presently, it is common to criticize focus on motor and sport skills in physical education and competitive sports as contrary to health and fitness goals (e.g., James, 1995; Livingstone, 1994; Simons-Morton et al., 1988). There is a need, however, to distinguish between youth or community sports and highly specialized sport for the elite. Sports activities, be they competitive or recreational, are probably the major form of physical activity during childhood and adolescence, and perhaps in young adulthood. Though low to moderate, the tracking of various activity indicators, most of which include sport participation, suggests that sport activities during childhood and youth may form the foundation for activity habits in the future.
A repository of our own: the E‐LIS e‐prints archive

This article reviews the E‐Prints in Library and Information Science (E‐LIS) open access archive. E‐LIS is part of the Research in Computing, Library and Information Science (RCLIS) project, an international effort to organize and disseminate scholarly papers in librarianship and related fields. E‐LIS uses open source applications, and joins a growing number of OAI‐compliant services dedicated to providing free access to scholarly information.
Structure of tetraubiquitin shows how multiubiquitin chains can be formed.

Abstract Eukaryotic proteins are targeted for degradation by covalent ligation of multiubiquitin chains. In these multiubiquitin chains, successive ubiquitins are linked by an isopeptide bond involving the side chain of Lys48 and the carboxyl group of the C-terminus (Gly76). The crystal structure of a tetraubiquitin chain (Ub 4 ) has been determined and refined at 2·4 A resolution. The molecule exhibits both translational and 2-fold rotational symmetry; each pair of (rotationally symmetric) ubiquitin molecules in Ub 4 is related to the next pair by a simple translation. The 2-fold symmetry in each pair of ubiquitin molecules is quite different from the 2-fold symmetry observed in the previously determined structure of isolated diubiquitin. There are multiple hydrophilic contacts among the four ubiquitin molecules, but the hydrophobic surface formed in the middle of diubiquitin is not seen. The structure of the tetraubiquitin chain demonstrates how a multiubiquitin chain of any length can be formed.
Theory and Design of THz Intracavity Gain-Flattened Filters for Monolithically Integrated Mode-Locked Lasers

We present the theory and design of a tunable gain-flattening filter for integrated mode-locked lasers (MLLs). The filter provides the inverse of the semiconductor spectral gain profile and produces a broad flattened net gain. This improves the performance of MLLs by allowing more modes to lase simultaneously. We demonstrate a gain-flattened MLL with a record 10 dB bandwidth of 2.08 THz, the widest frequency comb span for an integrated quantum-well-based laser at 1.55 μm. Gain-flattening theory is used to extend the integrated comb span to 40 nm. We use scattering matrices to investigate feed-forward filters based on asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZIs). We compare MZI filters designed for a fixed coupling value to those that use an active gain arm to adjust the extinction ratio. Tunable zero placement of these filters is achieved using a passive phase tuning arm. The optimized gain-flattening filter has a 5 dB extinction ratio and a 70 nm free-spectral-range. When the filter is incorporated into a ring MLL, simulations predict a 40 nm, i.e., 5 THz, comb span with a power variation <; 3.5 dB.
Immunohistochemical demonstration of cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase in regenerating tracheal epithelium: a recapitulation of fetal development

The cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase enzymes, NADPH-reductase and form 2, were demonstrated immunohistochemically in hamster tracheal epithelium that was regenerating after mechanical injury. Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), a thymidine analogue, was used to map the location and extent of the wound sites between 8 and 144 h post-injury. In the control and non-wounded areas of the epithelium, the secretory cells were labelled for the monooxygenase enzymes. Label was heaviest in the apical cytoplasm of these columnar cells. At 8 h, secretory cells at the wound margins migrated to cover the wound sites, becoming progressively flattened. Reaction product for monooxygenase enzymes was strong in these flat cells but immunolabelling for BrdU was very low. At 24 h many cells at the wound sites were labelled for BrdU (indicative of a high rate of cell division). Some cells were labelled for monooxygenase but many were not stained at this time. At 48 and 72 h post-injury, none of the cells within the wound sites (regenerating epithelium) were stained. Immunochemical labelling for the monooxygenase enzymes was restored to the nascent secretory cells as they differentiated in the wound sites, beginning at 96 h post-injury. Labelling was stronger at 120 and 144 h post-injury, comparable to that in the control epithelium. The observations suggest that the monooxygenase enzymes were retained by the secretory cells in the wound sites before they divided but were lost from their progeny. Then, the temporal sequence of monooxygenase expression was similar to the pattern of differentiation of nascent secretory cells during fetal development of the tracheal epithelium.
The role of social support in anxiety for persons with COPD

Abstract Objective This study examined the contribution of perceived social support to the presence of anxiety in persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods A cross-sectional survey sample of 452 persons with COPD (61.3% female; 53.5% older than 65; 70.8% without a college degree or higher educational achievement, and 54.8% with household income of $40,000 or less) completed a telephone survey. Measures included the anxiety subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A), 5 social support subscales from the Positive and Negative Social Exchanges (PANSE) Scale, a COPD Severity Score (CSS; a weighted algorithmic combination of symptoms and the need for various COPD medical interventions), and the Geriatric Depression Scale, Short Form (GDS-SF). Zero order correlations and a series of multiple regression analyses were calculated. Results Multiple regression analysis revealed that the receipt of instrumental support, feeling let down by the failure of others to provide needed help, and unsympathetic or insensitive behavior from others each positively predicted a higher level of patient anxiety in COPD patients, after controlling for demographic variables, smoking status, comorbid depression (GDS) and severity of illness (CSS). Additionally, the control variable of depression was the strongest predictor of anxiety, suggesting a high degree of co-morbidity in this sample. Conclusion Anxiety and depression are serious co-morbid mental health concerns for persons with COPD. It is important to examine both positive and negative aspects of perceived social support for COPD patients and how they may impact or interact with these mental health concerns.
Stress-dependent enhancement and impairment of retention by naloxone: evidence for an endogenous opioid-based modulatory system protective of memory.

The opiate-receptor antagonist naloxone was administered to rats after passive-avoidance training either alone or in combination with forced-swim stress. A retention test revealed that while naloxone enhanced retention when administered alone, it impaired retention when administered in combination with forced-swim stress. The findings provide evidence for a “protective” endogenous opioid-based system that, when not blocked pharmacologically, limits enhancement or impairment of retention under conditions of mild and intense stress, respectively.
Heat Transport Scaling in Turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard Convection: Effects of Rotation and Prandtl Number

We report experimental measurements of turbulent heat transport in rotating Rayleigh-B\'enard convection. The fluid was water with Prandtl number $3l\ensuremath{\sigma}l7$. Heat transport and local temperature measurements were made for Rayleigh numbers $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{5}l\mathrm{Ra}l5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{8}$ and Taylor numbers $0\ensuremath{\le}\mathrm{Ta}\ensuremath{\le}5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{9}$. For fixed convective Rossby numbers Ro between 0.1 and 1.5, the Nusselt number $N$ scaled closely as the 2/7 power of Ra but had very little variation with the Prandtl number $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ and only a moderate increase with increasing rotation rate. Substantial disagreement is found with existing scaling theories.
Herbal mixtures in traditional medicine in Northern Peru

The investigation of plant mixtures used in traditional medicine in Northern Peru yielded a total of 974 herbal preparations used to treat 164 different afflictions. Psychosomatic disorders were, with almost 30% of all recipes applied, the most important afflictions treated. In most cases, healers used only one or two mixtures to treat an illness. However, up to 49 different preparations were used to treat the same disease. This indicates a high degree of experimentation. Altogether 330 plant species, representing almost 65% of the medicinal flora used in the region were applied in mixtures. The overwhelming number of plant mixtures contained 2-7 different plant species, although in the most extreme case 27 distinct species were included. The cluster analysis confirmed that mixtures used for applications like inflammations, infections and blood purification, as well as cough, cold, bronchitis or other respiratory disorders, or urinary infection and kidney problems had similar floristic compositions. Mixtures used for nervous system disorders, anxiety and heart problems often had a similar composition
Nursing Home Deficiencies: An Exploratory Study of Interstate Variations in Regulatory Activity

ABSTRACT This study examines nursing home regulatory activity by the states, assesses interstate variations in the volume and severity of nursing home deficiencies, and explores state-level factors that may account for these differences. Nursing home deficiency citation data over a 5-year period (2000–2004) were obtained from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. We examined interstate variations in regulatory activity and identified predictors of deficiency volume and severity at the state level (demographics, elected officials, industry characteristics, etc.) using the linear mixed model. Deficiency volume remained stable across the 50 states from 2000 to 2004, while deficiency severity decreased significantly. California had the highest volume of deficiencies per nursing home; Wisconsin had the lowest. New Hampshire had the highest percentage of severe deficiencies; California had the lowest. Higher deficiency volume was found in states with lower median household income, a lower proportion o...
The effect of EMHP on post-cardiac arrest survival of rats.

Abstract l-Ethyl-2-methyl-3-hydroxy-pyrid-4-one (EMHP), a low molecular weight iron chelator that is soluble in hydrocarbon solvents and presumably in lipids, was studied for in vitro inhibition of radical-mediated peroxidation of DNA. We also investigated the acute toxicity of EMHP by administering 40, 100, and 300 mg/kg intravenously to Wistar rats, and we then examined the in vivo effect of the 40 mg/kg dose following a 10-min cardiac arrest and resuscitation in rats. EMHP prevented iron-dependent radicalmediated DNA breaks of the supercoiled plasmid Bluescribe by the Fenton reagent (400 μM iron, 30 μM H 2 O 2 ) H 2 O 2 ) present at EMHP/Fe ratios of 16:1 and 32:1. The 300-mg/kg dose was lethal in 3 of 5 normal rats, and the 100-mg/kg dose was associated with excessive mortality post-resuscitation. The 40-mg/kg dose was well tolerated post-resuscitation, but it did not improve either 3-day survival or neurologic outcome.
Interventional cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging provides structural and functional cardiovascular information with excellent soft tissue contrast. Real-time magnetic resonance imaging can guide transcatheter cardiovascular interventions in large animal models and may prove superior to x-ray and adjunct modalities for peripheral vascular, structural heart, and cardiac electrophysiology applications. We describe technical considerations, preclinical work, and early clinical studies in this emerging field.
A comparison of Selmer groups.

In recent years people have used a number of different definitions for analogues of the classical Selmer group. Greenberg and the author had studied two such analogues which have strikingly similar properties. Here we prove that they are, in fact, quasi-isomorphic.
Toward a New Communications Genre

To better understand the relationship between technology and human expression, the Socio-Digital Systems Group at Microsoft Research in Cambridge, UK, has established a program of research called New Communications Genre. This program is exploring ways to integrate existing technologies - especially messaging - to encourage novel forms of interaction.
Induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human prostate carcinoma cells by a recombinant adenovirus expressing p27Kip1

BACKGROUND Adp27Kip1, a recombinant adenovirus, was evaluated for expression of p27, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CDKI) and tumor suppressor protein, in human prostate carcinoma cells. Effects of p27Kip1 on cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed. METHODS We evaluated the effects of overexpression of p27Kip1 in the human prostate carcinoma cell lines LNCaP, DU-145, and PC-3 in vitro and in vivo. Growth curve studies, cell cycle analysis, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end-labeling (TUNEL), and annexin V–fluorescein isothiocyanate apoptosis analyses were conducted to determine effects of p27Kip1 on cell cycle. CDKI activity assays and Westerns blots were conducted to determine presence/activities of CDKIs. RESULTS Adp27Kip1-induced protein levels increased in a dose-dependent manner; p27Kip1 protein was detected within 6 hr of infection with Adp27Kip1 and remained stable for at least 48 hr. The activities of Cdk2, Cdk4, and Cdc2 kinases were inhibited 24 hr after infection with Adp27Kip1. Bromodeoxyuridine incorporation demonstrated a dose-dependent decrease in S-phase cells 24 hr postinfection. TUNEL analysis revealed an induction of apoptosis (10 pfu/cell) within 48 hr of infection in all cell lines. Growth curve analyses demonstrated that Adp27Kip1 infection inhibited proliferation of all cell lines tested and decreased cell numbers for Adp27Kip1-infected LNCaP and PC-3 cells by 96 hr. Cell cycle analysis of DNA content demonstrated an accumulation of cells in G0/G1-phase 24–120 hr after Adp27Kip1-infection. In vivo studies demonstrated a reduction in LNCaP xenograft tumor growth rates in mice injected with Adp27Kip1. CONCLUSION Exogenous p27Kip1 overexpression results in cell cycle regulation in the human prostate carcinoma cell lines tested, representing the first use of this vector on prostate cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, p27Kip1 expression is associated with an increase in early apoptosis, which represents a recently discovered function for this protein. It also represents the first time this association has been observed in prostate carcinoma cell lines. This study provides support for the further development of Adp27Kip1 as a potential therapeutic vector in the treatment of adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Prostate 53: 77–87, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Behavioral momentum. Implications and development from reinforcement theories.

Historical and contemporary theories of reinforcement, as well as the clinical application of reinforcement principles to behavior modification and therapy, are critically analyzed and discusssed. ...
Simulations of the Weibel instability with a High-Order Discontinuous Galerkin Particle-In-Cell Solver

This paper presents a comparison of various particle-in-cell methodologies for numerical simulation of the Weibel instability. A convergence study with the established finite difference time domain particle-in-cell method establishes a base result. Comparison to novel particle-in-cell methods based on an implicit temporal discretization, and on a second and fifth order discontinuous Galerkin scheme (DG-PIC) provide insights into components of the DG-PIC schemes including divergence cleaning, particle weighing parameters and resolution requirements. High-order DG-PIC uses less grid points for a resolved solution making it competitive with the established finite difference method.
RECONSTITUTION IN LIPID BILAYERS OF AN ATP-SENSITIVE K+ CHANNEL FROM PIG CORONARY SMOOTH MUSCLE

A K+ channel with a main conductance of 29 pS was recorded after the incorporation of coronary artery membrane vesicles into lipid bilayers. This channel was identified as an ATP-sensitive K+ channel (KATP) because its activity was diminished by the internal application of 50–250 μm ATP-Na2. Moreover, it was opened when 10–50 μm pinacidil was externally applied. Single-channel records revealed the existence of several (sub)conductance states. At 0 mV and with a 5/250 KCl gradient, the main conductance of the KATP channel was 29 pS. The other (sub)conductance states were less frequent and had discrete values of 12, 17 and 22 pS. Pinacidil stabilized the channel open state primarily in the 29 pS conductance level; whereas ATP inhibited all the conductance levels. In general, KATP channels were characterized by brief openings followed by long closings (open probability, P o ≈ 0.02); only occasionally (3 out of 12 experiments) did the KATP channels have a high open probability (P o ≥ 0.7). Channel activity could be increased or rescued by adding 2.5–10 mm UDP-TRIS and 0.5–2 mm MgCl2 to the internal side of the channel.
Predictors of the recurrence of hepatic encephalopathy in lactulose-treated patients

SUMMARY Background Lactulose is considered first-line therapy for hepatic encephalopathy. However, the effect of adherence with lactulose on recurrence of hepatic encephalopathy outside clinical trials remains unclear. Aim To determine the association of lactulose use with recurrence of hepatic encephalopathy episodes. Methods Patients with cirrhosis who were initiated on lactulose after an index hepatic encephalopathy episode in a liver-transplant centre were retrospectively reviewed. Recurrence of hepatic encephalopathy, precipitating factors and adherence on lactulose were investigated using chart review and electronic pharmacy records. Patients with ⁄without hepatic encephalopathy recurrence were compared, and predictors of recurrence were analysed. Results A total of 137 patients with cirrhosis (age 55 6years, MELD 17 7) who were initiated on lactulose after the index hepatic encephalopathy episode were included. Of these, 103 patients developed recurrent hepatic encephalopathy 9 1 months after their index episode; 39 (38%) of these were not adherent on lactulose, 56 (54%) were adherent and 8 (8%) had lactulose-associated dehydration leading to recurrence. Recurrent hepatic encephalopathy precipitants in lactulose-adherent patients were sepsis (19%), GI bleeding (15%), hyponatremia (4%) and TIPS (7%). Overall, all patients who did not suffer recurrence were adherent on lactulose. In contrast, the adherence rate for those who recurred was only 64% (P = 0.00001). On multivariate regression, lactulose non-adherence (OR 3.26) and MELD score (OR 1.14) were the factors that predicted recurrence.
Neurostimulation using subnanosecond electric pulses

We have for the first time recorded action potentials in rat hippocampus neurons when they were stimulated by subnanosecond electric pulses. The preliminary results show that applying a series of pulses allowed the accumulation of depolarization before activating the voltage gated channels. The depolarization only occurred when the electric pulses were applied. It is unclear whether the depolarization is caused by the charge accumulation across the membrane or the cation influx due to the membrane permeabilization. We have also conducted an electromagnetic simulation of delivering subnanosecond pulses to tissues using an impulse radiating antenna. The results show that the pulses can be confined in the deep region in the brain but the amplitude is reduced significantly due to the attenuation of the tissues. A partially lossy dielectric lens may be used to reverse the decreasing trend of the electric field.
Sex bias in the naming of stimulus persons.

Researchers often use sex-typed names (e.g., John vs. Joan) to identify stimulus persons' sex, assuming that such names communicate sex only. In fact, however, such names also create impressions that have little or nothing to do with sex. Study 1 analyzed the age connotations, intellectual-competence connotations, and attractiveness of sex-typed names used in 230 published studies on sexism and fear of success. On each of these variables, the literature was pervasively confounded in a manner favoring male stimulus persons. Study 2 found that the name biases reported in Study 1 were positively correlated with outcome measures in a sample of sexism studies, but only when names were presented with limited other information. Possible causes of the bias are discussed, and recommendations for naming stimulus persons are presented, including a list of male names and female names matched on several key variables.
Analytical study of some important hallucinogens by a combined fluorimetric and phosphorimetric method

Abstract Room-temperature fluorescence and low-temperature phosphorescence excitation and emission spectra, phosphorescence lifetimes and/or fluorimetric and/or phosphorimetric analytical curves and limits of detection have been determined in methanol-water solution for nine hallucinogenic drugs, including lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), lysergic acid, 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (STP; DOM), mescaline and indole-type hallucinogens. Vibrational structure of phosphorescence bands, phosphorescence lifetimes and effect of pH on the phosphorescence spectra at 77°K are shown to be of value for the identification of these hallucinogens. Fluorimetric and phosphorimetric analytical curves are linear over large concentration ranges (10 2 -10 4 ) concentration units. Detection limits are very low, between 1 and 23 ppb, according to the fluorescence and/or phosphorescence spectrum yield of the particular compound. The combined fluorimetric and phosphorimetric method is demonstrated to improve largely the sensitivity of previous analytical techniques used for the determination of hallucinogens.
Manganese cell labeling of murine hepatocytes using manganese(III)‐transferrin

Manganese(III)-transferrin [Mn(III)–Tf] was investigated as a way to accomplish manganese-labeling of murine hepatocytes for MRI contrast. It is postulated that Mn(III)–Tf can exploit the same transferrin-receptor-dependent and -independent metabolic pathways used by hepatocytes to transport the iron analog Fe(III)–Tf. More specifically, it was investigated whether manganese delivered by transferrin could give MRI contrast in hepatocytes. Comparison of the T1 and T2 relaxation times of Mn(III)–Tf and Fe(III)–Tf over the same concentration range showed that the r1 relaxivities of the two metalloproteins are the same in vitro, with little contribution from paramagnetic enhancement. The degree of manganese cell labeling following incubation for 2–7 h in 31.5 µm Mn(III)–Tf was comparable to that of hepatocytes incubated in 500 µm Mn2+ for 1 h. The intrinsic manganese tissue relaxivity between Mn(III)–Tf-labeled and Mn2+-labeled cells was found to be the same, consistent with Mn(III) being released from transferrin and reduced to Mn2+. For both treatment regimens, manganese uptake by hepatocytes appeared to saturate in the first 1–2 h of the incubation period and may explain why the efficiency of hepatocyte cell labeling by the two methods appeared to be comparable in spite of the ∼16-fold difference in effective manganese concentration. Hepatocytes continuously released manganese, as detected by MRI, and this was the same for both Mn2+- and Mn(III)–Tf-labeled cells. Manganese release may be the result of normal hepatocyte function, much in the same way that hepatocytes excrete manganese into the bile in vivo. This approach exploits a biological process—namely receptor binding, endocytosis and endosomal acidification—to initiate the release of an MRI contrast agent, potentially conferring more specificity to the labeling process. The ubiquitous expression of transferrin receptors by eukaryotic cells should make Mn(III)–Tf particularly useful for manganese labeling of a wide variety of cells both in culture and in vivo. Published in 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.