cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of MUC1 expression by indole-3-carbinol.

MUC1 is a large transmembrane glycoprotein overexpressed by a majority of carcinomas. High expression of MUC1 is associated with aggressive tumors, and MUC1 antigen is used as a marker to monitor disease progression in breast cancer patients. Several lines of evidence strongly suggest that the overexpression of MUC1 contributes to cancer progression and metastasis. In this report, we demonstrate that the naturally occurring cancer preventative, indole-3-carbinol (I3C), inhibits the expression of MUC1 in breast cancer cells. I3C inhibited both MUC1 mRNA and protein levels in a dose- and time-dependent manner. This inhibition was seen in the estrogen responsive MCF-7 cells as well as unresponsive MDA-MB-468 cells, indicating that the inhibitory pathway is independent of estrogen receptor. Gene expression studies using the human MUC1 gene promoter connected to a luciferase reporter demonstrated that I3C inhibits the transcription of the MUC1 gene. Promoter deletion studies indicate that the region containing up to 600 bp upstream (−600) of the initiation site is sufficient for inhibition by I3C. Furthermore, I3C represses the activation of transcription mediated by the region between −600 and −450 bp. A putative xenobiotic response element was located within this region but the binding of AhR/Arnt heterodimer to this site was undetectable by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Our results may point to the existence of a novel pathway of transcriptional inhibition by I3C in cancer cells as well as a new mechanism of MUC1 gene inhibition. Our findings might have implications in the use of I3C as a preventative as well as a therapeutic agent for breast cancer. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Cyborgs, Zombies, and Planetary Death: Alienation in the 21st Century

“If I could turn you on, if I could drive you out of your wretched mind, if I could tell you, I would let you know.” With these angry, despairing words, Ronald David Laing captured the imagination ...
Kate Bárány: a life of science, teaching, and service

We celebrate the lives of Michael and Kate Barany in this issue of the Journal of Muscle Research and Cell Motility. Kate and Michael died within weeks of each other in 2011. Joe Chalovich has written about Michael and we write about Kate. As emphasized by Joe, Kate, and Michael were remarkable individuals who survived the Holocaust, the Hungarian revolution, and emerged from as much adversity as one might imagine to become productive scientists, educators, citizens, and symbols of the durability of the human spirit. They present their own story in an essay (Barany and Barany 2000) published in a monograph “Selected Topics in the History of Biochemistry.” Rather than repeating much of the list of scientific achievements chronicled in these papers, we focus here on Kate, especially in her role as an individual and partner in science, while at the same time being an accomplished teacher, and a champion of women in science.
Quantitative characterization of animal behavior following blast exposure

The simplest approach to quantifying animal behavior begins by identifying a list of discrete behaviors and observing the animal’s behavior at regular intervals for a specified period of time. The behavioral distribution (the fraction of observations corresponding to each behavior) is then determined. This is an incomplete characterization of behavior, and in some instances, mild injury is not reflected by statistically significant changes in the distribution even though a human observer can confidently and correctly assert that the animal is not behaving normally. In these circumstances, an examination of the sequential structure of the animal’s behavior may, however, show significant alteration. This contribution describes procedures derived from symbolic dynamics for quantifying the sequential structure of animal behavior. Normalization procedures for complexity estimates are presented, and the limitations of complexity measures are discussed.
Automatic identification of bullet signatures based on consecutive matching striae (CMS) criteria

The consecutive matching striae (CMS) numeric criteria for firearm and toolmark identifications have been widely accepted by forensic examiners, although there have been questions concerning its observer subjectivity and limited statistical support. In this paper, based on signal processing and extraction, a model for the automatic and objective counting of CMS is proposed. The position and shape information of the striae on the bullet land is represented by a feature profile, which is used for determining the CMS number automatically. Rapid counting of CMS number provides a basis for ballistics correlations with large databases and further statistical and probability analysis. Experimental results in this report using bullets fired from ten consecutively manufactured barrels support this developed model.
Annuities, Credits and Deductions: An Experimental Test of the Relative Strength of Economic Incentives

Does the type of tax incentive matter in terms of encouraging behavior? Social policies often use tax incentives to encourage behavior, but little research has been conducted on how the structure or type of tax incentive might influence behavior. Using experimental methods, we test the effects of incentives structured as tax deductions and credits with respect to the policy problem of how best to encourage people to purchase annuities at retirement. We hypothesize that tax credits may be more effective than tax deductions at increasing the rate at which individuals would engage in socially desirable behavior, because credits appear to have immediate value. Adult subjects played a financial decision-making game in which they were offered different incentives to purchase annuities. We found that incentives in the form of tax credits not only encouraged more annuity purchases relative to actuarially equivalent deductions, but also relative to deductions that were greater in value than the credit-based tax incentives.
Drug-mediated antiepileptogenesis in humans.

The goal of pharmacologic therapy for patients with epilepsy is to suppress seizures without side effects. There is growing interest in developing antiepileptogenic drugs capable of preventing the onset of seizures in patients at high risk and inducing a permanent remission of seizures in patients with epilepsy, i.e., a cure. Whether any anticonvulsant drugs in current use have antiepileptogenic properties is the subject of this overview.
Assessment of sandwich models for the prediction of sound transmission loss in unidirectional sandwich panels

The consistent higher-order approach and the two-parameter foundation formulation are used for the derivation of sound transmission loss in symmetric unidirectional (infinitely wide) sandwich panels with isotropic face sheets. In both models, transmission loss is calculated using decoupled equations representing symmetric and anti-symmetric motions of a sandwich panel. The closed-form expressions for impedances and transmission coefficient of a symmetric sandwich panel with an isotropic core are derived for the two-parameter foundation model. A comparison between the numerical predictions based on the two sandwich models and available experimental data shows that the consistent higher-order formulation can be used to predict the transmission loss in symmetric sandwich panels with both honeycomb and isotropic cores. For prediction of transmission loss of symmetric sandwich panels with an isotropic core, the two-parameter foundation model is more convenient, while the consistent higher-order approach is more accurate.
Effects of Long-Grain Rough Rice Storage History on End-Use Quality

Rough rice (cv. Cypress) from the 1995 season was harvested, dried, and stored in laboratory-scale studies. Treatments included pre-drying conditions, drying conditions, storage temperatures, and storage durations. Temporary wet storage prior to drying affected cooking properties (p<0.005) and peak viscosity (p<0.005). Drying treatments affected head rice yield (p<0.05), cooking properties (p<0.001), and peak viscosity (p<0.05). Storage temperature was related (p<0.05) to cooking properties and peak viscosity via a second-order relationship. Head rice yield and cooking properties were also affected (p<0.05) by storage duration.
On the support of the simple branching random walk

Abstract Connectivity of the support of the simple branching random walk is established in certain asymmetric cases, extending a previous result of Grill.
The role of viscous dissipation in the orogenic process

Abstract The recognition that much of the mountain building within the continents can be attributed to the collision and deformation of tectonic plates has revolutionized geology over the last 25 years. Although the model of a deformed, advectively thickened plate accounts for the elevation of mountains and thick crustal roots usually associated with orogenies, it often has difficulty explaining the thermal properties of the mantle, namely the absence of a correspondingly thickened subcontinental lithosphere (SCL). Excess heat within the SCL associated with orogenies has been explained with models in which cool lithosphere is removed and replaced with warm asthenosphere. However, such lithosphere removal models are difficult to reconcile with recent seismic anisotropy studies suggesting the deformed SCL is not removed. We propose that evidence suggesting excess heat within, and long term survival of, SCL may be reconciled with anisotropy data sets by considering the heat generated by the orogeny itself. We develop a model of mantle orogeny where viscous strain-rate heating is considered as an energy source. Numerical experiments show that the SCL is rapidly heated during orogeny, resulting in elevated heat transfer between the lithosphere and overlying crust, but without necessarily removing the deformed SCL. Results also indicate that, for stress levels of > 200 MPa, viscous dissipation leads to spatial patterns of excess heat generation which are consistent with seismic profiles showing anomalously slow and fast material at shallow and deep levels, respectively. The ability of the viscous heating model to provide an in situ mantle heat source without removing patches of upper mantle provides an argument for lithospheric stresses in the 200 300 MPa range, which are in excess of those typically associated with orogenies.
Additional evidence consistent with solar cycle variations in the solar wind.

Analyses of solar-wind observations from mid-1964 through 1973 confirm the earlier results reported by Intriligator (1974) that there were statistically significant variations in the solar wind in 1968 and 1969, years of solar maximum. These variations were in phase with the solar cycle and consistent with a solar-cycle variation in the solar wind. High-speed stream parameters show that the number of high-speed streams in the solar wind in 1968 and 1969 and the total duration (in days) of high-speed streams in 1968 were considerably more than the predicted yearly average, and in 1965 and 1972 considerably less. Histograms of solar-wind speed from 1964 through 1973 indicate that in 1968 there was the highest percentage of elevated solar-wind speeds, and in 1965 and 1972 the lowest. Studies by others confirm these results, although their authors did not indicate this fact. The duration of the streams and the histograms for 1973 may imply a shifting in the primary stream source.
Neighborhood Poverty and African American Politics.

William Wilson and other scholars argue that one of the attributes of devastated neighborhoods is social isolation. We shall explore whether neighborhoods that seem to indicate significant social isolation also foster political isolation. We begin our examination by providing a description of the poor in the samples from the 1989 Detroit Area Study. We then turn our attention toward analyzing the effects of neighborhood poverty on African–American public opinion and political participation. We conclude with a discussion of how neighborhood poverty affects African-American politics and the consequences of those politics for the theory and practice of American democracy.
Population consequences of changes in an ant-seed mutualism in Sanguinaria canadensis

Seed dispersal by ants was studied in three populations of the myrmecochore, Sanguinaria canadensis, located in three habitats, each of which showed a different level of disturbance. Frequency of seed removal and the distances seeds were carried by ants were related to plant density, dispersion and the relative proportions of sexual and asexual reproduction in each population. Seeds in the least disturbed habitat were removed frequently and carried, by a wide variety of ants, distances of up to 12 m. Plant density was low and clone size was small. There was a relatively low level of sexual (seed) reproduction but seeds were generally transported well beyond the boundaries of the parent clones. By contrast, at the most disturbed site, plant density was high and clone size was very large. While there was a high level of seed production, seeds were rarely moved by ants and since removal distances were short, the probability of a seed being relocated beyond the limits of the parent clone was miniscule. The third population from a habitat which was intermediate in disturbance yielded data intermediate to the others. The data show that habitat disturbance, in disrupting the ant fauna and hence the ant-seed mutualism, has profound effects upon population density, dispersion and patterns of reproduction. Density-dependent regulation of sexual output predicted, for example, by the Strawberry-Coral model (Williams 1975), is maladaptive when the antseed mutualism is disturbed. We discuss the implications of this for theoretical modeling, the significance of mutualisms and the assessment of disturbance for conservation.
An actin-like gene can determine cell polarity in bacteria

Achieving proper polarity is essential for cellular function. In bacteria, cell polarity has been observed by using both morphological and molecular markers; however, no general regulators of bacterial cell polarity have been identified. Here we investigate the effect on cell polarity of two cytoskeletal elements previously implicated in cell shape determination. We find that the actin-like MreB protein mediates global cell polarity in Caulobacter crescentus, although the intermediate filament-like CreS protein influences cell shape without affecting cell polarity. MreB is organized in an axial spiral that is dynamically rearranged during the cell cycle, and MreB dynamics may be critical for the determination of cell polarity. By examining depletion and overexpression strains, we demonstrate that MreB is required both for the polar localization of the chromosomal origin sequence and the dynamic localization of regulatory proteins to the correct cell pole. We propose that the molecular polarity inherent in an actin-like filament is translated into a mechanism for directing global cell polarity.
Experimental Growth of Mammary Glands of Male Rats1

The mean total mammary DNA of mature normal and gonadectomized male rats was 3.99 and 3.85 mg/100 g body wt, respectively. Estradiol benzoate (EB) alone stimulated a slight but not significant increase in DNA in 20 days. When EB-stimulated rats were then injected with EB plus progesterone for 20 days, a highly significant increase in DNA was stimulated in comparison with that of gonadectomized control animals or those injected with EB alone.(Endocrinology 79: 650, 1966)
Sexual violence in the mass media: Legal solutions, warnings, and mitigation through education.

Depictions of sexual violence in the media can promote antisocial attitudes and behavior. Three approaches to the problem of sexual violence in the media are explored: (a) legal restrictions, (b) informational labeling, and (c) formal education. It is premature to advocate legal restrictions since existing research leaves too many questions unanswered. Informational labeling is not a viable solution because of problems inherent in the most widely used scheme, including the basic assumption that ratings should be based on what is offensive to parents rather than on what is assumed to be or known to be “harmful” to viewers. Research on educational interventions designed to mitigate the effects of exposure to sexual violence is discussed, and several promising procedures are identified.
Elatu’s Funeral: A Glimpse of Inughuit-American Relations on Robert E. Peary’s 1898–1902 Expedition

In January 1901, American explorer Robert E. Peary was an active participant in an Inughuit funeral following the death of a young woman at his base at Fort Conger, Ellesmere Island. Peary’s unpublished account of the funeral is the most detailed description of an Inughuit funeral before the introduction of Christianity and agrees in most details with other accounts of funerals from the region. Additionally, along with Peary’s and Dr. T.S. Dedrick’s journal entries from that time, the funeral and the circumstances surrounding it provide insight into the complex relationships between Peary, his American companions, Dedrick and Matthew Henson, and the Inughuit men and women who overwintered with them at Fort Conger.
Temperature measurements during laser skin welding

A thermal camera was used to measure surface temperatures during laser skin welding to provide feedback for optimization of the laser parameters. Two-cm-long, full- thickness incisions were made in guinea pig skin. India ink was used as an absorber. Continuous-wave, 1.06-μm, Nd:YAG laser radiation was scanned over the incisions, producing a pulse duration of approximately 100 ms. Cooling durations between scans of 1.6, 4.0, and 8.0 s were studied with total operation times of 3, 5, and 10 min, respectively. A laser spot diameter of 5 mm was used with the power constant at 10 W. Thermal images were obtained at 30 frames per second with a thermal camera detecting 3.5 micrometers radiation. Surface temperatures were recorded at 0, 1, and 6 mm from the center line of the incision. Cooling durations between scans of 1.6 s and 4.0 s in vitro resulted in temperatures at the weld site remaining above ~65°C for prolonged periods of time. Cooling durations between scans as long as 8.0 s were sufficient both in vitro and in vivo to prevent a significant rise in baseline temperatures at the weld site over time.
Feeding habits and dietary overlap of Naididae (Oligochaeta) from a bog stream

Feeding habits and dietary overlap of three species of naidid oligochaetes (Chaetogaster diastrophus, Dero digitata, Dero nivea) were studied during June 1982–December 1983 from a bog stream in Wisconsin, USA. Chaetogaster diastrophus primarily ingested diatoms, while D. digitata and D. nivea primarily ingested detritus. Dietary overlap was substantial (97–98%) between D. digitata and D. nivea using the dietary overlap coefficient. Dietary overlap between C. diastrophus and D. digitata was 58–62% and that between C. diastrophus and D. nivea was 51–55%. Dietary differences existed between the three species in the percentage of each major food type and diatom genera ingested, selective ingestion or avoidance of diatom genera and in the size classes (length and/or volume) of diatoms consumed. These data suggest temporal coexistence of these species may possibly be due to complex food resource partitioning, although in this habitat, C. diastrophus, D. digitata, and D. nivea did not exhibit concurrent peak abundances; thus, interspecific competition for food was minimized.
Transformation of the proteasome with age-related macular degeneration

The proteasome mediates pathways associated with oxidative stress and inflammation, two pathogenic events correlated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In human donor eyes corresponding to four stages of AMD, we found the proteasomal chymotrypsin-like activity increased in neurosensory retina with disease progression. Increased activity correlated with a dramatic increase in the inducible subunits of the immunoproteasome, which was not due to an increase in CD45 positive immune cells in the retina. The novel observation of proteasome transformation may reflect retinal response to local inflammation or oxidative stress with AMD.
The association between body mass index and coronary artery disease severity: a comparison of black and white patients.

Introduction Despite known associations between obesity and cardiovascular disease, the relationship between obesity as reflected by body mass index (BMI) and angiographic coronary artery disease (CAD) is not fully understood. Moreover, this relationship has not been adequately defined in black patients, a group demonstrated to have lower rates of angiographic CAD despite higher rates of CAD risk factors, cardiovascular events, and CAD-related mortality. Methods Using an angiography database from an academic hospital, we studied patients undergoing first-time, nonemergent coronary angiography. From this cohort, we selected those without previous CAD diagnosis and with complete anthropomorphic measures and outcome data. Using models that controlled for patient demographics and CAD risk factors, we compared rates of angiographic CAD for blacks and whites by BMI. Results Black patients had higher rates of CAD risk factors, including obesity and morbid obesity. Nevertheless, black patients were less likely to have a significant stenosis than white patients. Morbid obesity was associated with significantly less CAD in both race groups. Controlling for black-white differences in BMI and the prevalence of morbid obesity did not change the odds ratio for CAD among black patients. Conclusions Racial differences in BMI and prevalence of morbid obesity do not contribute to black-white differences in CAD detected during elective angiography. The paradoxical association of morbid obesity with a lower burden of atherosclerosis may be attributed in part to the limitations of noninvasive screening in the morbidly obese and subsequent referral of patients without disease for angiography.
Asymmetric Total Synthesis of the Antimalarial Drug (+)-Mefloquine Hydrochloride via Chiral N-Amino Cyclic Carbamate Hydrazones

Mefloquine hydrochloride is an important antimalarial drug. It is currently manufactured and administered in racemic form; however there are indications regarding the biological activity of the two enantiomers that suggest the superiority of the (+)-form. The asymmetric total synthesis of the (+)-enantiomer of mefloquine hydrochloride is described. The key asymmetric transformation utilized is a novel asymmetric Darzens reaction of a chiral α-chloro-N-amino cyclic carbamate hydrazone derived from an N-amino cyclic carbamate (ACC) chiral auxiliary.
Letter to the Editor-Parameter Estimation in a Markov Dependent Firing Distribution

In the study of tank weapon systems, the probability distribution of the number of trials required to obtain a preassigned number of successes in a Markov chain with two states arises naturally. This paper studies this distribution, tabulates it for a few values of the parameters, and then discusses the problems of estimating the parameters and of applications to tank-weapon systems.
Surgical and Nonsurgical Treatments of the Nasal Valves

Nasal obstruction is known to be associated with a major decrease in disease-specific quality of life, and nasal valve dysfunction can play a considerable role in nasal airflow obstruction. Diagnosis and treatment of nasal valve dysfunction requires a thorough understanding of normal anatomy and function as well as pathophysiology of common abnormalities to properly treat the exact source of dysfunction. As the pathophysiology of the nasal valves has become better understood, surgery designed to treat its dysfunction has evolved. Here, we explore the progress we have made in treating the nasal valves, and the deficiencies we still face.
Automating Repetitive Tasks for the Masses

The programming languages (PL) research community has traditionally catered to the needs of professional programmers in the continuously evolving technical industry. However, there is a new opportunity that knocks our doors. The recent IT revolution has resulted in the masses having access to personal computing devices. More than 99% of these computer users are non-programmers and are today limited to being passive consumers of the software that is made available to them. Can we empower these users to more effectively leverage computers for their daily tasks? The formalisms, techniques, and tools developed in the PL and the formal methods research communities can play a pivotal role!
Power requirements of gas‐liquid agitated systems

Power data for dispersion of air in liquids by means of a six-bladed flat blade turbine are presented in the form of a logarithmic plot of actual power consumed against a function of speed, impeller diameter, gas flow rate, and impeller power characteristics. The data are those of Michel (7), Bimbenet (2), Sachs (12), and Oyama and Endoh (10). Turbines of from 3- to 8-in. diameter were run in tanks of from 6.5- to 18-in. diameter, with the D/T never exceeding 0.47. The fluids tested covered a density range of 0.8 to 1.65 g./ml. and a viscosity range of 0.9 to 100 centipoises. Data are also presented on dispersion of air in a 50% by volume batch of carbon tetrachloride in water and dispersion of air in a suspension of Alundum particles in water, and compared with data on water in a similar system. The qualitative effect of a surface active agent is demonstrated in a comparison of data for a 0.1% by weight mixture of Pluronic L-62 in water with data for pure water with the same apparatus.
Quantitation of Human Metallothionein Isoforms: A Family of Small, Highly Conserved, Cysteine-rich Proteins

Human metallothioneins (MTs) are important regulators of metal homeostasis and protectors against oxidative damage. Their altered mRNA expression has been correlated with metal toxicity and a variety of cancers. Current immunodetection methods lack the specificity to distinguish all 12 human isoforms. Each, however, can be distinguished by the mass of its acetylated, cysteine-rich, hydrophilic N-terminal tryptic peptides. These properties were exploited to develop a bottom-up MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS-based method for their simultaneous quantitation. Key features included enrichment of N-terminal acetylated peptides by strong cation exchange chromatography, optimization of C18 reversed-phase chromatography, and control of methionine oxidation. Combinations of nine isoforms were identified in seven cell lines and two tissues. Relative quantitation was accomplished by comparing peak intensities of peptides generated from pooled cytosolic proteins alkylated with 14N- or 15N-iodoacetamide. Absolute quantitation was achieved using 15N-iodoacetamide-labeled synthetic peptides as internal standards. The method was applied to the cadmium induction of MTs in human kidney HK-2 epithelial cells expressing recombinant MT-3. Seven isoforms were detected with abundances spanning almost 2 orders of magnitude and inductions up to 12-fold. The protein-to-mRNA ratio for MT-1E was one-tenth that of other MTs, suggesting isoform-specific differences in protein expression efficiency. Differential expression of MT-1G1 and MT-1G2 suggested tissue- and cell-specific alternative splicing for the MT-1G isoform. Protein expression of MT isoforms was also evaluated in human breast epithelial cancer cell lines. Estrogen-receptor-positive cell lines expressed only MT-2 and MT-1X, whereas estrogen-receptor-negative cell lines additionally expressed MT-1E. The combined expression of MT isoforms was 38-fold greater in estrogen-receptor-negative cell lines than in estrogen-receptor-positive cells. These findings demonstrate that individual human MT isoforms can be accurately quantified in cells and tissues at the protein level, complementing and expanding mRNA measurement as a means for evaluating MTs as potential biomarkers for cancers or heavy metal toxicity.
A comparison of the National Geographic Stewardship Scorecard Ratings by experts and stakeholders for selected World Heritage destinations

The National Geographic Society Center for Sustainable Destinations Stewardship Scorecards for 2003 and 2006 compared ratings by “experts” for 33 World Heritage Site destinations. Nine (27.3%) improved by four or more points and six (18.2%) decreased by four or more points in the three years. In 2006, local stakeholders rated these World Heritage destinations using the same criteria as the experts. Stakeholders rated six destinations (18.2%) lower and almost half of the 33 destinations (48.8%) increased by five or more points. A moderate positive correlation was determined between the ratings of the experts and stakeholders. Comments by experts and stakeholders related to each of the scorecard criterion measures were analyzed. ANOVA and t-test were performed to examine the six stakeholder categories ratings for each of the six criteria and the results are presented. The assumptions and limitations of the survey methodology are discussed along with recommendations for improving the Destination Stewardship ...
CARDIAC GLYCOGEN AND THE EFFECT OF GROWTH HORMONE AMONG INBRED STRAINS OF MICE

In an effort to detect differences in the peripheral activity of growth hormone among C57, A, C3H, and I strain mice, the concentrations of cardiac glycogen were determined during the course of a 24-hour fasting period, and in three different age groups (young, 40–50 days; young-adult, 3–5 months; and old, 8–13 months). The concentrations and changes in cardiac glycogen were found to be characteristic of the age, and of the strain of mice. For example, in youngadult, but not young, mice of the I strain, cardiac glycogen actually decreased during a 24-hour fast. Some strain differences were found, but these were not consistent in all age groups. It was concluded that cardiac glycogen was subject to a variety of influences, which in turn varied with the age of the animal. As found for the rat, exogenous growth hormone doubled the stores of cardiac glycogen but the hormone had to be administered in the morning to nonfasted mice. If it was administered in the afternoon, it was not effective. This, and other e...
소아 단일 통로 복강경 충수절제술의 초기 경험

Purpose: The authors retrospectively compared single-port laparoscopic appendectomy (SPLA) with conventional laparoscopic appendectomy (CLA) in terms of the perioperative outcomes in pediatric patients. Methods: Cases of laparoscopic appendectomy between December 2009 and July 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. The demographic data, operating time, pathology of the appendix, hospital stay and surgical morbidities were compared. Results: Ten patients underwent SPLA and 57 underwent CLA. The mean age of the CLA and SPLA groups were 11.2 and 10.6 years, respectively. The pathology of the appendix showed that relatively more severe cases were included in the CLA group. There were 2 cases of a post operative intra-abdominal abscess and 2 cases of an umbilical wound infection in the SPLA group. Therefore, the SPLA group showed a significantly higher surgical morbidity rate (p=0.003) and hospital stay (p=0.05). The mean operation time of the SPLA and CLA group was 88.1±30.1 and 71.6±26.3 minutes, respectively; the mean operation time of the SPLA group was slightly longer (p=0.054). On the other hand, surgical morbidity and the mean operation time showed a decreasing tendency in the latter half of 10 Cases. Conclusion: The initial experience of SPLA in pediatric patients shows a higher complication rate and longer hospital stay than CLA. On the other hand, the complication rates and operation time have been decreasing. The clinical outcomes are expected to improve after going through a learning curve.
Demographic correlates of DSM-IV major depressive disorder among older African Americans, Black Caribbeans, and non-Hispanic Whites: results from the National Survey of American Life.

Objectives To examine the demographic correlates of lifetime and 12-month prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD) among older African Americans, Black Caribbeans, and non-Hispanic Whites. Methods Data are from adults aged 55 years and older (n = 1439) recruited to the National Survey of American Life (NSAL; 2001–2003). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Version IV World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used to assess the 12-month and lifetime MDD. Weighted logistic regression was used to model demographic correlates of MDD. Results The population prevalence of lifetime and 12-month MDD were 11.2% and 4.1%, respectively. Bivariate analyses revealed that younger respondents and those with greater disability had a higher prevalence of both lifetime and 12-month MDD compared with those who were older and who had lower disability. Multivariable logistic regressions controlling for demographic characteristics revealed that non-Hispanic Whites had the greatest odds of lifetime MDD (OR = 2.27, 95% CI = 1.32, 3.93). Women had significantly greater odds of lifetime MDD compared with men (OR = 2.49, 95% CI = 1.14, 5.41); there were no gender differences in 12-month MDD. Other significant predictors of MDD were marital status and region of residence. Conclusions The distribution, correlates, and nature of associations with MDD vary as a function of whether we examined lifetime vs. 12-month MDD. Future work should account for within group differences among older adults with depression. Understanding MDD correlates and the nature of intergroup diversity can inform the identification of particularly vulnerable subgroups as well as appropriate treatment approaches. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
MAPK activation determines renal epithelial cell survival during oxidative injury

Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury induces both functional and morphological changes in the kidney. Necrosis, predominantly of the proximal tubule (PT), is the hallmark of this model of renal injury...
OXTR polymorphism predicts social relationships through its effects on social temperament

Humans have a fundamental need for strong interpersonal bonds, yet individuals differ appreciably in their degree of social integration. That these differences are also substantially heritable has spurred interest in biological mechanisms underlying the quality and quantity of individualssocial relationships. We propose that polymorphic variation in the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) associates with complex social behaviors and social network composition through intermediate effects on negative affectivity and the psychological processing of socially relevant information. We tested a hypothesized social cascade from the molecular level (OXTR variation) to the social environment, through negative affectivity and inhibited sociality, in a sample of 1295 men and women of European American (N ¼ 1081) and African American (N ¼ 214) ancestry. Compared to European Americans having any T allele of rs1042778, individuals homozygous for the alternate G allele reported significantly lower levels of negative affectivity and inhibited sociality, which in turn predicted significantly higher levels of social support and a larger/more diverse social network. Moreover, the effect of rs1042778 variation on social support was fully accounted for by associated differences in negative affectivity and inhibited sociality. Results replicated in the African American sample. Findings suggest that OXTR variation modulates levels of social support via proximal impacts on individual temperament.
Enhancing Home Care Staff Safety Through Reducing Client Aggression and Violence in Noninstitutional Care Settings A Systematic Review

The problematic occurrence of client violence and patient aggression toward health care workers is pervasive, with studies and reports finding that home health care workers experience one of the highest rates of client violence than any other career field. With the recent passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010, traditional health care delivery in institutional care settings is increasingly shifted to service delivery venues in noninstitutional care settings. During this transition, greater numbers of health care workers are providing services in patients’ private homes, increasing the potential risk to staff safety and well-being in these settings.
Distributed optimal load frequency control and balancing authority area coordination

This paper proposes a distributed optimal load frequency control (OLFC) scheme that replicates the behavior of the economic dispatch process in a multi-area power system. Power systems are divided in balancing authority (BA) areas that exercise their own load frequency control to restore the system frequency and real power interchange to desired values. In this paper, we use a simplified model to describe the power system dynamic behavior and propose a coordination scheme between BA areas in an interconnected power system that decreases the regulation amount needed as well as the associated costs by formulating a distributed OLFC system. The proposed control scheme is compared with traditional automatic generation control (AGC) systems, as well as the economic dispatch process. The proposed distributed OLFC system is illustrated through the Western Electricity Coordination Council (WECC) 9-bus 3-machine system.
Patterns of prenatal survival in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus).

: Fifty common marmoset pregnancies were monitored using ultrasound. The objective was to ascertain if fetal mortality was related to litter size. Prior to analysis we determined abortion rate and litter size were not influenced by repeated ultrasound. Mortality was unrelated to litter size and occurred fairly late in gestation. All singletons born in this study began gestation as twins. It is hypothesized that marmosets may be able to adjust litter size late in pregnancy in response to proximate environmental factors.
Membrane Dynamics at the Endoplasmic Reticulum–Golgi Interface

Movement of cargo through the secretory pathway of eukaryotic cells occurs as a discontinuous process involving the activity of 50–80-nm vesicles ([28][1]). Vesicles forming on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by the COPII coat machinery ([35][2]) were first detected as coated elevations on
Cognitive Biases and Errors as Cause—and Journalistic Best Practices as Effect

This article argues that basic ethical principles of U.S. journalism as described in the Society of Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics are the result of, and a response to, cognitive bias and error. Cognitive biases and errors necessitate journalistic best practices to correct or attenuate them. Social cognitive processes explored include stereotyping, confirmation bias, and attribution. These concepts are noteworthy because each may be activated by the practice of journalism, and each has been shown to be susceptible to attenuation through specific practices. The article concludes with ideas for integrating cognition into journalism education.
Cross-correlation properties of algebraically constructed Costas arrays

The problem of determining the cross-correlation properties of signals based on algebraically constructed Costas arrays is addressed by examining the discrete cross-correlation of the algebraically constructed Costas arrays for a given construction and dimension. Finding two arrays that minimally correlate implies that the signals based on these arrays also minimally correlate. The properties of finite fields are reviewed, and the major algebraic constructions for Costas arrays are presented, i.e. the Welch construction and the Golomb construction. The discrete cross-correlation properties of the Costas arrays are derived for arrays of the same dimension derived from the same construction. The use of Costas arrays in the signal design problem is discussed, and examples are given to show the cross-correlation of the signals based on the algebraically constructed arrays. >
Robotic techniques improve quality of life in patients undergoing atrial septal defect repair

Abstract Background Minimally invasive cardiac surgery has emerged as an alternative to conventional, open surgery. Although most studies of robotically assisted cardiac surgery have reported morbidity and mortality, few have addressed outcome measures, such as pain and quality of life, which was the aim of this study. Methods Eleven patients with atrial septal defects (ASD), and five patients with patent foramen ovale, underwent repair using the Da Vinci system (Intuitive Surgical, Mountain View, CA). The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Survey (SF-36), along with two additional questions, were administered to these patients on postoperative day 30, along with a similar number of patients who underwent ASD repair by mini-thoracotomy or sternotomy. Quality of life endpoints included bodily pain, vitality, mental health, general health, physical function, and social function. Results Robotic patients demonstrated significantly higher scores in 6 of the eight variables ( p p = NS). Robotic patients returned to work after 40.2 ± 30.2 days, mini-thoracotomy patients after 45.6 ± 27.9 days, and sternotomy patients after 51.7 ± 40.2 days ( p = 0.767). There were no significant differences in SF-36 scores between patients who underwent mini-thoracotomy and sternotomy approaches. Conclusions Closure of an ASD can be performed safely and effectively via an endoscopic approach. Robotic technology minimized the degree of invasiveness, hastened postoperative recovery, and improved quality of life, although length of hospital stay was unchanged.
Tetrachloroethylene in Drinking Water and Birth Outcomes at the US Marine Corps Base at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina

A study of mean birth weight, small-for-gestational-age infants, and preterm birth was conducted at the US Marine Corps Base at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where drinking water was contaminated with volatile organic compounds. Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) was the predominant contaminant. The authors used multiple linear and logistic regression to analyze 1968-1985 data from 11,798 birth certificates. Overall, at most weak associations were observed between PCE exposure and study outcomes. However, associations were found between PCE exposure and birth-weight outcomes for infants of older mothers and mothers with histories of fetal loss. Adjusted mean birth-weight differences between PCE-exposed and unexposed infants were -130 g (90% confidence interval (CI): -236, -23) for mothers aged 35 years or older and -104 g (90% CI: -174, -34) for mothers with two or more previous fetal losses. Adjusted odds ratios for PCE exposure and small-for-gestational-age infants were 2.1 (90% CI: 0.9, 4.9) for older mothers and 2.5 (90% CI: 1.5, 4.3) for mothers with two or more prior fetal losses. These results suggest that some fetuses may be more vulnerable than others to chemical insult.
Brain, Brow, and Booty: Latina Iconicity in U.S. Popular Culture

We were shooting on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum one night. It was lit romantically, and Jennifer was wearing an evening gown, looking incredibly stunning. Suddenly there must have been a thousand people screaming her name. It was like witnessing this icon. (Ralph Fiennes in the New York Times, 2002, p. 16, emphasis added) This stamp, honoring a Mexican artist who has transcended “la frontera” and has become and icon to Hispanics, feminists, and art lovers, will be a further reminder of the continuous cultural contributions of Latinos to the United States. (Cecilia Alvear, President of National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) on the occasion of the introduction of the Frida Kahlo U.S. postage st& 2001; emphasis added) “Nothing Like the Icon on the Fridge” (column about Salma Hayek’s Frida by Stephanie Zacharek in the New York Times, 2002).
Infection Control Standards in Diagnostic Imaging

Universal precautions for blood and body fluid contact are basic to infection control guidelines. Medical personnel are required to follow a planned infection control protocol within their departments. The handling of patients, supplies, and equipment in sonography involves applying the appropriate protocol for the particular situation. The infection control protocol at St. Joseph's Hospital, Pheonix, Arizona is reviewed and applied to all aspects of clinical ultrasound. Infection control in ultrasound begins with sonographers, and their goal should be to prevent contamination and to restrict the spread of disease.
In-System Silicon Validation and Debug

Silicon validation - proving a chip works correctly at speed and in system under different operating conditions - is always necessary, even for a "perfect" design. Silicon debug - finding the root cause of a malfunction - is necessary whenever a design is not flawless. First-silicon validation and debug require a labor-intensive engineering effort of several months and have become the least predictable and most time-consuming part of a new 90-nm chip's development cycle. Lack of adequate tools and automatic procedures is a big factor in this bottleneck. The difficulty of silicon validation will increase at 65 nm and below because existing ad hoc methodologies don't scale with the unprecedented levels of SoC device complexity. Even the most sophisticated SoC design methodology cannot fully account for all the parameters that affect silicon behavior, or for all logic corner cases occurring in the life of a chip working at speed and in system. For example, the simultaneous occurrence of two unlikely events might not be anticipated pre- silicon, so it is never simulated or analyzed; however, when it occurs in system, it can cause unexpected behavior. Presilicon verification methods - simulation, emulation, FPGA prototyping, timing analysis, and formal verification - don't address many deep-submicron problems that occur in the actual device.
Making medicines that children can take

The role of the pharmacist The Medicines Act of 1968 and subsequent UK and European legislation established the process of licensing (now authorisation) to assure the safety, efficacy, and quality of medicines. While the majority of medicines for adults are licensed, many medicines used for children are not licensed for purpose (they are used “off-label”) or have not been licensed at all (unlicensed). Suitable licensed medicines are usually available for common problems such as infections but there are few, if any, available for less common conditions such as hypertension. The success of financial incentives to encourage pharmaceutical companies to licence medicines for children in the USA would suggest that the main reason for the dearth of licensed children’s medicines is profit related. There may also be other reasons related to perceived and actual difficulties in conducting clinical trials, such as recruitment and consent and the cost of developing paediatric formulations. There is also a worrying trend for UK companies to discontinue licensed paediatric formulations (but not the adult versions) because of low demand (for example, dantrolene, griseofulvin, naproxen, and nitrofurantoin suspensions). The Department of Health and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has agreed a voluntary system for early notification of discontinuations to allow time for alternative arrangements to be made.1 If not discontinued globally it is possible (but expensive) to import the product, but it is then considered to be an unlicensed medicine in the UK. If totally discontinued it may be necessary for the pharmacist to prepare extemporaneously if therapeutic alternatives are unsuitable. Extemporaneous dispensing is the compounding of ingredients to prepare a medicine for an individual patient. Several surveys have now established the frequency of use of off-label and unlicensed medicines in different situations. Thus about 11% of medicines used for children in UK …