cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Women's Health Initiative trials of menopausal hormone therapy: lessons learned.

OBJECTIVE The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) assessed oral conjugated equine estrogens (CEE) taken with or without medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) for prevention of chronic disease in postmenopausal women aged 50-79 years. METHODS Women with an intact uterus (n = 16,608) were randomized to CEE+ MPA therapy or placebo for a median of 5.6 years; women with hysterectomy (n = 10,739) were randomized to CEE-alone therapy or placebo for a median of 7.2 years. Both cohorts have been followed for 18 years. RESULTS In the overall study population (mean age, 63 y), neither estrogen-progestin therapy (EPT) nor estrogen-only therapy prevented coronary heart disease or led to a favorable balance of chronic-disease benefits and risks. Subgroup analyses, however, suggest that timing of hormone therapy (HT) initiation influences the relation between HT and coronary risk, as well as its overall benefit-risk balance, with more favorable effects in women who are younger (age < 60 year) or recently menopausal (within 10 year) than in women who are older or further past the menopausal transition. In younger women who entered the trial of estrogen-only therapy with oophorectomy, the intervention was associated with a significant 32% reduction in all-cause mortality over long-term follow-up. CONCLUSIONS WHI findings indicate important differences in HT-related clinical outcomes by age and time since menopause. Systemic HT has an acceptable safety profile for menopause management when initiated among healthy women who are younger (or recently menopausal) and not at elevated risk for cardiovascular disease or breast cancer. Initiation of treatment in older women who are distant from menopause onset, however, should be avoided. Other HT formulations and routes of delivery warrant further study.(WHI clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00000611).
Epigenetics and survivorship in pediatric brain tumor patients

Brain tumors make up over a quarter of pediatric malignancies. Depending on the age of presentation and treatment, pediatric brain tumor survivors experience varying degrees of treatment induced morbidity and sequelae. Epigenetic mechanisms play a critical role in silencing of tumor suppressor genes and activation of driver genes involved in oncogenesis in different types of brain tumors. Epigenetic modifications in pediatric brain tumor patients may influence long-term survival and may refine the molecular response to treatment induced morbidity and sequelae. However, there is a dearth of studies on how epigenetics of pediatric brain tumors is connected with neurocognition and other treatment related sequelae in survivors. In this review we explore epigenetic factors that may contribute to the survivorship and treatment of pediatric brain tumor patients. We focus on glioblastoma, medulloblastoma, and the neurocutaneous syndrome neurofibromatosis type-1 to highlight epigenetic biomarkers that can potentially serve not only as prognostic indicators of overall patient survival, but hopefully as indicators to the response to treatment neurocognitively and otherwise. Future studies will hopefully soon bridge the gap in our knowledge on how epigenetic modifications are linked to treatment related sequelae in pediatric brain tumor patients.
Optimization of catalyst-coated membranes for enhancing performance in proton exchange membrane electrolyzer cells

Abstract To achieve large-scale application of proton exchange membrane electrolyzer cells (PEMECs) for hydrogen production, it is highly desirable to reduce the manufacturing cost while enhancing cell performance. In the PEMPECs, a catalyst-coated membrane (CCM) is the vital component where electrochemical reactions and mass transport mainly occur. The fabrication methods and catalyst layer (CL) structure can significantly affect the cell performance. Herein, for the first time, a comparative study of CCM fabrications with decal transfer and direct spray deposition methods have been conducted by both ex-situ materials characterization and in-situ performance testing in PEMECs. It is found CCMs that are fabricated with a direct spray deposition method display enhanced cell performance compared to CCMs fabricated with a decal transfer method, mainly due to the largely reduced ohmic resistance and improved mass transport. More importantly, cell performance can be greatly enhanced by simply regulating the Nafion ionomer content at the anode CL. The optimal Nafion ionomer content of 10 wt% gives the best cell performance at 80 °C with a low cell voltage of 1.887 V at 2 A cm−2, outperforming the commercial CCM and most other previous publications. Our study provides a valuable guidance for fabrication and optimization of CCMs with significantly enhanced performance and reduced cost for practical application of the PEMECs.
Widerstand oder Terrorismus? Eine theoretische Grundlegung

Terrorismus ist ein nicht nur politisch, sondern auch politikwissenschaftlich umstrittener Begriff. Das liegt in dem Umstand begrundet, dass mit der Kennzeichnung politischer Gewalt als Terrorismus eine Wertung verbunden ist: Terrorismus gilt als illegitime Gewalt – im Gegensatz zu Widerstand, der gleichfalls illegal ist, aber als legitim verstanden wird. Die gangigen wissenschaftlichen Terrorismusdefinitionen versuchen diese Wertung auszublenden und definieren Terrorismus als Taktik und damit als Mittel zum Zweck; der Analyse bzw. Auswahl empirischer Phanomene aber geht eine Wertung notwendig voraus. Der vorliegende Beitrag schlagt demgegenuber eine Konzeption von Terrorismus vor, die die Ziele und damit die Frage nach der Legitimation politischer Gewalt systematisch miteinbezieht. Die vorgeschlagene Konzeptualisierung nimmt das Selbstverstandnis von Akteuren politischer Gewalt, die die von ihnen verubte Gewalt notwendig als legitim, mithin als Widerstand, begreifen mussen, zum Ausgangspunkt und misst die Berechtigung dieser Selbstzuschreibung anhand der klassischen Rechtfertigung gewaltsamen Widerstands. Der vorliegende Beitrag entwickelt auf dieser Grundlage einen mehrstufigen Masstab zur Unterscheidung legitimer und illegitimer politischer Gewalt, der von den moralischen Uberzeugungen der Akteure abstrahiert.
Point-X: A Spatial-Locality-Aware Architecture for Energy-Efficient Graph-Based Point-Cloud Deep Learning

Deep learning on point clouds has attracted increasing attention in the fields of 3D computer vision and robotics. In particular, graph-based point-cloud deep neural networks (DNNs) have demonstrated promising performance in 3D object classification and scene segmentation tasks. However, the scattered and irregular graph-structured data in a graph-based point-cloud DNN cannot be computed efficiently by existing SIMD architectures and accelerators. We present Point-X, an energy-efficient accelerator architecture that extracts and exploits the spatial locality in point cloud data for efficient processing. Point-X uses a clustering method to extract fine-grained and coarse-grained spatial locality from the input point cloud. The clustering maps the point cloud into distributed compute tiles to maximize intra-tile computational parallelism and minimize inter-tile data movement. Point-X employs a chain network-on-chip (NoC) to further reduce the NoC traffic and achieve up to 3.2 × speedup over a traditional mesh NoC. Point-X’s multi-mode dataflow can support all common operations in a graph-based point-cloud DNN, i.e., edge convolution, shared multi-layer perceptron, and fully-connected layers. Point-X is synthesized in a 28nm technology and it demonstrates a throughput of 1307.1 inference/s and an energy efficiency of 604.5 inference/J on the DGCNN workload. Compared to the Nvidia GTX-1080Ti GPU, Point-X shows 4.5 × and 342.9 × improvement in throughput and efficiency, respectively.
Genetics of Thoroughbred Racehorse Performance.

Thoroughbred horses have been selected for racing performance for more than 400 years. Despite continued selection, race times have not improved significantly during the past 60 years, raising the question of whether genetic variation for racing performance still exists. Studies using phenotypes such as race time, money earned, and handicapping, however, demonstrate that there is extensive variation within these traits and that they are heritable. Even so, these are poor measures of racing success since Thoroughbreds race at different ages and distances and on different types of tracks, and some may not race at all. With the advent of genomic tools, DNA variants are being identified that contribute to racing success. Aside from strong associations for myostatin variants with best racing distance, weak to modest associations with racing phenotypes are reported for other genomic regions. These data suggest that diverse genetic strategies have contributed to producing a successful racehorse, and genetic variation contributing to athleticism remains important. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Animal Biosciences, Volume 10 is February 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
Why Not Preempt?: Security, Law, Norms and Anticipatory Military Activities

Contents: Introduction What are anticipatory military activities? International security International law The just war tradition Strategic necessity, law, and norms I: anticipatory military activities and imminent threats Strategic necessity, law, and norms II: anticipatory military activities and distant threats Strategic necessity, law, and norms III: anticipatory military activities and the Bush doctrine Conclusions and implications Bibliography Index.
Triggering for Charm, Beauty and Truth

As the search for more and more rare processes accelerates, the need for more and more effective event triggers also accelerates. In the earliest experiments, a simple coincidence often sufficed not only as the event trigger, but as the complete record of an event of interest. In today’s experiments, not only has the fast trigger become more sophisticated, but one or more additional level of trigger processing precedes writing event data to magnetic tape for later analysis. Future search experiments will certainly require further expansion in the number of trigger levels required to filter those rare events of particular interest.
Theoretical Advantages of Shear Thickening Behavior in Automatic Transmission Fluids

The rheological behavior of automatic transmission fluids (ATF) ranges from moderately shear-thinning to Newtonian. However, no commercially available ATFs are known to display shear-thickening behavior. A theoretical investigation was performed to determine if any advantages could be derived from the use of shear-thickening ATF in automatic transmission components and subsystems. A series of theoretical shear-thickening, shear-thinning, and Newtonian fluids were modeled by a power law function and compared to a reference shear-thinning ATF in simplified representations of transmission components and subsystem geometries. The results indicate that a shear-thickening ATF with zero shear viscosity, infinite shear viscosity, and power of 4.17 mPa-s, 6.23 mPa-s, and 1.03(dimensionless), respectively, displays optimized behavior with respect to the reference shear-thinning ATF.
Solving Problems With Contradictions: The Challenge of 21st Century Engineering Education, Research and Practice

In the fast growing world economy engineering design and production plays a more and more important role almost every day. The only chance for the advanced western nations to maintain their leading technological positions during the course of the current century is to invest in technology and education. This may help to retain the position which, according to predictions, they may lose by 2035 [1]. One of the key ways of keeping their leading technological positions is to develop problem solving research and education to the degree to which all the potential of their national economy and technology would be used. In this paper some aspects of problem solving research and practice using an algorithmic method called BTIPS (Brief Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) are discussed. The importance of problem solving in engineering education is also stressed, and an example of a university course in the subject is discussed.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
From theory to practice: resistance in Staphylococcus aureus and new treatments

Numerous surveillance studies confirm that methicillin resistance is common among isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, with resistance rates as high as 50%. Long associated with nosocomial infections, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is now emerging as a community-based pathogen. Studies indicate that infections with MRSA are associated with greater morbidity and mortality than similar infections with methicillin-sensitive strains. The spread of MRSA has contributed to an increasing reliance on vancomycin to treat infections caused by this pathogen. However, with isolates of S. aureus becoming increasingly resistant to multiple antibiotic agents, new antimicrobial therapies are urgently required. Daptomycin, the first in a novel class of antibiotics called the cyclic lipopeptides, was approved in the USA in 2003 for the treatment of complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTIs) caused by Gram-positive bacteria. Post-marketing experience in the USA has confirmed the clinical efficacy of daptomycin for the treatment of cSSTIs observed in clinical trials. Studies have also shown daptomycin to be as effective as current standard therapy for the treatment of S. aureus bacteraemia, including those with known or suspected infective endocarditis. A supplemental new drug application for daptomycin for treatment of S. aureus bacteraemia and right-sided infective endocarditis was approved in May 2006 by the US FDA. The availability of daptomycin has improved treatment options for infections caused by Gram-positive pathogens.
Imaging faint companions very close to stars

A vortex coronagraph on our extreme adaptive optics “well-corrected subaperture” on the Hale telescope has recently allowed the imaging of the triple-planet HR8799 system with a 1.5 m subaperture. Moreover, a faint, low-mass companion to a second star was imaged only one diffraction beam width away from the primary. These results illustrate the potential of the vortex coronagraph, which can enable exoplanet imaging and characterization with smaller telescopes than previously thought.
Suboptimal intake of magnesium in rats. Effects during growth and gestation

Abstract To investigate the interaction of magnesium depletion and source of protein and the effect of this interaction on growth, female weanling Sprague-Dawley rats were fed diets based on 20% casein or 20% soy protein isolate which contained eithe adequate (800 mg/kg) or suboptimal (200 mg/kg) levels of magnesium. The initial suboptimal level of approximately 100 mg/kg magnesium was increased to approximately 200 mg/kg magnesium on day 6 of the study. The nutritional stress of rapid growth resulted in clinical signs of deficiency including audiogenic seizures in the animals fed the casein diet which was low in magnesium. Some clinical manifestations of deficiency persisted through almost all of the 6-week growth period. The lower nutritional quality of soy protein isolate and/or the components of soy which depress mineral bioavailability resulted in a higher rate of alopecia and skin sores in the rats fed the soy low magnesium diet than in those fed the casein low magnesium one. Growth retardation in the magnesium deficient animals occurred during the post-weaning growth phase. Gestational weight gain was also depressed by low magnesium intake to a greater extent than has been previously reported in response to a mild magnesium restriction. Because of recent reports of suboptimal intakes of magnesium by humans, further research of combined effects of subacute magnesium deficiency and utilization of foods containing soy protein is needed.
Measurement of two different complex pulses on a single shot using double blind frequency-resolved optical gating

We demonstrate double blind FROG for single-shot measurement of two non-trivial pulses. The pulse-retrieval algorithm is simple and robust, even for complex pulses.
Dissociable Effects of Phonetic Competition and Category Typicality in a Phonetic Categorization Task: An fMRI Investigation

The current study used fMRI to explore the extent to which neural activation patterns in the processing of speech are driven by the quality of a speech sound as a member of its phonetic category, that is, its category typicality, or by the competition inherent in resolving the category membership of stimuli which are similar to other possible speech sounds. Subjects performed a phonetic categorization task on synthetic stimuli ranging along a voice-onset time continuum from [da] to [ta]. The stimulus set included sounds at the extreme ends of the voicing continuum which were poor phonetic category exemplars, but which were minimally competitive, stimuli near the phonetic category boundary, which were both poor exemplars of their phonetic category and maximally competitive, and stimuli in the middle of the range which were good exemplars of their phonetic category. Results revealed greater activation in bilateral inferior frontal areas for stimuli with the greatest degree of competition, consistent with the view that these areas are involved in selection between competing alternatives. In contrast, greater activation was observed in bilateral superior temporal gyri for the least prototypical phonetic category exemplars, irrespective of competition, consistent with the view that these areas process the acoustic-phonetic details of speech to resolve a token’s category membership. Taken together, these results implicate separable neural regions in two different aspects of phonetic categorization.
Extending Rosenberg's Technique for Standardizing Percentage Tables

Rosenberg's notion of standardization as statistical control for percentage tables is extended to more than three variables. After the data are arranged as "recursive proportions," simple calculations allow one (1) to find partials, causal effects, spurious portions, and indirect portions for associations, (2) to carry out realistic simulations or projections using variable levels, and (3) to gain increased insight into interaction effects. I argue that the approach is not actually novel, rather it allows one to present well-established statistical matters in a way that is unusually clear and palatable to the non-technical reader. Standardization is a hardy perennial sociological research technique (Althauser and Wiglerg Atchley; Kalton; Little and Pullam; Rosenberg; Smith; Taylor) although recently it has been growing in the shade of the proliferating odds ratio approaches (Bishop et al.; Goodman). Two decades of junglelike methodological growth have not, however, withered Rosenberg's central insight: a simple, two-variable percentage table is particularly easy to grasp, but multiple tables in which the same association appears under diverse control conditions are particularly hard to grasp. Rosenberg's solution-construct a single two-variable table that summarizes the conditional results-is ever green. Indeed, the thicket of coefficients, effect parameters, and log transformations which has sprung up since 1962 requires readers to possess intellectual machetes not available to most consumers of Sociology-students, public officials, clients, and the majority of sociologists. Thus, at no time in the history of the field has there been a greater need for simple, garden variety ways to convey tabular
Factors Driving Readmissions in Tibia and Femur Fractures

As the American healthcare system shifts towards bundled payments, readmissions will become a measure of healthcare quality. The purpose of this study was to characterize readmission trends and factors influencing readmission in patients with diaphyseal femur and tibia fractures. Through a retrospective chart review, all patients who presented to a level 1 trauma center from 2004 to 2006 were evaluated. By using current procedural terminology codes, 1,040 patients with diaphyseal tibia or femur fractures fixed by IMN were identified. 645 patients were included for analysis. 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day readmission rates were compared with fracture type, reason for readmission, and basic demographic information. The 60-day readmission rate for open tibia fractures (14.8%) was significantly higher than the 60-day readmission rate for closed tibia fractures (8.0%) (p = 0.037). When comparing reasons for 60-day readmissions, 50% of closed fractures were readmitted due to infection, while the other 50% needed additional surgery. 91.7% of open fractures readmitted in 60 days were due to infection. In a bundled payment system, orthopedic trauma must gain insight into drivers of readmission to identify those at risk for readmission and design effective healthcare plans for these patients.
First order analysis of the reaction 6Li(p, pα)d

Abstract The reaction 6 Li ( p , p α) d was investigated by a PWBA calculation, including all exchange processes with finite range interactions. The distortion effects are discussed for the α knockout term. It was found that at the angular configurations where the recoil deuteron momenta are small, the direct terms dominate and the exchange terms are extremely small. It was also found that the overall spectrum shapes are most sensitive to the form of the relative wave function of the relative wave function of the (pn)- and α clusters in the 6Li nucleus.
Are asthma and allergies increasing in children and adolescents

Asthma and allergies are the most common chronic diseases in childhood and adolescence with a tremendous impact on life quality and health systems. After the Second World War, an increasing prevalence of allergies and asthma could be observed in westernized countries, while infant mortality and severe infections like tuberculosis were decreasing. This observation turned out to be due to a real increase of diseases, although there was also increased awareness in terms of allergies and asthma. Genes play a major role in the development of the allergic inflammation; however, as genes do not change within a short period of time, the penetrance or expression of genes may have changed due to an altered environment. These factors are thought to be a lack of microbial burden, a decrease in family size, a lack of physical exercise and a change in nutrition. While the increase was very high during the period of 1960 and 1998, a certain plateau has been reached in Central Europe and the US. However, studies like ISAACIII show that in certain regions of the world like Thailand and Lithuania, allergies are still increasing, while low prevalence is observed in rural China.
Recreational runners with patellofemoral pain exhibit elevated patella water content

Increased bone water content resulting from repetitive patellofemoral joint overloading has been suggested to be a possible mechanism underlying patellofemoral pain (PFP). To date, it remains unknown whether persons with PFP exhibit elevated bone water content. The purpose of this study was to determine whether recreational runners with PFP exhibit elevated patella water content when compared to pain-free controls. Ten female recreational runners with a diagnosis of PFP (22 to 39years of age) and 10 gender, age, weight, height, and activity matched controls underwent chemical-shift-encoded water-fat magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to quantify patella water content (i.e., water-signal fraction). Differences in bone water content of the total patella, lateral aspect of the patella, and medial aspect of the patella were compared between groups using independent t tests. Compared with the control group, the PFP group demonstrated significantly greater total patella bone water content (15.4±3.5% vs. 10.3±2.1%; P=0.001), lateral patella water content (17.2±4.2% vs. 11.5±2.5%; P=0.002), and medial patella water content (13.2±2.7% vs. 8.4±2.3%; P<0.001). The higher patella water content observed in female runners with PFP is suggestive of venous engorgement and elevated extracellular fluid. In turn, this may lead to an increase in intraosseous pressure and pain.
Isometric Tension and Mutant Myosin Heavy Chain Content in Single Skeletal Myofibers from Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Patients

Several mutations in the beta-myosin heavy chain (beta-MHC) gene have been linked to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Because this gene is also expressed in slow-twitch fibers of skeletal muscle, we have been able to study the mutant beta-myosin content and mechanical properties associated with these myosin mutations in single skinned skeletal muscle fibers obtained from HCM patients. We found that in patients carrying the 403Arg-->Gln mutation, the mutant beta-MHC comprises 47.3 +/- 9.1% of the total beta-MHC present in single slow-twitch fibers. Therefore, both alleles of the beta-MHC gene are on average equally expressed. Isometric tension was decreased by 18% in slow fibers from HCM patients with the 403Arg-->Gln mutation, but was unchanged in slow fibers from patients with two other beta-MHC gene mutations. Taken together with the previous demonstration of reduced velocities generated by these myosins in an in vitro assay, our results suggest that the mutant beta-myosins are functional molecular motors that are able to generate tension and movement, but with abnormal kinetics.
Effects of Sleep Patterns and Obesity on Increases in Blood Pressure in a 5-Year Period: Report from the Tucson Children's Assessment of Sleep Apnea Study

Objectives To determine associations between body mass index and sleep on blood pressure in a 5-year period from childhood to adolescence. Study design Study consisted of a longitudinal, community-based sample of 334 children recruited at ages 6 through 11 years. Each participant underwent in-home polysomnography initially and then 5 years later. Individual systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were calculated at both points during wake periods and classified as hypertensive when SBP or DBP was ≥95th standardized percentiles for height and weight. Results Hypertension was present in 3.6% of the sample at time one and increased to 4.2% 5 years later. Obesity prevalence increased from 15.0% to 19.5%. Normal changes in sleep architecture were observed in the sample. With random effects modeling, which controlled for age, sex, and ethnicity, change in obesity status and decrease in total sleep time were indicated to be associated with increases in SBP. Change in obesity status was also associated with increases in DBP in the 5-year period. A trend for sleep-disordered breathing to increase SBP was noted. Conclusions Increases in SBP and DBP were associated with increasing body mass index and decreased total sleep time in a 5-year period from childhood to adolescence.
Spectrofluorimetric study of the intermolecular complexation of monoclonal antibodies with the high potency sweetener N‐(p‐cyanophenyl)‐N′‐(diphenylmethyl)guanidineacetic acid

Molecular complexation between a set of five monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and a N,N',N"-trisubstituted guanidinium sweetener (TGS) was studied by monitoring the intrinsic fluorescence of the MAbs. Changes in the emission spectral properties of the MAbs were found to be related to the location of tryptophan residues in the antibody complementarity determining regions (CDRs). Two of the MAbs, NC10.10 and NC10.8, showed fluorescence quenching and hypsochromic (blue) shifts in the emission maxima upon complexation with the TGS ligand. Experiments with three other MAbs, NC10.1, NC6.8 and NC2.3, revealed only monotonic fluorescence quenching. The association constants obtained by spectroscopic techniques for the different MAb-TGS complexes were found to be comparable with those determined using a conventional RIA. The thermodynamic parameters of the MAb-TGS complexation were also examined. The intermolecular complexation was found to be exothermic for four of the five MAbs in this study. However, MAb NC2.3 was found to be an exception, in that it was associated with a small positive enthalpic change. This type of spectrofluorimetric analysis can aid in the identification of interactive residues and molecular dynamics involved in TGS recognition by this set of MAb. Such information may prove useful in understanding the molecular recognition motifs responsible for the intense taste properties of high potency guanidine sweeteners.
Transpulmonary lactate shuttle.

The shuttling of intermediary metabolites such as lactate through the vasculature contributes to the dynamic energy and biosynthetic needs of tissues. Tracer kinetic studies offer a powerful tool t...
Neuropsychological features of familial Alzheimer's disease.

It has been proposed that early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) and sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD) have different causes, with FAD due to a single dominant gene with disease onset before the sixth decade, whereas sporadic AD has a later onset and is not associated with a dominant pattern of inheritance. Given these differences, we questioned whether these etiologically distinct forms of AD also differ neuropsychologically. In this study we performed neuropsychological evaluations on patients from two well-documented families with FAD and a group of patients with sporadic AD. The groups were matched on global disease severity at entry. Two groups of education- and age-matched normal controls were recruited for comparison. The groups were analyzed for psychometric findings and pattern of deficits. Both patients with FAD and patients with sporadic AD showed a similar pattern of neuropsychological impairment relative to age-matched controls, i.e., mildly to moderately impaired verbal performance and concentration, severely slowed psychomotor speed, and severely impaired delayed recall of verbal material. There were no differences in pattern suggestive of disproportionately severe anomia, amnesia, agnosia, or apraxia in the early onset FAD group, as has been reported previously.
Effects of β-blocker titration on glucose homeostasis in heart failure

BACKGROUND: Abnormal glucose metabolism and insulin resistance have been associated with heart failure incidence, severity, and mortality. Metabolic parameters such as hepatic glucose production may be altered by beta-adrenoceptor antagonists in patients with heart failure. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effects of metoprolol or carvedilol up-titration on fasting glucose, insulin resistance and beta(2)-mediated glucose production in patients with chronic heart failure. METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized, active comparator study in 15 patients with AHA/ACC Stage C systolic dysfunction HF stable on medical therapy. Participants were randomized to metoprolol 25mg daily or carvedilol 3.125mg twice daily. Metoprolol was titrated to a target of 200mg daily, and carvedilol was titrated to 25mg twice daily over 8weeks. Insulin resistance as assessed by the homeostatic model, and terbutaline-induced glucose production (AUC(0-180)), were assessed at baseline and at 4 subsequent beta-blocker titration visits over 8 weeks. RESULTS: In all 15 patients, terbutaline-induced glucose AUC(0-180) decreased (p=0.0006) as beta-blocker doses increased. A significant reduction in glucose AUC(0-180) compared to baseline was only noted in patients taking metoprolol at 100mg daily (-2424.6 [95% CI -372.6 to -4478.4] mg/dL*min) and 200mg daily (-2437.2 [95% CI -15.1 to -4604.4] mg/dL*min), and not observed in those taking carvedilol. After beta-blocker titration, fasting glucose concentrations for the metoprolol and carvedilol groups were 86.9 (95% CI 89.8-101.6) mg/dL and 95.7 (95% CI 89.8-101.6) mg/dL, respectively (p=0.0273), adjusted for baseline values. There was no significant difference between metoprolol and carvedilol on insulin resistance. CONCLUSION: Increasing doses of beta-blockers are associated with decreased in beta2-mediated glucose production in heart failure. Metoprolol, but not carvedilol, decreases hepatic glucose production at commonly used heart failure doses.
Display science and technology for defense and security

The defense display science and technology (S&T) program must address problems facing warfighters that the commercial world will not. These problems require the creation of revolutionary display materials and devices, and the invention of visual system technologies. Breakthroughs needed in display technology for defense and security personnel may be organized into the following technical challenge areas: ultraresolution 25 megapixel devices and 300 megapixel systems (wall display systems at monitor pixel density), flexible plastic rollup displays (ultra-compact form factor when not in use), sparse data true-3D monitors (phosphors embedded in special polymer host matrices), virtual image and head mounted systems, wireless wearable video displays with ultra low weight and volume (including batteries), and intelligent displays with embedded chips providing integrated computing and communications functionalities. Organic photonics and electronics are central to the progress in these S&T challenge areas: significant materials progress is required to enable the display device capabilities required. These challenges and the results of a Department of Defense (DoD) Special Technology Area Review (STAR) on Displays are reviewed. A top-level roadmap is provided to summarize the defense and security S&T strategy.
Ligand-dependent Cross-talk between Steroid and Thyroid Hormone Receptors EVIDENCE FOR COMMON TRANSCRIPTIONAL COACTIVATOR(S)

Steroid and thyroid hormone receptors exhibit striking structural and functional similarity, suggesting that these nuclear receptors may enhance transcription of target genes by similar mechanisms. To address this issue, we studied transcriptional interference between progesterone and thyroid hormone receptors in vivo and in vitro. We observed that transcriptional interference occurred in a ligand-dependent manner between progesterone receptor-B (PR-B) and thyroid hormone receptor (TR) alpha or beta in transient transfection experiments. Ligand-occupied TRalpha or TRbeta, but not the unliganded receptor, strongly suppressed transactivation of a progesterone-responsive reporter gene by endogenous PRs in human breast carcinoma T47D cells. Ligand-dependent inhibitory cross-talk also occurred between transfected PR-B and TRalpha or TRbeta and vice versa in CV1 cells. This phenomenon did not require DNA binding by the "interfering" receptor but required it to be hormone-bound, indicating that a transcriptionally active form of the interfering receptor is essential for the interfering effect. To analyze further the mechanism of the ligand-dependent cross-talk, we reproduced transcriptional interference between PR and TR in a cell-free transcription system. We observed that the addition of triiodothyronine-bound recombinant TRbeta or a ligand binding domain (LBD) peptide(145-456) inhibited specifically transcriptional activation of a progesterone-responsive gene by endogenous PRs in nuclear extracts of T47D cells, while the basal level of transcription from a minimal TATA-promoter or transcription from an adenovirus major-late promoter remained unaffected. These results indicated that a transactivation function within the LBD of the interfering receptor TRbeta was likely to interact with a mediator protein(s), termed coactivator, that is distinct from basal transcription factors and is critical for efficient PR-induced transactivation. This concept was reinforced by biochemical evidence that treatment of T47D extracts with immobilized TRbeta LBD depleted the extract of the coactivator function in a triiodothyronine-dependent manner and markedly impaired progesterone-induced transactivation of progesterone response element-linked genes. Deletion of six amino acids(451-456) in the extreme COOH terminus of TRbeta resulted in a receptor that retained the ability to bind thyroid hormone but failed to inhibit progesterone-dependent transcription. Interestingly, these six amino acids are present in a region that is highly conserved among various nuclear hormone receptors and contains a ligand-dependent transactivation function, AF-2. Based on these results, we propose that a limiting coactivator protein(s) interacts with the AF-2 of PR or TR and mediates transactivation by the ligand-bound receptor. This regulatory molecule(s) may therefore serve as a common functional link between the pathways of hormone-inducible gene activation by various members of the nuclear receptor superfamily.
Feedback control in living prototypes: A new vista in control engineering

Living systems embody many different forms of feedback control from the autonomic functioning of single cells to the coordination of the life functions in highly complex multi-cellular animals and plants. From the many living control processes, it is possible to gain clues and inspirations that could lead to man-made machines of greatly increased capabilities. The self-adaptive capability of living systems is of topical interest to control engineers, particularly in regard to the living embodiment of analogue models and performance criteria. Three modes of self-adaptive control are discussed in relation to specific examples of their living counterparts. Perhaps the ultimate example of a multi-variable self-adaptive control system is the human operator, who is endowed with planning and “decision-making” abilities. These abilities are discussed in relation to the optimisation of man-machine relationships. Biological transducers and the transmission of information are also discussed.
Isokinetic Strengths and Working Posture

This paper presents isokinetic (dynamic) pull-up strength profiles of males and females, engaged in infrequent force exertion, in fifteen different working postures ranging from kneeling to standing. Maximum pull-up force was exerted with two hands in the stooped posture. Least force was exerted with the preferred hand at reach distance, in the sagittal plane (arm fully extended), in the sitting posture. As expected, large differences existed in the force exertion capability of males and females.
Managing Risks in Multiple Online Auctions: An Options Approach*

The scenario of established business sellers utilizing online auction markets to reach consumers and sell new products is becoming increasingly common. We propose a class of risk management tools, loosely based on the concept of financial options that can be employed by such sellers. While conceptually similar to options in financial markets, we empirically demonstrate that option instruments within auction markets cannot be developed employing similar methodologies, because the fundamental tenets of extant option pricing models do not hold within online auction markets. We provide a framework to analyze the value proposition of options to potential sellers, option-holder behavior implications on auction processes, and seller strategies to write and price options that maximize potential revenues. We then develop an approach that enables a seller to assess the demand for options under different option price and volume scenarios. We compare option prices derived from our approach with those derived from the Black-Scholes model (Black & Scholes, 1973) and discuss the implications of the price differences. Experiments based on actual auction data suggest that options can provide significant benefits under a variety of option-holder behavioral patterns.
NEUTRAL PION-DEUTERON PRODUCTION IN 400-MEV n-p COLLISIONS

The reaction $n+p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}d+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$ has been studied in a high-pressure hydrogen-filled diffusion cloud chamber. A total of 102 deuterons were identified by a technique of ionization measurement in conjunction with momentum measured in the 10 500-gauss magnetic field. From the laboratory deuteron angle and momentum, the pion angle and the incident neutron energy can be deduced with good resolution, provided the pion is emitted backward in the center-of-mass system. Proton recoils were observed simultaneously, from which the incident neutron flux and energy spectrum were determined. The energy spectrum is centered at 400 Mev with a spread of \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}25 Mev. From 52 events occurring in the backward direction the angular distribution of pion emission was found to be consistent with (${{0.28}_{\ensuremath{-}0.14}}^{+0.26}+{{cos}^{2}\overline{\ensuremath{\psi}}}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}$), where the limits include 70 percent of the probability and ${\overline{\ensuremath{\psi}}}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}$ is the pion angle in the center-of-mass system. The observed excitation function and total cross section determined from 60 events is consistent with $(0.47\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.08){\ensuremath{\eta}}^{3}$ millibran, where $\ensuremath{\eta}$ is the center-of-mass pion momentum in rest mass units. These results agree, within the accuracy of the measurements, with the prediction of charge independence that the ratio of this reaction to $p+p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}d+{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$ should be \textonehalf{}.Eight cases of internal conversion of the neutral pion were seen, four accompanied by deuterons and four by protons, the later giving evidence on neutral pion creation with unbound final nucleons.
Minimally-invasive vs open pancreaticoduodenectomy: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Laparoscopic approaches are routinely used for a variety of procedures in general surgery and various surgical specialties including surgical oncology. Since publication of the first series of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the late 1980s, the field of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has expanded dramatically and is now regarded as an established specialty. Many oncologic procedures have proved not only feasible and safe, but oncologically equivalent to traditional open procedures regarding both immediate operative variables of interest (margins, lymph node retrieval, and morbidity) and long-term outcomes. Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) poses a particular challenge. During this procedure, there is extensive retroperitoneal dissection around anatomically complex and hazardous structures, and a prolonged reconstruction that includes 3 technically demanding anastomoses. Given this complex gastrointestinal reconstruction, it has been generally thought that the minimally invasive approach would not significantly decrease recovery time (hospital stay), yet it would significantly increase operative time. Even though minimally invasive PD was reported as early as 1994, laparoscopic surgeons have been reluctant to routinely perform it. Since this first description now almost 20 years ago, a large number of single-institution series of minimally invasive (including laparoscopic-assisted, totally laparoscopic, and more
The study of critical current density of superconducting thallium oxide films from spray-deposited precursors

Abstract Spray deposition is a promising and economic approach for fabricating high-temperature superconducting films for the Tl-oxide superconductors. The Tl-oxides provide the potential for operation at 77 K in practical magnetic fields of 3– 5 T , which has been demonstrated by measurements on the irreversibility behavior of the Tl-1223 single layer compound with Bi and Sr substitution. In this report, we present the preparation and characterization of Tl0.78Bi0.22Sr1.6Ba0.4Ca2Cu3O9 superconducting films fabricated from spray-deposited Tl-free, Ag-containing and Cu-rich precursors and reacted with thallium vapor using a two-step crucible process at 650°C/815°C in flowing argon for only 10/10 min . An epitaxial superconducting film was synthesized successfully and critical current densities of 8×10 5 A / cm 2 at 77 K in zero-field were obtained with excellent in-field performance.
Benign hemangiopericytoma of dog lip.

Abstract A case of hemangiopericytoma of the oral mucosa in a 6-year-old cocker spaniel dog is reported. We believe that this is the first case of an intraoral hemangiopericytoma in an animal to be reported.
From the lightest nuclei to the equation of state of asymmetric nuclear matter with realistic nuclear interactions

We present microscopic calculations of light and medium mass nuclei and the equation of state of symmetric and asymmetric nuclear matter using different nucleon-nucleon interactions, including a new Argonne version that has the same spin-isospin structure as local chiral forces at next-to-next-to-leading order. The calculations are performed using auxiliary field diffusion Monte Carlo (AFDMC) combined with an improved variational wave function and sampling technique. The AFDMC method can now be used to successfully calculate the energies of very light to medium mass nuclei as well as the energy of isospin-asymmetric nuclear matter, demonstrating microscopically the quadratic dependence of the energy on the symmetry energy.
Bronchoscopic Localization and Treatment of Occult Lung Cancer

The flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope is currently the standard tool for localization of radiographically occult carcinomas of the tracheobronchial tree. It allows direct inspection of proximal airways and can establish the location of most occult lung cancers. A small percentage of patients present with bronchoscopically as well as radiographically occult carcinoma, particularly challenging because definitive localization is required before a therapeutic plan can be outlined. Selective cytologic brushing of each lobar segment, taking random biopsy specimens, has been used to assist in localization of these early cancers. Recently, fluorescent compounds have been used to assist in localizing early lung cancers and in the treatment of radiographically occult carcinoma. We review the current methods of bronchoscopic localization and treatment of radiographically occult lung cancer.
Ethinyl estradiol/drospirenone for the treatment of the emotional and physical symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

A combined oral contraceptive pill containing 20 µg of ethinyl estradiol and 3 mg of the progestin drospirenone in a novel dose regimen (24 active pills followed by 4 placebo pills), has demonstrated efficacy for the symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder, a severe form of premenstrual syndrome, with an emphasis on the affective symptoms. Drospirenone has progestagenic, anti-androgenic and anti-aldosterone properties, which differ from earlier generations of progestins, and reducing the hormone pill-free interval allows for better suppression of ovarian steroid production.
Light-scattering studies on ascites tumor cell RNA.

Abstract The molecular parameters of the high molecular weight, ribonucleic acid, prepared from Ehrlich ascites tumor cells have been determined. This RNA appears to consist of two main components of molecular weights of 2.3·106 and 3.2·105. Under conditions close to physiological, these molecules can be described best as compact rods 40–45 A in thickness.
The influence of chorionic gonadotrophin on the reduced NADP-DCPIP oxidoreductase system of rat testis.

La actividad de un sistema enzimatico que oxida el NADPH usando DCPIP como aceptor, en homogenados te sticulares de ratas prepuberales y adultas tratadas con gonadotrofina corionica ha sido estudiado. Los cambios encontrados se dis cuten en relacion con la sintesis de androgenos.
The mechanism of cyanide release in the radiolysis of acetonitrile. Formation and decay of the cyanomethylperoxyl radical

Abstract The radiolysis of neat acetonitrile or of its aqueous solutions was found to lead to formation of cyanide ions, but only in the presence of oxygen. The mechanism involves formation of the acetonitrile radical, °CH2CN, which reacts with O2 to give the peroxyl radical, NCCH2O°2. Subsequent decay of the peroxyl radical results in the release of HCN. From the yield of cyanide under various conditions we conclude that the peroxyl radicals decay via two main routes, the products of one route form cyanide directly while the products of the second route yield cyanide only upon hydrolysis by alkali. The overall yield of CN- in 5% acetonitrile aqueous solutions saturated with a mixture of N2O:O2 (4:1) was G⋍6 (ions per 100 eV energy absorbed) in alkaline solution and G≃3 in neutral solution. The yield of CH2O in both solutions was G≃1.5.