cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Appraising osteoporosis care gaps

To evaluate physician response to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) report within the Geisinger Medical Center’s Mobile DXA Program and treatment adherence at 1 year. Between 10/01/2004 and 3/30/2005, 1381 DXA scans were performed in our Mobile DXA Program. Within this cohort, we identified 366 high-risk, drug-naive patients and report the percentage of patients placed on prescription drug therapy within 90 days of DXA result. Additionally, we identified 191 patients with Z-score of −1.0 or worse and report whether laboratory tests were ordered within 90 days of DXA results in this group. Finally, we determined treatment adherence at 1 year. 269 patients (74%) were offered prescription therapy within 3 months of DXA results. Of those, 210 (57%) were still adherent to drug therapy at 1 year. The main reason for discontinuation of treatment was an adverse drug side effect. Additionally, in 50% cases, physicians ordered 1 or more laboratory tests to evaluate low Z-score. Within our Mobile DXA Program, 74% of high-risk, drug-naive patients were treated. Interestingly, in 50% cases, when a low Z-score was reported, our physicians ordered 1 or more laboratory tests. Treatment adherence was 57% at 1 year.
Variations in Perceived Pain Associated with Emotional Distress and Social Identity in AIDS

This article examines associations between self-perceptions of pain and associated pain distress to gender, ethnicity and religion, health care, health status, and emotional distress. Data were collected through interviews collected in participants' homes. Participants were 151 adults with diagnoses of advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Time since diagnosis, health status, health care, ethnicity, gender, religion, and emotional distress were examined as mediators of pain symptoms, pain distress, and anticipatory pain. Almost all participants (83%) reported AIDS-related pain in the last 3 months. Unexpectedly, pain was negatively associated with time since diagnosis with AIDS. Pain symptoms and pain distress tended to vary by ethnicity, with Latinos expressing more symptoms and pain distress than African Americans. Anticipatory pain varied significantly by gender and religion, with women, Catholics, and Protestants anticipating pain more than men and n...
Unusual Effects of Penicillin G and Chloramphenicol on the Growth of Moraxella osloensis

Growth of exponential-phase liquid cultures of Moraxella osloensis was inhibited by 0.5 U of penicillin G per ml. For this organism, low concentrations of penicillin acted primarily in a bacteriostatic rather than in a bactericidal manner. At higher concentrations of penicillin some killing did take place, but the rate of killing was rather slow and appeared to be independent of penicillin concentration. Microscopic observation of cells from penicillin-treated cultures showed little or no cellular swelling or lysis. The total cell count did not decrease significantly during 6 h of incubation in 5,000 U of penicillin per ml. The rates of respiration, nucleic acid synthesis, and protein synthesis were not affected by the presence of penicillin. Attempts to counteract the bactericidal action of high concentrations of penicillin with growth inhibitory concentrations of chloramphenicol were unsuccessful, since chloramphenicol itself was more bactericidal than penicillin for M. osloensis .
A Delphi Study to Operationalize Evidence-Based Predictors in Secondary Transition

Although there are many activities (e.g., transition services), derived from correlational research, that occur while students are in school that increase the likelihood of positive post-school out...
Major Components of an Asthma Disease Management Programme

In an effort to improve patient outcomes and reduce resource use and costs associated with asthma care, asthma disease management programmes have now gained momentum. If a programme is to be effective, the identification of goals and outcomes relevant to the target populations is essential. These may include strategies aimed at reducing the use of resources, improving patient symptom scores and quality-of-life measures, or normalising pulmonary function. Methods to measure such outcomes should be developed in the design phase of the programme. The best practice model for asthma care incorporates a multidisciplinary approach, using asthma care specialists, case managers, primary care physicians and nurse educators to target ‘high-risk’ asthmatics. The key interventions include incorporating clinical pathways developed from evidence-based guidelines, patient education and removal of obstacles to care and adherence. Assessment of outcomes and continuous efforts to improve quality are needed to make the programme cost effective.
MPTP Neurotoxicity and Testosterone Induce Dendritic Remodeling of Striatal Medium Spiny Neurons in the C57Bl/6 Mouse

Nigrostriatal damage is increased in males relative to females. While estrogen is neuroprotective in females, less is known about potential protective effects of testosterone in males. We determined if castration enhances neuronal injury to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). Castrates or sham-castrated mice were sacrificed 1 week following injection of MPTP (4×20 mg/kg) or saline (n=11-12/group). The right striatum was immunostained for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). The left hemisphere was stained by Golgi Cox to quantify neuronal morphology in medium spiny neurons (MSNs) of the dorsolateral striatum. MPTP reduced TH, but there was no effect of castration and no interaction. For MSN dendritic morphology, MPTP decreased the highest branch order and increased spine density on 2nd-order dendrites. Castrated males had shorter 5th-order dendrites. However, there was no interaction between gonadal status and MPTP. Thus, castration and MPTP exert nonoverlapping effects on MSN morphology with castration acting on distal dendrites and MPTP acting proximally.
Fluidization of coated group C powders

While it is well known that flow aids such as fumed silica can be added to improve flowability and fluidizability of cohesive powders, the improvements observed depend on how well the flow aids are blended together with the cohesive powders. In this work, dry particle coating is used to deposit a very small amount of nano-sized particles (as low as 0.01 wt %) with a high degree of precision onto the surface of cohesive, Geldart Group C powders to make them fluidize like Group A powders. A model taking into account the effect of the size of the guest and host particles as well as surface area coverage (SAC) of the coated nano-sized particles is developed to predict the effect of coating on the adhesion reduction of cohesive powders. A series of experiments are performed to investigate the improvement in the fluidizability of dry particle coated Group C powders (e.g., cornstarch and aluminum), and the effect of various parameters such as SAC, guest particle size and host particle size are systematically investigated. The results clearly show the effect of each of these parameters on the fluidization behavior of cohesive powders, and also validate the model. The study also indicates that a critical SAC is required to make the coated cornstarch fluidize, which is about 5%; the smaller the guest size, the better its effect on improved fluidizability, although the improvement is reduced if the guest size is smaller than about 10 nm; and if the conditions regarding the SAC and guest size are satisfied, dry particle coating will significantly improve the fluidization of cohesive particles even as small as 5–10 μm. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2008
Cosmetic use of botulinum A exotoxin for the aging neck.

background. The use of botulinum toxin for facial rhytides has become more popular. In the past, plastic surgery was the only choice for rejuvenation of the aging neck. We discuss the cosmetic use of botulinum toxin for the rejuvenation of the neck and review the anatomy. objectives. We will review the four age-related neck degeneration categories and discuss how to inject botulinum A exotoxin into the platysmal neck bands. result. We will discuss how botulinum can tighten neck jowls, eliminate horizontal neck rhytides, and improve skin laxity. conclusion. Botulinum A exotoxin is a safe, effective, alternative treatment for rejuvenation of the aging neck and lower face. Patients are uniformly satisfied and complications are minimal.
Dynamic regulation of cardiolipin by the lipid pump Atp8b1 determines the severity of lung injury in experimental pneumonia

Pneumonia remains the leading cause of death from infection in the US, yet fundamentally new conceptual models underlying its pathogenesis have not emerged. We show that humans and mice with bacterial pneumonia have markedly elevated amounts of cardiolipin, a rare, mitochondrial-specific phospholipid, in lung fluid and find that it potently disrupts surfactant function. Intratracheal cardiolipin administration in mice recapitulates the clinical phenotype of pneumonia, including impaired lung mechanics, modulation of cell survival and cytokine networks and lung consolidation. We have identified and characterized the activity of a unique cardiolipin transporter, the P-type ATPase transmembrane lipid pump Atp8b1, a mutant version of which is associated with severe pneumonia in humans and mice. Atp8b1 bound and internalized cardiolipin from extracellular fluid via a basic residue-enriched motif. Administration of a peptide encompassing the cardiolipin binding motif or Atp8b1 gene transfer in mice lessened bacteria-induced lung injury and improved survival. The results unveil a new paradigm whereby Atp8b1 is a cardiolipin importer whose capacity to remove cardiolipin from lung fluid is exceeded during inflammation or when Atp8b1 is defective. This discovery opens the door for new therapeutic strategies directed at modulating the abundance or molecular interactions of cardiolipin in pneumonia.
Quantum-statistical modeling of ICPs: He(I)

Relative populations of excited states of He(I) in reduced-pressure ICPs have been shown to obey Fermi-Dirac statistical counting. A single thermodynamic temperature—2000 K—defines the distribution. The experimental relative populations and the Fermi-Dirac distributions agree within fractions of one percent.
Effectiveness of transition from intravenous epoprostenol to oral/inhaled targeted pulmonary arterial hypertension therapy in pediatric idiopathic and familial pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Before 2001, intravenous epoprostenol was the only approved drug for patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) or familial pulmonary arterial hypertension (FPAH) who were nonresponsive to high-dose calcium channel blockade. The investigators report transitioning select pediatric patients with IPAH or FPAH from intravenous epoprostenol to oral and/or inhaled agents for pulmonary arterial hypertension. A retrospective review was performed on all pediatric patients with IPAH or FPAH treated at Columbia University (1987 to 2008) who transitioned off epoprostenol to oral or inhaled drugs. Criteria for transition included functional class I or II, mean pulmonary arterial pressure 6 years. Hemodynamic and clinical data were obtained at baseline (before epoprostenol), at peak epoprostenol dose, and after epoprostenol discontinuation. Fourteen of 104 pediatric patients with IPAH or FPAH transitioned off epoprostenol to oral or inhaled drugs from April 2003 to July 2008. Of the 14 subjects, 13 transitioned off epoprostenol successfully to oral or inhaled drugs. No significant changes in functional class, hemodynamics, or exercise data were seen after epoprostenol (mean follow-up duration 7.0 ± 5.8 months) compared to peak epoprostenol, but further improvement was reported in World Health Organization functional class (p
A Method to Measure Static Charge on a Filter Used for Gravimetric Analysis

Static charge present on a filter contributes substantial error to low-level mass measurements. The measurement and sources of static charge are not well understood and this article presents a fundamental method of static charge measurement. As predicted by other researchers, triboelectric charging was found to generate significant static charge on a filter when using 2007 Diesel particulate matter (PM) measurement protocols. Measurements made using our method indicate that PM filters are rapidly and effectively neutralized by 210 Polonuim ( 210 Po) sources. The neutralization of charge occurred exponentially with characteristic time constants (the time it takes for the charge on the filter to decay by 63%) of 0.4 and 0.7 s, depending on the strength of the source. The experimental neutralization time constants were consistent with theory. The charge remaining on highly charged 47 mm Teflon and TX40 filters after 5 s of neutralization with year old 210 Po sources biased the true filter mass by <1 μg when ...
E-Cigarettes: Facts, Perceptions, and Marketing Messages

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are perceived as an alternative to standard tobacco cigarette smoking, primarily because of the e-cigarette industry's marketing messages. However, scientific studies about e-cigarette safety and efficacy remain limited. This column presents some of the issues associated with e-cigarette use, such as potential components of regulation, perceptions that e-cigarettes can help users quit smoking, and free-wheeling marketing strategies that include expanding e-cigarette use to young people. Nurses can be a reliable source of information about e-cigarettes.
Energy balance and plume dynamics in Triton's lower atmosphere

The present study of the thermal balance-affecting relationships among Triton lower atmosphere thermal conduction, eddy mixing, condensation, and radiative heating indicates that, while the temperature gradient is negative in the lower atmosphere, it becomes positive at higher altitudes due to the downward conduction of ionospheric heat. This temperature profile is essentially consistent with radio-occultation experiment data; the geyser-like plumes observed by Voyager suggest that the Trioton atmosphere's convective and conductive regions join near 10-km altitude, and that the values inferred for the eddy diffusion and heat-transport coefficients indicate a profile reminiscent of the earth's.
Torrefaction of Loblolly pine

The torrefaction of Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) was examined at 250 and 300 °C, to determine the effects of treatment temperatures on the chemical structure of the torrefied Loblolly pine. Solid-state cross-polarization/magic angle spinning (CP/MAS) 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to characterize the torrefied and native Loblolly pine. The NMR results indicate that aryl-ether bonds in lignin were cleaved during the torrefaction. The methyl carbons in hemicellulose acetyl groups were no longer present after the torrefaction at 250 °C for 4 h, which is consistent with HPLC carbohydrate analysis of the torrefied wood which indicated that the hemicellulose fraction of pine was completely absent, whereas the cellulose and lignin remained largely intact. Under these conditions the torrefied wood has a relatively high energy yield of 81.29% and a HHV of 24.06 MJ kg−1. After torrefaction at 300 °C for 4 h, the cellulose and hemicellulose in the wood were completely eliminated, the residue contains enriched amounts of carbonyl groups, aromatic carbons and methoxyl groups, which represent complex condensed aromatics, these aromatics units were linked with aliphatic C–O and C–C bonds and the product has a very high HHV of 32.34 MJ kg−1.
Coronary flow studies in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy of the hypertensive type. Evidence for an impaired coronary vascular reserve.

Abstract Increased myocardial blood flow occurs in ventricular hypertrophy, but flow per 100 grams of myocardium remains normal. The increase in flow may be obtained at the expense of the existing coronary vascular reserve or by an increase in the vascular bed. The coronary vascular reserve was studied by analyzing the hyperemic reaction to selective injection of contrast agent into the coronary arteries in 25 patients: a control group (9 patients) with chest pain syndrome, normal coronary arteries and a normal left ventricle (Group I) and 16 patients with aortic stenosis, left ventricular hypertrophy and normal coronary arteries (Group II). The hyperemic response in Groups I and II was 73.3 ± 2.2 and 65.8 ± 9.1 percent, respectively (difference not significant). Group II was subdivided into two groups: Group IIA had five patients with a left ventricular mass of less than 200 g (mean 158.8 ± 25.9); this group had a hyperemic response of 102.3 ± 9.9 percent. Group IIB had 11 patients with a left ventricular mass of more than 200 g (mean 308.9 ± 22.5) and a hyperemic response of 49.27 ± 10.42 percent. The hyperemic response was correlated with the diastolic left ventricular-aortic gradient (r = +0.64, p These data suggest that severe left ventricular hypertrophy is associated with a reduction in coronary vascular reserve; it is speculated that this decrease in the vascular reserve capacity may be related to the ischemie component of hypertrophic heart disease.
Adiabatic Index in Shock-Compressed Beryllium

We present a method to measure the adiabatic index of a material under shock compression by X-ray Thomson Scattering. A beryllium target is symmetrically compressed by two counterpropagating shock waves that collide in the target center, producing super dense states of matter of up to 6 fold compression. We measure the density before and after the shock collision and solve the Hugoniot relations for colliding shocks to infer the adiabatic index. Our results indicate that the adiabatic index stays rather high even in the high compression regime. This agrees with a linear scaling model taken from the SESAME equation of state and shows that the adiabatic index becomes significantly different from the ratio of heat capacities in this strongly coupled plasma (© 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Revolutionizing the Core: GIS in the Planning Curriculum:

Geographic information systems (GIS) have emerged over the past decade to become the most powerful and important computer application to hit the profession of planning. Although GIS is now used by most public sector planning agencies and private planning firms, planning schools have been slow to adapt their core curricula to ensure that all students gain some exposure to this technology before entering the job market. A review of the core curricula of accredited programs in North America revealed GIS to be a rare element of the core. This paper outlines potential reasons that GIS has been slow to emerge as an element in the planning core and offers some guidance on how to remedy this situation with a minimum of disruption to existing programs.
Multi-faceted regulation of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase.

Glutathione is an important antioxidant that is involved in numerous cellular activities. gamma-Glutamylcysteine synthetase (gammaGCS) is a key regulatory enzyme in the synthesis of glutathione. It is a heterodimeric zinc metalloprotein that belongs to a unique class of proteins that gain activity due to formation of a reversible disulfide bond. The two subunits of gammaGCS exhibit differential and coordinate transcription regulation. In addition, the subunits are regulated at the posttranscriptional and posttranslational levels. These various levels of regulation allow numerous stimuli to induce or inhibit activity.
The renin-angiotensin system in conscious newborn sheep: metabolic clearance rate and activity.

The role of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in regulating newborn mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and tissue blood flow remains unclear. Although postnatal MAP increases, vascular responsiveness to infused angiotensin II (ANG II) is un- changed, possibly reflecting increased metabolic clearance rate of ANG II (MCR ANG II ). To address this, we examined MAP, heart rate, plasma ANG II and renin activity (PRA), and MCR ANG II in conscious postnatal sheep (n 9, 5-35 d old) before and during continuous systemic ANG II infusions to measure MCR ANG II . Postnatal MAP increased (p 0.02), whereas plasma ANG II decreased from 942 230 (SEM) to 471 152 and 240 70 pg/mL at 10 d, 10-20 d, and 21-35 d postnatally (p 0.05), respectively. Despite high plasma ANG II, PRA remained elevated, averaging 6.70 1.1 ng/mL·h throughout the postnatal period, but decreased 35% (p 0.01) during ANG II infusions. MCR ANG II decreased approximately sixfold after birth and averaged 115 mL/min·kg during the first month. Circulating ANG II is markedly increased after birth, reflect- ing placental removal, high fetal MCR ANG II , and enhanced RAS activity. Although circulating ANG II decreases as MAP increases, MCR ANG II is unchanged, suggesting decreased ANG II production. Persistent vascular smooth muscle (VSM) AT2 receptor subtype (AT2R) expression after birth may modify the hypertensive effects of ANG II postnatally. (Pediatr Res 61: 681-686, 2007)
Long-Range Forecasting: From Crystal Ball to Computer

This article presents a review of the book “Long-Range Forecasting: From Crystal Ball to Computer,” by J. Scott Armstrong.
Shock Treatment: Heavy Quark Energy Loss in a Novel AdS/CFT Geometry

Abstract We first note the failures of traditional pQCD techniques as applied to high- p T heavy ion physics and the suggestion of examining the double ratio of charm to bottom nuclear modification factors to generically distinguish between these weak coupling ideas and the strong coupling ideas of AdS/CFT. In order to gain confidence in the use of AdS/CFT (and to increase the likelihood of falsifying it and/or pQCD) we extend its application to heavy quark energy loss in both thermal and nonthermal media by calculating the string drag in a shock metric.
Efficacious extra U(1) factor for the supersymmetric standard model.

The totality of neutrino-oscillation phenomena appears to require the existence of a light singlet neutrino. As pointed out recently, this can be naturally accommodated with a specific extra U(1) factor contained in the superstring-inspired E{sub 6} model and its implied particle spectrum. We analyze this model for other possible consequences. We discuss specifically the oblique corrections from {ital Z}-{ital Z}{sup {prime}} mixing, the phenomenology of the two-Higgs-doublet sector, and the associated neutralino sector, as well as possible scenarios of gauge-coupling unification. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
Further studies on the electron transport proteins involved in the oxidative decarboxylation of glycine

Abstract The oxidative decarboxylation of glycine is catalyzed by a system consisting of 4 proteins isolated from Peptococcus glycinophilus . P 2 , a small molecular weight, dithiolcontaining protein, and P 3 , a flavoprotein, are concerned with electron transfer from glycine to DPN (i.e., glycine → P 2 → P 3 → DPN). Reversed electron flow through this sequence is also demonstrable (DPNH → P 3 → P 2 → DTNB). From its ability to be reduced by either DPNH or dihydrolipoic acid, and changes in absorption spectrum when the reduced enzyme is treated with arsenite or mercurials, P 3 appears to be a lipoyl dehydrogenase. Consistent with this hypothesis, lipoyl dehydrogenases from pig heart and Escherichia coli can replace P 3 in each of the above transfer sequences.
Protein Conformational Dynamics Measured With Terahertz Time Domain Spectroscopy

Tertiary structural vibrational modes of proteins are at far infrared or terahertz frequencies. These modes involve collective motion of many atoms and are indicative of the protein structure, hydration and binding with ligands and other proteins[1-3]. Previously we have shown that the absorbance strongly resembles the vibrational mode density of states. Our measurements of conformational change have focused on the hydration, denaturing effects, and photoactive proteins bacteriorhodopsin. In addition we have shown a strong sensitivity of the terahertz response to heme protein oxidation state[4]. We will discuss the impact of these results on biomolecular switching mechanisms as well as applications to biomolecular sensing. In the case of bacteriorhodopsin the conformational state is controlled through photoexcitation and monitored by UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy[3]. In the "active" state, critical to the full photocycling and therefore biological activity, the terahertz absorbance and index are increased relative to the resting state. This increase could be associated with a red shifting of the density of states, consistent with increased structural flexibility in the active state. However in the case of photoactive yellow protein we see a decrease in the index and absorbance consistent with a decrease in tertiary structure suggesting partial unfolding in the active state. We have investigated the effect of unfolding directly by examining denatured samples of hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL). In Figure 1 we show the change in the absorbance and index as HEWL is thermally denatured.
Activity of a cationic carotenoid derivative in a mouse model of protoporphyria

Abstract Prior work using cell culture has shown that certain synthetic carotenoid derivatives are more effective than natural carotenoids in preventing photosensitized cell killing. These carotenoid derivatives are either cationic or are weak bases. We have now found that of one of these derivatives, the Girard’s reagent T derivative of β-apo-8′-carotenal (GRT-carotenal) decreases acute photosensitivity in a mouse model of protoporphyria. When GRT-carotenal was added to the diet of SKH1 mice, both GRT-carotenal and its metabolites accumulated in the skin of the mice. Protoporphyria was induced in SKH1 mice by adding collidine to their diet. When the porphyric mice were exposed to 400 nm light (2.6 ± 0.1 mW cm−2) for a period of 2 h, the skin on the backs of these animals increased in thickness. Increased vascularity also developed in the skin of the mouse ears. Animals, that were fed a diet containing both collidine and GRT-carotenal and then exposed to light, had significantly smaller increases in skin thickness and less prominent increases in the vascular pattern on their ears.
Book Review of Suicide Across the Life Span: Implications for Counselors

Book reviewed in this article: Suicide Across the Life Span: Implications for Counselors by David Capuzzi (Ed.), 2004
First and Last Words Apprehending the Social and Legal Facts of an Urban High School Shooting

Urban school violence is common and when it becomes fatal constitutes a neglected theoretical counterpoint to highly publicized rural and suburban school shootings. Joseph White shot and killed Delondyn Lawson and injured two other youths at Tilden High School in the last fatal Chicago school shooting nearly a decade ago. This event was portrayed in extensive news coverage as random and senseless and by a jury trial as a first-degree homicide that was inexcusable as self-defense. Journalism often is described as the first draft of history, and trials often are seen as the more definitive record. Yet neither journalism nor trials are comprehensive sources of social history, especially of social conflict. The authors demonstrate that journalistic accounts can prejudge and stereotype lethal school violence, that trials often further depict these conflicts in legally authoritative but restricted and misleading ways, and that an exclusive focus on rural and suburban settings obscures a broader theoretical unde...
Hormonal involvement in thermal acclimation in the fiddler crab Uca pugilatc (BOSC)—I. Effect of eyestalk extracts on who animal respiration

Abstract 1. 1. Eyestalk extracts prepared from cold-acclimated crabs significantly increased respiration in warm-acclimated animals. 2. 2. Eyestalk extracts prepared from warm-acclimated crabs significantly decreased respiration in cold acclimated animals. 3. 3. Differences in the activities of the respiration-regulating factors with extraction procedure indicate that there are two distinct hormones present.
Choline metabolism in cancer: implications for diagnosis and therapy

Magnetic resonance studies from the last 10 years have conclusively demonstrated that choline metabolism is altered in a wide variety of cancers. In cancer, the choline metabolite profile is characterized by an elevation of phosphocholine and total choline-containing compounds. This elevation is increasingly being used as an endogenous biomarker of cancer. Importantly, the enzymes and pathways resulting in these distinct alterations in phosphocholine and total choline may provide novel molecular targets for specific, targeted anticancer therapies. In this article, we have summarized some of the magnetic resonance spectroscopy and positron emission tomography techniques that are currently available, or will be in the near future, for choline metabolism-based diagnosis, staging and therapy assessment in cancer patients. This review also outlines currently known molecular alterations that cause the aberrant choline metabolite profile in cancers and concludes with a summary of recent research findings that may, in the future, lead to novel anticancer therapies targeting choline metabolism.
The rationale for cryotherapy with a prophylactic scleral buckle for Zone I threshold retinopathy of prematurity.

Our current surgical protocol for Zone I threshold retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) has evolved over 15 years and is rationalized by increasing knowledge of two pathologic processes of ROP: 1) angiogenic stimulation of spindle cells (clinically invisible) near the vitreal surface of the avascular retina; and 2) tractional forces of myofibroblasts [clinically visible as extraretinal fibrovascular proliferation (EFP)] in the vitreous overlying the vascular retina. These two pathologic processes occur concomitantly with normal anterior ocular growth with a constant optic disc-macular distance. Our current surgical protocol for Zone I threshold ROP. involves complex surgeries to achieve success defined as a macula which always remains anatomically attached, but which may be distorted or ectopic. This protocol requires cryotherapy in at least two sessions. The first is to the avascular retina to destroy spindle cells. The second is to the EFP to destroy myofibroblasts and to the shunt to eliminate the site of origin of myofibroblasts. The protocol also requires the concomitant placement of a prophylactic scleral buckle to allow formation of a new complete ora serrata while remnant myofibroblasts contract and while anterior ocular growth continues.
A pilot study of a new therapeutic approach in the treatment of locally advanced stages of rectal cancer: Neoadjuvant radiation, chemotherapy and regional hyperthermia

Abstract The synergistic effects of hyperthermia (temperatures ⩾41° C) when combined with radiotherapy or cytotoxic drugs, as well as a modulation of tumour-related immunological phenomena have been demonstrated preclinically. Local or regional hyperthermia in combination with radiation or chemotherapy has been studied in patients during recent years, and has convincingly demonstrated that hyperthermia is feasible and tolerated by patients. Furthermore, there is strong evidence that hyperthermia may provide an improvement in local control as compared with radiotherapy or chemotherapy alone. Systems based on radiowave irradiation allow sufficiently tolerable and effective regional hyperthermic therapy in patients with rectal carcinomas. Used as part of curative pre-operative and postoperative multimodal therapeutic strategies in high-risk patients with locally advanced rectal carcinomas, hyperthermia may result in improved local control and a higher rate of sphincter-sparing procedures. 20 patients with non-resectable, locally advanced primary or recurring rectal carcinoma T3/4 entered a phase I/II study of pre-operative radiochemothermotherapy with folinic acid and 5-fluorouracil, radiation (45 Gy HD), as well as regional hyperthermia once a week followed by chemotherapy after surgery. The regimen proved to be sufficiently tolerable. Acute grade III or IV toxicities did not occur after hyperthermia. Tumour resections were performed on 14 of the 20 patients, with 13 being complete. In 9 of the carcinomas, downstaging compared with the pretherapeutic stage was achieved. In 3 of 6 patients with persistent non-resectable tumours, local control has now been maintained for more than 12 months. One patient progressed locally during neoadjuvant combination therapy. These results prompted the initiation of a prospective randomised study to evaluate the relative importance of regional hyperthermia in this setting.
Time-based and count-based measurement of preference.

Rats' pressing on two levers was reinforced according to two independent variable-interval schedules that were varied during the experiment. Since the levers were connected directly to the programming equipment, bypassing the standard pulseformers, reinforcement could occur while a lever was held down. Although the time a lever was pressed might, therefore, have varied independently of number of presses, these two measures covaried substantially, because the average duration of the presses remained roughly constant. This rough invariance may have resulted from the rats' tendency to make bursts of brief presses (i.e., to jiggle the levers), even though the contingencies encouraged holding. When duration did vary, presses on the two levers tended to vary together. As a result, relative time spent pressing corresponded closely to relative number of presses. Both of these measures conformed well to the matching law. Absolute behavioral frequency at a lever, measured either way, varied directly with proportion of reinforcement for that lever, in accordance with the generalized version of the matching law. Number of presses seemed, on balance, to be a slightly more reliable measure than pressing time. The substantial interchangeability may prove more significant than the slight disparity, however, because it supports the notion that all behavior can be measured on a common scale of time.
In Defense of Irreligious Bioethics

Some commentators have criticized bioethics as failing to engage religion both as a matter of theory and practice. Bioethics should work toward understanding the influence of religion as it represents people's beliefs and practices, but bioethics should nevertheless observe limits in regard to religion as it does its normative work. Irreligious skepticism toward religious views about health, healthcare practices and institutions, and responses to biomedical innovations can yield important benefits to the field. Irreligious skepticism makes it possible to raise questions that otherwise go unasked and to protect against the overreach of religion. In this sense, bioethics needs a vigorous irreligious outlook every bit as much as it needs descriptive understandings of religion.
The Effect of Shift Length on Fatigue and Cognitive Performance in Air Medical Providers

AbstractObjective. To employ a battery of previously validated surveys and neuropsychological tests to compare changes in fatigue and cognitive abilities of air medical providers after 12- and 24-hour shifts. Methods. A convenience sample of 34 flight nurses and flight paramedics employed by one air medical service completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire (CFQ) to determine fatigue before and after 12-hour (n = 16) and 24-hour (n = 19) shifts. A battery of neuropsychological tests, including the University of Southern California Repeatable Episodic Memory Test (USC-REMT), Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT), Trail Making Test (TMT), and Stroop Color–Word Test were administered before and after the shift to measure changes in cognition. We compared the change in scores stratified by shift length using t-tests, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and Fisher's exact test. Results. Participants in the 12- and 24-hour shift groups were aged 36 ± 8 years (12-hour ...
Where are you from? Child advocacy and the benefits of marginality.

A discussion of marginality and the variety of experiences that influenced a prominent developmental psychologist to forge a career in child advocacy.
Unidirectional, electrotactic-response valve for Caenorhabditis elegans in microfluidic devices

We report a nematode electrotactic-response valve (NERV) to control the locomotion of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) in microfluidic devices. This nonmechanical, unidirectional valve is based on creating a confined region of lateral electric field that is switchable and reversible. We observed that C. elegans do not prefer to pass through this region if the field lines are incident to its forward movement. Upon reaching the boundary of the NERV, the incident worms partially penetrate the field region, pull back, and turn around. The NERV is tested on three C. elegans mutants: wild-type (N2), lev-8, and acr-16.
Understanding when location-hiding using overlay networks is feasible

Overlay networks (proxy networks) have been used as a communication infrastructure to allow applications to communicate with users without revealing their IP addresses. Such proxy networks are used to enhance application security; including protecting applications from direct attacks and infrastructure Denial-of-Service attacks. However, the conditions under which such approaches can hide application location are not well understood. To shed light on this question, we develop a formal framework for the proxy network approach to location-hiding which encompasses most of the proposed approaches. It is used to characterize how attacks, defenses, and correlated host vulnerabilities affect the feasibility of location-hiding.We find that existing approaches employing static structures (e.g., SOS and I3) cannot hide application location because attackers gain information monotonically and quickly penetrate the proxy network. However, adding defenses, such as proxy network reconfiguration or migration, which invalidate the information attackers have, makes location-hiding feasible against penetration attacks. Proxy-network depth and reconfiguration rates are critical factors for effectiveness. Furthermore, correlated vulnerabilities in many cases jeopardize location-hiding; however, by exploiting host diversity and intelligent proxy-network construction, the negative impact of correlation can be mitigated and location-hiding can be achieved. These results provide deeper understanding of the location-hiding problem and guidelines for proxy-network design.
Comparison of outcome of resuscitation of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in persons younger and older than 70 years of age.

Abstract Even though sudden death increases with age,1,2 the problem of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest has not been studied in the elderly. In an attempt to determine the effect of age on resuscitation following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, we studied consecutive victims of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest who received resuscitation by paramedics. Specific out-of-hospital rhythms were analyzed and success of resuscitation and survival were determined according to the victim's age and rhythm.
IL-15: targeting CD8+ T cells for immunotherapy

IL-15 is a pleiotropic cytokine that plays an important role in both the innate and adaptive immune system. IL-15 promotes the activation of neutrophils and macrophages, and is critical to DC function. In addition, IL-15 is essential to the development, homeostasis, function and survival of natural killer (NK) cells, NK T (NKT) cells and CD8+ T cells. Based on these properties, IL-15 has been proposed as a useful cytokine for immunotherapy. It is currently being investigated in settings of immune deficiency, for the in vitro expansion of T and NK cells, as well as an adjuvant for vaccines. In this paper, we will review the targeting of IL-15 for immunotherapy, with a particular emphasis on its effects on CD8+ T cells.
The influence of ignition source on the flaming fire hazard of upholstered furniture

A set of upholstered chairs constructed from five different fabric/foam combinations was subjected to a variety of ignition sources suggested by fire statistics. The sources included a cigarette, a small match-like flame, an incandescent lamp, a space heater, and a large flame source (TB 133 ignition source). The tests were performed in a furniture calorimeter where heat release rate and species production rates were obtained. For any chair type, the time to the peak heat release rate depended on the ignition sequence, but the magnitude of the peak did not, within the scatter of the data for any given chair. HAZARD I, the fire hazard assessment method developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), was used to quantify the hazard posed by the different ignition scenarios. Not one of the ignition scenarios examined consistently yielded the greatest potential hazard for all chair types tested when ignition and sustained burning were achieved. No deaths were predicted when a working smoke detector was present. When a detector was not present, the results from the limited number of scenarios considered confirm the importance of a low peak heat release rate and to some extent a slow rate of rise to lessen the hazard of upholstered furniture fires.
Emotional Imagery: Conceptual Structure and Pattern of Somato‐Visceral Response

This research examined deductions from a new theory of emotional imagery (Lang, 1979). Two experiments were performed, testing the hypothesis that the conceptual content processed during imagery determines the amplitude and pattern of coincident efferent activity. The image was manipulated by varying the content of the prompting instructions (either stimulus detail or active responding was emphasized in the image script) and by prior imagery training (in which subjects' post-image verbal reports were shaped to emphasize either stimulus or response material). Three thematic contents were examined: neutral, action, and fear scenes. In Experiment I, a group which received response-oriented imagery training and response scripts was compared to a stimulus-oriented group. The results strongly supported the hypothesis: response subjects showed greater physiological activity during imagery, and their efferent pattern generally followed the script content. In Experiment II, one group again received response training and the other, stimulus training. However, half of each group was later tested on response-structured scripts and the other half on stimulus scripts. Results again supported the hypothesis. As in Experiment I, response-trained subjects tested on response scripts showed substantial physiological activity. None of the other groups, which received stimulus training and/or stimulus scripts, showed significant physiological responses during imagery. Response-trained subjects generally rated their imagery as more vivid. Subjects administered response-oriented scripts reported more emotional arousal than did subjects administered stimulus scripts.
Pulmonary elastin expression is decreased in the nitrofen-induced rat model of congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Abstract Background/purpose Babies with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) suffer from pulmonary hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension. Elastin is a critical component of the extracellular matrix (EM) involved in pulmonary development and mechanics. Because CDH lungs are developmentally immature and have reduced compliance, the authors hypothesized that elastin deposition would be reduced and disorganized in the nitrofen rat model of CDH. Methods Time-dated pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were fed 100 mg of nitrofen on day 9 of gestation. Control rats did not receive nitrofen. The authors analyzed three groups of rats (n = 10 for each group): (1) control (C), (2) nitrofen no CDH (NC), and (3) nitrofen-induced CDH (CDH). On day 21.5 (term, 22 days), the fetuses were delivered by cesarean section, and the fetal lung was harvested. Elastin content, mRNA expression, and distribution were assessed with desmosine analysis, Northern blot analysis, and Hart's staining, respectively. Results The mean desmosine content in picomole desmosine per milligram protein (pmD/mgP) ± SD was 30 ± 6.8 (C, n=10), 25.1 ± 10.1 (NC, n=10), and 21.6 ± 6.4 (CDH, n=10). The comparison between CDH and controls was statistically significant ( P = .026). Northern blot analysis showed decreased mRNA expression in the CDH sample. Hart's staining showed developmentally immature CDH lungs with less elastin deposition and disorganized distribution. Conclusions Pulmonary elastin expression is decreased and disorganized in the nitrofen-induced rat model of CDH. The decreased expression appears to be regulated at the level of transcription. Altered mechanical forces may be responsible for mediating the expression of elastin in CDH.
Mobility and human capital theory: The education, age, race, and income characteristics of migrants

The paper uses existing human capital theory to provide a unified explanation of the education, age, race, and income characteristics of migrants. The hypothesis is formulated that the better educated, the younger, and the middle-income groups are more mobile than the less educated, the older and the very lowor very high-income groups respectively. Nonwhites are expected to be less mobile than whites during periods of high unemployment in the economy. Empirical evidence concerning migrants to and from 93 SMSA's of the United States supports the theoretical hypotheses.
Radioimmunotherapy in the treatment of malignant astrocytomas

AbstractThe poor prognosis of patients diagnosed with malignant astrocytomas and the failure of conventional therapies to significantly impact the course of this disease have resulted in the development of a number of experimental adjuvant therapies, including radioimmunotherapy (RIT). Certain human gliomas have been associated with an overexpression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Radiolabeled antibodies that target these receptors and are quickly internalized can effectively deliver ionizing radiation to ensure tumor cell kill, particularly to residual tumor masses unaffected by standard treatment regimens. The fundamental components integrated for this evolving adjuvant therapy are detailed and key current experimental studies using RIT are described. Evaluation of the current radioimmunotherapeutic results indicates that certain radiolabeled MAbs have a role in the diagnosis and/or treatment of malignant gliomas.
On galactic cosmic ray flux decrease near solar minima and Imf intensity

We have analyzed the annual mean hourly rate data obtained with a variety of detectors located at the global sites as well as at the balloon altitudes, for the sunspot number (SSN) cycles 20, 21, 22. A systematic decrease is observed in all of them near the solar minimum epochs, for the period 1965 to 1987. The median rigidity of response (Rm) for these detectors, to the galactic cosmic ray (GCR) spectrum, lies in the range: 3GV < Rm < 67 GV. The observed decrease in GCR flux corresponds to an observed increase in the baselevel of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) intensity (B) during the same time period; no increase is observed in SSN minimum levels during this interval. The available data for GCR (1937 to 1998) and B (1963 to 1998) are reviewed. We argue that the cause of the observed GCR flux decrease (increase in the residual modulation) must be located in the heliosphere and not in the local interstellar medium.
Irreducible representations of the rotation group in terms of the axis and angle of rotation

Abstract We give and verify a simple expression for exp [ i u · J ] where J = (J1, J2, J3) are the infinitesimal generators of an irreducible representation of the rotation group and u = (μ 1 , μ 2 , μ 3 ) are a set of real numbers. We thus give explicitly the representations of the rotation group in terms of the axis and angle of rotation which are the direction and magnitude of u respectively. In view of the simplicity of the expressions it is surprising that this form of the representations has not been given heretofore.