cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
β2–adrenergic receptor antagonism attenuates CNV through inhibition of VEGF and IL-6 expression

Purpose The role of β-adrenergic receptor (AR) signaling in neovascular ocular diseases has recently emerged. We have previously reported that intraperitoneal propranolol inhibits choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in vivo and β2-AR blockade reduces vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in mouse retinal pigment epithelium and choroidal endothelial cells in culture. Here we tested the hypothesis that the β2-AR regulates CNV through modulation of VEGF and inflammatory cytokine expression. Methods Mice were subjected to laser burns, inducing CNV, and were treated with an intravitreal β2-AR antagonist. After 3 and 5 days, total eye interleukin-6 (IL-6) and VEGF protein levels were measured, respectively. After 14 days, CNV was measured on choroidal-scleral flatmounts. The effects of β-AR signaling on VEGF and IL-6 expression were investigated in various mouse retinal and human RPE cells by using specific β-AR agonists and antagonists. Results β2-Adrenergic receptor signaling increased Vegf mRNA expression by approximately 3- to 4-fold in mouse retinal microglia and pericytes in culture. β2-Adrenergic receptor signaling upregulated IL-6 mRNA expression between 10- and 60-fold in mouse retinal microglia, pericytes, RPE, and choroidal endothelial cells in culture. Intravitreal injection of β2-AR antagonist ICI 118,551 reduced CNV by 35% and decreased IL-6 protein levels by approximately 50%. In primary human RPE cells, β2-AR activation also stimulated VEGF and IL-6 mRNA expression by 2- and 10-fold, respectively. Conclusions Anti-VEGF therapy for CNV is highly effective; however, some patients are resistant to therapy while others undergo repeated, frequent treatments. β2-Adrenergic receptor signaling is a potential therapeutic target because of its angiogenic and inflammatory properties.
Home or Hospital? Point-of-Care CRP as a Triage Biomarker in the Primary Care Setting.

C-reactive protein (CRP)2 is an acute-phase reactant synthesized in the liver in response to proinflammatory signals such as interleukin-6. This biomarker is routinely used to evaluate systemic inflammatory processes, monitor response to antibiotic treatment, and for the detection of intercurrent infections. In these conditions, CRP concentrations rise rapidly and considerably (i.e., >10 mg/L). Measurement of low concentrations of CRP (between <0.3 and 0 mg/L), using high-sensitivity CRP assays, has been demonstrated to be useful for the assessment of cardiovascular disease/event risk. There are no CRP assays cleared with a waived status in the US at the time of this publication. The measurement of CRP at the point of care (POC) has been evaluated primarily in Europe as a tool to …
Phenomenology and the Problem of the Inhuman: Psychologism, Correlationism, and the Ethics of Absolute Materiality

All phenomena appear to and are circumscribed by some form of conscious life – this is sine qua non of phenomenological inquiry. How then is phenomenology to account for those objects which appear to conscious life precisely in their refusal to be contained by conscious life – objects which seem to testify to that which is radically outside of and other than consciousness? This is a challenge which has haunted phenomenology from its beginning, first under the guise of psychologism as diagnosed by Frege, but more recently under the heading of correlationism as addressed by Meillassoux. Whatever its name, the problem is the same: phenomenology’s apparent inability to account for the radical alterity of certain manifest existents. This paper will examine the ways in which both Husserl and Heidegger failed to respond adequately to this problem. To illustrate this failure, the phenomenological status of the dead body of will be examined. The aim of this paper is to show that while classical phenomenology cannot account for the inhuman realty of such phenomena, the alternatives offered by Frege and the speculative realists fare no better, occulting in their solutions the inherent traumatic power of such phenomena. To explore this power, the work of Freud and Lacan will be drawn upon. Finally, this paper will conclude that it is only through a reappraisal and reinterpretation of the ethics of Emmanuel Levinas that the limitations of both phenomenology and its critics can finally be overcome.
Carcinogens in Cooked Foods: How Do They Get There and Do They Have an Impact on Human Health?

Summary Fifty years ago, skin painting experiments on mice showed that extracts from heated animal muscle caused cancer. Today we know of more than 20 heterocyclic amines (HAs) formed through the Maillard reaction during the cooking of beef, pork, lamb, chicken and fish muscle. These compounds cause mutations in bacteria, mammalian cells and animals, and cancer in animals. Analytical methods today are sufficient to measure these compounds at concentrations of 0.1 ppb and practical enough for examining numerous foods cooked by different methods, and to varying degrees to doneness. There are widespread exposures to low amounts of HAs in the western diet. In general, frying and grilling food well-done result in the highest yield of HAs. Fast-food hamburgers are very low in total heterocyclic amine content, usually below 1 ppb. In contrast, restaurant prepared meats have about ten-fold higher amounts of HAs. For chicken cooked well-done over an open flame, up to 500 ppb of 2-amino-1-methy-6-phenylimidazo[4,5- b ]pyridine (PhIP) has been found. Human risk is based on exposure and potency. Current results suggest that reducing exposure to HAs is feasible and should lower the human risk to those consuming such foods.
Clinical outcomes and prognostic factors in cisplatin versus cetuximab chemoradiation for locally advanced p16 positive oropharyngeal carcinoma.

Abstract Objectives Randomized trials evaluating cisplatin versus cetuximab chemoradiation (CRT) for p16+ oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) have yet to report preliminary data. Meanwhile, as a preemptive step toward morbidity reduction, the off-trial use of cetuximab in p16+ patients is increasing, even in those who could potentially tolerate cisplatin. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of cisplatin versus cetuximab CRT in the treatment of p16+ OPC and to identify prognostic factors and predictors of tumor response. Materials and methods Cases of p16+ OPC treated with cisplatin or cetuximab CRT at our institution from 2010 to 2014 were identified. Recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) classification was used to determine low-risk (LR-RPA) and intermediate-risk (IR-RPA) groups. Log-rank/Kaplan-Meier and Cox Regression methods were used to compare groups. Results We identified 205 patients who received cisplatin (n = 137) or cetuximab (n = 68) CRT in the definitive (n = 178) or postoperative (n = 27) setting. Median follow-up was 3 years. Cisplatin improved 3-year locoregional control (LRC) [92.7 vs 65.4%], distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) [88.3 vs 71.2%], recurrence-free survival (RFS) [86.6 vs 50.6%], and overall survival (OS) [92.6 vs 72.2%] compared to cetuximab [all p Conclusion When treating p16+ OPC with CRT, the threshold for substitution of cisplatin with cetuximab should be maintained appropriately high in order to prolong survival times and optimize locoregional and distant tumor control. When cetuximab is used in cisplatin-ineligible patients, altered fractionation RT should be considered in an effort to improve LRC.
Clinical Application of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Culture and Expansion

The tremendous amplification inherent in hematopoietic development in vivo has long tantalized clinician scientists with the notion that this physiology could be harnessed for clinical application. In these scenarios, ex vivo culture of hematopoietic cells could be employed for the generation of myeloid and lymphoid cells of various maturities and degrees of modifications, ranging from amplified stem cells to transfusion doses of mature red blood cells and platelets. Over the past decade, advances in our understanding of hematopoietic physiology have allowed investigators to begin to address these issues, and clinical trials are beginning to explore these possibilities.
Commerce, conflict, and contamination: yellow fever in early-independence Veracruz in the US imaginary, 1821-1848

Abstract While commercial links between Mexico and the United States through the port city of Veracruz brought significant economic and social advantages in the early nineteenth century, public health concerns around yellow fever produced fascination and fear among US audiences (in southern and eastern port cities) from times of peace until the US invasion and occupation of Mexico (1846-1848). This article addresses the complex linkages between commerce, conflict, and contamination in reference to the port city of Veracruz and the United States in Mexico’s early decades of independence. More specifically, this article addresses the concern in early nineteenth-century US periodicals around yellow fever outbreaks and potential contamination, showing the constant presence of yellow fever in Veracruz in the US imaginary.
The nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) pathway differentially regulates COX17, COX19 and COX23 mRNAs

The differential regulation of COX17, COX19 and COX23 mRNAs by the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) pathway was investigated. The NMD pathway regulates mRNAs that aberrantly terminate translation. This includes mRNAs harboring premature translation termination codons and natural mRNAs. Most natural mRNAs regulated by NMD encode fully functional proteins involved in various cellular processes. However, the cause and targeting of most of these mRNAs by the pathway is not understood. Analysis of a set of mRNAs involved in copper homeostasis showed that a subset of these mRNAs function in mitochondrial copper homeostasis. Here, we examined the regulation of COX17, COX19 and COX23 mRNAs by NMD. These mRNAs encode homologous mitochondrial proteins involved in metallation of cytochrome c oxidase. We found that COX17, COX19 and COX23 mRNAs are differentially regulated by NMD depending on environmental copper levels. A long 3′-UTR contributes to the direct regulation of COX19 mRNA by the pathway. Alternatively, COX23 mRNA contains a long 3′-UTR, but is indirectly regulated by the pathway under two conditions tested here. Analysis of the functionality of the NMD targeting features in COX23 mRNA showed that the COX23 3′-UTR is sufficient to trigger NMD. The regulation of mRNAs involved in mitochondrial copper metabolism by NMD is physiologically significant because excess copper enhances growth of NMD mutants on a non-fermentable carbon source. These findings suggest that regulation of mRNAs encoding homologous proteins by NMD can be differential depending on environmental copper levels. Furthermore, these findings suggest copper ion homeostatic mechanisms in the mitochondria occur at the mRNA level via the NMD pathway.
Late Quaternary turbidite systems in Lake Baikal, Russia

Lake Baikal is the world’s deepest (1637 m) and oldest (Late Oligocene-Early Miocene) lake, with a length of 636 km and a width ranging from 30 to 87 km (Karabanov and Fialkov 1987; Mats 1992). It is located in south-eastern Siberia within the Baikal Rift System at the southern edge of the Siberian Platform (Hutchinson et al. 1992; Mats 1992). The borders of Lake Baikal are characterized by high topographic relief that reaches 2700 m in the intensely glaciated mountains on the eastern side of the North basin (Atlas of the Irkutsk Region, Lake Baikal 1:500000 map). Several small rivers drain the large glacial valleys into this north-eastern side of the lake (Fig. 6.1). The large Selenga River flows into the south-eastern side of the lake from north central Mongolia. The muddy delta of this dominant sediment source progrades far into the lake and overlies the accommodation zone ridge between the Central and South basins (Fig. 6.1). Only local streams of less than 20 km length feed numerous coarse-grained fan deltas and alluvial fans along the western margin of the lake (Atlas of the Irkutsk Region, Lake Baikal 1:500000 map; Mats 1992).
Self-similar hierarchies and attached eddies

It is demonstrated that time-evolving coherent structures with features consistent with Townsend's attached eddies and the developments associated with the reconstruction of flow statistics using the attached eddy hypothesis can be obtained from analysis of the (linear) resolvent operator associated with the Navier-Stokes equations. A discrete number of members of a single self-similar hierarchy, chosen by assuming a constant ratio of critical layer heights between neighboring members with overlapping wall-normal footprints, produces a geometrically self-similar, fractal-like structure of the spatial distribution of the velocity field and an associated signature of uniform momentum zones. The range of convection velocities associated with the hierarchy gives rise to time evolution of the velocity. The scaling of the streamwise wave number on a hierarchy can be reconciled with Townsend's distance-from-the-wall scaling for self-similar, attached eddies, at least conceptually, by considering coherent spatial structures in the velocity field and thus enforcing an exact equivalence between compared features. It has been shown previously that both the linear and nonlinear terms in the resolvent framework have self-similar representations in the logarithmic overlap region of the turbulent mean velocity profile. The conditions under which self-sustaining self-similar behavior may be obtained from self-similar hierarchical members in this region are elaborated and some similarities with other results and theories associated with self-similarity in this region are identified.
Effects of Read It Again! In Early Childhood Special Education Classrooms as Compared to Regular Shared Book Reading:

Read It Again! PreK (RIA) is a whole-class, teacher-implemented intervention that embeds explicit language and literacy instruction within the context of shared book reading and has prior evidence ...
The Pediatric History and Physical Examination

With some exceptions, the history and physical examinations must be tailored to pediatric patients. The historian is usually not the patient. Specific techniques are discussed to insure reliable information. Also discussed are the chief complaint, past medical history, developmental history, family history, and systems review. The physical examination begins with vital signs, the general physical examination, and the special aspects of the lower extremity physical examination with special emphasis on range of motion evaluation. Tables are provided to cover Apgar scores, developmental milestones, temperature conversion from Celsius to Fahrenheit, definition of fever, cranial nerve examination, superficial and deep tendon reflexes, postural reflexes, and lower extremity dermatomes.
Asparagine-based production of hydrogen peroxide triggers cell death in the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum

As a major component of coastal phytoplankton blooms, diatoms are an important source of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the ocean. While this DOM pool fuels the growth of diverse bacterial popul...
Clinical analysis of nine children with acute laryngitis complicated with negative pressure pulmonary edema and changes of inflammatory factors

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment of children with acute laryngitis complicated with negative pressure pulmonary edema(NPPE), and the changes of inflammatory factors were monitored. Methods Data of 9 cases with acute laryngitis complicated with NPPE in pediatric intensive care unit from August 2010 to March 2015 were analyzed.The levels of TNF-α and IL-6 of 8 cases were detected at admission and checked again forty-eight hours after therapy.Ten children of acute laryngitis without NPPE were selected as disease control group, and ten healthy children as normal control group. Results (1)The onset of NPPE varied from 8 minutes to 2 hours following relief of obstruction, and presented with acute respiratory distress, decreased oxygen saturation, tachycardia, rales on chest auscultation.All these patients received therapeutic measures including mechanical ventilation, limiting the fluid input volume.The disappearance of rales on chest auscultation varied from 6 hours to 30 hours.Duration of mechanical ventilation was less than 48 hours, and all the children were cured.(2)Compared with the children of disease control group and normal control group, in acute phase the plasma levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in children with NPPE were significantly higher(P<0.01). The indicators of NPPE group significantly decreased after 48 hours therapy(P<0.01). Conclusion NPPE is manifested by rapid onset of respiratory distress after relief of the airway obstruction.The symptoms resolve rapidly if early support of breath and limiting the fluid input volume are applied properly.The inflammatory response is one of the possible mechanisms of NPPE. Key words: Acute laryngitis; Negative pressure pulmonary edema; Children
Association of housing stress with child maltreatment: A systematic review

Child maltreatment is a significant public health issue in the United States. Understanding key risk factors for child maltreatment is critical to informing effective prevention. Poverty is an established risk factor for child maltreatment. However, recent research indicates that material hardship (i.e., difficulties meeting basic needs) may serve as a more direct measure of the way in which poverty affects daily life. One form of material hardship that is common among families is housing stress. Previous reviews have summarized the existing literature regarding the association of economic insecurity with child maltreatment, but no reviews have synthesized and critically evaluated the literature specific to the association of various types of housing stress with child maltreatment. We conducted a systematic search of multiple electronic databases to identify peer-reviewed studies conducted in the U.S. regarding the association of housing stress with child maltreatment. We identified 21 articles that used nine distinct measures of housing stress including homelessness or eviction, homeless or emergency shelter stays, foreclosure filing, housing instability, inadequate housing, physical housing risk, living doubled-up, housing unaffordability, and composite housing stress indicators. Overall, results from this body of literature indicate that housing stress is associated with an increased likelihood of caregiver or child self-reported maltreatment, child protective services (CPS) reports, investigated and substantiated CPS reports, out-of-home placements, and maltreatment death. Additional theory-driven research is needed to further our understanding of the contribution of specific types of housing stress to risk for specific types of maltreatment.
Viscoelastic Material Characterization and Modeling of Photovoltaic Module Packaging Materials for Direct Finite-Element Method Input

Numerical tools, such as the finite-element method, are increasingly used to design and evaluate the photovoltaic (PV) modules, providing for the reduction of development time and improved performance and reliability. However, high-fidelity material models are necessary to accurately model the complex structural behavior of the involved packaging materials. A common simplification used in recent years is to model the polymer materials (i.e., encapsulant and backsheet) as linear elastic, which will lead to inaccurate results. Therefore, in this work, we present a thorough characterization of the time- and temperature-dependent mechanical response of predominant PV module encapsulant and backsheet materials. Based on this material characterization, we developed and experimentally validated generalized Maxwell models to describe each material's viscoelastic response. In addition, we included measurements of the coefficient of thermal expansion and presented all material models in such a fashion for direct input into commercial finite-element method modeling software.
Virologic suppression in patients with a documented M184V/I mutation based on the number of active agents in the antiretroviral regimen.

Objectives:The optimal antiretroviral therapy for patients with the M184V/I mutation is not known. The primary objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of various antiretroviral therap...
SU3 isoscalar factors

A summary of the properties of the Wigner Clebsch-Gordan coefficients and isoscalar factors for the group SU3 in the SU2$\otimes$U1 decomposition is presented. The outer degeneracy problem is discussed in detail with a proof of a conjecture (Braunschweig's) which has been the basis of previous work on the SU3 coupling coefficients. Recursion relations obeyed by the SU3 isoscalar factors are produced, along with an algorithm which allows numerical determination of the factors from the recursion relations. The algorithm produces isoscalar factors which share all the symmetry properties under permutation of states and conjugation which are familiar from the SU2 case. The full set of symmetry properties for the SU3 Wigner-Clebsch-Gordan coefficients and isoscalar factors are displayed.
COVID-19 Twitter-based analysis reveals differential concerns across areas with socioeconomic disparities

ABSTRACT Objective We sought to understand how U.S. residents responded to COVID-19 as it emerged, and the extent to which spatial-temporal factors impacted response. Materials and Methods We mined and reverse-geocoded 269,556 coronavirus-related social media postings on Twitter from January 23rd to March 25th, 2020. We then ranked tweets based on the socioeconomic status of the county they originated from using the Area Deprivation Index (ADI); that we also used to identify areas with high initial disease counts (“hotspots”). We applied topic modeling on the tweets to identify chief concerns and determine their evolution over time. We also investigated how topic proportions varied based on ADI and between hotspots and non-hotspots. Results We identified 45 topics, which shifted from early-outbreak-related content in January, to the presidential election and governmental response in February, to lifestyle changes in March. Highly resourced areas (low ADI) were concerned with stocks, social distancing, and national-level policies, while high ADI areas shared content with negative expression, prayers, and discussion of the CARES Act economic relief package. Within hotspots, these differences stand, with the addition of increased discussion regarding employment in high ADI versus low ADI hotspots. Discussion Topic modeling captures the major concerns in COVID-19-related discussion on a social media platform in the early months of the pandemic. Our study extends previous studies that utilized topic modeling on COVID-19 related tweets and linked the identified topics to socioeconomic status using ADI. Comparisons between low and high ADI areas indicate differential Twitter discussions, corresponding to greater concern with economic hardship and impacts of the pandemic in less resourced communities, and less focus on general public health messaging. Conclusion This work demonstrates a novel framework for assessing differential topics of conversation correlating to income, education, and housing disparities. This, with integration of COVID-19 hotspots, offers improved analysis of crisis response on Twitter. Such insight is critical for informed public health messaging campaigns in future waves of the pandemic, which should focus in part specifically on the interests of those who are most vulnerable in the lowest resourced health settings.
Instruirea și certificarea viitorilor ofițeri ai marinei ucrainene pe parcursul educației ciclice

The article is dedicated to the issues of training future officers for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in particular, naval professionals, within the framework of continuous cycled education. The article denotes the preconditions and constituents of the cycled education system. It also denotes that training of naval officers is based on the state and sectoral standards of higher education having been formed in accordance with the national requirements to higher education whereas the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) as well as military standards adopted. The article states that training of naval officers in Ukraine is directed towards harmonization with European higher education area (EHEA) and education quality assurance.
Theoretical Optimization of the Si GSS-DMM Device in the BaSIC Topology for SiC Power MOSFET Short-Circuit Capability Improvement

The BaSIC(DMM) topology has been experimentally demonstrated to improve the short-circuit time for a 1.2 kV SiC power MOSFET product from $4.8~\mu \text{s}$ to $7.9~\mu \text{s}$ with a 17% increase in on-state resistance by utilizing a commercially available 100 V rated Gate-Source-Shorted (GSS) Si Depletion-Mode power MOSFET (DMM). The optimization of the Si GSS-DMM is discussed in this paper to achieve even superior performance, namely larger short-circuit time with less increase in on-resistance. It is theoretically demonstrated for the first time that a highly desirable short-circuit time of $10~\mu \text{s}$ , similar to Si IGBTs, can be achieved for two SiC power MOSFET products with less than 3% increase in on-resistance. This was accomplished by reducing the breakdown voltage rating of the Si GSS-DMM from 100 V to 30 V, altering the cell design parameters, and utilizing the trench-gate design. The theoretical analysis provided in this paper provides valuable design guidelines for manufacturers of Si GSS-DMM devices to achieve optimum performance for use in the BaSIC(DMM) topology.
The Design of Optimal Pay-as-Bid Procurement Mechanisms

Problem definition: We consider the mechanism design problem of finding an optimal pay-as-bid mechanism in which the platform chooses an assortment of suppliers that balances the tradeoff between two objectives: providing enough variety to accommodate heterogeneous buyers, yet at low prices. Academic/practical Relevance: Modern buying channels, including e-commerce and public and private procurement, often consist of a single platform that intermediates transactions. Frequently, these platforms implement simple and transparent mechanisms to induce suppliers' direct participation, which typically result in pay-as-bid (or first-price) mechanisms where suppliers set their prices. Methodology: We introduce a novel class of assortment mechanisms that we call k-soft-reserves (k-SRs): if at least k suppliers choose a price below the soft-reserve price, then only those suppliers are added to the assortment; otherwise, all the suppliers are added. Results: For a broad class of symmetric models, we show the optimality of k-SRs. Additionally, we provide evidence of the robustness of k-SRs and of their extensions in more general settings. Managerial implications: Our results give intuitive and simple-to-use prescriptions on how to optimize pay-as-bid assortment mechanisms in practice, with an emphasis on procurement settings.
Inflammatory Biomarkers Are Associated With a Decline in Functional Status at Discharge in Children With Acute Respiratory Failure: An Exploratory Analysis.

To evaluate the link between early acute respiratory failure and functional morbidity in survivors using the plasma biomarkers interleukin-8, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, thrombomodulin, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. We hypothesized that children with acute respiratory failure with higher levels of inflammation would have worse functional outcomes at discharge, as measured by Pediatric Overall Performance Category. Design Secondary analysis of the Genetic Variation and Biomarkers in Children with Acute Lung Injury (R01HL095410) study. Setting Twenty-two PICUs participating in the multisite clinical trial, Randomized Evaluation of Sedation Titration for Respiratory Failure (U01 HL086622) and the ancillary study (Biomarkers in Children with Acute Lung Injury). Subjects Children 2 weeks to 17 years requiring invasive mechanical ventilation for acute airways and/or parenchymal lung disease. Patients with an admission Pediatric Overall Performance Category greater than 3 (severe disability, coma, or brain death) were excluded. Interventions None. Measurements and main results Among survivors, 387 patients had no worsening of Pediatric Overall Performance Category at discharge while 40 had worsening functional status, defined as any increase in Pediatric Overall Performance Category from baseline. There was no significant relationship between worsening of Pediatric Overall Performance Category and interleukin-8 or plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 on any day. There was no significant relationship between interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, or thrombomodulin, and worsening Pediatric Overall Performance Category on day 1. Plasma interleukin-1 receptor antagonist and thrombomodulin were significantly elevated on days 2 and 3 in those with worse functional status at discharge compared with those without. In multivariable analysis, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist and thrombomodulin were associated with a decline in functional status on days 2 and 3 after adjustment for age and highest oxygenation index. However, after adjusting for age and cardiovascular failure, only day 2 thrombomodulin levels were associated with a worsening in Pediatric Overall Performance Category. Conclusions Higher levels of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist or thrombomodulin following intubation were associated with worse Pediatric Overall Performance Category scores at hospital discharge in children who survive acute respiratory failure. These data suggest that persistent inflammation may be related to functional decline.
Workflow for Investigating Thermodynamic, Structural, and Energy Properties of Condensed Polymer Systems

Soft matter materials and polymers are widely used in the controlled delivery of drugs. Simulation and modeling provide insight at the atomic scale enabling a level of control unavailable to experiments. We present a workflow protocol for modeling, simulating, and analyzing structural and thermodynamic response properties of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), a well-studied and FDA-approved material. We concatenate a battery of molecular dynamics, computational chemistry, highly parallel scripting, and analysis tools for generating properties of bulk polymers in the condensed phase. We provide the workflow leading to the glass transition temperature, enthalpy, density, isobaric heat capacity, thermal expansion coefficient, isothermal compressibility, bulk modulus, sonic velocity, cohesive energy, and solubility parameters. Calculated properties agree very well with experiments, when available. This methodology is currently being extended to a variety of polymer types and environments.
Theoretical Understanding of Eastern Ocean Boundary Poleward Undercurrents

Mean flows along eastern ocean boundaries may be generated by several mechanisms, including tidal rectification [e.g., Georges Bank, Loder (1980)]; melting ice and rivers emptying into the sea [e.g., the northern Gulf of Alaska, Royer (1981)]; forcing by offshore mean density fields (e.g., the Leeuwin Current, Huthnance (1984), and McCreary et al. (1986)]; the nonlinear interaction of forced barotropic shelf waves over a continental margin [Denbo and Allen (1983)]; oscillatory flow over small scale bumps in the shelf bottom topography [Brink (1986), Haidvogel and Brink (1986), and Holloway (1987)]; and mean wind-stress and wind-stress curl [McCreary (1981), Wang (1982), Suginohara (1982), Philander and Yoon (1982), Suginohara and Kitamura (1984), McCreary and Chao (1985), and McCreary et al. (1986)]. We shall concentrate our discussion primarily on the dynamics of poleward-flowing undercurrents on eastern ocean boundaries. Consequently, since mean flows produced by melting ice and rivers are generally surface flows near the coast, this mechanism is not relevant. Tidally rectified flows only exist in special areas where tidal currents and bottom topography slope are large (e.g., Georges Bank), so this mechanism is also not important in the generation of the major poleward-flowing undercurrents. Generation of poleward flow by the nonlinear interaction of forced barotropic shelf waves would also appear not to be a relevant mechanism as the mean flows generated have been estimated to be very small, only ~0.1 cm s−1. Mean flows produced by offshore mean density fields do produce flows of the right strength, but on eastern boundaries these offshore fields drive equatorward rather than poleward undercurrents (McCreary et al., 1986).
"Yes, 'Who' Can?": Who "We" Are In American Liberal Discourse

In this essay, I posit President Obama's hopeful promise--"Yes, we can!"--within the framework of American liberal discourse. I examine how both the promise and the discourse within which it fits disguise the material realities of exclusion and oppression behind vague principles of freedom and equality. By parsing Obama's phrase and tracing its roots to the origins of American notions of identity, I try to show how the national collective imagined in the phrase "Yes, we can," is situated against assumptions of an Other--primarily African-American. I argue that such vague notions of a national collective serve not to unite, but rather to marginalize. Those who cannot or do not identify with the majority are often left out of the discussion. In this vein, I propose that arguments often made in the name of national interest--the collective "we" imagined in Obama's phrase-- serve many, but not all, and that such discourse is historically undergirded by an ideology of individualism and self-help, an ideology fueling current arguments against government programs benefiting the nation's poorest citizens.
Comparison of a chemiluminometric immunoassay with culture for diagnosis of chlamydial infections in infants

The performance of Magic Lite (CIBA-Corning), a chemiluminescent immunoassay (CIA), was compared with that of culture for the diagnosis of neonatal chlamydial conjunctivitis and respiratory infection. We performed a retrospective evaluation of 51 ocular and 96 nasopharyngeal specimens previously collected for culture testing with the CIA. The sensitivities for the ocular and the nasopharyngeal specimens were 91 and 91.7%, respectively. The specificities for both sites were 100%. A subsequent prospective study evaluating 71 ocular and 38 nasopharyngeal specimens revealed sensitivities of 83.3 and 20%, respectively. The specificities for both sites were 100%. The CIA performed favorably, compared with culture, for the diagnosis of chlamydial conjunctivitis; however, the CIA appeared less sensitive for the diagnosis of respiratory infection, including pneumonia.
Psychiatric Comorbidity in Methadone Maintained Patients

Diagnosing comorbid psychiatric disorders in methadone maintained patients may help to identify subgroups with different outcomes and needs for treatment. In this study, 75 methadone maintenance clinic patients in treatment longer than 30 days were assessed with the Addiction Severity Index, Global Assessment Scale and Mini-Mental Status Exam, and were interviewed for DSM-III-R psychiatric diagnosis using the computerized Diagnostic Interview Schedule. Psychiatric diagnoses were prevalent in the sample with depression, phobic disorders, antisocial personality and generalized anxiety the most common. Both number of DSM-III-R diagnoses and severity of psychopathology were correlated with outcome measures such as concurrent drug abuse, family-social problems and employment status.
Power Law Process

The power law process is a nonhomegeoeous Poisson process whose intensity function is proportional to a power of time t. It is often used to model the event times for recurrent events, such as the failure times of repairable systems. We consider the problems of inference for the power law process and extend this to the case of multiple realizations of the power law process, which would occur, for example, if we were modeling several similar repairable systems. Both Bayesian and classical approaches are described. Finally, several extensions of the power law process to more general models are suggested. Keywords: nonhomogeneous Poisson process; repairable system; multiple repairable systems; Bayesian inference
Functional limitations to glucose uptake in muscles comprised of different fiber types

Skeletal muscle glucose uptake requires delivery of glucose to the sarcolemma, transport across the sarcolemma, and the irreversible phosphorylation of glucose by hexokinase (HK) inside the cell. H...
Conversational Topics Handle Social Relationships

Everyday a lot of subjects of interest (here called topics) are published on the Web and compete to reach an audience and to achieve their communicative goal. We propose an approach to these issues, based on two main propositions: First, each topic is personified by a conversational agent capable of interacting with users about the topic, Second, agent's reactions to users' requests involve traditional rational reactions but also relational reactions taking into account social roles.
Profiles of communication disorder in children with velocardiofacial syndrome: comparison to children with Down syndrome.

Purpose: To describe communication profiles in children with velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS) compared with children with Down syndrome. Methods: Four children with VCFS and four children with Down syndrome underwent cognitive and speech and language assessment. Results: Communication profiles of children with Down syndrome showed a flat profile, indicating all measures were similar and delayed relative to chronological age. Children with VCFS showed vocabulary, pattern of sound types, and Mean Babbling Length below cognitive and other language ages. Conclusion: Communication profiles of children with VCFS differed qualitatively and quantitatively from children with Down syndrome and support the hypothesis that some children with VCFS present with a profile of communication impairment that may be distinctive to the syndrome.
Encounter with Information in Selection Paradigm as a Function of Number of Relevant Dimensions

Recent studies of the effect of the number of relevant dimensions upon concept attainment in the selection paradigm have not considered the amount of information encountered by Ss in their selections. The present study introduces several modifications in traditional procedure to allow for the measurement of this variable. Male college students attained unidimensional and conjunctive concepts with a 6-dimension 2-value array. Ss encountered information more rapidly the fewer the number of dimensions relevant to the concept. However, no significant difference was obtained with regard to the attainment of the concept itself.
Simultaneous T-wave inversions in anterior and inferior leads: an uncommon sign of pulmonary embolism.

Abstract Background Pulmonary embolism (PE), a major cause of morbidity and mortality, remains an elusive diagnosis. Recently investigators have found a new electrocardiographic (ECG) finding, simultaneous T-wave inversions in the anterior and inferior leads, which may distinguish PE from acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Objectives Our primary objective was to estimate the prevalence of this finding in PE. We also estimate the inter-rater reliability of this finding, its test characteristics, and assess ECG findings traditionally associated with PE. Methods In this unmatched case-control study, we selected electrocardiograms from patients diagnosed with PE, ACS, and non-cardiac chest pain. Two emergency physicians, blinded to diagnoses, reviewed electrocardiograms for explicitly defined ECG findings. We calculated kappa (K) for inter-rater agreement and estimated prevalence differences (PD) for findings in the PE group vs. pooled control groups. Results We included 97 patients with PE, 89 with ACS, and 105 with non-cardiac chest pain. A 1-mm T-wave inversion was seen in both III and V 1 in 11/97 (0.113) of patients with PE vs. 9/194 (0.046) controls (PD 0.07 [95% confidence interval (CI) −0.01–+0.14]; K=0.7). Other criteria for anterior and inferior T-wave inversions were less common in PE (0.04–0.05). Among several other ECG abnormalities tested, only sinus tachycardia (PD 0.20 [95% CI 0.09–0.31]; K=0.7) and the classic S I Q III T III pattern (PD 0.05 [95% CI −0.01–+0.11]; K=0.5) statistically distinguished PE and were noted with fair or better inter-rater agreement. Conclusion In our study, simultaneous T-wave inversions in anterior and inferior leads were associated with PE but are seen in only 4–11% of cases.
Pharmaco-invasive Strategies Expand Access to Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the preferred method of reperfusion in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Therefore, increasing timely access to PCI is a major national focus. The majority of United States hospitals are not PCI capable, which has stimulated the development of regional STEMI programs using standardized protocols and organized transfer systems. These regional STEMI systems have improved treatment times and clinical outcomes, leading to a recent class I recommendation in the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines to develop STEMI systems of care. Despite this, less than 15% of patients transferred from non-PCI hospitals to PCI centers have total door-to-balloon times less than 2 hours. We review the therapeutic options for the STEMI patient with expected delay to PCI focusing on recent pharmacoinvasive trials. Based on these trial results, recent guidelines recommend early transfer and cardiac catheterization for patients treated with fibrinolytic therapy.
Acculturation and Driving Under the Influence: A Study of Repeat Offenders

Objective: In California, driving under the influence (DUI) arrest and conviction rates are disproportionately higher among the Hispanic population. Acculturation and other factors associated with drinking and driving may help explain this disparity. Method: Interviews with Hispanic repeat DUI offenders were conducted immediately prior to sentencing and 2 years later. Arrest records from these offenders were also examined. Analyses were performed to examine the association between acculturation and other sociodemographic characteristics at baseline with DUI arrests and convictions at a 2-year follow-up. Results: Logistic regression modeling showed that acculturation was significantly related to self-reported DUI recidivism even after controlling for other factors associated with DUI convictions during a 2-year follow-up. Acculturation was not found to have a statistically significant relation to DUI arrest rates during that same period. Conclusions: Among a Hispanic sample of repeat DUI offenders, the less-acculturated members were more likely to report a repeat DUI conviction at 2-year follow-up than the more-acculturated ones, even after controlling for other characteristics associated with DUI behaviors, such as drinking severity and marital status. The same pattern was not found between acculturation and arrest rates. Acculturation may serve as a risk factor for repeat convictions. Efforts to reduce multiple DUI convictions may need to consist of ways to target persons who are less acculturated. Language: en
Input parameters to achieve target performance in stochastic systems: a simulation-based approach

The use of simulation as an engineering tool to design complex stochastic systems is often inhibited by cost. Extensive computer processing is needed to solve the inverse problem which deals with the calculation of a design parameter given a desired target for the performance measure of a given system. The designer simulates the process numerically and obtains an approximation for that same output. The goal is to match the numerical and experimental results as closely as possible by varying the values of input parameters in the numerical simulation. The most obvious difficulty in solving the inverse problem is that one cannot simply calculate a straightforward solution and be done. Since the output has to be matched by varying the input, an iterative method of solution is implied. This paper proposes a “stochastic approximation” algorithm to estimate the necessary controllable input parameters within a desired accuracy given a target value for the performance function. The proposed solution algorithm is b...
Effects of adrenal androgens on immature female mice.

Adrenal androgens were studied in immature female mice at nonvirilizing doses thought to be within the limits of endogenous secretion. Subcutaneous injections of 20, 50 and 100 μg of dehydroisoandrosterone (DHA), isoandrosterone (IA), δ5-androstene-3β, 17β-diol (5ADL), δ4-androstene- 3,17-dione (4AD), llβ-OH-δ4-androstene- 3,17-dione (110H4AD) and androstane- 3,17-dione (AD) were given daily for 3 weeks. DHA, IA, 5ADL and AD at 100 or 50 μg doses produced delay in maturation of the reproductive tract. Increased follicular atresia, numerous “deficient” interstitial cells and absence of preovulatory follicles and corpora lutea in the ovary indicated inhibition of gonadotrophins, possibly LH. In addition, direct effects of these steroids on the gonads were suggested by: (a) at 50 or 20 μg doses, increase in follicular atresia without other detectable changes of gonadotrophin deficiency; (b) in some mice, prominent interstitial tissue along with increased atresia, no large follicles or corpora lutea; (c) calc...
Influence of Plio-Pleistocene Aridification on Human Evolution: Evidence from Paleosols of the Turkana Basin, Kenya

New stable carbon isotope measurements, coupled with paleoprecipitation estimates, both from Plio-Pleistocene paleosols of the Turkana Basin, Kenya, provide a high-resolution record of aridification and increasing C4 biomass during the past 4.3 Ma. This aridification trend is marked by several punctuations at 3.58–3.35, 2.52–2, and 1.81–1.58 Ma, during which the running mean and variance of δ13C and paleoaridity estimates increase, suggesting that the proportion of C4 biomass increases in savanna mosaics during periods of heightened aridity. Increase in C4 biomass during these aridification events not only increases the proportion of open habitats, but increases the spatial neg-entropy, or heterogeneity of the ecosystem. The aridification events identified correspond to intervals of increased turnover, but more importantly, increased diversity of bovids. Although the record of hominins from the Turkana Basin lacks the temporal resolution and diversity of the bovid record, the aridification intervals identified are marked by similar increases in the diversity and turnover of hominins. These results support the hypothesis that hominins evolved in savanna mosaics that changed through time, and suggest that the evolution of bovids and hominins was driven by shifts in climatic instability and habitat variability, both diachronic and synchronic. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.