cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Human adrenomedullin gene delivery protects against cardiovascular remodeling and renal injury

We investigated the potential roles of adrenomedullin (AM) in cardiovascular and renal function by somatic gene delivery. We showed that a single intravenous injection of the human AM gene under the control of cytomegalovirus promoter/enhancer induces a prolonged delay in blood pressure rise for several weeks in spontaneously hypertensive rats, Dahl salt-sensitive, DOCA-salt, and two-kidney one-clip hypertensive rats as compared to their respective controls injected with a reporter gene. Expression of the human AM transcript was identified in the heart, kidney, lung, liver and aorta of the rat after adenovirus-mediated AM gene delivery by RT-PCR followed by Southern blot analysis. Immunoreactive human AM levels were measured in rat plasma and urine following AM gene delivery. AM gene delivery induced significant reduction of left ventricular mass in these hypertensive animal models. It also reduces urinary protein excretion and increases glomerular filtration rate, renal blood flow and urinary cAMP levels. AM gene transfer attenuated cardiomyocyte diameter and interstitial fibrosis in the heart, and reduced glomerular sclerosis, tubular disruption, protein cast accumulation and renal cell proliferation in the kidney. In the rat model with myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, AM gene delivery significantly reduced myocardial infarction, apoptosis, and superoxide production. Furthermore, local AM gene delivery significantly inhibited arterial thickening, promoted re-endothelialization and increased vascular cGMP levels in rat artery after balloon angioplasty. Collectively, these results indicate that human AM gene delivery attenuates hypertension, myocardial infarction, renal injury and cardiovascular remodeling in animal models via cAMP and cGMP signaling pathways. These findings provide new insights into the role of AM in cardiovascular and renal function.
CONTROL OF GAMETE RELEASE IN FUCOID ALGAE: SENSING HYDRODYNAMIC CONDITIONS VIA CARBON ACQUISITION

We investigated the environmental factors providing signals for gamete re- lease in fucoid algae, with a particular focus on the inhibitory effect of water motion. The release of gametes by Fucus distichus occurred in still water under high light and was associated with the depletion of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in tide pools isolated from the ocean during daytime low tides. Diurnal patterns of gamete release that lasted for 2-3 d, as in natural populations, were found in receptacles cultured in a 12 h light: 12 h dark photoperiod under calm conditions or in a simulated tidal regime. Constant light disrupted the diurnal component of release, however, suggesting that an endogenous cir- cadian periodicity was absent. The effects of increased (DIC) on cultured receptacles under calm conditions were similar to the inhibitory effects of high water motion; both conditions reduced release in several species from both tide pool and intertidal habitats. Bicarbonate concentration, rather than carbon dioxide, or carbonate, was shown to be the component of the DIC system most closely correlated (inversely) with gamete release in the intertidal fucoid Pelvetia compressa. The hypothesis that gamete release is triggered by DIC depletion in the unstirred boundary layer during periods of low water motion in the light was further supported by experiments with P. compressa. These showed that gamete release was not inhibited by high water motion when DIC was absent. In the same experiments, high water motion inhibited release at 2 and 20 mmol/L DIC, confirming that the sensitivity of gamete release to water motion is DIC dependent. The ability of fucoid algae to couple physiological processes (e.g., photosynthesis) with life history events (gamete release) allows external fertilization to occur under favorable hydrodynamic conditions, and may contribute greatly to reproductive success in organisms inhabiting periodically turbulent environments.
Antithrombin III inhibits lymphocyte proliferation, immunoglobulin production and mRNA expression of lymphocyte growth factors (IL-2, γ-IFN and IL-4) in vitro

Abstract Background : Antithrombin III (AT-III) is a physiological inhibitor of thrombin and other serine proteases, and has anti-inflammatory properties. Thrombin is known to enhance T lymphocyte activation in vitro and serine proteases can act as costimulators for lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production. We have previously shown that AT-III significantly inhibited allograft rejection in a highly histoincompatible model of rat lung transplantation and in vitro cell proliferation in ConA-stimulated rat spleen cells. In this study, we examined the involvement of cytokine gene expression in the above inhibitory effect of AT-III. We also examined the effect of AT-III on several in vitro immune reactions in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Methods : mRNA expression of cytokines/cytokine receptor important in lymphocyte activation was examined. Rat spleen cells were stimulated with Con-A with/without AT-III and submitted for reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). To assess the effect of AT-III on human PBMCs, we examined the effects of AT-III on cell proliferation of human PBMCs stimulated in mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) (allogeneic stimulation), with OKT3 (T cell receptor activation) and with PHA (mitogenic stimulation). The effect of AT-III on PWM-stimulated immunoglobulin (Ig) production by human PBMCs was also examined. All experiments for cell proliferation were performed in 10% serum and in serum-free (SF) media to determine whether AT-III exerted its effects through its interaction with thrombin in serum. Results: mRNA expression of IL-2, γ-IFN and IL-4 in ConA-stimulated rat spleen cells was nearly completely inhibited by AT-III at 15 IU/ml. mRNA levels for IL-6, IL-2R and TGF-β1 were not significantly affected by AT-III. AT-III showed a dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation in human PBMCs. At 15 IU/ml, cell proliferation was inhibited by ∼86%, ∼81% and ∼56% in the MLR-, OKT3- and PHA-stimulated PBMCs, respectively in both serum and SF media. AT-III inhibited PWM-stimulated Ig production in a dose-dependent manner. IgG, IgM and IgA production was reduced by ∼60%, 80% and 70%, respectively in cultures incubated with 15 IU/ml AT-III. Conclusions : (1) Inhibition of IL-2, γ-IFN and IL-4 mRNA expression might be responsible for inhibition of cell proliferation by AT-III in ConA-stimulated rat spleen cells, (2) AT-III inhibits cell proliferation in the MLR-, OKT3- and PHA-stimulated human PBMCs, and Ig production in PWM-stimulated human PBMCs, (3) The immune regulatory effects of AT-III are independent of its interaction with thrombin since similar levels of suppression were seen in SF media, and (4) These results suggest that AT-III has potent inhibitory effects on lymphocyte activation and cytokine production and may have potential applications as an immunomodulatory agent.
Dewar to dewar model for superfluid helium transfer

A model has been developed to predict the flow of He II between a source and a receiving dewar. The model uses a finite difference aproximation to integrate the describing equations. The transfer path may contain porous plugs or mechanical pumps, heater sections, heat leaks, constrictions due to valves, and bends. These line elements may occur in any order and in any quantity. The line elements are easily reconfigured by changing the input data. The input consists of the number of finite element cells, the pressure in each dewar, the heat input to each section and the dimensions of each section. The output is the temperature, pressure, flow rate, velocities and heat flux in each section. An internal reference table provides the properties of He II. The model is programmed for a LOTUS work sheet. It converges rapidly and usually requires 10 to 15 iterations. For most applications an iteration takes 30 s on an AT. The predictions agree well with experimental data.
Metabolomics and Diabetes: Analytical and Computational Approaches

Diabetes is characterized by altered metabolism of key molecules and regulatory pathways. The phenotypic expression of diabetes and associated complications encompasses complex interactions between genetic, environmental, and tissue-specific factors that require an integrated understanding of perturbations in the network of genes, proteins, and metabolites. Metabolomics attempts to systematically identify and quantitate small molecule metabolites from biological systems. The recent rapid development of a variety of analytical platforms based on mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance have enabled identification of complex metabolic phenotypes. Continued development of bioinformatics and analytical strategies has facilitated the discovery of causal links in understanding the pathophysiology of diabetes and its complications. Here, we summarize the metabolomics workflow, including analytical, statistical, and computational tools, highlight recent applications of metabolomics in diabetes research, and discuss the challenges in the field.
Transistor optimization for leakage power management in a 65 nm CMOS technology for wireless and mobile applications

This paper presents a transistor optimization methodology tailored for wireless, digital consumer, and mobile applications that employ power management circuit techniques. This methodology is applied to a 65nm technology that supports a high-density (<0.5 um/sup 2/) embedded 6T SRAM cell. High performance logic (I/sub dn//I/sub dp/ = 550/300uA/um at L/sub poly/ = 39nm) and low leakage are achieved simultaneously by employing a data retention mode for the SRAM (I/sub leakage/ /spl sim/2pA/bit). Retention mode bias conditions and selective gate sizing in the SRAM reduces leakage by /spl sim/300X. Advanced transistor design including SSR channel, strain engineering, drain-extension (HDD) offset spacer, and HDD and halo profile optimization is used to achieve at least an additional 4/spl times/ reduction in leakage.
Paradox of epithelial cell calcium homeostasis during vectorial transfer in crayfish kidney.

Abstract The molting cycle of the freshwater crayfish, Procambarus clarkii , has been used as a model to study the cellular physiology and molecular biology of Ca “supply” proteins that effect transcellular vectorial Ca 2+ movement to achieve organismal Ca homeostasis. Specifically, periods of net Ca 2+ influx (postmolt) have been compared with periods of net Ca 2+ balance (intermolt). The broader goal is to understand the paradox facing epithelial cells of maintaining low cytosolic Ca 2+ in the face of mass Ca 2+ transit across epithelial cells . This mini-review compares mRNA and protein expression profiles for a series of proteins that are of strategic importance in effecting transcellular Ca 2+ flux in a selected epithelium, the antennal gland (kidney analog) specifically during apical to basolateral Ca 2+ conveyance. Target proteins were selected as representative of key “stages” in the transcellular transfer of Ca 2+ : import (epithelial Ca 2+ channel, ECaC); storage (sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca 2+ ATPase, SERCA); buffering (sarcoplasmic Ca 2+ binding protein, SCP); and export (plasma membrane Ca 2+ ATPase, PMCA and Na + /Ca 2+ exchanger, NCX). The purpose of this review is to assess coordination of expression of these target proteins at times of high Ca 2+ demand (premolt and postmolt) compared to low Ca demand (intermolt) as a function of cellular location (apical vs. basolateral; endomembranes vs. plasma membranes) and relative abundance within different regions of the antennal gland. Understanding the spatiotemporal regulation of Ca 2+ handling proteins involved in transcellular transport is fundamental to investigating their endocrine regulation.
MWPC Data Acquisition in the Brookhaven FASTBUS

For Brookhaven AGS Experiment No. 749, a data acquisition system to accommodate 12, 256 wire multiwire proportional chambers (MWPCs) has been built in the context of the Brookhaven FASTBUS. Information about wires hit or continuous clusters of wires hit is encoded as the centroids of the clusters and number of wires in those clusters. The encoded information is stored in a stack memory in a FASTBUS module where it can be accessed by a FASTBUS Master. Encoding time is less than 4 microseconds. Also, information (in the form of front panel outputs) as to the nature of the data is available in less than 200 nanoseconds.
Relative effect of vitamin D and parathyroid extract on plasma calcium and citric acid of normal and thyroparathyroidectomized dogs.

HYPERCALCEMIA resulting from calcium mobilization may be accompanied by some elevation of the plasma concentration of citrate. Hypocalcemia is usually accompanied by a reduced plasma citrate value in the parathyroidectomized animal (1). Hypercalcemia produced by calcium chloride infusion for a short time (6 hours) did not elevate the citrate concentration (2). Hypercitricemia produced by the infusion of sodium citrate, nephrectomy or fluoroacetate administration is accompanied by an elevation of plasma concentration of calcium. There appears to be a relation between the serum concentration of calcium and citric acid. It is not apparent whether the degree of hypercitricemia is independent of the amount or mechanism of an endogenous hypercalcemia. It seems important to establish this point in determining whether or not the relation of calcium and citric acid is entirely dependent upon chemical affinity or is related in some other sense depending upon bodily mechanisms.
Equilibrium Ion Binding Properties of Potassium-Selective and Non-Selective Cation Channels

Selective cation transport across membranes is critical for rapid signaling in neurons and to setup ion gradients required for nutrient import. K+ channels are a ubiquitous protein family that is highly selective for K+ over Na+ during ion conduction. They also have an inherent equilibrium preference for K+ ions over Na+ ions, suggesting that the equilibrium preference of a cation channel is important for its conduction selectivity. We present data showing K+ channel variants that non-selectively conduct K+ and Na+ ions but who retain their equilibrium preference for K+ ions. Based on this result, we propose a model of K+ channel selectivity that relies on the architecture of the K+ channel to translate the equilibrium preference into K+-selective ion conduction (an inherently non-equilibrium process).
Effect of parathyroid extract on collagen metabolism.

The Excretion of hydroxyproline peptides in urine is greater than normal in both clinical hyperparathyroidism (1, 2) and in animals or humans given injections of parathyroid extract (3, 4). It is now established that almost all hydroxyproline in vertebrates is found in collagen and that this hydroxyproline is synthesized intracellularly by the hydroxylation of proline (5, 6). It follows that the increase in urinary hydroxyproline accompanying excess parathyroid activity reflects an alteration in the rate of synthesis or degradation of collagen. Klein and Curtiss (7) favor the hypothesis that the elevated hydroxyproline excretion is due to increased synthesis of “soluble” collagen rather than destruction of mature “insoluble” collagen. Evidence derived from studies on bone and organ cultures, and from observations on both normal and hyperparathyroid patients, however, suggests that parathyroid extract acts to break down the older collagen of bone matrix (8, 9).
On the structural integrity of basement membrane.

Abstract In the hypophysectomized rat, testicular basement membrane accommodates to atrophy by becoming distorted into a series of folds, apparently without changing its morphological characteristics in other ways. This evidence supports a long accepted viewpoint that among other qualities, basement membrane has structural integrity which presumably enables it to serve as a cohesive force in tissues. These findings are discussed in the light of recent evidence that basement membrane is collagenous in nature.
Analysis of simple main effects in fractional factorial experimental designs of resolution v

The analysis of simple main effects is commonplace in complete factorial experimental designs when interaction effects are present. An analysis of simple main effects also will be important in fractional factorial experimental designs of Resolution V where all two-way interactions are estimable and may be non-zero. Parameter estimation and tests of hypotheses regarding simple main effects are defined for Resolution V fractional factorial experimental designs. These methods are illustrated in an example.
The Role of the Federal Government in Support of the Arts and Music Education

This report focuses upon the historic role of the federal government in support of the arts and music education by placing instances of federal assistance into periods identified by the common motivational factor of “necessity.” To better understand the factors influencing present-day funding procedures and the likelihood of continued subsidies, government support policies were grouped into periods of “practical necessity,” during the nation's formative years; “economic necessity,” when the financial crisis of the Great Depression caused the government to provide work opportunities for unemployed artists and educators; and “cultural necessity,” during the 1960s and 1970s when aid was provided to meet the expressed needs of artists, educators, and arts consumers. Through the introduction of special programs, innovative funding activities, and creative projects, government support encouraged artists and educators, in recent years, to cooperate in the development of arts education efforts.
Cultural trends and eating disorders.

Purpose of review Culture has long been recognized as significant to the cause and expression of eating disorders. We reviewed the recent literature about recent trends in the occurrence of eating disorders in different cultures. Recent findings While historically, eating disorders were conceptualized as primarily afflicting Caucasian adolescent or young adult women within high-income, industrialized Western Europe and North America, eating disorders are increasingly documented in diverse countries and cultures worldwide. This study highlights recent trends that reflect the changing landscape of culture and eating disorders: stabilization of the incidence of anorexia nervosa and possibly lower incidence rates of bulimia nervosa in Caucasian North American and Northern European groups; increasing rates of eating disorders in Asia; increasing rates of eating disorders in the Arab region; and increasing rates of binge eating and bulimia nervosa in Hispanic and Black American minority groups in North America. Summary The changing face of eating disorders calls for a new conceptualization of culture in both the emergence and spread of eating disorders across the globe.
Sorting and visualization of spectral-decomposition data

Abstract Spectral-decomposition data are sorted and visualized in a variety of ways. Useful sorting schemes include (1) pseudospectral volumes such as “tuning cubes,” (2) time-frequency gathers, (3) space-frequency gathers, and (4) common-frequency volumes. Sorting spectral data into maps and cross sections has useful application in visualizing a combination of time, frequency, and offset dimensions.
Evidence suggests more favourable outcomes with preformed metal crowns than amalgam restorations in primary molars

Evidence suggests more favourable outcomes with preformed metal crowns than amalgam restorations in primary molars
A demonstration of a helicopter health management information portal for U.S. Army aviation

The US Army relies heavily on their helicopter fleet to provide close air support, troop transport, reconnaissance and logistics support capabilities for a variety of mission profiles. High operational readiness and availability of the helicopter fleet is critical to achieving their mission objectives. The Army has developed and implemented helicopter health management technology known as the Vibration Management Enhancement Program (VMEP) in order to facilitate the effective and efficient maintenance and logistics support of these aircraft. The utility of this technology is realized by the creation of a shared maintenance and logistics data environment for fleets of helicopters that operate throughout the world in a variety of environmental conditions and different mission profiles. A computer based simulation demonstration of a helicopter management information portal has been developed to show the broad applicability of the VMEP technology for facilitating an effective advanced maintenance capability as well as the ability to flow maintenance information into the Army supply and logistics processes. The intent of the simulation demonstration is to show how health management technology can increase helicopter operational availability through more efficient maintenance scheduling and implementation, shorter part replacement delay times and improved mission planning capability. The focal point of the demonstration simulation is to show how helicopter health management information enables increased helicopter operational readiness and reliability by providing advanced capabilities for maintenance, logistics and command and control decision making
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF POLYNUCLEAR AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS ON AN ESTUARINE SEDIMENT FOOD WEB

Abstract The influence of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) on a benthic estuarine sedimentary salt-marsh food web was examined using a microcosm system to simulate natural conditions. Microcosms were dosed with sublethal concentrations of PAH-contaminated sediment collected from a produced-water site at Pass Fourchon, Louisiana, USA (final PAH concentrations ranged from 0.3 to 3 mg PAH/kg dry sediment). Bacterial activity, physiological condition and abundance were not influenced by PAH, but microalgal activity and physiological condition were. Grazing by meiobenthic copepods on benthic microalgae was not significantly influenced by PAH concentration, nor was the physiological condition of copepods, as determined by their lipid-storage material. Meiofaunal community composition was influenced by PAH, as nematodes became disproportionately abundant, and the nauplius copepod ratio increased in High-PAH treatments. Overall, however, sublethal effects of PAH were not pronounced at the concentrations examined. Considering that coastal Louisiana has been exposed to chronic contamination by petroleum hydrocarbons for decades, it is suggested that the sedimentary microbial/meiofaunal community may have adapted to elevated PAH concentrations.
A urinary biomarker profile for children with HIV-associated renal diseases.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children are at risk of developing several types of renal diseases, including HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN), which is usually seen during late stages of infection in children with a high viral load. This disease is defined by the presence of proteinuria associated with mesangial hyperplasia and/or global–focal segmental glomerulosclerosis combined with microcystic transformation of the renal tubules. Because HIVAN can have an insidious clinical onset, renal biopsy is the only definitive way of establishing a diagnosis. Given the risk of performing this procedure in HIV-infected children with other AIDS-defining illness, we sought to identify informative biomarkers such as growth factors in the urine of 55 HIV-infected children that might be predictive of the extent and activity of the renal lesions characteristic of HIVAN. We found that the levels of epidermal growth factor were lower in the urine of children with renal disease, whereas levels of fibroblast growth factor-2 and metalloproteinase-2 were higher as compared with those levels in infected children without renal disease. Similar changes were observed in HIV-Tg26 mice correlating with the progression of renal disease in this model of HIVAN. Our findings suggest that this urinary growth factor profile may be useful in facilitating the diagnosis of HIV-infected children at risk of developing HIVAN when interpreted in the appropriate clinical setting.
Fast pyrolysis of coconut biomass – An FTIR study

Abstract The reaction pathway of coconut shell fast pyrolysis was studied by analysis of the transient evolution product profiles as a function of temperature, measured directly in the sample bed. Fast pyrolysis of coconut shell produced (i) pyrolysis liquid containing C H, C O, and C O C bands, (ii) char with the absence of C OH and C O suggesting that ether and carbonyl compounds were decomposed below 600 °C, and (iii) gaseous product majorly consisting of CO 2 . Increase the heating rate has a greater effect on increasing the yield of aliphatic and carbonyl compounds compared to that of aromatic compounds. The selectivity of the fast pyrolysis liquid was shifted from vinyl species to carbonyl species at temperatures between 500 and 615 °C. In situ IR study suggests that CO and CO 2 were mainly produced from cracking of C H and C O bonds. Fast pyrolysis of D 2 O-saturated coconut shell showed that moisture in the biomass does not increase the H 2 yield at high temperature and H 2 is mainly produced from breaking of C H bonds.
Irritable bowel syndrome.

Irritable bowel syndrome, characterized by disordered bowel habits associated with abdominal pain or discomfort, affects roughly one in eight adults. This review discusses therapeutic options for p...
Mentoring in Clinical Geropsychology: Across the Stages of Professional Development

Projected growth in demand for clinical geropsychologists will require expanding the number of qualified geropsychology mentors at all stages of professional development. This special section provides information on mentoring from expert geropsychology mentors who offer their perspectives, and summarize relevant research, on mentoring graduate students, interns and postdoctoral fellows, junior faculty and members of special populations. The present paper provides an introduction to the special section by establishing the need for increased mentoring within clinical geropsychology, presenting results of a survey of mentoring practices and needs, and discussing ways in which the field is responding to the challenge.
Propositional proofs and reductions between NP search problems

Abstract Total NP search problems (TFNP problems) typically have their totality guaranteed by some combinatorial property. This paper proves that, if there is a polynomial time Turing reduction between two TFNP problems, then there are quasipolynomial size, polylogarithmic height, constant depth, free-cut free propositional (Frege) proofs of the combinatorial property associated with the first TFNP problem from the property associated with the second problem. In addition, they have Nullstellensatz derivations of polylogarithmic degree. These results extend the previous work of Buresh-Oppenheim and Morioka first by applying to Turing reductions in place of many-one reductions and second by giving tight bounds on the height of the Frege proofs. As a corollary, PLS-complete problems are not polynomial time Turing reducible to PPA problems relative to a generic oracle. We establish a converse construction as well, by showing that a polynomial time Turing reduction can be obtained from a family of quasipolynomial size, polylogarithmic depth, propositional proofs which are based on “decision tree” substitutions. This establishes the optimality of our constructions, and partially resolves an open question posed by Buresh-Oppenheim and Morioka. We observe that the classes PPA, PPAD, PPADS, and PLS are closed under Turing reductions, and give an example of a TFNP class that is not closed under Turing reductions.
Safety of common cross sectional interventional procedures performed under moderate sedation in the outpatient setting

largest contributor to transarterial chemoembolization operating costs. Here, we identify major contributors to operating cost variation for common interventional radiology procedures. We hope that such information may help identify new strategies for improved cost efficiency and overall value (successful outcome/cost). Materials and Methods: All total equipment and procedure suite costs for consecutive successful primary percutaneous nephrostomy tube (PCN) (25 cases), chest wall port (117 cases) and inferior vena cava (IVC) filter (41 cases) placements were analyzed over a three-month period, as part of division quality improvement efforts. Actual procedure suite costs were estimated with a conservative cost of $600/hour. Cost variation was analyzed per procedure and per provider to identify major contributing factors. Results: For PCN, chest wall port and IVC filter placements, the average patient time in procedure suite was 131 min, 112 min, and 127 min, respectively. The average total cost per procedure per provider varied as much as 100% ($1126-2251) for PCN placements, 41% ($1374-1934) for chest wall ports and 22% ($2185-2681) for IVC filters. The equipment cost varied as much as 88% ($249-466), 20% ($491-591) and 27% ($1065-1358) respectively, between different providers. However, the largest contributing factor to cost variation was total procedure suite time, which accounted for 79% ($1373/1732), 67% ($1127/1672) or 53% ($1306/2482) of the total cost, respectively. Thus, despite large variations in equipment cost, ultimately total costs correlated more closely with total procedure suite time. Conclusion: Despite vast differences in equipment cost between different operators for these common procedures within the same department, the largest contributor to overall cost remains patient in procedure suite time despite utilizing a conservative, low estimate for actual cost to operate a procedure suite. These findings suggest that utilization of equipment, which allows for expedient procedure resolution, regardless of cost, may be paradoxically more cost effective overall for select routine procedures.
Cognitive variables in alcohol dependent patients with elevated depressive symptoms: Changes and predictive utility as a function of treatment modality

The aim of the current study was to examine, through posthoc analyses, changes in and predictive utility of mood-related cognitive variables as a function of treatment modality in a group of alcohol dependent patients with elevated depressive symptoms. In addition to the background partial hospital treatment for alcoholism which lasted a mean of 21.2 days, study patients (n = 35) received cognitive-behavioral treatment for depression (CBT-D) or a control treatment consisting of relaxation training (RTC). While both groups showed improvement on dysfunctional attitudes during treatment, only the CBT-D group improved on measures of alcohol-related expectancies. Changes in cognitive variables during treatment predicted drinking outcomes, and the predictors of drinking outcomes varied across the two treatments. Among the RTC patients, changes in positive alcohol-related expectancies were negatively correlated with drinking frequency and quantity at follow-up. However, for the CBT-D patients, changes in self-efficacy concerning negative mood situations and negative alcohol-related expectancies were negatively correlated with drinking at longer-term follow-up. The results of this study provide evidence concerning the mechanisms by which the treatment modalities examined may affect patient outcome. Although these results are preliminary in nature, they do suggest that future research might examine efforts to capitalize on these mechanisms through the facilitation of changes found to predict better drinking outcomes in this study.
Large-scale calculations of the double- β decay of 76 Ge , 130 Te , 136 Xe , and 150 Nd in the deformed self-consistent Skyrme quasiparticle random-phase approximation

We use the axially deformed Skyrme quasiparticle random-phase approximation (QRPA) together with the ${\mathrm{SkM}}^{*}$ energy-density functional, both as originally presented and with the time-odd part adjusted to reproduce the Gamow-Teller resonance energy in ${}^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$, to calculate the matrix elements that govern the neutrinoless double-$\ensuremath{\beta}$ decay of ${}^{76}\mathrm{Ge},\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}{}^{130}\mathrm{Te},\phantom{\rule{0.28em}{0ex}}{}^{136}\mathrm{Xe}$, and ${}^{150}\mathrm{Nd}$. Our matrix elements in ${}^{130}\mathrm{Te}$ and ${}^{136}\mathrm{Xe}$ are significantly smaller than those of previous QRPA calculations, primarily because of the difference in pairing or deformation between the initial and the final nuclei. In ${}^{76}\mathrm{Ge}$ and ${}^{150}\mathrm{Nd}$, our results are similar to those of less computationally intensive QRPA calculations. We suspect the ${}^{76}\mathrm{Ge}$ result, however, because we are forced to use a spherical ground state, even though our mean-field theory indicates a deformed minimum.
The dependence of tropospheric ozone production rate on ozone precursors

Abstract An analytic formula is derived expressing the tropospheric O3 production rate, P(O3), as a power law function of radical production rate, NOx concentration, and VOC–OH reactivity. Power law exponents depend on a single parameter, L N / Q , which is the fraction of free radicals removed by reactions with NOx. The formula reproduces the functional form of P(O3) obtained from photochemical box model calculations. Ozone production rates are shown to have a smooth transition between previously derived low and high NOx limits. Potential applications of this formula include analysis of day to day and place to place variations in P(O3), with P(O3) either obtained from measurements collected during field campaigns or produced as output from chemical-transport models.
Diagnostic mid trimester amniocentesis: how safe?

Objective Genetic mid-trimester amniocentesis is a common invasive procedure. The origin of the commonly quoted 0.5% rate of procedure-related pregnancy loss after amniocentesis is obscure and is in conflict with the only randomized prospective study that reported a procedure-related rate of loss of 1.0%. This review was performed to establish an estimate of procedure-related pregnancy loss after mid-trimester amniocentesis. The impact of placental puncture on the rate of loss and the risk of direct needle injury to the fetus were also examined. Study design The National Library of Medicine database was used to identify English language reports of >1000 amniocenteses with sufficient detail and follow up data to allow the calculation of the rate of spontaneous pregnancy loss after amniocentesis but before 28 completed weeks. These reports were divided into 2 groups to assess the impact of the ultrasound technique. Group I described only preamniocentesis ultrasound evaluation; group II described primarily concurrent ultrasound needle guidance. Pregnancy loss between the 2 groups was compared. The impact of placental puncture and reported direct fetal trauma were examined. The significance of differences was tested using chi-square analysis, with significance at a probability value of ≤.05. Results Twenty-nine reports that totaled 68,119 amniocenteses were examined. In a comparison of all studies in group I with all studies in group II, there was a lower rate of loss after amniocenteses with the use of concurrent guidance (1.4%) compared with the use of preamniocentesis ultrasound evaluation (2.1%) that was significant ( P P =.0042; 95% CI, 0.19, 1.03), which was identical to the difference in the rate of loss of 0.6% between amniocentesis patients and control subjects from the 5 controlled studies that used concurrent ultrasound needle guidance ( P Conclusion This examination of experience with 68,119 amniocenteses from both controlled and uncontrolled studies provides a substantive basis for several conclusions: (1) Contemporary amniocentesis with concurrent ultrasound guidance in controlled studies appears to be associated with a procedure-related rate of excess pregnancy loss of 0.6% (95% CI, 0.31, 0.90). To determine the total rate of loss, this must be added to the reported natural rate of loss without amniocentesis among control patients of 1.08%. (2) The use of concurrent ultrasound guidance appears to reduce the number of punctures and the incidence of bloody fluid. Concurrent ultrasound guidance was associated with a reduced rate of loss when all studies were compared, but not among controlled studies. (3) Direct fetal needle trauma is rare, and rarely proved, but may occur more frequently than is reported because of a failure to diagnose and a failure of the consistent production of sequelae. (4) This experience does not substantiate an increased rate of pregnancy loss if placental puncture is required.
Socio-demographic indicators of intervention program completion with the male court-referred perpetrator of partner abuse

The purpose of this study was to provide socio-demographic indicators of the court-referred perpetrator-as-client who successfully completed a perpetrator intervention program vs. the perpetrator-as-client who was unsuccessful. Significant associations were noted between alcohol use at the time of arrest and perpetrator program completion. Additional associations included perpetrator employment history by program completion status, perpetrator level of violence by program completion status, and report of victim hospitalization by program completion status. Study findings suggest that perpetrator-as-client intervention programs might benefit by implementing comprehensive screening procedures and by developing interagency cooperation in terms of job training and access to opportunities for stable employment.
Stimulation of Alpha Aminoisobutyric Acid-C14 by Thyrotropin Uptake in Thyroid Slices

When bovine or dog thyroid slices were incubated in vitro for 1 hr in the presence of commercial thyrotropin (TSH), the tissue uptake of a-aminoisobutyric acid- C14 (AIBA-C14) was significantly increased over control values. These results were confirmed with purified (Bates and Condliffe) TSH. Purified TSH failed to enhance AIBAC14 uptake in muscle and liver. TSH also failed to alter the extracellular: intracellular thyroidal water ratio at one hour in studies employing sucrose-C14 as a tracer for extracellular water distribution. Studies of AIBAC14 done concurrently with the water distribution determinations showed an intracellular: medium ratio greater than 1, indicating intracellular concentration of the labeled amino acid. This ratio is further enhanced by TSH.
Recombinant expression of the AChR-alpha1 subunit for the detection of conformation-dependent epitopes in Myasthenia Gravis

Detection of autoantibodies associated with neurological disease typically involves immunoprecipitation of radioactively labeled native proteins. We explored whether single receptor subunits, fused to Renilla luciferase (Ruc), could detect patient autoantibodies in Luciferase Immunoprecipitation Systems. Myasthenia Gravis patient sera were tested for conformational autoantibodies to only the α1-subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR). Using a panel of 10 AChR-α1 fragments, AChR-α1-Δ5-Ruc demonstrated the highest immunoreactivity with a conformational-specific antibody and the highest sensitivity in a pilot cohort. Testing a larger cohort with AChR-α1-Δ5-Ruc demonstrated 21% sensitivity and 97% specificity. A point mutation within Ruc increased the diagnostic performance of AChR-α1-Δ5 (32% sensitivity, 97% specificity). The 125I-α-bungarotoxin multi-subunit AChR assay demonstrated 63% sensitivity and 97% specificity. These findings highlight the difficulty in detecting Myasthenia Gravis conformational epitopes across assay formats and lay the foundation for detecting autoantibodies to defined recombinant chains of the AChR and potentially other neurotransmitter receptors.
Semi-automated image analysis for the identification of bivalve larvae from a Cape Cod estuary

Machine-learning methods for identifying planktonic organisms are becoming well-established. Although similar morphologies among species make traditional image identification methods difficult for larval bivalves, species-specific shell birefringence patterns under polarized light permit identification by color and texture-based features. This approach uses cross-polarized images of bivalve larvae, extracts Gabor and color angle features from each image, and classifies images using a Support Vector Machine. We adapted this method, which was established on hatchery-reared larvae, to identify bivalve larvae from a series of field samples from a Cape Cod estuary in 2009. This method had 98% identification accuracy for four hatchery-reared species. We used a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to confirm field identifications and to compare accuracies to the software classifications. Image classification of larvae collected in the field had lower accuracies than both the classification of hatchery species and PCR-based identification due to error in visually classifying unknown larvae and variability in larval images from the field. A six-species field training set had the best correspondence to our visual classifications with 75% overall agreement and individual species agreements from 63% to 88%. Larval abundance estimates for a time-series of field samples showed good correspondence with visual methods after correction. Overall, this approach represents a cost- and time-saving alternative to molecular-based identifications and can produce sufficient results to address long-term abundance and transport-based questions on a species-specific level, a rarity in studies of bivalve larvae.
Characterization of Surface-Bound Zr(IV) and Its Application to Removal of As(V) and As(III) from Aqueous Systems Using Phosphonic Acid Modified Nanoporous Silica Polyamine Composites

Silica polyamine composites (SPC) made from silanized amorphous nanoporous silica gel and poly(allylamine) (BP-1) were functionalized with phosphorus acid using the Mannich reaction, resulting in a phosphonic acid modified composite (BPAP). Successful immobilization of the phosphonic acid ligand was confirmed by mass gain, elemental analysis, IR, and solid-state NMR. The modified composite had a ligand loading of 1.5 mmol/g, corresponding to N/P ratio of 0.73. Zirconium(IV) was immobilized on BPAP with a loading of 1.12 mmol/g. Zirconium loading was analyzed by mass gain, ICP/AES, and SEM/EDX. Arsenate anions strongly adsorbed on the ZrBPAP composite in the pH range 2−8, while arsenite only adsorbed well at pH 10. The sorption mechanism is a chelation between arsenate or arsenite and Zr(IV)−phosphonic acid complex of BPAP. Adsorption isotherm data were found to be well modeled by the Langmuir equation for As(V) at pH 4 with Kads = 0.016 L/g and Qm = 98 mg/g; and at pH 6 with Kads = 0.018 L/g and Qm = 56 m...
Congenital Abnormalities Induced by Heterologous Antisera Directed Against Rat Kidney Glycoproteins Isolated by Concanavalin A Affinity Chromatography

Congenital Abnormalities Induced by Heterologous Antisera Directed Against Rat Kidney Glycoproteins Isolated by Concanavalin A Affinity Chromatography
Burst-Modulated Waveforms Optimize Electrical Stimuli for Charge Efficiency and Fiber Selectivity

We demonstrate an alternative method of designing electrical stimuli-termed burst modulation—for producing different patterns of nerve fiber recruitment. By delivering electrical charge in bursts of “pulsons”—miniature pulses-instead of as long continuous pulses, our method can optimize the waveform for stimulation efficiency and fiber selectivity. In our in vivo validation experiments, while maintaining C fibers of the rat vagus nerve at $\sim 50\%$ activation with different waveforms, the burst-modulated waveform produced 11% less A fiber activation than the standard rectangular pulse waveform (rectangular: $50.8\pm1.5\%$ of maximal A response, mean $\pm $ standard error of the mean; burst-modulated: $39.8 \pm 1.3\%$ ), which equates to a 20% reduction in A fiber response magnitude. In addition, the burst-modulated waveform required 45% less stimulus charge per phase to maintain 50% C fiber activation (rectangular: $20.7 \pm 0.86~\mu{\rm C}$ ; burst-modulated: $11.3 \pm 0.41~\mu{\rm C}$ ). Burst-modulated waveforms produced consistent patterns of fiber recruitment within and across animals, which indicate that our methods of stimulus design and response analysis provide a reliable way to study neurostimulation and deliver therapy.
Predicting substance abuse in juvenile offenders: attention deficit disorder versus aggressivity.

The relative predictive significance of attention deficit disorder (ADD) and aggressive behavior for consequent substance abuse was examined in 114 juvenile offenders. ADD, aggressivity, and substance abuse were assessed according to DSM-III criteria. Results from logistic regression indicate thataggressivity, but not an ADD diagnosis, significantly predicts substance abuse. There-fore, previously reported associations between ADD and substance abuse may be confounded by concurrent symptoms of aggression.
Factors controlling the rate of DDE dechlorination to DDMU in Palos Verdes margin sediments under anaerobic conditions.

Marine sediments off the coast of the Palos Verdes Peninsula in California have been designated a Superfund site primarily because of the presence of DDE [1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethene]. For decades, it was believed that DDE was not microbially transformed, but anaerobic bacteria in the Palos Verdes sediments reductively dechlorinate DDE to DDMU [1-chloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethene], which is also found in the sediments. The effects of electron donor to sulfate ratio, available carbon, sampling sites, sediment depth, and temperature on the rate and extent of DDE dechlorination in anaerobic Palos Verdes sediment microcosms were investigated. Dechlorination rates varied, depending on the site and depth from which the sediments were collected, but DDE dechlorination occurred with sediments from all locations studied. Sulfate and low temperatures slowed dechlorination, but in the presence of sulfate and at in situ temperature, the dechlorination rates observed in the microcosms agree well with...
What’s in a Name? Let’s Keep Asking

The names we call each other stir passions, as we see from two recent commentaries on naming in psychiatry. Pamela Hyde, Director of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency, urges us to use terms that recognize the many individualized paths to recovery people with mental illnesses follow. Fuller Torrey urges us to call people with schizophrenia “patients.” This commentary suggests that, by respecting the preferences of those being named, clinicians may enhance engagement in treatment and demonstrate respect for people as individuals beyond the label of a disease.
Section 8 and Movement to Job Opportunity: Experience after Welfare Reform in Kansas City

Abstract This research addresses the extent to which tenant‐based rental assistance, before and after welfare reform, helps households move to areas with greater opportunities for employment. It was thought that the threat of losing their welfare benefits would encourage participants in the Section 8 program to use the mobility it offers to move to neighborhoods with greater opportunities for employment. Two samples of Section 8 program participants, one taken before welfare reform and the other taken after it was enacted, have been examined. With the strong economy after welfare reform, more Section 8 households are employed and fewer are on welfare. However, the analysis finds that, independent of welfare reform, households did not use their housing subsidy to move to areas with greater opportunities for employment. Program participants typically remained in racially concentrated areas of the central city, away from those neighborhoods with job growth or large numbers of jobs.