cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prolactin and testosterone inhibit torpor in Siberian hamsters

Female Siberian hamsters maintained in a winter photoperiod (8 h light/day) ceased to undergo daily torpor during infusion of prolactin (PRL) from osmotic minipumps; winter torpor was reinstated within 3 days of discontinuation of treatment. By contrast, PRL infusion was ineffective in suppressing daily torpor elicited by restricting food intake in female hamsters housed in a summer photoperiod (16 h light/day). Summer daily torpor was, however, completely inhibited in long-day gonadectomized male hamsters treated with testosterone (T). We suggest that the hyperprolactinemia, which in previous studies is characteristic of hamsters that sustain ablation of the suprachiasmatic nucleus, is incompatible with winter torpor. Summer torpor may be controlled by a mechanism less responsive to variations in plasma PRL concentration. Both winter and summer torpor are inhibited by exogenous T; it remains uncertain, however, whether sustained decreases in endogenous T secretion are as essential for the expression of summer as they are for winter torpor.
Unsteady Aerodynamic Airfoil- to-Airfoil Variability in an Axial Flow Compressor

Experiments were performed in an axial flow compressor to investigate the unsteady aerodynamics generated by the interaction of the rotor blades with the wakes from the upstream inlet guide vanes. The rotor inlet unsteady velocity and the unsteady rotor blade surface pressures are examined for airfoil-to-airfoil variability. The percentage of wakes similar to the grand average IGV wake is calculated in and out of wake affected regions. Also, the probability distributions of the forcing function and response unsteady characteristics are made and then correlated. A high flow condition with low steady incidence is compared to a low flow, high incidence condition. These experiments show significant aerodynamic airfoil-to-airfoil variability. Generally less than 50% of the IGV wakes are similar to the grand average wake. However, variability is less in the rotor blade response except in wake and stall vortex affected regions. The amount of energy in the unsteadiness is found to vary by as much as 100%. A strong correlation between the variability of the transverse velocity and of the unsteady aerodynamic response is found. However, the correlation weakens at lower flow coefficients due to stall on the suction surface of the rotor blades. NOMENCLATURE c dc i Lj, 1 m P pd t W
Occurrence of conjugase in egg yolks.

SummaryEvidence is presented to show that chicken and turkey egg yolk contain a conjugase which liberates PGA from these materials. A synergistic action of egg yolk conjugase and chick pancreas is required in order to obtain the total PGA in egg yolk of chickens and turkeys. The liberation of microbiologically available PGA from egg yolk by the combined action of egg yolk conjugase and chicken pancreas conjugase gives a total PGA value which approaches the value obtained by the chick assay for this vitamin. An inhibitory effect of autoclaved chick pancreas on the conjugase of chicken egg yolk is indicated by the results.
Quality Assessment of Emergency Response Training for Disease Control Staff

Objective To enhance the ability construction of emergency response team which made of disease prevention and control professional staff,and to improve the quality of training and quality of staff.Method Survey method during the training and field test method was used.Result The investigations carried out quality evaluation of 3 levels:A,B and C,according to the excellent,qualified and unqualified.Conclusion The implement of quality evaluation for public health emergency response training is an important measure to ensure the training effectiveness.
Is cirrhosis a contraindication to laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the gold standard treatment for the vast majority of patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis. Although cirrhotic patients are twice as likely to develop gallstones as compared with noncirrhotic patients, cirrhosis has historically been considered a relative, if not absolute, contraindication to laparoscopic cholecystectomy. More recently a number of authors have reported on the safety of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in cirrhotic patients. We reviewed our patients retrospectively and assessed the safety of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in cirrhotic patients as compared with noncirrhotics at a large liver transplant center. A retrospective longitudinal cohort study was conducted of all laparoscopic cholecystectomies performed by our surgical group between August 2002 and April 2011. Of 63 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 32 (51%) were cirrhotic. Of the 30 for whom a Child score could be calculated, 11 (34%) were Child A, 14 (44%) were Child B, and five (16%) were Child C. The morbidity rate was 33 per cent and mortality rate was 2 per cent. Length of stay, conversion rates, 30-day readmission rates, and morbidity and mortality rates were not significantly different between the cirrhotic and noncirrhotic groups. There was a trend toward higher complication rates in Child C cirrhotics. Our results indicate that laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be performed with acceptable morbidity and mortality in carefully selected cirrhotic patients.
The Changing Nature of Guilt in Family Caregivers: Living Through Care Transitions of Parents at the End of Life:

Older adults cared for at home by family members at the end of life are at risk for care transitions to residential and institutional care settings. These transitions are emotionally distressing and fraught with suffering for both families and the older adult. A theoretical model titled "The Changing Nature of Guilt in Family Caregivers: Living Through Care Transitions of Parents at the End of Life" was developed using the method of grounded theory. When a dying parent cannot remain at home to die, family members experience guilt throughout the transition process. Findings indicated that guilt surrounding transfers escalated during the initial stages of the transfer but was mitigated by achieving what family members deemed as a "good" death when relatives were receiving hospice care. The findings of this interpretative approach provide new insights into family-focused perspectives in care transfers of the dying.
Population characteristics and health care needs of Asian Pacific Americans.

Asian Pacific Americans are one of the smallest but fastest growing minority groups in the United States. Between 1970 and 1980, this population increased 142 percent, from 1.5 million to 3.7 million. This dramatic growth is due largely to a change in U.S. immigration policies in the mid-1960s and the continuous influx of refugees from Southeast Asia since 1975. Despite such sharp increase, Asian Pacific Americans remain one of the most poorly understood minorities, and their health care needs have received relatively little attention. Health policy makers, planners, and service providers need to have a better understanding of the population characteristics of Asian Pacific Americans in order to address their needs properly. Asian Pacific Americans are largely recent immigrants and refugees. They are extremely heterogeneous and bipolar in socioeconomic status and health indices. Because of their small numbers until the last two decades, many health workers have had little exposure to this minority, their culture, and health problems. Health workers need to be sensitive to the ethnocultural barriers that confront recent arrivals; be aware of the genetic disorders, infectious diseases, and mental health problems common in this population; and realize that anatomical and physiological differences may require attention in certain surgical procedures and medical management. Neglecting the health care needs of Asian Pacific Americans is not simply a violation of the principle of equality for all, but also an imprudent act that increases the mortalities and morbidities and health care costs of the nation.
Percutaneous Drainage of Prostatic Abscesses

Percutaneous catheter drainage of intra-abdominal abscesses currently is a well established technique. We report on 2 anuric patients on maintenance hemodialysis who presented with a prostatic abscess. We elected to use a transperineal, percutaneous drainage technique. Adequate drainage was documented by pelvic computerized tomography scans and followup confirmed satisfactory long-term results.
Thermal Wave Detection and Analysis of Defects in Structural Composite Materials

One criticism which can be leveled at thermal wave images is that their resolution is often less than that of the very best ultrasonic images of similar targets. This reduction of the resolution arises from the transverse diffusion of heat in the thermal waves reflected from the subsurface defects in the sample. In this paper we describe a technique for removing the blurring of pulsed thermal wave images of planar defects through the reconstruction of the shape of the scatterer by use of inverse scattering techniques. Although the method at present is restricted to planar defects, this special class of defects includes delaminations and disbonds in layered materials, defects which are of great interest to a variety of industries. Therefore, the availability of a reconstruction algorithm provides a solution to an important problem in nondestructive evaluation. The algorithm produced we have developed is quite simple and very effective when it is applied to thermal wave images of such defects. The idea behind the design of the model is the manipulation of the equations of thermal wave scattering theory in such a way that the scattered wave at the surface of the sample ends up being expressed as a convolution of a “heat spread” function, with a function which describes the shape of the scatterer. The Fourier transform of the surface temperature contrast (the contrast in the image is essentially just a representation of the scattered wave) can then be expressed as a simple product of the Fourier transform of the heat spread function and the Fourier transform of the shape function of the scatterer. In principle, application of the algorithm consists of performing a two-dimensional spatial Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) on the experimental image of the (unknown) scatterer, dividing the resulting Fourier transform by the transform of the (known) theoretical heat spread function, and finally doing an inverse FFT to obtain the shape of the scatterer.
Human C-peptide Quantitation by LC-MS Isotope-Dilution Assay in Serum or Urine Samples

In this communication we report a simple and efficient approach to C-peptide quantitation using isotope dilution mass-spectrometry analysis. The method facilitates quantitation of C-peptide levels at least one order of magnitude lower compared to concentration levels achieved with IDA method reported previously. The improvement was due to more intensive sample preparation procedure that, in turn, makes it possible to increase the sample load without a corresponding increase in matrix effects. We also show the results of a comparison study with a second laboratory using a similar previously reported method for C-peptide quantitation.
Fastener Design Manual

This manual was written for design engineers to enable them to choose appropriate fasteners for their designs. Subject matter includes fastener material selection, platings, lubricants, corrosion, locking methods, washers, inserts, thread types and classes, fatigue loading, and fastener torque. A section on design criteria covers the derivation of torque formulas, loads on a fastener group, combining simultaneous shear and tension loads, pullout load for tapped holes, grip length, head styles, and fastener strengths. The second half of this manual presents general guidelines and selection criteria for rivets and lockbolts.
Abstract 2141: Development of a novel miR-129 mimic with enhanced therapeutic potential for treatment of resistant colorectal cancer

Treatment of advanced stage colorectal cancer remains a clinical challenge associated with resistance to fluoropyrimidine based chemotherapy. There is an urgent need to discover and develop new strategies to enhance treatment efficacy in order to improve outcomes for these patients. Non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) have important functions as oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes in the regulation of cancer development and progression. Recently, miRNAs have emerged as potential therapeutic options. We have previously identified miR-129 as a tumor suppressor miRNA and potential therapeutic candidate in colorectal cancer. The expression of miR-129 is progressively lost in colorectal cancer patients and is an important regulator of apoptosis through the targeting of genes such as BCL-2. miR-129 was also found to enhance 5-flurouracil (5-FU) cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. To further developing miR-129 based novel therapeutics in colorectal cancer, we have designed a modified version of miR-129 to enhance stability and efficacy. The miR-129 mimic is significantly more potent in inhibiting proliferation of a panel of colon cancer cell lines than the native miR-129 precursor, with 79% reduction by miR-129 mimic compared to 38% for native precursor. The miR-129 mimic induces profound cell cycle arrest at the G1/S checkpoint. The G1/S ratio increased 3.8 fold compared to control when cells were transfected with miR-129 mimic. We also demonstrated that the miR-129 mimic retains its target specificity to BCL-2, TS and E2F3. The therapeutic potential of miR-129 mimic was demonstrated in vivo mouse colon tumor models as a potent inhibitor of tumor growth and metastasis. As a result, miR-129 mimic has a great potential to be further developed as a novel therapeutic drug for treatment of advanced colorectal cancer. Citation Format: Andrew T. Fesler, Ning Wu, Hua Liu, Jingfang Ju. Development of a novel miR-129 mimic with enhanced therapeutic potential for treatment of resistant colorectal cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2141. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-2141
A vicious loop of fatty acid-binding protein 4 and DNA methyltransferase 1 promotes acute myeloid leukemia and acts as a therapeutic target

Aberrant DNA methylation mediated by deregulation of DNA methyltransferases (DNMT) is a key hallmark of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), yet efforts to target DNMT deregulation for drug development have lagged. We previously demonstrated that upregulation of fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) promotes AML aggressiveness through enhanced DNMT1-dependent DNA methylation. Here, we demonstrate that FABP4 upregulation in AML cells occurs through vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling, thus elucidating a crucial FABP4-DNMT1 regulatory feedback loop in AML biology. We show that FABP4 dysfunction by its selective inhibitor BMS309403 leads to downregulation of DNMT1, decrease of global DNA methylation and re-expression of p15INK4B tumor suppressor gene by promoter DNA hypomethylation in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo. Functionally, BMS309403 suppresses cell colony formation, induces cell differentiation, and, importantly, impairs leukemic disease progression in mouse models of leukemia. Our findings highlight AML-promoting properties of the FABP4-DNMT1 vicious loop, and identify an attractive class of therapeutic agents with a high potential for clinical use in AML patients. The results will also assist in establishing the FABP4-DNMT1 loop as a target for therapeutic discovery to enhance the index of current epigenetic therapies.
The biology of software

Biological design principles can potentially change the way we study engineer, maintain, and develop large dynamic software systems. For example, computer programmers like to think of software as the product of intelligent design, carefully crafted to meet well-specified goals. In reality, large software systems evolve inadvertently through the actions of many individual programmers, often leading to unanticipated consequences. Because software is subject to constraints similar to those faced by evolving biological systems, we have much to gain by viewing software through the lens of biology. The talk will highlight how abstractions of biological processes can lead to new computational algorithms and engineering principles. Specifically, it will show how the biological concepts of Darwinian evolution and immunology can be applied to problems such as repairing software bugs and cybersecurity.
INTERACTIONS OF SOME NEUTRAL DIAZO MOLECULES AND CARBONYL SULFIDE WITH TRANSITION-METAL SYSTEMS

Abstract A series of M-N2R complexes has been prepared and characterized, where M is a transition-metal system containing Ir(I), Rh(I), Ni(0), Pt(0), or Ru(0), and N2R is either a tetrahalide of diazocyclopentadiene or is 9-diazofluorene. The structures and reaction chemistry of these complexes are contrasted with one another and with those of the corresponding diazonium complexes. The reactions of COS with some of the same transition-metal systems has also been studied. Carbonyl sulfide complexes of transition metals have proved to be very reactive, and three reaction pathways have been identified: (i) decomposition to give a metal carbonyl; (ii) reaction with another molecule of COS to give a dithiocarbonate; (iii) rearrangement to give a metal sulfide or a metal thiol.
The Plastics Issue

The Solid Waste Disposal Act of 1965 provided technical and financial assistance to State and local governments and to the private sector to do a better job of solid waste management.
Alternative Ways of Living and Design

My research examines the values, norms and practices of subcultures formed as an "alternative" to the dominant way of life. In particular, I explore how technology relates to alternative forms of interaction or be understood and reconstructed through alternative concepts or frameworks. For the past two years I have been conducting fieldwork on communities pursuing alternative lifestyles: minimalists and tiny house enthusiasts. This work considers how those alternative lifestyles may contribute to an understanding of objects, spaces in home. Through my fieldwork and research through design, I hope to offer an alternative vision to living with IoT and envision future domesticity in a unique and even groundbreaking way.
A Multifield and Frequency Electrically Detected Magnetic Resonance Study of Atomic-Scale Defects in Gamma Irradiated Modern MOS Integrated Circuitry

The role of specific atomic-scale defects involved in total ionizing dose radiation in the metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors of the 1980s and 1990s was identified in large part with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) techniques. The techniques involved in those studies were classical EPR and, to a lesser extent, electrically detected magnetic resonance (EDMR). We show that somewhat more sophisticated resonance-based measurements can be fruitfully applied to explore the atomic-scale basic mechanisms of the significantly more complex, generally messier, and much smaller devices of the present day. We present multifield and frequency EDMR measurements in which the response is observed via spin-dependent leakage currents, spin-dependent charge pumping, and spin-dependent gated diode recombination currents. We also exploit isotopic substitution, replacing hydrogen with deuterium, monitoring the isotopic effects on the resonance response. The approaches utilized in this paper should be applicable to radiation damage studies in a wide variety of emerging materials and devices.
The status of natural history museums’ utilisation of inclusive education practices in the United States of America

Although there are examples of museums that use cutting-edge techniques and technologies to facilitate inclusive learning environments, very little is known about the extent that natural history mu...
Assessment of Self-monitoring of Blood Glucose in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes Not Using Insulin

This database analysis quantifies the rate of use and cost of self-monitoring blood glucose supplies that are potentially used inappropriately, specifically focusing on test strips.
Dispatch optimization of concentrating solar power with utility-scale photovoltaics

Concentrating solar power (CSP) tower technologies capture thermal radiation from the sun utilizing a field of solar-tracking heliostats. When paired with inexpensive thermal energy storage (TES), CSP technologies can dispatch electricity during peak-market-priced hours, day or night. The cost of utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) systems has dropped significantly in the last decade, resulting in inexpensive energy production during daylight hours. The hybridization of PV and CSP with TES systems has the potential to provide continuous and stable energy production at a lower cost than a PV or CSP system alone. Hybrid systems are gaining popularity in international markets as a means to increase renewable energy portfolios across the world. Historically, CSP-PV hybrid systems have been evaluated using either monthly averages of hourly PV production or scheduling algorithms that neglect the time-of-production value of electricity in the market. To more accurately evaluate a CSP-PV-battery hybrid design, we develop a profit-maximizing mixed-integer linear program ($${\mathcal {H}}$$) that determines a dispatch schedule for the individual sub-systems with a sub-hourly time fidelity. We present the mathematical formulation of such a model and show that it is computationally expensive to solve. To improve model tractability and reduce solution times, we offer techniques that: (1) reduce the problem size, (2) tighten the linear programming relaxation of ($${\mathcal {H}}$$) via reformulation and the introduction of cuts, and (3) implement an optimization-based heuristic (that can yield initial feasible solutions for ($${\mathcal {H}}$$) and, at any rate, yields near-optimal solutions). Applying these solution techniques results in a 79% improvement in solve time, on average, for our 48-h instances of ($${\mathcal {H}}$$); corresponding solution times for an annual model run decrease by as much as 93%, where such a run consists of solving 365 instances of ($${\mathcal {H}}$$), retaining only the first 24 h’ worth of the solution, and sliding the time window forward 24 h. We present annual system metrics for two locations and two markets that inform design practices for hybrid systems and lay the groundwork for a more exhaustive policy analysis. A comparison of alternative hybrid systems to the CSP-only system demonstrates that hybrid models can almost double capacity factors while resulting in a 30% improvement related to various economic metrics.
Decline in self-reported high-risk injection-related behaviors among HIV-seropositive participants in the Baltimore needle exchange program

This study was conducted to determine whether enrollment in a needle exchange program (NEP) was associated with reduction(s) in high-risk injection practices among HIV-seropositive drug users. Between August 1994 and August 1997 HIV-seropositive individuals who underwent baseline and 6-month follow-up visits in the Baltimore NEP evaluation were studied. Chi-square statistics and paired t tests were used to compare reported injection-related behaviors between visits. One hundred and twelve HIV-seropositive NEP participants completed baseline and follow-up visits. Between visits self-reported lending of used syringes to others decreased (34.0% vs. 15.5%, p = .001), borrowing syringes from others decreased (23.2% vs. 11.1%, p = .002), and reported participation in drug treatment increased (8.0% vs. 18.8%, p = .01). A decrease in the mean number of injections per syringe was reported, 11.4 vs. 4.7 (p < .001). These data suggest that NEP attendance can contribute to significant reductions in risky drug-use behaviors in HIV-seropositive drug users.
Diagnostic Value of CT of Chest, Abdomen, and Pelvis in Patients With Solitary and Multiple Brain Lesions

OBJECTIVE. A common goal in patients with newly discovered brain lesions is to determine if the lesions are primary malignant brain neoplasms, metastases, or benign entities. Such patients often undergo CT of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis (CT CAP) to identify a primary neoplasm that may have metastasized to the brain. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of finding a primary cancer on CT CAP. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A large academic hospital imaging database was searched for cases of new intracranial lesions with subsequent CT CAP performed for metastatic workup. The frequency of primary neoplasms diagnosed in the chest versus abdominal and pelvic portions of CT scans was determined in patients with newly identified intraaxial and extraaxial brain lesions. Lesion characteristics were recorded including size, number, and the presence of enhancement and hemorrhage. Ancillary signs of an abdominopelvic neoplasm were also recorded. RESULTS. A total of 227 of 287 (79%) cases of newly discovered intracranial lesions were malignant (primary or metastatic) and 60 (21%) were benign. Of the 227 malignant cases, 136 (60%) were primary brain neoplasms and 91 (40%) were brain metastases, and 68 of the 91 (75%) lung primary. Chest CT (CTC) identified a primary neoplasm in 65 of 287 (23%) cases; 63 of those 65 (96%) neoplasms arose in the lungs. CT of the abdomen and pelvis (CTAP) identified a primary neoplasm in only 3 of 287 (1%) cases. In 26 cases in which the intracranial lesions did not enhance, only one was metastatic. CONCLUSION. In patients with newly discovered brain lesions, CTC is warranted, but CTAP is unlikely to be useful in patients without ancillary signs of abdominopelvic neoplasm.
A review of fetal and neonatal consequences of maternal systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) primarily affects women of childbearing age and is commonly seen in pregnancy. The physiologic and immunologic changes of pregnancy may alter the course of SLE and impact maternal, fetal, and neonatal health. Multidisciplinary counseling before and during pregnancy from rheumatology, maternal fetal medicine, obstetrics, and pediatric cardiology is critical. Transplacental passage of autoantibodies, present in about 40% of women with SLE, can result in neonatal lupus (NL). NL can consist of usually permanent cardiac manifestations, including conduction system and myocardial disease, as well as transient cutaneous, hematologic, and hepatic manifestations. Additionally, women with SLE are more likely to develop adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and preterm birth, perhaps due to an underlying effect on placentation. This review describes the impact of SLE on maternal and fetal health by trimester, beginning with prepregnancy optimization of maternal health. This is followed by a discussion of NL and the current understanding of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of anti-Ro/La mediated cardiac disease, as well as screening, treatment, and methods for prevention. Finally discussed is the known increase in preeclampsia and fetal growth issues in women with SLE that can lead to iatrogenic preterm delivery.
4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal attenuates 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase 1 activity

Elevated cellular oxidative stress and oxidative DNA damage are key contributors to impaired cardiac function in diabetes. During chronic inflammation, reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced lipid peroxidation results in the formation of reactive aldehydes, foremost of which is 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4HNE). 4HNE forms covalent adducts with proteins, negatively impacting cellular protein function. During conditions of elevated oxidative stress, oxidative DNA damage such as modification by 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8OHdG) is repaired by 8-oxoguanine glycosylase-1 (OGG-1). Based on these facts, we hypothesized that 4HNE forms adducts with OGG-1 inhibiting its activity, and thus, increases the levels of 8OHG in diabetic heart tissues. To test our hypothesis, we evaluated OGG-1 activity, 8OHG and 4HNE in the hearts of leptin receptor deficient db/db mice, a type-2 diabetic model. We also treated the recombinant OGG-1 with 4HNE to measure direct adduction. We found decreased OGG-1 activity (P > .05), increased 8OHG (P > .05) and increased 4HNE adducts (P > .05) along with low aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 activity (P > .05). The increased colocalization of OGG-1 and 4HNE in cardiomyocytes suggest 4HNE adduction on OGG-1. Furthermore, colocalization of 8OHG and OGG-1 with mitochondrial markers TOM 20 and aconitase, respectively, indicated significant levels of oxidatively-induced mtDNA damage and implicated a role for mitochondrial OGG-1 function. In vitro exposure of recombinant OGG-1 (rOGG-1) with increasing concentrations of 4HNE resulted in a concentration-dependent decrease in OGG-1 activity. Mass spectral analysis of trypsin digests of 4HNE-treated rOGG-1 identified 4HNE adducts on C28, C75, C163, H179, H237, C241, K249, H270, and H282. In silico molecular modeling of 4HNE-K249 OGG-1 and 4HNE-H270 OGG-1 mechanistically supported 4HNE-mediated enzymatic inhibition of OGG-1. In conclusion, these data support the hypothesis that inhibition of OGG-1 by direct modification by 4HNE contributes to decreased OGG-1 activity and increased 8OHG-modified DNA that are present in the diabetic heart.
Practitioners' perspectives on ethical issues within the treatment of eating disorders: Results from a concept mapping study

Objective Treating patients with eating disorders (EDs) is associated with an array of ethical concerns, including balancing patients' health and autonomy, access to care, and use of harm-reduction versus recovery-oriented treatment models. The primary aim of the current study is to gain a better understanding of ethical issues faced by ED practitioners by using a concept mapping, or Q-sort, approach. Method A total of 12 practitioners completed the brainstorming phase and generated statements regarding ethical issues they faced while treating patients with EDs. A subsequent 38 practitioners completed a sorting task, where they created and labeled piles, into which they grouped each statement. Of those 38 participants, 30 rated both the frequency with which they encountered each ethical issue and its impact on patient care. Results A total of six clusters emerged: Insufficient Level of Care, Lack of Evidence-Based Practice, Insurance Barriers, Family Involvement, Patient Autonomy, and Limited Access to Expertise. Lack of Evidence-Based Practice, Insurance Barriers, and Insufficient Level of Care was the most frequent problem faced by ED practitioners, whereas Insurance Barriers and Patient Autonomy had the greatest impact. Discussion Findings outline frequent and impactful areas of ethical concern that arise when treating patients diagnosed with EDs. Practitioners most commonly reported that patient- and insurance-driven factors limited patient access to appropriate care. Regulations supporting the provision of evidence-based care should be emphasized in public health policy and advocacy efforts, given their impact in limiting the delivery of adequate patient care.
Hearing Loss-Related Issues Affecting Quality of Life in Preschool Children.

ObjectiveThe impact of hearing loss (HL) on quality of life (QOL) in young children has not been examined systematically. The objective of this study was to examine patient, parent, and professiona...
Warrantless Wiretapping, FISA Reform, and the Lessons of Public Liberty: A Comment on Holmes's Jorde Lecture

Author(s): Schwartz, Paul M. | Abstract: This Essay responds to Stephen Holmes’ Jorde Lecture, which was delivered at Boalt Hall on November 5, 2007. It builds on his model of “public liberty” by discussing how private liberty, and information privacy in particular, is a precondition for public liberty. For Holmes, private liberty is largely a negative right—a right to be free from governmental interference. In contrast, this Essay considers privacy to be an element of public rights. Participation in a democracy requires individuals to have an underlying capacity for self-determination, which requires some personal privacy.Through the lens of the recent amendment of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), this Essay analyzes a number of Holmesian concepts through. Its Part I describes the background of FISA, the National Security Agency’s (NSA) warrantless surveillance program in violation of this statute, and the amendments to this law in the Protect America Act of 2007, a short term statutory “fix” that has expired, and the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, which remains in effect. Its Part II turns to an analysis of the challenges to private and public liberty posed by the NSA’s surveillance. This Part is organized around three topics: (1) past wisdom as codified in law; (2) the impact of secrecy on government behavior; and (3) institutional lessons. As we shall see, a Holmesian search for the wisdom previously collected in law proves quite difficult. FISA regulated some aspects of intelligence gathering and left the intelligence community entirely free to engage in others. Over time, moreover, technological innovations and altered national security concerns transformed the implications of the past policy landscape. As a result, the toughest questions, which concern surveillance of foreign-to-domestic communications, do not receive an easy answer from the past.Regarding the impact of secrecy on government behavior, the analysis is, at least initially, more straightforward. As Holmes discusses, the Bush administration was adept at keeping secrets not only from the public and other branches of government, but from itself. It is also striking how little Congress knew about NSA activities while amending FISA. The larger lessons, however, prove yet more complicated: strong structural and political factors are likely to limit the involvement of Congress and courts in this area. This Essay concludes by confronting these institutional lessons and evaluating elements of a response that would improve the government’s performance by crafting new informational and deliberative structures for it.
Frictions in Shadow Banking: Evidence from the Lending Behavior of Money Market Mutual Funds

We document frictions in money market mutual fund lending that lead to the transmission of distress across borrowers. Using novel security-level holdings data, we show that funds exposed to Eurozone banks suffered large outflows in mid-2011. These outflows had significant spillovers: non-European issuers relying on such funds raised less short-term debt financing. Issuer characteristics do not explain the results: holding fixed the issuer, funds with higher Eurozone exposure cut lending more. Due to credit market frictions, funds with low Eurozone exposure provided substitute financing only to issuers they had pre-existing relationships with, even though issuers are large, highly rated firms.
How does the Environment Modulate Aerosol Impacts on Tropical Sea Breeze Convective Systems

Abstract. This study investigates how the enhanced loading of microphysically and radiatively active aerosol particles impacts tropical sea breeze convection and whether these aerosol impacts are modulated by the multitudinous environments that support these cloud systems. To achieve these goals, we have performed two large numerical model ensembles, each comprised of 130 idealised simulations that represent different initial conditions typical of tropical sea breeze environments. The two ensembles are identical with the exception of the fact that one ensemble is initialised with relatively low aerosol loading or pristine conditions, while the other is initialised with higher aerosol loading or polluted conditions. Six atmospheric and four surface parameters are simultaneously perturbed for the 130 initial conditions. Analysis of the ten-dimensional parameter simulations was facilitated by the use of a statistical emulator and multivariate sensitivity techniques. Comparisons of the clean and polluted ensembles demonstrate that aerosol direct effects reduce the incoming shortwave radiation reaching the surface, as well as the outgoing longwave radiation, within the polluted ensemble. This results in weaker surface fluxes, a reduced ocean-land thermal gradient, and a weaker sea breeze circulation. Consequently, irrespective of the different initial environmental conditions, increasing aerosol concentration decreases the three ingredients necessary for moist convection: moisture, instability, and lift. As reduced surface fluxes and instability inhibit the convective boundary layer development, updraft velocities of the daytime cumulus convection developing ahead of the sea breeze front are robustly reduced in the polluted environments. Furthermore, the variance-based sensitivity analysis reveals that the soil saturation fraction is the most important environmental factor contributing to the updraft velocity variance of this daytime cumulus mode, but that it becomes a less important contributor with enhanced aerosol loading. It is also demonstrated that enhanced aerosol loading results in a weakening of the convection initiated along the sea breeze front. This suppression is particularly robust when the sea breeze-initiated convection is shallower, and hence restricted to warm rain processes. However, when the sea breeze-initiated convection is deep and includes mixed-phase processes, both the sign and magnitude of the convective updraft responses to increased aerosol loading are modulated by the environment. The less favourable convective environment arising from aerosol direct effects also restricts the development of sea breeze-initiated deep convection. While precipitation is ubiquitously suppressed with enhanced aerosol loading, the magnitude of this suppression remains a function of the initial environment. Altogether, our results highlight the importance of evaluating aerosol impacts on convection systems under the wide range of environments supporting such convective development.
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is characterized by a cholestatic liver profile, serum antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, intra and extrahepatic biliary strictures by imaging studies, of which magnetic resonance imaging is favored, and periportal fibrosis with the absence of bile ducts histologically. The disease is more common in men than in women, and it is associated with inflammatory bowel disease in most patients.
Who compares and despairs? The effect of social comparison orientation on social media use and its outcomes.

Abstract People vary in their tendencies to compare themselves to others, an individual difference variable called social comparison orientation (SCO). Social networking sites provide information about others that can be used for social comparison. The goal of the present set of studies was to explore the relationship between SCO, Facebook use, and negative psychological outcomes. Studies 1a and 1b used correlational approaches and showed that participants high (vs. low) in SCO exhibited heavier Facebook use. Study 2 used an experimental approach and revealed that participants high in SCO had poorer self-perceptions, lower self-esteem, and more negative affect balance than their low-SCO counterparts after engaging in brief social comparisons on Facebook. SCO did not have as strong or consistent effects for participants engaging in control tasks. Results are discussed in the context of extant literature and the impact of social media use on well-being.
Children’s Coping with Stressful Medical Procedures

Childhood is a time in which children are cared for and protected by their parents. Medical procedures involving children thus provide a paradoxical situation for children and their families. Nowhere else in their experience are children subjected to a planned event that is frightening and often painful, while the parents look on passively or even assist in restraining the children. This same paradox of adult presence without protection, which presents such a challenge to children and their families, allows a unique opportunity for the investigation of how children cope with anxiety-provoking and painful experiences. Because most elective medical procedures are planned in advance, children and their families’ responses to a procedure can and have been meticulously explored through observation, interview, self-report, parent ratings, and physiological assessment (Peterson, 1984).
1-(4-Bromo-3-chloro-phen-yl)-3-meth-oxy-3-methyl-urea (chlorbromuron).

In the title urea-based herbicide, C9H10BrClN2O2, there exist multiple inter- and intra­molecular inter­actions. Most notably, the intra­molecular hydrogen bond between the urea carbonyl O atom and an aromatic H atom affects the planarity and torsion angles of the mol­ecule by restricting rotations about the Ar—secondary amine N and the secondary amine N and the carbonyl C. The two N atoms in the urea fragment are in different environments. One is planar; the other, pseudo-C3v. It is likely that the different nitro­gen-atom geometries and the restricted rotations within the mol­ecule impact the bioactivity of chlorbromuron.
Leadership for Optimal Security Operations

This chapter discusses the distinctive characteristics of security functions and the way they differ from other management disciplines. It reviews the discrete tasks that a 21 st -century leader of security programs may be most fully engaged in. The future of security operationism, as based on current trends, is also discussed. Leadership is changing because the nature of organizations and their requirements continue to evolve to create new needs. However, the changing nature of organizations has affected management style and structure. Newer competencies emphasize collaboration, education, global vision, and worker development, so that the goals can be achieved with less hierarchical intervention than in the past. The new generations of leaders have access to different kinds of power. Five basic types of power exist: (1) power to reward by providing a promotion or raise, (2) power to punish by invoking progressive disciplinary methods, (3) power to assert expertise, and (4) power of authority to approve, or (5) reject the quality of work presented.
Expression of active, processed ricin in transgenic tobacco

The cDNA encoding the plant toxin precursor preproricin was introduced into tobacco via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated gene transfer. Transgenic plants were assayed for type II ribosome-inactivating protein expression and activity. Western blot analysis of soluble leaf extracts using anti-ricin a-chain (RTA) antibodies identified 34- and 32-kDa proteins, which were electrophoretically indistinguishable from castor seed RTA. Analysis with anti-ricin b-chain (RTB) antibodies identified both a 34-kDa protein major band, which co-migrated with castor seed RTB, and a 30-kDa protein minor band. Enzyme-linked immunoassay of the transgenic leaf extracts with anti-RTA and anti-RTB indicated microgram per gram production on a fresh weight basis of soluble extractable recombinant ricin. Sugar binding enzyme-linked immunoassay employing an immobilized glycoprotein, asialofetuin, and anti-RTB antibodies confirmed the characteristic type II ribosome-inactivating protein galactose binding lectin activity of the recombinant ricin. The enzymatic activity of recombinant ricin was characterized for cell-free translation inhibition, as well as for overall cytotoxicity. A 50% inhibitory dose of 3 x 10(-11) M was observed for the immunoreactive leaf extract material using a rabbit reticulocyte translation inhibition assay, while a 50% lethal dose of 1 x 10(-12) M was calculated with human T-lymphotropic virus-1 infected leukemic T-cells.
Ethonafide-Induced Cytotoxicity is Mediated by Topoisomerase II Inhibition in Human Prostate Cancer Cells.

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006 5537 Ethonafide (6-ethoxyazonafide/AMP-53), an anthracene-based analog of amonafide, is a DNA intercalator that inhibits topoisomerase II. The inhibition of topoisomerase II was determined by a cell-free assay using purified topoisomerase II and has not yet been validated as a mechanism of cytotoxicity in cancer. Ethonafide has demonstrated in vitro cytotoxicity in several cancer cell lines and has also demonstrated in vivo activity in tumor xenograft growth inhibition models. Based on these data, we hypothesize that ethonafide induces DNA double strand breaks, through inhibition of topoisomerase II, leading to apoptotic cell death. Using the MTT cytotoxicity assay, the IC50 at 72 hours was 40 nM, 86 nM, and 98 nM in DU-145, PC-3, and LNCaP prostate cancer cell lines, respectively. In DU-145 nuclear extracts, ethonafide inhibited topoisomerase II activity by preventing the relaxation of catenated kDNA at 10 μM, which corresponds to the IC90 at 24 hours. Following a 1-hour exposure, ethonafide stabilized the DNA-topoisomerase II cleavable complex in DU-145 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Ethonafide also induced concentration-dependent DNA double strand breaks after a 1-hour treatment of DU-145 cells, as measured by the neutral comet assay. As with other topoisomerase II inhibitors, ethonafide induced potent G2/M cell cycle arrest after a 24-hour exposure with sub-toxic concentrations. Following a 24-hour exposure, ethonafide induced apoptosis as demonstrated by cleavage of procaspase-3 and PARP. These data suggest that ethonafide is active against prostate cancer by inhibiting topoisomerase II and stabilizing the cleavable complex leading to DNA double strand breaks and apoptosis.
Adolescent Adjustment and Maternal Breast Cancer

Abstract This study investigated the effects of parental functioning on adolescent adjustment during the acute phase of treatment for mothers diagnosed with breast cancer. Data from self-and parent-report questionnaires were obtained in the homes of 87 adolescents and 174 parents within six months of the mother's diagnosis. Associations between adolescent adjustment (self-esteem, behavioral problems, anxiety) and parental functioning (depressed mood, parenting quality, and marital adjustment) were examined when neither, one, or both parents were functioning at compromised levels. When both parents had depressed mood, adolescents tended to show increased behavioral problems; maternal depressed mood was the main source of influence. When the quality of the parenting relationship between the adolescent and both parents was poor, adolescents showed significantly lowered self-esteem and increased anxiety. Marital adjustment did not affect adolescent functioning significantly. Maternal depressed mood and the qu...
CD14 Mediates Cross Talk between Mononuclear Cells and Fibroblasts for Upregulation of Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 by Borrelia burgdorferi

Lyme disease is an infection caused by a tick-borne spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) was selectively upregulated in the erythema migrans skin lesions of patients with acute Lyme disease. In this study, the mechanism of upregulation of MMP-9 was investigated in vitro and in vivo. The concentrations of MMP-9 and soluble CD14 were markedly elevated in serum from patients with acute Lyme disease and were also upregulated in U937 cells by B. burgdorferi in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. MMP-9 mRNA was expressed at baseline in fibroblasts in the presence or absence of B. burgdorferi. However, when fibroblasts were incubated with supernatants from U937 cells with B. burgdorferi or recombinant CD14, the expression of MMP-9 was significantly increased. This effect was completely abolished by the anti-CD14 antibody. These data suggest that the upregulation of MMP-9 by B. burgdorferi involves the CD14 pathway in infiltrating inflammatory cells. Fibroblasts could be recruited to amplify local production of MMP-9 by acquiring CD14 from macrophages.