cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
C. elegans and its bacterial diet as a model for systems-level understanding of host–microbiota interactions

Resident microbes of the human body, particularly the gut microbiota, provide essential functions for the host, and, therefore, have important roles in human health as well as mitigating disease. It is difficult to study the mechanisms by which the microbiota affect human health, especially at a systems-level, due to heterogeneity of human genomes, the complexity and heterogeneity of the gut microbiota, the challenge of growing these bacteria in the laboratory, and the lack of bacterial genetics in most microbiotal species. In the last few years, the interspecies model of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and its bacterial diet has proven powerful for studying host–microbiota interactions, as both the animal and its bacterial diet can be subjected to large-scale and high-throughput genetic screening. The high level of homology between many C. elegans and human genes, as well as extensive similarities between human and C. elegans metabolism, indicates that the findings obtained from this interspecies model may be broadly relevant to understanding how the human microbiota affects physiology and disease. In this review, we summarize recent systems studies on how bacteria interact with C. elegans and affect life history traits.
Ten days of repeated local forearm heating does not affect cutaneous vascular function.

We show for the first time that 10 days of repeated forearm heating is not sufficient to improve cutaneous vascular responsiveness in recreationally active young adults. In addition, this is the fi...
Neuroplasticity of selective attention: Research foundations and preliminary evidence for a gene by intervention interaction

This article reviews the trajectory of our research program on selective attention, which has moved from basic research on the neural processes underlying selective attention to translational studies using selective attention as a neurobiological target for evidence-based interventions. We use this background to present a promising preliminary investigation of how genetic and experiential factors interact during development (i.e., gene × intervention interactions). Our findings provide evidence on how exposure to a family-based training can modify the associations between genotype (5-HTTLPR) and the neural mechanisms of selective attention in preschool children from lower socioeconomic status backgrounds.
Intra-operative predictors of postoperative Takotsubo syndrome in liver transplant recipients-An exploratory case-control study.

Introduction Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), also known as Takotsubo's cardiomyopathy or stress induced cardiomyopathy, has been described following a variety of surgeries and disease states. The relationship between intraoperative anesthesia management and the development of this syndrome has never been fully elucidated. Objectives The primary objective of this study was to determine the relationship of multiple intraoperative factors on the pathogenesis of TTS. Methods A single center retrospective review of all liver transplants performed at Mayo Clinic Florida from January 2005- December 2014. Patients developing left ventricular dilation and a concomitant decrease in ejection fraction, a negative cardiac catheterization or stress test within 30 days of transplantation were identified. Cases were matched 2:1 to controls with respect to MELD, age, sex, and indication for transplantation. Our evaluation included liver graft characteristics, intraoperative medications, and intraoperative hemodynamic measurements. Results We identified 24 cases of TTS from a pool of 1752 transplants, for an incidence of 1.4%. No statistically significant differences in intraoperative measures between the two groups were identified (all P≥0.08). Conclusion Our exploratory, single center retrospective review evaluating 46 intraoperative characteristics found no association with the development of TTS. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Hand and Foot Color Change: Diagnosis and Management

1. Dustin E. Fleck, MD* 2. Mark F. Hoeltzel, MD* 1. *Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI * ADHD: : attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ANA: : antinuclear antibody POTS: : postural tachycardia syndrome Primary care clinicians are challenged to evaluate an array of different hand and foot color changes in kids, as treatment may range from reassurance of a benign, self-limited condition to further diagnostic evaluation and treatment with vasodilator pharmacotherapy. The most common and well-known causes of these color changes are Raynaud phenomenon, acrocyanosis, and the more rare but serious erythromelalgia. Clinicians should be aware of the clinical presentation, symptoms, etiologic origins, diagnostic evaluation, treatment, and potential complications of Raynaud phenomenon, acrocyanosis, and erythromelalgia in children. After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Identify the various causes of hand and foot color change in children and adolescents. 2. Recognize the differences in signs and symptoms of acrocyanosis, erythromelalgia, and Raynaud phenomenon. 3. Recognize complications associated with acrocyanosis, erythromelalgia, and Raynaud phenomenon. 4. Describe current treatments for acrocyanosis, erythromelalgia, and Raynaud phenomenon. ### Clinical Presentation Acrocyanosis is a clinically benign process that is known to cause alarm in patients and their parents. Acrocyanosis typically presents as symmetrical blue and/or purple discoloration in the peripheral extremities, usually either the hands or the feet (Figs 1, 2, 3, 4). In infants, acrocyanosis also includes the perioral area but not the lips or tongue, where central cyanosis becomes a concern. It is often seen after bathing, after feeding, or in a cool environment. It is evanescent and benign. The bluish discoloration in acrocyanosis is often asymptomatic, without clear demarcation of color change. Acrocyanosis episodes can be either precipitated or exacerbated by external factors, such as cold temperatures. Acrocyanosis may also be a process secondary to an underlying systemic disease or a side effect of certain medications. Figure 1. Teenage …
Einstein’s Equations

In this chapter we discuss Einstein’s gravitational equations, which state that the presence of matter and energy creates curvature in spacetime, via $${G}_{jk} = 8\pi \kappa {T}_{jk},$$ (0.1) where Gjk = Ricjk − (1∕2)Sgjk is the Einstein tensor, Tjk is the stress-energy tensor due to the presence of matter, and κ is a positive constant. In 1 we introduce this equation and relate it to previous discussions of stress-energy tensors and their relation to equations of motion. We recall various stationary action principles that give rise to equations of motion and show that (0.1) itself results from adding a term proportional to the scalar curvature of spacetime to standard Lagrangians and considering variations of the metric tensor.
Insulin Resistance and Diabetes in Chronic Renal Disease

Publisher Summary In healthy individuals, the plasma glucose concentration typically ranges between 70 and 100 mg/dl after an overnight fast and usually does not exceed 120–140 mg/dl after ingestion of a meal. In the postabsorptive state, glucose is released into the circulation primarily from the liver, either by the breakdown of previously stored glycogen or by the process of gluconeogenesis—the synthesis of new glucose from precursors such as lactate, pyruvate, glycerol, and the gluconeogenic amino acids, predominantly alanine and glutamine. Several clinical research techniques have been developed to measure insulin resistance. The most widely used method is the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp technique, which is generally considered to be the gold standard for measuring insulin sensitivity in vivo. With this technique, a primed-continuous infusion of insulin is administered to raise the plasma insulin concentration to a predetermined physiological or pharmacological level. The plasma glucose concentration is then measured at 5-minute intervals, and a variable infusate of exogenous glucose is administered to maintain the plasma glucose concentration constant at the fasting level. Since the plasma glucose concentration remains unchanged, the amount of exogenous glucose infused must equal the amount of glucose utilized in response to the hyperinsulinemia, and thus provides a direct measure of whole-body sensitivity to insulin.
Studies on the ability of stored blood to transport oxygen in vivo.

Blood stored in acid-citrate-dextrose (ACD) shows a progressive increase in oxygen affinity primarily as the result of a decrease in red cell 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG)1. Restoration of DPG levels (and presumably normal blood oxygen affinity) appears to occur promptly after transfusion of ACD-stored, DPG- depleted blood. Delayed restoration of DPG and oxygen affinity may impair oxygen delivery. Beutler and Wood reported that DPG values returned to nearly 50 percent of normal within 4 hours.2 Others have indicated that at least 25 percent of the final DPG level was achieved within 8 hours after completion of transfusion.3 Whether the rate of DPG restoration is significantly variable from patient to patient is uncertain because only a few patients have been reported.
Endotoxin scavengers as a therapeutic strategy for sepsis

Bacterial endotoxin remains an important therapeutic target for the treatment of serious infections from Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. Despite recent failures in past clinical trials with novel anti-endotoxin therapies for septic shock [1–6], a critical need remains to improve the unacceptably high mortality rate associated with systemic infections from Gram-negative organisms. Endotoxin remains a viable target for innovative treatment regimens as endotoxin constitutes the most important microbially-derived mediator in septic shock.
Cost containment and physician obligations: mandates for patient advocacy.

Physicians are held legally responsible if patients are harmed by not receiving the care that is required, even when the restriction of that care is imposed by a third-party payor. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Two-dimensional electronic-vibrational spectroscopic study of conical intersection dynamics: an experimental and electronic structure study

The relaxation from the lowest singlet excited state of the triphenylmethane dyes, crystal violet and malachite green, is studied via two-dimensional electronic-vibrational (2DEV) spectroscopy. After excitation of the dyes at their respective absorption maxima, the ensuing excited state dynamics are tracked by monitoring the C[double bond, length as m-dash]C aromatic stretch. With the aid of electronic structure calculations, the observed transitions in the 2DEV spectra are assigned to specific geometries and a detailed story of the evolution of the nuclear wavepacket as it diffuses on the excited state potential energy surface (PES) and ultimately passes through the conical intersection is developed. Notably, it is revealed that the relaxation of the lowest singlet excited state involves intramolecular charge transfer while the nuclear wavepacket is on the excited state PES. Finally, through analyzing the center line slopes of the measured peaks, we show how both solvent motions and changes in the molecular dipole moment affect the correlation between electronic and vibrational degrees of freedom. This work clearly demonstrates the usefulness of 2DEV spectroscopy in following the motion of nuclear wavepackets after photoexcitation and in studying the interactions between the molecular dipole moment and surrounding solvent environment.
A Holistic Approach to Diagnosing and Treating Dysphagia.

We report a 39-year-old Native American female with an almost 20-year history of dysphagia that had increased in the 6 months prior to the initial evaluation. Investigation revealed a number of distinct esophageal disorders including Plummer–Vinson syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease with esophagitis, distal esophageal stricture, esophageal intramural pseudo-diverticulosis, and recurrent esophageal Candida infections. Although prolonged therapy with proton pump inhibitors, fluconazole, nystatin, and repeated esophageal balloon dilations relieved her symptoms, her prognosis remains uncertain.
Hyperglycemia, hydroxychloroquine, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection and its severity can be explained by the concentration of glycosylated severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral particles in the lung epithelium, the concentration of glycosylated angiotensin-converting enzyme receptor 2 (ACE2) in the lung epithelium, and the degree and control of the pulmonary immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein at approximately day 8 to 10 after symptom onset, which may be related to both. Binding of ACE2 by SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 also suggests that prolonged uncontrolled hyperglycemia, and not just a history of diabetes mellitus, may be important in the pathogenesis of the disease. It is tempting to consider that the same mechanism acts in COVID-19 as in SARS, where an overactive macrophage M1 inflammatory response, as neutralizing antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein form at day 7 to 10, results in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in susceptible patients. It also allows consideration of agents, such as hydroxychloroquine, which may interfere with this overly brisk macrophage inflammatory response and perhaps influence the course of the disease, in particular, those that blunt but do not completely abrogate the M1 to M2 balance in macrophage polarization, as well as viral load, which in SARS appears to be temporally related to the onset of ARDS.
Immunoreactive prostatic specific antigen in male periurethral glands.

AbstractProstatic specific antigen (PSA) is considered an antigen unique to benign and malignant prostatic tissue. Recent evidence in the literature has raised serious doubts about the specificity of this antigen. In this study twenty male urethral specimens were evaluated for PSA and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) from patients without evidence of prostatic cancer. Eight of these 20 urethral specimens exhibited strong immunostaining for both PSA and PAP, localized in the periurethral glands. Five of the 17 urethral biopsies were positive for both antigens, while all three of the whole mount autopsy specimens stained positive for PSA and PAP. Within the autopsy series, there was heterogenous staining of the periurethral glands within the same specimen.This evidence disproves the fact that PSA and PAP are organ specific as previously described. More than likely any tissue of cloacal origin has potential for staining positive for prostatic specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase.
Recent Advances in the Genetic, Anatomical, and Environmental Regulation of the C. elegans Germ Line Progenitor Zone

The C. elegans germ line and its gonadal support cells are well studied from a developmental genetics standpoint and have revealed many foundational principles of stem cell niche biology. Among these are the observations that a niche-like cell supports a self-renewing stem cell population with multipotential, differentiating daughter cells. While genetic features that distinguish stem-like cells from their differentiating progeny have been defined, the mechanisms that structure these populations in the germ line have yet to be explained. The spatial restriction of Notch activation has emerged as an important genetic principle acting in the distal germ line. Synthesizing recent findings, I present a model in which the germ stem cell population of the C. elegans adult hermaphrodite can be recognized as two distinct anatomical and genetic populations. This review describes the recent progress that has been made in characterizing the undifferentiated germ cells and gonad anatomy, and presents open questions in the field and new directions for research to pursue.
Corporate Takeovers and Labor Restructuring

Using detailed employer-employee administrative data linked with manually-collected information on merger activity in Brazil, I create input-based measures of technological and organizational changes to examine the relation between firms' human capital composition and mergers. I find that firms with larger shares of high-skilled and innovation-intensive employees participate in mergers. Occupational proximity is an important driver of the transaction incidence. Examining post-merger human capital compositional shifts in target firms, I provide evidence on efficiency-seeking restructuring through technology adoption, investment in innovation and cost synergies. I find support for knowledge transfers, management changes and scale economies as potential mechanisms behind these shifts.
Completing the Cycle: An Inclusive Capitalism Approach Linking Sustainable Consumption and Production

In this chapter, we present an inclusive capitalism approach, which completes the environmental-production-income and distribution-consumption cycles by treating sustainable consumption and production as two sides of the same coin. There are two divides that our approach to inclusive capitalism bridges—one between income earned from capital ownership and from wages, and the other between the human production of goods and services and the impact these activities have on the environment. We analyse different mechanisms to bridge these divides and show that our proposal—broadening the distribution of capital ownership using future earnings of capital and directing this income towards sustainable production and consumption—presents a holistic solution to growing environmental problems and income inequality. In addition, we also achieve the politically desirable goal of participatory economic life through this mechanism.
Exercise improves health-related quality of life sleep and fatigue domains in adult high- and low-grade glioma patients.

The impact of exercise on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with glioma remains unknown. We hypothesized that glioma patients with low exercise tolerance experience more distress in HRQOL sleep and fatigue domains than patients with high tolerance to exercise. Thirty-eight male and female patients with low- or high-grade glioma treated at a single tertiary care institution participated. Patients completed a validated telephone survey to determine their exercise habits before and following diagnosis. An unpaired t-test was run to measure the interaction between exercise tolerances on HRQOL functional and impairment domains. Those with low pre-morbid physical activity levels had more distress in HRQOL sleep and fatigue domains. The effects were independent of plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and the degree of exercise did not appear to impact plasma BDNF in adult glioma patients. The aim of this study was to examine the significance of exercise habits on perioperative functional outcomes in patients with low-grade or high-grade glioma. We found that glioma patients with low tolerance to exercise had more sleep disturbances and greater fatigue than glioma patients with high tolerance to exercise. Furthermore, exercise tolerance in the adult glioma population does not appear to impact plasma BDNF secretion.
The Feasibility of Tai Chi Exercise as a Beneficial Mind-Body Intervention in a Group of Community-Dwelling Stroke Survivors with Symptoms of Depression

Depression is prevalent among one-third to two-thirds of acute and chronic stroke survivors. Despite the availability of pharmacotherapies and/or psychotherapies, depression persists, even for 5-10 years after stroke, reflecting limited treatment responses and/or adherence to this conventional care. Mind-body interventions are commonly used among adults to ameliorate depressive symptoms. Thus, the feasibility of Tai Chi, alongside conventional care, to manage poststroke depression was investigated using a single-group pre-post intervention design. Recruitment and retention, intervention adherence, safety, acceptability, and fidelity were assessed. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were assessed using standardized questionnaires, objective sleep was assessed via a research-grade triaxial accelerometer, and blood samples were taken to measure oxidative stress, inflammatory markers, and a neurotrophic growth factor using commercially available kits per manufacturer's protocol. Pre-post intervention changes were assessed using paired t-tests. We enrolled stroke survivors (N = 11, mean age = 69.7 ± 9.3) reporting depression symptoms. After the intervention, we observed significant reductions in symptoms of depression (-5.3 ± 5.9, p=0.01), anxiety (-2.2 ± 2.4, p=0.01), and stress (-4.6 ± 4.8, p=0.01), along with better sleep efficiency (+1.8 ± 1.8, p=0.01), less wakefulness after sleep onset (-9.3 ± 11.6, p=0.04), and less time awake (-9.3 ± 11.6, p=0.04). There was a 36% decrease in oxidative stress (p=0.02), though no significant changes in the other biomarkers were found (all p values >0.05). Tai Chi exercise is a feasible intervention that can be used alongside conventional care to manage poststroke depression, aid in reducing symptoms of anxiety and stress, and improve sleep.
NRPyLaTeX: A LaTeX interface to computer algebra systems for general relativity

While each computer algebra system (CAS) contains its own unique syntax for inputting mathematical expressions, LaTeX is perhaps the most widespread language for typesetting mathematics. NRPyLaTeX (NL) enables direct LaTeX input of complex tensorial expressions (written in Einstein notation) relevant to general relativity and differential geometry into the SymPy CAS. As SymPy also supports output compatible with the Mathematica and Maple CASs, NL lowers the learning curve for inputting and manipulating tensorial expressions in three widely used CASs. LaTeX however is a typesetting language, and as such is not designed to resolve ambiguities in mathematical expressions. To address this, NL implements a convenient configuration interface that, e.g., defines variables/keywords and assigns properties/attributes to them. Configuration commands appear as LaTeX comments, so that entire NL workflows can fit seamlessly into the LaTeX source code of scientific papers without interfering with the rendered mathematical expressions. Further, NL adopts NRPy+'s rigid syntax for indexed symbols (e.g., tensors), which enables NL output to be directly converted into highly optimized C/C++-code kernels using NRPy+. Finally NL has robust and user-friendly error-handling, which catches common tensor indexing errors and reports unresolved ambiguities, further expediting the input and validation of LaTeX expressions into a CAS.
Airway Emergencies in the Neonate: Preparedness at the Bedside

Bag mask ventilation has traditionally been used as the mainstay in neonatal resuscitation. The NRP guidelines maintain that positive pressure ventilation is the most important step in newborn resuscitation [13, 39, 62]. However, the recommended use of simple bag mask ventilation can be particularly difficult and, often times, ineffective in newborn infants. In a study of bag mask ventilation of almost 60 very preterm infants under 1 kg, 48 % demonstrated significant mask leak which could only be corrected with repositioning. Inappropriate positioning caused significant airway obstruction 25 % of the time [49]. In another study using colorimetric detectors, airway obstruction occurred in a majority of low birth weight infants receiving bag mask ventilation during resuscitation [13]. Consequently, a well-prepared neonatal unit will have a well-defined process for addressing airway emergencies far beyond the use of bag mask ventilation.
Multivariate High-Dimensional Cortical Folding Analysis, Combining Complexity and Shape, in Neonates with Congenital Heart Disease

The paper presents a novel statistical framework for cortical folding pattern analysis that relies on a rich multivariate descriptor of folding patterns in a region of interest (ROI). The ROI-based approach avoids problems faced by spatial-normalization-based approaches stemming from the severe deficiency of homologous features between typical human cerebral cortices. Unlike typical ROI-based methods that summarize folding complexity or shape by a single number, the proposed descriptor unifies complexity and shape of the surface in a high-dimensional space. In this way, the proposed framework couples the reliability of ROI-based analysis with the richness of the novel cortical folding pattern descriptor. Furthermore, the descriptor can easily incorporate additional variables, e.g. cortical thickness. The paper proposes a novel application of a nonparametric permutation-based approach for statistical hypothesis testing for any multivariate high-dimensional descriptor. While the proposed framework has a rigorous theoretical underpinning, it is straightforward to implement. The framework is validated via simulated and clinical data. The paper is the first to quantitatively evaluate cortical folding in neonates with complex congenital heart disease.
An organic optical bistable switch

We demonstrate an organic optical bistable switch by integrating an organic photodetector on top of a transparent electrophosphorescent organic light-emitting diode. Optical bistability is achieved with an external field-effect transistor providing positive feedback. This integrated device has potential applications for automatic brightness control, image-retaining displays, and other photonic logic circuits.
Analysis of search based algorithms for satisfiability of propositional and quantified boolean formulas arising from circuit state space diameter problems

The sequential circuit state space diameter problem is an important problem in sequential verification. Bounded model checking is complete if the state space diameter of the system is known. By unrolling the transition relation, the sequential circuit state space diameter problem can be formulated as either a series of Boolean satisfiability (SAT) problems or an evaluation for satisfiability of a Quantified Boolean Formula (QBF). Thus far neither the SAT based technique that uses sophisticated SAT solvers, nor QBF evaluations for the various QBF formulations for this have fared well in practice. The poor performance of the QBF evaluations is blamed on the relative immaturity of QBF solvers, with hope that ongoing research in QBF solvers could lead to practical success here. Most existing QBF algorithms, such as those based on the DPLL SAT algorithm, are search based. We show that using search based QBF algorithms to calculate the state space diameter of sequential circuits with existing problem formulations is no better than using SAT to solve this problem. This result holds independent of the representation of the QBF formula. This result is important as it highlights the need to explore non-search based or hybrid of search and non-search based QBF algorithms for the sequential circuit state space diameter problem.
Network composition for situation assessment: A “trusted meeting” case study

Nowadays situation assessment in various scenarios depends on communication networks, information stored in various data stores (information networks), and knowledge of the roles and relations that particular people are involved in (social networks). In order to come up with a high-fidelity situation assessment, information from these three networks must be integrated consistently into a coherent situation model. This is a difficult task for humans to perform due to various reasons, e.g., interruptions, stress (emergency, war) and complexities of social relationships (trust). A tool (Network Composer) that would support people in assessing situations is desirable, but non-existent. In this paper we analyze the behavior of a Network Composer on a scenario in which two types of network are involved. The scenario deals with organizing a “trusted meeting” (treated as a situation) over a communication network, following some rules of trust. Information about the status of the meeting and the various people is stored in data stores associated with communication nodes. In this scenario, Network Composer would support a human in answering the question whether the preconditions for such a meeting have been satisfied, i.e., whether it is possible that the meeting will happen. To assess the concept of Network Composer we represent information flowing though these networks in the Web Ontology Language (OWL) and rules, and emulate the inferential behavior of the tool using a generic inference engine. The tool is analyzed using various scenarios of information flow in the different types of network.
Complex medical case histories as portals to medical practice and integrative, scientific thought

Complex clinicopathological conferences from the New England Journal of Medicine are used to introduce first-year medical and graduate students to scientific reasoning at the level of the whole organism and to help them mobilize and integrate the knowledge obtained in their previous studies. The approach involves outlining the etiology of the case history. This becomes a framework for thought allowing students to easily cope with the profusion of data. The method is cost effective: a single professor can interact with a large class, yet engage students on a one-to-one basis. It is a powerful adjunct to, but does not replace, lecture or small group activities such as problem-based learning. An annotated case history involving diabetes mellitus is provided.
Absence of secretory component expression by epithelial cells overlying rabbit gut-associated lymphoid tissue

The expression of secretory component by epithelial cells overlying intestinal lymphoid aggregates was examined immunocytochemically in rabbits. Intensely labeled epithelial cells were distributed along surfaces of villi surrounding follicles in jejunal and ileal Peyer's patches and along interdomal epithelium in sacculus rotundus and appendix. Secretory component labeling extended from within crypts and appendiceal crevices to the tips of villi and interdomal regions. In contrast, no immunologically detectable secretory component sites were observed in follicle-associated epithelial cells. In crypts and crevices supplying follicles, epithelial cells facing the lamina propria of villi and interdomal epithelium expressed secretory component, but cells flanking the follicle domes lacked secretory component immunostaining, with a clear demarcation between positive and negative zones at the base of the stem cell regions. These findings demonstrate a unique difference in the expression of the receptor for immunoglobulin A antibody between follicle-associated and non-follicle-associated epithelium.
Knowledge, Perceptions, and Communication about Colorectal Cancer Screening among Chinese American Primary Care Physicians

Objective To assess Chinese American primary care physicians' knowledge, attitude, and barriers to recommending colorectal cancer (CRC) screening to their Chinese American patients. Methods Chinese American primary care physicians serving Chinese American patients in two metropolitan areas were invited to complete a mailed survey on CRC screening knowledge, attitudes toward shared decision making and CRC screening, and CRC screening recommendation patterns. Results About half of the 56 respondents did not know CRC incidence and mortality figures for Chinese Americans. Those aged 50 and younger, graduating from U.S. medical schools, or working in non-private settings had higher knowledge scores (p < 0.01). Physicians graduating from U.S. medical schools had more favorable attitudes toward shared decision making (p < 0.01). Lack of health insurance, inconsistent guidelines, and insufficient time were the most frequently cited barriers to recommending CRC screening. Conclusions Most Chinese American physicians had knowledge, attitude, and communication barriers to making optimal CRC screening recommendations.
Derivation of an efficient nonvocal communication system.

In order to improve communication efficiency for speech-disabled users of nonvocal communication devices, a procedure has been developed that generates sets of units for use as language representation systems. Given a limit N to the number of units the user and device can accommodate, and the type of language system desired (phoneme sequences, letter sequences, or words with letters), the procedure produces sets of units that require a minimum number of selections per word of message.One nonvocal individual trained in a system of this type (N = 400 phoneme sequences) improved communication rate by 30% over an alphabet system, despite a manual selection rate that was twice as slow with the large unit set.Implications are drawn for improvement of communication rate, for the design of communication systems and devices, and for the development of systems for other languages.
Liquid Metal Embrittlement

Liquid metal embrittlement is a generic term which refers to at least three distinctly different phenomena. The type of embrittlement which has received most attention in recent years appears to arise from a process in which atoms of the liquid adsorb preferentially at sites of high stress concentration, leading to a reduction in cohesive energy, and premature fracture. In this form, fracture is virtually instantaneous; the path can be either intergranular or transgranular, and embrittlement is increased by increasing the grain size or lowering the number of slip systems of the substrate. A ductile-to-brittle transition similar to that manifested by body-centered cubic alloys is noted with changes in test temperature. One may inhibit or enhance adsorption-type embrittlement by a given liquid metal by means of selected solute additions to the liquid.
Maternal Depression and the Ability to Facilitate Joint Attention With 18‐Month‐Olds

Maternal depression has been associated with the mother-child dyad's ability to engage in joint attention. This study of 69 depressed and 63 control mothers and their 18-month-olds addresses how aspects of maternal psychopathology are related to joint attention during a snack interaction. Although nondepressed-mother dyads appeared better at joint attention than depressed-mother dyads, this difference was not statistically significant. Among the depressed-mother dyads, joint attention was related to presence of a comorbid Axis I diagnosis (usually an anxiety disorder) versus a diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) only. Surprisingly, dyads with mothers who met criteria for a comorbid diagnosis were better at joint attention than those with MDD only, despite the fact that those mothers were likely to have longer and more severe depressive histories. The relationship between comorbid status and joint attention was mediated by the mother's affect. Rationale for the paradoxical finding that the “more pathological” mothers had greater success in engaging in joint attention is discussed.
Effect of Perfluorochemical Emulsion on Hemorheology and Shear Induced Blood Trauma

Blood trauma has been recognized as one of the key problems associated with assisted circulation. Indeed, the main requirement for improved heart-assist devices is the reduction of blood cell damage. The extremely high shear forces and prolonged contact between blood and foreign surfaces can cause mechanical destruction of erythrocytes (hemolysis), activation of platelets, changes in mechanical properties of erythrocytes1 and thus reduction of oxygen delivery. Even low level of hemolysis, in turn, drastically increases RBC aggregation at low shear conditions2. Additionally, plasma free hemoglobin can have a toxic effect on the cardiovascular system, probably because of hemoglobin vasoactivity, mediated by its property to bind nitric oxide (NO), an endothelium-derived relaxing factor3. Alternatively, NO might be destroyed by O2 radicals formed in the presence of hemoglobin3.
Movement of plum curculio adults toward host trees and traps: flight versus walking

Adult plum curculios, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst), were dislodged from branches of apple trees by tapping on 14 days between blossom petal fall and 3 weeks thereafter. They fell onto a small square of framed white cloth that was quickly but carefully moved to a position beneath or adjacent to the canopy of another apple tree. There, adults were observed for 50-min periods from 0800–1950 h for propensity to fly from or walk off the cloth or move to hide beneath foliage on the cloth. At each position, the mean time from observation initiation until flight, walking off or hiding did not differ significantly among these behaviors (averaging 21–30 min), but significantly more flew (31–40%) than crawled off (16–19%) or hid (18–20%). Substantial walking off but no flights occurred at air temperatures below 20 °C, whereas at temperatures of 20 °C or greater, propensity for flight was usually significantly greater than that for walking off. Flights were predominantly toward the tree canopy or inter-tree space, with only a small proportion (17% or less) toward the tree trunk or (in a parallel study) toward an unbaited black pyramid trap (mimicking a tree trunk). Walking was overwhelmingly toward the tree trunk or a black pyramid trap adjacent to the trunk. Our observations lead us to conclude that unbaited black pyramid traps next to trunks of host trees (the most attractive position) can be effective at air temperatures below 20 °C by attracting plum curculio adults that would have entered host trees by walking toward and up tree trunks. Such traps appear to be less effective at 20 °C or greater because under such conditions, adults tend to enter host trees by flight into the canopy.
Mena associates with Rac1 and modulates connexin 43 remodeling in cardiomyocytes

Mena, a member of the Ena/VASP family of actin regulatory proteins, modulates microfilaments and interacts with cytoskeletal proteins associated with heart failure. Mena is localized at the intercalated disc (ICD) of adult cardiac myocytes, colocalizing with numerous cytoskeletal proteins. Mena's role in the maintainence of mechanical myocardial stability at the cardiomyocyte ICD remains unknown. We hypothesized that Mena may modulate signals from the sarcolemma to the actin cytoskeleton at the ICD to regulate the expression and localization of connexin 43 (Cx43). The small GTPase Rac1 plays a pivotal role in the regulation of actin cytoskeletal reorganization and mediating morphological and transcriptional changes in cardiomyocytes. We found that Mena is associated with active Rac1 in cardiomyocytes and that RNAi knockdown of Mena increased Rac1 activity significantly. Furthermore, Mena knockdown increased Cx43 expression and altered Cx43 localization and trafficking at the ICD, concomitant with faster intercellular communication, as assessed by dye transfer between cardiomyocyte pairs. In mice overexpressing constitutively active Rac1, left ventricular Mena expression was increased significantly, concomitant with lateral redistribution of Cx43. These results suggest that Mena is a critical regulator of the ICD and is required for normal localization of Cx43 in part via regulation of Rac1.
Solution Conformations of Helix-Forming β-Amino Acid Homooligomers

The conformational properties of β-peptides comprised of enantiomerically pure trans-2-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid (ACHC) or trans-2-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid (ACPC) units were studied by NMR spectroscopy in organic solvents. In pyridine-d5 solution, ACPC hexamer 1 and ACPC octamer 2 displayed well-defined helical structures characterized by a series of 12-membered hydrogen-bonded rings (“12-helix”). The solution structures calculated from the NMR-derived constraints were very similar to the conformations found previously for 1 and 2 in the solid state. ACHC tetramer 3 displayed a different sort of helical conformation, characterized by a series of 14-membered hydrogen-bonded rings (“14-helix”), in methanol-d3 solution. This solution conformation is similar to that previously found in the crystal structure of 3.
Cellular electrophysiology of potassium transport in the mammalian cortical collecting tubule

Electrophysiological studies were carried out on single perfused cortical and medullary collecting ducts to define the potassium and sodium transport properties of their apical and basolateral cell membranes. In addition, the effects of chronic mineralocorticoid hormone treatment on the mechanism of transport of potassium ions were evaluated. Studies included the measurement of transpithelial and cell potentials, and the resistance of individual cell membranes.
Chemistry and Enterohepatic Circulation of Bile Acids

A brief review is given of the chemistry of bile acids, emphasizing the relationship between chemical structure, physical properties and enterohepatic cycling of the major primary and secondary bile acids. Features of the enterohepatic circulation of primary and secondary bile acids in man are summarized. The effects of bile acid feeding on the composition of the enterohepatic circulation in man are reviewed. Methods for characterizing the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids in man are tabulated.
A simple and rapid liquid chromatographic method for the determination of major metabolites of sulfasalazine in biological fluids.

A simple and rapid assay for quantitation of sulfasalazine metabolites in rat urine and plasma was developed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The method involves dilution of urine or plasma samples (0.1 mL) with methanol for protein precipitation, followed by mixing and centrifugation at 10,000 × g. Chromatography was accomplished with a reversed-phase ODS C-18 column (5 μ; 4.6 × 250 mm). The mobile phase consisted of 20% methanol in 5.0 mM phosphate buffer (pH 6.0), with 0.5 mM tetrabutylammonium chloride as an ion-pairing agent. The flow rate was 1.7 mL/min. An injection volume of 30 μL was used and the metabolites were quantitated by an ultraviolet detector at 254 nm. Benzamide was used as the internal standard. This method is linear in the range of 0.5 to 25 μg/mL for 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA), acetylsulfapyridine (Ac-SP), and acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid (Ac-5-ASA), and from 0.25 to 25 μg/mL for sulfapyridine (SP). The percent relative standard deviation ranged from 1 to 7.9% for the metabolite standard curves and precision studies. The limit of detection for 5-ASA, Ac-SP, and Ac-5-ASA is 100 ng/mL, and for SP is 50 ng/mL, in both urine and plasma. This method is rapid, precise, and accurate, and has been used to determine sulfasalazine metabolites in individual rat plasma and urine samples following an oral dose of 60 mg/kg of sulfasalazine.
Demonstration of an integrated electroactive polymer actuator on a microfluidic electrophoresis device

The construction of microfluidic devices from siloxane-based polymers is widely reported in the current literature. While the use of these materials is primarily due to their rapid and facile fabrication, low cost and robustness, they also have the ability to function as smart materials. This feature, however, has not been commonly exploited in conjunction with their fluid-handling capabilities. Siloxanes are considered smart materials because their shapes can be modified in the presence of an electric field. The energy in the electric field can be transduced into mechanical energy and directly coupled with a microfabricated channel network in order to affect or initiate the movement of fluids. Here, we present a novel microfluidic device into which an electroactive polymer (EAP) actuation unit is integrated. The EAP actuation unit features a microfluidic channel placed above a patterned electrode. The patterned electrode is insulated from the channel by an EAP layer that is composed of PDMS. When a potential is applied across the EAP layer, it changes shape, which also changes the volume of the microfluidic channel above it. With this proof-of-concept device we demonstrated the ability to inject plugs of sample on a standard electrophoresis cross chip solely by changing the magnitude of the electric field between the channel and the electrode. Using an EAP actuation unit, the size of the injection plugs can be varied as a function of the electric field, the active area of the EAP actuation unit and the softness of the EAP.
A solution of the strong CP problem in models with scalars

Abstract We point out a possible solution to the strong CP problem within the context of a Weinberg-Salam model with two Higgs fields coupled in a Peccei-Quinn symmetric fashion. This is done by extending the colour group to a bigger simple group which is broken at some very high energy. The model contains a heavy axion. No old or new U(1) problem re-emerges.
Weekly topotecan in the management of ovarian cancer.

Abstract Topotecan is an established treatment for patients with relapsed ovarian cancer, with good antitumor activity in both platinum-sensitive and -resistant disease. However, the perception of dose-limiting myelosuppression may have limited its use. Myelosuppression with topotecan is noncumulative, reversible, and predictable and as such can be successfully managed. Dose reductions and/or delays in patients at elevated risk, for example, patients with preexisting bone marrow damage from earlier treatment and those with diminished creatinine clearance, are usually effective in preventing complications. Most patients recover without incident and the requirement for specific therapy is generally low. The therapeutic index of topotecan may be improved by its use at first relapse, when patients have sustained less bone marrow damage. Alternative dosing schedules also show promise. Preclinical data suggest that repeated exposure to topotecan may be as effective as prolonged exposure, supporting the idea of weekly dosing. Phase I/II studies have confirmed that weekly topotecan dosing, using either a 24-h or a 30-min intravenous infusion, produces substantially less myelosuppression than the standard schedule (1.5 mg/m 2 daily for 5 days every 21 days). Early results indicate that antitumor activity is maintained, although further data are required to confirm this. Weekly administration of topotecan is an exciting new therapeutic option in the treatment of relapsed ovarian cancer.
Pleiotropic effects of interleukin-6 in a “two-hit” murine model of acute respiratory distress syndrome

AbstractPatients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) exhibit elevated levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), which correlate with increased morbidity and mortality. The exact role of IL-6 in ARDS has proven difficult to study because it exhibits either pro- or anti-inflammatory actions in mouse models of lung injury, depending on the model utilized. In order to improve understanding of the role of this complex cytokine in ARDS, we evaluated IL-6 using the clinically relevant combination of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) in IL-6−/− mice. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL), whole-lung tissue, and histology were evaluated for inflammatory markers of injury. Transendothelial electrical resistance was used to evaluate the action of IL-6 on endothelial cells in vitro. In wild-type mice, the combination model showed a significant increase in lung injury compared to either LPS or VILI alone. IL-6−/− mice exhibited a statistically significant decrease in BAL cellular inflam...