cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 19: The Role of the National Institutes of Health in Cardiovascular Disease Research in the United States

Objective : The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the largest government sponsor of biomedical research in the United States. While NIH grant support of promising research is well publicized, little is known about its role in research that is actually published. We evaluated the prominence of NIH-sponsored research in the cardiovascular disease literature originating from the United States. Methods : The Pubmed database of the National Library of Medicine was searched for articles published by U.S. institutions between 1996 and 2005 containing the keywords “cardiolog,” “cardiovascular,” and “cardiac,” in the author affiliation field. Acknowledgement of NIH grant support, study methodology and year of publication were noted. Trends were tested by using linear regression curve fitting. Results: There were 32,592 articles identified from 1,631 unique journals. The NIH funded a sizeable fraction of all journal articles (27.94%), general research articles (38.05%), randomized, controlled trials (17.57%), and multicenter trials (11.26%). An increasing trend was noted for all journal articles (11.39% growth annually, P<0.0005), and for several study methodologies, including general research articles (7.09%, P=0.011), randomized, controlled trials (16.57%, P<0.0005), and multicenter studies (25.79%, P<0.0005). The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) sponsored the most articles (67.28%) and had the greatest absolute growth rate (56.42 articles/year, 11.4 percent/year, P<0.0005). Other growing supporters included the National Center for Research Resources (10.52 articles/year, 27.69 percent/year, P<0.0005), the National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (7.79 articles/year, 39.97 percent/year, P<0.0005), and the National Institute on Aging (11.04 articles/year, 73.58 percent/year, P<0.0005). Conclusions : The federal support for cardiovascular disease research in U.S. is increasing. The NIH plays a greater role in sponsoring general research than clinical trials. The NHLBI sponsors the most published cardiovascular research of all the NIH institutes and has the greatest absolute growth. On a percentage basis, sponsorship from the National Institute on Aging is increasing most rapidly.
On acoustic wave beaming in two-dimensional structural lattices

We discuss directional energy flow, often referred to as wave beaming, in two-dimensional periodic truss lattices under infinitesimal harmonic excitation. While the phenomenon of directional wave guiding is well-known and commonly treated in the context of dispersion relations, the theoretical and computational tools to predict beaming are limited, which is why a fundamental understanding for complex lattices is incomplete. Here, we present a new strategy to identify partial band gaps and wave beaming in a simple fashion, covering wide frequency ranges and distinguishing in-plane and out-of-plane vibrational modes in lattices composed of linear elastic Euler-Bernoulli beams. By calculating group velocities that provide insight into the frequency-dependent directional energy flow, we show that dispersion surfaces overlap in frequency and beaming direction, elucidating the need to consider multiple surfaces when predicting global system response – in contrast to many prior approaches that focused on the lowest surface(s) individually. These concepts are demonstrated for three examples of two-dimensional structural lattices (of rectangular, sheared, and hexagonal architecture), for each of which we study the influence of geometry on wave dispersion. Direct numerical simulations validate directional energy flow predictions, demonstrate directional frequency dispersion, and highlight conventional dispersion analysis limitations.
Improving Lithium–Sulfur Battery Performance under Lean Electrolyte through Nanoscale Confinement in Soft Swellable Gels

Li–S batteries have been extensively studied using rigid carbon as the host for sulfur encapsulation, but improving the properties with a reduced electrolyte amount remains a significant challenge. This is critical for achieving high energy density. Here, we developed a soft PEO10LiTFSI polymer swellable gel as a nanoscale reservoir to trap the polysulfides under lean electrolyte conditions. The PEO10LiTFSI gel immobilizes the electrolyte and confines polysulfides within the ion conducting phase. The Li–S cell with a much lower electrolyte to sulfur ratio (E/S) of 4 gE/gS (3.3 mLE/gS) could deliver a capacity of 1200 mA h/g, 4.6 mA h/cm2, and good cycle life. The accumulation of polysulfide reduction products, such as Li2S, on the cathode, is identified as the potential mechanism for capacity fading under lean electrolyte conditions.
Askin tumour following traumatic rib injury in a young adult

Askin tumour is a form of primitive neuroectodermal tumour arising from the thoracopulmonary region. The patient being reported is a young adult who initially presented in dyspnoea and was found to have hemothorax following chest wall injury. About one year later, he again presented in dyspnoea. But this time he was found to have a mass arising from the previous traumatic site, which was diagnosed as Askin tumour. Such a scenario of Askin tumour arising from a traumatic site is uncommon. Moreover, Askin tumour itself is a rare presentation in adults. Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.8(3) 2017 84-86
Attosecond kinetics of photoexcited germanium

Attosecond transient reflectivity is developed to observe the photoexcitation dynamics in germanium. Attosecond time-resolved measurements of the dielectric function reveal a few-femtosecond collective electronic response time, which renormalizes the Coulomb interaction between the excited carriers.
Second-Generation ReaxFF Water Force Field: Improvements in the Description of Water Density and OH-Anion Diffusion

Hydronium (H3O+) and hydroxide (OH–) ions have anomalously large diffusion constants in aqueous solutions due to their combination of vehicular and Grotthuss hopping diffusion mechanisms. An improvement of the ReaxFF reactive water force field on the basis of our first-generation water force field (water-2010) is presented to describe the proton transfer (PT) mechanisms of H3O+ and OH– in water. Molecular dynamics simulation studies with the water-2017 force field support the Eigen–Zundel–Eigen mechanism for PT in acidic aqueous solution and reproduce the hypercoordinated solvation structure of the OH– in a basic environment. In particular, it predicts the correct order of the diffusion constants of H2O, H3O+, and OH– and their values are in agreement with the experimental data. Another interesting observation is that the diffusion constants of H3O+ and OH– are close to each other at high concentration due to the strong correlation between OH– ions in basic aqueous solution. On the basis of our results, i...
Ecological and anthropogenic effects on the density of migratory and resident ungulates in a human‐inhabited protected area

Understanding the influence of environmental conditions and people on ungulate density and distribution is of key importance for conservation. We evaluated the effects of ecological and anthropogenic factors on the density of migratory wildebeest and zebra and resident oribi in Zambia's Liuwa Plain National Park where human settlements were present. We conducted transect surveys from 2010 to 2013 using distance sampling methods and then developed a set of 38 candidate models to describe results and predict density. Models included the effects of variables in three classes: environmental (year, season, vegetation, predominant grass height, burn, water presence), predation risk (hyaena density) and anthropogenic (distance to park boundary and settlements). Densities ranged from 6.2 to 60.8 individuals km−2 for wildebeest, 1.1 to 14.5 individuals km−2 for oribi and 1.8 to 8.1 individuals km−2 for zebra. The most complex models were strongly supported for all three species. The magnitude and sign of variable effects differed among species, indicating that local densities of wildebeest, oribi and zebra are affected by a complex set of anthropogenic and ecological factors. Results reveal resource partitioning among ungulate species and indicate that predation risk and proximity to humans affect ungulate distributions with implications for managing migrations in the Greater Liuwa Ecosystem.
Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and IL-17A Activation Induces Pericyte-Mediated Basement Membrane Remodeling in Human Neutrophilic Dermatoses

Sweet syndrome (SS) is a prototypical neutrophilic dermatosis, a class of inflammatory diseases marked by elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-17A, pathologic neutrophil recruitment, and microvascular remodeling. Histologic analyses of four matrix proteins—collagen I and IV, laminin, and fibronectin—in skin biopsies of patients with SS reveal that the basement membrane of dermal postcapillary venules undergoes changes in structure and composition. Increased neutrophil recruitment in vivo was associated with increases in collagen IV, decreases in laminin, and varied changes in fibronectin. In vitro studies using TNF-α and IL-17A were conducted to dissect basement membrane remodeling. Prolonged dual activation of cultured human pericytes with TNF-α and IL-17A augmented collagen IV production, similar to in vivo remodeling. Co-activation of pericytes with TNF-α and IL-17A also elevated fibronectin levels with little direct effect on laminin. However, the expression of fibronectin- and laminin-specific matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), particularly MMP-3, was significantly up-regulated. Interactions between pericytes and neutrophils in culture yielded even higher levels of active MMPs, facilitating fibronectin and laminin degradation, and likely contributing to the varied levels of detectable fibronectin and the decreases in laminin observed in vivo . These data indicate that pericyte-neutrophil interactions play a role in mediating microvascular changes in SS and suggest that targeting MMP-3 may be effective in protecting vascular wall integrity.
Cost-Effectiveness of Telemedicine-Based Collaborative Care for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Objective:The study examined the cost-effectiveness of a telemedicine-based collaborative care model designed to increase rural veterans’ engagement in evidence-based treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).Methods:The Telemedicine Outreach for PTSD (TOP) study used a pragmatic randomized effectiveness trial to examine effects of PTSD care teams located at Veterans Affairs medical centers and supporting primary care providers in satellite clinics. Teams included a nurse care manager, pharmacist, psychologist, and psychiatrist. Effectiveness was estimated with quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) derived from the Short Form Health Survey for Veterans and Quality of Well-Being (QWB) scale. Intervention and health care costs were collected to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the intervention.Results:The sample (N=265) included mostly rural, unemployed, middle-aged men with a military service–connected disability for PTSD randomly assigned to TOP or usual care. Only minor improvements in QWB QALY...
Cancer incidences in selected eastern european countries: trends and analysis.

5362 In Eastern Europe cancer incidences have dramatically increased after Chernobyl explosion in 1986. Depending on the spread of nuclear radiation different countries received different dozes of nuclear contamination. This paper investigates the trends in cancer incidences in four Eastern European countries (Belarus, Latvia, Estonia, and Slovakia) during three 5 year-periods: 1983-1987, 1988-1992, and 1993-1997. We used cancer incidences for these periods reported by the International Association of Cancer Registries. We also calculated annual incidences of cancer for 16 major cancer types and total cancer incidences per 100,000 for both genders. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, independent measures analysis of variance and mixed design analysis of variance. Steady growth of cancer incidences across the four countries is observed (Table). In 1993-1997, ten years after the Chernobyl accident, there was 3-8% increase in each country in comparison with the previous period and 7-9% increase in comparison with the first period. The most common cancer types for all four countries across all periods were breast, lung and stomach. No statistically significant main effect for country ( F (3,60) = .433, p > .05) or country and period interaction ( F (3,60) = .205, p > .05) were found. A statistically significant main effect for time period was present ( F (1,60) = 36.008, p = .000). Protected paired samples t -tests revealed all three periods significantly differed from each other. A statistically significant increase from 1983-1987 to 1988-1992 ( t (63) = −2.834, p t (63) = −4.384, p = .000), and from 1983-1987 to 1993-1997 ( t (63) = −6.118, p = .000) was observed. No statistically significant main effect for country ( F (3,376) = .917, p > .05), for gender ( F (1,376) = .501, p > .05), and for country and gender interaction ( F (3,376) = .189, p > .05) were found. Neither the country characteristics, nor gender differences had any statistically significant effect on the growth of cancer incidences during the three studied periods. Nuclear radiation is not the single factor causing increase of cancer incidences. Other environmental factors and their combination for each particular country need be considered.
Computer-aided detection of bladder wall thickening in CT urography (CTU)

We are developing a computer-aided detection system for bladder cancer in CT urography (CTU). Bladder wall thickening is a manifestation of bladder cancer and its detection is more challenging than the detection of bladder masses. We first segmented the inner and outer bladder walls using our method that combined deep-learning convolutional neural network with level sets. The non-contrast-enhanced region was separated from the contrast-enhanced region with a maximum-intensity-projection-based method. The non-contrast region was smoothed and gray level threshold was applied to the contrast and non-contrast regions separately to extract the bladder wall and potential lesions. The bladder wall was transformed into a straightened thickness profile, which was analyzed to identify regions of wall thickening candidates. Volume-based features of the wall thickening candidates were analyzed with linear discriminant analysis (LDA) to differentiate bladder wall thickenings from false positives. A data set of 112 patients, 87 with wall thickening and 25 with normal bladders, was collected retrospectively with IRB approval, and split into independent training and test sets. Of the 57 training cases, 44 had bladder wall thickening and 13 were normal. Of the 55 test cases, 43 had wall thickening and 12 were normal. The LDA classifier was trained with the training set and evaluated with the test set. FROC analysis showed that the system achieved sensitivities of 93.2% and 88.4% for the training and test sets, respectively, at 0.5 FPs/case.
Drug-Drug Interactions and Psychiatric Medication

How many of us in clinical practice have heard the question: “Doctor, will this drug interact with any of my other medications?” This common question has been challenging to answer, often leading to using laborious drug interaction computer programs, smartphone-based programs, or a call to the pharmacist. The purpose of this chapter is to help address this question, assess the likelihood of a drug-drug interaction, and advise the patient on what to expect should they experience an adverse drug effect.
The Changing Life Cycle of Work

ABSTRACT Life-span development deals with the changes an individual undergoes as he moves from infancy to maturity, which is a dynamic process. This paper discusses the changing life cycle of work during a period of rapid economic growth in the United States, and this turns out to be an exercise in comparative statics. What I have done is to compare the work cycle of an “average” worker in 1870 with that of an “average” worker in 1970. A comparison of this kind involves a considerable amount of abstraction and estimation. Even if there should be substantial error in the numbers I have used, however, my conclusions will not be seriously affected. They do not, in the final analysis, depend upon precision of measurement.
A dopamine D3 receptor genotype is associated with hyperandrogenic chronic anovulation and resistant to ovulation induction with clomiphene citrate in female Hispanics.

Objective To determine if dopamine (D 3 ) receptor genotypes are associated with anovulation and response to ovulation induction with clomiphene citrate. Design Clinical and laboratory characteristics of anovulatory patients and ovulatory controls were compared with findings at the DNA level. Setting An outpatient clinic at an university medical center. Patients One hundred eighty human Hispanic female volunteers (130 of these with documented ovulatory status) were studied. Interventions Genomic DNAs were extracted from each patient. Polymerase chain reaction with subsequent restriction digest was performed to analyze the D 3 receptor allele status (two possible alleles). Main Outcome Measures Menstrual history, serum T, and midluteal serum Ps from spontaneous and clomiphene cycles were correlated with D 3 receptor genotype. Results Hispanic females with the 22 genotype compared with the other genotypes ( 11 and 12 ) were more likely to have irregular menses, an elevated serum T (≥70 ng/dL [conversion factor to SI unit, 3.467]), and hyperandrogenic chronic anovulation. These patients tended to be resistant to ovulation induction requiring a significantly higher dose of clomiphene to achieve an ovulatory response ( 22 genotype [mean ± SEM] [140.0 ± 19.0 mg] versus 11 [77.1 ± 17.5 mg] or 12 [69.2 ± 13.1 mg]). This effect was independent of patient age, weight, or serum T level. Conclusions Hyperandrogenic chronic anovulation may have a genetic component. Genetic analysis may be useful in predicting resistance to ovulation induction with clomiphene.
Program synthesis using uniform mutation by addition and deletion

Most genetic programming systems use mutation and crossover operators to create child programs from selected parent programs. Typically the mutation operator will replace a randomly chosen subprogram in the parent with a new, randomly generated subprogram. In systems with linear genomes, a uniform mutation operator can be used that has some probability of replacing any particular gene with a new, randomly chosen gene. In this paper, we present a new uniform mutation operator called Uniform Mutation by Addition and Deletion (UMAD), which first adds genes with some probability before or after every existing gene, and then deletes random genes from the resulting genome. In UMAD it is not necessary that the new genes replace old genes, as the additions and deletions can occur in different locations. We find that UMAD, with relatively high rates of addition and deletion, results in significant increases in problem-solving performance on a range of program synthesis benchmark problems. In our experiments, we compare this method to a variety of alternatives, showing that it equals or outperforms all of them. We explore this new mutation operator and other well-performing high-rate mutation schemes to determine what traits are crucial to improved performance.
Estimating the Risk of Exposure to Fentanyl in New York City: Testing Drug Residue in Used Syringes.

Objectives. To estimate the risk of exposure to fentanyl among syringe exchange program (SEP) participants in New York City.Methods. We recruited a convenience sample from 11 SEPs in New York City ...
Screening coronary angiography in patients with long‐standing diabetes mellitus undergoing kidney transplant evaluation

Background The utility of coronary angiography in patients with diabetes mellitus undergoing kidney transplant evaluation is unclear. Predictors of critical angiography lesions in these patients will aid in appropriate use of angiography. Methods Single-center study of 80 patients with ≥15 years of diabetes mellitus who underwent a screening coronary angiography despite a negative cardiac stress test. Risk factors for needing coronary intervention (CI) (percutaneous or bypass grafting) were analyzed. Results Eighteen patients (23%) had a ≥70% occlusion in one or more major coronary vessel(s), with right coronary artery being the most commonly involved (71%). Fifteen patients (19%) underwent coronary intervention: ten percutaneously and five with bypass surgery. Risk factors for needing CI were not being on statin (OR 3.54, P = 0.047) and history of stroke or peripheral vascular disease (PVD; OR 3.5, P = 0.034). A model that included statin use, stroke/PVD history, and glycosylated hemoglobin had a receiver operating characteristic curve area under the curve of 0.8 to predict CI. Conclusion Despite a negative stress test, the prevalence of critical coronary lesions was high among kidney transplant candidates with long-standing diabetes. Risk factors for needing coronary intervention were absence of statin use and a history of stroke or peripheral vascular disease.
Application of a Flow-Based Hollow-Fiber Co-Culture System to Study Cellular Influences under Hyperglycemic Conditions

Elucidation of the basic mechanisms underlying human disease pathogenesis depends on the findings afforded to us through in vivo and in vitro approaches. While there are inherent limitations in any model system, 2D in vitro culture systems tend to be particularly restricted due to their static nature. Here, we adapted a flow-based hollow-fiber cartridge system to better understand the cellular influences of human retinal microvascular endothelial cells and mouse-derived neutrophils under high glucose conditions similar to those observed in diabetes. Analyses by western blot and flow cytometry indicate that pro-inflammatory molecules known to be associated with the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy were significantly elevated following high glucose exposure, including VEGF, ICAM-1, and ROS. Changes in mitochondrial potential were also observed. Further, we demonstrate that this innovative system allows for cross-species co-culture as well as long-term culturing conditions. This in vitro modeling system not only mimics the retinal microvasculature, it also allows for the examination of cellular interactions and mechanisms that contribute to diabetic retinopathy, a visually debilitating complication of diabetes.
Multirobot Charging Strategies: A Game-Theoretic Approach

This letter considers the problem of assigning multiple robots to charging stations in order to minimize the total time required by all robots for the charging operation. We first show that the centralized problem is NP-hard. Then, we formulate the charging problem as a non-cooperative game. We propose an algorithm to obtain the pure strategy Nash equilibrium of the non-cooperative game, and show its uniqueness. We investigate the price of anarchy of this equilibrium as a function of the number of robots and stations. Next, we leverage our analysis on static charging stations to propose strategies for reducing the total cost when the charging stations are mobile. Finally, we analyze the performance of the strategies proposed for the charging stations through extensive simulation.
SUBSTITUENT EFFECTS. 7. PHENYL DERIVATIVES. WHEN IS A FLUORINE A PI -DONOR?

The effect of substituents on the energies of phenyl derivatives was examined with the aid of group-transfer reactions with ethane to give toluene and a substituted methane. The energies of these reactions were linearly related with a slope of 1 to those found for a corresponding set of vinyl derivatives. A comparison of the bond dissociation energies of the phenyl and vinyl derivatives gave the same result, indicating that substituents interact with benzene and ethylene in the same fashion and to the same degree. Further information was provided by rotational barriers and electron-density difference plots. The protonated forms of benzene, toluene, fluorobenzene, and chlorobenzene were examined, and the MP3/6-311++G** calculated proton affinities were in good agreement with the experimental data that found the halobenzenes to be slightly more basic than benzene in the gas phase. The para positions were the more basic, and the m-positions were less basic by 8−9 kcal/mol. The question of when fluorine is a ...
Evaluation of optimal surgical techniques for intracoelomic transmitter implantation in age-0 lake sturgeon

Abstract We evaluated the effects of incision placement (midline vs. lateral), closure method (absorbable monofilament suture vs. n‐butyl‐ester cyanoacrylate adhesive, Vetbond®, 3 M), and tag burden (PIT-tag only vs. PIT-tag and acoustic transmitter) on survival, post-operative complications (i.e., viscera expulsion, necrosis), incision dehiscence, incision apposition, transmitter retention, incision healing, inflammation, and growth for intracoelomic transmitter implantation in age-0 lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens). The risk of death was 5.17 times higher and the risk of viscera expulsion was 6.21 times higher for sturgeon that had midline incisions closed with Vetbond compared to all other treatments. Incision dehiscence probabilities were low for all treatments, except for midline incisions closed with Vetbond. Time to complete incision apposition occurred most quickly in the lateral suture treatment followed closely by the midline suture and lateral vetbond treatment groups. Tissue strength was notably weaker in the midline region. Transmitter retention was 100% for all treatments except for midline incisions closed with Vetbond. Inflammation was low and slightly decreased over time for incisions closed with Vetbond, while incisions closed with suture exhibited significant increases in inflammation levels over time. Incisions closed with suture achieved better healing outcomes initially, but the healing process was 2–3 times more likely to relapse because of severe inflammation compared to lateral incisions closed with Vetbond. Sturgeon with midline incisions closed with Vetbond gained less weight compared to the other treatments, while sturgeon with lateral incisions closed with Vetbond gained similar amounts of weight relative to both suture treatments and the control group. Collectively, results suggest that Vetbond can be effectively used to close small lateral incisions (≤ 8 mm), with a lower risk of severe inflammation compared with sutures. For transmitter implantation, we recommend using a lateral incision through the hypaxial musculature and either closing the incision with suture or Vetbond.
On Abelian bosonization of free fermi fields in three space dimensions

One of the methods used to extend two-dimensional bosonization to four space-time dimensions involves a transformation to new spatial variables so that only one of them appears kinematically. The problem is then reduced to an Abelian version of two-dimensional bosonization with extra “internal” coordinates. On a formal level, putting these internal coordinates on a finite lattice seems to provide a well-defined prescription for calculating correlation functions. However, in the infinite-lattice or continuum limits, certain difficulties appear that require very delicate specification of all of the many limiting procedures involved in the construction.
Pharmacogenomics (PGx) Patient with Mixed Levels of Actionable Variant Evidence

Objective To demonstrate the types of clinical recommendations a pharmacogenomics pharmacist may make to medical clinicians with regard to medication management to improve therapeutic outcomes based on varied levels of medical literature evidence. Summary This case demonstrates how a common type of patient seen in a pharmacist practice may present with a varied pharmacogenomic (PGx) profile, how they may benefit from PGx analysis, and how varying levels of medical literature evidence can be used with clinical decision making. Conclusion PGx testing can help avoid adverse drug reactions (ADRs) or medication inefficacy by assisting in the adjustment of current or future medication doses. It can also help predict the best medications to use or those to avoid in advance by eliminating much of the existing dosing or medication selection method of trial and error.
PI-based and anti-windup transmission power control for WirelessHART field devices

In the last couple of decades, the industry saw an increase in the number of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) in replacement of the old cabled technology due to lower deployment and maintenance costs. To keep this momentum, those industrial WSN (IWSN) must assure robustness, scalability, low power, and low maintenance, and the network protocol stack is an important piece of this puzzle. One great dilemma faced by IWSN protocols is how to sustain reliable radio links while avoiding draining too much energy from the battery. In this context, WirelessHART (WH) and ISA SP100.11a, for example require the hardware of the nodes to provide multiple power levels for transmission. Unfortunately, those protocols do not provide a standard procedure to choose between those levels. A simple but inefficient solution often employed simply chooses the highest level available. Seeking a better solution, this proposal presents a transmission power control (TPC) methodology that allows energy saving while sustaining the quality of the communication link employing a simple proportional–integral (PI) controller plus anti-windup. The proposed approach does not rely on special TPC-related packets, which is advantageous in comparison with other approaches from the literature by allowing this work to be fully compliant with existing IWSN protocols.
Estradiol enhances ethanol stimulation of ventral tegmental area dopamine neuron firing without limiting ethanol inhibition onto those neurons

Females can progress to alcohol and other substance use disorders more quickly than males. The ovarian hormone 17β-estradiol (E2) contributes to sex differences observed in drug use and abuse and may be a principal driver of these differences. However, it is not entirely clear how E2 acts to affect processing of ethanol reward, and several brain regions and mechanisms are implicated. We sought to clarify the role of E2 in modulating the response of ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons to ethanol. To this end, we recorded spontaneous action potentials and inhibitory post synaptic currents from dopaminergic neurons in acute horizontal brain slices from ovariectomized (OVX) dopamine neuron reporter mice (Pitx3-eGFP) treated with either vehicle (VEH) or E2. On the basis of prior work, we hypothesized that E2 administration would cause dopamine cells from OVX+E2 animals to show a more substantial ethanol-induced increase in firing rate compared to control animals. Our data confirmed that ethanol stimulation of the firing rate of dopamine neurons from OVX+E2 mice was greater than that of OVX+VEH animals. Further, we hypothesized that the firing rate increase would be accompanied by a concomitant decrease in ethanol stimulated inhibition onto those same neurons. We found that although ethanol caused the expected increase in GABAA receptor-mediated synaptic inhibition in both groups, there was no difference in this response between OVX+E2 and OVX+VEH animals. Our findings lend additional support for the ability of E2 to enhance ventral tegmental area dopamine neuron responses to ethanol and suggest that this effect is not mediated by an E2-elicited suppression of synaptic inhibition.
Delta opioid receptor regulation of CGRP dynamics in the trigeminal complex.

Migraine is highly prevalent and is the sixth leading cause worldwide for years lost to disability. Therapeutic options specifically targeting migraine are limited, and delta opioid receptor (DOP) agonists were recently identified as a promising pharmacotherapy. The mechanisms by which DOPs regulate migraine are currently unclear. Calcitonin gene- related peptide (CGRP) has been identified as an endogenous migraine trigger and plays a critical role in migraine initiation and susceptibility. The aim of this study was to determine the behavioral effects of DOP agonists on the development of chronic migraine-associated pain, and to investigate DOP co-expression with CGRP and CGRP receptor in the trigeminal system. Chronic migraine-associated pain was induced in mice through repeated intermittent injection of the known human migraine trigger, nitroglycerin. Chronic nitroglycerin resulted in severe chronic cephalic allodynia which was prevented with co-treatment of the DOP-selective agonist, SNC80. In addition, a corresponding increase in CGRP expression in the trigeminal ganglia and trigeminal nucleus caudalis was observed after chronic nitroglycerin, an augmentation that was blocked by SNC80. Moreover, DOP was also upregulated in these head pain-processing regions following the chronic migraine model. Immunohistochemical analysis of the trigeminal ganglia revealed co-expression of DOP with CGRP as well as with a primary component of the CGRP receptor, RAMP1. In the trigeminal nucleus caudalis, DOP was not co-expressed with CGRP but was highly co-expressed with RAMP1 and calcitonin receptor like receptor. These results suggest that DOP agonists inhibit migraine-associated pain by attenuating CGRP release and inhibiting pro-nociceptive signaling of the CGRP receptor.
The Pandemic Within the Pandemic of 2020: A Spiritual Perspective

Recovery from the colliding impact of COVID-19 and the recent highlighting of police brutality may rely on discovering intrinsic meaning in these traumatic experiences. Individuals directly or indirectly affected by these two seismic events struggle to find meaning. Spiritual concepts and interpretation of experiences may broadly assist in the discovery of meaning and purpose. Although mental health experts lack consensus as to the definition of “spirituality,” this reflection introduces two spiritual concepts that may be used as a framework for the integration of spirituality within the therapeutic environment. Such an integrative approach can be useful in a treatment session to reduce psychological distress stemming from current and possible impending events and foster a sense of meaning in one’s life.
Comparative fixation of calcium and strontium by synthetic hydroxyapatite.

Samples of hydroxyapatite with differing crystal sizes were prepared from solutions containing labeled calcium and strontium. Analysis of these preparations and the results of digestion studies showed a discrimination against strontium in crystal formation which was related to the rate of crystal growth. The discrimination was greater in the slowly grown, larger crystals than in the smaller, rapidly formed crystals. (auth)
Prostate-specific antigen testing in older men in the USA: data from the behavioral risk factor surveillance system

Study Type – Diagnosis (cohort) Level of Evidence 2a What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Previous studies from the USA reported that, in recent years, prostate cancer screening with PSA was very common among the elderly men, including those whose life expectancy was substantially limited by advanced age and known comorbidities. In 2008, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended against PSA screening after age 75. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the USPSTF 2008 recommendation on the frequency of PSA testing among elderly men in the USA. Our findings suggest that the USPSTF recommendation had no major impact on clinical practice. OBJECTIVE • To examine the frequency of PSA testing in men aged ≥75 years before and after the 2008 US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation to stop prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening at age 75. MATERIALS AND METHODS • Data were obtained from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys completed in 2006, 2008 and 2010. • Men aged ≥ 76 years at the time of survey and without a prostate cancer diagnosis were included in the study. • The percentage of men who had a PSA test in the year before the survey was computed separately for survey years 2006, 2008 and 2010. RESULTS • The estimated percentages of men with a PSA test in the year before the survey were 60% (95% CI: 58–62%), based on 9033 respondents interviewed in 2006, 63% (95% CI: 62–65%), based on 12 063 respondents interviewed in 2008, and 60% (95% CI: 59–61%), based on 14 782 respondents interviewed in 2010. CONCLUSION • No substantial reduction in the frequency of PSA testing was observed in the BRFSS 2010 survey data compared with the earlier years, suggesting that the USPSTF 2008 recommendation had no major impact on the frequency of PSA testing in older men in the USA.
Maximizing Newspaper Profits from the Internet and Print

The internet poses a number of challenges to traditional media. On the negative side, it has given birth to host of competitors indigenous to the internet, firms who once served geographically distinct markets may become direct competitors in cyberspace, and it makes more direct the competition among firms whose offerings were distinguished by reliance on different delivery technologies in the days before internet distribution was a feasible option. The internet has also amplified losses due to content piracy. At the same time, the internet is a new channel for distributing content once confined to traditional channels. Although almost all firms based in traditional media now have internet offerings, the strategies behind these offerings continue to evolve. It is fair to say there is no consensus on what works best for different kinds of content and for the same kinds of content in different circumstances.To date, research on the impact of the internet on traditional media has been primarily empirical and focused on the extent to which internet distribution, legal or not, cannibalizes or stimulates consumption of the same content in traditional channels. There have been few attempts to construct formal models that identify and parameterize the complex web of tradeoffs involved a comparisons of profits with different online distribution strategies. An exception is Wildman (2008), which considers online and offline channels for television programs. This paper presents a model of a newspaper firm and compares profits for three strategies that differ in restrictions placed on online access to the newspaper’s offline edition. Most restrictive is making content available only in the print. Least restrictive is making the paper’s content accessible on a website for free. Intermediate is to make online access to the newspaper’s content contingent on subscribing to the print edition. The model presented in this paper allows for differences in the costs of online and offline distribution, consumers who do and do not have internet connections, internet subscribers who vary in the amount they value on online access to the daily paper, advertisers who value online and offline readers differently, variation in the extent to which online reading reduces time spent reading the print edition, and differences among readers in the extent to which access to the paper free online reduces their demand for the print edition.
A study on microstructure and properties of calcium phosphate coatings processed using ion beam assisted deposition on heated substrates

Abstract In this study a set of thin Hydroxyapatite (HA) [Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2] coatings was deposited on heated silicon and titanium substrates using Ion Beam Assisted Deposition (IBAD). The effects of substrate temperature and processing parameters on the microstructural properties and composition of the coatings are being studied. Analytical techniques include transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) with an energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with EDX, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The current results indicate that as substrate temperature increases the Ca/P ratio of the coatings both on titanium and silicon substrates increases. The crystallinity of the coatings and the number of calcium phosphate compounds within the coating including HA also increases. STEM–EDS revealed an atomically diffused intermediate layer at the interface between the coating and substrate. XRD results along with TEM selected area diffraction (SAD) revealed that the coatings are composed of HA, other calcium phosphate, and calcium oxide compounds.
A superelement model for analysis of multi-body system dynamics

Abstract This paper presents a mechanical system superelement model for computer-aided dynamic analysis of constrained multi-body systems. In this model, a group of constrained mechanical elements forming a system with one degree of freedom is represented by one element. This element, called a superelement, may be a part of a larger multi-body system or it may be an entire mechanical system. The solution of such superelements lies on a one-dimensional manifold. This information is used to develop equations of motion of a superelement in terms of one parameter. Equations of motion of all superelements and other elements of the system are then combined to obtain the system differential equations of motion. Solution of this set of differential equations generates information for the entire system. The reduction in dimension of the equations through the use of superelements significantly reduces the computational time. Two numerical examples are considered to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of this model.
Variational principle approach to short-pulse laser-plasma interactions in three dimensions

An approach for describing the evolution of short-pulse lasers propagating through underdense plasmas is presented. This approach is based upon the use of a variational principle. The starting point is an action integral of the form $S[{a,a}^{*},\ensuremath{\varphi}]=\ensuremath{\int}{d}^{4}x\mathcal{L}[{a,a}^{*},\ensuremath{\varphi},{\ensuremath{\partial}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}a,{\ensuremath{\partial}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}{a}^{*},{\ensuremath{\partial}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}\ensuremath{\varphi}]$ whose Euler-Lagrange equations recover the well-known weakly nonlinear coupled equations for the envelope of the laser's vector potential a, its complex conjugate ${a}^{*},$ and the plasma wave wakes' (real) potential \ensuremath{\varphi}. Substituting appropriate trial functions for a, ${a}^{*},$ and \ensuremath{\varphi} into the action and carrying out the $\ensuremath{\int}{d}^{2}{x}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ integration provides a reduced action integral. Approximate equations of motion for the trial-function parameters (e.g., amplitudes, spot sizes, phases, centroid positions, and radii of curvature), valid to the degree of accuracy of the trial functions, can then be generated by treating the parameters as a new set of dependent variables and varying the action with respect to them. Using this approach, fully three-dimensional, nonlinear envelope equations are derived in the absence of dispersive terms. The stability of these equations is analyzed, and the growth rates for hosing and symmetric spot-size self-modulation, in the short-wavelength regime $(k\ensuremath{\sim}{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{p}/c)$ are recovered. In addition, hosing and spot-size self-modulational instabilities for longer wavelength perturbations $(k\ensuremath{\ll}{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{p}/c),$ and an asymmetric spot-size self-modulational instability are found to occur. The relationships between the variational principle formalism, the source-dependent-expansion (SDE), and moment methods are presented. The importance of nonlinear effects is also briefly discussed, and possible directions for future work are given.
Pathophysiologic determinants of third heart sounds: a prospective clinical and Doppler echocardiographic study

Abstract PURPOSE: We sought to determine the importance of a third heart sound (S 3 ) and its relation to hemodynamic and valvular dysfunction. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 580 patients who had isolated valvular regurgitation (mitral, n=299; aortic, n=121) or primary left ventricular dysfunction with or without functional mitral regurgitation (n = 160). We analyzed the associations between the clinical finding of an audible S 3 (as noted in routine clinical practice by internal medicine physicians) and hemodynamic alterations measured by comprehensive quantitative Doppler echocardiography. RESULTS: S 3 was more prevalent in patients with primary left ventricular dysfunction (46%, n=73) than in organic mitral (16%, n=47) or aortic (12%, n=14) regurgitation ( P 3 were more likely to have class III–IV symptoms (55% [74 of 137] vs. 18% [80 of 443] of those without an S 3 , P P 3 was also related to a higher early filling velocity due to a greater filling volume, restrictive filling, or both. An S 3 was a marker of severe regurgitation (regurgitant fraction ≥40%) in patients with primary left ventricular dysfunction (odds ratio [OR] = 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1 to 5.5), mitral regurgitation (OR = 17; 95% CI: 5.8 to 52), and aortic regurgitation (OR = 7.1; 95% CI: 1.8–28). An S 3 was also associated with restrictive filling in primary left ventricular dysfunction (OR = 3.0; 95% CI, 1.6 to 5.9), marked dilatation in mitral regurgitation (OR = 20; 95% CI: 6.8 to 58), and an ejection fraction ( CONCLUSION: An audible S 3 is an important clinical finding, indicating severe hemodynamic alterations, and should lead to a comprehensive assessment and consideration of vigorous medical or surgical treatment.
PS2-27: Near-Normalization of Glucose and Microvascular Diabetes Complications: Data from ACCORD and ADVANCE

Purpose To compare results of clinical trials that assessed the impact of near-normalization of glucose on microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes.
Entrapment of an arterial pressure catheter by a previously deployed Starclose device.

Herein is a case report description of entrapment of an arterial pressure line by a previously deployed Starclose device. This device is widely used to control femoral artery puncture site following diagnostic catheterization. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Semiclassical amplitudes: Supercaustics and the whisker map

The semiclassical approximation for a quantum amplitude is given by the sum of contributions from intersections of the appropriate manifolds in classical phase space. The intersection overlaps are just the Van Vleck determinants multiplied by a phase given by a classical action. Here we consider two nonstandard instances of this semiclassical prescription which would appear to be on shaky ground, yet the corresponding physical situations are not unusual. The first case involves momentum-space WKB theory for scattering potentials; the second is a propagator for the whisker map that arises in generic two-dimensional systems. In the former case two manifolds become asymptotically tangent, and the semiclassical formula needs to be uniformized in order to give a meaningful wave function. We give a uniformization procedure. In the latter case, there are an infinite number of intersections in phase space within a zone with the area of Planck's constant (the limit of resolution for quantum mechanics), yet the semiclassical sum over all contributions is shown to be correct.
The technological transformation of patient-driven human immunology research

New scientific technologies applied to patients with rare diseases are facilitating discoveries about how the human immune system is regulated at the molecular level. Studies of patients with autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) or caspase-8 deficiency state (CEDS) demonstrated the ability of gene expression microarray analyses and small interfering RNAs (siRNA) to establish the physiologically important roles of NRAS, caspase-10, and caspase-8 for normal lymphocyte apoptosis and activation. The advent of genomics technologies such as next generation sequencing will complement these and more traditional approaches. These advances are anticipated to accelerate the pace of new discoveries in patients with immunological disorders.