cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Magnetic field dependence of the critical current of a layered superconductor

Abstract We have developed a theory of the effect of a pinned ordered lattice of anisotropic vortices on the critical current Jc of a layered superconductor. The external field Hext is taken to be such that vortices lie in the plane of the layers. In this case Jc is determined by the interlayer Josephson coupling and depends on the distribution of the Josephson phase between adjacent superconducting layers. In view of the anisotropic field penetration we find that the usual Fraunhofer oscillations are absent, and that the critical current decreases as 1− H ext /H 0 , with the magnetic field scale H0 determined by the anisotropy of the material. Our results provide a possible explanation for some of the interesting transport properties recently observed in high-Tc cuprates.
Localization of phosphoprotein C23 to nucleolar structures and to the nucleolus organizer regions

Abstract After extraction of Novikoff hepatoma nucleoli with 4 M urea/3 M LiCl, phosphoprotein C23 was isolated by DEAE-cellulose and Bio-Rad AG3-X4A column chromatography. Immunization of rabbits with the highly purified protein C23 resulted in the production of a specific antibody as determined by Ouchterlony diffusion analysis. When the immunoperoxidase method was used to localize protein C23 in cells, it was found in ‘fibrillar centers’ (nucleolonemas) in nucleoli. Protein C23 was also demonstrated to be present on the nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) of metaphase chromosomes.
Light Field Reconstruction Using Sparsity in the Continuous Fourier Domain

Sparsity in the Fourier domain is an important property that enables the dense reconstruction of signals, such as 4D light fields, from a small set of samples. The sparsity of natural spectra is often derived from continuous arguments, but reconstruction algorithms typically work in the discrete Fourier domain. These algorithms usually assume that sparsity derived from continuous principles will hold under discrete sampling. This article makes the critical observation that sparsity is much greater in the continuous Fourier spectrum than in the discrete spectrum. This difference is caused by a windowing effect. When we sample a signal over a finite window, we convolve its spectrum by an infinite sinc, which destroys much of the sparsity that was in the continuous domain. Based on this observation, we propose an approach to reconstruction that optimizes for sparsity in the continuous Fourier spectrum. We describe the theory behind our approach and discuss how it can be used to reduce sampling requirements and improve reconstruction quality. Finally, we demonstrate the power of our approach by showing how it can be applied to the task of recovering non-Lambertian light fields from a small number of 1D viewpoint trajectories.
The Contribution of Respiratory Viruses to Severe Exacerbations of Asthma in Adults

Viral infections are known to be associated with severe exacerbations of asthma in children. In contrast, there is limited data that viral infections evoke acute episodes of asthma that require emergency care in adults. To determine the role of viral infections in exacerbations of asthma in adults, we examined 33 patients who presented to the emergency room with 35 exacerbations of asthma between September 1990 and March 1991 for the presence of a viral infection. A nasal swab was obtained for virus isolation by culture and rapid antigen detection by fluorescent staining. In 16 patients, serum was collected at initial presentation and 3 to 4 weeks later for acute and convalescent viral antibody titers. All patients had acute episodes of asthma ascertained by medical history and physical examination. About 56% of the patients with asthma exacerbations had symptoms suggestive of viral illness. Rapid antigen detection and viral cultures for influenza A and B, parainfluenza-1, 2, 3, respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, and rhinovirus were negative on all patients. Likewise, in all 16 patients tested, acute and convalescent serologic studies did not show a significant rise in titer by complement fixation test. Thus, despite symptoms consistent with viral infection, viral pathogens could not be shown by current virologic techniques. This study suggests that viral infection may not be as prevalent a precipitate of asthma in adults requiring emergency room treatment as is generally thought.
Increasing the Genetic Recombination Frequency by Partial Loss of Function of the Synaptonemal Complex in Rice

Genetic recombination results in novel allele combinations and is the most important genetic phenomenon for generating variation in breeding populations. However, in most organisms, the number of genetic recombinations is tightly constrained, which hampers the introgression of new genetic traits and limits genetic variation during agricultural breeding (Barakate et al., 2014). Therefore, the possibility of increasing genetic recombination frequency has attracted much interest from crop breeders because of the obvious practical applications in traditional breeding (Leflon et al., 2010; Crismani et al., 2012).
Regularities in Energies and Geometries of Biaryls: An ab Initio Electronic Structure Study

Results of BLYP/6-311G** electronic structure calculations on 29 different conformers/isomers of biaryls possessing the phenyl, naphthyl, and anthryl moieties reveal significant regularities in properties of these species. Stabilities and geometries of unsubstituted biaryls composed of two convex aryl moieties depend mostly on the connectivities of the proximate hydrogen atoms involved in steric repulsions. The computed BLYP/6-311G** energies and lengths of the intermoiety C−C bonds in such biaryls are determined within 0.46 kcal/mol and 0.0040 A, respectively, by the topologies of these connectivities, whereas the average intermoiety twist angles are less transferable, the corresponding uncertainty amounting to ca. 7°. The observed regularities in properties of biaryls imply insensitivity of the π-electron conjugation between the aryl moieties to the details of electronic structures of the entire molecules. Thanks to these regularities, the Z and E conformers of unsubstituted biaryls consisting of two co...
Simultaneous optimization models for heat integration. III, Process and heat exchanger network optimization

Abstract In this paper, the proposed heat integration representation of Part I (Yee et al. , Computers & Chemical Engineering 14, 1151, 1990) is used for the simultaneous optimization or synthesis of the process and its heat exchanger network. The basic idea involves embedding the proposed representation into a given process flowsheet or superstructure and optimize the combined superstructure simultaneously, where flows and temperatures of the potential heat integrated streams are treated as variables. The proposed model accounts for capital and operating costs of the heat exchanger network. It does not require the specification of a heat recovery approach temperature (HRAT) and can easily handle constraints for heat integration. Synthesis examples of a distillation sequence and of a process flowsheet are presented to illustrate the capabilities of the simultaneous model which can be formulated as an NLP problem or as an MINLP problem when the structure of the network is to be determined explicitly.
Anger management: Bacteria soothe the savage host

A 5-year-old girl has come to you a week after completing a course of antibiotics for a febrile urinary tract infection (UTI). She now seems well and energetic. A urinalysis is now clear without traces of inflammation, including an absence of protein, blood, leukocyte esterase, and nitrites. Her urine is submitted for a test of cure and comes back positive, with over 100,000 colonies per milliliter of E. coli, the same kind of bacteria that was cultured from her urine when she was symptomatic with the UTI. Perplexed, her mother asks how her child can have bacteria once again in her bladder but not be symptomatic and asks if antibiotics are again necessary.
Are External Mine Entrance Characteristics Related to Bat Use

Abandoned mines provide summer roosts, autumn swarming sites, and winter hibernacula for bats (Chiroptera). Although hibernacula selection has received considerable attention, few studies have examined the characteristics of mines used as summer roosts and autumn swarming sites. Abandoned mines are hazardous and often sealed to prevent human access. Alternatively, abandoned mines sometimes are gated to protect mine-roosting bats by deterring human entrance. However, gates and other mine entrance characteristics may affect bat presence and use. We examined the external characteristics of mines that could be measured safely and quickly to determine if they influenced bat species presence and relative frequency. We surveyed bats at 36 abandoned coal mine entrances during summer 2002 and 47 mine entrances (the same 36 as during summer and 11 additional mines) during autumn 2002 at New River Gorge National River and Gauley River National Recreation Area, West Virginia, USA. We captured 139 bats during summer and 1,733 bats during autumn of 9 different species. During autumn, more bat species used mines with isolated entrances than those with multiple entrances. Our results indicate that gates do not affect bats in terms of presence or frequency of use as much as mine entrance shape and proximity to other portals. Mine entrance size and shape positively influenced bat activity, particularly that of little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) and eastern pipistrelle (Pipistrellus subflavus), which were among the most commonly captured species. Spatial proximity of entrances should be considered in bat management decisions concerning abandoned mines.
Group contributions to activity coefficients from the hard sphere expansion corresponding states theory

A new method has been developed for predicting liquid activity coefficients in ternary mixtures from group contributions. In this method, activity coefficients are obtained from the excess Gibbs free energy of mixing at constant temperature and pressure. In calculating this excess function, the constituent and mixture Gibbs free energies are each represented by an expansion about a pure reference fluid in powers of ratios of hard-sphere diameters and molecular attraction parameters. When the pure component differs from the reference by a single structural group, these ratios represent, respectively, the size contribution and the attraction contribution of this group to the thermodynamic property of the pure fluid. Contributions of intermolecular repulsion to the excess Gibbs free energy are calculated directly from hard-sphere equations of state for the mixture and pure components. The effect of polar contributions calculated by a Pade approximant is also examined. Results indicate that the method developed from the hard-sphere expansion corresponding-states theory is useful for predicting activity coefficients in ternary mixtures when unlike-pair interaction parameters are fitted to binary activity coefficient data. Furthermore, the method shows promise in providing a theoretical basis for applying group contributions to activity coefficients.
Collaborative Communication between Sales and Logistics and Its Impact on Business Process Effectiveness: A Theoretical Approach

Logistics functions have played a critical role in cementing organizational efficiency and price control. At the same time, sales has become more than closing the deal, as value can be created throughout the sales process, including post-purchase activities. Therefore, sales and logistics must come together to create value for the firm as well as customers. Building on the marketing-channel communication strategy viewpoint, we conceptualize the integration between sales and logistics. We propose a framework centering on sales-logistics integration and develop propositions that uncover how a collaborative communication between these two functions may impact specific business processes. Finally, we discuss implications of these predictions and provide a future research agenda for theory and practice.
Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Development, Survivorship, and Damage on Cotton Plants Expressing Insecticidal Plant-Incorporated Protectants

Cotton, Gossypium hirsutum (L.), plants expressing insecticidal crystal (Cry) proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Berliner are planted on significant acreage across the southern region of the United States. Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), can be a significant cotton pest in some years, but this species has not been a primary target of Bt cotton technologies. The objective of this study was to quantify fall armyworm larval survivorship and fruiting form injury on transgenic cotton lines expressing Cry1Ac (Bollgard), Cry1Ac+Cry2Ab (Bollgard II), and Cry1Ac+Cry1F (WideStrike) Bt proteins. Larval survivorship and fruiting form damage of fall armyworm on Bollgard, Bollgard II, WideStrike, and non-Bt (control) cotton lines were evaluated in no-choice field studies. Fall armyworm (third instars) were placed on flower buds (squares), white flowers, and bolls, enclosed within a nylon mesh exclusion cage, and evaluated at selected intervals after infestation. Exposure of fall armyworm larvae to Bollgard cotton lines generally resulted in no significant effects on survivorship compared with larvae exposed to the non-Bt cotton line. Survivorship and plant injury by fall armyworm on Bollgard II cotton lines was variable compared with that on non-Bt cotton lines, and significant differences between treatments were inconsistent. Fall armyworm had significantly lower survivorship and caused less plant injury on WideStrike cotton lines than on non-Bt cotton lines across all plant structures. Development and survivorship of fall armyworm larvae on these cotton lines also were evaluated in no-choice laboratory assays by offering the previously described fruiting forms to third instars. Bollgard II and WideStrike cotton lines significantly reduced fall armyworm development and survivorship compared with those larvae offered non-Bt tissue. These results suggest that differences exist among selected Bt cotton technologies in their performance against fall armyworm.
EGF Receptor Exposed to Oxidative Stress Acquires Abnormal Phosphorylation and Aberrant Activated Conformation That Impairs Canonical Dimerization

Crystallographic studies have offered understanding of how receptor tyrosine kinases from the ErbB family are regulated by their growth factor ligands. A conformational change of the EGFR (ErbB1) was shown to occur upon ligand binding, where a solely ligand-mediated mode of dimerization/activation was documented. However, this dogma of dimerization/activation was revolutionized by the discovery of constitutively active ligand-independent EGFR mutants. In addition, other ligand-independent activation mechanisms may occur. We have shown that oxidative stress (ox-stress), induced by hydrogen peroxide or cigarette smoke, activates EGFR differently than its ligand, EGF, thereby inducing aberrant phosphorylation and impaired trafficking and degradation of EGFR. Here we demonstrate that ox-stress activation of EGFR is ligand-independent, does not induce “classical” receptor dimerization and is not inhibited by the tyrosine kinase inhibitor AG1478. Thus, an unprecedented, apparently activated, state is found for EGFR under ox-stress. Furthermore, this activation mechanism is temperature-dependent, suggesting the simultaneous involvement of membrane structure. We propose that ceramide increase under ox-stress disrupts cholesterol-enriched rafts leading to EGFR re-localization into the rigid, ceramide-enriched rafts. This increase in ceramide also supports EGFR aberrant trafficking to a peri-nuclear region. Therefore, the EGFR unprecedented and activated conformation could be sustained by simultaneous alterations in membrane structure under ox-stress.
Identity Through Stories: Story Structure and Function in Two Environmental Groups

Two environmental groups were analyzed in their usage of story telling as a tool for mediating identity formation and facilitating behavioral change of members. The structure and function of their stories are compared with those of a previously documented group, Alcoholics Anonymous. Comparisons of story structure and function in these groups and the resulting entrance into the figured world of the nondrinking alcoholic or that of the active environmentalist illustrate the role stories can play in developing identity and motivating people to action. In one environmental group, members take political actions; in the other, they change their own consumption patterns. The members' self-described identities and the actions taken are consistent with their respective group's goals and stories.
Anelastic response of bisphenol‐A polycarbonate

Relaxation optique et mecanique a temperature ambiante et recouvrance d'echantillons de polycarbonate vitreux recuits lentement dans des conditions controlees
Assessment of pain after injury in the pediatric patient: child and parent perceptions.

Abstract Background/purpose Pain is an inevitable consequence of injury. Accurate assessment and treatment of a child’s pain after injury is essential. This study sought to describe children’s pain with injury and to elucidate the concordance of parental and self-reported pain in a pediatric traffic-injured population. Methods Children (5 to 17 years) admitted for traffic-related injuries and 1 parent were invited to participate in the study. Consented participants were interviewed within 1 month of injury. Participants were asked to rate current and worst pain on 2 validated pediatric pain assessment scales (Bieri Faces Pain Scale and Color Analogue Scale). Demographic, crash, and injury data were abstracted from the medical record. Results Data from 276 child-parent dyads show that most children reported clinically significant pain initially after injury. Greater “worst pain” ratings did not correlate with injury severity but were associated with loss of consciousness and extremity fracture. Generally, parent-report of child’s pain was concordant with child self-report. Conclusions This study shows the feasibility of pain assessment for pediatric injury using 2 validated scales and the appropriateness of parental report when the child is not able to provide self-report. Because pain was not correlated with injury severity, pain assessment and intervention for all children with traumatic injuries is strongly recommended.
Experience With Subsea Well Control Systems

Since 1969, Conoco Inc. has installed ten offshore wells and one land test of subsea completion systems. These wells consist of four single zone oil wells plus one water injection well with Thru Flowline (TFL) pumpdown capability and three single zone gas wells plus three dual zone gas wells utilizing the ''Plain Jane'' wellheads without TFL capability. The control systems for these wells have varied from an electro-hydraulic sequential system to a straight discrete hydraulic system. This paper deals with the design, installation, and operational problems encountered and the remedial procedures taken to solve the problems to date.
The Impact of Food Viscosity on Eating Rate, Subjective Appetite, Glycemic Response and Gastric Emptying Rate

Understanding the impact of rheological properties of food on postprandial appetite and glycemic response helps to design novel functional products. It has been shown that solid foods have a stronger satiating effect than their liquid equivalent. However, whether a subtle change in viscosity of a semi-solid food would have a similar effect on appetite is unknown. Fifteen healthy males participated in the randomized cross-over study. Each participant consumed a 1690 kJ portion of a standard viscosity (SV) and a high viscosity (HV) semi-solid meal with 1000 mg acetaminophen in two separate sessions. At regular intervals during the three hours following the meal, subjective appetite ratings were measured and blood samples collected. The plasma samples were assayed for insulin, glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP), glucose and acetaminophen. After three hours, the participants were provided with an ad libitum pasta meal. Compared with the SV meal, HV was consumed at a slower eating rate (P = 0.020), with postprandial hunger and desire to eat being lower (P = 0.019 and P<0.001 respectively) while fullness was higher (P<0.001). In addition, consuming the HV resulted in lower plasma concentration of GIP (P<0.001), higher plasma concentration of glucose (P<0.001) and delayed gastric emptying as revealed by the acetaminophen absorption test (P<0.001). However, there was no effect of food viscosity on insulin or food intake at the subsequent meal. In conclusion, increasing the viscosity of a semi-solid food modulates glycemic response and suppresses postprandial satiety, although the effect may be short-lived. A slower eating rate and a delayed gastric emptying rate can partly explain for the stronger satiating properties of high viscous semi-solid foods.
Using missing data methods in genetic studies with missing mutation status

Because of current techniques of determining gene mutation, investigators are now interested in estimating the odds ratio between genetic status (mutation, no mutation) and an outcome variable such as disease cell type (A,B). In this paper we consider the mutation of the RAS genetic family. To determine if the genes have mutated, investigators look at five specific locations on the RAS gene. RAS mutated is a mutation in at least one of the five gene locations and RAS non-mutated is no mutation in any of the five locations. Owing to limited time and financial resources, one cannot obtain a complete genetic evaluation of all five locations on the gene for all patients. We propose the use of maximum likelihood (ML) with a 26 multinomial distribution formed by cross-classifying the binary mutation status at five locations by binary disease cell type. This ML method includes all patients regardless of completeness of data, treats the locations not evaluated as missing data, and uses the EM algorithm to estimate the odds ratio between genetic mutation status and the disease type. We compare the ML method to complete case estimates, and a method used by clinical investigators, which excludes patients with data on less than five locations who have no mutations on these sites. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Integrated Use of Ground and Surface Water in Irrigation Project Planning

The model we propose determines water balances for a project area and emphasizes interactions of a surface water-groundwater system within the economic context of irrigation management. The program selects the tubewell, canal and surface drainage capacities, the project size, and the cropping pattern. Operation of the system is assumed to proceed subject to certain constraints on continuity at the river; capacity of the canals, tubewells, and drainage channels; mining of groundwater; crop water requirements; availability of land of different soil types; and permissible cropping patterns. A detailed irrigation planning example is presented.
Electronics for ocean engineering

The characteristics of the ocean which influence the design of electronics devices are temperature, pressure, salinity or conductivity. Problems created by these characteristics can be overcome in a variety of ways. These and many of the other parameters of the oceans are measured to enhance the oceanographer's understanding of the oceans, their processes and dynamics. There are limitations to available instruments and read-out techniques. some of which can be overcome by new instrumentation or circuits. The ocean engineer uses underwater acoustics as his primary tool for exploiting the oceans and here to there are problems. New approaches to ocean engineering like those made possible by the advent of the deep diving submarine bid to revolutionize current approaches and techniques. Some of the challenging fields which may require new devices are acoustic imaging, adaptive processing and trace element detection. The future of ocean engineering shows dynamic progress but the time scale for this progress is not clear.
The Effects of Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone on the Endocrine Pancreas

TRH has been shown to be present in the pancreas. To examine a possible role for TRH in the control of endocrine pancreatic function, we have studied the effects of TRH on the isolated perfused rat pancreas preparation. Arginine caused release of TRH from the preparation. The mean maximum TRH peak was 85 +/- 12 pg/ml and occurred later than the first phase of glucagon release. Glucagon (2000 pg/ml) did not release TRH from the preparation. There was no detectable basal release of TRH. Glucose did not stimulate release of TRH from the pancreas preparation. TRH (10 ng/ml) by itself had no effect on insulin or glucagon release. TRH enhanced arginine-induced glucagon release; mean summated glucagon was 8228 +/- 1138 (SE) pg/ml compared to controls (4530 +/- 447 pg/ml; P less than 0.01). There was a tendency for TRH to enhance second phase glucose-induced insulin release. Pancreatic physiology is in part regulated by locally acting hormones and TRH may be one of these hormones.
Blockade of Central Cholinergic Receptors Impairs New Learning and Increases Proactive Interference in a Word Paired-Associate Memory Task

Experimental data and computational models suggest that blockade of muscarinic cholinergic receptors impairs paired-associate learning and increases proactive interference (E. DeRosa & M. E. Hasselmo, 2000; M. E. Hasselmo & J. M. Bower, 1993). The results presented here provide evidence in humans supporting these hypotheses. Young healthy subjects first learned baseline word pairs (A-B) and, after a delay, learned additional overlapping (A-C) and nonoverlapping (D-E) word pairs. As predicted, when compared with subjects who received the active placebo glycopyrrolate (4 microg/kg) and subjects who were not injected, those who received scopolamine (8 microg/kg) showed (a) overall impairment in new word paired-associate learning, but no impairment in cued recall of previously learned associates; and (b) greater impairment in learning overlapping (A-C) compared with nonoverlapping (D-E) paired associates.
Perturbations of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis and adrenal androgen (AA) functions in rheumatoid arthritis

The available evidence reviewed does not allow definitive response to the question of a primary versus secondary role of sex hormone perturbations in RA. However, this conclusion should not be discouraging in view of the relatively recent focus upon this facet of the physiopathogenesis of RA and the enormous complexities of sex hormone biology and this disease. Specifically, data on the incidence of RA as well as life cycle changes in serum androgenic-anabolic (A-A) and sex hormone levels suggest important risk correlations. Furthermore, HLA-susceptibility markers for RA, gender, menopause and older age are all factors which significantly relate to the risk of developing RA and each has been shown to associate with sex hormone status. Whether or not HPG-AA hormonal status may modulate RA risk (or its course) primarily and independently or merely be predictive markers of other biological mechanisms was critically considered and requires further study. Sex hormone influences on cellular and humoral immunological reactivity and vascular pathogenetic mechanisms in RA were summarized. Androgens generally suppress immunoreactivity and cartilage responses to inflammation-mediated injury processes and may enhance synovial macrophage-like lining cell apoptosis. Oestrogens generally enhance immunoreactivity, offer some protection to inflammation-mediated cartilage damage (but less than androgens) and may inhibit apoptosis in certain in vitro cell models. Scant information is available on the balance of sex hormones (and glucocorticoids) in RA or its presumed pathogenetic mechanisms. Data were reviewed which support the concept of a spectrum of androgenicity in the normal population, particularly among women. A simplified schema of trophic and tropic steroidogenic mechanisms was proposed which could influence androgenic-anabolic (A-A) status and might relate to RA. Serum concentrations of DHAS (mumol/l), T (nmol/l) and O2 (pmol/l) span several orders of magnitude in normal physiology. The effects of alterations in the individual levels of these sex hormones and deviations from their normal physiological balance are not well understood. Critical attention to their biological functions is needed in RA as well as in health and disease generally. Such focused clinical and experimental investigations of HPG-AA functions promise to clarify the complex physiopathology of RA and contribute to its improved long-term management.
Foam Drainage: Extended Large-Q Potts Model Simulation

We study foam drainage using the large-Q Potts model extended to include gravity on a three dimensional lattice. Without adding liquid, homogeneously distributed liquid drains to the bottom of the foam until equilibrium between capillary effects and gravity is reached, while in an ordered dry foam, if a fixed amount of liquid is added from the top, a sharp fiat interface between the wet and dry foam develops. The wetting front profile forms a downward moving pulse, with a constant velocity. The pulse decays over time while its leading edge for a brief time behaves like a solitary wave. With continuous liquid addition from the top, the pulse does not decay and we observe a soliton front moving with a constant velocity. Continuously adding liquid to an initially wet foam keeps the liquid profile constant. Our simulations agree with both experimental data and simplified mean field analytical results for ordered foams but predict an unstable interface for disordered foams.
Pain Management of Sickle Cell Disease

Management of sickle cell disease continues to be primarily palliative, including supportive, symptomatic, and preventive approaches to therapy. There are three major types of sickle cell pain: acute, chronic, and neuropathic pain. The acute painful episode is the insignia of the disease and the most common cause of hospitalization. Its management entails the use of nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic modalities. Pain management should follow certain principles that include an assessment stage, treatment stage, reassessment stage, and adjustment stage. Chronic sickle cell pain may be due to certain complications of the disease, such as leg ulcers and avascular necrosis; intractable chronic pain may be due to central sensitization. Management of chronic pain should take a multidisciplinary approach.
Steroid responses in sepsis: some novel thinking that may provide new insight

Glucocorticoid use in sepsis is controversial. In contrast to other extracellular signaling molecules, glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) are intra-cytoplasmic. Several GR isoforms have been identified. A study in Critical Care Forum suggests that sepsis alters the abundance of the dominant negative GRβ. Here we discuss GR isoforms and how they may affect cellular responses to glucocorticoids in sepsis.
Association between prophylactic implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and survival in patients with left ventricular ejection fraction between 30% and 35%.

Importance Clinical trials of prophylactic implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) have included a minority of patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) between 30% and 35%. Because a large number of ICDs in the United States are implanted in such patients, it is important to study survival associated with this therapy. Objective To characterize patients with LVEF between 30% and 35% and compare the survival of those with and without ICDs. Design, Setting, and Participants Retrospective cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries in the National Cardiovascular Data Registry ICD registry (January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2007) with an LVEF between 30% and 35% who received an ICD during a heart failure hospitalization and similar patients in the Get With The Guidelines–Heart Failure (GWTG-HF) database (January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2009) with no ICD. The analysis was repeated in patients with an LVEF less than 30%. There were 3120 patients with an LVEF between 30% and 35% (816 in matched cohorts) and 4578 with an LVEF less than 30% (2176 in matched cohorts). Propensity score matching and Cox models were applied. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was all-cause mortality; data were obtained from Medicare claims through December 31, 2011. Results There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics of the matched groups (n = 408 for both groups). Among patients with an LVEF between 30% and 35%, there were 248 deaths in the ICD Registry group, within a median follow-up of 4.4 years (interquartile range, 2.7-4.9) and 249 deaths in the GWTG HF group, within a median follow-up of 2.9 years (interquartile range, 2.1-4.4). The risk of all-cause mortality in patients with an LVEF between 30% and 35% and an ICD was significantly lower than that in matched patients without an ICD (3-year mortality rates: 51.4% vs 55.0%; hazard ratio, 0.83 [95% CI, 0.69-0.99]; P = .04). Presence of an ICD also was associated with better survival in patients with an LVEF less than 30% (3-year mortality rates: 45.0% vs 57.6%; 634 and 660 total deaths; hazard ratio, 0.72 [95% CI, 0.65-0.81]; P P = .20 for interaction). Conclusions and Relevance Among Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized for heart failure and with an LVEF between 30% and 35% and less than 30%, survival at 3 years was better in patients who received a prophylactic ICD than in comparable patients with no ICD. These findings support guideline recommendations to implant prophylactic ICDs in eligible patients with an LVEF of 35% or less.
Tiempo-fuera del reforzamiento: Restaurando un balance entre análisis y aplicación

emerge from basic behavioral research, yet surprisingly little is known about its principles of operation. The majority of research on the topic of timeout has been technological—demonstrating that timeout works—rather than analytical— why it works. This essay calls for a greater emphasis on the functional characteristics of timeout, the conditions under which it serves an aversive function, and for grounding empirical work in a theoretical framework. Such a return to the functional roots of timeout from reinforcement will advance not only the science of timeout but its successful application as well.
Residual performance impairments in adult rats trained on an object discrimination task subsequent to cocaine administration during adolescence

The present study was conducted to determine whether cognitive impairments in adult rats treated with cocaine during adolescence demonstrated in previous investigations extend to tests of object discrimination learning. Accordingly, 30-day-old male Long-Evans rats were injected subcutaneously with either 10 or 20 mg/kg cocaine or received control injections of saline for 7-8 consecutive days. An extended abstinence period was then introduced (mean = 70.7 ± 9.8 days) before subjects, who were now young adults (mean = 106.3 ± 10.2 days old), were assessed for acquisition of a two-choice object discrimination task. Using a correctional learning procedure conducted in a water maze, subjects were trained (eight trials per day for 10 days) to approach one of two multi-dimentional 'junk' objects. Although all animals acquired the discrimination to a reasonable extent, cocaine-treated subjects exhibited lower percentages of correct choices over the course of training (10 mg/kg = 59.6 ± 7.2% and 20 mg/kg = 59.4 ± 4.9%) relative to the saline control group (67.5 ± 4.9%). Further analyses revealed that saline-treated subjects acquired proficient discrimination performance earlier during the course of training, achieving an approximate 72% performance rate after only 3 days of training. This was in contrast to the two cocaine-treated groups needing 7 days of training to achieve comparable levels of performance. In addition, saline-treated subjects required significantly fewer trials (20.8 ± 8.9) than either cocaine-treated group (10 mg/kg = 52.2 ± 11.9 and 20 mg/kg = 63.3 ± 8.7) to reach an 87.5% correct response criterion (i.e. 7-correct-out-of-8-consecutive-trials) and performed at a higher above-chance level (13.5%) than either cocaine-treated group (3.6% and 5.3% for the 10 and 20 mg/kg cocaine groups, respectively). These findings demonstrate the existence of cognitive impairments in adulthood subsequent to cocaine exposure during adolescence despite a prolonged drug-free interval. Speculation regarding the neurobiological basis for this effect, especially with regard to alterations to prefrontal circuitry, is provided.
Overview of the potential role of vitamin A in mother‐to‐child transmission of HIV‐1

Vitamin A is an essential micronutrient for normal immune function. Vitamin A deficiency is common among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected pregnant women and is associated with higher mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 and increased infant mortality. The biological mechanisms by which vitamin A deficiency could influence mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 include impairment of immune responses in both mother and infant, abnormal placental and vaginal pathology and increased HIV viral burden in breastmilk and blood. Clinical trials are currently in progress to determine whether daily micronutrient supplementation, including vitamin A, during pregnancy can reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1.
Ablation of multiwavelet re-entry guided by circuit-density and distribution: maximizing the probability of circuit annihilation.

Background— A key mechanism responsible for atrial fibrillation is multiwavelet re-entry (MWR). We have previously demonstrated improved efficiency of ablation when lesions were placed in regions of high circuit-density. In this study, we undertook a quantitative assessment of the relative effect of ablation on the probability of MWR termination and the inducibility of MWR, as a function of lesion length and circuit-density overlap. Methods and Results— We used a computational model to simulate MWR in tissues with (and without) localized regions of decreased action potential duration and increased intercellular resistance. We measured baseline circuit-density and distribution. We then assessed the effect of various ablation lesion sets on the inducibility and duration of MWR as a function of ablation lesion length and overlap with circuit-density. Higher circuit-density reproducibly localized to regions of shorter wavelength. Ablation lines with high circuit-density overlap showed maximum decreases in duration of MWR at lengths equal to the distance from the tissue boundary to the far side of the high circuit-density region (high-overlap, −43.5% [confidence interval, −22.0% to −65.1%] versus low-overlap, −4.4% [confidence interval, 7.3% to −16.0%]). Further ablation (beyond the length required to cross the high circuit-density region) provided minimal further reductions in duration and increased inducibility. Conclusions— Ablation at sites of high circuit-density most efficiently decreased re-entrant duration while minimally increasing inducibility. Ablation lines delivered at sites of low circuit-density minimally decreased duration yet increased inducibility of MWR.
A Rapid in vitro Method for Obtaining RNA Accessibility Patterns for Complementary DNA Probes: Correlation with an Intracellular Pattern and Known RNA Structures

A technique is described to identify the rare sequences within an RNA molecule that are available for efficient interaction with complementary DNA probes: the target RNA is digested by RNase H in the presence of a random pool of complementary DNA fragments generated from the same DNA preparation that was used for target RNA synthesis. The DNA region was amplified by PCR, partially digested with DNase and denatured prior to RNA binding. In the presence of single-stranded DNA fragments the RNA was digested with RNase H such that, on average, each molecule was cut once. Cleavage sites were detected by gel electrophoresis either directly with end-labeled RNA or by primer extension. The pattern of accessible sites on c- raf mRNA was determined and compared with the known profile of activity of oligonucleotides found in cells, showing the merit of the method for predicting oligonucleotides which are efficient for in vivo antisense targeting. New susceptible sites in the 3'-untranslated region of c- raf mRNA were identified. Also, four RNAs were probed to ascertain to what extent structure predicts accessibility: the P4-P6 domain of the Tetrahymena group I intron, yeast tRNAAsp, Escherichia coli tmRNA and a part of rat 18S rRNA.
Working with Japan to revitalise US industry

It is noted that, during the post World War II period, Japan has moved from a nation that was largely dependent on foreign (US) technology to one that is demonstrating advanced SandT (science and technology) achievements. To the extent that people in the US have recognized the economic and SandT challenges coming from Japan, the situation has largely been perceived in a confrontational context. In spite of these perceptions, there is room for the US to exploit more fully the opportunities that have arisen in Japan. These opportunities offer the potential to improve the US SandT base, and to learn how to expedite the process of the commercialization of products, thus increasing US competitive prospects. It is suggested that, even if all of the available research opportunities to work in Japan were utilized, it would make good sense for the US to change the type of burden-sharing it repeatedly requests from the Japanese. Rather than continuously trying to persuade the Japanese to spend more on their military, the US should shift its focus and stress the need for increased spending by Japan to support more research stays there for Americans. >
Historical Perspectives on the Use of Herbal Preparations to Promote Health

Herbal products continue to be popular among the American public for the treatment or prevention of a number of ailments. The medicinal use of herbs is deeply rooted in human history and folklore, and has been incorporated into the traditional medicine of virtually all human cultures. Strong religious and mystical be liefs have been associated with the healing properties of many herbs. These beliefs, together with the definite physiological and pharmacological effects of various herbs, as well as their economic potential, have been instrumental in the development of hu man medicina Despite advances in our understanding of the medicinal and toxic properties of many herbs, the consumer today is confronted with misinformation con cerning the efficacy of herbs that rivals the heyday of the patent medicine era. The discussion that follows examines the development of certain concepts throughout his tory concerning the use of herbs, and how these concepts may help account for the continued popularity of two highly promoted herbs, ginseng and garlic. J. Nutr. 116: 1348-1354, 1986.
Local dynamics and dispersal in a structured population of the whirligig beetle Deneutus assimilis.

The study illustrates the ecological determinants and evolutionary consequences of dispersal in the pond-living water beetle Dineutus assimilis (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae). Over 2 years, local populatiopn dynamics were studied in 51 ponds within a 60-km2 study area. In most of the 31 occupied ponds, and even in large populations, abundances changed dramatically from one year to the next. Nine extinction and nine colonisation events were observed. These temporal patterns show no sign of spatial autocorrelation. Such a habitat distribution should favour high dispersal rates. Indeed, D. assimilis was found to be a very effective coloniser of newly available sites (mean propagule size: 23). A mark-recapture study showed that most dispersal occurred after diapause and over distances ranging from 100 m to at least 20 km. Yet despite frequent movement, the local variability in environmental conditions maintiins a large variance in average reproductive success per pond. Furthermore, immigration rates vary widely within a season. The apparent lack of correlation between these two sources of variation should greatly strengthen the role of drift in this system. A companion paper (Nurnberger and Harrison 1995) documents a non-random distribution of mitochondrial haplotypes due to recent population bottlenecks.
Competition and Outsourcing with Scale Economies

Scale economies are commonplace in operations, yet because of analytical challenges, relatively little is known about how firms should compete in their presence. This paper presents a model of competition between two firms that face scale economies; (i.e., each firm's cost per unit of demand is decreasing in demand). A general framework is used, which incorporates competition between two service providers with price- and time-sensitive demand (a queuing game), and competition between two retailers with fixed-ordering costs and pricesensitive consumers (an Economic Order Quantity game). Reasonably general conditions are provided under which there exists at most one equilibrium, with both firms participating in the market. We demonstrate, in the context of the queuing game, that the lower cost firm in equilibrium may have a higher market share and a higher price, an enviable situation. We also allow each firm to outsource their production process to a supplier. Even if the supplier's technology is no better than the firms' technology and the supplier is required to establish dedicated capacity (so the supplier's scale can be no greater than either firm's scale), we show that the firms strictly prefer to outsource. We conclude that scale economies provide a strong motivation for outsourcing that has not previously been identified in the literature.
A Curriculum in Health Systems and Public Health for Internal Medicine Residents

Background Medical educators and accreditation organizations recognize that healthcare professionals in the future will depend on working knowledge of the larger contexts and systems of health care, including population and public health. Little published guidance on medical education in health systems and public health exists, particularly for graduate medical education. Purpose This study describes the evaluation of a curriculum in health systems and public health which was successfully implemented in an internal medicine residency training program. Design A pilot program consisting of a week-long didactic curriculum for senior residents, including ten half-day seminars. Two cycles of the pilot curriculum were implemented in September and November, 2007. Setting/participants The participants were third-year residents in an internal medicine training program at a large, urban academic medical center. Intervention The 1-week curriculum was fully implemented and evaluated in the academic years 2008–2010. It included seminars on health policy and economics, health insurance, technology and cost assessment, legal medicine, public health, community-oriented primary care, and local health department initiatives. Main outcome measures Residents evaluated the quality and impact of the seminars and overall curriculum, retrospectively assessed their knowledge of topics presented before and after the seminars, and rated the seminars that were most valuable to them. Results The seminars were highly rated by the participating residents, and the curriculum was judged by them to be valuable in their clinical activities and professional development. Conclusions Key lessons learned included the importance of accessing resources external to the residency program and the challenge of making learning in health systems and public health active and relevant to clinical practice.