cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
α-Synuclein impairs ferritinophagy in the retinal pigment epithelium: Implications for retinal iron dyshomeostasis in Parkinson's disease

Retinal degeneration is prominent in Parkinson's disease (PD), a neuromotor disorder associated with aggregation of α-synuclein (α-syn) in the substantia-nigra (SN). Although α-syn is expressed in the neuroretina, absence of prominent aggregates suggests altered function as the likely cause of retinal pathology. We demonstrate that α-syn impairs ferritinophagy, resulting in the accumulation of iron-rich ferritin in the outer retina in-vivo and retinal-pigment-epithelial (RPE) cells in-vitro. Over-expression of Rab1a restores ferritinophagy, suggesting that α-syn impairs lysosomal function by disrupting the trafficking of lysosomal hydrolases. Surprisingly, upregulation of ferritin in RPE cells by exogenous iron in-vitro stimulated the release of ferritin and α-syn in exosomes, suggesting that iron overload due to impaired ferritinophagy or other cause(s) is likely to initiate prion-like spread of α-syn and ferritin, creating retinal iron dyshomeostasis and associated cytotoxicity. Since over-expression of α-syn is a known cause of PD, these results explain the likely cause of PD-associated retinal degeneration.
Delayed Puberty and Hypogonadism

Delayed puberty is defined as the absence of any sign of puberty in a child at a chronologic age 2 standard deviations above the mean age of pubertal development for a given population. Following a period of quiescence in childhood, normal puberty is initiated by the release of tonic inhibition of pulsatile secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus leading to increased GnRH secretion. These pulses cause secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicular-stimulating hormone (FSH) from the pituitary gland. These pituitary gonadotropins then circulate to the gonads and stimulate production of sex steroids. The differential diagnosis of pubertal delay is extensive but can most easily be divided into four categories. The first group represents a variant of normal puberty timing termed constitutional delay of growth and puberty. Functional disorders, such as chronic illness, can cause a temporary suppression of the axis. Finally, more permanent causes include hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, in which hypothalamic or pituitary failure results in deficiency of circulating gonadotropins, and hypergonadotropic hypogonadism which results from primary gonadal failure, with subsequent lack of negative feedback of sex steroids at the hypothalamic and pituitary levels resulting in elevated serum gonadotropin levels. Sex hormone replacement with testosterone and estrogen and progesterone in boys and girls, respectively, remains the first-line treatment in hypogonadism.
Seasonality and Stratification: Neotropical Saproxylic Beetles Respond to a Heat and Moisture Continuum with Conservatism and Plasticity

Insect niche breadth informs community assembly and impacts the resilience of populations, species, and ecosystems. Niches are poorly known for most tropical insects, especially concealed feeders associated with tall trees. This chapter synthesizes data regarding seasonality and stratification in the early colonists of moribund wood, Cerambycidae and saproxylic Curculionidae. These data, from five rearing experiments conducted at four Neotropical moist forest sites over two decades, are of particular value because they can be used to generate predictions in an unpredictable time. Beetle species currently associated with warmer, drier, microhabitats (in the subfamily Cerambycinae and some Curculionidae) might withstand drier conditions, but not necessarily higher temperatures. Those currently associated with relatively cool, moist microhabitats (most Curculionidae) may be more vulnerable to changes in the length and severity of the dry season. Rather than characterizing tropical saproxylic insects by their periods of adult activity or flight height, which can be variable, it would be useful to conceptualize them with preferences along a continuum, from warm and dry to cool and moist.
Vendor of choice and the effectiveness of policies to promote health information exchange

As more hospitals adopt Electronic Health Records (EHR), focus has shifted to how these records can be used to improve patient care. One barrier to this improvement is limited information exchange between providers. In this work we examine the role of EHR vendors, hypothesizing that vendors strategically control the exchange of clinical care summaries. Their strategy may involve the creation of networks that easily exchange information between providers with the same vendor but frustrate exchange between providers with different vendors, even as both Federal and State policies attempt to incentivize exchange through a common format. Using data from the 2013 American Hospital Association’s Information Technology Supplement, we examine the relationship between a hospital’s decision to share clinical care summaries outside of their network and EHR vendor market share, measured by the percentage of hospitals that have the same vendor in a Hospital Referral Region. Our findings show that the likelihood of a hospital exchanging clinical summaries with hospitals outside its health system increases as the percentage of hospitals with the same EHR vendor in the region increases. The estimated odds of a hospital sharing clinical care summaries outside their system is 5.4 (95% CI, 3.29–8.80) times greater if all hospitals in the Hospital Referral Region use the same EHR Vendor than the corresponding odds for a hospital in an area with no hospitals using the same EHR Vendor. When reviewing the relationship of vendor market concentration at the state level we find a positive significant relationship with the percentage of hospitals that share clinical care summaries within a state. We find no significant impact from state policies designed to incentivize information exchange through the State Health Information Exchange Cooperative Program. There are benefits to exchanging using proprietary methods that are strengthened when the vendors are more concentrated. In order to avoid closed networks that foreclose some hospitals, it is important that future regulation attempt to be more inclusive of hospitals that do not use large vendors and are therefore unable to use proprietary methods for exchange.
Anthropic Approach to the Cosmological Constant Problems

There are now two cosmological constant problems: (i) why the vacuum energy is so small and (ii) why it comes to dominate at about the epoch of galaxy formation. Anthropic selection appears to be the only approach that can naturally resolve both problems. Here I review this approach, emphasizing the testable predictions that it makes for the dark energy density and for its equation of state.
Sorption Kinetics in Finite-Bath Systems

Rates of sorption on activated carbon in rapidly agitated batch reactors can be influenced by both surface mass transfer and internal pore diffusion mechanisms. Mathematic interpretation of kinetic data is further complicated by the characteristic nonlinear equilibrium behavior of many sorbates. A conceptual kinetic model is developed using simplifying assumptions of irreversible adsorption and quasi-steady state. The model in its final form allows for straightforward calculation of diffusion and mass transfer coefficients. Experimental design was found to be critical for successful application of rate data to the model. Molecular size and shape were significant factors in predicting rate-limiting step behavior.
Mitochondrial gene expression in yeast: further studies of a self-splicing group II intron.

The mitochondrial genome of bakers’ yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, contains genes for 25 tRNAs, two rRNAs, an RNA species involved in tRNA processing, and structural genes for three subunits of cytochrome c oxidase, three subunits of the ATPase, the apoprotein of cytochrome b, and a ribosomal protein (reviewed in Ref. 12). So far, eight sites of transcription initiation have been identified (9); while some additional promoters may remain to be defined, it is clear that groups of adjacent genes are usually transcribed together (e.g., Ref. 16, 25, and 43). Thus, RNA processing events play an important, if not essential, role in mitochondrial gene expression.
Endogenous ADP-Ribosylation of Proteins at Cysteine Residues

NAD+ is a substrate for many dehydrogenases that catalyze hydride transfer reactions central to energy metabolism. It is also the substrate for enzymes that catalyze the cleavage of the linkage between nicotinamide and ribose and the transfer of ADP-ribose to a nucleophilic acceptor. Such ADP-ribose transfer reactions represent a versatile mechanism for the posttranslational modification of proteins. For example, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase catalyzes transfer of ADP-ribose to protein carboxylate groups and to the ribosyl hydroxyls of ADP-ribose resulting in the modification of proteins with ADP-ribose polymers (1). While all other ADP-ribose transfer enzymes catalyze the transfer of only single ADP-ribose groups to an acceptor, they also show a wide range of specificity for acceptors. The best understood mono-ADP-ribosyl transferases are the bacterial toxins which transfer ADP-ribose to specific amino acid residues of specific target proteins including arginine, modifed histidine and cysteine residues (2–10). However, several endogenous mono-ADP-ribosyl transferases also have been detected that have the same range of amino acid acceptor specificity as those exhibited by the bacterial toxins (11–14).
Association of Statewide Certificate of Need Regulations With Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Appropriateness and Outcomes.

Background Certificate of need (CON) regulations are intended to coordinate new healthcare services, limit expansion of unnecessary new infrastructure, and limit healthcare costs. However, there is...
MAPK regulation of SWI/SNF mediates ERα down-regulation

5437 Background: Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) is a key prognostic and predictive factor in breast cancer. ERα- tumors tend to exhibit overexpression/amplification/hyperactivation of the erbB family which leads to increased downstream signaling including hyperactivation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). We have previously shown, first in cell line models that mimic this elevated growth factor signaling by EGFR and erbB-2 in MCF-7 breast cancer cells and more recently in ERα- breast cancer cell lines and tumors, that hyperactivation of downstream p42/44 MAPK results in the reversible loss of ERα expression. A hyperactive MAPK gene profile from these cell line models which accurately predicts ERα- breast cancer further demonstrates the link between hyperactive MAPK and the ERα- phenotype. One of the genes signficantly down-regulated in these hyperactive MAPK cells was Baf57, a subunit of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex. Baf57 is the SWI/SNF subunit shown to interact with ERα and regulate its transcriptional activity. Objective: In this study, we set out to ascertain the role of Baf57 in the MAPK mediated down-regulation of ERα expression. Results: siRNA knockdown of Baf57 levels in MCF-7 cells not only inhibited ER activity and estrogen-induced growth as had been shown by others, but it dramatically caused the loss of ERα protein expression. The down-regulation of Baf57 protein was confirmed in the hyperactive MAPK cell line models. Indeed, Baf57 expression was substantially decreased in MCF-7 cells expressing constitutively active forms of erbB-2 or Raf-1 as well as in cells overexpressing EGFR and induced by EGF. Inhibition of hyperactive MAPK in these cell lines, restored Baf57 levels. Baf57 does not have a MAPK phosphorylation site, suggesting this was an indirect effect. But Baf155, another SWI/SNF subunit does have a MAPK site and Baf155 regulates the stability and expression of Baf57. An examination of Baf155 levels in the hyperactive MAPK cells indicated that it too was down-regulated and inhibition of MAPK restored its expression levels. Finally, re-introduction of Baf57 in the hyperactive MAPK cell lines resulted in increased ERα expression suggesting a mechanististic link between Baf57 and ERα expression. Conclusions: MAPK mediated down-regulation of ERα is mediated in part by regulation of Baf155 and Baf57. Loss of Baf57 expression causes loss of ERα expression. We have identified a new role for Baf57 in the regulation of ERα in breast cancer and have uncovered one mechanism by which MAPK causes loss of ERα expression to result in the ERα- phenotype.
Fingerprint Embedding Authentication with Artificial Noise: MISO Regime

We apply artificial noise to the fingerprint embedding authentication framework to improve information-theoretic authentication for the MISO channel. Instead of optimizing for secrecy capacity, we examine the trade-off between message rate, authentication, and key security. In this case, key security aims to limit an adversary's ability to obtain the key using a maximum likelihood decoder.
Exploring the high-mass end of the stellar mass function of star-forming galaxies at cosmic noon

We present the high-mass end of the galaxy stellar mass function using the largest sample to date (5,352) of star-forming galaxies with $M_{\star} > 10^{11} M_{\odot}$ at cosmic noon, $1.5 < z < 3.5$. This sample is uniformly selected across 17.2 deg$^2$ ($\sim$0.44 Gpc$^3$ comoving volume from $1.5 < z < 3.5$), mitigating the effects of cosmic variance and encompassing a wide range of environments. This area, a factor of 10 larger than previous studies, provides robust statistics at the high-mass end. Using multi-wavelength data in the Spitzer/HETDEX Exploratory Large Area (SHELA) footprint we find that the SHELA footprint star-forming galaxy stellar mass function is steeply declining at the high-mass end probing values as high as $\sim$$10^{-4}$ Mpc$^3$/dex and as low as $\sim$5$\times$$10^{-8}$ Mpc$^3$/dex across a stellar mass range of log($M_\star$/$M_\odot$) $\sim$ 11 - 12. We compare our empirical star-forming galaxy stellar mass function at the high mass end to three types of numerical models: hydrodynamical models from IllustrisTNG, abundance matching from the UniverseMachine, and three different semi-analytic models (SAMs; SAG, SAGE, GALACTICUS). At redshifts $1.5 < z < 3.5$ we find that results from IllustrisTNG and abundance matching models agree within a factor of $\sim$2 to 10, however the three SAMs strongly underestimate (up to a factor of 1,000) the number density of massive galaxies. We discuss the implications of these results for our understanding of galaxy evolution.
Selenium, copper, zinc and hypertension: an analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011–2016)

Hypertension is a major cardiovascular illness worldwide with many underlying causes. The role of trace elements selenium, copper, and zinc in hypertension is uncertain. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of these trace elements in hypertension. Data from 6683 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) participants from 2011 to 2016 were analyzed using Statistical Analytical System (SAS, version 9.4) software for the role of trace elements in hypertension in age range 8 to 80 years, irrespective of the antihypertensive medication taken. Recent American Heart Association guidelines and pediatric practice guidelines for hypertension were used. Findings showed a significant positive association between serum selenium levels and hypertension but not serum zinc and copper. At optimal levels for transport and distribution, serum selenium levels of 120 μg/L or higher (reference level 70–150 μg/L) were significantly associated with hypertension (OR = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.29–1.66) after adjusting for confounding factors. At serum selenium level greater than 150 μg/L, the association with hypertension strengthened (OR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.32–2.17). A positive association was found between serum selenium and hypertension, irrespective of age or anti-hypertensive medications intake. These findings also suggest that the reference levels of serum levels in healthy individuals may need to be re-determined, if supported by additional studies. If validated, patients with hypertension may also need to be cautioned about selenium intake.
Analysis of occupational health in Egypt

Egypt is an important node in the construction of the "21st Century Maritime Silk Road", China and Egypt have conducted all-round cooperation in various fields such as industry, energy, telecommunications and infrastructure construction. With the continuous deepening of economic and trade cooperation between China and Egypt, the occupational health status of employees of the two countries will be paid more and more attention. This article analyzes the status of occupational health in Egypt, in order to explore the space for exchange and cooperation between China and Egypt in the field of occupational health.
Pitfalls and Pearls of Prostate Imaging and Interpretation

Multiparametric prostate magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) has become a mainstay for the detection, characterization, staging, and monitoring of prostate cancer. While the technical specifications, appearance of the normal prostate, assessment (including staging), and reporting of mpMRI have become well documented and codified, reading mpMRI of the prostate is not trivial (Turkbey et al. Eur Urol 76(3):340–351, 2019). Fortunately, many of the “pitfalls and pearls” of mpMRI of the prostate are well documented (Rosenkrantz and Taneja, AJR Am J Roentgenol 202(1):109–120, 2014) Pitfalls can be roughly grouped into three main categories: technical challenges related to diffusion-weighted imaging, normal anatomic structures that may be mistaken for tumor, and noncancerous abnormalities that can mimic tumor. Pearls generally fall into three groups as well: differentiating tumor from benign or normal structures, suspicious findings not explicit in PI-RADS categorization, and extra-prostatic structures. Common pitfalls include anatomic distortion of high b-value diffusion-weighted images, lack of suppression of benign prostate tissue on standard high b-value diffusion-weighted images, suboptimal windowing of the ADC map, the central zone, thickening of surgical capsule, the periprostatic venous plexus and neurovascular bundle, post-biopsy hemorrhage, stromal BPH nodules, acute and chronic prostatitis including post-inflammatory scars and atrophy, and granulomatous prostatitis. Important pearls include anterior fibromuscular stroma and central zone: volume averaging of the surgical capsule at the apex; ejaculatory ducts; tumors are homogeneous; dynamic contrast as a saving grace; the diffusely heterogeneous prostate; how wedge-shaped is “wedge-shaped”?; bladder inlet; seminal vesicle atrophy versus involvement; and non-prostate cancers.
The effect of ractopamine on beta-adrenoceptor density and affinity in porcine adipose and skeletal muscle tissue.

We have evaluated the effect of feeding ractopamine (Rac), a phenethanolamine lean enhancer being developed for commercial use in finishing pigs, on beta-adrenoceptor (beta-AR) number and ligand-receptor binding affinity in adipose and muscle tissues. Pigs weighing 78 +/- 1 kg were fed Rac (20 mg/kg of diet) for 0 (control), 1, 8, or 24 d before being killed at 105 +/- 1 kg BW. beta-adrenoceptor density (per milligram of protein) was decreased by Rac up to approximately 50% in both the middle and the outer layers of subcutaneous (SQ) adipose tissue. Orthogonal contrasts indicated significant (P < or = .05) linear effects of Rac in middle and outer SQ adipose tissue, and also a significant (P < or = .05) quadratic effect of Rac in the middle layer. Ractopamine did not affect the maximal binding (Bmax) of longissimus muscle. The relative affinity with which the beta-AR population of the tissues examined bound the radioligand ([3H]dihydroalprenolol) was not influenced by Rac. Likewise, feeding Rac had no effect on the affinity of the beta-AR for Rac. The data indicate that a Rac-induced reduction in the Bmax of adipose tissue may account for the diminished in vitro lipolytic potency of exogenous Rac after prolonged periods of Rac feeding, and that Rac-induced desensitization differs between adipose and skeletal muscle tissues.
Three-Dimensional Visualization of Choroidal Vascular Lesions using Multimodal Photoacoustic Microscopy and Optical Coherence Tomography in Living Rabbits

The current study is presenting a non-invasive and high resolution multimodal photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) system for visualization of choroidal vascular lesions in living rabbits.
A Prescription for Deprescribing Antipsychotics: Managing Polypharmacy in Schizophrenia.

The Psychiatric Consultation Service at Massachusetts General Hospital sees medical and surgical inpatients with comorbid psychiatric symptoms and conditions. During their twice-weekly rounds, Dr Stern and other members of the Consultation Service discuss diagnosis and management of hospitalized patients with complex medical or surgical problems who also demonstrate psychiatric symptoms or conditions. These discussions have given rise to rounds reports that will prove useful for clinicians practicing at the interface of medicine and psychiatry.
State estimation in online batch production scheduling: concepts, definitions, algorithms and optimization models

Abstract The goal of this paper is to present concepts and methods that allow us to account for real-time data in online scheduling without embedding a dynamic model. First, we discuss the key role played by the progress status of a batch, the key state in scheduling. Specifically, we show how fractional changes in the progress status necessitate the re-calculation, using real-time data, of parameters used in scheduling models (which have always been thought to be constants). Second, we present algorithms for the calculation of the progress status and the above parameters. Third, we present a state-space resource task network (RTN) formulation employing parameters calculated in real-time and show why, in this context, it should account for delays of batches under execution as optimization decisions. Finally, we show how the proposed methods lead to tractable optimization problems and can be used to address problems that cannot be solved using existing scheduling approaches.
Question formulation skills training using a novel rubric with first-year medical students.

Objective: The research used an assessment rubric to measure medical students’ improvement in question formulation skills following a brief evidence-based medicine (EBM) training session conducted by a health sciences librarian. Method: In a quasi-experimental designed study, students were assessed on their pre-instructional skills in formulating answerable EBM questions, based on a clinical scenario, using a rubric. Following their training, they were assessed using the same scenario and rubric. Student pre- and post-test scores were compared using a paired t -test. Results: Students demonstrated statistically significant improvement in their question formulation skills on their post-instructional assessments. The average score for students on the pre-test was 45.5 (SD 11.1) and the average score on the post-test was 65.6 (SD 5.4) with an increase of 20.1 points on the 70-point scale, p <0.001. Conclusion: The brief instructional session aided by the rubric improved students’ performance in question formulation skills.
Chapter IV: Responsibilities of a Congress

Sarmiento discusses the responsibilities of a Congress, such as to legislate on issues of trade and river navigation. He then compares the fortunes of Santa Fe, Buenos Aires, and Montevideo, all bathed by the Parana and Rio de la Plata Rivers. He finds that the former has languished, while the two latter cities have thrived due to their unimpeded access to free commerce with European powers. Sarmiento remarks on the economic disadvantages faced by the provinces given the difficulties in communicating with one another and of bringing their goods to Buenos Aires. He calls for the gathering of a Congress to enact policies that would end the disparities that affect the Republic.
Addressing the elephant in the room: COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Black and Asian communities.

The evidence is clear: Black and Asian minority ethnic groups in the UK have experienced poorer outcomes in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. People of Black and Asian ethnicity have faced higher diagnostic rates, higher intensive care admission rates, and ultimately higher death rates compared to the White population.1–3 Despite comprising the minority of the workforce, Black and Asian healthcare staff make up approximately two-thirds of the deaths observed in this setting.4 In the light of the statistical evidence, there have been increasing calls among experts for the government to categorise Black …
Impact of dual antiplatelet therapy after lower extremity revascularization for chronic limb-threatening ischemia.

Abstract Objective The optimal antiplatelet regimen after lower extremity revascularization in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) is unknown because current recommendations are based on extrapolation of data from trials in coronary artery disease and stroke. Methods We identified all patients undergoing an elective lower extremity revascularization for CLTI in the Vascular Quality Initiative registry discharged on a mono antiplatelet agent (MAPT) or dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). Results From 2003 to 2018, 50,890 patients underwent revascularization procedures for CLTI, and were discharged on MAPT or DAPT. Of these, 33,781 patients underwent endovascular therapy (EVT), and 17,109 patients underwent open surgery (OS) procedures. The rate of major amputation at 30 days in the target limb in the EVT group was 0.3% and 0.4% in the OS group (P = .22). On Kaplan-Meier analyses, patients on MAPT at discharge had a higher risk of 1-year major amputation compared with DAPT after EVT but not after OS procedures. Patients on MAPT had lower overall survival and amputation-free survival at 30 days and 1 year compared with DAPT after both EVT and OS. At 1 year, the MAPT group was at higher risk for target lesion reintervention after EVT compared with the DAPT group (15.9% vs 13%; P = .0012). There was no significant difference in thrombosis at 1 year between the MAPT and DAPT groups either after EVT (3.9% vs 3.7%; P = .3048) or OS (3.1% vs 3.2%; P = .2893). On Cox regression analysis, DAPT was associated with improved survival but not major amputation after both EVT and OS. Conclusions In patients with CLTI, DAPT at the time of discharge has a positive impact on amputation-free survival and overall survival after both EVT and OS as well as target lesion reintervention after EVT. DAPT was not associated with a positive impact on major amputation after either EVT or OS.
Sorghum Transformation: Achievements, Challenges, and Perspectives

Sorghum bicolor is one of the most important crops. It is cultivated globally not only as a source of human food and animal feed but also for renewable energy. In order to improve sorghum varieties, genetic transformation serves as a unique and important supplement to traditional methods for faster genetic gains. This review summarizes the most recent achievements in sorghum biotechnology by many research groups worldwide. The transformation methods and their contributions is presented in relationship to various types of explants such as calli, immature embryos, and shoot apices. The roles of promoters and selection systems are emphasized. Sorghum transformation results are evaluated with relevance to marker genes and agronomically important genes. This review also addresses the challenges in sorghum transformation and possible strategies to overcome some of these challenges.
Myeloblastin: leukocyte proteinase 3.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes assay, purification, and properties of myeloblastin. Myeloblastin is a neutral serine endopeptidase produced during myeloid differentiation and stored in the azurophilic granules of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). Assays for myeloblastin are based on its preference for small aliphatic amino acids at the P1 site of susceptible peptide bonds. Although myeloblastin degrades a wide variety of extracellular matrix molecules, including elastin, fibronectin, vitronectin, collagen type IV, and the core protein of proteoglycans, the esterolytic or amidolytic activity of the enzyme against selected blocked amino acid or oligopeptide substrates has proved to be most useful in assessing enzyme activity. t-butyloxy carbonyl p-nitrophenylester is a nonspecific and sensitive substrate that is suitable to work with myeloblastin particularly in studies evaluating inhibitors. Release of p-nitrophenol is measured by the increase in absorbance at 347.5 nm. Myeloblastin is a basic protein and appears as three isoforms in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at neutral pH. It is inhibited by typical inhibitors of serine peptidases, such as phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and diisopropyl fluorophosphates.
Treatment of Mild Acute Pancreatitis and Prevention of Post-Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Pancreatitis

The treatment of mild acute pancreatitis (AP) is largely supportive and includes the administration of fluids intravenously, pain medications, antiemetics, and bowel rest until nausea and vomiting have resolved and narcotics are not required for pain control. Several medications have been studied with the goal to improve patient outcomes, avoid complications associated with pancreatitis, and reduce the time needed for recovery. However, to date, there is no medication proven to alter the course of the disease. This data, as well as the limited data available for the initiation of analgesics and feeding, are reviewed in this chapter. Additionally, the literature on prophylaxis of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis is reviewed.
Classroom Cheating: Reasons Not to Whistle-Blow

This study surveyed 309 business students (180 men and 129 women) enrolled in introductory accounting and business law classes on various aspects of honesty in academics. The study was motivated by the need to examine the underlying issues associated with students’ perceptions of cheating and whistle-blowing. An increased understanding of these perceptions would be insightful to professors as well as administrators. The study examines students’ reasons about whether they should whistle-blow and whether their reasons associate with their intentions to whistle-blow if they observe cheating. When examining a student’s intent to whistle-blow, we considered students’ prior cheating behavior, gender, social desirability response bias, intentions to cheat in the future, reasons not to whistle-blow, and prior whistle-blowing. Our data extends prior research by considering the reasons students choose not to whistle-blow. Our research indicates that the number of reasons not to whistle-blow and having observed other students cheating reduced the likelihood of a student whistle-blowing after controlling for social desirability response bias. The research indicates that, to prevent unethical behavior in the future, institutions need to enforce consequences for those who cheat as unethical behavior at the academic level associates with unethical behavior in the corporate setting.
A Survey of Distributed Computer Vision Algorithms

Over the past twenty years, the computer vision community has made great strides in the automatic solution to such problems as camera localization and visual tracking. Many algorithms have been made tractable by the rapid increases in computational speed and memory size now available to a single computer. However, the world of visual sensor networks poses several challenges to the direct application of traditional computer vision algorithms. First, visual sensor networks are assumed to contain tens to hundreds of cameras- many more than are considered in many vision applications. Second, these cameras are likely to be spread over a wide geographical area- much larger than the typical computer lab. Third, the cameras are likely to have modest local processors with no ability to communicate beyond a short range.
Cα chemical shift tensors in helical peptides by dipolar-modulated chemical shift recoupling NMR

The Cα chemical shift tensors of proteins contain information on the backbone conformation. We have determined the magnitude and orientation of the Cα chemical shift tensors of two peptides with α-helical torsion angles: the Ala residue in G*AL (φ=−65.7°, ψ=−40°), and the Val residue in GG*V (φ=−81.5°, ψ=−50.7°). The magnitude of the tensors was determined from quasi-static powder patterns recoupled under magic-angle spinning, while the orientation of the tensors was extracted from Cα–Hα and Cα–N dipolar modulated powder patterns. The helical Ala Cα chemical shift tensor has a span of 36 ppm and an asymmetry parameter of 0.89. Its σ11 axis is 116° ± 5° from the Cα–Hα bond while the σ22 axis is 40° ± 5° from the Cα–N bond. The Val tensor has an anisotropic span of 25 ppm and an asymmetry parameter of 0.33, both much smaller than the values for β-sheet Val found recently (Yao and Hong, 2002). The Val σ33 axis is tilted by 115° ± 5° from the Cα–Hα bond and 98° ± 5° from the Cα–N bond. These represent the first completely experimentally determined Cα chemical shift tensors of helical peptides. Using an icosahedral representation, we compared the experimental chemical shift tensors with quantum chemical calculations and found overall good agreement. These solid-state chemical shift tensors confirm the observation from cross-correlated relaxation experiments that the projection of the Cα chemical shift tensor onto the Cα–Hα bond is much smaller in α-helices than in β-sheets.
Joint Defense Agreements and Disqualification of Co-Defendant's Counsel,

How should courts rule on the issue of joint defense agreements and motions for disqualification of another joint defense member's attorney in subsequent litigation? After analyzing prior cases that attempt to resolve the issue, it is clear that no generally accepted analysis of the disqualification issue exists. This article proposes an analytic framework for courts to use when ruling on such motions for disqualification arising in the context of prior joint defense agreements. Although some courts have found an implied attorney-client relationship among all members and attorneys of the joint defense agreement, this view is flawed and based on a misunderstanding of the relationship. The better approach is to recognize that any duty owed by an attorney to non-clients in a joint defense situation is a duty based on the joint defense itself. Therefore, the proper issue becomes determining whether the party seeking disqualification has proven a joint defense between them and the former client of the attorney targeted by the disqualification motion. Once the threshold issue of whether a joint defense existed has been determined, the next issue to be resolved is establishing whether the joint defense could form the basis of the disqualification. At this point in the analysis, the joint defense agreement itself should be examined to determine the rights and obligations of the parties, and how confidentiality and subsequent use of the joint defense information is covered in the agreement. The next issue in the analysis involves the burden of proof and presumption of shared confidences. It is suggested that different approaches be used depending on whether an express joint defense agreement with a confidentiality provision exists. If such express provision does exist, a rebuttable presumption approach should be used. Under this approach, the attorney subject to the disqualification would have the burden of proving that he or she did not receive confidential information. On the other hand, if no such express agreement exists, the burden should be placed on the moving party to show that the target attorney received confidential information. Once it has been shown that confidential information was disclosed as part of the joint defense or joint defense agreement, the attorney should only be disqualified if the confidential information received is substantially related to the subsequent action. Finally, assuming the motion to disqualify is granted and the non-client moving party seeks to further disqualify the attorney's entire law firm, the burden should be placed on that moving party to establish that confidential information had been disclosed to members of the law firm. This proposed analysis will provide consistent results in motions by members of joint defense agreements seeking to disqualify another joint defense member's attorney in subsequent litigation. Not only will this approach simplify the court's resolution of the issue, it will also better prepare litigants and attorneys for entering and structuring joint defense agreements in the future.
A circular standing wave oscillator

A circular standing wave oscillator that generates sinusoids by forming standing waves on a ring transmission line is presented. Incorporating an even-mode suppression technique, a 10 GHz prototype realized in a SiGe bipolar technology has a phase noise of -110 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset with a 1.95 mA current drawn from 1.5 V.
Quickest linear search over correlated sequences

Linear search arises in many application domains. The problem of linear search over multiple sequences in order to identify one sequence with a desired statistical feature is considered. The quickest linear search optimizes a balance between two opposing performance measures, one being the delay in detecting a desirable sequence, and the other one being the quality of the decision. The existing approaches in the quickest search literature rely on the assumption that the sequences are statistically independent. In many applications, however, due to the underlying physical couplings, generations of available sequences are not necessarily independent. Driven by such underlying couplings, this paper considers searching over correlated sequences, in which the distribution of each sequence depends on the distribution of its preceding one. The closed-form characterization of the sampling process for the optimal search is delineated. The analysis reveals that depending on the correlation structure, the optimal search strategy can be similar to (in spirit) or dramatically different from the optimal search strategy over independent sequences.
Molecular Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Impact on Patient Care

Background: Nucleic acid amplification technologies such as PCR are revolutionizing the detection of infectious pathogens such as tuberculosis (TB). Amplification technology offers the potential for the diagnosis of TB in a few hours with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity. However, molecular assays neither replace nor reduce the need for conventional smear and culture, speciation, and antibiotic sensitivity assays. Methods: We undertook prospective studies of sputum samples to assess the performance of two PCR-based assays for the detection of TB as well as the impact of more rapid availability of test results on patient care. Results: The sensitivity of both the in-house and Amplicor PCR assays was 100% for smear-positive sputa. For smear-negative sputa (two sputum samples collected during the first 24 h of hospitalization), the sensitivity was 85% for our in-house PCR assay and 74% for the Roche PCR assay. Approximately 10% of the smear- and culture-negative sputa yielded positive PCR results; however, more than one-half of these were positive with both the in-house and Amplicor assays, suggesting the presence of TB DNA or organisms. Several of these came from patients whose other samples grew Mycobacterium tuberculosis during the same admission, and others came from patients who had previously treated TB. Overall, the specificities of the in-house and Amplicor PCR assays in smear-negative patients were 86% and 93%, respectively. Conclusions: Molecular detection of slow-growing pathogens such as M. tuberculosis have the potential to improve clinical care through a dramatic reduction in the time required for detection and may provide substantial savings in the overall cost of care of a patient compared with conventional smear, culture, and speciation alone, despite the fact that conventional assays must still be performed for speciation of nontuberculous mycobacteria and for full assessment of antibiotic sensitivity.
Critical bubbles and implications for critical black strings

We demonstrate the existence of gravitational critical phenomena in higher dimensional electrovac bubble spacetimes. To this end, we study linear fluctuations about families of static, homogeneous spherically symmetric bubble spacetimes in Kaluza-Klein theories coupled to a Maxwell field. We prove that these solutions are linearly unstable and posses a unique unstable mode. We further show that the associated growth rate depends only on the mass per unit length of the background solution. Additionally, by a double analytical continuation this mode can be seen to correspond to marginally stable stationary modes of perturbed black strings whose periods are integer multiples of the Gregory-Laflamme critical length. This allow us to rederive recent results about the behavior of the critical mass for large dimensions and to generalize them to charged black string cases.
Deep venous thromboembolism in a triathlete.

Background: Demanding athletic events can contribute multiple risk factors to the development of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in athletes. Objectives: To discuss risk factors for the development of DVT in athletes participating in athletic events. Case Report: We present the case of a young female athlete who had a DVT, complicated by pulmonary embolism, after participating in a half-Ironman triathlon. Conclusion: Our patient developed a DVT complicated by pulmonary embolism as a result of many factors relating to participation in a triathlon. Demanding athletic events can contribute different risk factors to the development of DVT in athletes. The diagnosis of DVT should be considered in any athlete presenting with leg pain, especially after a strenuous athletic event.
Summary of: Highly anxious dental patients report more pain during dental injections

Objectives In the present study, the relationship between anxiety and pain was investigated using a clinically relevant sample and stimulus. Methods A sample of highly anxious dental patients (n = 23) and a sample of 'normal' subjects (n = 57) were compared with respect to the duration and intensity of pain while receiving a dental anaesthetic injection. Results As expected, highly anxious dental patients indicate more pain, which is of longer duration, than normal patients. Most predictive for the amount of pain felt was the pain felt during a previous injection. Conclusion Dentists should be aware that anxious dental patients with a negative experience regarding dental injections may feel elevated levels of pain which most likely leads to negative expectations for the future.
Management and care of mentally ill mothers of young children: An innovative program

The literature identifies seriously mentally ill (SMI) mothers of young children as being at-risk for frequent psychiatric hospitalization because of preexisting impairment in adjustment and coping compounded by the additional strains of motherhood. Economic hardship, lack of information, and social isolation are some factors that may cause stress in relation to parenting. This article discusses the nature and extent of parenting problems experienced by SMI mothers of young children receiving treatment in a hospital-based, community-focused case management program. Intervention strategies are described that focus on reducing rehospitalization by decreasing the intensity and duration of maternal role strain.
Algal biofuels from urban wastewaters: maximizing biomass yield using nutrients recycled from hydrothermal processing of biomass.

Abstract Recent studies have proposed algal cultivation in urban wastewaters for the dual purpose of waste treatment and bioenergy production from the resulting biomass. This study proposes an enhancement to this approach that integrates cultivation of an acidophilic strain, Galdieria sulphuraria 5587.1, in a closed photobioreactor (PBR); hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of the wet algal biomass; and recirculation of the nutrient-rich aqueous product (AP) of HTL to the PBR to achieve higher biomass productivity than that could be achieved with raw wastewater. The premise is that recycling nutrients in the AP can maintain optimal C, N and P levels in the PBR to maximize biomass growth to increase energy returns. Growth studies on the test species validated growth on AP derived from HTL at temperatures from 180 to 300 °C. Doubling N and P concentrations over normal levels in wastewater resulted in biomass productivity gains of 20–25% while N and P removal rates also doubled.
Utilization of DNA photolyase, pyrimidine dimer endonucleases, and alkali hydrolysis in the analysis of aberrant ABC excinuclease incisions adjacent to UV-induced DNA photoproducts

ABC excinuclease of Escherichia coli removes 6-4 photoproducts and pyrimidine dimers from DNA by making two single strand incisions, one 8 phosphodiester bonds 5' and another 4 or 5 phosphodiester bonds 3' to the lesion. We describe in this communication a method, which utilizes DNA photolyase from E. coli, pyrimidine dimer endonucleases from M. luteus and bacteriophage T4, and alkali hydrolysis, for analyzing the ABC excinuclease incision pattern corresponding to each of these photoproducts in a DNA fragment. On occasion, ABC excinuclease does not incise DNA exclusively 8 phosphodiester bonds 5' or 4 or 5 phosphodiester bonds 3' to the photoproduct. Both the nature of the adduct (6-4 photoproduct or pyrimidine dimer) and the sequence of neighboring nucleotides influence the incision pattern of ABC excinuclease. We show directly that photolyase stimulates the removal of pyrimidine dimers (but not 6-4 photoproducts) by the excinuclease. Also, photolyase does not repair CC pyrimidine dimers efficiently while it does repair TT or TC pyrimidine dimers.
Phase I study of magnesium pidolate in combination with hydroxycarbamide for children with sickle cell anaemia

In sickle cell anaemia, red cell dehydration increases intracellular HbS concentration and promotes sickling. Higher erythrocyte magnesium reduces water loss through negative regulation of membrane transporters. Hydroxycarbamide (also known as hydroxyurea) reduces sickling partly by increasing intracellular HbF. Combining drugs with distinct mechanisms could offer additive effects. A phase I trial combining oral magnesium pidolate and hydroxycarbamide was performed to estimate the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and toxicity of magnesium. Cohorts of three children with HbSS, who were on a stable dose of hydroxycarbamide (median 28.5 mg/kg/d), received magnesium pidolate for 6 months beginning at 83 mg/kg/d. The dose was escalated by 50% for subsequent cohorts. Laboratory evaluations were performed at 0, 3, 6 and 9 months. Sixteen children (aged 4-12 years) participated. All four dose-limiting toxicities (grade III diarrhoea and abdominal pain) occurred within the first month of starting magnesium. Additionally, diarrhoea grades I (n = 1) and II (n = 3), and abdominal pain grade II (n = 3) occurred. Hydroxycarbamide dose reduction or interruption was not required. The MTD for magnesium pidolate used in combination with hydroxycarbamide was 125 mg/kg/d. KCl co-transporter activity declined after 3 months of magnesium pidolate (P = 0.02). A phase II study is needed to investigate the efficacy of this drug combination.