cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A single dose of histamine-receptor antagonists before downhill running alters markers of muscle damage and delayed-onset muscle soreness

Histamine contributes to elevations in skeletal muscle blood flow following exercise, which raises the possibility that histamine is an important mediator of the inflammatory response to exercise. We examined the influence of antihistamines on postexercise blood flow, inflammation, muscle damage, and delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in a model of moderate exercise-induced muscle damage. Subjects consumed either a combination of fexofenadine and ranitidine (blockade, n = 12) or nothing (control, n = 12) before 45 min of downhill running (-10% grade). Blood flow to the leg was measured before and throughout 120 min of exercise recovery. Markers of inflammation, muscle damage, and DOMS were obtained before and at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h postexercise. At 60 min postexercise, blood flow was reduced ~29% with blockade compared with control (P < 0.05). Markers of inflammation were elevated after exercise (TNF-ɑ, IL-6), but did not differ between control and blockade. Creatine kinase concentrations peaked 12 h after exercise, and the overall response was greater with blockade (18.3 ± 3.2 kU·l-1·h-1) compared with control (11.6 ± 2.0 kU·l-1·h-1; P < 0.05). Reductions in muscle strength in control (-19.3 ± 4.3% at 24 h) were greater than blockade (-7.8 ± 4.8%; P < 0.05) and corresponded with greater perceptions of pain/discomfort in control compared with blockade. In conclusion, histamine-receptor blockade reduced postexercise blood flow, had no effect on the pattern of inflammatory markers, increased serum creatine kinase concentrations, attenuated muscle strength loss, and reduced pain perception following muscle-damaging exercise.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Histamine appears to be intimately involved with skeletal muscle during and following exercise. Blocking histamine's actions during muscle-damaging exercise, via common over-the-counter antihistamines, resulted in increased serum creatine kinase, an indirect marker of muscle damage. Paradoxically, blocking histamine's actions attenuated muscle strength loss and reduced perceptions of muscle pain for 72 h following muscle-damaging exercise. These results indicate that exercise-induced histamine release may have a broad impact on protecting muscle from exercise-induced damage.
On reading books to children: Parents and teachers.

Contents: A. van Kleeck, S.A. Stahl, Preface. Part I:Book Sharing in Families. A.G. Bus, Social-Emotional Requisites for Learning to Read. J. De Temple, C.E. Snow, Learning Words From Books. E. Reese, A. Cox, D. Harte, H. McAnally, Diversity in Adults' Styles of Reading Books to Children. A. van Kleeck, J. Vander Woude, Book Sharing With Preschoolers With Language Delays. Part II:Storybook Reading in the Classroom. D.K. Dickinson, A. McCabe, L. Anastasopoulos, A Framework for Examining Book Reading in Early Childhood Classrooms. W.H. Teale, Reading Aloud to Young Children as a Classroom Instructional Activity: Insights From Research and Practice. L.M. Morrow, R. Brittain, The Nature of Storybook Reading in the Elementary School: Current Practices. M.G. McKeown, I.L. Beck, Taking Advantage of Read-Alouds to Help Children Make Sense of Decontextualized Language. A.A. Zevenbergen, G.J. Whitehurst, Dialogic Reading: A Shared Picture Book Reading Intervention for Preschoolers. Part III:Storybook Sharing as Cultural Practice. J. Anderson, A. Anderson, J. Lynch, J. Shapiro, Storybook Reading in a Multicultural Society: Critical Perspectives. V. Carrington, A. Luke, Reading, Homes, and Families: From Postmodern to Modern? R.B. Barrera, E.B. Bauer, Storybook Reading and Young Bilingual Children: A Review of the Literature. Part IV:Where Do We Go From Here? A. van Kleeck, Research on Book Sharing: Another Critical Look. A.D. Pellegrini, L. Galda, Joint Reading as a Context: Explicating the Ways Context Is Created by Participants. D.B. Yaden, Jr., Parent-Child Storybook Reading as a Complex Adaptive System: Or "An Igloo Is a House for Bears." S.A. Stahl, What Do We Expect Storybook Reading to Do? How Storybook Reading Impacts Word Recognition.
Stock assessment for eastern oyster seed production and field grow-out in Louisiana

Abstract There is little information on the performance of oyster populations from Louisiana estuaries limiting the ability to choose stocks for hatchery seed production and field grow-out. The objectives of this study were therefore to compare the mortality, growth, dermo ( Perkinsus marinus ) infection intensity and condition index of the progeny of wild oysters collected from three Louisiana estuaries differing in salinity regime and oysters specifically selected for dermo resistance. Progeny were deployed in cages in the field, along a salinity gradient in coastal Louisiana. Overall, salinity and temperature had major impacts on the mortality, growth, dermo infection intensity and condition index of oysters of all four stocks and a few differences between stocks could be shown at some sites. At the lowest salinity site, the progeny of wild oysters from Sister Lake, a low salinity estuarine lake, had the lowest mortality suggesting enhanced tolerance to low salinity conditions compared to the other stocks. At the highest salinity site, the progeny of wild oysters from Lake Calcasieu, a high salinity estuarine lake, had the lowest mortality during summer concomitant with increasing dermo infection intensities suggesting a better resistance to dermo disease compared to the other wild stocks and confirming an earlier finding. This initial result suggests that the stocks used are genetically differentiated with respect to low salinity tolerance as well as dermo-related mortality at high salinity and that stock selection for aquaculture grow-out or restoration effort will benefit from being site-specific and dependent on the dominant environmental conditions. Statement of relevance Assessment of eastern oyster stocks in Louisiana or other Gulf of Mexico estuaries for seed production and field grow-out is lacking.
MODELING OF AMBIENT GLUTAMATE CONCENTRATION MEASUREMENT IN THE MAMMALIAN NERVOUS SYSTEM

A neuron is an electrically excitable cell that processes and transmits information through electrical and chemical signals. Neurons connect and pass signals to other cells through the struc- ture called synapse. We focus on synapses through which the signals are transferred by signaling molecules called neurotransmitters. One of the predominant excitatory neurotransmitters in the central ner- vous system of the mammals, including humans, is glutamate. It is directly or indirectly involved in most brain functions. However, the excessive stimulation of the glutamate receptors is toxic to neurons, therefore it is important to rapidly clear the glutamate from the extra- cellular space and keep its concentration low. Glutamate transporters play a crucial role in regulating glutamate concentration in synaptic clefts. Thus, it is important to understand the mechanisms underlying this process. We describe measurement of the glutamate concentra- tion in the extracellular space. It is important to estimate the baseline glutamate concentration to use it in future models and studies. How- ever, two existing methods of measuring the glutamate concentration in the extracellular space give inconsistent results with about 100 fold dierence. We construct the model of the process of the glutamate concentration measurement in order to explain that discrepancy.
Contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) versus breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): A retrospective comparison in 66 breast lesions

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to retrospectively compare the diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) with that of breast magnetic resonance imaging (BMRI) in breast cancer detection using parameters, including sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), lesion size, morphology, lesion and background enhancement, and examination time. Materials and methods A total of 48 women (mean age, 56 years ± 10.6 [SD]) with breast lesions detected between October 2012 and March 2014 were included. Both CESM and BMRI were performed for each patient within 30 days. The enhancement intensity of lesions and breast background parenchyma was subjectively assessed for both modalities and was quantified for comparison. Statistical significance was analyzed using paired t-test for mean size of index lesions in all malignant breasts (an index lesion defined as the largest lesion in each breast), and a mean score of enhancement intensity for index lesions and breast background. PPV, sensitivity, and accuracy were calculated for both CESM and BMRI. The average duration time of CESM and MRI examinations was also compared. Results A total of 66 lesions were identified, including 62 malignant and 4 benign lesions. Both CESM and BMRI demonstrated a sensitivity of 100% for detection of breast cancer. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean size of index lesions (P = 0.108). The enhancement intensity of breast background was significantly lower for CESM than for BMRI (P 0.05). The average examination time for CESM was significantly shorter than that of BMRI (P Conclusion CESM has similar sensitivity than BMRI in breast cancer detection, with higher PPV and less background enhancement. CESM is associate with significantly shorter exam time thus a more accessible alternative to BMRI, and has the potential to play an important tool in breast cancer detection and staging.
Super resolution contrast ultrasound imaging: Analysis of imaging resolution and application to imaging tumor angiogenesis

Tumor associated microvascular angiogenesis is an important biomarker for cancer diagnostics. However, ultrasound is challenged in the detection of these microvascular changes due to resolution and/or sensitivity limits. Recently proposed ultrasound localization microscopy technique can achieve a ten-fold resolution improvement compared with traditional ultrasound imaging and therefore, can achieve super-resolution vascular imaging. This study investigates the feasibility of this revolutionary technique to examine tumor associated microvascular angiogenesis. In vitro experimental results acquired from microtubes and in vivo 2D images from rat subcutaneous fibrosarcoma tumors show this technique might be a valuable tool for imaging tumor microvasculature.
How Integration Can Benefit Physical Education

One method for physical educators to increase their contact hours with their students is curricular integration, which consists of combining two or more subject areas with the goal of fostering enhanced learning in each subject area. This article provides an example of a possible integrated lesson plan involving physical education and art.
The Uranium(VI) Oxoazides [UO2(N3)2⋅CH3CN], [(bipy)2(UO2)2(N3)4], [(bipy)UO2(N3)3]−, [UO2(N3)4]2−, and [(UO2)2(N3)8]4−

The reaction between [UO2 F2 ] and an excess of Me3 SiN3 in acetonitrile solution results in fluoride-azide exchange and the uranium(VI) dioxodiazide adduct [UO2 (N3 )2 ⋅CH3 CN] was isolated in quantitative yield. The subsequent reaction of [UO2 (N3 )2 ⋅CH3 CN] with 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy) resulted in the formation of the azido-bridged binuclear complex [(bipy)2 (UO2 )2 (N3 )4 ]. The triazido anion [(bipy)UO2 (N3 )3 ]- was obtained by the reaction of [UO2 (N3 )2 ⋅CH3 CN] with stoichiometric amounts of bipy and the ionic azide [PPh4 ][N3 ]. The reaction of [UO2 (N3 )2 ] with two equivalents of the [PPh4 ][N3 ] resulted in the formation of the mononuclear tetraazido anion [UO2 (N3 )4 ]2- as well as the azido-bridged binuclear anion [(UO2 )2 (N3 )8 ]4- . The novel uranium oxoazides were characterized by their vibrational spectra and in the case of [(bipy)2 (UO2 )2 (N3 )4 ]⋅CH3 CN, [PPh4 ][(bipy)UO2 (N3 )3 ], [PPh4 ]2 [UO2 (N3 )4 ], [PPh4 ]2 [UO2 (N3 )4 ]⋅2CH3 CN, and [PPh4 ]4 [(UO2 )2 (N3 )8 ]⋅4CH3 CN by their X-ray crystal structures.
Phonon-based scalable platform for chip-scale quantum computing

We present a scalable phonon-based quantum computer on a phononic crystal platform. Practical schemes involve selective placement of a single acceptor atom in the peak of the strain field in a high-Q phononic crystal cavity that enables coupling of the phonon modes to the energy levels of the atom. We show theoretical optimization of the cavity design and coupling waveguide, along with estimated performance figures of the coupled system. A qubit can be created by entangling a phonon at the resonance frequency of the cavity with the atom states. Qubits based on this half-sound, half-matter quasi-particle, called a phoniton, may outcompete other quantum architectures in terms of combined emission rate, coherence lifetime, and fabrication demands.
Poverty, Religious Differences, and Child Mortality in the Early Twentieth Century: The Case of Dublin

Across many cities in the early twentieth century, one in five children died before their fifth birthday. There is much we do not know about how infant and child mortality was reduced or why it dec...
Retreat to refugia: Severe habitat contraction projected for endemic alpine plants of the Olympic Peninsula.

Premise of the study The unique geography of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, USA has promoted a flora with exceptional endemism that may face high rates of extinction due to climate change. The Olympic Mountains provide an unparalleled opportunity to test predicted responses in topographically complex environments and inform conservation plans for threatened alpine taxa. Methods We estimated the potential impact of climate change for five endemic alpine plants of the Olympic Peninsula. We used Principal Components Analysis (PCA) to visualize changes in climate niche-space in the alpine zone and the exposure of the endemics to changing conditions. We then constructed climate and topographic-based Species Distribution Models (SDMs) to estimate changes in the distribution of habitat for each taxon. Key results The Olympic alpine zone will experience novel environmental conditions in the future, with a pronounced decrease in winter snow and an increase in growing-season moisture stress. When topography was taken into account, the losses were more dramatic than the impact of climate alone. Indeed, 85-99% of the suitable habitat will be lost for each of the five focal taxa by 2080, with thermal refugia remaining only on the highest peaks of the eastern Olympics. Conclusions The Olympic alpine endemics are stranded on ever-shrinking habitat islands. Within a few, isolated thermal refugia, the distribution of micro-topography may be a critical factor in determining long-term survival. The Olympic Mountains and their alpine taxa are a model system for endemics worldwide, illustrating the biogeographic characteristics that underpin vulnerability to climate change.
The Influence of Inventory Control Dynamics on Distillation Composition Control

Abstract The importance of inventory control in alternative distillation control structures is shown through analysis and simulations. A method is proposed to calculate the equivalent inventory controller tuning parameters for different control structures in order to produce identical or similar level control dynamics. The effects of internal flow dynamics on composition control performance are shown through open-loop and closed-loop simulations.
The evolved psychology of coercion

Coercion can be employed both to entice people to do something they do not want to do, as well as to force them to stop doing something they want to do. Yet, some influence strategies work better t...
Peer support in anesthesia: turning war stories into wellness.

Purpose of reviewPeer support, a method of providing for the well being of healthcare providers following adverse or stressful events, is garnering increased attention in light of the increased prevalence and awareness of burnout, depression and suicidality in physicians. In this review, we will sum
Cirrhosis increases complication rate and overall mortality in patients with traumatic lung injury

IntroductionHepatic cirrhosis is associated with an increased mortality in trauma. However, the association between cirrhosis and outcomes in traumatic lung injury has not been investigated. We hyp...
Development and validation of the Value-Expectancy STEM Assessment Scale for students in higher education

Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) jobs are expected to make up a significant portion of the U.S. workforce. Unfortunately, the trend in retaining students in STEM majors has been going down. If higher education institutions are going to retain more students in STEM majors, it will be important to understand who leaves STEM fields and why. More than 32% of women college students who declare a STEM major are likely to switch to non-STEM majors before they graduate, whereas only 25% of their male counterparts do so, and women may be as much as 1.5 times more likely than men to leave STEM fields. Thus, women represent a significant potential source for increasing STEM majors. Research suggests that values and expectations are powerful predictors of motivation and persistence in a wide variety of activities, tasks, and careers. This paper describes the development and validation of an instrument to measure student motivation, particularly that of women, leading to decisions to persist in or switch out of collegiate STEM programs. The Value-Expectancy STEM Assessment Scale (VESAS), adapted from the Values, Interest, and Expectations Scale, or VIES, was validated with 356 women students from a Midwestern research university as part of a larger study on the reasons that women persist or leave STEM majors. A confirmatory factor analysis suggested a two-factor model, which reflected the components of Eccles et al.’s expectancy-value model. Cronbach’s alphas suggested that the VESAS subscales had high internal consistency. Statistically significant differences were found between STEM switchers and persisters on all of the VESAS subscales, thus lending additional support for the validity of the instrument. The VESAS appears to be a valid scale for measuring female college students’ value for and expectations regarding STEM majors. Suggestions are made for use of the VESAS in future studies to examine how motivations of women students enrolled in STEM programs change over time and to better understand when retention interventions might be needed and with whom.
A Cognitive Behavioral Adherence Intervention for Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes

This study examined the impact of a cognitive behavioral intervention for nonadherent adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Six youths having problems following the diabetes regimen received training in cognitive restructuring and problem solving during individual sessions. A multiple baseline design across participants was used. Treatment effectiveness was assessed through 24-hr recall adherence interviews with adolescents and frequency of testing data was downloaded from glucose meters. Data was also collected for diabetes-specific stress. Five youths displayed improvement on at least one self-care behavior. Furthermore, the results suggest that the cognitive behavioral intervention was effective in diminishing diabetes-related stress in two participants. Cognitive behavioral interventions show promise for increasing self-care behaviors among nonadherent youths with type 1 diabetes. However, individual youths varied in their response to treatment. Further research is needed in developing procedures to better meet the needs of youths, improve youth participation, and enhance treatment effectiveness.
User opinions for the Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound journal differ among demographic groups.

Meeting the changing needs of journal users is important for veterinary editors. The objective of this prospective survey study was to analyze user opinions for the journal Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound. An online survey was developed based on a consensus among the journal's Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board members, an industrial organizational psychologist, Executive Council members for the journal's owner organization, representatives of the journal's publisher, and members of the authors' University Institutional Review Board. The online survey link was sent via email to members of the journal's five represented organizations and responses were collected from January 2016 to June 2016. The survey response rate was 38.5% (478 survey responses received/1241 emails sent). Private practitioners were significantly more likely than academicians to consider the reviewer feedback to be accurate (U = 5855, P < 0.05). Respondents from North America were significantly more likely than Europeans to consider the reviewer feedback to be insightful (U = 6212, P < 0.05). A majority of respondents (75.1%) agreed or strongly agreed that the journal should change to a double-blinded peer review system, which has been implemented. Perceptions of quality and satisfaction with the journal were highly correlated to each other (r = 0.68, P < 0.01) and positively correlated with respondent age. Findings indicated that opinions of Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound users are diverse and differ among some demographic groups. These results may be used to guide future strategic planning to ensure that journal content and Editorial Board membership are representative of these diverse points of view.
Focal Cortical Dysplasia

Focal cortical dysplasias are common malformations of cerebral cortical development and are highly associated with medically intractable epilepsy. They have been classified into neuropathological subtypes (type Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb, and III) based on the severity of cytoarchitectural disruption—tangential or radial dispersion, or loss of laminar structure—and the presence of unique cells types such as cytomegalic neurons or balloon cells. Most focal cortical dysplasias can be identified on neuroimaging and many require resective epilepsy surgery to cure refractory seizures. The pathogenesis of focal cortical dysplasias remains to be defined, although there is recent evidence to suggest that focal cortical dysplasias arise from de novo somatic mutations occurring during brain development. Some focal cortical dysplasia subtypes show a link to the mammalian target of rapamycin signaling cascade; this has now extended to other cortical malformations, including hemimegalencephaly.
War at the Home Front: Re-Gendered Trauma Tropes in You Know When the Men are Gone

One marked change between previous American war literature and that of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is the sheer number of female authors writing about war. Authors such as Katey Schultz, Marie...
Derivation of Fitts' law from the Task Dynamics model of speech production

Fitts' law is a linear equation relating movement time to an index of movement difficulty. The recent finding that Fitts' law applies to voluntary movement of the vocal tract raises the question of whether the theory of speech production implies Fitts' law. The present letter establishes a theoretical connection between Fitts' law and the Task Dynamics model of speech production. We derive a variant of Fitts' law where the intercept and slope are functions of the parameters of the Task Dynamics model and the index of difficulty is a product logarithm, or Lambert W function, rather than a logarithm.
What Is the Question to which Anti-Natalism Is the Answer?

The ethics of biological procreation has received a great deal of attention in recent years. Yet, as I show in this paper, much of what has come to be called procreative ethics is conducted in a strangely abstract, impersonal mode, one which stands little chance of speaking to the practical perspectives of any prospective parent. In short, the field appears to be flirting with a strange sort of practical irrelevance, wherein its verdicts are answers to questions that no-one is asking. I go on to articulate a theory of what I call existential grounding, a notion which explains the role that prospective children play in the lives of many would-be parents. Procreative ethicists who want their work to have real practical relevance must, I claim, start to engage with this markedly first-personal kind of practical consideration.
Is trauma center designation associated with disparities in discharge to rehabilitation centers among elderly patients with Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract Background We sought to evaluate the role of trauma center designation in the association of race and insurance status with disposition to rehabilitation centers among elderly patients with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Methods The National Trauma Data Bank (2014–2015) was used to identify elderly (age ≥ 65) patients with isolated moderate to severe blunt TBI who survived to discharge. Race, insurance status, and outcomes were stratified by trauma center designation and compared. Results 3,292 patients met the inclusion criteria. Black patients were 1.5 times less likely (AOR 0.64, p = 0.01) and Latino patients were 1.7 times less likely (AOR 0.58, p = 0 0.007) to be discharged to rehabilitation centers as compared with White patients. Asian patients at Level I hospitals were more likely to be discharged to rehabilitation centers if they had private vs. non-private insurance (42.9% versus 12.7%, p = 0.01). Conclusion Black and Latino patients were less likely to be discharged to rehabilitation centers compared to White patients. The etiology of these disparities deserves further study.
Obesity and bankruptcy: Evidence from US counties

Using annual county-level data on nonbusiness bankruptcy for the period 2005-2017 and obesity for the period 2004-2016, this paper finds that higher obesity rates are associated with higher bankruptcy rates beyond what can be explained by local economic conditions and demographic characteristics, state-specific economic shocks, and county-specific time trends. The magnitude suggests that a one-percentage point increase in the obesity rate is associated with a 0.02-0.03 increase (or a 1.0 percent increase) in Chapter 7 bankruptcy rates per 1000 residents and a 0.02-0.04 increase (or a 3-4 percent increase) in Chapter 13 bankruptcy rates per 1000 residents.
Creatinine-Based Renal Function Assessment in Pediatric Drug Development: An Analysis Using Clinical Data for Renally Eliminated Drugs.

The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equations based on serum creatinine (SCR) have been used for pediatric dose adjustment in drug labeling. This study evaluated the performance of those equations in estimating individual clearance of drugs that are predominantly eliminated by glomerular filtration, using clinical data from the renally eliminated drugs gadobutrol, gadoterate, amikacin, and vancomycin. The eGFR was compared with the observed drug clearance (CL) in 352 pediatric patients from birth to 12 years of age. Multiple eGFR equations overestimated the drug CL on average, including the original and bedside Schwartz equations, which showed an average eGFR/CL ratio between 1 and 3. Further analysis with bedside Schwartz equation showed a higher eGFR/CL ratio in the subjects with a lower SCR or CL. Supraphysiological eGFR as high as 380 mL/min/1.73 m2 was obtained using the bedside Schwartz equation for some of the subjects, most of whom are children < 2 years of age with SCR < 0.2 mg/dL. Excluding the subjects with supraphysiological eGFR from the analysis did not change the overall trend of overestimation. In conclusion, Schwartz equations led to an overestimation of drug clearance for the drugs evaluated. When greater precision is required in predicting eGFR for pediatric patients, such as in drug dosing, revised k constants for the Schwartz equation or new methods of glomerular filtration rate estimation may be necessary.
Perspectives of Parents With Type 1 Diabetes: Role of Children in Self-Management and Support:

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to examine parents’ perceptions of the role children play in their type 1 diabetes (T1DM) care. Family members are a resource to support T1DM self-management, b...
High-Resolution Computed Tomography Evaluation of Interstitial Lung Disease for the Pulmonologist

Interstitial lung disease encompasses variety of entities that have diverse clinical manifestations, prognosis, and treatment options. It is imperative to identify the specific disease early as delays in diagnosis can lead to irreversible damage. Studies demonstrate that treatment with certain medications and avoidance of exposures that potentiate injury can reduce disease progression. The use of high-resolution computed tomography has become essential for the evaluation of interstitial lung disease. Being able to accurately identify the characteristic patterns of abnormalities can lead to expedited diagnosis and has obviated the need of other diagnostic studies such as lung biopsy. High-resolution computed tomography imaging of the chest has changed the approach to the diagnosis and treatment of interstitial lung diseases. Given the numerous entities that compose this group and options for individualized treatment plans, it is imperative for pulmonologists to recognize the defining imaging characteristics.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Augmentation for Isolated Arthroscopic Meniscal Repairs Leads to Significantly Lower Failure Rates: A Systematic Review of Comparative Studies:

Background:Studies have reported relatively high failure rates of isolated meniscal repairs. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has been suggested as a way to increase growth factors that enhance healing.P...
The Blame Intensity Inventory: Assessing the Propensity to Blame Harshly and Its Unique Capacity to Predict Malicious Satisfaction From Offender Victimization:

Blame permeates our social lives. When done properly, blame can facilitate the upholding of moral norms. When done with excessive intensity or harshness, however, blame can have significant negativ...
Evangelism, Social Media, and the Mum Effect

The Mum effect is the natural human reluctance to share bad news with others, due to a desire to avoid a range of negative consequences, consequences affecting both self and the recipient of the bad news. Although the gospel is good news to those who believe, it may be viewed negatively by those who do not believe. Thus, Christians may be hesitant to share the gospel because of the negative consequences associated with the Mum effect. Because of the anonymity of the internet, social media is often filled with unrestrained criticism of Christianity. This may amplify the perceived negative consequences of sharing the gospel with unbelievers. In light of this cultural evolution, found now in the global north and increasingly present in the global south, Christian leaders can lead more effective ministries by distinguishing between outreach (building relationships in a way that makes the gospel attractive), witnessing (explaining how one has experienced God), and evangelism (sharing all that is necessary to make a decision for Christ), and by ensuring that all three occur in culturally relevant ways, carried out by individuals best equipped to do each, in a way consistent with the New Testament teaching on spiritual gifts. Specifically, outreach and witnessing can be done by all Christians who interact with non-Christians, whereas evangelism may be carried out, both on the individual level and in large groups, by those who are appropriately gifted. By addressing large groups in a more impersonal way, those gifted in evangelism may reduce the negative consequences of the Mum effect and build upon the outreach and witnessing done by others.
Recent Smoking History Is Not Associated With Adverse 30-Day Standardized Postoperative Outcomes Following Microsurgical Reconstructive Procedures of the Upper Extremity: Un Antécédent de Tabagisme Récent n’est Pas Associé à des Événements Indésirables Postopératoires Standardisés 30 Jours après des Procédures Microchirurgicales de Reconstruction du Membre Supérieur

Background:Upper extremity (UE) microsurgical reconstruction relies upon proper wound healing for optimal outcomes. Cigarette smoking is associated with wound healing complications, yet conclusions...
A multiplexed ion-exchange membrane-based miRNA (MIX·miR) detection platform for rapid diagnosis of myocardial infarction

Micro RNAs (miRNAs) have shown great potential as rapid and discriminating biomarkers for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) diagnosis. We have developed a multiplexed ion-exchange membrane-based miRNA (MIX·miR) preconcentration/sensing amplification-free platform for quantifying in parallel a panel of miRNAs, including miR-1, miR-208b, and miR-499, from the same plasma samples from: 1) reference subjects with no evident coronary artery disease (NCAD); 2) subjects with stable coronary artery disease (CAD); and 3) subjects experiencing ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) prior to (STEMI-pre) and following (STEMI-PCI) percutaneous coronary intervention. The picomolar limit of detection from raw plasma and 3-decade dynamic range of MIX·miR permits detection of the miRNA panel in untreated samples from disease patients and its precise standard curve, provided by large 0.1 to 1 V signals and eliminates individual sensor calibration. The use of molecular concentration feature reduces the assay time to less than 30 minutes and increases the detection sensitivity by bringing all targets close to the sensors. miR-1 was low for NCAD patients but more than one order of magnitude above the normal value for all samples from three categories (CAD, STEMI-pre, and STEMI-PCI) of patients with CAD. In fact, miR-1 expression levels of stable CAD, STEMI-pre and STEMI-PCI are each more than 10-fold higher than the previous class, in that order, well above the 95% confidence level of MIX·miR. Its overexpression estimate is significantly higher than the PCR benchmark. This suggests that, in contrast to protein biomarkers of myocardial injury, miR-1 appears to differentiate ischemia from both reperfusion injury and non-AMI CAD patients. The battery-operated MIX·miR can be a portable and low-cost AMI diagnostic device, particularly useful in settings where cardiac catheterization is not readily available to determine the status of coronary reperfusion.
The Enemy Within: Homosexuality in the Third Reich, 1933-1945

From 1933 to 1945, the Nazi regime in Germany ruthlessly targeted homosexuals, particularly men, as enemies of the state. While Nazi doctrine officially repudiated same-sex romance, actual policy toward homosexuals in the Third Reich was by no means consistent. This paper examines the components of Nazi racial doctrines and the subtle ways in which the hyper-masculine ethos of the regime in fact encouraged male bonding and homosexual behavior. The differing views of prominent Nazi leaders on the issue of homosexuality are also discussed. The paper concludes by comparing the punishment of homosexual behavior among German soldiers in the Schutzstaffel (SS), and homosexuals unaffiliated with the Nazi party.
Sonodynamic therapy: activation of anticancer agents with ultrasound

VX2 carcinoma was introduced into the right rear thigh of rabbits. The tumors were exposed to ultrasound (US; 1.97 MHz; 1.35 W/cm/sup 2/) for ten minutes, 24 hours after intravenous injection of hematoporphyrin (Hp; 20 mg/kg). Tumor damaging effects were evaluated by measuring the tumor diameter every three days following treatment. Any effect on the tumor growth caused by US alone or by Hp alone could not be statistically distinguished from the control; however, the combination of US and Hp did temporarily retard tumor growth. These results suggest that Hp enhances the tumorcidal effect of ultrasound. Since hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD) is one of several drugs which may be of interest in sonodynamic therapy, the authors also examined the cytotoxic effects of HpD alone and HpD with ultrasound exposure on HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells grown in suspension culture. Reproductive survival was evaluated by colony formation assays resulting in a plating efficiency for cells treated with HpD and ultrasound which was significantly lower than for ultrasound alone. Cells treated with HpD alone had a plating efficiency equal to sham treatments. >
Identification of cancer stem cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006 3983 Epithelial cancers, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), contain a heterogeneous population of cells. Studies have shown that a subpopulation of tumorigenic breast cancer cells, “cancer stem cells” (CSC), can be isolated based on their expression of cell surface markers. Identification of CSC in breast cancer suggested that other epithelial tumors might contain tumorigenic and non tumorigenic populations of cells. A NOD/SCID mouse model was used to test the tumorigenic potential of cells derived from human HNSCC. Seven specimens from primary HNSCC were analyzed and distinct populations of CD44 positive (CD44+) and CD44 negative (CD44-) cancer cells were identified and isolated in all specimens. Single cell suspensions of CD44+Lineage- and CD44-Lineage- cells were implanted in NOD/SCID mice. CD44+ cells formed tumors in 13/16 implantations, while 0/20 implantations of CD44- cells formed tumors. As few as 5x103 CD44+ tumor cells gave rise to tumors while up to 5x105 CD44- tumor cells failed to form tumors. Tumors resulting from implantation of CD44+ cells reproduced the original tumor heterogeneity even after serial passage in the animal model. In 5/7 samples Epithelial specific antigen (ESA) expression was used to try to enrich the tumorigenic subpopulation of CD44+ HNSCC cells. Single cell suspensions of CD44+ESA+Lineage- and CD44+ESA-Lineage- cells were implanted. ESA expression did not enrich the tumor cells tumorigenic potential. These results are the first demonstration that HNSCC contains a distinct subpopulation of tumorigenic cells, defined by their expression of the cell surface antigen CD44. The CD44+ cell population in the HNSCC specimens had the exclusive ability to produce tumors and recreate the original tumor heterogeneity. ESA expression did not alter the cells tumorigenic potential. CD44 expression allows for the identification of the tumorigenic subpopulation of HNSCC cells and provides a basis to study the mechanisms that drive the self-renewal of these cells. This could lead to innovative CSC directed therapies for HNSCC and other epithelial malignancies.
Observations and Modeling of the West Florida Continental Shelf Circulation

Abstract : My long-term goals are an improved understanding of how physical processes affect material property distributions on continental shelves and the ability to forecast property changes. Properties of interest include biological (red-tide algae and fish larvae), chemical (nutrients), and geological (resuspended sediments) variables, and the physical responses of sea level, currents, temperature and salinity.
SLE risk alleles and cell development and activation

Understanding the functionality of lupus susceptibility alleles may best be done using cells of healthy individuals harboring one or two copies of the susceptibility allele. With this approach, confounding variables introduced by disease and medication are avoided. We have studied the SLE susceptibility allele of Blimp-1 in dendritic cells and Csk in B cells. The Blimp-1 risk allele exhibits low expression and leads to an increased secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. The Csk risk allele leads to enhanced expression and an increased response to B-cell receptor signaling. These effects of the risk alleles on activated or resting cells, respectively, provide insight into disease pathogenesis.
Quantitative determination of benzyl benzoate in benzyl benzoate lotion NF

The development of a simple, shorter and more accurate method than the NF method for the determination of benzyl benzoate in Benzyl Benzoate Lotion NF is discussed. Hydrolyzed benzyl benzoate was measured spectrophotometrically. Interference from other ingredients of the lotion, oleic acid and triethanolamine was almost negligible. The proposed method was completed in approximately 15 minutes, as opposed to the two hours required by the NF procedure.
Reduced phagocytosis of pathogenic bacteria by neutrophils from COPD patients

Acute exacerbations of COPD are the commonest cause of acute medical admissions in the UK, with ∼50% associated with bacterial infection. An acute bacterial insult is usually associated with increased recruitment and activation of neutrophils. COPD is characterized by airway neutrophilia; however, despite increased numbers of these cells, bacterial colonization persists. This study examined whether neutrophil phagocytosis was altered in COPD. Neutrophils were obtained from COPD, smoking and healthy subjects and phagocytosis of fluorescently-labelled polystyrene beads, Haemophilus influenzae (HI) or Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP) measured by flow cytometry. Neutrophils from all subjects ingested beads similarly showing that all cells were capable of phagocytosis. Neutrophils from all subjects phagocytosed SP with a maximum response at 5 min, however COPD neutrophils ingested significantly less SP (p
Bosworth Fracture-dislocation And Resultant Compartment Syndrome: A Case Report

Compartment syndromes after ankle fractures are exceedingly rare, as are Bosworth fracture-dislocations of the ankle. A high degree of vigilance must be maintained when managing these fractures in order to avoid complications and long-term morbidity. We report a case in which a Bosworth fracture-dislocation resulted in anterior, lateral, and deep posterior compartment syndrome. The patient was informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication. A twenty-four-year-old man involved in a recreational soccer match sustained a severe external rotation injury to the right ankle, resulting in immediate pain, deformity, and swelling. He sought treatment in the emergency room, where physical examination revealed a closed injury with a severely externally rotated foot. He had intact sensation throughout the foot, good palpable dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial pulses, and active flexion and extension of the toes that was limited minimally by discomfort. Initial postinjury radiographs demonstrated a Weber type-B lateral malleolar fracture with a tibiotalar dislocation (Figs. 1 and 2). Immediate closed reduction of the tibiotalar joint was performed successfully, but with difficulty, with the use of intravenous conscious sedation. After reduction, the patient was comfortable, and the neurovascular function remained intact. A Jones-type compression dressing with a short leg plaster splint was applied, and postreduction radiographs showed reduction of the tibiotalar joint. However, the distal end of the proximal fibular shaft fragment was located posteromedial to the tibia (Figs. 3, 4, and 5). Because there was already substantial soft-tissue swelling when the splint was applied, the patient was discharged to home, with strict instructions to keep the limb elevated, so that open reduction and internal fixation could be performed following healing of the soft-tissue injury. Figs. 1 and 2 Anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of the ankle, made prior to reduction. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 Anteroposterior, mortise, and lateral radiographs of the ankle, made after reduction …
Are recommendations to avoid hypnotic aftereffects being implemented

To assess whether recommendations that have been made over several years to avoid hypnotic sequelae are being implemented, a short seven-item survey was mailed to 1050 names drawn from the latest directory of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (1998). Of the 881 surveys that were deliverable, 60.3% were completed and returned. Results indicate that some recommendations are being employed by almost all of those currently using hypnosis, while other recommendations are being employed by a lesser, but still large, percentage of hypnosis practitioners. In many of these cases, valid rationales were cited to exclude their use. Copyright © 2002 British Society of Experimental and Clinical Hypnosis
Reduced 15S-Lipoxygenase-2 Expression in Esophageal Cancer Specimens and Cells and Upregulation In Vitro by the Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitor, NS398

Alterations in arachidonic acid metabolism are involved in human carcinogenesis. Cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) are key enzymes in this metabolism. We analyzed the expression of 15S-lipoxygenase-2 (15-LOX-2) mRNA and protein in surgical specimens from normal (N=37) and malignant (63) esophageal tissues using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry (IHC), and in normal (1), premalignant (1), and malignant (5) esophageal cell lines using Northern and Western blotting. 15-LOX-2 was expressed in normal esophageal epithelial cells (EECs) at the highest levels, whereas an SV40-immortalized HET-1A line and three of five esophageal cancer cell lines failed to express it at detectable levels. 15-LOX-2 was detected in 76% (28/37) of the normal esophageal mucosae, but only in 46% (29/63) of the cancer specimens using IHC (P<.01). Transient transfection of 15-LOX-2 expression vectors into esophageal cancer cells significantly inhibited the proliferation of 15-LOX-2-negative cancer cells. The COX-2 inhibitor, NS398, induced 15-LOX-2 expression in esophageal cancer cells, which is associated with reduced cell viability. This study demonstrated that 15-LOX-2 expression is lost in esophageal cancers and that the induction of 15-LOX-2 can inhibit cancer cell proliferation. Further investigation of the effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on 15-LOX-2 expression and apoptosis in esophageal cancer cells may be warranted.
Simulating soil phosphorus dynamics for a phosphorus loss quantification tool.

Pollution of fresh waters by agricultural phosphorus (P) is a water quality concern. Because soils can contribute significantly to P loss in runoff, it is important to assess how management affects soil P status over time, which is often done with models. Our objective was to describe and validate soil P dynamics in the Annual P Loss Estimator (APLE) model. APLE is a user-friendly spreadsheet model that simulates P loss in runoff and soil P dynamics over 10 yr for a given set of runoff, erosion, and management conditions. For soil P dynamics, APLE simulates two layers in the topsoil, each with three inorganic P pools and one organic P pool. It simulates P additions to soil from manure and fertilizer, distribution among pools, mixing between layers due to tillage and bioturbation, leaching between and out of layers, crop P removal, and loss by surface runoff and erosion. We used soil P data from 25 published studies to validate APLE’s soil P processes. Our results show that APLE reliably simulated soil P dynamics for a wide range of soil properties, soil depths, P application sources and rates, durations, soil P contents, and management practices. We validated APLE specifically for situations where soil P was increasing from excessive P inputs, where soil P was decreasing due to greater outputs than inputs, and where soil P stratification occurred in no-till and pasture soils. Successful simulations demonstrate APLE’s potential to be applied to major management scenarios related to soil P loss in runoff and erosion.