cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ethics and the Legalization of Physician-Assisted Suicide: An American College of Physicians Position Paper

Calls to legalize physician-assisted suicide have increased and public interest in the subject has grown in recent years despite ethical prohibitions. Many people have concerns about how they will die and the emphasis by medicine and society on intervention and cure has sometimes come at the expense of good end-of-life care. Some have advocated strongly, on the basis of autonomy, that physician-assisted suicide should be a legal option at the end of life. As a proponent of patient-centered care, the American College of Physicians (ACP) is attentive to all voices, including those who speak of the desire to control when and how life will end. However, the ACP believes that the ethical arguments against legalizing physician-assisted suicide remain the most compelling. On the basis of substantive ethics, clinical practice, policy, and other concerns articulated in this position paper, the ACP does not support legalization of physician-assisted suicide. It is problematic given the nature of the patient-physician relationship, affects trust in the relationship and in the profession, and fundamentally alters the medical profession's role in society. Furthermore, the principles at stake in this debate also underlie medicine's responsibilities regarding other issues and the physician's duties to provide care based on clinical judgment, evidence, and ethics. Society's focus at the end of life should be on efforts to address suffering and the needs of patients and families, including improving access to effective hospice and palliative care. The ACP remains committed to improving care for patients throughout and at the end of life.
Inborn Errors of Metabolism

Inborn errors of metabolism are challenging because of their rarity and protean manifestations affecting all body systems. The stem case considers a liver biopsy in an infant with glycogen storage disease type I (von Gierke), while additional questions review Hurler syndrome, phenylketonuria, familial hypercholesterolemia, ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, and MELAS syndrome mitochondrial myopathy.
Exposure to Parental Depression in Adolescence and Risk for Metabolic Syndrome in Adulthood

The psychosocial consequences of living with a depressed parent have been well characterized. Less well known, however, is how this exposure is predictive of later physical health problems. The present study evaluated how parental depression across youths' adolescence (ages 11-18) was associated with youth metabolic syndrome at age 25 (n = 391). Youth self-regulation and health behaviors were considered as possible moderators of the link between parental depression and youth metabolic syndrome. Analyses revealed that parental depression in adolescence was associated with a composite score reflecting metabolic syndrome components in early adulthood. Furthermore, self-regulation and health behaviors moderated this link, such that links between parental depression and the metabolic syndrome existed only for youth with low self-regulation or unhealthy behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Conjugation Chemistry-Dependent T-Cell Activation with Spherical Nucleic Acids

Spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) can be potent sequence-specific stimulators of antigen presenting cells (APCs). When loaded with peptide antigens, they can be used to activate the immune system to train T-cells to specifically kill cancer cells. Herein, the role of peptide chemical conjugation to the DNA, which is used to load SNAs with antigens via hybridization, is explored in the context of APC activation. Importantly, though the antigen chemistry does not impede TLR-9 regulated APC activation, it significantly augments the downstream T-cell response in terms of both activation and proliferation. A comparison of three linker types, (1) noncleavable, (2) cleavable but nontraceless, and (3) traceless, reveals up to an 8-fold improvement in T-cell proliferation when the traceless linker is used. This work underscores the critical importance of the choice of conjugation chemistry in vaccine development.
Education and disability in a conflict affected context: Are children with disabilities less likely to learn and be protected in Darfur?

Abstract The Sustainable Development Goal four aims at ensuring inclusive, free and equitable quality education. In a conflict setting such as Western Darfur, the education system has been destroyed, leaving millions of children out of schools. Various stakeholders, namely UNICEF and non-governmental organizations, have taken initiatives to rebuild schools and include all children since the beginning of the conflict in 2003. However, very little evidence is available to date on the education of children with disabilities living in conflict and post-conflict situations. Between the 1st of October 2008 and the 28th of February 2009, we carried out a household survey in all localities and settlements in the rural council of Um Kher, part of the locality of Wadi Salih in the state of West Darfur, Sudan. We interviewed 11,089 heads of household about activity limitations and functioning difficulties associated with a health problem among all family members using a validated screening instruments, as well as 1436 children on various aspects of access to education, learning outcomes and psychological wellbeing. We found that in a context of protracted conflict, all children are at high risk of being excluded from schools and not learning when in school. We also found that children with disabilities were at higher risk of poorer psychological wellbeing, particularly those children with behavioral and mood disorders, as well as associated disabilities. In a context of conflict and protracted crisis such as Darfur, promoting education requires a lot of external effort to ensure access and positive learning outcomes for all children, including children with disabilities. Our study shows poor basic cognitive learning outcomes for all children and the limited effectiveness of the protection of children in schools. Improving learning outcomes and mental wellbeing of vulnerable children in conflict, crisis and protracted crisis contexts require multilevel and multipronged interventions within and outside schools.
Impact of inadvertent enterotomy on short-term outcomes after ventral hernia repair: An AHSQC analysis.

Abstract Background Patients undergoing ventral hernia repair (VHR) are at risk of an inadvertent enterotomy during surgery. Inadvertent enterotomies potentially contaminate the surgical field presenting a management dilemma for the surgeon. The aim of our study was to define the incidence and risk factors for a recognized inadvertent enterotomy and determine its impact on short-term outcomes after ventral hernia repair. Methods Using a nationwide hernia registry, the Americas Hernia Society Quality Collaborative, we reviewed all ventral hernia repair performed between 2013 and 2017. Patients were assessed for full-thickness inadvertent enterotomies at the time of surgery. Patients with inadvertent enterotomies and without enterotomies were compared to assess differences in 30-day outcomes, using regression modeling. Results A total of 5,916 patients were included. The incidence of inadvertent enterotomy was 1.9%, with no difference between open and laparoscopic approaches. Inadvertent enterotomies did not increase surgical site occurrences but there were more surgical site infections (OR: 2.20 [95% CI: 1.24–3.90], P = .007). Patients were less likely to receive mesh if there was an enterotomy. Inadvertent enterotomies led to higher rates of reoperations, readmission, enterocutaneous fistulas, and mortality. Conclusion Inadvertent enterotomies are more common in complex cases of ventral hernia repair and have an overall incidence of 1.9%. These patients are at increased risk of surgical site infections, reoperations, readmission, and mortality. Although definitive hernia repair with mesh can be safely performed, surgeons should consider multiple factors, including type of mesh and location of mesh in the abdominal wall, before proceeding with definitive repair in any case of an enterotomy.
Surface Functionalization of Carbon Architecture with Nano‐MnO2 for Effective Polysulfide Confinement in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Li-S batteries have received tremendous attention owing to their high theoretical capacity (1672 mA h g-1 ), sulfur abundance, and low cost. However, main systemic issues, associated with polysulfide shuttling and low Coulombic efficiency, hinder the practical use of the sulfur electrode in commercial batteries. Herein, we demonstrate an effective strategy of decorating nano-MnO2 (less than 10 wt %) onto the sulfur reservoir to capture the out-diffused polysulfides through chemical interaction and thereby improve the electrochemical performance of the sulfur electrode without increasing the mass burden of total battery configuration. Pistachio shell-derived sustainable carbon (PC) was employed as effective sulfur containers owing to its structural characteristics (interconnected macro channels and micropores). With the aids of the structural benefits of the PC scaffold and the uniform decoration of nano-MnO2 , polysulfide shuttling was significantly suppressed and the cycling performance of the sulfur cathode was dramatically improved over 250 cycles.
Generations learning together: pilot study for a multigenerational program

Generations need to spend time in meaningful activities to facilitate more healthy interactions. An interdisciplinary team worked together to implement an enriching, intergenerational project with ...
Fluvial transport of human remains in the lower Mississippi River

The Mississippi River has claimed many lives over the last several decades. A better understanding of the universal dynamics of its fluvial system can help direct the production of a predictive model regarding the transportation of human remains in the river. The model may then be applied to situations where the location and the identification of water victims are necessarily part of the recovery process. Results from the preliminary phase of a longitudinal project involving the transport of human remains in the Mississippi River are presented and represent the analyses of 233 case files of river victims. A provisional model for fluvial transport of human remains in the Mississippi River is proposed and examined. This model indicates that time in the river and distance a body travels are related. Such a model may assist in pinpointing entry location for unidentified human remains found in the river or on its banks. Further, it has the potential to provide local and regional law enforcement agencies, the United States Coast Guard, and other search and rescue organizations with primary search areas when someone is missing in the river. Other results from this study indicate that a relationship exists between the side of the river where victims enter the water and the side of the river where the remains are recovered. Finally, relationships are established between the length of time before recovery of the remains and state of preservation exhibited by those remains. A secondary benefit from this study is a database of river victims that can be used by a variety of different agencies.
Role of Surgery in Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer

This chapter discusses the role of the surgeon in the diagnosis, ­evaluation, and treatment decision making for head and neck cancer patients. The key decision point in the treatment planning is often whether to proceed with nonsurgical therapy (i.e., chemotherapy and radiotherapy, often in combination), or surgery. When two treatment options have equivalent oncologic outcomes, the decision comes down to several factors. These include tumor characteristics, patient factors, and physician/treatment center preferences. With all these considerations in mind, recommendations for treatment come after discussions at multidisciplinary tumor conferences.
Electrophoretic methods for mutation detection and DNA sequencing

Since its development in 1985, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has revolutionized basic and applied research (1,2). In 1993, Mullis was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the development of PCR. With DNA or cDNA as a template, millions of copies of a target sequence are generated during the reaction. Introduction of the thermophilic Thermus aquaticus polymerase increased the specificity of the reaction and made automation and routine use possible (3–5). The ability of PCR to produce multiple copies of a discrete portion of the genome has resulted in its incorporation into techniques used in a wide variety of research and clinical applications. An extraordinary range of clinical applications of PCR have emerged, including diagnosis of inherited disease, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing, identity testing, infectious disease diagnosis and management, hematologic disease diagnosis and staging, and susceptibility testing for cancer. The development of technically simple and reliable methods to detect sequence variations in specific genes is becoming more important as the number of genes associated with specific diseases grows. DNA sequencing is considered the “gold standard” for characterization of specific nucleotide alteration(s) that result in genetic disease. Although sequencing was long considered too cumbersome, expensive, and operator dependent for use in the clinical laboratory, a combination of clinical need and improved technology has brought automated DNA sequencing into routine clinical use. However, even though sequencing technology is now firmly entrenched in the clinical molecular diagnostics laboratory, it is still too expensive and time-consuming for all the laboratory’s mutation-detection needs. There are a number of PCR-based mutation-detection strategies that can be used to identify both characterized and uncharacterized mutations and sequence variations.
Products of Stochastic Matrices and Averaging Dynamics

In this chapter, we introduce and review some of the results on products of stochastic matrices and averaging dynamics. Throughout this thesis, by a product of stochastic matrices, we mean left product of stochastic matrices. More precisely, let \(\{A(k)\}\) be a stochastic chain. By left product of stochastic matrices, we mean the product of the form \(A(k)\cdots A(t_0)\) where \(k\geq t_0\geq 0\) and k often approaches to infinity.
'Fostering transformative learning, self-reflexivity and medical citizenship through guided tours of disadvantaged neighborhoods'.

Background and objectives: Medical school curricula increasingly seek to promote medical students’ commitment to redressing health disparities, but traditional pedagogical approaches have fallen sh...
From in-situ monitoring toward high-throughput process control: cost-driven decision-making framework for laser-based additive manufacturing

Abstract Additive manufactured (AM) parts are subject to low repeatability compared to their traditional counterparts. The complex Process-Structure-Property relationship that governs the laser-based AM processes calls for advanced analytics approaches for quality control. Tremendous efforts have been dedicated to the in-situ monitoring of AM processes by leveraging the thermal history during fabrication. Melt pool image is regarded as one of the most informative process signatures for real-time porosity detection. Attempting to control/correct all microstructure defects during the AM fabrication may significantly reduce the process throughput, which has been a bottleneck of the AM technology for its wider industrial adoption. Without distinguishing different types of defects from one another, and without formally characterizing the cost/impact of microstructural defects on part property, an efficient in-process control strategy cannot be obtained. In this paper, a cost-driven decision-making framework is proposed to formulate costs of the spatial distribution of microstructural defects and the corresponding control actions, based on in-situ melt pool images. A case study based on thin wall fabrication using a Laser Engineered Net Shaping process is used to illustrate the effectiveness in both classification accuracy and misclassification cost. This work is expected to lay a theoretical foundation for the development of an efficient in-process control strategy, which aims to improve the mechanical properties of fabricated part while maintaining high process throughput.
Meeting the Challenges of English Learners by Pairing Science and Language Educators

Learners of English as a new language and the teachers who find these young people in their classrooms face many challenges. For secondary science educators, this is often rooted in a general lack of professional development models for the design and implementation of science/language integrated instruction. To address this issue, the present study examines how participation in a paired professional development initiative with focus on multimodalities impacts teachers’ pedagogical expertise in both language and science learning. We specifically examine the expert understandings and pedagogical skills developed by two teachers, one chemistry, one English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), who co-designed and co-taught science/language integrated lessons. Analysis of the pair’s collaborative processes, resulting lessons, and their reflections on these reveals expertise gained in three main areas: attending to both content and language, seamless integration of multimodal technology, and formative assessment. Implications for the pairing of language and science educators along with roles and impacts of multimodal teaching strategies are discussed. Lastly, a language/content pairing model with emphasis on multimodal teaching strategies is recommended as an effective means for meeting the challenges of linguistically diverse science classrooms.
De novo mutation rate estimation in wolves of known pedigree.

Knowledge of mutation rates is crucial for calibrating population genetics models of demographic history in units of years. However, mutation rates remain challenging to estimate because of the need to identify extremely rare events. We estimated the nuclear mutation rate in wolves by identifying de novo mutations in a pedigree of seven wolves. Putative de novo mutations were discovered by whole-genome sequencing and were verified by Sanger sequencing of parents and offspring. Using stringent filters and an estimate of the false negative rate in the remaining observable genome, we obtain an estimate of ∼4.5 x 10-9 per base pair per generation and provide conservative bounds from 2.6 x 10-9 and 7.1 x 10-9. Although our estimate is consistent with recent mutation rate estimates from ancient DNA (4.0 x 10-9 and 3.0-4.5 x 10-9), it implies a wider possible range. We also examined the consequences of our rate and the accompanying interval for dating several critical events in canid demographic history. For example, applying our full range of rates to coalescent models of dog and wolf demographic history implies a wide set of possible divergence times between the ancestral populations of dogs and extant Eurasian wolves (16,000 - 64,000 years ago) although our point estimate indicates a date between 25,000 and 33,000 years ago. Aside from one study in mice, ours provides the only direct mammalian mutation rate outside of primates, and is likely to be vital to future investigations of mutation rate evolution.
Long Noncoding RNA (lncRNA)-Mediated Competing Endogenous RNA Networks Provide Novel Potential Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets for Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and has a high metastasis and reoccurrence rate. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important role in CRC growth and metastasis. Recent studies revealed that lncRNAs participate in CRC progression by coordinating with microRNAs (miRNAs) and protein-coding mRNAs. LncRNAs function as competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) by competitively occupying the shared binding sequences of miRNAs, thus sequestering the miRNAs and changing the expression of their downstream target genes. Such ceRNA networks formed by lncRNA/miRNA/mRNA interactions have been found in a broad spectrum of biological processes in CRC, including liver metastasis, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), inflammation formation, and chemo-/radioresistance. In this review, we summarize typical paradigms of lncRNA-associated ceRNA networks, which are involved in the underlying molecular mechanisms of CRC initiation and progression. We comprehensively discuss the competitive crosstalk among RNA transcripts and the novel targets for CRC prognosis and therapy.
Feyerabend’s Pragmatic Theory of Observation and the Comparability of Alternative Theories

The line which separates theory from observation, once drawn with some assurance by students of the structure of science, has more recently come under a great deal of criticism. Some critics allow that there is a distinction to be made between theoretical claim and observational record, but maintain that the distinction merely indicates the character of the directions toward the extremes on a continuous spectrum of scientific statements and cannot usefully be taken as a fiduciary mark for the bifurcation of the language of science. Others, among whom is numbered the object of my attention today, Paul Feyerabend, will not admit the legitimacy of the distinction at all in the form in which it has customarily been cast. Under the distinction in this customary form, Feyerabend, it would seem, would want to judge all statements to be theoretical. Observation statements, under his view, are not to be set apart from theory, for they are in fact but a particular kind of theoretical statement. Not all the statements of a theory will be observation statements, but all statements, including those based upon observation, are statements within the theory, and thus are theory-relative statements, statements dependent for their meaning on the theoretical context in which they serve.
Change or Be Changed: A Proposal for the NCAA to Combat Corruption and Unfairness by Proactively Reforming Its Regulation of Athlete Publicity Rights

This Article addresses the black market for college athlete services that results from the NCAA’s restrictions on athlete compensation based on the purported need to preserve amateurism. Specifically, this Article focuses on the NCAA’s name, image, and likeness (NIL) restrictions that prevent college athletes from making use of their own reputations for commercial purpose. The Article examines the relevant litigation on the subject of athlete publicity rights and amateurism and concludes that the NCAA’s NIL restrictions serve no legitimate purpose. The NCAA is in the process of changing its NIL rules to afford athletes more freedom to benefit from the commercial use of their NILs. The specific rules that formulate the NCAA’s new policy have not yet been revealed and probably have not yet been developed. Proposed within this Article is a modest suggestion that the NCAA address the recent scandals involving corruption of its amateur model for intercollegiate athletics by removing its restrictions on athlete NIL use. The proposal in this Article includes specific suggestions for how the NCAA should lift the restrictions. Our proposal is also a response to recent litigation and proposed legislation on the subject of amateurism and college athlete NIL restrictions. The NCAA is in a precarious position in that its NIL restrictions are now exposed and vulnerable to antitrust challenge. We suggest for the NCAA to break trend and take a proactive approach to addressing corruption and unfairness by adopting our proposal for materially changing the way it regulates athlete NIL use.
Complications and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty

Introduction Shoulder arthroplasty (SA) provides pain relief and functional improvement in patients with shoulder arthritis. With increasing incidence of SA, there is a growing effort to risk-stratify these patients to diminish complication rates. The aim of this study is to quantify complication risk, resource utilization, and mortality of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who are undergoing SA (both non-dialysis dependent and dialysis dependent) to identify any disease-severity relationship with delirious SA outcomes. Methods We queried the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database for patients with and without diagnosis of CKD SA from 2007 to 2015. Additional patient comorbidities were stratified using the Elixhauser comorbidity index. Outcomes of interest include mortality, non-surgical and surgical complications, and resource utilization metrics. Multivariate logistical regression was run to determine odds ratios for development of these complications in the non-dialysis dependent (NDD) and dialysis-dependent cohort (DD). Results Between 2007 and 2015, the prevalence of patients with CKD undergoing SA more than doubled. On univariate analysis, mortality, non-surgical and surgical complications, and all resource-utilization metrics were increased in CKD patients, with a direct disease-severity-dependent relationship; the rate of inpatient mortality in the DD cohort after SA was 32 times higher than patients without CKD (p Conclusion Patients with CKD undergoing SA had a far greater risk of mortality, development of postoperative surgical and non-surgical complications, and resource utilization metrics during the postoperative inpatient stay after SA. CKD is an independent risk for a detrimental postoperative course after SA, and this relationship is worsened in patients requiring dialysis. The CKD population represents a potentially hazardous candidate for elective SA. Level of evidence Level III
Abstract B08: High-resolution positron emission microscopy of patient-derived tumor organoids

Tumor organoids are self-organizing three-dimensional tumor models grown in vitro from patient-derived tumor tissue. They closely recapitulate the structural and functional microenvironment of solid tumors. Rapid translation of biomedical information from preclinical models to patients requires imaging biomarkers that span the full scale of tumor models. However, a key limitation is that, unlike human patients or preclinical mouse models, the tiny organoids are incompatible with the suite of radiologic tools used in oncology clinics. Here, we present 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission microscopy (FDG-PEM), a radioluminescence-based technique for imaging glucose metabolism in patient-derived tumor organoids with spatial resolution 100-fold better than that of clinical positron emission tomography (PET). Tumor organoids derived from head-and-neck cancer patients were imaged to reveal metabolic maps that, in combination with brightfield imaging, functionally mirror the PET/CT images from the clinic. Tumor organoids were fed with FDG and mounted on a thin CdWO4 scintillator plate. Scintillator flashes were directly imaged by a single-photon-sensitivity electron-multiplying charge-coupled devices (EMCCD) camera. The EMCCD signal was calibrated with known radioactivity of FDG for accurate quantification of PEM images. Dual-modality PEM/fluorescence imaging found that FDG uptake occurred mainly in the viable region of tumor organoids and was more specific than staining by 2-NBDG, a fluorescent glucose mimetic. The influx rate constant (Ki) of FDG into the tumor organoids was calculated and found to be similar to the patient tumor from which the organoids were grown. This positive correlation of FDG influx between patient and organoid tumor suggests that PEM can be a preclinical tool to bridge the gap between laboratory and clinical cancer imaging. Finally, organoids treated with cisplatin displayed a dose-dependent decrease in the metabolic activity, while organoids derived from cisplatin-resistant patients retained high metabolic activity despite cisplatin treatment. Our results suggest that PEM imaging of patient-derived organoids could be used to predict individual patient response to different treatments to provide a more personalized approach to cancer care. Citation Format: Syamantak Khan, June Ho Shin, Ning Cheng, Calvin Kuo, John Sunwoo, Guillem Pratx. High-resolution positron emission microscopy of patient-derived tumor organoids [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on the Evolving Landscape of Cancer Modeling; 2020 Mar 2-5; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(11 Suppl):Abstract nr B08.
Rates of Intrauterine Device Expulsion Among Adolescents and Young Women

Abstract Study Objective The objective of our study was to determine the rate of intrauterine device (IUD) expulsion and risk factors for expulsion among adolescents and young adults. Design Retrospective chart review. Setting IUD insertions were performed at a single children's hospital. Participants Eligible adolescent and young adult patients who underwent IUD insertion between August 2009 and March 2019. Interventions IUD insertion. Main Outcome Measures Primary outcome was the incidence of IUD expulsion in adolescents and young women. Secondary outcomes were risk factors for IUD expulsion including heavy menstrual bleeding, abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), anemia, or a bleeding disorder diagnosis. Results Six hundred forty-two eligible patients underwent IUD insertion. The incidence of first IUD expulsion in this population was 58/642 (9.03%). Among those who chose to have a second IUD placed (n = 29), 8/29 (27.6%) had a second expulsion. Patients who expelled their IUD were more likely to have a history of AUB, heavy menstrual bleeding, anemia, or a bleeding disorder. When controlled for body mass index and age at insertion, history of AUB and anemia remained significant risks for IUD expulsion. Conclusion This study similarly showed a higher risk of primary and secondary IUD expulsion in adolescents and young women. A history of AUB, anemia, bleeding disorder, and elevated body mass index are associated with higher risk for IUD expulsion. This population should be counseled that these conditions might place them at higher risk for expulsion.
TIR-Domain-Containing Adaptor-Inducing Interferon- β (TRIF) Is Involved in Glucose Metabolism in Adipose Tissue through the Insulin/AKT Signaling Pathway

Obesity significantly increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus and other metabolic diseases. Obesity is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation in white adipose tissues, which is thought to play an essential role in developing insulin resistance. Many lines of evidence indicate that toll-like receptors (TLRs) and their downstream signaling pathways are involved in development of chronic low-grade inflammation and insulin resistance, which are associated with obesity. Mice lacking molecules positively involved in the TLR signaling pathways are generally protected from high-fat diet-induced inflammation and insulin resistance. In this study, we have determined the effects of genetic deficiency of toll/interleukin-1 receptor-domain-containing adaptor-inducing interferon-β (TRIF) on food intake, bodyweight, glucose metabolism, adipose tissue macrophage polarization, and insulin signaling in normal chow diet-fed mice to investigate the role of the TRIF-dependent TLR signaling in adipose tissue metabolism and inflammation. TRIF deficiency (TRIF-/-) increased food intake and bodyweight. The significant increase in bodyweight in TRIF-/- mice was discernible as early as 24 weeks of age and sustained thereafter. TRIF-/- mice showed impaired glucose tolerance in glucose tolerance tests, but their insulin tolerance tests were similar to those in TRIF+/+ mice. Although no difference was found in the epididymal adipose mass between the two groups, the percentage of CD206+ M2 macrophages in epididymal adipose tissue decreased in TRIF-/- mice compared with those in TRIF+/+ mice. Furthermore, activation of epididymal adipose AKT in response to insulin stimulation was remarkably diminished in TRIF-/- mice compared with TRIF+/+ mice. Our results indicate that the TRIF-dependent TLR signaling contributes to maintaining insulin/AKT signaling and M2 macrophages in epididymal adipose tissue under a normal chow diet and provide new evidence that TLR4-targeted therapies for type 2 diabetes require caution.
Chronic and End-Stage Kidney Disease in the Neurological Intensive Care Unit

Patients with renal disease have increased rates of admission to the neurological intensive care unit related to overlapping risk factors for renal and cerebrovascular disease as well as unique risks associated with renal dysfunction alone. Management of acute neurological injury in these patients requires individualized attention to diagnostic and management factors as they relate to coagulopathy, disorders of immune function, encephalopathy and renal replacement modalities. Careful consideration of these brain-kidney interactions is necessary to optimize care for this special patient population and improve neurological and renal outcomes.
Social-Ecological Predictors of Homophobic Name-Calling Perpetration and Victimization Among Early Adolescents

Bias-based aggression at school in the form of homophobic name-calling is quite prevalent among early adolescents. Homophobic name-calling is associated with low academic performance, higher risky ...
Automorphic forms with integral Fourier coefficients

The purpose of this note is to prove that under certain hypotheses, the graded ring of integral automorphic forms, with respect to an arithmetic group operating On a tube domain, is generated as a graded algebra over the complex numbers by a finite number of automorphic forms having rational integral Fourier coefficients. The result, which seems to have some potential numbertheoretic interest, was inspired by notes of M. Eichler [8, esp. Satz 49] and by questions raised in correspondence with that author and with I. I. Pyatetskii-Shapiro. One should also note the similarity of ideas here with those used in the proof of Satz D of [9]. We wish to remark, furthermore, that in most cases lengthy computations will be needed to verify the applicability of our theorem here, which should therefore be regarded more as a technical lemma than as a substantial contribution in itself. As in [2], let ~ denote a (hermitian) symmetric tube domain, let F be a discrete, arithmetically defined subgroup of the group of all holomorphic automorphisms of ~ , and assume that ~ has a zerodimensional rational boundary component Fo, which we take to be the zero-dimensional rational boundary component of ~ at infinity as in [2]. Let
Subexponential loss rates in a GI/GI/1 queue with applications

Consider a single server queue with i.i.d. arrival and service processes, \{A,\ A_n,n\geq 0\} and \{C,\ C_n,n\geq 0\}, respectively, and a finite buffer B. The queue content process \{Q^B_n,\ n\geq 0\} is recursively defined as Q^B_{n+1}=\min((Q^B_n+A_{n+1}-C_{n+1})^+,B), q^+=\max(0,q). When \mathbb{E}(A-C)<0, and A has a subexponential distribution, we show that the stationary expected loss rate for this queue \mathbb{E}(Q^B_n+A_{n+1}-C_{n+1}-B)^+ has the following explicit asymptotic characterization: \mathbb{E}(Q^B_n+A_{n+1}-C_{n+1}-B)^+\sim \mathbb{E}(A-B)^+ \quad \hbox{as} \ B\rightarrow \infty, independently of the server process C_n. For a fluid queue with capacity c, M/G/\infty arrival process A_t, characterized by intermediately regularly varying on periods \tau^{\mathrm{on}}, which arrive with Poisson rate \Lambda, the average loss rate \lambda_{\mathrm{loss}}^B satisfies {\lambda_{\mathrm{loss}}^B}\sim \Lambda \mathbb{E}(\tau^{\mathrm{on}}\eta-B)^+ \quad \hbox{as}\ B\rightarrow \infty, where \eta=r+\rho-c, \rho=\mathbb{E}A_ts r (c\leq r) is the rate at which the fluid is arriving during an on period. Accuracy of the above asymptotic relations is verified with extensive numerical and simulation experiments. These explicit formulas have potential application in designing communication networks that will carry traffic with long-tailed characteristics, e.g., Internet data services.
The effects of previous-year corn hybrid and cropping system on current-year corn hybrids in second year corn

Grain yields decrease when corn (Zea mays L.) follows corn compared to corn grown in rotation with other crops. The factors that decrease grain yield of corn following corn are not well understood, and limit recommendations available to corn growers. Our objectives were to determine (i) if plant population, moisture, and yield of 2 nd year corn are affected by the previous-year‘s corn hybrid, (ii) evaluate if continued use of single hybrid over two growing seasons influences grain yield, and (iii) compare 2 nd year corn yields to corn grown in rotation with soybean. The experiment was conducted at six Iowa locations in 2008 and 2009; three locations were in the Northern region of Iowa and three in the south. Three corn hybrids were planted in 18 m 2 blocks as the main plots in the first year, followed by 12 hybrids planted on each of the main plots in the second year. The same 12 hybrids were planted into a nearby field on soybean residue at each location in 2008, but established as a main plot for 2009. Plant population was not influenced by the three previous-year corn hybrid. Plant populations were greater when corn followed soybean compared to 2 nd year corn. Grain moisture content was not influenced by crop rotation or previous-year corn hybrid. Previous-year corn residue did not impact grain yield of the current-year hybrid, and the continued use of single hybrid over multiple growing seasons showed no influence on grain yield. Cropping system influenced grain yield in 2009, within both regions. Secondyear corn yields were 11% and 14% less in the north and south regions, respectively, compared to corn rotated with soybean. Previous-year corn hybrid did not influence plant population, grain yield, or grain moisture.
The Chromium, Manganese, and Cobalt Complexes of Transferrin

The two metal-binding sites of transferrin will form specific complexes with chromium, manganese, and cobalt ions. Each complex binds bicarbonate in a ratio to the metal ion near unity. In addition to characteristic optical absorption bands in the visible region a specific absorption near 295 mµ is observable for all complexes by difference spectrophotometry. Static magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate that each of the metal ions is bound in the trivalent state, with the cobalt in the low spin diamagnetic form. A distinct difference between the two sites is evident by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy when chromium is bound.
Radioimmunoassay of factor V in human plasma and platelets

Homogeneous, single-chain human factor V was used to develop a double antibody competition radioimmunoassay to measure factor V concentrations in plasma and platelets. Standard curves were constructed that allow for the detection of as little as 20 ng factor V/ml of plasma. Normal factor V concentrations range from 4 to 14 micrograms/ml of plasma with an average value of 7.0 +/- 2.0 micrograms/ml (n = 64). No correlation was observed between antigen levels and age or sex. The radioimmunoassay data are consistent with factor V clotting assays, providing freshly drawn plasma is used in the bioassay. Radioimmunoassay of washed platelets indicate that 0.63-1.93 microgram of factor V is present per 2.5 X 10(8) platelets (4612-14128 molecules of the factor V platelet). When normalized to individual hematocrits and platelet count, the data indicated that platelets contribute approximately 18%-25% of the factor V found in whole blood. In addition, two individuals with functionally deficient factor V were examined and found to be deficient in both antigen and activity.
Eastern equine encephalitis virus in mice II: pathogenesis is dependent on route of exposure

Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) is an alphavirus with a case fatality rate estimated to be as high as 75 % in humans and 90 % in horses. Surviving patients often have long-lasting and severe neurological sequelae. At present, there is no licensed vaccine or therapeutic for EEEV infection. This study completes the clinical and pathological analysis of mice infected with a North American strain of EEEV by three different routes: aerosol, intranasal, and subcutaneous. Such an understanding is imperative for use of the mouse model in vaccine and antiviral drug development. Twelve-week-old female BALB/c mice were infected with EEEV strain FL93-939 by the intranasal, aerosol, or subcutaneous route. Mice were euthanized 6 hpi through 8 dpi and tissues were harvested for histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis. Viral antigen was detected in the olfactory bulb as early as 1–2 dpi in aerosol and intranasal infected mice. However, histologic lesions in the brain were evident about 24 hours earlier (3 dpi vs 4 dpi), and were more pronounced following aerosol infection relative to intranasal infection. Following subcutaneous infection, viral antigen was also detected in the olfactory bulb, though not as routinely or as early. Significant histologic lesions were not observed until 6 dpi. These pathologic studies suggest EEEV enters the brain through the olfactory system when mice are exposed via the intranasal and aerosol routes. In contrast, the histopathologic lesions were delayed in the subcutaneous group and it appears the virus may utilize both the vascular and olfactory routes to enter the brain when mice are exposed to EEEV subcutaneously.
Two-dimensional integrated Z-pinch ICF design simulations

Summary form only given, as follows. The dynamic hohlraum ICF concept for a Z-pinch driver utilizes the imploding wire array collision with a "target" to produce a radiation history suitable for driving an embedded inertial confinement fusion (ICF) capsule. This "target" may consist of various shaped layers of low-density foams or solid-density materials. The use of detailed radiation magneto-hydrodynamic (RMHD) modeling is required for understanding and designing these complex systems. Critical to producing credible simulations and designs is inclusion of the Rayleigh-Taylor unstable wire-array dynamics; the "bubble and spike" structure of the collapsing sheath may yield regions of low-opacity enhancing radiation loss as well as introduce non-uniformities in the capsule's radiation drive. Recent improvements in LASNEX have allowed significant progress to be made in the modeling of unstable Z-pinch implosions. Combining this with the proven ICF capsule design capabilities of LASNEX, we now have the modeling tools to produce credible, fully-integrated ICF dynamic hohlraum simulations. We present detailed two-dimensional RMHD simulations of recent ICF dynamic hohlraum experiments on the Sandia Z-machine as well as design simulations for the next-generation Z-pinch facility and future high-yield facility.
Is smoking a fiscal good

Abstract Even though smokers incur higher health expenditures than nonsmokers of the same age, smokers have significantly higher mortality rates, so the expected lifetime health expenditure for a smoker is actually lower than for a nonsmoker. Because of this fact, some politicians and policy-makers have argued that society might actually be better off promoting smoking rather than discouraging it. We consider this argument in a general-equilibrium model where health expenditures are paid for by a single-payer health-care system financed by taxes. Because the percentage increase in the tax base is larger than the percentage increase in health-care expenditures, the elimination of smoking actually decreases the budget-balancing health-care tax rate.
Preparation of α-alumina ceramics: The use of boehmite sols as dispersing agents

Abstract A method is reported for the production of monolithic (400–500 g) alumina ceramics from slips of submicron α-alumina (Al2O3) powder using boehmite (AlOOH) sols as dispersion and sintering aids. Some commercial boehmite sols can be modified by acid and heat treatment so as to significantly improve the dispersing ability of the sols toward α-alumina compared to an acid-only treated sol. In addition, shrinkages of less than 15% occurred on drying these slips. The ceramics obtained on sintering the dried slips have microhardness and toughness properties comparable to thosepreviously reported for fully densified α-alumina samples. The densities of the ceramics were all within 97% of the theoretical maximum. Differences between the heat-treated and untreated sols are proposed.
Efficacy of Empirical Pharmacological Therapy in Clinically Suspected Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER) in Extremely Low Birth Weight (ELBW) Infants

Efficacy of Empirical Pharmacological Therapy in Clinically Suspected Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER) in Extremely Low Birth Weight (ELBW) Infants
Linear polyenes: models for the spectroscopy and photophysics of carotenoids

We have developed procedures for synthesizing dimethyl polyenes using living polymerization techniques and have initiated investigations of the spectroscopic properties of these molecules. Purification using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of the polyene mixtures resulting from the syntheses promises to provide all-trans polyenes with a wide range in the number of conjugated double bonds. Low temperature optical measurements on these model systems, both in glasses and in n-alkane mixed crystals, yield absorption and fluorescence spectra with considerably higher vibronic resolution than the spectra currently available for carotenoids with comparable conjugation lengths. The dimethyl polyenes thus allow a more precise exploration of the electronic properties of long, linearly conjugated systems. These studies can be used to verify the existence of low-lying singlet states predicted by theory and recently invoked to explain low-resolution fluorescence, Raman excitation spectra, and the transient absorption spectroscopy of carotenoids. Steady state and time-resolved optical studies of the dimethyl series will be used to better understand the energies and dynamics of the low energy electronic states relevant to the photochemistry and photobiology of all linearly conjugated systems.