cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hypertension Prevalence Jointly Influenced by Acculturation and Gender in US Immigrant Groups.

BACKGROUND: Latinos and Asians in the United States are disproportionately burdened by hypertension, a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Few studies have used multicomponent measures of acculturation to compare cardiovascular risk factors across immigrant-origin groups. Additionally, little is known about how acculturation and gender shape hypertension risk among immigrants. METHODS: We created an acculturation score composed of language use, nativity, and years in the United States and fit separate race/ethnicity log-binomial models examining associations with hypertension prevalence (=130/80 mm Hg) among Latino (n = 4,267) and Asian (n = 2,142) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2016 participants aged 18+. Joint effect models tested the concept of “intersectionality” between acculturation and gender. RESULTS: Adjusting for age, gender, and socioeconomic position, Latinos and Asians with high acculturation were 25% and 27% more likely to have hypertension, respectively, compared with low acculturation groups. Latino and Asian American men with high levels of acculturation were 74–79% more likely to have hypertension compared with women with low acculturation (adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) for Latinos = 1.74, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.49–2.03; aPR for Asians = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.42–2.25). The gradient of increasing hypertension with increasing acculturation was most apparent among Latino men (adjusted risk differences (aRD) = 12.0%, P < 0.001) and Asian women (aRD = 14.0%, P = 0.003) and nonsignificant among Latino women and Asian men when comparing high vs. low acculturation categories. CONCLUSIONS: Our results correspond with prior literature demonstrating increased morbidity among immigrants with increasing acculturation but also suggest differing patterns by race/ethnicity and gender. Future research should explore how migration processes differentially influence hypertension among men and women.
Leibeigenschaft rechtfertigen. Kontroversen um Ursprung und Legitimität der Leibeigenschaft im Wildfangstreit

Summary This article examines justifications for and understandings of serfdom in the early modern Holy Roman Empire. It does this with particular reference to the Wildfang dispute between 1650 and 1669. In this conflict, the Elector Palatine reactivated an old privilege that allowed him to make the subjects of neighbouring rulers his serfs. Under the leadership of the Elector of Mainz, the neighbouring princes protested against these encroachments with tracts and longer pamphlets, diplomatic efforts, and ultimately through warfare. Between the German Peasants’ Wars of the sixteenth and the ‘peasant liberation’ in the nineteenth century, the Wildfang dispute was the only occasion on which a form of serfdom became a matter of wide public debate in the Holy Roman Empire, thus allowing to reconstruct commonly held but rarely recorded views of this institution. Narratives about its origins were a key element in early modern discourses of serfdom, because they allowed to underline the institution’s long tradit...
Incidence of pathogenic variants in individuals with a personal or family history of pancreatic cancer.

1589Background: Genetic testing related to pancreatic cancer is expanding. Many companies offer a multi-gene panel with a focus on pancreatic cancer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the i...
Hyperspectral in-situ attenuation depths and their relation to satellite imagery in two southeastern US estuaries

Hyperspectral in-situ attenuation measurements have been conducted within the Indian River and Palm Bay estuaries. Station data is used to help assess the light attenuation depths obtained from satellite imagery such as WorldView-3. Measurements made during 2016-2018 suggest that optimal photosynthetic light needed for submerged plant species may not be available or optimal plant growth. The attenuation data indicates that in the estuarine waters influenced by dissolved organic matter, gelbstoff, and suspended particulates and seston, only the red portion of the light spectrum reaches deeper waters. In these waters, submerged vegetation are not present but underwater videos shows the eater bottom is readily visible except during high wind and wave events that resuspend bottom boundary layer mud and muck sediments. The measurements of water attenuation is also affected by water wave facet reflectance as shown by Monte Caro model results.
Imitation Learning from Observation.

Humans and other animals have a natural ability to learn skills from observation, often simply from seeing the effects of these skills: without direct knowledge of the underlying actions being taken. For example, after observing an actor doing a jumping jack, a child can copy it despite not knowing anything about what's going on inside the actor's brain and nervous system. The main focus of this thesis is extending this ability to artificial autonomous agents, an endeavor recently referred to as "imitation learning from observation." Imitation learning from observation is especially relevant today due to the accessibility of many online videos that can be used as demonstrations for robots. Meanwhile, advances in deep learning have enabled us to solve increasingly complex control tasks mapping visual input to motor commands. This thesis contributes algorithms that learn control policies from state-only demonstration trajectories. Two types of algorithms are considered. The first type begins by recovering the missing action information from demonstrations and then leverages existing imitation learning algorithms on the full state-action trajectories. Our preliminary work has shown that learning an inverse dynamics model of the agent in a self-supervised fashion and then inferring the actions performed by the demonstrator enables sufficient action recovery for this purpose. The second type of algorithm uses model-free end-to-end learning. Our preliminary results indicate that iteratively optimizing a policy based on the closeness of the imitator's and expert's state transitions leads to a policy that closely mimics the demonstrator's trajectories.
Volvulus of the colon.

Twenty-one cases of volvulus of the colon are presented briefly, and two are described in detail.
Amino [13]-macrodilactones: Synthesis, derivatization, and structural motifs

Abstract Macrocycles draw their usefulness from an ability to balance size, shape, and functionality according to general principles. These structural parameters manifest as the conformations of macrocycles and ultimately their functions. Reported here are results of an investigation on [13]-macrodilactones that take up unique folded conformations based on the interplay of multi-atom planar units and sterics. The defining feature of this group of [13]-macrodilactones is the pendant amine group attached to the ring. Amidation of the ring generated analogs that were designed to imitate features of the macrocyclic natural product Teixobactin. We also show that intramolecular interactions, and the A-value of an acylated amine can explain the conformational preferences in macrocycles.
The evolution of network based cybersecurity norms: An analytical narrative

We examine coordination dilemmas in cybersecurity policy by using an already developed evolutionary game theoretical model [2]. We suggest that norms to encourage network based security systems may not evolve independently of international governance systems. In fact, certain kinds of state action may actually further discourage the evolution of such norms. This paper therefore suggests that specific system-wide cybersecurity systems will be more effective than network-specific security. We build on established analytical frameworks to develop a cumulative understanding of the dynamics at hand. This would allow us, in due course, to extend the contributions of evolutionary game theory to cybersecurity problems.
From African Natives to Native Americans: Charles Templeman Loram in North America

Charles Loram arrived at Yale University in 1931 as Sterling Professor of Education and Director of a new Race Relations Institute. His separation from South Africa’s Native Affairs Commission (1929) marked the reputation of his “liberal” views on Native Education. In South Africa, he was involved in implementation of Industrial Education for the Black South Africans, as a carefully supervised post-secondary-level education program to train a compliant Black African bureaucracy, but also provide a somewhat improved economic future for them. This vocational education was the bedrock of his approach. In analyzing a decade of his work at Yale, where he also collaborated with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, there was a whirlwind of activity, that created movement in Loram’s approach to “indigenous” education, that is education programs for Native American (U.S.) or Black South Africans. These changes raised questions related to this phase of Loram’s career, such as did exposure to new experiences, paradigms, and “New Deal” politics influence his understanding of indigenous cultures via intersecting analysis of North America’s First Nations and South African peoples? Secondly, how did these Western civil service bureaucracies intersect with Native American and Black South African peoples’ cultures within these vocational programs?
Slippery scripts: “Soap dropping” threats in the gendered prison setting

Media often serve as audiences’ primary source of information about the carceral system and inmates’ lived experiences. While prison media frequently employ violent tropes, these narratives are scr...
Velocity of myosin-based actin sliding depends on attachment and detachment kinetics and reaches a maximum when myosin-binding sites on actin saturate.

Abstract Molecular motors such as kinesin and myosin often work in groups to generate the directed movements and forces critical for many biological processes. Although much is known about how individual motors generate force and movement, surprisingly little is known about the mechanisms underlying the macroscopic mechanics generated by multiple motors. For example, the observation that a saturating number, N, of myosin heads move an actin filament at a rate that is influenced by actin-myosin attachment and detachment kinetics is accounted for neither experimentally nor theoretically. To better understand the emergent mechanics of actin-myosin mechanochemistry, we use an in vitro motility assay to measure and correlate the N-dependence of actin sliding velocities, actin-activated ATPase activity, force generation against a mechanical load, and the calcium sensitivity of thin filament velocities. Our results show that velocity and ATPase activity are both strain-dependent, and that velocity becomes maximized with the saturation of myosin binding sites on actin at a value that is 40% dependent on attachment kinetics and 60% dependent on detachment kinetics. These results support a chemical thermodynamic model for ensemble motor mechanochemistry and imply molecularly explicit mechanisms within this framework, challenging the assumption of independent force generation.
Effectiveness of Educational Materials Designed to Improve Knowledge Regarding Crying and Shaken Baby Syndrome in Mothers of Hispanic Population.

Background: Caregiver frustration with inconsolable crying is a commonly cited antecedent factor of Abusive head trauma (AHT) in infants. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of an educational in...
8 – Tendon tissue engineering

Due to the general acellularity of tendon tissue, the regenerative capacity of tendon tissue is limited. As a result, current treatments for tendon injuries and tears often leave healed tendons with scar tissue that possesses compromised mechanical properties and has high risks of subsequent injuries and tears. Tissue engineering has emerged as a method to enhance tendon healing and regeneration through the use of tissue engineering scaffolds, cells, and other biological factors. This chapter provides an overview of tissue engineering as it pertains to tendon tissue and the current strategies and challenges relevant to the field.
Adaptations to Exercise Training

Repeated bouts of exercise are widely recognized as a factor that reduces the risk of ischemic heart disease [1–5]. Exercise training (ET) cardiovascular benefits include improved cardiac function and O2 utilization and greater cardiac efficiency associated with a reduced resting heart rate. In patients with coronary heart disease, a 3-month program of exercise conditioning significantly reduced the exercise angina threshold, suggesting an increased myocardial O2 supply [6]. Meta-analysis of 51 studies involving 8,440 patients who participated in exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation programs revealed a 31 % reduction in cardiovascular mortality [7]. Cardiac responses to increased O2 demands depend on both adequate myocardial perfusion and transcapillary exchange at the cellular level [8]. Accordingly, improved O2 delivery to myocardial cells resulting from exercise training could result from biochemical/physiological and/or structural adaptations, which could occur at various levels of the coronary hierarchy. Such adaptations can include several levels of control, e.g. endothelial, neurohumoral, metabolic, and myogenic, as well as at several levels of the coronary hierarchy, i.e. conduit arteries, arterioles, and the capillary bed. This chapter reviews the adaptations that occur in healthy as well as diseased hearts.
Evolution on a Petri Dish

Several years ago I began a project whose major goal was to understand the variety of ways by which an organism can evolve new physiologic functions. How does an organism which is already well adapted to its environment evolve a new function to cope with an altered environment? The synthetic theory of evolution does not really address the problem of evolution of novel functions; nor does population genetics deal with the appearance of new functions. Although there is general agreement about how genes, having once acquired a particular function, are successively modified to improve the efficiency of that function, little is known about the detailed process by which functions evolve.
Institutional Trading Momentum and Mispricing

I consider a setting where financial institutions are constantly changing their holdings, and as a result, stocks experience trends in ownership where institutional holdings are generally increasing or decreasing, in other words, there is “institutional trading momentum.” For each stock, I decompose institutional ownership into a level, slope, and residual component. I find that the level and slope components are highly persistent, while the residual component is transient. I find that there is positive relation between the persistent components and returns and mean-reversion in both ownership and returns in the transient component. I construct a trading strategy on institutional trading momentum (ITM), and find that the low-high ITM strategy earns a positive and statistically significant Fama-French alpha. Overall, these results suggest that the trades of financial institutions push prices away from fundamentals.
A 3.3V 0.6 /spl mu/m BiCMOS superscalar microprocessor

A 3.3 V 100 MHz BiCMOS 3.3M-transistor microprocessor in 163 mm/sup 2/ makes use of a four-layer metal 0.6 /spl mu/m technology. This device is an architecturally-equivalent second-generation superset of a previous CPU implemented in 0.8 /spl mu/m BiCMOS technology . It consists of a super scalar integer unit, a floating point unit, and separate 8 kB instruction and data caches. This implementation emphasizes several key areas. >
Genetic Drift in Human Populations

Genetic drift consists of changes in allele frequencies due to sampling error. Even if all individuals in a population have the same opportunities to mate, their reproductive contributions to the next generation will vary due to random chance alone. In any population of finite size, this sampling error will cause gene frequencies to fluctuate from generation to generation. Genetic changes due to drift are neither directional nor predictable in any deterministic way. Nonetheless, genetic drift leads to evolutionary change even in the absence of mutation, natural selection or gene flow. Keywords: bottleneck; effective population size; heterozygosity; population genetics; neutral theory of evolution
Aviation Automation: The Search for A Human-centered Approach

This volume offers eloquent and carefully reasoned arguments for a human-centered approach to the development and implementation of new technology in aviation. Part I is an overview of automation in aviation and explains both the application of automation and the concept of human-centered automation. Part II traces the evolution and course of aviation automation. This covers air traffic control and management, as well as aircraft automation. Part III discusses the role of human operators in the aviation system and human-machine integration in the future system. Part IV looks to the future; it expands on novel concepts and discusses requirements for aviation automation and its certification.
FATAL DISTRACTION? A COMPARISON OF THE CELL-PHONE DRIVER AND THE DRUNK DRIVER

The authors used a high-fidelity driving simulator to compare the performance of cell-phone drivers with drivers who were legally intoxicated from ethanol. When drivers were conversing on either a hand-held or hands-free cell-phone, their reactions were sluggish and they attempted to compensate by driving slower and increasing the following distance from the vehicle immediately in front of them. By contrast, when drivers were legally intoxicated they exhibited a more aggressive driving style, following closer to the vehicle immediately in front of them and applying more force while braking. When controlling for driving difficulty and time on task, cell-phone drivers exhibited greater impairment than intoxicated drivers.
An Epidemiological Investigation of the Aid of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Determining Long‐Term Prognosis for Soundness Following Palmar/Plantar Digital Neurectomy for Chronic Foot Pain

Reasons for performing study Accurate diagnosis of chronic foot pain by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows appropriate case selection for palmar/plantar digital neurectomy (PDN). Objectives To report follow-up for chronic foot pain treated by PDN, with and without MRI diagnosis. Study design Retrospective cohort study. Methods The electronic patient records of all animals that underwent PDN were reviewed. Follow-up was obtained from owners using a structured postal/telephone questionnaire. Chi squared/Fisher's exact tests or 2-sample t tests were used, with statistical significance set as P<0.05. Results One hundred and nine PDN cases were undertaken. Follow-up response rate was 72.5%. From these 79 cases, 52 had MRI (MRI+) and 27 did not (MRI−). There was no significant difference in case distribution between the 2 groups: predominantly horses, Warmbloods, geldings, used for full competitions, except MRI+ were younger than MRI− (median 9.99 and 11.71 years respectively, P = 0.004). Median follow-up time for MRI+ was 31.4 months, and for MRI− was 36.8 months. There was no significant difference in outcome. In total, 78.9% MRI+ achieved their intended use, compared with 73.1% MRI−. For those intended for exercise, 83.7% MRI+ reached a level of exercise, compared with 87.5% MRI−. Median length of exercise maintenance was 25.2 months for MRI+ and 24.0 months for MRI−. For MRI+ there was one suspected and one confirmed neuroma and 4 neuritis cases. Two MRI− animals developed neuritis. Complications requiring euthanasia occurred in 2 MRI− cases: complete rupture of the deep digital flexor tendon in a bilateral forelimb lameness and one previous chronic laminitic with solar prolapse. Conclusions These results are comparable with previous reports of 80% of MRI+ returning to previous athletic use for 20 months. Achievement of intended use, length of exercise maintenance and complication rate was similar with and without MRI diagnosis, although both catastrophic complications occurred in animals which did not undergo MRI. Ethical animal research: Ethical approval obtained: AHT47-2013. Explicit owner informed consent for inclusion of animals in this study was not stated. Source of funding: C.E. Wylie is funded by The Margaret Giffen Charitable Trust. Competing interests: None declared.
Should clinicians incorporate positive spirituality into their practices? What does the evidence say?

Most of the rhetoric decrying the incorporation of basic and positive spiritual care into clinical practice is not based on reliable evidence. We briefly review the current evidence, which demonstrates that (a) there is frequently a positive association between positive spirituality and mental and physical health and well being, (b) most patients desire to be offered basic spiritual care by their clinicians, (c) most patients censure our professions for ignoring their spiritual needs, (d) most clinicians believe that spiritual interventions would help their patients but have little training in providing basic spiritual assessment or care, (e) professional associations and educational institutions are beginning to provide learners and clinicians information on how to incorporate spirituality and practice, and (f) anecdotal evidence indicates that clinicians having received such training find it immediately helpful and do apply it to their practice. We point out the reasons that much more research is needed, especially outcome-based, clinical research on the effects of these spiritual interventions by clinicians.
A comparison of the miotic and inflammatory effects of biologically active polypeptides and prostaglandin E2 on the rabbit eye

The ocular effects of some biologically active peptides were studied and compared to those of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) to determine whether the responses of the eye to trauma, characterized by increased intraocular pressure (IOP), the development of anterior chamber flare and partial miosis, might be mediated by such peptides. One to 2 hr after intravitreal injection of 10 μg of PGE2 into rabbit eyes, ocular hypertension, flare and iridial hyperemia, but only minimal miosis were observed. Maximum miosis developed within 2–3 hr after intravitreal injection of 1·0–100 μg of substance P (SP), SP-octapeptide (SP-8), coherin or eledoisin-related peptide (EDR), while 10–100 μg of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), somatostatin or bradykinin (BK) yielded only submaximal miosis and angiotensin II, α-MSH and poly-dl-alanine had little or no miotic effect. None of these peptides caused iridial hyperemia or a cellular invasion of the anterior chamber and only high doses (100 μg) of VIP or BK caused significant increases in the protein concentration of the aqueous humor. Miotic doses of SP, SP-8 or EDR caused a significant increase in IOP in some, but not all, experiments. Thus, PGE2 can be regarded as a mediator of the ocular irritative response although it may not account for the miosis that is associated with chemical or surgical trauma. However, this autacoid should not be regarded as the mediator of ocular inflammation since it does not elicit a cellular response. In contrast, some polypeptides, particularly SP, SP-8 and EDR are strong miotics and, at least under some circumstances, can act as effective ocular hypertensives, but these peptides do not reproduce any other signs of ocular irritation or inflammation. It is therefore concluded that none of the peptides studied here could, by itself, be the sole mediator of the initial ocular irritative response although some of them may account for the miosis and contribute to the ocular hypertension associated with this response. A combination of some of these peptides together with PGE2 and/or other PGs may account for all aspects of the ocular irritative response and for most aspects of the ocular inflammatory response.
The speciation of Fe(II) and Fe(III) in natural waters

The interactions of Fe(II) and Fe(III) with the inorganic anions of natural waters have been examined using the specific interaction and ion pairing models. The specific interaction model as formulated by Pitzer is used to examine the interactions of the major components (Na + , Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , K + , Sr 2+ , Cl - , SO 4 2- , HCO 3 - , Br - , CO 3 2- , B(OH) 4 - , B(OH) 3 and CO 2 ) of seawater and the ion pairing model is used to account for the strong interaction of Fe(II) and Fe(III) with major and minor ligands (Cl - , SO 4 2- , OH - , HCO 3 - , CO 3 2- and HS - ) in the watefs. The model can be used to estimate the activity and speciation of iron in natural waters as a function of composition (major sea salts) and ionic strength (0 to 3 M). The measured stability constants (K * FeX ) of Fe(II) and Fe(III) have been used to estimate the thermodynamic constants (K FeX ) and the activity coefficient of iron complexes (γ FeX ) with a number of inorganic ligands in NaClO 4 medium at various ionic strengths : ln(K * FeX /γ Fe γ X ) = ln K FeX - ln(γ FeX ) The activity coefficients for free ions (γ Fe , γ X ) needed for this extrapolation have been estimated from the Pitzer equations. The activity coefficients of the ion pairs have been used to determine Pitzer parameters (B FeX , B 0 FeX , C Φ FeX ) for the iron complexes. These results make it possible to estimate the stability constants for the formation of Fe(II) and Fe(III) complexes over a wide range of ionic strengths and in different media. The model has been used to determine the solubility of Fe(III) in seawater as a function of pH. The results are in good agreement with the measurements of Byme and Kester and Kuma et al. When the formation of Fe organic complexes is considered, the solubility of Fe(III) in seawater is increased by about 25%.
Bifidobacterium--friend or foe? A case of urinary tract infection with Bifidobacterium species

Bifidobacterium—a commensal of the human intestine is considered non-pathogenic and has been advocated as a probiotic due to its potential beneficial effects. However, there have been case reports implicating bifidobacteria as pathogenic agents in a variety of different infectious conditions. We discuss here one such case of a complicated urinary tract infection associated with Bifidobacterium spp.
Effects of hypothalamic current intensity on object carrying induced by shuttlebox self-stimulation in rats*

Five rats with electrodes in the perifornical lateral hypothalamic area learned to self-stimulate in a shuttlebox by running back and forth to turn the intracranial stimulation (ICS) on and off, When objects (food pellets and wood blocks) were introduced into the box, all the rats developed a tendency to carry (hoard) them from the ON side to the OFF side, The rate of self-stimulation and the percentage of self-stimulations on which hoarding occurred were studied as a function of ICS intensity (high or low) and the presence or absence of objects, Each rat showed three trends: (1) The rate of self-stimulation decreased at the low intensity, both under the object and the empty condition, (2) This decrement in self-stimulation rate was more pronounced on object sessions than on empty sessions, (3) Percent hoarding decreased at the low intensity, These data are discussed in terms of the “security hypothesis” of hoarding and the aversive properties of long durations of ICS
The treatment of actinic keratoses

Background Actinic keratoses are epidermal tumors that can develop into invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Recently, some Medicare carriers have limited reimbursement for destruction of actinic keratoses. Objective We review treatments for actinic keratoses and the rationale for their use. Methods Computerized literature searches were performed in MEDLINE. The search terms were "actinic keratoses" and "solar keratosis." Information from these searches was combined with considerable personal experience for the body of this work. Results Many effective treatments for actinic keratoses exist. Cryosurgery and curettage are the most commonly used treatments. Cryosurgery is considered the standard of care for treatment of actinic keratoses. Topical 5-fluorouracil is used in 3.6% of cases and is rarely used alone on the first patient visit. Many other effective, less commonly used treatments are available. Conclusion A physician should select the best treatment by considering features of the lesion(s) and the patient being treated. All actinic keratoses cannot be treated in the same manner. The failure to treat actinic keratoses may have serious consequences for the patient.
Microzooplankton grazing impact in the Western Arctic Ocean

Abstract Microzooplankton grazing impact on phytoplankton was assessed using the Landry–Hassett dilution technique in the Western Arctic Ocean during spring and summer 2002 and 2004. Forty experiments were completed in a region encompassing productive shelf regions of the Chukchi Sea, mesotrophic slope regions of the Beaufort Sea off the North Slope of Alaska, and oligotrophic deep-water sites in the Canada Basin. A variety of conditions were encountered, from heavy sea-ice cover during both spring cruises, moderate sea-ice cover during summer of 2002, and light to no sea ice during summer of 2004, with a concomitant range of trophic conditions, from low chlorophyll- a (Chl- a ; −1 ) during heavy ice cover in spring and in the open basin, to late spring and summer shelf and slope open-water diatom blooms with Chl- a >5 μg L −1 . The microzooplankton community was dominated by large naked ciliates and heterotrophic gymnodinoid dinoflagellates. Significant, but low, rates of microzooplankton herbivory were found in half of the experiments. The maximum grazing rate was 0.16 d −1 and average grazing rate, including experiments with no significant grazing, was 0.04±0.06 d −1 . Phytoplankton intrinsic growth rates varied from the highest values of about 0.4 d −1 to the lowest values of zero to slightly negative growth, on average 0.16±0.15 d −1 . Light limitation in spring and post-bloom senescence during summer were likely explanations of observed low phytoplankton growth rates. Microzooplankton grazing consumed 0–120% (average 22±26%) of phytoplankton daily growth. Grazing and growth rates found in this study were low compared to rates reported in another Arctic system, the Barents Sea, and in major geographic regions of the world ocean.
Insulin resistance demonstrated by a specific quantitative method in a hyperlipemic laminitic pony

In 1985, Jeffcott and Field1 proposed a clinical condition in which hyperlipemia and laminitis were associated with stress and insulin insensitivity. Diminished oral glucose tolerance and intravenous insulin tolerance was demonstrated in obese and laminitic ponies compared with normal Standardbred horses.2 Glucose and insulin tolerance are not, however, specific and unambiguous criteria of insulin sensitivity.3 Nearly 20 years have transpired before the current specific and quantitative characterization of uncompensated insulin resistance in a hyperlipemic, laminitic pony. A 6-year-old small gelding was 153 kg with a body condition score of 5.5 (out of 9) when referred to the Marion duPont Equine Medical Center. It had a history of chronic respiratory disease, fever, a high Lyme titer, and laminitis. He had been treated with doxycycline and phenylbutazone but failed to respond. His diet had consisted of free choice orchard grass hay and approximately 220 g textured concentrate once a day. Clinical examination of the front feet with hoof testers was strongly positive for pain. Also, a bounding digital pulse was palpated in both front fetlocks. Radiographs showed a bilateral 8° rotation and excessive length of toe. Rectal temperature and heart rate were normal, but the respiratory rate was increased at 24 breaths/min. Auscultation of the chest was unremarkable; the pony responded normally to application
Homogeneity of Sulfhydryl Oxidase Preparations Obtained by Transient Covalent Affinity Chromatography

Abstract Bovine milk sulfhydryl oxidase was prepared by transient covalent affinity chromatography on a cysteinylsuccinamidopropyl glass matrix. The homogeneity of this preparation was examined by immunofixation electrofocusing, SDS-PAGE, and size exclusion chromatography in 6 M guanidinium chloride. The major contaminant of this preparation, prepared from whey diafiltered with a 1000 kdal exclusion limit membrane, was IgG. Immunoglobulin M could not be detected. Presence of IgG in these sulfhydryl oxidase preparations suggests an interaction between IgG and either skim milk membrane vesicles or sulfhydryl oxidase.
Kinetic wave turbulence

Abstract We consider a general model of Hamiltonian wave systems with triple resonances, in the standard kinetic limit of a continuum of weakly interacting dispersive waves with random phases. We show in this limit that the leading-order, asymptotically valid dynamical equation for multimode amplitude distributions is not the well-known equation of Peierls (also, Brout & Prigogine and Zaslavskii & Sagdeev), but is instead a reduced equation containing only a subset of the terms in that equation. Our equations are consistent with the Peierls equation in that the additional terms in the latter vanish as inverse powers of volume in the large-box limit. The equations that we derive are the direct analogue of the Boltzmann hierarchy obtained from the BBGKY hierarchy in the low-density limit for gases. We show that the asymptotic multimode equations possess factorized solutions for factorized initial data, which correspond to preservation in time of the property of “random phases & amplitudes”. The factors satisfy the equations for the 1-mode probability density functions (PDFs) previously derived by Choi et al. and Jakobsen & Newell. Analogous to the Klimontovich density in the kinetic theory of gases, we introduce the concepts of the “empirical spectrum” and the “empirical 1-mode PDF”. We show that the factorization of the hierarchy equations implies that these quantities are self-averaging: they satisfy the wave-kinetic closure equations of the spectrum and 1-mode PDF for almost any selection of phases and amplitudes from the initial ensemble. We show that both of these closure equations satisfy an H -theorem for an entropy defined by Boltzmann’s prescription S = k B log W . We also characterize the general solutions of our multimode distribution equations, for initial conditions with random phases but with no statistical assumptions on the amplitudes. Analogous to a result of Spohn for the Boltzmann hierarchy, these are “super-statistical solutions” that correspond to ensembles of solutions of the wave-kinetic closure equations with random initial conditions or random forces. On the basis of our results, we discuss possible kinetic explanations of intermittency and non-Gaussian statistics in wave turbulence. In particular, we advance the explanation of a “super-turbulence” produced by stochastic or turbulent solutions of the wave kinetic equations themselves.
Endotoxin of Escherichia coli and Permeability of the Mammary Gland of Goats

Abstract Serial collections of milk were used to determine where in the mammary gland endotoxin of Escherichia coli was effective in altering the transfer of selected milk components into blood and blood components into milk. Lactating goats had half the gland infused with 1 μ g of endotoxin and the other half served as a control. Sodium-24 and 42 K or [ 14 C] lactose were included with 141 Ce in the infusate in some experiments, whereas in others 99m Tc-labelled albumin or 24 Na and 42 K were given intravenously 2h after the endotoxin infusion. Milk was collected 3h after endotoxin infusion. Endotoxin increased the loss of 24 Na, 42 K, and [ 14 C] lactose from the mammary gland and increased the transfer of 24 Na and 99m Tc-albumin into the gland. The transfer in of 42 K was reduced compared with control halves. Movement of stable Na and K was in accord with the movement of the 24 Na and 42 K. Endotoxin was effective in all parts of the gland but particularly from the mid-portion upward to the alveoli. For the control halves there was evidence that some 24 Na and 42 K crossed the ductal or cisternal epithelium into blood outside of the alveoli, whereas only 42 K provided evidence for transfer from blood to milk in these same regions. There was no demonstrable transfer of lactose and albumin in regions other than the alveoli.
Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol As An Antiemetic For Patients Receiving Cancer Chemotherapy. A Pilot Study

We conducted a pilot study to ascertain the potential toxicity and possible efficacy of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) at the oral dose of 5 mg/m2. Over one third of the study population, which consisted of 25 patients, reported significant dysphoric reactions. Four patients (16 per cent) elected not to take THC rather than experience loss of motivation which interfered with their professional life. Paradoxically, on eight occasions nausea seemed to worsen with THC. After the first administration of THC, 18 patients (72 per cent) described less nausea and only two individuals (8 per cent) noted complete resolution of nausea. Two patients reported worsening of their nausea. Eighteen patients noted less vomiting (69 per cent) after the first administration of THC and four patients (15 per cent) reported completed resolution of their vomiting. By the third administration of THC, one of 14 patients (7 per cent) and two of 14 (14 per cent) noted complete alleviation of nausea and vomiting, respectively. Patients who scored high on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, who reported euphoria, or who had psychogenic nausea and vomiting were most likely to have a favorable antiemetic response. The results of this pilot study suggest that orally administered THC is a toxic but transiently effective antiemetic when administered at 5 mg/m2.
Performance evaluation of optimal filters for target detection using SAR imagery

Various matched filter based architectures have been proposed over the last two decades to optimize the target detection and recognition performance. While these techniques provide excellent performance with respect to one or more parameters, a unified and synergistic approach to evaluate the performance of these techniques under the same constraints is yet to be done. Consequently, in this paper, we used a set of generalized performance metrics for comparing the performance of the recently reported matched filter based techniques using various types of infrared and SAR datasets. Test results obtained using the aforementioned datasets and performance metrics provide excellent information with respect to the suitability of existing filter based techniques for various target detection and tracking practical applications.
Electromyographic monitoring of profound surgical muscle relaxation during cardiac anesthesia.

Quantitative assessment of neuromuscular block produced by large doses of nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents during cardiac surgery is not possible with conventional methods of monitoring. Various “posttetanic responses” can, however, be elicited, even when no twitch response is present. Posttetanic responses measured by electromyography were used in this study. Twenty-four male patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery were anesthetized with sufentanil plus diazepam. Neuromuscular block was provided either with pancuronium 0.1 mg/kg or with vecuronium 0.07 mg/kg initially and supplemented with small increments when indicated. Neuromuscular block was monitored from the hypothenar muscle. The ulnar nerve was stimulated by train-of-four, with supermposed periodic tetanic stimuli to evoke posttetanic responses, once every 7 to 15 minutes. The tetanically potentiated responses were detectable during 96% ± 3.6 (vecuronium) and during 97% ± 3.7 (pancuronium) of the entire intraoperative period, while the nonpotentiated electromyographic responses were present for less than 50% of the time. The sum (of the amplitudes) of 6 posttetanic responses is significantly (p<0.05) greater than the sum of 6 nonpotentiated responses and than the size of a single-peak posttetanic response when compared with the normal, nonpotentiated responses. Higher-frequency tetanic stimuli (100 or 200 Hz) produced greater posttetanic responses (p<0.05) than did the 50-Hz tetanic stimulus. There were only slight or no significant differences in the degree of posttetanic potentiation between pancuronium and vecuronium either before, during, or after cardiopulmonary bypass. With posttetanic responses, we could detect changes in the level of neuromuscular block that occur during cardiac surgery and that are related to cardiopulmonary bypass, cooling, rewarming, and large doses of corticosteroids and antibiotics. Furthermore, it was not necessary to extend the arm or to use an arm board (on which the hand is immobilized when using mechanical monitoring methods) during cardiac surgery.
Decreased TLR4 gene expression in leukemic leukocyte populations

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is one member of a class of pattern recognition receptors that play a significant role in the physiologic innate immune response. As leukemia is a disease state that may be associated with a compromised immune system, it was hypothesized that depressed TLR4 function resulting from decreased gene expression might be related to the development and further sustained presence of a leukemic clone of cells. This study thus analyzed gene expression of TLR4 in groups of lymphocytic leukemia cases, myeloid leukemia cases, cases of myeloid leukemia in remission, and normal controls by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR). It was observed that TLR4 gene expression was indeed decreased to a statistically significant degree (P<0.05) in both the lymphocytic leukemic subset and myeloid leukemic subset when compared to normal controls. Thus, further study is warranted into determining whether this decreased TLR4 expression contributes to the pathogenesis of leukemic clone development through an associated depressed immune surveillance as well as whether TLR4 agonists might serve to effectively strengthen the response of the immune system in battling leukemic burden.
Use of a Flowing Afterglow SIFT Apparatus To Study the Reactions of Ions with Organic Radicals

This paper describes a new technique for the experimental study of ions with organic radicals. A preliminary report has been published in J. Chem. Phys. 2004, 120, 3531, and we wish to communicate a complete description of this experiment. Clean, intense flows of hydrocarbon radicals/diradicals can be produced by a heated supersonic nozzle and are delivered to a flowing afterglow selected ion flow tube (FA-SIFT) instrument. The reactions of a simple radical, allyl (CH2CHCH2), and a diradical, ortho-benzyne (o-C6H4), with hydronium (H3O+) and hydroxide (HO-) ions were studied at thermal energy. We have studied the following reactions: CH2CHCH2 + H3O+ → C3H6+ + H2O, CH2CHCH2 + HO- → no product ions, o-C6H4 + H3O+ → C6H5+ + H2O, and o-C6H4 + HO- → C6H3- + H2O. We find that proton transfer reactions with H3O+ occur rapidly (the bimolecular rate constant, kII, is roughly 10-9 cm3 s-1). However, an unexpected result was obtained for o-C6H4 + HO-; the exothermic proton abstraction is significantly slower than t...
Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment

As our society ages, age-related diseases assume increasing prominence as both personal and public health concerns. Disorders of cognition are particularly important in both regards, and Alzheimer's disease is by far the most common cause of dementia of aging. In 2000, the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease in the United States was estimated to be 4.5 million individuals, and this number has been projected to increase to 14 million by 2050. Although not an inevitable consequence of aging, these numbers speak to the dramatic scope of its impact. This article focuses on Alzheimer's disease and the milder degrees of cognitive impairment that may precede the clinical diagnosis of probable Alzheimer's disease, such as mild cognitive impairment.
Development of a positive pressure driven micro-fabricated liquid chromatographic analyzer through rapid-prototyping with poly(dimethylsiloxane) Optimizing chromatographic efficiency with sub-nanoliter injections.

Abstract A rapid and low-cost means of developing a working prototype for a positive-displacement driven open tubular liquid chromatography (OTLC) analyzer is demonstrated. A novel flow programming and injection strategy was developed and implemented using soft lithography, and evaluated in terms of chromatographic band broadening and efficiency. A separation of two food dyes served as the model sample system. Sample and mobile phase flowed continuously by positive displacement through the OTLC analyzer. Rectangular channels, of dimensions 10 μm deep by 100 μm wide, were micro-fabricated in poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS), with the separation portion 6.6 cm long. Using a novel flow programming method, in contrast to electroosmotic flow, sample injection volumes from 0.5 to 10 nl were made in real-time. Band broadening increased substantially for injection volumes over 1 nl. Although underivatized PDMS proved to be a sub-optimal stationary phase, plate heights, H, of 12 μm were experimentally achieved for an unretained analyte with the rectangular channel resulting in a reduced plate height, h, of 1.2. Chromatographic efficiency of the unretained analyte followed the model of an OTLC system limited by mass-transfer in the mobile phase. Flow rates from 6 nl min−1 up to 200 nl min−1 were tested, and van Deemter plots confirmed plate heights were optimum at 6 nl min−1 over the tested flow rate range. Thus, the best separation efficiency, N of 5500 for the 6.6 cm length separation channel, was achieved at the minimum flow rate through the column of 6 nl min−1, or 3 ml year−1. This analyzer is a low-cost sampling and chemical analysis tool that is intended to complement micro-fabricated electrophoretic and related separation devices.
Supporting the Development of Science Inquiry Skills with Special Classes of Software.

Computers have been used with science learners to teach facts, aid in information processing, facilitate problem solving, and stimulate conceptual change. The hallmark of science learning, however, is independent student inquiry. Although there is ample evidence that computers can support various aspects of students' inquiry activities, such as conducting virtual experiments and visualizing data, there has been limited discussion of how certain classes of software can facilitate learners' development, over time, from simple to sophisticated forms of inquiry. This theory-based article describes how data analysis tools, simulations, and modeling software, when used in the proper instructional contexts, provide young learners with rich intellectual environments for inquiry. Arguments from the research literature support claims that even the youngest elementary school learners have the capacity to engage in inquiry, and that special classes of software can stimulate these capacities and aid the transition from identifying basic patterns in data to conducting systematic experiments and constructing viable models of natural phenomena.
Court-Appointed Special Advocate Strong Beginnings: Raising Awareness across Early Childhood and Child Welfare Systems.

Abuse or neglect and disability often go hand in hand. Unfortunately, most professionals who work with maltreated young children are not aware of early childhood and disability-related resources and services available. In order to raise awareness across early childhood and child welfare systems, a five-week advanced training for volunteer child advocates, entitled Court-Appointed Special Advocate Strong Beginnings, was created. The pilot programme and formative evaluation are highlighted. Upon completion of the training, advocates reported being better prepared and more informed about both early childhood and child welfare systems. Future directions for raising awareness across the child welfare and early childhood special education communities are discussed.