cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Review of the Long-Term Implantable Senseonics Continuous Glucose Monitoring System and Other Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems:

The article published by Kevin Cowart in this issue of the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology (JDST) is a detailed overview of the clinical trial data and analysis used to demonstrate the s...
Gliomatosis cerebri and Rasmussen's encephalitis: Two different entities causing refractory epilepsy. Comparison through two clinical cases.

Abstract Background and importance Rasmussen's Encephalitis (RE) is a chronic and progressive childhood disease caused by an inflammatory disorder that affects a cerebral hemisphere. On the other hand, Gliomatosis Cerebri (GC) is a rare primary neoplastic glial process with a diffuse and infiltrative growth. Clinical presentation We present two clinical cases with a history of continuous focal epilepsy refractory to antiepileptic drugs. They share similar clinical and radiologic features, but a different histopathological diagnosis. A brain biopsy was needed to distinguish GC from a RE. Conclusion The debut of a drug-resistant epilepsy with focal seizures and an ipsilateral progressive hemiparesis suggests the diagnosis of RE. However, there are other entities such as GC, which, despite its rarity, should be considered in the differential diagnosis. So, in some cases, histological diagnosis is needed.
Match Demands of Women’s Collegiate Soccer

Research describing the match and specific positional demands during match play in women’s collegiate soccer is limited. The purpose of the study was to quantify the match demands of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III soccer and assess position differences in movement kinematics, heart rate (HR), and energy expenditure. Twenty-five Division III women soccer players (height: 1.61 ± 0.3 m; body mass: 66.7 ± 7.5 kg; fat-free mass: 50.3 ± 6.5 kg; body fat%: 25.6 ± 5.1%) were equipped with a wearable global positioning system to assess the demands of 22 matches throughout a season. Players were categorized by position (goal keepers (GK), center defenders (CB), flank players (FP), forwards (F), and center midfielders (CM)). Players covered 9807 ± 2588 m and 1019 ± 552 m at high speeds (>249.6 m·m−1), with an overall average speed of 62.85 ± 14.7 m·m−1. This resulted in a mean HR of 74.2 ± 6% HR max and energy expenditure of 1259 ± 309 kcal. Significant and meaningful differences in movement kinematics were observed across position groups. CM covered the most distance resulting in the highest training load. FP covered the most distance at high speeds and mean HR values were highest in CM, CB, and FP positions.
The role of FACT in managing chromatin: disruption, assembly, or repair?

FACT (FAcilitates Chromatin Transcription) has long been considered to be a transcription elongation factor whose ability to destabilize nucleosomes promotes RNAPII progression on chromatin templates. However, this is just one function of this histone chaperone, as FACT also functions in DNA replication. While broadly conserved among eukaryotes and essential for viability in many organisms, dependence on FACT varies widely, with some differentiated cells proliferating normally in its absence. It is therefore unclear what the core functions of FACT are, whether they differ in different circumstances, and what makes FACT essential in some situations but not others. Here, we review recent advances and propose a unifying model for FACT activity. By analogy to DNA repair, we propose that the ability of FACT to both destabilize and assemble nucleosomes allows it to monitor and restore nucleosome integrity as part of a system of chromatin repair, in which disruptions in the packaging of DNA are sensed and returned to their normal state. The requirement for FACT then depends on the level of chromatin disruption occurring in the cell, and the cell's ability to tolerate packaging defects. The role of FACT in transcription would then be just one facet of a broader system for maintaining chromatin integrity.
Sod1 Integrates Oxygen Availability to Redox Regulate NADPH Production and the Thiol Redoxome

Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (Sod1) is a highly conserved and abundant antioxidant enzyme that detoxifies superoxide (O2-) by catalyzing its conversion to dioxygen (O2) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and mammalian cells, we discovered that a major new aspect of the antioxidant function of Sod1 is to integrate O2 availability to promote NADPH production. The mechanism involves Sod1-derived H2O2 oxidatively inactivating the glycolytic enzyme, glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), which in turn re-routes carbohydrate flux to the oxidative phase of the pentose phosphate pathway (oxPPP) to generate NADPH. The aerobic oxidation of GAPDH is exclusively dependent on and rate-limited by Sod1. Thus, Sod1 senses O2 via O2- to balance glycolytic and oxPPP flux, through control of GAPDH activity, for adaptation to life in air. Importantly, this new mechanism for Sod1 antioxidant activity requires the bulk of cellular Sod1, unlike for its role in protection against O2- toxicity, which only requires < 1% of total Sod1. Using mass spectrometry, we identified proteome-wide targets of Sod1-dependent redox signaling, including numerous metabolic enzymes. Altogether, Sod1-derived H2O2 is important for antioxidant defense and a master regulator of metabolism and the thiol redoxome. Significance StatementCu/Zn superoxide dismutase (Sod1) is a key antioxidant enzyme and its importance is underscored by the fact that its ablation in cell and animal models results in oxidative stress, metabolic defects, and reductions in cell proliferation, viability, and lifespan. Curiously, Sod1 detoxifies superoxide radicals (O2-) in a manner that produces an oxidant as a byproduct, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). While much is known about the necessity of scavenging O2-, it is less clear what the physiological roles of Sod1-derived H2O2 are. Herein, we discovered that Sod1-derived H2O2 plays a very important role in antioxidant defense by stimulating the production of NADPH, a vital cellular reductant required for ROS scavenging enzymes, as well as redox regulating a large network of enzymes.
Adipocyte Proteins and Storage of Endogenous Fatty Acids in Visceral and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue in Severe Obesity.

OBJECTIVE This study tested whether substrate concentrations or fatty acid storage proteins predict storage of endogenous lipids in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and upper body subcutaneous adipose tissue (UBSQ) fat. METHODS The day prior to surgery, 25 patients undergoing bariatric procedures received an infusion of autologous [1-14 C]triolein-labeled very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) particles, and during surgery, they received a continuous [U-13 C]palmitate infusion/bolus [9,10-3 H]palmitate tracer. VAT and UBSQ fat were collected to measure VLDL-triglyceride (TG) storage, direct free fatty acid (FFA) storage rates, CD36 content, lipoprotein lipase (LPL), acyl-CoA synthetase, diacylglycerol acetyl-transferase, and glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase activities. RESULTS Storage of VLDL-TG and FFA-palmitate in UBSQ and VAT was not different. Plasma palmitate concentrations correlated with palmitate storage rates in UBSQ and VAT (r = 0.46, P = 0.02 and r = 0.46, P = 0.02, respectively). In VAT, VLDL-TG storage was correlated with VLDL concentrations (r = 0.53, P < 0.009) and LPL (r = 0.42, P < 0.05). In UBSQ, VLDL-TG storage was correlated with LPL (r = 0.42, P < 0.05). CD36, acyl-CoA synthetase, glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase, and diacylglycerol acetyl-transferase were not correlated with VLDL-TG or palmitate storage. CONCLUSIONS Adipose storage of VLDL-TG is predicted by VLDL-TG concentrations and LPL; FFA concentrations predict direct adipose tissue FFA storage rates.
Eating, drinking and locations of broiler chickens reared under commercial conditions with supplementary feeder line lighting

SUMMARY The study examined the distribution of Cobb 700 broiler chickens in large (1.524 m × 6.096 m) pens under commercial conditions with 2 nipple waterer lines and a single feeder. The light intensity in the house was 4 lx provided by light emitting diode lighting but with supplementary lighting along the feeder line. There was a gradation of light intensity from 100 lx at bird level by the feeders to 4 lx at the edge of the pen. In addition, a limited time budget was estimated. A video system was employed to record the number of birds eating, drinking, standing close (within 30 cm) to the feeder line, standing close (within 30 cm) to the nipple waterers, sitting close to the feeder line and sitting close to the nipple waterers. Numbers were determined by direct observation. The number of birds that were neither close to the feeders nor nipple waterers was calculated by difference (total birds minus number of birds close to feeder plus those close to waterers). Birds congregated close to the feeder: Eating or standing or sitting. However, 56% were situated neither close to the lit feeder line or the nipple waterers. The percentage of the broiler chickens that were feeding and drinking was 12.8 and 8.2%, respectively. There were shifts in bird behavior during the day with more broiler chickens eating and drinking during the first hour of the photophase and fewer birds eating increasing age.
Evaluation of Outpatient Pediatric Spirometry Audits: Comparison of Patient Adherence Between 2005 and 2019 ATS/ERS Standards

Background: The American Thoracic Society (ATS) guides spirometry standards to ensure that results are accurately interpreted and influence care appropriately. In 2019, ATS/ERS standards replaced the 2005 ATS standards and redefined criteria by removing the time requirement and implementing a grading system to allow more acceptable spirometry tests (Table 1). A study of 1,631 children found that only 18% were able to meet the end of test time requirement set by the 2005 ATS standards.1 We hypothesized that there would be an increase in acceptable spirometry for pediatric patients in our facility when using the 2019 ATS guidelines for spirometry compliance. Methods: In an IRB approved retrospective analysis, we reviewed and compared pediatric spirometry (n = 5,400) from 1/2019–12/2020. 20% (n = 1,080) of spirometry tests were chosen at random, audited, and then categorized based on patient age. Spirometry audits were analyzed for compliance based on 2005 and 2019 ATS standards criteria. Results were analyzed and the Student’s t-test was used to determine statistical significance. Results: 1,080 pediatric spirometry audits were reviewed; the age range of patients was 6–18 y (median 11.3 y). When comparing spirometry compliance with 2005 and 2019 ATS Standards, compliance was increased by 15.3% when using the 2019 ATS Standards (P Conclusions: In our pediatric hospital, introduction of the 2019 ATS Standards has led to a significant increase in acceptable spirometry. By eliminating the required minimum time for each maneuver and implementing a grading system to represent confidence level of each spirometry test performed by the patient, more acceptable and valid data can be used by the clinician to appropriately treat patients who may not have been able to produce acceptable spirometry in the past. Further studies must be done to evaluate the impact to patient care decisions that occur after spirometry is completed. Reference: Graham BL, et al. Standardization of spirometry 2019 update. An official American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society technical statement. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2019;200 (8):e70-e88.
Pylephlebitis: a Review of 95 Cases.

Pylephlebitis, or suppurative thrombophlebitis of the portal mesenteric venous system occurring in the setting of abdominal inflammatory processes, is a rare but deadly disease commonly associated with diverticulitis. We review our institutional experience in the management of patients with this condition. A retrospective review of medical records from 2002 to 2012 was performed. Patients with a portal mesenteric vein thrombosis (PMVT) within 30 days of an intra-abdominal inflammatory process were identified and evaluated. Ninety-five patients were included. The mean patient age at presentation was 57 years (range, 24–88). The most common associated processes were pancreatitis (31 %), followed by diverticulitis (19 %). Bacteremia was noted in 34 (44 %) patients. The most common organism cultured was Streptococcus viridans. Antibiotic and anticoagulation therapy was given in 86 (91 %) and 78 (82 %) patients, respectively. Overall, we report an 11 % mortality rate. Albeit rare, pylephlebitis most commonly was manifested in the setting of pancreatitis. Treatment should be individualized to culture results and extent of thrombosis. If diagnosed early and managed appropriately, a favorable outcome is possible.
Errors Due to Chance

An unexpectedly large number of cases appearing among the residents of a small community within a brief period might reflect a common local carcinogenic exposure, but might alternatively result from chance. No matter how unusual an event, chance can never be completely excluded. The likelihood that a finding could occur by chance must be considered together with a measure of how often it would occur. An event occurring normally only once in a century is more compelling than one occurring annually. In the case of cancer, the appearance of five times the normal number of cases in a community provides more compelling evidence than does the appearance of twice the number. A set of confidence limits can be calculated to go around each numerical estimate of increased or decreased risk. As more than 160 different cancer definitions are examined in this book as they occur in each of 1619 different neighborhoods, it is expected to find many extreme differences on the basis of chance alone. Finally, it is suggested that chance is responsible for the geographic pattern of a cancer. When the pattern seems to be consistent with chance, it just means that no evidence of an alternative explanation is available. For an individual person, a cancer can be due to any number of causes that do not show up as a pattern in the population. Even cancers that seem to have been scattered randomly in the population are undoubtedly due to specific biological causes.
Chapter 10 Biopolymers. I. Protein Chromatography in Denaturing And Nondenaturing Solvents

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the variety of packings available for size exclusion chromatography (SEC) of proteins and the different eluant systems employed in SEC of proteins. The chapter also defines the potential and practical applications of these procedures. In addition, the chromatographic parameters affecting resolution of proteins in SEC are discussed in detail. The most common conventional packings consist of spherical particles constructed of dextrans (Sephadex), agarose (Sepharose and Bio–Gel A), or polyacrylamide (Bio–Gel P). The spherical particles are designed with a specific porosity and diameter range. The porosity determines the exclusion properties of the packing and thus defines the potential fractionation range for proteins. The specific diameter range of an individual packing influences flow rates and protein resolution properties of the packing. Typically, decreasing the average diameter of a particular packing will provide increased resolution at the expense of lower flow rates. The problem of compression of dextran and sepharose packings under hydrostatic pressure has been partially alleviated by covalently cross-linking allyl dextran with N,N'-methylene bisacrylamide (Sephacryl) or by cross-linking agarose with 2,3-dibromopropanol (Sepharose).
Cleavage of Coenzyme B12 by Methylmalonyl Coenzyme A Mutase

Abstract Methylmalonyl-CoA mutase-dependent cleavage of coenzyme B12 took place in the presence of succinyl-CoA, one of the substrates of the enzyme, and in the presence of malonyl-CoA, a competitive inhibitor (Ki 0.12 mm). Other competitive inhibitors of the reaction, including acetyl-CoA, propionyl-CoA, glutaryl-CoA, and CoA itself, did not replace malonyl-CoA in this cleavage reaction. With both succinyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA, the cleavage of coenzyme was progressive with time, without evidence for an initial burst. The cleavage reaction did not depend on oxygen, since it occurred under anaerobic as well as aerobic conditions. The adenosyl derivative formed by the cleavage of 5'-deoxyadenosylcobalamin in the presence of each of the CoA esters was identified chromatographically as 5'-deoxyadenosine. Malonyl-CoA did not appear to be chemically altered during the course of the reaction; experimental difficulties precluded a similar investigation of the fate of succinyl-CoA. These experiments have shown that under certain circumstances, methylmalonyl-CoA mutase is able to cleave the carbon-cobalt bond of coenzyme B12 with the production of 5'-deoxyadenosine. The findings are consistent with the view that the currently proposed mechanism of coenzyme B12-dependent rearrangements, which involves cleavage of the carbon-cobalt bond followed by abstraction of a substrate hydrogen atom to form 5'-deoxyadenosine, may be generally valid for all reactions of this class.
Restoring the virus removal capability of damaged hollow fiber membranes via chitosan-based in situ healing

Abstract Membranes used in water treatment systems routinely get damaged, resulting in lower quality product water. In full-scale practices, once damage is detected, the filtration process needs to be interrupted to identify the location of the damage and replace the faulty membrane at the expense of significant downtime and higher maintenance cost. To address this issue, proof-of-concept of an innovative in situ healing technique was previously demonstrated on a simple, flat-sheet membrane using synthetic particles. The objective of this study was to test the efficacy of this chitosan-based in situ healing procedure to repair damaged hollow fiber membranes and restore near 6 log removal value (LRV) of viruses, under various damage size, pH, and foulant conditions. The performance of pristine, damaged, healed, and backwashed membranes was examined in terms of specific water flux, MS2 bacteriophage rejection, and synthetic nanoparticle rejection. The healing procedure effectively restored the performance of membranes with induced damages as large as 500 μm in length, even though there was a slight decrease in efficacy for larger damages. The presence of foulants did not interfere with the healing procedure. The results of this study collectively suggest high likelihood of success in real world systems, which will allow membrane filtration processes to be more durable, sustainable and cost-effective.
Abstract 253: Norepinephrine Suppresses T-lymphocyte Growth and Cytokine Production via Superoxide During Hypertension

Numerous studies have shown that pro-inflammatory cytokines produced by T-lymphocytes exacerbate hypertension. However, it is not clearly understood how endogenous pro-hypertensive stimuli such as norepinephrine (NE) directly act upon T-lymphocytes to modulate the responses of these inflammatory cells during hypertension. Herein, we hypothesized that increased systemic levels of NE directly activate T-lymphocytes during hypertension. To test this hypothesis, we examined the status of T-lymphocyte activation in the spleens of NE-infused hypertensive mice. Contrary to our hypothesis, while subcutaneous infusion of NE (3.8 μg/kg/min) significantly increased mean arterial pressure by approximately 18 ± 2 mmHg for 14-days (p<0.05 vs. saline infused), splenic T-lymphocytes demonstrated no signs of increased activation. More specifically, splenic T-lymphocytes from NE-infused mice showed an approximate 20% ± 5% (p<0.05) decrease in proliferation accompanied by a 50% ± 17% (p<0.05) and 85% ± 6% (p<0.05) reduction in interferon gamma (INFγ) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) production respectively as compared to T-lymphocytes from saline-infused mice. Additionally, NE directly inhibited naive T-lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production ex vivo in a dose dependent manner. Furthermore, while NE did not demonstrate any pro-apoptotic effects on T-lymphocytes, a 21% ± 2% (p<0.05 vs. saline) increase in G1 arrest was observed in NE-treated T-lymphocytes, and this was accompanied by a 60% ± 4% (p<0.05 vs. saline) decrease in pro-growth cyclin D3, E1, and E2 mRNA expression. Interestingly, NE caused a 71% ± 17% (p<0.05 vs. saline) increase in cellular superoxide (O2•-) production as evidenced by dihydroethidium (DHE) oxidation, which was shown to be partially-causal to the inhibitory effects of NE as the addition of Tempol, a O2•- scavenger, to the drinking water of NE-infused mice was able to moderately restore T-lymphocyte growth and pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Taken together with previous studies, our data indicates that direct NE stimulation of naive T-lymphocytes inhibits their proliferation and cytokine production in hypertension.
Where Do We Go From Here? Toward an Inclusive and Intersectional Literature of Multiple Stigmatization

In the present response to commentaries on Remedios and Snyder (2015), we consider how to develop more inclusive intersectional theories of how women of color experience race and gender stigmatization. As the commentaries highlight, an intersectional literature of multiple stigmatization will benefit from inclusive approaches that consider multiple identity dimensions (beyond race and gender; Carter-Sowell and Zimmerman 2015; Williams and Fredrick 2015), and diversity within social groups (such as diversity within women of color; Mohr and Purdie-Vaughns 2015). We reiterate these assertions by highlighting the limitations of relying on non-stigmatized or prototypical samples (Henrich et al. 2010; Purdie-Vaughns and Eibach 2008), noting that such samples are intersectional, and suggesting that greater inclusivity and use of intersectional approaches will promote the development of more robust and replicable theories. We also caution, however, that incremental advances in this field are necessary, and that research focusing on non-prototypical samples should not be held to a higher standard than research focusing on prototypical samples. In other words, the realization that we cannot do everything−we cannot consider all identity dimensions and all diversity within identity dimensions−in one series of studies should not undermine the value of what we can do as a collective field to move toward a literature of multiple stigmatization. In our response we focus on a U. S. cultural context.
The fatty acids of dormant tung buds

The methyl esters of the fatty acids in the wax of dormant tung buds were prepared and fractionated in a column packed with a spiral screen. Myristic, palmitic, linoleic, oleic, and stearic acids were identified in some of the fractions by the saponification equivalents and by the melting points of the p-bromophenacyl derivatives of the saturated acids and the hydroxy derivatives of the unsaturated acids. The identification of these acids proved the presence of some of the higher fatty acid radicals similar to those found in Crisco and lanolin. It is believed that the mutual solubility of these fatty acids may have facilitated penetration of the alpha-naphthalenacetic or indole-3-acetic acid in Crisco and lanolin emulsions, into the bud tissue and in this way increased their effectiveness in prolonging dormancy.
Use of intrauterine devices in women with uterine anatomic abnormalities.

Abstract Objective To examine the evidence regarding the safety and effectiveness of intrauterine devices (IUDs) in women with uterine abnormalities. Methods We searched PubMed for all peer-reviewed articles in any language that had been published on the topic from database inception to September 2009. Primary research articles were included if they addressed the safety or effectiveness of any type of IUD among women with Mullerian anomalies or uterine synechiae. Results In total, 19 case reports or case series met the inclusion criteria. Reported complications included expulsion, pregnancy, bleeding, perforation, and pain. In several case reports, no complications were reported. Conclusion Evidence concerning the safety and effectiveness of IUD use among women with uterine abnormalities is very limited.
Twins and virtual twins: bases of relative body weight revisited.

OBJECTIVE: Application of a new investigative strategy to assess genetic and environmental influences on relative body weight. DESIGN: Covariance structure analysis of body mass index (BMI) using genetically informative samples. SUBJECTS: One-hundred and fourteen monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs (age 5.04–22.93 y), 81 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs (age 6.05–16.52 y), and 98 virtual twin (VT) pairs, ie same-age unrelated siblings (3.68–54.75 y). MEASUREMENTS: Height, weight, BMI variously obtained by direct measurement and self-report. RESULTS: In contrast with most previous studies, significant common environmental influence on BMI was observed. CONCLUSION: Much past research may have underestimated common environmental effects on BMI because the designs lacked the power or ability to detect them.
Distinguishing drift and selection empirically: "the great snail debate" of the 1950s.

Biologists and philosophers have been extremely pessimistic about the possibility of demonstrating random drift in nature, particularly when it comes to distinguishing random drift from natural selection. However, examination of a historical case – Maxime Lamotte’s study of natural populations of the land snail, Cepaea nemoralis in the 1950s – shows that while some pessimism is warranted, it has been overstated. Indeed, by describing a unique signature for drift and showing that this signature obtained in the populations under study, Lamotte was able to make a good case for a significant role for␣drift. It may be difficult to disentangle the causes of drift and selection acting in a population, but it is not (always) impossible.
Renin expression at sites of repair in the infarcted rat heart.

Abstract Y. Sun, J. Zhang, J. Q. Zhang and K. T. Weber. Renin Expression at Sites of Repair in the Infarcted Rat Heart. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology (2001) 33 , 995–1003. Angiotensin (Ang) II has autocrine and paracrine functions that contribute to structural cardiac remodeling by fibrous tissue following myocardial infarction (MI). The recruitment of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and AngII receptors by inflammatory and fibroblast-like cells involved in tissue repair of the infarcted heart is now well established. On the other hand, the temporal and spatial response and cellular source of renin in infarcted hearts have not been fully elucidated. The relationship between renin synthesis and circulating renin activity have likewise not been addressed. The present study sought to assess the cellular source, spatial distribution and temporal response of renin expression and synthesis in the rat heart following anterior transmural MI, and to determine its relationship to circulating renin activity. At day 3 and weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4 following left coronary artery ligation, the localization and optical density of cardiac renin mRNA was detected by quantitative in situ hybridization; cardiac and circulating renin activity was measured by radioimmunoassay; cells expressing cardiac renin were detected by immunohistochemistry; and injury/repair was assessed by hematoxylin/eosin and collagen-specific picrosirius red staining. Unoperated rats served as normal controls. The authors found: (1) renin mRNA and activity were not detected in either normal control or non-infarcted myocardium, but were expressed at the site of infarction and other sites of repair involving visceral pericardium and endocardium of interventricular septum at all time points; (2) cells expressing renin at day 3 and weeks 1 and 2 were predominantly macrophages, while at weeks 3 and 4, they were primarily myofibroblasts; (3) renin activity in the infarcted myocardium rose progressively over the course of 4 weeks; and (4) circulating renin activity was significantly increased at day 3 and week 1, reached a peak at week 2, declined at week 3 and returned to normal levels at week 4. Thus, renin expression and activity appear at sites of repair in the infarcted rat heart on day 3 and rise progressively thereafter over 4 weeks, independent of circulating renin. Several types of cells are responsible for renin synthesis at these sites; primarily macrophages during the inflammatory phase of repair, and myofibroblasts during the subsequent fibrogenic phase. Cardiac renin production following MI contributes to local AngII generation that regulates tissue repair and structural remodeling following MI.
Verbal Discrimination Learning: Effects of Method of Presentation, Practice Distribution, and Learning Material

Summary Given both similarities and differences between recognition memory in verbal discrimination learning (VDL) and recall memory in paired-associate learning (PAL), the applicability of the retention interval model (12) formulated in PAL to VDL was examined in three experiments using nonsense syllables, two-digit numbers, and words, under both anticipation and study-test methods, with massed practice, as well as with spaced practice. A total of 240 male and female university students participated as Ss. At least partial applicability of the retention interval model to VDL situations was evident, since in line with the expectations from the theory, the superiority of the study-test method over the anticipation method was sometimes large (Experiment 3), but small at other times (Experiments 1 and 2). Through detailed analyses of sublist performances, overall retroactive interferences on which the model is based controlled VDL performances to a major extent. The proactive interferences were inconsequenti...
Prevention of Second Strokes Through Blood Pressure Lowering: Update for 2011

Hypertension has long been recognized as a major risk factor for stroke, and lowering blood pressure has been shown to be effective in preventing first-time strokes. However, it is only over the past decade or so that lowering blood pressure has been shown to also be effective in preventing recurrent strokes. Large recent studies have quantified the effect of blood pressure lowering on stroke prevention, and increasing attention is being paid to variability of blood pressure rather than usual blood pressure values in determining stroke risk and explaining some of the class differences between various antihypertensives in stroke prevention. On the flip side, however, large trials aimed at showing a benefit of angiotensin receptor blockers on stroke prevention, above and beyond blood pressure lowering, have not yielded positive results. Many important questions such as the optimal time to initiate antihypertensive treatment after a stroke, the choice of the antihypertensive agent, and the optimal blood pressure goal after a stroke remain to be determined.
The prince and the pauper: which one is real? The problem of secondary mutation during mutagenesis in Streptococcus pyogenes.

It has been known in the community studying the pathogenesis of Streptococcus pyogenes that spontaneous mutation occurs during passages in laboratory media or in animals, so some of the progeny’s virulence can be changed, mainly due to the change of the expression of virulence factors.1-3 This phenomenon is not only limited to S. pyogenes, but also happens to other pathogens.4-6 Like other pathogens, S. pyogenes, a strict human pathogen, produces virulence factors to attach to and invade host tissues, avoid the immune system, or degrade or kill host tissues and cells. These virulence factors are necessary to colonize, invade, and spread in the host. However, some of these factors are not necessary to grow in laboratory media, so reduced expression of these virulence factors could increase the fitness for growth in laboratory media. A notorious S. pyogenes virulence factor whose expression changes during passages in the laboratory is M protein. M protein is a cell wall-anchored protein with a coiled-coil structure and its important role in S. pyogenes pathogenesis has long been recognized as an adhesin and antiphagocytic factor.7 It is also the causative molecule of the streptococcal rheumatic heart disease. The antibodies generated against M protein cross react with tissues in the heart valves.8 Thus, when S. pyogenes loses M protein, its virulence is dramatically attenuated in animal infection models.
Anyons from bosons

Abstract We consider systems containing two or more distinct species of particles in two spatial dimensions. In quantizations of these systems, the statistics of composites containing more than one type of particle are not completely determined by the statistics of the constituents. In particular there exist quantum theories in which two bosons can combine to form an anyon with any desired statistical angle. We demonstrate these results using the topological approach to quantum kinematics, which in this case leads to a generalization of ordinary braid theory in two dimensions. Comparisons are made to three-dimensional systems.
The injury burden of the 2010 Haiti earthquake: A stratified cluster survey

Abstract Introduction On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated metropolitan Port au Prince and surrounding areas and resulted in widespread injury, mortality and displacement. This study aimed to estimate the injury rate among the affected population and the resulting demand of emergency medical care in the aftermath of the earthquake. Methods In January 2011, a cross-sectional stratified cluster (60 × 20 household) survey of the earthquake-affected population in metropolitan Port au Prince was conducted to assess their well-being, unmet needs and perceptions of humanitarian assistance one year post-earthquake. Mixed effects simple and multiple logistic regressions were used to measure the total unadjusted and adjusted odds of injury. Results A total of 261 injuries were reported in the pre-earthquake population of 6489 individuals with reported injury status. The overall earthquake injury rate was estimated at 40.2 injuries/1000 (CI: 35.6–45.3). Individual characteristics such as age, gender, and education status were not significantly associated with risk of injury. Elevated injury rates were observed among households residing in camps at 46.7/1000 (CI: 39.7–54.5) as compared to those in neighbourhoods where the injury rate was 33.7/1000 (CI: 27.8–40.5) (p = 0.018). Extrapolation of the survey injury rate to the affected population yields an estimated 124,577 earthquake injuries (range 110,048–140,033) which is substantially lower than the 300,000 reported injuries. Conclusions Estimates of the injury burden in disasters in lower- and middle-income countries is essential for disaster preparedness and response planning in future natural disasters. Given the difficulties in reporting injuries in emergencies, including both challenges of aggregating information and lack of standardized definitions and inclusion/exclusion criteria for injuries that are not severe, ascertaining the injury burden of disasters will be a persistent challenge.
A low-fat diet and/or strenuous exercise alters the IGF axis in vivo and reduces prostate tumor cell growth in vitro.

Background Prostate cancer is the most common solid-tumor cancer in US males but is rare in Asian males. When Asian men adopt the US lifestyle, clinical prostate cancer increases greatly. Epidemiological data from men in the US indicate that regular activity may reduce the risk for prostate cancer. Methods Serum was obtained from three groups of similar-aged men, Control, Diet and Exercise, and Exercise alone were used to stimulate LNCaP cells in culture. Growth and apoptosis of tumor cells were measured. Serum samples were also used to measure insulin, IGF-1, IGFBP-1. Results The Diet and Exercise and the Exercise alone groups had lower serum insulin and IGF-1 but higher IGFBP-1 compared to Controls. LNCaP cell growth was reduced in both groups compared to Control and there was a major increase in apoptosis of tumor cells. Conclusions A low-fat diet and/or intensive exercise results in change in serum hormones and growth factors in vivo that can reduce growth and induce apoptosis of LNCaP prostate tumor cells in vitro.
Rotation means of projections

An inequality is obtained between the Quermassintegrals of a convex body and power means of the Quermassintegrals of projections of the body onto subspaces. This inequality is shown to be a strengthened form of the classical inequality between the Quermassintegrals of a convex body. It is used to derive inequalities for rotation means of products of lower dimensional Quermassintegrals of convex bodies, which generalize inequalities obtained by Chakerian, Heil, Knothe, Schneider, and others.
Determination of C14-lactate adapted to liquid scintillation counting

Abstract 1. 1. A method is presented which allows the determination of radioactivity in the 1-carbon and the 2,3-carbon moieties of lactic acid adapted to liquid scintillation counting. 2. 2. The lactic acid is oxidized by ceric sulfate to acetaldchyde and CO 2 , which are carried over into a series of traps by means of a CO 2 - and carbonyl-free air stream. 3. 3. The acetaldehyde is trapped as its semicarbazone and assayed spectrophotometrically. The CO 2 is trapped as its Hyamine-carbonate and measured by difference titration. Radiochemical assays are performed directly using Bray's solution as the counting system. 4. 4. A description is given of the distillation-degradation setup and of the CO 2 -carbonyl scrub train used. Optimal conditions as to air flow, temperature, and duration of the reaction are given. 5. 5. The method can be used in the range of 15 to 60 μmoles and is reproducible and accurate.
Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumors of the Central Nervous System

Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) is a highly malignant central nervous system neoplasm that usually affects very young children and is typically deadly despite very aggressive treatment. Considered rare, the tumor was not recognized as a distinct entity until the 80's, due to its similar features with other primitive tumors. Although AT/RT has become increasingly recognized, published data has been based on small series and are retrospective. Based on these data, there are occasional long-term survivors, most of whom received intensive multi-modal therapy. AT/RT is the first pediatric brain tumor for which a candidate tumor suppressor gene has been identified. A mutation or deletion in the INI1 gene occurs in the majority of AT/RT tumors. The function of the gene is not yet understood. Prospective clinical and biologic trials are greatly needed to understand the efficacy of therapeutic interventions, as well as the role of the gene.
Incidence and factors associated with treatment failure in the CLIMB multiple sclerosis cohort study.

Abstract Objective To determine the rate of treatment failure in patients outside of a controlled treatment trial and to ascertain the factors physicians used to make this decision. Methods One hundred and thirty four patients with the diagnosis of relapsing–remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis (MS) or clinically isolated symptom (CIS) enrolled in the CLIMB study (Comprehensive Longitudinal Investigation of Multiple Sclerosis at the Brigham and Women's Hospital) were treated with either interferon beta or glatiramer acetate as their initial treatment for MS. Results The probability of failing initial treatment within 3 years was 30%. Clinical activity, defined as relapses and/or progression in disability, determined treatment failure in 35.7% ( n = 10) of nonresponders. New T2 hyperintense or gadolinium-enhancing lesions on MRI was used to define treatment failure in 28.6% ( n = 8) and new MRI lesions were used in combination with clinical activity in 35.7% ( n = 10). Treatment failures had a higher T2 hyperintense lesion volume ( p = 0.015) and number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions ( p = 0.0001) on the enrollment MRI than responders. Conclusions These observations demonstrate that treating physicians use both clinical and MRI parameters to define a response to treatment and initiation of a treatment change and that baseline MRI identified those with increased risk of treatment failure.
Intersubband spin-density excitations in quantum wells with Rashba spin splitting

In inversion-asymmetric semiconductors, spin-orbit coupling induces a $\mathbf{k}$-dependent spin splitting of valence and conduction bands, which is a well-known cause for spin decoherence in bulk and heterostructures. Manipulating nonequilibrium spin coherence in device applications thus requires understanding how valence and conduction band spin splitting affects carrier spin dynamics. This paper studies the relevance of this decoherence mechanism for collective intersubband spin-density excitations (SDE's) in quantum wells. A density-functional formalism for the linear spin-density matrix response is presented that describes SDE's in the conduction band of quantum wells with subbands that may be nonparabolic and spin split due to bulk or structural inversion asymmetry (Rashba effect). As an example, we consider a 40 nm ${\mathrm{G}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{A}\mathrm{s}/\mathrm{A}\mathrm{l}}_{0.3}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{0.7}\mathrm{As}$ quantum well, including Rashba spin splitting of the conduction subbands. We find a coupling and wave-vector-dependent splitting of the longitudinal and transverse SDE's. However, decoherence of the SDE's is not determined by subband spin splitting, due to collective effects arising from dynamical exchange and correlation.
Pleuragramma antarcticum (Pisces, Nototheniidae) as food for other fishes in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica

Nine spcies of notothenioid fishes were captured near the southern limit of their range in ice covered McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Stomach contents were examined using an occurrence method. Fishes were present in the diets of 8 of 9 species;Dissostichus mawsoni andGymnodraco acuticeps were predominantly piscivorous.Pleuragramma antarcticum was the most common prey fish consumed, being present in stomachs of 4 of 8 species.Pleuragramma was also partially piscivorous (22%) as well as cannibalistic (13%). As evidenced by their presence in the stomach contents of other fishes, all life history stages from 20 mm SL postlarvae to 160 mm SL adultPleuragramma were represented under the ice of the Sound.Pleuragramma was also a major food item for Weddell seals, birds and possibly invertebrates. As a widely distributed species in the pelagic zone,Pleuragramma may be an ecological substitute for euphausiids in the food web of the Sound.
Comparison of single and biplane ventriculography for determination of left ventricular volume and ejection fraction

Abstract This study was done to compare single and biplane left ventriculography in quantitating left ventricular (LV) volumes and ejection fraction. LV volumes and ejection fraction were measured from a 30 ° right anterior oblique single plane ventriculogram and a 30 ° right anterior oblique 60 ° left anterior oblique biplane ventriculogram in 152 men (aged 59 ± 9 [mean ± standard deviation] years), of whom 102 had hypokinesia, akinesia, or dyskinesia. There was excellent agreement between the results of single and biplane ventriculography with respect to LV end-diastolic volume (r = 0.96), end-systolic volume (r = 0.98) and ejection fraction (r = 0.97). The end-diastolic and endsystolic volumes measured by biplane ventriculography were consistently slightly larger than those measured by single plane, whereas ejection fractions measured by the 2 techniques were remarkably similar, even for the 46 patients with biplane ejection fractions
Conversion of glycerol to light olefins and gasoline precursors

Abstract We explore a glycerol-to-olefins process in a reactor containing dehydration, hydrogenation, and upgrading stages in series. Glycerol, co-fed with H 2 over HZSM-5 (1.0 g, Si/Al = 11.5, 400 °C), was first dehydrated to yield a mixture of acetaldehyde, acrolein, and hydroxypropanone. Acrolein was hydrogenated to propanal over a Pd/α-Al 2 O 3 catalyst and the effluent was passed to a third stage which served to further upgrade propanal to olefins. Rapid third stage deactivation was observed, although, we obtained a maximum 70% yield of light olefins from a propanal stream reacted over HBEA (0.5 g, 500 °C) with minimal CO production. A decrease in propanal conversion and C 2−3 olefin yield was observed along with a corresponding increase in C 4−5 olefin yield as time-on-stream increased to 150 min. We conclude that propanal condensed over Bronsted acid sites to form C 4−5 olefins, which subsequently cracked at high conversion to form C 2−3 olefins. Increasing the temperature from 400 to 500 °C also decreased the C 4−5 olefin yield from 13 to 9% while increasing C 2−3 olefin yield from 4 to 15%. C C bond formation occurred during glycerol upgrading in a staged reactor configuration and negligible carbon is lost as CO.
Adaptation and Generalization to Opposing Perturbations in Walking

Little is known on how the CNS would select its movement options when a person faces a novel or recurring perturbation of two opposing types (slip or trip) while walking. The purposes of this study were (1) to determine whether young adults’ adaptation to repeated slips would interfere with their recovery from a novel trip, and (2) to investigate the generalized strategies after they were exposed to a mixed training with both types of perturbation. Thirty-two young adults were assigned to either the training group, which first underwent repeated-slip training before encountering a novel, unannounced trip while walking, or to the control group, which only experienced the same novel, unannounced trip. The former group would then experience a mix of repeated trips and slips. The results indicated that prior adaptation to slips had only limited interference during the initial phase of trip recovery. In fact, the prior repeated-slip exposure had primed their reaction, which mitigated any error resulting from early interference. As a result, they did not have to take a longer compensatory step for trip recovery than did the controls. After the mixed training, subjects were able to converge effectively the motion state of their center of mass (in its position and velocity space) to a stable and generalized “middle ground” steady-state. Such movement strategies not only further strengthened their robust reactive control of stability, but also reduced the CNS’ overall reliance on accurate context prediction and on feedback correction of perturbation-induced movement error.
An enzymatic method for inosine 5′-monophosphate in the femtomole range

Abstract A method for measuring inosine 5′-monophosphate (IMP) by enzymatic generation of NADPH is described. Procedures are given for direct fluorometric assay in the nanomole range and indirect measurement with amplification by enzymatic cycling in the pico- and femtomole ranges. The most sensitive procedure represents a nearly 50,000-fold increase in sensitivity over enzymatic methods now available. Specificity of the assay was greatly enhanced by the use of the antibiotic coformycin, a potent inhibitor of adenosine deaminase (EC 3.5.4.4). This enzyme was found to be a major contaminant of one of the necessary enzymes, phosphoglucomutase (EC 2.7.5.1). The use of the method is illustrated by measurements of IMP in single stimulated and control rat muscle fibers.
Intermittent “normal” ventricular conduction appeering in left bundle branch block: A vectorcardiographic study

Abstract A patient with known arteriosclerotic heart disease is presented, whose electrocardiogram demonstrated a consistently repeated change from left bundle branch block to transiently more normal ventricular conduction, following premature beats. Spatial vectorcardiographic study of the different types of complexes was thus made possible. The presence of two myocardial infarctions, suspected in the electrocardiogram, was confirmed by the vectorcardiographic findings.