cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Src family kinases participate in the regulation of encephalomyocarditis virus-induced cyclooxygenase-2 expression by macrophages.

Src family kinases (SFKs) are non-receptor tyrosine kinases that have been implicated as regulators of the inflammatory response. In this study, the role of SFK activation in the inflammatory response of macrophages to encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) infection was examined. Virus infection of macrophages stimulates the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interleukin (IL)-1β and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Inhibition of SFK attenuates EMCV-induced COX-2 expression and prostaglandin E2 production, iNOS expression and subsequent nitric oxide production, and IL-1β expression. EMCV-induced COX-2 expression requires the activation of nuclear factor-κB and the mitogen-activated protein kinase p38. Consistent with these previous findings, inhibition of SFKs attenuated the phosphorylation of p38 in response to EMCV infection, suggesting that SFKs may act upstream of p38. These findings provide evidence that SFK activation plays an active role in the regulation of inflammatory gene expression by virus-infected macrophages.
Squeezing the balloon: International drugs policy

Recent experience of supply reduction activities in a major opium-producing country, Pakistan, is reviewed. It is concluded that international efforts to reduce the supply of illicit drugs are ineffective, inadvertently promote use of more dangerous forms of drugs and exacerbate health problems in supplier countries. In addition, source country supply reduction activities are associated with serious unintended negative consequences, including corruption and poor governance in supplier countries. This leads to a vicious circle as these adverse social consequences make it harder to restrict drug production.
Rumoring theory and the Internet: a framework for analyzing the grass roots

The Internet is the newest medium of communication used by movement activists. As such, it has advantages and disadvantages. This article uses a rumoring framework to explain how the Internet works...
Debates that Mattered: Voters' Reaction to the 1984 Canadian Leadership Debates

Students of political debating in both Canada and the United States have generally concluded that national debates do little more than reinforce viewers' prior preferences. This article considers the Canadian leadership debates of 1984, and asks two major questions. First, would the presence of relatively unknown party leaders make these debates more influential than expected? Second, would the French-language debate have special effects on francophone Canadians? The author finds that the debates, unlike their 1979 counterpart, had a significant effect on voting behaviour. Moreover, that effect was especially strong among people for whom French was the first language, and worked in favour of the candidate most fluent in that language. The author concludes by considering the importance of these findings.
Radar dwell scheduling considering physical characteristics of phased array antenna

This paper proposes novel techniques for scheduling radar dwells in phased array radar systems. In order to handle complex physical characteristics such as dwell interleaving, transmitting duty cycle constraint, and energy constraint, we propose a notion of schedulability envelope. The schedulability envelope designed offline hides the details of complex radar dwell scheduling and provides a simple measure for the schedulability check. Using the schedulability envelope, the proposed technique can efficiently perform the admission control for dynamic target tracking tasks. The simulation results show that the proposed approach can significantly improve the system utilization by taking advantage of dwell interleaving while guaranteeing the schedulability and physical constraints.
Family Coping Strategies and Strengths in Hispanic, African-American, and Caucasian Families of Young Children

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between maternal perceptions of family coping strategies and family strengths in Hispanic, African-American, and Caucasian families of youn...
Exploiting the Gibbs-Duhem equation in separation calculations

Various ways of building quasi-Newton matrix approximations that satisfy the special form of the Gibbs-Duhem equation are studied. Partition symmetry, the separability of the functions in γ and in ϕ, and the method of iterated projections are used in order to develop thermodynamically consistent matrix approximations with good secant information. Many examples are presented which show that exploiting the special form of the Gibbs-Duhem equation results in improved numerical performance. Ways of exploiting the Gibbs-Helmholtz equation in addition to the special form of Gibbs-Duhem equation, and thus the isobaric form of the Gibbs-Duhem equation, are also discussed.
Energy Metabolism, Nutrition and Ageing

Abstract. Energy metabolism and nutrition have long been suggested to play a role in ageing processes, in age-related disease and in the health of the elderly. This review addresses new insights arising from selected studies of the interplay of these factors. Data on overfeeding and underfeeding in young versus elderly men and women demonstrate a deficit with age in the ability to regulate energy balance. They also indicate that current values of Recommended Daily Allowances of caloric intake underestimate the needs of the elderly. The studies suggest that diminished capacity of energy metabolism with age may have a nutritional component and the involvement of the central nervous system. The contribution of peripheral tissues is suggested by studies of mitochondrial DNA isolated from tissues of humans and rodents. The studies demonstrate age-related and disease-related increases in rates of mutation in some but not all tissues. The further involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction in ageing is suggested by data on oxidative free radical production in mitochondria of birds versus rodents. These elegant studies indicate greatly reduced rates of free radical production in mitochondria of long-lived - birds versus short-lived rodents. They further demonstrate that Complex I of the respiratory chain may be a major factor in these species-specific effects. Restriction of caloric intake (dietary restriction, DR) is the only manipulation known to consistently extend lifespan in a wide variety of species. Previous work shows that extension of lifespan in DR is not necessarily related to reduced metabolic rate per unit metabolic mass. More recent work in exercising DR rats demonstrates consistently high daily metabolic rates together with extended lifespan. Other studies also show altered characteristics of fuel use in DR, indicating the ability of DR rats to maintain appropriate rates of fuel use under conditions less damaging to the organism. All of these new approaches to the interaction of nutrition, energy expenditure and ageing suggest that regulation of energy balance and the characteristics of fuel use play significant roles in ageing and in age-related disease.
The Use of Inside-Out Lateral Osteotomies to Improve Outcome in Rhinoplasty

ObjectiveTo evaluate the anatomic effects of the transnasal nasal "inside-out" lateral osteotomy in comparison to a continuous lateral osteotomy to widen the excessively narrow bony nasal pyramid. ...
Evolution and stratigraphy of a regressive barrier/backbarrier complex: Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Analysis of 75 vibracores from the backbarrier region of Kiawah Island, South Carolina reveals a complex association of three distinct stratigraphic sequences. Beach ridge progradation and orientation-controlled backbarrier development during the evolution of Kiawah Island, and resulted in deposition of: (1) a mud-rich central backbarrier sequence consisting of low marsh overlying fine-grained, tidal flat/lagoonal mud; (2) a sandy beach-ridge swale sequence consisting of high and low marsh overlying tidal creek channel and point bar sand, and foreshore/shoreface; and (3) a regressive sequence of sandy, mixed, and muddy tidal flats capped by salt marsh that occurs on the updrift end of the island. Central backbarrier deposits formed as a result of the development of the initial beach ridge on Kiawah Island. Formation of this beach ridge created a backbarrier lagoon in which fine-grained estuarine and tidal flat mud accumulated. Washovers, oyster mounds, and tidal creek deposits form isolated sand and/or shell-rich lenses in the lagoon. Spartina alterniflora low marsh prograded into the lagoon as the tidal flats aggraded. Barrier progradation and sediment bar-bypassing at Stono Inlet created digitate beach ridges on the northeast end of Kiawah Island. Within the beach-ridge swales, tidal flats were disconformably deposited on shoreface and foreshore sand of the older beach ridges. Tidal creek drainage systems evolved to drain the swales. These rapidly migrating creeks reworked the tidal flat, foreshore, and shoreface sediments while redepositing a fining-upward sequence of channel lag and point bar deposits, which served as a substrate for salt marsh colonization. This resultant regressive sedimentary package marks the culmination of barrier island development and estuary infilling. Given enough time and sedimentation, the backbarrier sequence will ultimately prograde over the barrier island, reworking dune, beach, and foreshore sediments to form the upper sand-rich bounding surface of the barrier lithosome. Preservation of the regressive sequence is dependent upon sediment supply and the relative rate of sea-level rise, but the reworking of barrier islands by tidal inlets and migrating tidal creeks greatly alter and complicate the stratigraphic sequence.
Intracranial pressure versus cerebral perfusion pressure as a marker of outcomes in severe head injury: a prospective evaluation.

Abstract Background Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring is a standard of care in severe traumatic brain injury when clinical features are unreliable. It remains unclear, however, whether elevated ICP or decreased cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) predicts outcome. Methods This is a prospective observational study of patients sustaining severe blunt head injury, admitted to the surgical intensive care unit at the Los Angeles County and University of Southern California Medical Center between January 2010 and December 2011. The study population was stratified according to the findings of ICP and CPP. Primary outcomes were overall in-hospital mortality and mortality because of cerebral herniation. Secondary outcomes were development of complications during the hospitalization. Results A total of 216 patients met Brain Trauma Foundation guidelines for ICP monitoring. Of those, 46.8% (n = 101) were subjected to the intervention. Sustained elevated ICP significantly increased all in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 3.15 [1.11, 8.91], P = .031) and death because of cerebral herniation (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 9.25 [1.19, 10.48], P = .035). Decreased CPP had no impact on mortality. Conclusions A single episode of sustained increased ICP is an accurate predictor of poor outcomes. Decreased CPP did not affect survival.
Anxiogenic and aversive effects of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis in the rat: role of CRF receptor subtypes

Rationale Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) produces anxiety-like and aversive effects when infused directly into the various regions of the brain, including the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST). However, the CRF receptor subtypes within the BNST mediating these phenomena have not been established.
Concepts in the Development of Vaccines Against Genital Herpes Simplex Virus Infections

Genital herpes simplex (HSV) infection is a disease of public health importance. In the United States the prevalence of genital herpes has increased ten fold between the years 1965 through 1980 [1]. Concomitant with this increase in genital herpes has been a parallel increase in the incidence of neonatal HSV infections. The incidence of neonatal HSV infection has increased from 2.5 cases per 100,000 live births to King County residents in the years 1966–1969 to 13.4 cases per 100,000 live births in the years 1982–1983 [2]. Many mothers who deliver infants with neonatal herpes have acquired disease asymptomatically [2, 3]. Approximately 50% of the source contacts who transmit genital herpes are asymptomatic at the time of transmission and an additional 40% of the symptomatic source contacts have clinically undiagnosed or atypical symptoms [4]. As such, any treatment strategy designed to interrupt the transmission of genital herpes must be directed at preventing infection in exposed sexual partners and/or infants ofasymptomatic source contacts.
Constraint-driven communication synthesis

Constraint-driven communication synthesis enables the automatic design of the communication architecture of a complex system from a library of pre-defined intellectual property (IP) components. The key communication parameters that govern all the point-to-point interactions among system modules are captured as a set of arc constraints in the communication constraint graph. Similarly, the communication features offered by each of the components available in the IP communication library are captured as a set of feature resources together with its cost figures. Then, every communication architecture that can be built using the available components while satisfying all constraints is implicitly considered (as an implementation graph matching the constraint graph) to derive the optimum design solution with respect to the desired cost figure. The corresponding constrained optimization problem is efficiently solved by a novel algorithm that is presented here together with its rigorous theoretical foundations.
Radiation imaging with 2D a-Si sensor arrays

Radiation imaging with a large-area amorphous silicon (a-Si) sensor array is discussed. X-ray images approaching medical diagnostic quality were obtained by a 256*240 array of 0.45 mm pixel pitch with 40 ms exposure time. Low-flux gamma -ray imaging was demonstrated by a 64*40 sensor array with a pixel pitch of 0.9 mm, operated at a low external bias with 20-s integration time. The signal readout process is modeled and compared with experiments. At low external bias, charge collection and retention characteristics were influenced by the additional sensor-bias created by the charge injection associated with the thin-film transistor operation. Charge retention in a sensor element was limited by the leakage through the sensor. >
The Prisoner Dis-Analogy as a Defense of Stem Cell Research on Spare Embryos

Under the premise that an embryo is a full person, the argument against using spare IVF embryos for stem cell research is the prisoner analogy. Namely, the analogy contends that just as we may not ravage a prisoner on death row for his body parts, likewise we may not harvest the embryo for its stem cells simply because it is destined for destruction. Here, I show that this comparison does not hold, for an immoral action is committed against the prisoner as a result of certain characteristics present in the prisoner but absent from the embryo. In particular, three wrongs - infliction of suffering, imposition of double punishment, and violation of human dignity - are perpetrated against the prisoner, but do not apply in the case of the embryo. Therefore, I conclude that the repudiation of the analogy implies that it is morally permissible to use spare IVF embryos for the purposes of stem cell research.
Merging the instrumentation evolution.

After reading the interesting article by Wong et al. ([1][1]) in this issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine on the state-of-the-art hardware developments in nuclear medicine imaging instrumentation, it is hard to keep one’s editorial comments away from historic references. The first nuclear
Getting Deals Done: Enhancing Negotiation Theory and Practice Through a Therapeutic Jurisprudence/Comprehensive Law Mindset

This article explains how a therapeutic jurisprudence/comprehensive law mindset can augment negotiation theory and skill to help get deals done. Therapeutic jurisprudence (TJ) is a vibrant vector of the larger comprehensive law movement of which it is a part. Both TJ and comprehensive law are integrated, humanistic, interdisciplinary approaches to addressing legal matters. They explicitly value interpersonal, emotional, psychological, and relational concerns and incorporate them into theory and practice without shortchanging substantive law or legal rights, responsibilities, duties and obligations. They are a “legal rights plus” approach to law. Like the studied theories of negotiation, they are influenced by psychology and social science.There are a number of parallels between TJ/comprehensive law and formal studied approaches to negotiation. Virtually all negotiation practice and formal theories of negotiation already recognize that human emotions impact negotiations. This article recommends that a mindset infused with therapeutic jurisprudence and certain other vectors of comprehensive law can impart subtle enhancements to formal theories of negotiation and practice to help get deals done. As a working title, I refer to this as comprehensive law infused negotiation. For example, while the sophisticated, interest based core concerns approach to negotiation uses emotions to understand the perspectives of the other side and uses emotions as a tool to move the negotiations to a successful conclusion, TJ makes positive (therapeutic) emotional outcomes part of the desired outcomes of the negotiation, wherever this can be accomplished without adversely impacting one’s own side’s underlying substantive concerns in the matter. This does not mean that the purpose of the negotiation is to improve the emotional and corresponding physical health of everyone involved in the deal. Nor does it assert that therapeutic interests should outweigh other norms, but it does encourage negotiators to remain continuously cognizant of therapeutic and anti-therapeutic impacts. This enables them to more precisely weigh the competing interests, and keep therapeutic goals in mind as they utilize the techniques of sophisticated negotiation theory and engage in creative problem solving and preventive law. It helps them arrive at agreements that are both substantively efficacious and therapeutic. It fosters an environment conducive to successful implementation. An agreement that meets the dignitary and human emotional needs of the other side as well as one’s own business and dignitary goals is likely to reach a successful conclusion. It pays huge dividends when a multi-year deal requires ongoing cooperation to be successful, especially when mid-course modifications are needed.
Biomechanical analysis of the less invasive stabilization system for mechanically unstable fractures of the distal femur: comparison of titanium versus stainless steel and bicortical versus unicortical fixation.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to test the effect of (1) titanium versus stainless steel metal and (2) locked unicortical versus bicortical shaft fixation on stiffness of Less Invasive Stabilization System (LISS) constructs in a mechanically unstable nonosteoporotic distal femur fracture model. METHODS An AO/OTA 33-A3 fracture was created in 24 sawbone femur specimens that simulated normal bone quality. Testing was performed on three groups: titanium unicortical LISS fixation, stainless steel unicortical LISS fixation, and bicortical stainless steel LISS fixation. Specimens were tested in axial, torsional, and cyclic axial loading in a materials testing machine. The outcome measurement was stiffness in axial and torsional loading, total deformation, and irreversible (plastic) deformation in cyclical axial loading. RESULTS No difference was found in stiffness in axial loading or plastic and total deformation between all three groups. There was a small decrease in stiffness in torsional loading in the titanium group compared with the stainless steel groups (p < 0.0001) and a small increase in stiffness in torsional loading with bicortical versus unicortical proximal fixation (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS Unstable distal femur fracture constructs, created in sawbone specimens, fixed with stainless steel and titanium LISS implants, with or without bicortical locking screws proximally, show similar biomechanical properties under loading. Although there are numerous considerations when selecting implants for these fractures, our results indicate that stiffness is not a significant factor in choosing between the constructs tested.
Factors Moderating the Resolution of Preference Conflict in Family Automobile Purchasing

A comparison of husbands’ and wives’ preferences in 11 subdecisions of the automobile purchase decision revealed strong similarity in first choices but moderate discrepancy in total preference dist...
Exploration of changes in disability after menopause in a longitudinal multiple sclerosis cohort

Background:Onset of multiple sclerosis (MS) is typically in early adulthood. The impact, if any, of menopause on the MS course is unknown. Our objective was to determine whether menopause is associ...
Composition of hepatic lipids after ethanol, cod liver oil and vitamin E feeding in rats.

One of the numerous metabolic effects of alcohol consumption is its altering the metabolism of fatty acids in tissues. This alterations lead to an increase in the ratio of linoleic to arachidonic acid in the phospholipid fraction of the tissues (Ailing et al., 1984, Reitz 1979). The additional associated depletion of the alpha-tocopherol (Vitamin E) content of cell membranes following prolonged ethanol administration (Bjorneboe et al., 1987) suggests that increased lipid peroxidation may play a role in the pathogenesis of alcoholic fatty liver. If increased peroxidation of membrane lipids can lead to the disruption of the structural and functional properties of the membranes, then it might be expected that the fluidity and composition of the liver would be altered. Such an observation has been confirmed (Chin et al., 1977). It would, therefore, follow that such alterations may be prevented by a dietary antioxidant such as alpha tocophetol. In this study, the development of liver membrane proxidation and alcoholic fatty liver was promoted through chronic ethanol and cod liver oil. Supplementation of the diets with vitamin E was used to study the role of vitamin E in preventing hepatic fatty acid changes.
Toxicity of hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (HO-PCBs) using the bioluminescent assay Microtox(®).

Hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (HO-PCBs) are toxic contaminants which are produced in the environment by biological or abiotic oxidation of PCBs. The toxicity of a suite of 23 mono-hydroxylated derivatives of PCBs and 12 parent PCBs was determined using the bacterial bioluminescent assay Microtox®. All HO-PCBs tested exhibited higher toxicity than the corresponding parent PCB, with effect concentration 50 % (EC50) ranging from 0.07 to 133 mg L−1. The highest toxicities were recorded with 4-hydroxylated derivatives of di-chlorinated biphenyls (EC50 = 0.07–0.36 mg L−1) and 2-hydroxylated derivatives of tri-chlorinated biphenyls carrying a chlorine substituent on the phenolic ring (EC50 = 0.34–0.48 mg L−1). The toxicity of HO-PCBs generally decreased when the degree of chlorination increased. Consistently with this observation, a significant positive correlation was measured between toxicity (measured by EC50) and octanol–water partition coefficient (pK ow) for the HO-PCBs under study (Pearson’s correlation coefficient, r = 0.74), which may be explained by the lower solubility and bioavailability generally associated with higher hydrophobicity. This study is the first one which assessed the toxicity of a suite of PCBs and HO-PCBs using the bioluminescent assay Microtox®, showing an inverse correlation between toxicity and hydrophobicity.
Autobiographical World Theology

Traditionally, western theologies have been systematic, orthodox, dogmatic, and ecclesiastical. Recently, however, liberal, neo-orthodox, philosophical, and radical theologians have begun to reform the theological enterprise, and in turn to prepare the way for what has been called “world theology.” Whereas the traditional theologian viewed other faith communities as less truthful than his or her own, the world theologian is the Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist who views other theologies and world views non-exclusivistically, and from within the other's viewpoint. W. C. Smith captures the Janus-nature of this emerging world theology in one sentence—“All theology is self-theology, and yet it must exclude no one.” According to this assessment, today's theological task must be autobiographical (self-theology) and world-oriented (excluding no one). Each person's life-story is significantly related to each other's, for without personal history (autobiographical and biographical) theology reverts to a scholasticism of structures, rules, and restrictions, and without a world-orientation, theology retreats into exclusivistic, specialized edifices, and thereby surrenders any claim to speak to and for all humans.
Headache as First Symptom of Cerebral Tumor

Five children, ranging in age from 10 months to 4 years, all presenting initially with headache, with or without vomiting, and in whom the final diagnosis was intracranial tumor, are reported from Petah Tiqva, Israel.
Explicating heterogeneity of complex traits has strong potential for improving GWAS efficiency.

Common strategy of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) relying on large samples faces difficulties, which raise concerns that GWAS have exhausted their potential, particularly for complex traits. Here, we examine the efficiency of the traditional sample-size-centered strategy in GWAS of these traits, and its potential for improvement. The paper focuses on the results of the four largest GWAS meta-analyses of body mass index (BMI) and lipids. We show that just increasing sample size may not make p-values of genetic effects in large (N > 100,000) samples smaller but can make them larger. The efficiency of these GWAS, defined as ratio of the log-transformed p-value to the sample size, in larger samples was larger than in smaller samples for a small fraction of loci. These results emphasize the important role of heterogeneity in genetic associations with complex traits such as BMI and lipids. They highlight the substantial potential for improving GWAS by explicating this role (affecting 11–79% of loci in the selected GWAS), especially the effects of biodemographic processes, which are heavily underexplored in current GWAS and which are important sources of heterogeneity in the various study populations. Further progress in this direction is crucial for efficient use of genetic discoveries in health care.
Platelet Function Disorders in Bleeding Patients without Other Coagulopathies

Abstract Introduction: We present a series of 105 patients referred for hematologic consultation to evaluate a clinical bleeding disorder. Little is known regarding the prevalence of non-genetic qualitative platelet disorders and which of these might respond to desmopressin. Methods: Patients were assessed over a two-year period, from December 2011 through December 2013. Patients, who were found to have neither von Willebrand's disease nor coagulation factor deficiencies, nor quantitative platelet defects, were tested for platelet function abnormalities by PFA-100 (Dade Behring, Marburg, Germany) and platelet aggregation and secretion studies using lumi aggregation (Chrono-Log Corp., Havertown, PA, USA). Selected patients with abnormal platelet function were given a trial of intravenous desmopressin to determine efficacy, and platelet function studies were repeated 2 hours later. Results: Of the 105 referred patients (26 males, age range 15-83 years; 79 females, age range 21-86 years), 67 with either normal (n=43) or abnormal (n=24) PFA-100 results were not evaluated further based on their clinical history and presentation. 18 patients with abnormal PFA-100 results, consisting of Collagen/ADP, Collagen/Epinephrine, or both, had platelet aggregation and secretion studies performed. 16 of these patients had abnormal platelet aggregation and secretion studies, while 2 patients had normal studies. In addition, 20 patients with normal PFA-100 results underwent platelet aggregation and secretion studies. Of these, 17 had abnormal platelet aggregation and secretion predominantly in response to two or more weak agonists, including ADP, epinephrine and/or arachidonic acid. Only 3 of these 20 patients had normal platelet aggregation and secretion. Of the 16 patients with both abnormal PFA-100 and abnormal platelet aggregation and secretion tests, 11 underwent subsequent pre- and post- desmopressin platelet function testing. 7 of the 11 patients showed improvement or complete normalization of at least one PFA-100 parameter, i.e., either Collagen/ADP, Collagen/Epinephrine, or both. However, results of platelet aggregation and secretion tests remained unchanged, irrespective of PFA-100 results. Conclusions: 1. In the present study, platelet aggregation and secretion studies in patients with no other coagulopathies revealed platelet function defects in approximately 30% of the study cohort. Platelet function defects were in response to weak agonists, including ADP, epinephrine, and/or arachidonic acid. 2. Our data support the recent SCC ISTH recommendations against the use of PFA-100 for platelet function screening. 3. We recommend that the hematologist carefully assess the bleeding history, and, if significant, pursue platelet aggregation and secretion studies to identify potential platelet function defects. Disclosures Aledort: Baxter Healthcare: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: DSMB Participation; Kedrion BioPharma: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.
Macular carotenoid supplementation improves disability glare performance and dynamics of photostress recovery.

The so-called macular carotenoids (MC) lutein (L), zeaxanthin (Z), and meso-zeaxanthin (MZ) comprise the diet-derived macular pigment (MP). The purpose of this study was to determine effects of MC supplementation on the optical density of MP (MPOD), repeated-exposure photostress recovery (PSR), and disability glare (DG) thresholds. This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Fifty-nine young (mean age = 21.7), healthy volunteers participated in this study. Subjects supplemented their daily diet with either 10 mg L + 2 mg total Z (1 mg Z + 1 mg MZ; n = 24), 20 mg L + 4 mg total Z (2 mg Z + 2 mg MZ; n = 25), or placebo (n = 10) for 12 months. The primary outcome was a composite measure of visual performance in glare, defined by change in DG and PSR. Secondary outcomes included MPOD and visual fatigue. The primary endpoint for outcomes was 12 months. MPOD was assessed with customized heterochromatic flicker photometry. PSR times for an 8 cycle /degree, 15 % contrast Gabor patch target were determined after each of five successive exposures to intense LED lights. DG threshold was defined as the intensity of a ring of lights through which subjects were able to maintain visibility of the aforementioned target. Measures of all parameters were conducted at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Repeated-measures ANOVA, and Pearson product-moment correlations were used to determine statistically significant correlations, and changes within and between groups. MPOD for subjects in both supplementation groups increased significantly versus placebo at both 6- and 12-month visits (p < 0.001 for all). Additionally, PSR times and DG thresholds improved significantly from baseline compared to placebo at 6- and 12-month visits (p < 0.001 for all). At baseline, MPOD was significantly related to both DG thresholds (r = 0.444; p = 0.0021) and PSR times (r = -0.56; p < 0.001). As a function of MPOD, the repeated-exposure PSR curves became more asymptotic, as opposed to linear. The change in subjects’ DG thresholds were significantly related to changes in PSR times across the study period (r = -0.534; p < 0.001). Increases in MPOD lead to significant improvements in PSR times and DG thresholds. The asymptotic shape of the repeated-exposure PSR curves suggests that increases in MPOD produce more consistent steady-state visual performance in bright light conditions. The mechanism for this effect may involve both the optical filtering and biochemical (antioxidant) properties of MP. ISRCTN trial registration number: ISRCTN54990825 . Data reported in this manuscript represent secondary outcome measures from the registered trial.
Conversion of n-hexane and n-dodecane over H-ZSM-5, H-Y and Al-MCM-41 at supercritical conditions

Abstract Catalytic reactions of supercritical n -hexane and n -dodecane were studied over H-ZSM-5, H-Y and Al-MCM-41 at pressures between 4 and 6 MPa and temperatures between 558 and 748 K, using a combination of experimental and theoretical approaches. The primary reaction for n -hexane conversion over H-ZSM-5 was cracking, whereas the primary reaction over H-Y and Al-MCM-41 was isomerization. In contrast, cracking was the primary reaction of n -dodecane over all of the aluminosilicates. Turnover frequencies (TOFs) for n -hexane and n -dodecane conversion over H-ZSM-5 were much greater than for H-Y and Al-MCM-41 under all tested reaction conditions. The invariance of TOFs for n -hexane conversion over H-ZSM-5 and H-Y over the pressure range studied indicated that the reaction was nearly zero-order in hydrocarbon at the supercritical conditions used here. Configurational-bias Monte Carlo simulations indicate that the loadings of reactant molecules reached only about half of their saturation values at the experimental conditions, but plateaus in the adsorption isotherms of n -hexane in H-ZSM-5 and of n -dodecane in both H-ZSM-5 and H-Y zeolites account for the nearly zero-order kinetics. At supercritical conditions, the apparent activation energy of n -dodecane cracking over H-ZSM-5, H-Y and Al-MCM-41 as well as that for n -hexane cracking over H-ZSM-5 was associated with the rate constant for C C bond cleavage (156–200 kJ mol −1 ). Density-functional theory calculations show that for n -hexane conversion over H-ZSM-5, β-scission from the bound alkoxide possesses the highest barriers, ranging from 167–177 kJ mol −1 depending on the mode of cracking. The intrinsic activation barriers for isomerization and hydride transfer reactions were calculated to be significantly lower, at 94 and 96–124 kJ mol −1 , respectively, although still higher than the experimentally observed value of 74 ± 6 kJ mol −1 for n -hexane conversion over H-Y. Rate expressions derived for monomolecular cracking, bimolecular cracking, and isomerization reactions suggest that the differences between the apparent barriers determined experimentally and the intrinsic barriers calculated theoretically are likely due to the competing hydrocarbon adsorption or quasi-equilibrated exothermic reaction steps. The increased selectivity to cracking over isomerization for n -hexane in H-ZSM-5 was attributed to the difficulty of product removal from the zeolite and, for n -dodecane, to the greatly reduced β-scission barriers and the much stronger product adsorption.
Supporting resilience in war-affected children: how differential impact theory is useful in humanitarian practice

Abstract This paper examines the utility of the Differential Impact Theory for child protection practitioners who work in humanitarian settings, with a focus on war-affected children. A primary advantage of DIT is that it focuses efforts to strengthen children's resilience on improving children's social ecologies at different levels. This ecological focus is more likely to address the sources of children's suffering and resilience and also helps to avoid the problems associated with an individualized focus. It also shows how DIT provides a differentiated view of war-affected children and stimulates multiple interventions at different ecological levels, avoiding the common error of taking a one size fits all approach to intervention. In keeping with DIT, it suggests that child protection practice would benefit from addressing macro-level risks such as poverty and discrimination that are drivers of various harms to children and from more systematic linkages between macro- and micro-levels. It concludes that DIT serves as a critical lens for viewing current work on child protection in humanitarian settings and also for illuminating ways to develop more comprehensive supports for children's resilience.
Are miRNAs critical determinants in herpes simplex virus pathogenesis

miRNAs are small noncoding RNA that play a crucial role in gene regulation by inhibiting translation or promoting mRNA degradation. Viruses themselves express miRNAs that can target either the host or viral mRNA transcriptome. Moreover, viral infection of cells causes a drastic change in host miRNAs. This complex interaction between the host and viruses often favors the virus to evade immune elimination and favors the establishment and maintenance of latency. In this review we discuss the function of both host and viral miRNAs in regulating herpes simplex virus pathogenesis and also discuss the prospect of using miRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutic tools.
DD38: Life Alienation Syndrome (April 2007)

„Ich arbeite gerne am Sonntag. Da habe ich Ruhe. Leider mobbt mich meine Familie. Sie sagen, es gabe noch ein Leben neben der Arbeit. Das mag sein. Aber ich finde nicht, dass sie mir die Arbeit versauern durfen, die schon schwer genug ist. Das Gemecker meiner Familie am Wochenende fuhrt tendenziell zu einer schlechteren Arbeitsleistung und gefahrdet unsere Existenz.“
Evidence for a Cannabinoid Receptor in Immunomodulation by Cannabinoid Compounds

A number of structurally related cannabinoid compounds, including the major psychoactive component of marihuana, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), have been widely established as being immunosuppressive. Although much has been learned with respect to which immune responses demonstrate sensitivity to modulation by cannabinoids, the mechanism(s) responsible for these effects has remained elusive. Over the past decade, significant insight has been forthcoming regarding the cellular and biochemical mechanisms which mediate the effects of cannabinoids on the central nervous system (CNS). From these investigations at least three lines of evidence have emerged which strongly implicated a role by a cannabinoid receptor in CNS association cannabinoid activity and include: (i) stereoselective effects; (ii) a high degree of specific binding by the synthetic bicyclic cannabinoid, CP-55,940, to various brain tissue preparation as analyzed by radioligand binding; and (iii) cannabinoid modulation of adenylate cyclase-cAMP second messenger system. The existence of a cannabinoid receptor in association with neuronal tissue has been recently confirmed by Matsuda and coworkers (1) through the isolation and cloning of a G-protein coupled receptor from a rat brain cDNA library. When cloned, this receptor demonstrate all of the characteristics predicted for a putative cannabinoid receptor. More recently, an almost identical receptor has been cloned from human brain which possessed more than 97% homogeneity (2) to that isolated by Matsuda and coworkers. In light of these findings, the objective of the presently reported studies was to explore the possibility that immune inhibition by cannabimimetic agents is mediated through a cannabinoid receptor present on immunocytes.
Characterizing the Surface Coverage of Protein–Gold Nanoparticle Bioconjugates

Functional enzyme–nanoparticle bioconjugates are increasingly important in biomedical and biotechnology applications such as drug delivery and biosensing. Optimization of the function of such bioconjugates requires careful control and characterization of their structures and activity, but current methods are inadequate for this purpose. A key shortcoming of existing approaches is the lack of an accurate method for quantitating protein content of bioconjugates for low (monolayer) surface coverages. In this study, an integrated characterization methodology for protein–gold nanoparticle (AuNP) bioconjugates is developed, with a focus on site-specific attachment and surface coverage of protein on AuNPs. Single-cysteine-containing mutants of dihydrofolate reductase are covalently attached to AuNPs with diameters of 5, 15, and 30 nm, providing a range of surface curvature. Site-specific attachment to different regions of the protein surface is investigated, including attachment to a flexible loop versus a rigid...
Surface microscopy with low energy electrons: LEEM

Abstract First a brief description of the low energy electron microscope and its resolution limits is given. Then the beam-specimen interactions, which are important for the understanding of image formation are discussed. This is followed by a presentation of some examples of the application of LEEM and of the use of LEEM instruments for other imaging methods with low energy electrons.
Covering Wildfires: Media Emphasis and Silence after the Carlton and Okanogan Complex Wildfires

This article examines salient topics and textual silences in the media coverage of two major wildfires in Washington State. A significant body of research has examined the importance of media cover...
Effect of Parasitics and Process Variations in Buck Converters Operated in Voltage-Mode

In this work, the components affecting regulation performance in voltage-mode buck-converters exploiting Pulse Width Modulation are identified and the effects of uncontrolled variations in their values is discussed. For this analysis, a multi-phase buck converter has been considered, operated at 2-MHz switching frequency, supplied by a 5-V input and generating a 1-V regulated output.A model for the output filter has been developed, including parasitics, while the regulation is performed by a Type-III compensator. An average model of buck converter has been developed in MATLAB and Monte Carlo analysis have been performed, showing how component variations affect loop speed and stability. Moreover, a switching model of the regulator has been used and the effect of uncontrolled variations in the component values has been investigated in the time domain.
Breath by Breath: Reconsidering the Project of Critical Pedagogy Through the Lens of Zen Buddhist Thought and Practice:

This article examines how Zen Buddhism conceives of human suffering, the causes of suffering, and the method by which human suffering can be alleviated and compares these with similar notions withi...
What Did You Call Me? Results of a Pilot Study to Investigate Perspectives from Future School Library Administrators about Appropriate Job Titles.

The topic of the appropriate job title for school library administrators has been written about in earlier literature but has not addressed the issue from the perspective of future school library administrators. This article presents the results of a pilot study that was guided by the research question: What do future school library administrators believe is an appropriate title for their position? The article reports demographic data, reveals participants’ job title preference, and discusses the ways that pilot study feedback will shape the revised data collection instrument to be used in a large-scale study.
Cyclic Plasticity and Ratchetting

A robust kinematic hardening rule is proposed which appropriately blends the deviatoric stress rate rule and the Tseng-Lee rule in order to satisfy both the experimental observations made by Phillips et al. and the nesting of the yield surface to the limit surface. Performance of the proposed rule is examined using several examples cyclic plasticity observed in experiments. An additional surface called the memory surface is introduced in order to accommodate for anisotropy of the yield model. An efficient method of correcting the drift of yield surface is proposed. The direct relation of the kinematic hardening of the limit to that of the yield surface ensures nesting.
The Enacted English Reading Curriculum

This chapter discusses how English reading (i.e., vocabulary, comprehension and phonics) was enacted at the two schools: Nyika (an urban school) and Mutituni (a countryside school). The Nyika children spoke English while the Mutituni children did not speak English. This chapter documents how reading is influenced by the language policy of the school (i.e., English only in both schools), classroom context and availability of literacy materials. The Mutituni classroom had a very constraining environment (e.g., lack of reading books, crowded classroom, etc.) compared to the Nyika classroom. These physical and ideological contexts impacted how reading was done in both schools; for example, choral reading was very common at Mutituni, while at Nyika there were dialogues during reading because the Nyika children had English and other resources at their disposal.
Models of Accommodation Deficiency in Presbyopia Patients

Structured Abstract Purpose We describe new phenomenological illumination-dependent static models of the accommodation deficiency for patients with presbyopia. Such models are suitable for vision restoration with adaptive-optics accommodating eyeglasses and contact lenses. Methods Data from fifteen participants over the age of 45 and diagnosed with presbyopia was collected. Participants were asked to wear a pair of mechanically-tunable eyeglasses and clearly identify the optotypes corresponding to the LogMAR 0.0 line on Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) charts, by suitably adjusting the optical powers of the lenses on these tunable eyeglasses for each measurement. Seven ETDRS charts, placed at distances from the patients varying from 4 m through 30 cm, were used under three chart illumination levels (75 lx, 500 lx and 800 lx). The optical power of the lenses in the patient-adjusted tunable eyeglasses was subsequently measured using a Shack-Hartman wavefront sensor for each chart, which provided the accommodation deficiency data of the participants. Results The measured accommodation deficiency data from 15 presbyopes was curve-fitted to a model for each patient. The calculated root-mean-square error values for the fitted models ranged between 0.09 D – 0.67 D over a 3.08D accommodation stimulus range. Conclusions The data shows that while accommodation deficiency in humans is a function of the stimulus, it is also strongly dependent on the object illumination and age of the patients. The models adequately describe the relation between static accommodation deficiency, accommodation stimulus and object illumination.