cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transmitting rather than innovating: confucius as skeptical conservative

Confucius, widely perceived as a champion of learning, is also frequently thought of as a conservative. I will argue here that Confucius is in fact a type of conservative whose preference for present arrangements involves strands of skepticism. Confucius’s conservatism is unique in that he is moderately skeptical of making innovations to accord better with the Dao, and he is also moderately skeptical of using history as a model for the present. While acknowledging the accomplishments of the ancient sage kings, Confucius registers his preference for the Zhou, which can be better known. Analects 3.9 strongly suggests that important knowledge from the Xia and Shang has been lost, thus diminishing the value of ancient history as a guide for present arrangements. Analects 2.23 on the other hand suggests that the arrangements of the Xia and Shang are well known. This tension between 2.23 and 3.9 can be ameliorated by understanding Confucius’ teaching style. To the objection that Analects 2.23 refers only to a failure of documentation, not to a general failure of knowledge, I argue that documentation is Confucius’ only acknowledged pathway to historical knowledge. Turning from the past to the future, Confucius claims not to have the knowledge possessed by the innovative sages, but only the knowledge of them and their actions. Doesn’t Confucius, however, seek to innovate in his home state of Lu? I answer, no, that he is resisting the innovations of the great families. Confucius turns out to be, then, a moderately skeptical conservative.
Chronic Vaping Related Tracheomalacia (TM): A Case of Vaping Induced Altered Innate Immunity that Culminated in Severe TM.

Tracheomalacia (TM) is a weakness of the trachea either due to impaired cartilage integrity or atrophy of muscular elastic fibers. We present the first-ever case of chronic vaping induced altered immunological defenses that led to frequent pulmonary infections, ultimately culminating in severe TM which we successfully treated with positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. A 53-year-old male presented with hypoxia and pneumonia refractory to outpatient antibiotics and steroids. He underwent bronchoscopy which showed severe TM, prompting transfer to our institution. He started vaping seven years ago and noted frequent bronchitis requiring antibiotics and steroids along with 10 life-time surgeries. He underwent repeat bronchoscopy noting TM, worst 3 cm above the carina and extending 4 cm proximally. The lesion was deemed not suitable for stenting, so PAP therapy was initiated. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) confirmed 40% alveolar macrophages positive for lipid in Oil-O-Red stain consistent with EVALI. He tolerated PAP therapy with significant improvement in his ground glass opacities (GGO) and TM on subsequent imaging. TM is generally defined as >50% narrowing in the sagittal diameter. It is often further characterized into primary (congenital) or secondary (acquired) causes. Notable secondary causes include postintubation, chronic infection/bronchitis, chronic inflammation, and frequent steroid exposure -- all present in this case. Furthermore, there is existing literature that chronic inflammation due to irritants like cigarette smoke may be an important contributor to the development of TM. However, such data are lacking for EVALI. Our patient started experiencing repeated bronchitis episodes after he started vaping, leading to chronic inflammation and frequent antibiotics/steroids. Given his additional risk factor of multiple surgeries, this case not only presents a perfect storm for TM, but also a novel manifestation of EVALI. This case, to our knowledge, is the first-ever manifestation of EVALI presenting with TM. Management with PAP therapy helped avoid major surgery.
A Charge-to-Breakdown (Q BD ) Approach to SiC Gate Oxide Lifetime Extraction and Modeling

This paper proposes a charge-to-breakdown (Q BD ) approach for SiC/SiO 2 dielectric lifetime extraction. The current through the dielectric is shown to be a combination of Fowler Nordheim (FN) and thermally assisted tunneling (TAT). The former leads to positive charge trapping, the latter to negative charge storage in border traps near the SiC/SiO 2 interface. Both degradation mechanisms have a distinctly different failure distribution function. Time-to-fail extracted from constant field TDDB (standard industry technique) is unable to capture the effects of these different charge trapping mechanisms on the failure distribution function, in contrast to constant current Q BD stress. Hence, time-to-fail from Q BD stress leads to a more accurate and physics based lifetime prediction.
Multidisciplinary Care for Melanoma of Unknown Primary: Experience in the Era of Molecular Profiling

Melanoma of unknown primary (MUP) accounts for approximately 3% of melanoma diagnoses. This study sought to evaluate treatment and outcomes for a modern MUP cohort. A retrospective review of MUP was performed at a tertiary referral cancer center. Of 815 melanoma patients, 67 (8.2%) had MUP. Men were more likely to have MUP than women (67% vs. 55%; p = 0.04). The most common sites of MUP were lymph nodes (28%), visceral solid organs (25%), brain (16%), and skin/subcutaneous tissues (10%). Of the patients who underwent tumor genomic profiling, 52% harbored pathogenic BRAF mutations. Of the 24 patients who underwent multi-gene panel testing, all had pathogenic mutations and 21 (88%) had mutations in addition to or exclusive of BRAF, including 11 patients (46%) with telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter mutations. Checkpoint inhibitors (39%) and BRAF-MEK inhibitors (7%) were the most common first-line treatments. Upfront surgical resection was used for 25% of the MUP patients, and 12 of these resections were for curative intent. During a median follow-up period of 22.1 months, the median overall survival (OS) was not met for the patients with MUP isolated to lymph nodes. At 56.8 months, 75% of these patients were alive. The median OS was 37.4 months for skin/soft tissue MUP, 33.3 months for single solid organ viscera MUP, and 29.8 months for metastatic brain MUP. Multigene panel testing identified pathogenic mutations in all tested MUP patients and frequently identified targets outside BRAF. Despite advanced stage, aggressive multimodal therapy for MUP can be associated with 5-year OS and should be pursued for appropriate candidates.
Cyclooxgenase-2 is induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection but does not affect viral entry or replication

Abstract Identifying drugs that regulate severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and its symptoms has been a pressing area of investigation during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which are frequently used for the relief of pain and inflammation, could modulate both SARS-CoV-2 infection and the host response to the virus. NSAIDs inhibit the enzymes cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which mediate the production of prostaglandins (PGs). PGE2, one of the most abundant PGs, has diverse biological roles in homeostasis and inflammatory responses. Previous studies have shown that NSAID treatment or inhibition of PGE2 receptor signaling leads to upregulation of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the cell entry receptor for SARS-CoV-2, thus raising concerns that NSAIDs could increase susceptibility to infection. COX/PGE2 signaling has also been shown to regulate the replication of many viruses, but it is not yet known whether it plays a role in SARS-CoV-2 replication. The purpose of this study was to dissect the effect of NSAIDs on COVID-19 in terms of SARS-CoV-2 entry and replication. We found that SARS-CoV-2 infection induced COX-2 upregulation in diverse human cell culture and mouse systems. However, suppression of COX-2/PGE2 signaling by two commonly used NSAIDs, ibuprofen and meloxicam, had no effect on ACE2 expression, viral entry, or viral replication. Our findings suggest that COX-2 signaling driven by SARS-CoV-2 may instead play a role in regulating the lung inflammation and injury observed in COVID-19 patients. Importance Public health officials have raised concerns about the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for treating symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). NSAIDs function by inhibiting the enzymes cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). These enzymes are critical for the generation of prostaglandins, lipid molecules with diverse roles in maintaining homeostasis as well as regulating the inflammatory response. While COX-1/COX-2 signaling pathways have been shown to affect the replication of many viruses, their effect on SARS-CoV-2 infection remains unknown. We found that SARS-CoV-2 infection induced COX-2 expression in both human cell culture systems and mouse models. However, inhibition of COX-2 activity with NSAIDs did not affect SARS-CoV-2 entry or replication. Our findings suggest that COX-2 signaling may instead regulate the lung inflammation observed in COVID-19 patients, which is an important area for future studies.
Low‐temperature failure mechanism of [001] niobium micropillars under uniaxial tension

The plasticity of body‐centered cubic (bcc) metals is dependent of temperature as well as sample dimension at the micrometer scale, but the effects of cryogenic temperature on the plasticity and the related failure process in micron‐sized bcc metals have not been studied under uniaxial tension. In this work, we utilized in situ cryogenic micro‐tensile tests, transmission electron microscopy, and dislocation dynamic simulations to examine the plasticity and failure processes of [001]‐oriented bcc niobium micropillars. Our study reveals that a strong suppression of cross‐slip at low temperatures prevents dislocation multiplication and leads to a dislocation starvation state, at which no mobile dislocation exists due to the rapid annihilation of dislocations at free surfaces. New dislocations are then nucleated until stress concentration at a slip step creates a micro‐crack, the propagation of which leads to catastrophic failure. This unique failure process results from the combined effects of sample dimension and temperature.
Comparison of Proximal Junctional Failure and Functional Outcomes Across Varying Definitions of Proximal Junctional Kyphosis.

Background Proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) is a well-recognized complication following surgery for adult spinal deformity (ASD); however, definitions for PJK and its clinical implications can significantly vary by study. This study compares multiple definitions of PJK and describes incidence and clinical significance by definition. Methods From 2014 to 2019, patients with ASD who underwent spinal fusion were identified. Nine definitions of PJK were created based on previously established definitions using the following upper instrumented vertebra +2 (UIV+2) sagittal Cobb measurements: A= ≥10 postoperative AND preoperative, B = ≥10 postoperative, C = ≥10 preoperative, D = ≥15 postoperative AND preoperative, E = ≥15 postoperative, F = ≥15 preoperative, G = ≥20 postoperative AND preoperative, H = ≥20 postoperative, I = >20 preoperative. Incidence of PJK was calculated by definition. Area under the curve (AUC) was calculated based on a receiver operating characteristic to assess ability to predict proximal junctional failure (PJF). Univariate analysis was performed to assess association with postoperative Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores. Results Across 82 patients, the incidence of PJK and AUC by definition was as follows: A = 47%, 0.47; B = 72%, 0.65; C = 49%, 0.45; D = 27%, 0.46; E = 57%, 0.62; F = 27%, 0.46; G = 10%, 0.55; H = 40%, 0.71; I = 10%, 0.55. No definition was associated with postoperative ODI scores (P Conclusions The incidence of PJK significantly decreased with stricter definitions. Definitions utilizing only postoperative UIV+2 values had higher incidences but were more likely to capture patients who developed PJF. No definition was associated with postoperative ODI scores. UIV+2 ≥20 was best in distinguishing patients who developed PJF.
Investigation of thermal transport properties of copper-supported pillared-graphene structure using molecular dynamics simulations

Thermal transport of pillared-graphene structure (PGS) supported on a copper substrate was investigated using equilibrium molecular dynamics. The results show that thermal conductivity along the graphene sheet in Cu-supported PGS ranges between 96.12 and 247.16 W/m K for systems with different dimensions at an interaction strength χ = 1. Thermal conductivity along carbon nanotube was found to range between 22.43 and 30.83 W/m K. The increase of interaction strength between Cu and carbon leads to a general decrease in thermal conductivity of PGS. The simulation results suggest that the thermal conductivity in Cu-supported PGS systems is governed by system geometry and phonon transport.
Future physics perspectives on the equation of state from heavy ion collisions to neutron stars

With the computational power and algorithmic improvements available today, the ongoing STAR/RHIC and HADES/GSI experiments, the future FAIR and NICA facilities becoming operational, and the new precise measurements from NICER and LIGO/VIRGO, the high-energy nuclear physics and astrophysics communities are in the unique position to set very stringent constraints on the equation of state of strongly interacting matter. We review the state-of-the-art of different approaches used in the description of hot and ultradense baryonic matter in and out of equilibrium, and discuss the regions in the phase diagram where heavy-ion collisions and neutron star mergers can overlap. Future perspectives are discussed to help define a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary strategy to map out the phase diagram of strongly interacting matter from heavy ion collisions to neutron stars.
The prevalence, severity and risk factors for chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy at 0 and 2 years after the completion of paclitaxel therapy (P2.4-012)

Objective: Determine the prevalence, severity and risk factors of chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) at 0 and 2 years after the completion of Taxane therapy for breast cancer. Background: CIPN is a dose limiting side effect of neurotoxic chemotherapy which carries substantial morbidity. CIPN risk factors and natural history are poorly understood. Design/Methods: Retrospective chart review of breast cancer patients treated with paclitaxel monotherapy at the University of Utah between 1999 and 2015. Risk factors analysis evaluated ICD9/10 codes of medical problems prior to chemotherapy. Of the 7 collected data fields, 6 had 100% agreement, 1 had 99.3% agreement (CIPN severity at 2 years). Results: N=565, mean age 51.9(±12.25). 99.97% female, 57.7% weekly and 42.3% dose dense paclitaxel. Mean total paclitaxel dose (mg/m2) of those with vs. those without CIPN was 753.7±231 vs. 731.5±.256.0 p=***. Only 11.8% of those with documented CIPN had a documented CTCAE neuropathy severity score. At the conclusion of chemotherapy: 73% had CIPN: 32% grade 1, 36% grade 2, 4% grade 3, 1% grade 3. Risk Factor Analysis: Relative risk and confidence interval at 1 and 2 years-type 2 diabetes 1.120(.976–1.285) and 1.323(1.056–1.658), idiopathic polyneuropathy 1.350(1.290–1.420) and 2.050(1.88–2.235), alcoholism .669(.0334–1.240) and 1.528 (1.015–2.301), hyperlipidemia 1.101(.966–1.256) and 1.349(1.097–1.658), chronic hep C 1.009 (.966–1.256) and 2.038(1.187–2.220), hypocalcemia 1.345(1.283–1.417) and 1.001(.338–2.704), previous neuropathy related to a drug 1.346(1.281–1.412) and 2.026(1.860–2.206), essential hypertension 1.098(.987–1.22) and 1.369(1.153–1.1622). Conclusions: Higher CIPN prevalence at the completion of chemotherapy than reported in most studies. Over 1/3 of participants continue to have CIPN after 2 years. Result suggest components of metabolic syndrome increase the risk of persistent CIPN. More detailed prospective study is needed to better understand CIPN risk factors. Disclosure: Dr. Kolb has nothing to disclose. Dr. Karafiath has nothing to disclose. Dr. Vivanco has nothing to disclose. Dr. Singleton has nothing to disclose. Dr. Smith has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Regenesis, Celgene and Alexion. Dr. Smith has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for AAN (NeuroLearn). Dr. Smith has received research support from Impeto Medical.
Bilateral alignment of receptive fields in the olfactory cortex

Each olfactory cortical hemisphere receives ipsilateral odor information directly from the olfactory bulb and contralateral information indirectly from the other cortical hemisphere. Since neural projections to the olfactory cortex are disordered and non-topographic, spatial information cannot be used to align projections from the two sides like in the visual cortex. Therefore, how bilateral information is integrated in individual cortical neurons is unknown. We have found, in mice, that the odor responses of individual neurons to selective stimulation of each of the two nostrils are highly matched, such that odor identity decoding optimized with information arriving from one nostril transfers very well to the other side. Remarkably, these aligned responses are nevertheless asymmetric enough to allow decoding of stimulus laterality. Computational analysis shows that such matched odor tuning is incompatible with purely random connections but is explained readily by Hebbian plasticity structuring bilateral connectivity. Our data reveal that despite the distributed and fragmented sensory representation in the olfactory cortex, odor information across the two hemispheres is highly coordinated.
Lithium trapping in germanium nanopores during delithiation process

Abstract Irreversible capacity loss is a critical problem in high capacity anode materials of Li-ion batteries, such as silicon, germanium, and tin. In addition to solid electrolyte interface formation and active material loss, Li trapping in high capacity anode materials during cycling has been considered a new mechanism of capacity loss but received less attention. In this study, we used single particle battery-based in situ focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning TEM to investigate the microstructure and composition of germanium nanopores formed at the end of delithiation. Our results show that a significant amount of Li accumulates inside the nanopores.
Cell-Free Synthesis of Pectin (Identification and Partial Characterization of Polygalacturonate 4-[alpha]-Galacturonosyltransferase and Its Products from Membrane Preparations of Tobacco Cell-Suspension Cultures)

Polygalacturonate 4-[alpha]-galacturonosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.43) activity has been identified in microsomal membranes isolated from tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv Samsun) cell-suspension cultures. Incubation of UDP-[14C]galacturonic acid with tobacco membranes results in a time-dependent incorporation of [14C]galacturonic acid into a chloroform-methanol-precipitable and 65% ethanol-insoluble product. The optimal synthesis of product occurs at a pH of 7.8, 25 to 30[deg]C, an apparent Km for UDP-D-galacturonic acid of approximately 8.9 [mu]M, and a Vmax of approximately 150 pmol min-1 mg-1 protein. The product was characterized by scintillation counting, thin-layer chromatography, high-performance anion-exchange chromatography, and gel-filtration chromatography in combination with enzymatic and chemical treatments. The intact product has a molecular mass of approximately 105,000 D based on dextran molecular standards. The product was treated with base to hydrolyze ester linkages (e.g. methyl esters), digested with a homogeneous endopolygalacturonase (EPGase), or base and EPGase treated. Base and EPGase treatment results in cleavage of 34 to 89% of 14C-labeled product into components that co-chromatograph with mono-, di-, and trigalacturonic acid, indicating that a large portion of product contains contiguous 1,4-linked [alpha]-D-galactosyluronic acid residues. Optimal EPGase fragmentation of the product requires base treatment prior to enzymatic digestion, suggesting that 45 to 67% of the galacturonic acid residues in the synthesized homogalacturonan are esterified. At least 40% of the base-sensitive linkages were shown to be methyl esters by comparing the sensitivity of base-treated and pectin methylesterase-treated products to fragmentation by EPGase.
Exact - Approximate Boundary Controllability of Thermoelastic Systems under Free Boundary Conditions

Controllability properties of a partial differential equation (PDE) model describing a thermoelastic plate are studied. The PDE is comprised of a Kirchoff plate equation coupled to a heat equation on a bounded domain, with the coupling taking place on the interior and boundary of the domain. The coupling in this PDE is parameterized by α > 0. Control is exerted through the (two) free boundary conditions of the plate equation, and through the Robin boundary condition of the temperature. These controls have the physical interpretation, respectively, of inserted forces and moments, and prescribed temperature, all of which act on the edges of the plate. The main result here is that under such boundary control, and with initial data in the basic space of wellposedness, one can simultaneously control the displacement of the plate exactly,and the temperature approximately. Moreover, the thermal control may be taken to be arbitrarily smooth in time and space, and the thermal control region may be any nonempty subset of the boundary. This controllability holds for arbitrary values of the coupling parameter α.
Simultaneous determination of cerebral blood flow and partition coefficient with a freely diffusable tracer

Cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurements with freely diffusable tracers have depended upon separate partition coefficients (lambda) for grey and white matter. Furthermore, certain tracers have been considered inadequate in species with very high CBF as the lambda diminishes at high flow rates. Similarly, the relation of CBF in normal and pathological circumstances related to the reliability of the measurement remains poorly understood.
Compact thermal models of conduction cooled packages

An extensive study was performed with the aim of developing compact thermal models of a variety of electronic packages used in conduction cooled scenarios. A nonredundant set of boundary conditions suitable for generation of compact thermal models for packages cooled by conduction to the board was developed by formal mathematical principles. A design of experiments method was used to reduce this set to four conditions allowing the creation of CTMs that were independent of board and underfill characteristics. The accuracy of CTM generation by applying external resistances representative of underfill and board resistances was critically examined. The technique was found to be convenient for optimizing the model parameters on both junction temperatures and heat flows through the prime lumped areas. Detailed thermal models of about thirty components, representing thirteen different package types, were created from physical component data extracted from X-ray, SEM and high-power microscopy images. Using optimization techniques allowing constrained nonlinear global optimization, compact models of different network topologies were generated for all the packages. To optimize the thermal networks, a genetic algorithm-based commercial code was employed in a standard spreadsheet environment. It was found that for most of the packages only network topologies that included a floating node provided satisfactory accuracy for both the junction temperatures and heat flows through the prime lumped areas.
Obtaining Attractor Dimensions from Meteorological Time Series

Publisher Summary This chapter describes attractor dimensions from meterorological time series. The combination of a relatively simple set of first-order differential equations, a firm physical application, and a good description of the resulting attractor opened up the field of research into system behavior. In model reconstruction, numerical models for physical systems are developed by seeking an algorithm that reads a time series of data from physical processes, and from that, generates an ad hoc model to describe the future behavior of that process. The comparison of the empirically reconstructed attractor with a theoretically predicted one offers the investigator a stringent test of the theory that makes the prediction. The attractor dimensions that fall between the integers values all belong to strange attractors. The most interesting trait of a system that has, such an attractor is related to the structural stability issue. The known attractors with fractional dimensions are associated with systems that are either analytically or numerically structurally stable. The calculation of attractor dimensions is also elaborated.
Deep hypothermia for the treatment of refractory status epilepticus

In a rat model of status epilepticus (SE) induced by lithium and pilocarpine and refractory to midazolam, deep hypothermia (20 °C for 30 min) reduced EEG power over 50-fold, stopped SE within 12 min, and reduced EEG spikes by 87%. Hypothermia deserves further investigation as a treatment of last resort for refractory SE. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Status Epilepticus".
Double-Blind Crossover Trial of Diltiazem versus Propranolol in the Management of Thyrotoxic Symptoms

We compared the efficacy of diltiazem and propranolol in a randomized, prospective, double-blind, crossover study in six patients with untreated thyrotoxicosis (mean age 31 yrs). The patients received either diltiazem 60 mg orally four times a day or propranolol 40 mg orally four times a day, each for 1 week, separated by a 3-day drug-free period. Blood pressure, heart rate, thyroid hormone levels (free T4, T3), electrocardiogram, two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiograms, and Doppler studies were performed. In addition, 8 clinical signs and 18 symptoms of thyrotoxicosis were graded. All subjects felt better with drug therapy, with three preferring diltiazem to propranolol. No significant difference in clinical response or in hemodynamic effects was noted between the agents. These data suggest that diltiazem may serve as an alternative therapy for beta blockers in controlling thyrotoxic symptoms in patients in whom beta blockade may be contraindicated.
Duration of Upper and Lower Extremity Peripheral Nerve Blockade Is Prolonged with Dexamethasone When Added to Ropivacaine: A Retrospective Database Analysis

Background Dexamethasone, when added to local anesthetics, has been shown to prolong the duration of peripheral nerve blocks; however, there are limited studies utilizing large numbers of patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of adding dexamethasone to ropivacaine on duration of nerve blocks of the upper and lower extremity. Methods We reviewed 1,040 patient records collected in an orthopedic outpatient surgery center that had received an upper or lower extremity peripheral nerve block with ropivacaine 0.5% with or without dexamethasone and/or epinephrine. The primary outcome was duration of analgesia in upper or lower extremity blocks containing dexamethasone as an adjunct. Secondary outcomes included postoperative patient pain scores, satisfaction, and the incidence of block related complications. Linear and ordinal logistic regression models were used to examine the independent effect of dexamethasone on outcomes. Results Dexamethasone was observed to increase median block duration by 37% (95% confidence interval: 31–43%). The increased block duration persisted within body regions (upper and lower) and across a range of block types. Dexamethasone was also observed to reduce pain scores on the day of surgery ( P = 0.001) and postoperative day 1 ( P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in duration of nerve blocks when epinephrine (1:400,000) was added to 0.5% ropivacaine with or without dexamethasone. Conclusion The addition of dexamethasone to 0.5% ropivacaine prolongs the duration of peripheral nerve blocks of both the upper and lower extremity.
Models and Myths of Science: Views of the Elephant

I discuss selected philosophies of science in terms of the role of rationalism in science and the reality status of the products of scientific reasoning. A model is then presented in which I argue that creativity in science involves the mental manipulation of images which are later compared to the shared empirical experience of the scientific community. The assimilation of a scientific concept involves a re-creation of the concept through a similar manipulation of images and empirical experience. The process of recreation can distort the original concept. The result of this process of creation and recreation is neither an objective discovery of truth nor a subjective invention of truth but an interactive reality composed of the inquiring human mind and an objectively unknowable nature. Since the model or myth of science we accept influences many aspects of the science-society interaction, the model I present here as well as models presented by others ought to be carefully evaluated through the study of the history of science.
Polymorphisms in the Neuropeptide Y Gene and the Risk Of Obesity: Findings from Two Prospective Cohorts

Context: Neuropeptide Y (NPY) increases appetite and food intake in animals. Conflicting evidence has been found for the association between polymorphisms of the NPY gene and obesity in humans. Objective: The objective of the investigation was to study four single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the NPY gene [rs17149106 (G>T), rs16147 (C>T), rs16139 (T>C), rs5574 (C>T)] with body adiposity. Design: The study design included a candidate gene association study from two cohorts. Participants: Two thousand seventy-one women from the Nurses' Health Study and 1268 men from the Health Professionals Follow-Up study participated in the study. Main Outcome Measures: Weight and height were self-reported at baseline and updated every 2 yr to calculate body mass index (BMI). Results: Two SNPs (rs17149106 (G>T) and rs16139 (T>C)), with minor allele frequencies of 4%, were associated with elevated risks of obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) in both cohorts. The pooled adjusted odds ratios [95% confidence interval (CI)] were 1....
Variations in exopolysaccharide production by Rhizobium tropici

Rhizobium tropici, a legume-symbiont soil bacterium, is known for its copious production of exopolysaccharide (EPS). Many aspects of this organism’s growth and EPS production, however, remain uncharacterized, including the influence of environment and culturing conditions upon EPS. Here, we demonstrate that R. tropici EPS chemical composition and yield differ when grown with different substrates in a defined minimal medium in batch culture. Exopolysaccharide was quantified from R. tropici grown using arabinose, glucose, sucrose, mannitol, fructose, or glutamate as a sole carbon source. All tested substrates produced plenteous amounts of exopolysaccharide material. Variations in pH and carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio also resulted in assorted cell growth and exopolysaccharide production differences. We found that optimizing the C/N ratio has a greater impact upon R. tropici EPS production than upon R. tropici growth. A maximum EPS yield of 4.08 g/L was realized under optimized conditions, which is large even in comparison with other known rhizobia. We provide evidence that the chemical composition of R. tropici EPS can vary with changes to the growth environment. The composition of glucose-grown EPS contained rhamnose-linked residues that were not present in arabinose-grown EPS.
Modelling of green electricity effects on oligopoly market

This article builds a simulation model to analyse the effect of a change in the main policy variables of the British Renewable Obligation System, i.e. how the increase in the minimum requirement of green electricity can affect the prices and quantities in the electricity market under oligopoly market structure. The results show that the increasing quota obligation increases the price of electricity. The outcomes of this computational model emphasize the importance of the capacity limit which can constrain the market power and increase the competition in the market. In addition, the simulation shows that the integration of fossil-fuel and renewable producers has very small effect on production and prices because of the capacity limits.
Network structures in uranium and its alloys

Abstract Network substructure were produced in uranium by the eutectoid decompositions' of the gamma and beta phases. One network, corresponding to the beta grain and subgrain boundaries, was composed of either 1. (a) incipient precipitates (zones of segregated impurity or alloying elements) when the cooling rate through the transformation was rapid, or of 2. (b) real particles when the cooling rate was slow or the alloy content high. A second network, corresponding to the gamma grain boundaries, was apparent because the beta phase nucleated at the gamma grain boundaries and, during rapid cooling, either incipient or real precipitates outlined each of the beta regions as they grew into the original gamma grains. The incipient precipitates could be revealed only by certain etchants, such as HNO3, while the real precipitates could be delineated by either the HNO3 etch or by electropolishing. The incipient precipitates were readily visible by transmission electron microscopy as tiny zones of high lattice strain. The presence of these network structures increased the work-hardening exponent and embrittled the uranium.
Opposite effects of anthelmintic treatment on microbial infection at individual versus population scales

Parasitic worms modulate host immune responses in ways that affect microbial co-infections. For this reason, anthelmintic therapy may be a potent tool for indirectly controlling microbial pathogens. However, the population-level consequences of this type of intervention on co-infecting microbes are unknown. We evaluated the effects of anthelmintic treatment on bovine tuberculosis (BTB) acquisition, mortality after infection, and pathogen fitness in free-ranging African buffalo. We found that treatment had no effect on the probability of BTB infection, but buffalo survival after infection was ninefold higher among treated individuals. These contrasting effects translated into an approximately eightfold increase in the reproductive number of BTB for anthelmintic-treated compared with untreated buffalo. Our results indicate that anthelmintic treatment can enhance the spread of microbial pathogens in some real-world situations.
Enhancing the utility of daily GCM rainfall for crop yield prediction

Global climate models (GCMs) are promising for crop yield predictions because of their ability to simulate seasonal climate in advance of the growing season. However, their utility is limited by unrealistic time structure of daily rainfall and biases in rainfall frequency and intensity distributions. Crop growth is very sensitive to daily variations of rainfall; thus any mismatch in daily rainfall statistics could impact crop yield simulations. Here, we present an improved methodology to correct GCM rainfall biases and time structure mismatches for maize yield prediction in Katumani, Kenya. This includes GCM bias correction (BC), to correct over- or under-predictions of rainfall frequency and intensity, and nesting corrected GCM information with a stochastic weather generator, to generate daily rainfall realizations conditioned on a given monthly target. Bias-corrected daily GCM rainfall and generated rainfall realizations were used to evaluate crop response. Results showed that corrections of GCM rainfall frequency and intensity could improve crop yield prediction but yields remain under-predicted. This is strongly attributed to the time structure mismatch in daily GCM rainfall leading to excessively long dry spells. To address this, we tested several ways of improving daily structure of GCM rainfall. First, we tested calibrating thresholds in BC but were found not very effective for improving dry spell lengths. Second, we tested BC-stochastic disaggregation (BC-DisAg) and appeared to simulate more realistic dry spell lengths using bias-corrected GCM rainfall information (e.g., frequency, totals) as monthly targets. Using rainfall frequency alone to condition the weather generator removed biases in dry spell lengths, improved predicted yields, but under-predicted yield variability. Combining rainfall frequency and totals, however, not only produced more realistic yield variability but also corrected under-prediction of yields. We envisaged that the presented method would enhance the utility of daily GCM rainfall in crop yield prediction. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society
Identification of the 1‐cyano‐3,4‐epithiobutane‐derived urinary mercapturic acid n‐acetyl‐s‐(4‐cyano‐2‐thio‐1‐butyl)‐cysteine in male fischer 344 rats

1-Cyano-3,4-epithiobutane (CEB), a naturally occurring nitrile derived from cruciferous plants, causes nephrotoxicity in male Fischer 344 rats. Nephrotoxicity induced by CEB is dependent on glutathione (GSH) conjugation and bioactivation. Conjugation with GSH and subsequent metabolism leads to the formation of specific urinary metabolites. The objectives of the present study were to identify CEB-derived urinary metabolites and quantify urinary non-protein thiols and thioethers in male Fischer 344 rats. Animals received 125 mg kg−1 of CEB alone or following pretreatment with one of three selective inhibitors of GSH metabolism: acivicin, probenecid or aminooxyacetic acid. Total non-protein urinary thiol and urinary thioether concentrations were elevated in all treated groups at 12 and 24 h; however, elevations in non-protein thiols were not significantly greater in rats administered CEB alone as compared to negative controls. A single predominant urinary metabolite was identified as the CEB-derived mercapturic acid N-acetyl-S-(4-cyano-thio-1-butyl)-cysteine. Evidence for other CEB-derived metabolites was also demonstrated. These findings represent the identification of a unique compound and provide further evidence for the importance of GSH conjugation as a significant pathway in CEB metabolism. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A preliminary study of functional brain activation among marijuana users during performance of a virtual water maze task.

Numerous studies have reported neurocognitive impairments associated with chronic marijuana use. Given that the hippocampus contains a high density of cannabinoid receptors, hippocampal-mediated cognitive functions, including visuospatial memory, may have increased vulnerability to chronic marijuana use. Thus, the current study examined brain activation during the performance of a virtual analogue of the classic Morris water maze task in 10 chronic marijuana (MJ) users compared to 18 nonusing (NU) comparison subjects. Imaging data were acquired using blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) functional MRI at 3.0 Tesla during retrieval (hidden platform) and motor control (visible platform) conditions. While task performance on learning trials was similar between groups, MJ users demonstrated a deficit in memory retrieval. For BOLD fMRI data, NU subjects exhibited greater activation in the right parahippocampal gyrus and cingulate gyrus compared to the MJ group for the Retrieval-Motor Control contrast (NU > MJ). These findings suggest that hypoactivation in MJ users may be due to differences in the efficient utilization of neuronal resources during the retrieval of memory. Given the paucity of data on visuospatial memory function in MJ users, these findings may help elucidate the neurobiological effects of marijuana on brain activation during memory retrieval.
Surgeon-specific wound surveillance: the family or the bean counters?

I generally associate the “product commentary” section of this journal with such things as urethral catheters, vascular access devices and antiseptic solutions. Hence, the invitation to write about surgical wound surveillance seemed at first inappropriate. However, the gathering storm over who will supervise wound surveillance involves our own unique product: infection control data. My task is to address concerns common to all business enterprises: ▪ What is the demand? ▪ What does the consumer want? ▪ Who should be the chief executive officer? ▪ What should be our current strategy? More than 70 years ago, it was shown that making surgeons aware of infection rates can lower their incidence.’ It is now customary to cite a series of studies suggesting that surgeon-specific rate reporting lowers the incidence of postoperative wound infection. First, Cruse and Foord correlated this practice with a lowering of the infection rate from 2.6% to 0.6%. Next, Condon et al. and then Olson et al. reported similar successes. Finally, data from the Centers for Disease Control's SENIC project indicated that two factors clearly correlated with reduced wound infection rates: 1) strong surveillance and control programs; and 2) the presence of an effective infection control physician.” Having both elements in place reduced the infection rate by 41% or 35% for low-risk or high-risk patients, respectively. Having surveillance alone reduced the infection rate by 19% for low-risk patients and 20% for high-risk patients. These findings made the case for wound surveillance seem ironclad.
Interrelationship between ribosome formation and nuclear and mitochondrial DNA synthesis in the regenerating liver

In der regenerierenden Rattenleber wird eine beschleunigte Bildung von Ribosomen und eine vermehrte Synthese von mitochondrialem DNA beobachtet, welche unabhangig von der nuklearen DNA-Synthese uber eine 6 stundige Periode der S-Phase erfolgt. Wahrend dieser Zeit geht die nukleare DNA-Synthese unabhangig von der mitrochondrialen DNA-Synthese vor sich.
Chromate adsorption on bifunctional, magnetic zeolite composites

Abstract Zeolite composites with magnetic iron oxide in the form of maghemite (γ-Fe 2 O 3 ) were synthesized from Y zeolites using a Fe 2+ –Fe 3+ ion mixture and were subsequently functionalized with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) to form bifunctional zeolite composites. The amine functionalized iron oxide/zeolite composites were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction to verify crystallinity, thermal gravimetric analysis to quantify the functionalization and zeta potential measurements to monitor surface charge. The iron oxide phase was assigned to maghemite based on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Mossbauer spectroscopy. The APTES functionalization increased the zeta potential and this lead to increased chromate adsorption relative to unfunctionalized iron oxide/zeolite composites. Chromate adsorption on the composite materials was attributed to external surface adsorption through an electrostatic interaction between the positively charged amine groups and the negatively charged chromate anions. Recovery of the iron oxide/zeolite composite can be accomplished using the magnetic properties of the material and the chromate can be desorbed by increasing the pH.
Insulin Resistance and Protein Metabolism in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients

Objective Loss of lean body mass (sarcopenia) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients receiving chronic hemodialysis (CHD). Insulin resistance (IR), which is highly prevalent in patients receiving CHD, has been proposed to play a critical role in the development of sarcopenia. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of IR on amino acid metabolism in patients receiving CHD. Design This was a cross-sectional study. Subjects The study included 12 prevalent (i.e., patients that have been on dialysis for more than 90 days) African American patients receiving CHD. Methods IR was measured as glucose disposal rate (GDR) determined from hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp (HGEC) studies performed 3 consecutive times. Plasma amino acid (AA) concentrations were measured by real-time high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) throughout the clamp study. The primary outcome was percentage change in leucine concentrations during the clamp study. The main predictor was the GDR measured simultaneously during the HGEC studies. Mixed model analysis was used to account for repeated measures. Results All individual AA concentrations declined significantly in response to high-dose insulin administration ( P Conclusions Our results suggest that the severity of IR of carbohydrate metabolism is associated with a lesser decline in plasma leucine concentrations, suggesting a similar resistance to protein anabolism. Insulin resistance represents a potential mechanism for sarcopenia commonly observed in patients receiving CHD.
9 The effects of epidural analgesia on the course and outcome of labour

The potential effects of epidural analgesia on the progress and outcome of labour have been the subject of lasting controversy. Retrospective reviews indicate that epidurals are associated with longer labours and/or an increase in the incidence of instrumental or operative delivery. Similar results were obtained in non-randomized prospective studies. None of them established a causal relationship, because without randomization the selection bias cannot be ruled out. Other factors, such as premature rupture of membranes and maternal socioeconomic status, may affect the outcome of labour. It was also reported that introduction of the on-demand epidural service did not increase the primary caesarean section rate. The few prospective randomized studies are contradictory and not very reliable owing to small patient populations and high cross-over rates. There is, however, unanimity among the authors regarding the superiority of pain relief provided by epidural blocks over systemically administered opioids.
Effects of photodynamic therapy with topical application of 5-aminolevulinic acid on normal skin of hairless guinea pigs.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a relatively new approach to the treatment of neoplasms which involves the use of photoactivatable compounds to selectively destroy tumors. 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is an endogenous substance which is converted to protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in the synthetic pathway to heme. PpIX is a very effective photosensitizer. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of PDT using topical ALA on normal guinea pig (g.p.) skin and g.p. skin in which the stratum corneum was removed by being tape-stripped (TS). Evaluation consisted of gross examination, PpIX fluorescence detection, reflectance spectroscopy, and histology. There was no effect from the application of light or ALA alone. Normal non-TS g.p. skin treated with ALA and light was unaffected unless high light and ALA doses were used. Skin from which the stratum corneum was removed was highly sensitive to treatment with ALA and light: 24 h after treatment, the epidermis showed full thickness necrosis, followed by complete repair within 7 d. Time-dependent fluorescence excitation and emission spectra were determined to characterize the chromophore and to demonstrate a build-up of the porphyrin in the skin. These data support the view that PDT with topical ALA is a promising approach for the treatment of epidermal cutaneous disorders.