cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cholinergic neurotransmission in the preBötzinger Complex modulates excitability of inspiratory neurons and regulates respiratory rhythm.

We investigated whether there is endogenous acetylcholine (ACh) release in the preBotzinger Complex (preBotC), a medullary region hypothesized to contain neurons generating respiratory rhythm, and how endogenous ACh modulates preBotCneuronal function and regulates respiratory pattern. Using a medullary slice preparation from neonatal rat, we recorded spontaneous respiratory-related rhythm from the hypoglossal nerve roots (XIIn) and patch-clamped preBotC inspiratory neurons. Unilateral microinjection of physostigmine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, into the preBotC increased the frequency of respiratory-related rhythmic activity from XIIn to 116+/-13% (mean+/-S.D.) of control. Ipsilateral physostigmine injection into the hypoglossal nucleus (XII nucleus) induced tonic activity, increased the amplitude and duration of the integrated inspiratory bursts of XIIn to 122+/-17% and 117+/-22% of control respectively; but did not alter frequency. In preBotC inspiratory neurons, bath application of physostigmine (10 microM) induced an inward current of 6.3+/-10.6 pA, increased the membrane noise, decreased the amplitude of phasic inspiratory drive current to 79+/-16% of control, increased the frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents to 163+/-103% and decreased the whole cell input resistance to 73+/-22% of control without affecting the threshold for generation of action potentials. Bath application of physostigmine concurrently induced tonic activity, increased the frequency, amplitude and duration of inspiratory bursts of XIIn motor output. Bath application of 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methiodide (4-DAMP, 2 microM), a M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) selective antagonist, increased the input resistance of preBotC inspiratory neurons to 116+/-9% of control and blocked all of the effects of physostigmine except for the increase in respiratory frequency. Dihydro-beta-erythroidine (DH-beta-E; 0.2 microM), an alpha4beta2 nicotinic receptor (nAChR) selective antagonist, blocked all the effects of physostigmine except for the increase in inspiratory burst amplitude. In the presence of both 4-DAMP and DH-beta-E, physostigmine induced opposite effects, i.e. a decrease in frequency and amplitude of XIIn rhythmic activity. These results suggest that there is cholinergic neurotransmission in the preBotC which regulates respiratory frequency, and in XII nucleus which regulates tonic activity, and the amplitude and duration of inspiratory bursts of XIIn in neonatal rats. Physiologically relevant levels of ACh release, via mAChRs antagonized by 4-DAMP and nAChRs antagonized by DH-beta-E, modulate the excitability of inspiratory neurons and excitatory neurotransmission in the preBotC, consequently regulating respiratory rhythm.
Cross-Domain Model Building and Validation (CDMV): A New Modeling Strategy to Reinforce Understanding of Nanomanufacturing Processes

Understanding nanostructure growth faces issues of limited data, lack of physical knowledge, and large process uncertainties. These issues result in modeling difficulty because a large pool of candidate models almost fit the data equally well. Through the Integrated Nanomanufacturing and Nanoinformatics (INN) strategy, we derive the process models from physical and statistical domains, respectively, and reinforce the understanding of growth processes by identifying the common model structure across two domains. This cross-domain model building strategy essentially validates models by domain knowledge rather than by (unavailable) data. It not only increases modeling confidence under large uncertainties, but also enables insightful physical understanding of the growth kinetics. We present this method by studying the weight growth kinetics of silica nanowire under two temperature conditions. The derived nanowire growth model is able to provide physical insights for prediction and control under uncertainties.
Is splenectomy more dangerous for massive spleens

Abstract background Reports vary about whether risks are greater for removal of massive (≥1500 g) spleens than for smaller ( results Patients with massive spleens are more likely to have postoperative complications (relative risk [RR] 2.1, 95% confidence interval [Cl] 1.3 to 3.4; P = 0.003) and death (RR 4.7, 95% Cl, 1.5 to 15.1; P = 0.01). However, when the investigation is restricted to comparable diagnoses, patients with massive spleens do not differ from those with smaller spleens regarding complications (RR 1.4, 95% Cl, 0.8 to 2.7; P = 0.3) or mortality (RR 2.1, 95% Cl, 0.5 to 9.7; P = 0.4). These observations are confirmed by metaanalysis. Furthermore, multivariate analysis indicts age as a critical risk of complications and death. conclusions Increased age and underlying illness are the predominant factors associated with morbidity and mortality following splenectomy for hematologic disease. Adjusting for age and diagnosis, spleen size is not a hazard.
β(1–3)Glucan synthase activity ofNeurospora crassa: Kinetic analysis of negative effectors

Abstract β(1–3)Glucan synthase activity of Neurospora crassa was inhibited by a number of compounds. Uridine nucleotides were linear competitive inhibitors of enzyme activity. Hill plots for the competitive inhibitors and for the substrate (UDP-glucose) resulted in straight lines with Hill numbers near unity suggesting a single substrate binding site. Tunicamycin, dolichol, or dolichol phosphate did not affect enzyme activity and a lipid-linked intermediate was not detected. Sorbose, gluconolactone, echinocandin B, and papulacandin B were uncompetitive inhibitors. Mixed inhibitor studies revealed that the binding of one uncompetitive inhibitor blocked completely the binding of each of the other uncompetitive inhibitors.
Response to Letter Regarding Article, “Bypassing Big Pharma”

We appreciate Dr Tracy’s views, as he personally has dedicated a large portion of his career toward developing cardioprotective agents for Pfizer. Nevertheless, when it comes to drug development, the pharmaceutical industry is …
Reactivation of p53 function with a demethylating agent: Awakening a sleeping giant

Commentary to:Reversal of p53 Epigenetic Silencing in Multiple Myeloma Permits Apoptosis by a p53 ActivatorElaine M. Hurt, Suneetha B. Thomas, Benjamin Peng, William Farrar
High-Dose Asian Ginseng (Panax Ginseng) for Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Preliminary Report

Introduction and Objective. Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is the most common and severe symptom in patients with cancer. The number and efficacy of available treatments for CRF are limited. The objective of this preliminary study was to assess the safety of high-dose Panax ginseng (PG) for CRF. Methods. In this prospective, open-label study, 30 patients with CRF (≥4/10) received high-dose PG at 800 mg orally daily for 29 days. Frequency and type of side effects were determined by the National Cancer Institute’s Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.0. Scores on the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Fatigue (FACIT-F) scale, Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were assessed at baseline, day 15, and day 29. Global Symptom Evaluation (GSE) was assessed at day 29. Results. Of the 30 patients enrolled, 24 (80%) were evaluable. The median age was 58 years; 50% were females, and 84% were white. No severe (≥grade 3) adverse e...
Variability of Sedimentary Textures and Processes on Continental Margin North of Wilmington Canyon: ABSTRACT

Sedimentary properties and processes of a 7,500-km2 corridor seaward of the Baltimore Canyon Trough off New Jersey were studied in detail using over 100 bottom samples consisting of grab samples and box, hydroplastic, and piston cores. The sediments in both canyon and intercanyon areas are primarily bioturbated, olive-gray, sandy silts with local features indicative of gravity-induced mass sediment movements (i.e., graded sequences and load structures). C14-based sediment accumulation rates vary by a factor of three in cores separated by as little as 6 km. These variations seem to be a function of shelf-edge spillover rates. Detailed analyses of the sand grain-size distribution throughout the corridor reveal that the sand component of the slope and rise sediments contains a high percentage of material currently present on the adjacent shelf. The relatively large percentage of sandy sediment in the upper parts of cores from Spencer Canyon suggests its recent role in transporting shelf sediments seaward. Sandy intervals in other slope cores are commonly obscured by intense bioturbation. Cores from the continental rise show an upward decrease in the number of sand layers and lenses. Active transport of sediment to the slope and rise occurred during the late Pleistocene and, although the intensity has declined, the slope is presently the site of deposition for both fine and coarse sediment. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1662------------
Risk factors for acute kidney injury during aminoglycoside therapy in patients with cystic fibrosis

Aminoglycoside (AG) therapy is a common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with AKI during intravenous AG courses in this population. This was a matched case–control study utilizing two independent cohorts of hospitalized CF patients receiving ≥3 days of intravenous AG at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Children’s of Alabama. All admissions with AKI (cases, N = 82) were matched to two randomly selected admissions without AKI (controls, N = 164) by center, gender, and age ±3 years of the case. AKI was defined as a 1.5-fold increase in the baseline serum creatinine (SCr) level or by an increase in SCr level of 0.3 mg/dL within 48 h. Admissions with AKI before day 4 or without at least weekly SCr monitoring were excluded from the analysis. Factors were compared between cases and controls using simple and multiple conditional logistic regression. Multivariable analysis identified receipt of an AG within 90 days prior to admission, longer duration of AG therapy, low serum albumin, and receipt of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole as independent risk factors for developing AKI. Infection with Staphylococcus aureus diminished the odds of developing AKI. This study identifies risk factors contributing to AG-associated AKI in CF patients. These findings can be used to anticipate high-risk scenarios and limit AKI in CF patients under clinical care.
Comparison of changes in supraspinatus muscle thickness in persons with subacromial impingement syndrome and asymptomatic adults

AbstractPurpose: To compare changes in supraspinatus muscle thickness in persons with subacromial impingement syndrome (SAIS) and asymptomatic adults and to determine the reliability of the ultrasound imaging (USI) protocol. Subjects: Twenty-two persons with SAIS and 22 age- and gender-matched asymptomatic controls. Methods: Ultrasound images of supraspinatus muscle thickness at rest and at 0°, 30°, 60°, and 90° of arm elevation were captured and measured. To determine same-day intratester reliability, one examiner imaged the same subject twice and two examiners took turns capturing images in order to determine same-day intertester reliability. Subjects were asked to return for between-day intratester reliability. Results: Statistical analyses revealed a larger mean supraspinatus thickness in the SAIS group at the 0° condition than in the asymptomatic group (p < 0.05). Same-day intratester and intertester reliability was good with ICC(2,3) = 0.73–0.96 for asymptomatic controls and ICC(2,3) = 0.61–0.94 for...
Success, failures and costs of implementing standards in the USA—lessons for infection control

In the US, extensive standards for performance and 'guidelines for practice' have been instituted by a number of governmental and non-governmental agencies. New governmental plans for health care depend heavily on practice guidelines, and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has been especially enthusiastic about continuous quality improvement. Monitoring the appropriateness of care and altering physician practice appeals to insurance carriers and health care management organizations. Some initial data exist to show that the quality of health care has been enhanced by these regulations. The total cost for health care administration in 1990 in the USA was 24.8% of each hospital's spending for health care. Much of this was associated with spending for new initiatives in practice guidelines, physician profiling, quality assurance, and the like. Few data exist to show that the quality of health care or hospital infection control has been enhanced by these expenditures. Regulations and guidelines also have proliferated in infection control. Guides from the JCAHO have been expanded, and recent mandates from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) for protecting employees from blood-borne and respiratory pathogens promise to be especially costly for health care organizations to implement. Little data exist to show that the quality of infection control has been enhanced by these regulations. Standards are difficult to develop, because the science to back them up often is lacking, interpretation of validating data is imprecise, and inherent biological variation makes exceptions common. Seven lessons are important for those developing standards today. These include focusing on objective measures of the impact of the standard, clearly indicating the degree of scientific validity, making the development process inclusive, allowing for local variation, making sure that funding is provided for mandated standards, considering non-scientific implications of standards, and remaining involved in the process after the guideline is developed. Infection control workers should make sure that standards developed take the lessons above into account before they are promulgated.
Low-temperature BiCMOS gate pull-down delay analysis

Abstract Temperature-dependent BiCMOS gate delay analysis including high current transient has been developed. The model accounts for the high electric field effect in the nMOS transistor and high current effects in the bipolar transistor for a wide temperature range. In examining the switching transient of a BiCMOS driver, the base pushout mechanism exhibits a detrimental effect on the gate propagation delay at room temperature, while the current gain degradation and temperature-dependent intrinsic density are responsible for increasing the BiCMOS gate pulldown delay at low temperature. The analytical equations provide evaluation of the sensitivity of process and device parameters to circuit performance at different temperatures. Computer simulation of a BiNMOS driver using the present analysis is compared with a PISCES simulation in support of the physical reasoning.
Determination of phase transition pressures of ZnTe under quasihydrostatic conditions

Pressure behavior of ZnTe at room temperature was studied using an X-ray energy dispersive method on a DIA type cubic anvil apparatus (SAM-85) at NSLS-X17B1. By using powdered polyethylene, the sample and NaCl for a pressure scale were held under quasihydrostatic conditions, which were confirmed by X-ray diffraction method. Two high-pressure phase transitions were confirmed using X-ray powder diffraction simultaneously with electrical resistance measurements. The phase transition pressures under quasihydrostatic conditions were determined to be 9.6 GPa, at which the resistance increased, and 12.0 GPa, which was the midpoint of a large resistance decrease. Errors in the pressure determinations were estimated to be less than 0.2 GPa. These pressure values may depend on grain size and anisotropic stress effects on the calibrant. From X-ray observation of ZnTe, the bulk modulus of the zinc blende structure was calculated to be K 0 = 51(3) GPa and K′0 = 3.6(0.8), and the first transition at 9.6 GPa was found to have about 9% volume change. It was consistent with an anomaly in the pressure generating curves.
Bandits with budgets

Motivated by online advertising applications, we consider a version of the classical multi-armed bandit problem where there is a cost associated with pulling each arm, and a corresponding budget which limits the number of times that an arm can be pulled. We derive regret bounds on the expected reward in such a bandit problem using a modification of the well-known upper confidence bound algorithm UCB1.
Familial Transitional Cell Carcinoma Among the Population of Iceland

AbstractPurpose: Several case reports have described familial aggregation of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary tract but to our knowledge only 1 epidemiological study specifically addressed the issue of familial bladder cancer. We evaluated the extent of familial aggregation of transitional cell carcinoma among the population of Iceland.Materials and Methods: The first to third degree relatives of 190 patients with bladder, ureter or renal pelvis transitional cell carcinoma diagnosed between 1983 and 1992 in Iceland were identified through the Icelandic Cancer Family Resource. The records of these 12,328 relatives were subsequently linked to the 1965 to 1994 cancer registry. The observed occurrence of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary tract was compared to the expected occurrence based on age, gender and calendar specific incidence rates. Observed-to-expected ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated.Results: In 41 of the 190 pedigrees at least 1 relative had transitional cell ...
Acquired cor triatriatum after orthotopic cardiac transplantation

Orthotopic cardiac transplantation was performed in a 42-year-old woman with idiopathic cardiomyopathy. Postoperative right ventricular failure developed and a transesophageal echocardiogram demonstrated acquired cor triatriatum with marked obstruction to mitral valve inflow and severe right ventricular dilatation. At reexploration, redundant donor atrial tissue was excised correcting the cor triatriatum. She was alive and well with normal hemodynamic parameters 12 months after transplantation.
Fish oil decreases inflammation and reduces cardiac remodeling in rosiglitazone treated aging mice

Clinical studies suggest that rosiglitazone (RSG) treatment may increase the incidence of heart failure in diabetic patients. In this study, we examined whether a high corn oil diet with RSG treatment in insulin resistant aging mice exerted metabolic and pro-inflammatory effects that stimulate cardiac dysfunction. We also evaluated whether fish oil attenuated these effects. Female C57BL/6J mice (13 months old) were divided into 5 groups: (1) lean control (LC), (2) corn oil, (3) fish oil, (4) corn oil + RSG and (5) fish oil + RSG. Mice fed a corn oil enriched diet and RSG developed hypertrophy of the left ventricle (LV) and decreased fractional shortening, despite a significant increase in total body lean mass. In contrast, LV hypertrophy was prevented in RSG treated mice fed a fish oil enriched diet. Importantly, hyperglycemia was controlled in both RSG groups. Further, fish oil + RSG decreased LV expression of atrial and brain natriuretic peptides, fibronectin and the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α, concomitant with increased interleukin-10 and adiponectin levels compared to the corn oil + RSG group. Fish oil + RSG treatment suppressed inflammation, increased serum adiponectin, and improved fractional shortening, attenuating the cardiac remodeling seen in the corn oil + RSG diet fed C57BL/6J insulin resistant aging mice. Our results suggest that RSG treatment has context-dependent effects on cardiac remodeling and serves a negative cardiac role when given with a corn oil enriched diet.
Ascorbic Acid and Glutathione Modulate the Biological Activity of S-Nitrosoglutathione

Ascorbic acid and glutathione (GSH) are important determinants of the intracellular redox state, and both are known to accelerate the decomposition of S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), an endogenous adduct of nitric oxide (NO). The implications of these observations for GSNO bioactivity are not yet clear. We investigated the effect of ascorbic acid and GSH on GSNO bioactivity by using a bioassay with isolated segments of guinea pig aorta suspended in organ chambers. Arterial segments demonstrated relaxation to GSNO (0.1 micromol/L) that was significantly enhanced by 300 micromol/L ascorbic acid (71+/-6% versus 53+/-6%, P 120 minutes to 22.5+/-3.5 and 36.3+/-4.3 minutes, respectively; P<0.05), consistent with accelerated decomposition of GSNO that was confirmed spectrophotometrically. The effect of ascorbic acid was abrogated by either DTPA or the copper(I)-specific agent bathocuproine but not deferoxamine, indicating a dependence on the availability of redox-active copper. Consistent with this notion, the action of ascorbic acid on GSNO bioactivity was also supported by copper-zinc superoxide dismutase, a physiologically relevant source of copper. In contrast, the effect of GSH on GSNO degradation and GSNO-mediated arterial relaxation was independent of transition metal ions, because DTPA had no effect. These data indicate that both ascorbic acid and GSH modulate GSNO bioactivity and suggest a distinction between the mechanism of GSNO degradation by ascorbic acid or GSH. Whereas both ascorbic acid and GSH accelerate the degradation of GSNO, only ascorbic acid is dependent on the presence of transition metal ions.
Presenilin-1 immunoreactivity is localized intracellularly in Alzheimer's disease brain, but not detected in amyloid plaques

The identification of the cellular and subcellular regions of the Alzheimer's disease brain to which the presenilin-1 (PS-1) protein localizes is expected to contribute to an understanding of its pathophysiological role. Toward this end, we have derived an affinity-purified antibody to a synthetic PS-1 peptide. In this report, we demonstrate that this antibody, called SW2, specifically recognizes full-length, 47-kDa PS-1 protein from rat primary cortical neurons, from a human neuronal cell line, and from human brain extracts on Western immunoblots. Immunohistochemical analysis of postmortem brain tissue from control and Alzheimer's disease patients using this SW2 antibody indicates an intracellular localization of PS-1 immunoreactivity with prominent perinuclear characteristics in neurons, with staining also detected in neuritic processes. Despite various treatments of the tissue sections, no PS-1 immunoreactivity was observed in neuritic plaques, the hallmark pathological lesions of Alzheimer's disease. In addition, confocal microscopic analysis of immunostained cultured primary neurons revealed a prominent perinuclear pattern of PS-1 immunoreactivity consistent with vesicular localization, as well as punctate staining in neuritic processes.
Apoptosis: Molecular Control Point in Toxicity

Apoptosis is a controlled form of cell death that serves as a molecular point of regulation for biological processes. Cell selection by apoptosis occurs during normal physiological functions as well as toxicities and diseases. Apoptosis is the counterpart and counterbalance to mitosis in cell population determination. Complex patterns of cell signaling and specific gene expression are clearly involved in the control of cell fate. Exposure to an apogen, a trigger of apoptosis, can significantly increase apoptotic cell loss during homeostatic processes as well as acute or chronic toxicities. Alternately, suppression of apoptosis through, for example, interference in cell signaling can result in pathological accumulation of aberrant cells and diseases such as tumors. Investigations into the mechanisms underlying apoptosis have extended into many areas, driven by increasingly sophisticated instrumental and molecular biology techniques. This symposium summary explores related aspects of apoptosis, including control of cell population size and function, specific gene activity and regulation, chromatin condensation and scaffold detachment, oxidative stress-induced cell proliferation versus death by apoptosis or necrosis, and hepatotoxicant-induced apoptosis versus necrosis. Insights into the mechanisms governing apoptosis and increasing appreciation of the relevance of apoptotic cell death are redirecting research in toxicology and carcinogenesis and are yielding novel therapeutic approaches for the control of toxicity, disease, and ultimately perhaps senescence.
Outlay Rates and the Politics of Capital versus Operating Subsidies in Federal Transit Finance

"Outlay rate" is a measure of the lapsed time between the obligation of federal funds for some purpose and the actual drawdown, or expenditure, of those funds. Outlay rates are an important, though often unspoken, reason for the gradual withdrawal of federal operating support of public transit. Rationales for reducing and/or eliminating federal support of transit operations are examined, overall capital and operating outlay rates for a sample of transit operators in California are measured, and possible causes and effects of federal grant outlay rates are discussed. On average, transit operators do, in fact, expend operating grants more quickly than capital grants. However, the overall size of the grant is actually a better predictor of slow outlays than grant purpose. Although the revenues generated by unexpended transit grants represent real revenues to the treasury, the goal of the federal transit program clearly is not simply to maximize such revenues. Evidence from other studies suggests that strict ...
Comparative macroeconomic dynamics in the Arab World : a panel VAR approach

The paper presents a comparative analysis of macroeconomic dynamics of 18 Arab countries based on a panel vector autogression estimation. Comparing growth performance, fiscal and current account developments in these countries, the study concludes that (1) in the short run, external and country-specific factors play an almost equal role in explaining macroeconomic fluctuations, but in the long run external factors dominate; (2) on average, program countries are less vulnerable to adverse exogeneous shocks than nonprogram countries, (3) to mitigate the negative impact of an external shock, domestic policy response should be consistent with the size of the shock.
The predictive use of the configurational co-ordinate model for luminescent centres

Abstract In the configurational co-ordinate model of a luminescent centre the displacement (Δ r ) of the excited state curve relative to the ground state plays an important role: for large values of Δ r non-luminescent centres are formed, while for a low or zero value of Δ r luminescent centres with a high quenching temperature are formed. The relative value of Δ r can be deduced indirectly from the quenching temperature of the luminescence, but this involves a number of approximations which may not always be valid. The Δ r has been calculated directly for a series of fluoride phosphors activated by Mn 4+ from the intensity distribution of vibronic progressions which are present in the emission spectrum. The value of Δ r thus obtained is influenced by the host lattice in a predictable way, and the quenching temperature of the phosphors correlate well with this independently determined value. The value of Δ r along the e g (Jahn-Teller active) co-ordinate is about twice as great as that along the a 1g co-ordinate. This may play an important role in nonradiative processes. The value of Δ r along the other co-ordinates is too small to be calculated accurately.
The syndrome of irreversible acidosis after prolonged propofol infusion.

Introduction: Propofol infusion syndrome is described in the pediatric literature as metabolic acidosis, rhabdomyolysis, and bradycardia that results in death. The pathogenesis of this syndrome is thought to be activation of the systemic inflammatory response, which culminates in acidosis and muscle necrosis. Materials and Methods: Retrospective chart review of three patients in the Neurological Critical Care Units at Hahnemann and Massachusetts General Hospitals between October 2001 and September 2004. Results: Patient 1: A 27-year-old woman had seizures secondary to hemorrhage from an arteriovenous malformation. Propofol coma was induced for sedation. After initiation of propofol, she developed a metabolic acidosis, hypotension, and bradycardia and expired. Patient 2: A 64-year-old man presented in status epilepticus. After prolonged propofol administration, he developed metabolic acidosis, hypotension, and rhabdomyolysis and expired. Patient 3: A 24-year-old woman presented in status epilepticus secondary to encephalitis. Propofol was added for seizure control. She developed hypotension, metabolic acidosis, and bradyarrhythmias. Despite transvenous pacing, she expired. Conclusion: These data show an association between extended propofol use and metabolic acidosis, rhabdomyolysis, and death in adults, as well as children. Risk factors for propofol infusion syndrome in adults include lean body mass index, high dose, and administration of more than 24-hour duration. Creatine phosphokinase, lactic acid levels, electrolytes, and arterial blood gases should be monitored frequently. Both bacterial and fungal cultures should be obtained. If this syndrome is suspected, hemodialysis should be considered. In fatal cases, autopsy should include electron microscopy of cardiac and skeletal muscle to look for mitochondrial dysfunction. Further study is warranted.
Role of the cell recognition molecule, cognin, in GABAergic differentiation in chick retina.

Abstract Previous work showed that GABAergic differentiation in developing chick retina depends on insulin and cell interactions. Here, we investigated whether it depended on cell signaling mediated by retina cognin, a 50 kDa cell recognition molecule. Cognin mediates cell adhesion in vitro and occurs on retinal neurons that become both GABAergic and cholinergic. We investigated two markers of GABAergic differentiation: glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) activity and high-affinity GABA uptake. Both increase during differentiation of retinal neurons in culture and can be easily measured. We blocked cognin-mediated cell signaling with cognin antibody and found a reduction of the developmental increase in GAD activity in cultures of retinal neurons from 7 and 11 day chick embryos. There was no reduction of high-affinity GABA uptake. This suggested that cognin-mediated signaling was necessary for the normal developmental increase in GAD but not for high-affinity GABA uptake. These results contrasted with our previous observations on cholinergic differentiation in cultured retinal neurons. We found that cognin antibody blocked the normal developmental increase in choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) only if the cells were exposed before embryonic day 7. Thus, while both GAD and ChAT activity appear to be controlled by cell signaling involving cognin, the periods of developmental sensitivity for the two differentiation markers are different. Antibodies to other adhesion molecules, Ng-CAM, and N-cadherin, did not similarly affect GAD activity. Antibodies to laminin at a 10-fold higher concentration inhibited GAD activity only in early embryonic retina. Tests for protein synthesis and “housekeeping” enzyme activity demonstrated that the cognin antibody effect was selective for neuronal differentiation pathways. Thus, GABAergic differentiation in developing retina is sensitive to cell signaling mediated in part by cognin.
Observations on suicide in chronic schizophrenics.

Abstract The aim of the present study is to investigate suicide hazards in schizophrenics who are treated in community-oriented metropolitan public mental hospitals. Suicide in schizophrenics has often been investigated. It has been found that they represent the majority of those who suicide in mental hospitals and that the interaction between the patient and his environment is of profound significance in determining the degree of suicidal risk. Bleuler 1 attributed a detrimental effect to the then prevailing humiliating surveillance and restraint of schizophrenics and was of the opinion that these very methods increase and maintain the suicidal drive. Pertinent studies have been briefly reviewed by Watkins et al. 2 and more recently by Sletten et al. 3 Most of these studies were retrospective investigations of case records or statistical estimations on larger samples. There is a paucity of direct clinical observation at the time and place where suicides have occurred. During recent years, modern principles of community psychiatry have been applied in the large public mental hospitals. This trend, which emphasizes open doors, the abolishment of involuntary restrictions, therapeutic community, early discharge, and maintenance of schizophrenics within their families and communities, has brough about welcome changes in the life patterns of most mental-hospital patients. In reference to suicide, there is little available information. Generally no increase in the suicide rate of schizophrenics has been observed, 4,5 although new hazards may be anticipated in specific situations. It was therefore thought that a prospective clinical study of those schizophrenics who suicide while under improved community-oriented hospital care might yield further useful information.
A field experiment on the effectiveness of spiders and carabid beetles as biocontrol agents in soybean

1 Spiders and carabid beetles are abundant generalist predators that prey upon insect pests of soybean. A field experiment was conducted to determine the impact of spiders and carabids on soybean yield. Prior to planting, three 7 × 7 m plots were fenced in order to reduce spider and carabid immigration. Carabids that emerged within the plots were not removed, but spiders that ballooned into these predator-reduction plots or that entered by climbing the fence were removed by pitfall trapping and searching the vegetation. Three unmanipulated, unfenced plots served as the control treatment. 2 Densities of spiders on soybean vegetation, and activity-densities of spiders and carabids determined by pitfall trapping, were c. 75% lower in the spider-carabid reduction treatment than in control plots. Despite clear differences between treatments in numbers and activity of these major generalist predators, the weight of soybeans harvested did not differ between control and spider-carabid reduction plots. 3 Paralleling the absence of an effect of predator reduction on soybean yield was the absence of any significant difference between treatments in densities of whiteflies (Aleyrodidae), leafhoppers (Cicadellidae), thrips (Thysanoptera), Lepidoptera larvae and herbivorous Coleoptera. 4 Our experiment provides no evidence that spiders and carabid beetles at ambient densities affect soybean yield. Low populations of pest species or low predation pressure on soybean pests by spiders and carabids at the ambient densities of this experiment could be responsible for this result.
Microphysical Characteristics of Tropical Updrafts in Clean Conditions

Abstract The distributions of ice particles, precipitation embryos, and supercooled water are examined within updrafts in convective clouds in the Amazon and at Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, based on in situ measurements during two Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission field campaigns. Composite vertical profiles of liquid water, small particle concentration, and updraft/downdraft magnitudes exhibit similar peak values for the two tropical regions. Updrafts were found to be favored locations for precipitation embryos in the form of liquid or frozen drizzle-sized droplets. Most updrafts glaciated rapidly, removing most of the liquid water between −5° and −17°C. However, occasional encounters with liquid water occurred in much colder updraft regions. The updraft magnitudes where liquid water was observed at cold (e.g., −16° to −19°C) temperatures do not appear to be stronger than updrafts without liquid water at similar temperatures, however. The concentrations of small spherical frozen particles in glaciated ...
Interplay between Chemical, Thermal, and Mechanical Processes Occurring upon Laser Excitation of Poly(methyl methacrylate) and Its Role in Ablation†

Experiments and modeling studies have identified thermal, chemical, and mechanical processes as likely sources of laser ablation in polymeric materials. In our earlier study, molecular dynamics simulations with an embedded Monte Carlo based reaction scheme have been used to investigate the role of each of these processes separately, in a poly(methyl methacrylate) substrate irradiated by ultraviolet lasers. In the present study, using the same substrate, we allow for interactions among these processes, to better model the real ablation process, and investigate how it affects the system evolution during ablation. In the purely thermal case, chemical reactions are allowed to occur via the thermo-mechanical bond break and radical formation leading to subsequent gas formation. Similarly, in purely photochemical cases, additional bond breaks and reactions occur due to high temperatures and stresses. In all cases, it is observed that the ablation process is extended over longer time scales (≫ laser pulse width) ...
Complementary, holistic, and integrative medicine: mind-body medicine.

1. Hilary McClafferty, MD* 1. *Assistant Director of the Fellowship, Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Phoenix, AZ. After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Define mind-body medicine. 2. Review evidence-based pediatric mind-body therapies and identify medical conditions where these therapies have proven beneficial. 3. Encourage pediatricians to consider integrating mind-body medicine into practice. Mind-body medicine might be defined as the deliberate harnessing of positive thought and emotion and using them for the purpose of enhancing health. It has been well established that poorly managed pain and stress can activate the inflammatory cascade, depress immune function, and increase the risk of chronic depression, anxiety disorders, and posttraumatic stress disorder. (1)(2)(3)(4)(5) The field of mind-body medicine capitalizes on the inverse association that positive emotions and use of self-regulation skills can trigger beneficial physiologic reactions, including enhanced immunity, decreased inflammation, and improved mental health. (6) A wide variety of mind-body techniques can be used to achieve a state of calm, positive focus. The modalities that have the best supporting evidence of efficacy in pediatrics currently are biofeedback, hypnosis, guided imagery, mindfulness, music therapy, and yoga. (7) New fields of medicine present unique challenges, and mind-body medicine is no exception. This broad, wide-ranging topic rarely is addressed in medical education. Mastery of new skills is required, treatment is highly individualized, insurance reimbursement may vary, colleagues may be skeptical, and pressure to prescribe medication rather than suggest an unfamiliar therapy may deter physicians from recommending it. Mind-body therapies encourage children to become active participants in their care and are low risk and cost-effective. They can be used as evidence-based alternatives to conventional therapies if conventional treatments have undesirable adverse effects, as adjunct supportive therapies, or as primary treatments in cases where they offer superior …
Spectral/hp penalty least‐squares finite element formulation for unsteady incompressible flows

In this paper, we present spectral/hp penalty least-squares finite element formulation for the numerical solution of unsteady incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. Pressure is eliminated from Navier–Stokes equations using penalty method, and finite element model is developed in terms of velocity, vorticity and dilatation. High-order element expansions are used to construct discrete form. Unlike other penalty finite element formulations, equal-order Gauss integration is used for both viscous and penalty terms of the coefficient matrix. For time integration, space–time decoupled schemes are implemented. Second-order accuracy of the time integration scheme is established using the method of manufactured solution. Numerical results are presented for impulsively started lid-driven cavity flow at Reynolds number of 5000 and transient flow over a backward-facing step. The effect of penalty parameter on the accuracy is investigated thoroughly in this paper and results are presented for a range of penalty parameter. Present formulation produces very accurate results for even very low penalty parameters (10–50). Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
RepeatAssembler: a package for annotation of full-length repetitive DNA sequences in fungal genomes

REPEATASSEMBLER aims to automate the identification of full-length consensus sequences for repetitive DNA fragments or the genetic material that is repeated many times throughout the genome (so-called repeats). Although there are packages with similar objectives, e.g. RECON, none fully meets the needs of researchers in comparative genomics. Joining short repeating elements into fall-length repeats is particularly intricate and handling this task properly is both the goal and the strength of our solution. REPEATASSEMBLER analyzes as few sequences as possible to screen out all repetitive sequences. Then it builds a set of non-redundant repeats and reports the full-length consensus sequence for each element in the set. REPEATASSEMBLER consistently delivers repetitive sequences that agree with known full-length repeats for several fungal genomes.
Neurologic Manifestations of Connective Tissue Disease

The clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, mixed connective tissue disease, Behcet's disease, Cogan's syndrome, and relapsing polychondritis are reviewed from a neurological perspective with an emphasis on pathogenic mechanisms and their relationship to treatment.
A theoretical example of wind‐induced circulation in a semicircular canal

The steady-state stream function for the vertical circulation produced by a uniform horizontal wind stress on the surface of a canal of semicircular cross-section is derived analytically. The streamlines have been calculated and a comparison is made with some experimental results obtained by Hidaka and Koizumi in 1950 using a thin elastic-plate model.
Analysis of a fault-tolerant multiprocessor scheduling algorithm

Fault tolerance is an important aspect of real-time computer systems, since timing constraints must not be violated. When dealing with multiprocessor systems, fault tolerance becomes an even greater requirement, since there are more components that can fail. We present the analysis of a fault tolerant scheduling algorithm for real-time applications on multiprocessors. Our algorithm is based on the principles of primary/backup tasks, backup overloading (i.e., scheduling more than a single backup in the same time interval), and backup deallocation (i.e., reclaiming the resources unused by backup tasks in case of fault-free operation). A theoretical model is developed to study a particular class of applications and certain backup and overloading strategies. The proposed scheme can tolerate a single fault of any processor at any time, be it transient or permanent. Simulation results offer evidence of little loss of schedulability due to the addition of the fault tolerance capability. Simulation is also used to study the length of time needed for the system to recover from a fault (i.e., the time when the system is again able to tolerate any fault). >
Bone Marrow from Blotchy Mice Is Dispensable to Regulate Blood Copper and Aortic Pathologies but Required for Inflammatory Mediator Production in LDLR-Deficient Mice during Chronic Angiotensin II Infusion

Background The blotchy mouse caused by mutations of ATP7A develops low blood copper and aortic aneurysm and rupture. Although the aortic pathologies are believed primarily due to congenital copper deficiencies in connective tissue, perinatal copper supplementation does not produce significant therapeutic effects, hinting additional mechanisms in the symptom development, such as an independent effect of the ATP7A mutations during adulthood. Methods We investigated if bone marrow from blotchy mice contributes to these symptoms. For these experiments, bone marrow from blotchy mice (blotchy marrow group) and healthy littermate controls (control marrow group) was used to reconstitute recipient mice (irradiated male low-density lipoprotein receptor −/− mice), which were then infused with angiotensin II (1,000 ng/kg/min) for 4 weeks. Results By using Mann–Whitney U test, our results showed that there was no significant difference in the copper concentrations in plasma and hematopoietic cells between these 2 groups. And plasma level of triglycerides was significantly reduced in blotchy marrow group compared with that in control marrow group ( P P P = 0.10; Fisher's exact test). Conclusions Overall, our study indicated that the effect of bone marrow from blotchy mice during adulthood is dispensable in the regulation of blood copper, plasma cholesterol and phospholipids levels, and aortic pathologies, but contributes to a reduction of MIP-1β, MCP-1, MCP-3, MCP-5, TIMP-1, and VEGF-A production and triglycerides concentration in plasma. Our study also hints that bone marrow transplantation cannot serve as an independent treatment option.
Obstacles to the Use of Estrogen Replacement Therapy in Women of Lower Socioeconomic Levels

The value of estrogen replacement in post­ menopausal women is well documented. Estrogen prevents or modifies the disease course of osteo­ porosis, I coronary artery disease,2-4 and atrophic vaginitis, and it often is used to treat urinary incon­ tinence. The role of estrogen replacement in pre­ vention of strokes is more controversial; some studies suggest a positive roleS and others suggest no role. 6 Recent studies indicate estrogen might have a positive effect on memory.? Although docu­ mented risks exist, for most women the risk-bene­ fit ratio strongly favors estrogen use after menopause. Nevertheless, despite the favorable risk-benefit ratio, studies document rates of estro­ gen use as low as 30 percent among postmeno­ pausal women who are candidates for estrogen therapy. 8 Even though many studies document predic­ tors of which women are more or less likely to use estrogen, few researchers have asked the women themselves why they chose not to use estrogen, particularly women in lower socioeconomic groups. In 1987 Ravnikar 8 documented fear of cancer as the most common reason women discon­ tinued estrogen replacement. In 1988 Ferguson et al 9 concluded that fear of a return of menstrual pe­ riods was the most unfavorable factor in the deci­ sion to use estrogen replacement. In 1996 Handa et apo found the strongest predictor of estrogen use in the Piedmont region of North Carolina to be socioeconomic status, with higher rates of es­ trogen use associated with higher socioeconomic status. Fear of cancer was not directly addressed in
Foresight has to pay off in the present moment

Foresight requires not only scenarios constructed from memories, but also adequate incentive to let these scenarios compete with current rewards. This incentive probably comes from the efficacy of the scenarios in occasioning present emotions, which depends not on their accuracy per se but on their uniqueness as compared with other possible occasions for emotion.