cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Comprehensive Review on Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an enduring inflammatory disease that is categorized by bumping off the joint and rigidity, bone and cartilage devastation all above the joints. It is an autoimmune disease or disease caused by factors like smoking, obesity, etc. Cytokines are the main inducers for rheumatoid arthritis which produce interleukin 1β and interleukin 6 factors that cause the devastation of synovium and cartilage present at the joints. The deformation of skeletal muscles is observed in an arthritic patient. The present review is a discussion on rheumatoid arthritis that includes etiology, pathology and pathogenesis, signs and symptoms, clinical complications, diagnosis, treatment, therapy, certain patents and applications. The patents include the development of numerous novel techniques for the management of rheumatoid arthritis and diseases associated with rheumatoid arthritis. The targets to treat rheumatoid arthritis are interleukins, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, sialoprotein I and several other factors. Different biomarkers are used for different types of rheumatoid arthritis and the mechanism also varies. Certain marketed formulations were enlisted. Recent trends in the management of rheumatoid arthritis are the main concern of this article.
Stable isotope ecology in insects: a review

1. The use of stable isotope analysis (SIA) in ecological research has dramatically increased in recent years largely because it allows researchers to investigate ecological questions that have been previously difficult to address. 2. Ecological applications of SIA include estimating fundamental niche space and overlap, evaluating trophic or species level interactions, and investigating food web structure. Increasingly, researchers have been incorporating SIA in studies of animal migration, disease transmission, diet composition, nutrient assimilation, and body condition among others. 3. Studies using SIA to evaluate the ecology of terrestrial insects have lagged behind other taxonomic groups. This poor representation of stable isotope studies in publications likely stems from a lack of familiarity of entomologists with this technique. 4. An improved understanding of SIA, as well as the advantages and disadvantages specifically related to insect research, will benefit the field of entomology. In addition, insect‐model systems provide unique opportunities for entomologists to incorporate SIA in their research to advance our knowledge of insect biology and the stable isotope ecology of insects. 5. We provide background information on stable isotopes, explain sources of isotopic variation, describe the processes of how isotopes are differentially routed and incorporated into an individual's tissues, explain the principles that influence isotopic fractionation and discrimination, highlight different methods and advancements in SIA, review innovative stable isotope studies, and provide an overview of common mistakes, considerations, and future directions entomologists can explore.
Incidence of cymbidium mosaic, odontoglossum ringspot, and orchid fleck virus in orchids in Minnesota and production of antibodies for use in ELISA to detect orchid fleck virus

Ninety-six symptomatic orchids representing 36 genera from seven orchid collections, including two conservatories, in Minnesota, USA were tested for cymbidium mosaic virus (CymMV), odontoglossum ringspot virus (ORSV), and orchid fleck virus (OFV) using dipsticks (CymMV and ORSV), RT-PCR (OFV), and transmission electron microscopy (all viruses). CymMV was identified in 22% of the samples, OFV was identified in 17% of the samples, and ORSV was detected in 6% of the samples. Five percent of samples were infected with both CymMV and ORSV and 1% of samples were infected with both OFV and ORSV. Characteristic orchid virus symptoms of chlorotic and necrotic patterns were observed for the majority of infected orchids. Polyclonal antibodies were produced against Escherichia coli expressed OFV phosphoprotein (OFV P) and evaluated for use in plate trapped antigen-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (PTA-ELISA). After an overnight incubation with PNPP the OFV P polyclonal antisera diluted from 1:1000–1:20,000 (v/v) readily differentiated between fresh healthy and OFV infected orchid (Phalaenopsis hybrid) tissue diluted from 1:5–1:20 (w/v). The high incidence of viruses detected in orchids (50%) suggests limited use of certified virus-free propagation stock and highlights the importance of sanitation to prevent transmission between plants.
Current concepts and advances in biomarkers of acute kidney injury

Despite advancements in standardizing the criteria for acute kidney injury (AKI), its definition remains based on changes in serum creatinine and urinary output that do not specifically represent t...
Transport of intensity phase imaging with error correction using transport of phase equation

The transport of intensity equation (TIE) has been widely applied to phase imaging. A variety of methods for solving the TIE have been proposed. One of the most popular methods is an FFT-based method, which is simple and fast. However, this method has a strict restriction that the intensity of the object is assumed to be uniform. Otherwise, the accuracy of phase retrieval results may drop significantly. The transport of phase equation (TPE) is an equation coupled with the TIE, and both are derived from the Helmholtz equation. Few works have studied the role of the TPE in 3D imaging. In this work, a non-iterative FFT-based TIE with TPE correction is proposed. The phases at the object plane and four defocused planes are first calculated by the TIE. Ideally, the object intensity and computed phases are supposed to satisfy both the TIE and TPE. But the non-uniformity of object intensity, as well as the use of finite differences of intensities in the calculation of longitudinal derivatives for the FFT-based TIE method, introduce errors in phase retrieval result. We show that by using the TPE, the local refractive index during propagation can be updated and used as a correction in the TIE. The TIE is solved once again using the updated refractive index, and shows reduction of errors. This proposed technique can be extended to amplitude and phase imaging. It also offers the advantage of yielding the unwrapped phase with good accuracy performance and can be potentially applied to medical high-definition 3D imaging, for cells, micro bubbles, etc.
Preparing for an American College of Surgeons Virtual Trauma Reverification Site Visit: One Center's Experience.

BACKGROUND: The American College of Surgeons (ACS), Committee on Trauma, trauma center verification process is designed to help hospitals improve trauma care. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic social distancing restrictions, performing virtual site visits was piloted. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to describe the first pilot ACS pediatric trauma center virtual reverification visit performed in the United States. METHODS: This is a descriptive review of a 2020 pilot virtual Level I pediatric trauma center reverification visit. In-person site visit checklists were altered to adjust to the virtual format. All documents, prereview questionnaire, patient charts, and resource documents were prepared electronically. Collaboration with the departments of information technology, clinical education and informatics, and the general counsel's office prepared the infrastructure to allow reviewers access to protected health information. RESULTS: Multiple hospital departments collaborated to facilitate the transition to an electronic format. Organized virtual meeting room scheduling, communications, and coordination between the ACS staff, the reviewers, and the various hospital departments resulted in a successful virtual visit. CONCLUSION: Lessons learned and opportunities for improvement were identified for this first-ever pilot virtual pediatric trauma center reverification site visit. Once the information technology logistic questions were answered, allowing reviewers protected health information access, the general program and document preparation for a virtual trauma reverification site visit was similar to an in-person site visit. Although the review day agenda was similar, execution challenges were identified.
The Limits of International Law Fifteen Years Later

The Limits of International Law received a great deal of criticism when it was published in 2005 but it has aged well. The skeptical, social-scientific methodology that it recommended has become a normal mode of international law scholarship. And the dominant idealistic view of international law that the book criticized is today in shambles, unable to explain the turmoil in international politics. This essay reflects on the book’s reception and corrects common misperceptions of its arguments.
Generation of an induced pluripotent stem cell line (UNCCi002-A) from a healthy donor using a non-integration system to study Cerebral Cavernous Malformation (CCM).

Abstract The generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from healthy individuals is an invaluable resource as reference control in disease modeling and drug discovery. This paper details the reprogramming of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from a healthy 27 years-old male using non-integration technology. The derived iPSCs displayed typical pluripotent stem cell morphology, the capacity to differentiate into the three germ layers, and normal karyotype. This iPSC line will be used as a reference control to study the Cerebral Cavernous Malformation disease mechanism.
Answering vs. exploring: Contrastive responding styles of East-Asian students and native-English-speaking students in the American graduate classroom

Abstract This study investigates responding styles of East Asian students (EASs) and native-English-speaking students (NESSs) in the American graduate classroom. The issue of EASs’ perceived lack of participation has become a salient phenomenon in American education (Yanagi & Baker, 2016). In previous studies focused on why they do not actively participate (Zarrinabadi & Tanbakooei, 2016), numerous researchers have pointed to the mismatch of EASs’ participation patterns and the American classroom as one factor (Takahashi, 2019). However, there has been little research on how and when they actually do participate and how their contributions are constructed in response to particular types of teacher questions. By video-recording 30 h of teacher-student interaction and through the use of the conversation analytic (CA) approach, this study demonstrates EASs’ and NESSs’ distinctive responding styles: answering and exploring, respectively. The findings of this study are beneficial for teachers to help promote participation from diverse groups in today's American classroom.
Is the current consolidation regimen for AML evidence-based?

Abstract Current standard of care for consolidation therapy for AML varies based on age and induction regimen, among other factors. Many trials have sought to determine the optimal dose, number of cycles, and schedule for consolidation with cytarabine. For AML patients under age 60, mid-dose cytarabine is as effective as high-dose cytarabine, results after 3 or 4 cycles of cytarabine in consolidation are comparable but are both superior to only one cycle, and giving cytarabine every 12 h on days 1, 2, and 3 appears to have the same benefit but less toxicity than cytarabine given on days 1, 3, and 5. For those over age 60, the best dose of cytarabine is unknown, but post-remission therapy appears to improve survival for some patients who achieve remission after standard induction, depending on induction regimen used and MRD status at time of remission.
Microclimate-based mortality analysis of the Cibodas Botanic Gardens plant collection

Despite the routinely conducted treatment and maintenance of garden plant collection, the monthly mortality figures of the Cibodas Botanic Gardens (CBG) plant collections remain significant. It is presumed that the microclimate has a crucial influence on plant survivorship in the field. This study aimed to analyze the effect of microclimate conditions on the mortality rate of the CBG plant collection. The study was conducted by correlating the number of mortal plants with CBG monthly microclimatic conditions from 2017 to 2018. The analyzed microclimate parameters were temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, wind velocity, and solar radiation. The multiple regression modeling, t -test, and Pearson correlation test ( r ) were utilized to measure the level of significance of the correlation ( α = 0.05). The findings were shown that the maximum wind velocity was the primary unit correlated to the number of mortality. The correlation was strong positive ( r = 68.8%), and significant ( p -value < α ). We suggested anticipating the disadvantages influences of strong wind supported by other extreme microclimate units, such as heavy rain. These events frequently caused high damage to the tree and other plant collections. These are expected to be taken into a consideration by the CBG operator and management in order to forecast and mitigate the risks of future plant collection losses.
Computing Simple Mechanisms: Lift-and-Round over Marginal Reduced Forms.

We study revenue maximization in multi-item multi-bidder auctions under the natural item-independence assumption - a classical problem in Multi-Dimensional Bayesian Mechanism Design. One of the biggest challenges in this area is developing algorithms to compute (approximately) optimal mechanisms that are not brute-force in the size of the bidder type space, which is usually exponential in the number of items in multi-item auctions. Unfortunately, such algorithms were only known for basic settings of our problem when bidders have unit-demand [CHMS10,CMS15] or additive valuations [Yao15]. In this paper, we significantly improve the previous results and design the first algorithm that runs in time polynomial in the number of items and the number of bidders to compute mechanisms that are $O(1)$-approximations to the optimal revenue when bidders have XOS valuations, resolving the open problem raised in [CM16,CZ17]. Moreover, the computed mechanism has a simple structure: It is either a posted price mechanism or a two-part tariff mechanism. As a corollary of our result, we show how to compute an approximately optimal and simple mechanism efficiently using only sample access to the bidders' value distributions. Our algorithm builds on two innovations that allow us to search over the space of mechanisms efficiently: (i) a new type of succinct representation of mechanisms - the marginal reduced forms, and (ii) a novel Lift-and-Round procedure that concavifies the problem.
Impact of historical land cover change on the July climate of the United States

[1] We used the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) model to investigate the possible impact of land cover change on the July climate of the coterminous United States over the last 290 years. Vegetation data were estimated using the Ecosystem Demography model. The observed change in land cover leads to a weak warming along the Atlantic coast and a strong cooling of more than 1 K over the Midwest and the Great Plains region. The precipitation signal is weaker and shows some reduction in the Midwest because of changes in the patterns of large-scale moisture advection.
Patterns of adherence to diabetes vision care guidelines: baseline findings from the Diabetic Retinopathy Awareness Program.

Abstract Objectives (1) To describe baseline patterns of adherence to American Diabetes Association and American Academy of Ophthalmology vision care guidelines for diabetes in the Diabetic Retinopathy Awareness Program, and (2) to evaluate factors associated with nonadherence. This paper describes the baseline characteristics of a population enrolled in a prospective, randomized clinical trial. Design Cross-sectional study. Participants Between October 1993 and May 1994, the study identified 2308 persons with diabetes, 18 years of age or older, who were residents of Suffolk County, New York, via a multimedia community-wide recruitment campaign. Intervention and methods Eligibility for the trial was determined during a 20-minute phone interview, which included questions about vision care practices; diabetes management; and knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about diabetes, vision, and diabetic retinopathy. This paper describes these patient characteristics at baseline. Eligible patients would be randomized subsequently to a 2-year diabetes educational intervention arm, which included mailed packets and newsletters focused on vision care, or to a control nonintervention arm. Main outcome measure Nonadherence to guidelines at baseline was defined as the absence of a dilated eye examination during the year before recruitment into the study. Results Of the 2308 persons interviewed, 813 (35%) did not follow the vision care guidelines; two thirds of this group reported no eye examination in the year before the interview, and one third had an undilated examination. Ophthalmologists performed 49% of the examinations in the nonadherent group, versus 86% in the adherent group. In logistic regression analyses, factors related to nonadherence were: younger age (odds ratio [OR] = 0.97), type 2 diabetes with or without insulin use (OR = 1.62 and 1.99, respectively), shorter diabetes duration (OR = 0.97), last eye examination performed by an optometrist (OR = 5.32) or other nonophthalmologist (OR = 4.29), less practical knowledge about diabetes (OR = 1.57), and no prior formal diabetes education (OR = 1.30). Conclusions Within this population, more than one third of participants had not been following vision care guidelines. Nonadherence was linked to several potentially modifiable factors; changes in these factors could enhance the early detection of diabetic retinopathy.
Polynucleotide Phosphorylase of Micrococcus luteus (Micrococcus lysodeikticus) THE EFFECT OF SULFHYDRYL COMPOUNDS ON THE ABILITY TO CATALYZE THE POLYMERIZATION REACTION

Abstract Polynucleotide phosphorylase of Micrococcus luteus (formerly Micrococcus lysodeikticus) is converted to a primer-dependent form by limited tryptic hydrolysis. Evidence is presented which indicates that the loss of a portion of the polypeptide is not itself responsible for the loss of ability to initiate polymerization. Thus, the primer-dependent enzyme obtained after tryptic hydrolysis is converted to primer-independent enzyme by reduction with sulfhydryl reagents. It can then be reconverted to primer dependence by reaction with sulfhydryl inhibitors. Under suitable conditions these treatments have a selective effect on the ability of the enzyme to polymerize ADP in the absence of primer. Neither the ability to phosphorolyze polyribonucleotide nor the ability to polymerize in the presence of primer is markedly affected. Therefore it appears that the tryptic hydrolysis is accompanied by the modification of one or more sulfurcontaining amino acids. This modification is incompatible with polymerization unless a primer is present. Preliminary experiments on the nature of these residues in the original enzyme are also presented.
Erythromycin Use Before Induction of General Endotracheal Anesthesia

Czarnetzkiandcolleagues1conductedasingle-center,doubleblind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in 132 patientswhounderwentemergent surgery for traumaorconditions suchasappendicitis and cholecystitis. The authors hypothesized that erythromycin given intravenously 15 minutes before intubation decreases the volume of gastric contents, potentially decreasing the risk for aspiration, by creating a clear stomach (<40 mL of liquids and no solid food as determined by endoscopy). Their hypothesis proved true for patients undergoing emergent surgery but not in the trauma population. The findings of this study are similar to those of Asai and colleagues2 who showed that preoperative erythromycin administrationreduces residualgastricvolumeandacidity.Erythromycin has also been used before endoscopy for acute upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding because it reduces the amount of blood present in the stomach.3 However, the conclusions of this study byCzarnetzki and colleagues1 must be interpreted with caution. First, the hypothesis was true only in the nontrauma patient population. Patients who underwent appendectomy or cholecystectomy had been fasting for 15 to 20 hours. Because these conditions rarely causediffuseperitonitiswith aparalytic ileus, thesepatients probably had a normal interdigestive motor complex, and a clear stomach might have been present independently from erythromycin administration. In contrast, trauma patients had been fasting for only 6 hours.We have no information about the type of trauma (extremity vs blunt or penetrating abdominal). Second, to say that themedicationdecreased gastric volume,we should know the volumebefore themedicationwasadministered.Third, the real endpoint shouldhave been the incidenceofaspiration,which thestudywasnotpowered todetect. Finally, erythromycin shouldbeusedwith cautionbecauseofan increasedrisk forcardiacarrhythmias,which predisposepatients to torsadesdepointes and cardiac arrest.4
Uncovering the Student Perspective - Six Questions to Ask Before Class

In the ideal classroom, students are engaged, prepared, open-minded, and inquisitive. The classroom environment provides the optimal balance between challenge and support that best supports deep learning. While we may hope that we are providing that ideal environment, students may be facing obstacles about which we are completely unaware. To help uncover these obstacles to learning, this article invites law teachers to consider their assumptions about students' lives and attitudes.
Policy issues in primary prevention

that support training for primary pre vention. Federal funding aside, the ap peal of this idea is easy to understand: It holds out the implicit promise of re ducing poverty, delinquency, mental illness, drug addiction, child abuse, and other intractable problems that social workers struggle with daily. Yet for all the attention that primary prevention has drawn, a huge zone of uncertainty exists between the implicit promise and the application of this idea to social work practice. Primary prevention is largely an uncharted realm of practice that bears careful and critical explora tion before the social work profession, tempted by the prospects of federal support, becomes too expansive in its claims of what may be accomplished in this area.
Prognostic Importance of Changes in Cardiac Structure and Function in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction and the Impact of Spironolactone

Background—Limited data exist regarding the impact of aldosterone antagonist therapy on cardiac structure and function in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and on the prognostic relevance of changes in cardiac structure and function in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Methods and Results—Cardiac structure and function were assessed by quantitative echocardiography at baseline and at 12- to 18-month follow-up in 239 patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (left ventricular [LV] ejection fraction [LVEF] ≥45%) enrolled in the Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure With an Aldosterone Antagonist (TOPCAT) trial. The impact of spironolactone therapy on measures of cardiac structure and function was assessed in the study population overall, and change in echocardiographic measures was associated with the subsequent occurrence of the primary composite outcome of cardiovascular death, heart failure hospitalization, or aborted cardiac arrest. Spironola...
Basics of Statistical Analysis

The goal of this appendix is to introduce basic methods in graphing and data analysis and explore some fundamental concepts in statistical reasoning. Three examples of data-analysis problems relevant to molecular biology are used to illustrate methods covered in a first statistics course, including the two-sample t test, simple linear regression, and chi square tests for goodness of fit and contingency table hypotheses. The appendix also explores the selection and interpretation of appropriate summary graphs for these analyses, including the use of error bar plots, scatterplots, and bar charts. In addition, a number of key terms and concepts are introduced and explained in the context of the three example problems, including summary statistics, sampling variation, the standard error, null hypothesis testing, the use of test statistics, and the interpretation of p values. Curr. Protoc. Essential Lab. Tech. 3:A.4B.1-A.4B.22. © 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: data analysis; graphing; standard error; two-sample t test; linear regression; chi square; goodness of fit; contingency table
Cranial Evidence for Rodent Affinities

In his classic study of mammalian relationships, Gregory (1910) stated that a close grouping of rodents and lagomorphs seemed more compelling than most other proposals for higher eutherian categories. Nevertheless, the concept Glires, which unites these groups, soon drew influential criticism from Gidley (1912). Many workers acknowledged Gidley’s arguments and looked elsewhere for rodent relationships. Some allied rodents with primates (e.g., McKenna, 1961; Wood, 1962). Lagomorphs, on the other hand, were related to primitive ungulates (Wood, 1957) or “zalambdodont insectivores” (Russell, 1959).
The Bear Market in Political Socialization and the Costs of Misunderstood Psychological Theories

Not so long ago, political scientists were enthusiastically proclaiming that political socialization was a growth stock. But interest in the subfield has slackened, and the bull market has turned bearish. This article argues that a central cause of this recent scholarly neglect is a lack of theoretical confidence. Political socialization has been branded as less worthy of study largely because it is difficult to study and to understand in the absence of an explicit psychological model of learning. A strong theoretical rationale must be developed to return the subfield to its deserved place of priority. Such an endeavor is also Justified by the new popularity of the Piagetian model, which is inappropriate for understanding political learning because it emphasizes the foremost growth of logical operations and the individual as the prime motivating force. Another model, that of L. S. Vygotsky, is more useful, incorporating many of Piaget's insights without his unrealistic expectations. I outline Vygotsky's cognitive-developmental model, indicate its applicability to the small body of defensible research on the process of political learning, and conclude with a research agenda suggested by the model.
Social contracts and corporations: A reply to Hodapp

In this reply to Professor Hodapp's criticism of my social contract theory, I focus on the misinterpretations I believe Professor Hodapp makes of the social contract tradition as well as my version of the contract. By misinterpreting the underlying purpose of social contract theory, he neglects the contract's heuristic or “functional” dimension, something that leads him to downplay the importance of the contract as a conceptual catalyst. And by adopting an overly narrow notion of rationality, he imagines circularity where none exists. Later, Professor Hodapp questions the effect of the contract upon individual liberties, and in doing so broaches a critical issue. But I attempt to show that his concerns are eliminated by close attention to the theory itself.
Exposure of urban applicators to carbaryl.

Thirty-eight urban volunteers from the Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska areas were monitored for carbaryl exposure during the summer of 1979. All volunteers were involved in the application of carbaryl incidental to their employment or leisure activities. The investigators made no attempt to affect the method of carbaryl application. The mean rates of carbaryl exposure were 3.85 and 0.26μg cm−2 hr−1, respectively, for the outside of the clothing and the skin beneath the clothing; clothing apparently provided an effective barrier to carbaryl penetration. The rate of carbaryl exposure to the hands of applicators was 2.36 and 24.96μg cm−1 hr−1, respectively, for applicators with and without gloves. The maximum dermal exposure recorded in this study was 2.86 mg kg−1 hr−1 which is significantly less than the stimated dermal LD50 value for carbaryl (4000 mg kg−1). The maximum air concentration of carbaryl was 0.28μg L−1, far less than the Threshold Limit Value of 5μg L−1. Only a small mean decrease was found in the applicators serum (−1.01%) or erythrocyte (−1.39%) acetylcholinesterase activity. Although some applicators had decreases in either serum or erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase activity greater than 20%, an equal number had increases of the same magnitude. The mean total carbaryl exposure to the applicators, expressed as a percent of toxic dose per hr, was 0.01%, with a maximum estimated exposure of 0.08%.
The Role of Self- and Listener Perceptions of Femininity in Voice Therapy

Voice therapy, especially during male-to-female transition, typically targets acoustic measures of voice. Self-perception of femininity may be a valuable measure to incorporate into clinical protocols and empirical investigations of treatment efficacy. Speech samples of 20 male-to-female transgender and 10 cisgender speakers were rated by speakers and 25 listeners. Mean fundamental frequency (Fo) and semitone range, but not perturbations, of the speaker's voice were strongly related to speaker- and listener-rated femininity. Listener-rated femininity strongly correlated with speaker's self-rated femininity. Results of this study provide guidance and methodology for incorporating the speaker's self-perceptions of overall and vocal femininity into voice therapy.
Finite-element sensitivity for plasticity using complex variable methods

AbstractThe complex variable FEM (ZFEM) has been enhanced in this research to compute derivatives with respect to shape, material properties (elastic modulus, yield stress, plastic modulus, hardening parameters), and loads for a nonlinear solid mechanics model undergoing plastic deformation. This method presents a new and novel approach that uses complex variables to estimate derivatives within an incremental-iterative procedure for the solution of nonlinear finite-element equations. ZFEM offers significant advantages over real-valued finite-element analysis in that highly accurate derivative information may be obtained from a single analysis. The method has been implemented within a commercial finite-element software package using the user element and user material options. A strategy was developed to allow the software’s solver algorithm to handle complex variable operations needed by ZFEM to perform sensitivity analysis. Numerical results confirm the high accuracy of the method through the analysis of ...
Suppression of Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase-2 (DGAT2), but Not DGAT1, with Antisense Oligonucleotides Reverses Diet-induced Hepatic Steatosis and Insulin Resistance

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major contributing factor to hepatic insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes. Diacylglycerol acyltransferase (Dgat), of which there are two isoforms (Dgat1 and Dgat2), catalyzes the final step in triglyceride synthesis. We evaluated the metabolic impact of pharmacological reduction of DGAT1 and -2 expression in liver and fat using antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) in rats with diet-induced NAFLD. Dgat1 and Dgat2 ASO treatment selectively reduced DGAT1 and DGAT2 mRNA levels in liver and fat, but only Dgat2 ASO treatment significantly reduced hepatic lipids (diacylglycerol and triglyceride but not long chain acyl CoAs) and improved hepatic insulin sensitivity. Because Dgat catalyzes triglyceride synthesis from diacylglycerol, and because we have hypothesized that diacylglycerol accumulation triggers fat-induced hepatic insulin resistance through protein kinase Cɛ activation, we next sought to understand the paradoxical reduction in diacylglycerol in Dgat2 ASO-treated rats. Within 3 days of starting Dgat2 ASO therapy in high fat-fed rats, plasma fatty acids increased, whereas hepatic lysophosphatidic acid and diacylglycerol levels were similar to those of control rats. These changes were associated with reduced expression of lipogenic genes (SREBP1c, ACC1, SCD1, and mtGPAT) and increased expression of oxidative/thermogenic genes (CPT1 and UCP2). Taken together, these data suggest that knocking down Dgat2 protects against fat-induced hepatic insulin resistance by paradoxically lowering hepatic diacylglycerol content and protein kinase Cɛ activation through decreased SREBP1c-mediated lipogenesis and increased hepatic fatty acid oxidation.
Colorimetric determination of nanomolar concentrations of ammonium in seawater using solvent extraction

Abstract A solvent extraction method for measuring nanomolar concentrations of ammonium in seawater is described. The procedure is based on formation of indophenol in alkaline solution by reaction of phenol, hypochlorite and ammonia using sodium aquopentacyanoferrate as a coupling agent. Indophenol is then concentrated by extraction into n-hexanol at low pH and re-extraction into aqueous alkaline buffer. The concentration of indophenol blue is determined colorimetrically. The molar absorbance is 2.08 × 10 5 absorbance units per molar NH 4 + in seawater with a precision of ± 1.9 nM NH 4 + (95% Cl) for concentrations ≤ 50 nanomolar. This represents a 12-fold improvement in sensitivity and a 26-fold improvement in precision over standard aqueous analyses. Calibration curves are linear to at least 2 μM NH 4 + . Sensitivity in seawater is 97% of that found in deionized distilled water due to a slight salt effect.
The vasodilator potency of the endothelium-derived relaxing factor, L-S-nitrosocysteine, is impaired in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats

Abstract Objective This study compared the hemodynamic responses elicited by the endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF), l -S-nitrosocysteine ( l -SNC), the non-prostanoid EDRF released by acetylcholine (ACh) and nitric oxide (NO)-donors such as MAHMA NONOate, in conscious spontaneously hypertensive (SH) and normotensive Wistar–Kyoto (WKY) rats. Methods The depressor and/or vasodilator responses elicited by intravenous injections of ACh, l -SNC and MAHMA NONOate were determined in adult WKY and SH rats before and after intravenous injection of the NO synthesis inhibitor, NG-nitro- l -arginine methylester ( l -NAME), or the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin. Results The responses elicited by ACh and l -SNC were smaller in SH than in WKY rats whereas the responses elicited by MAHMA NONOate were augmented in SH rats. The ACh-induced responses were not diminished after injection of l -NAME in WKY or SH rats. Indomethacin did not affect the responses to any of the vasodilator agents in WKY or SH rats. Addition of l -SNC to whole blood or thoracic aortae from SH rats yielded similar amounts of NO to those of WKY rats. Conclusions The vasodilator potencies of ACh and l -SNC were diminished whereas that of NO was augmented in SH rats. The loss of potency of l -SNC in SH rats was not obviously due to differences in decomposition to NO or the overactivity of cyclooxygenase factors. This study provides the first evidence that diminished endothelium-dependent vasodilation in SH rats may involve a loss of vasodilator potency of endogenous l -SNC.
Trends in insulin initiation and treatment intensification among patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND Many patients with type 2 diabetes eventually require insulin, yet little is known about the patterns and quality of pharmacologic care received following insulin initiation. Guidelines from the American Diabetes Association and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes recommend that insulin secretagogues such as sulfonylureas be discontinued at the time of insulin initiation to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia, and that treatment be intensified if HbA1c levels remain above-target 3 months after insulin initiation.
LiNbO3 guided-wave interferometric modulators

Abstract The development and applications of LiNbO3 optical guided-wave modulators is reviewed. These devices are single-mode waveguide versions of Mach-Zehnder interferometers and are formed by diffusion of Ti into LiNbO3. Optical circuits which contain modulator arrays are under development for applications in high-speed analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion, picosecond sampling, optical logic, frequency modulation and optical temperature sensing. In addition, it is shown that the modulators are effective devices to evaluate waveguide characteristics, in particular the properties of proton-exchanged guides.
Activation of cannabinoid receptor 2 inhibits experimental cystitis

Cannabinoids have been shown to exert analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, and the effects of cannabinoids are mediated primarily by cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 (CB1and CB2). Both CB1 and CB2...
Efficacy of Fertilization in Artificially Inseminated Turkey Hens

Research was conducted to develop an artificial insemination protocol optimizing the use of spermatozoa by turkey breeder hens. Large White turkey hens were inseminated on Days 14 and 17 postphotostimulation with 200 million spermatozoa from one male phenotype to fill the oviductal storage sites. Artificial inseminations were then performed weekly for 20 wk with different spermatozoa numbers of another male phenotype. Fertility and phenotype of each poult were determined at hatch to ascertain which insemination, initial or subsequent, was responsible for fertility. Inseminating weekly with 200 million viable spermatozoa cells resulted in better fertility but did not optimize the hen's utilization of spermatozoa from the initial inseminations. When fewer spermatozoa were inseminated weekly (50 million cells), more progeny were fertilized by spermatozoa already residing in the oviduct than would be expected. When the number of spermatozoa inseminated weekly was increased at intervals during a laying cycle, spermatozoa from the initial inseminations were utilized more efficiently, but fertility was depressed at times during the laying cycle. Gradually increasing weekly inseminated numbers of spermatozoa from 50 to 200 million viable cells/hen as the hens age results in nearly equivalent fertility to that resulting from insemination by 200 million cells each week. This represents a savings of 1.4 billion spermatozoa/hen over a 20-wk laying period.
On the Use of Theil's Inequality Coefficients

Authors of papers published in this Journal occasionally use Theil's inequality coefficients as measures of the accuracy of a set of predictions generated from some model. One of the first applications was by Hee in 1966, and two recent uses were by Tryfos and by Sahi and Craddock. However, some confusion can arise because there are two different inequality coefficients, one of which can have two alternative interpretations depending upon data definitions. This can result in researchers drawing entirely different conclusions about the predictive powers of models, depending upon which formulation is used to compute the statistic. Further misunderstanding sometimes arises when an inequality coefficient is endowed with statistical powers it does not possess, and more recent criticism has demonstrated that under certain conditions the coefficients can be potentially misleading. It is the purpose of this note to clarify and discuss these issues.'
Migration of mid-ocean-ridge volcanic segments

The propagation of small-offset volcanic spreading-centre segments along mid-ocean ridge crests may reflect absolute motion of the plate boundary relative to the underlying mesospheric frame. Such a relationship could be caused by a purely vertical flow of the mantle under spreading centres and would have value in constraining past plate motions from non-transform trends generated during along-ridge propagation and in linking the major-element variability of oceanic crust and upper mantle to the bulk composition and temperatures of mantle ascending under mid-ocean ridges.
Teaching a process model of legal argument with hypotheticals

The research described here explores the idea of using Supreme Court oral arguments as pedagogical examples in first year classes to help students learn the role of hypothetical reasoning in law. The article presents examples of patterns of reasoning with hypotheticals in appellate legal argument and in the legal classroom and a process model of hypothetical reasoning that relates them to work in cognitive science and Artificial Intelligence. The process model describes the relationships between an advocate's proposed test for deciding a case or issue, the facts of the hypothetical and of the case to be decided, and the often conflicting legal principles and policies underlying the issue. The process model of hypothetical reasoning has been partially implemented in a computerized teaching environment, LARGO ("Legal ARgument Graph Observer") that helps students identify, analyze, and reflect on episodes of hypothetical reasoning in oral argument transcripts. Using LARGO, students reconstruct examples of hypothetical reasoning in the oral arguments by representing them in simple diagrams that focus students on the proposed test, the hypothetical challenge to the test, and the responses to the challenge. The program analyzes the diagrams and provides feedback to help students complete the diagrams and reflect on the significance of the hypothetical reasoning in the argument. The article reports the results of experiments evaluating instruction of first year law students at the University of Pittsburgh using the LARGO program as applied to Supreme Court personal jurisdiction cases. The learning results so far have been mixed. Instruction with LARGO has been shown to help law student volunteers with lower LSAT scores learn skills and knowledge regarding hypothetical reasoning better than a text-based approach, but not when the students were required to participate. On the other hand, the diagrams students produce with LARGO have been shown to have some diagnostic value, distinguishing among law students on the basis of LSAT scores, posttest performance, and years in law school. This lends support to the underlying model of hypothetical argument and suggests using LARGO as a pedagogically diagnostic tool.
Relative rate constants for the reaction of O(1D) atoms with fluorocarbons and N2O

Abstract Rate constants for the reaction O( 1 D) + reactant product have been obtained relative to the rate constant for the reactions O( 1 D) + N 2 O N 2 + O 2 , O( 1 D) + N 2 O 2NO in competitive experiments. The values of k 1a /( k 2a + k 2b ) obtained are: CHF 2 Cl 1.6 ± 0.2; CF 2 Cl 2 2.4 ± 0.3; CFCl 3 2.65 ± 0.4; CF 2 ClCF 2 Cl 1.5 ± 0.2; CF 2 ClCFCl 2 2.5 ± 0.3; CF 4 k 2a + k 2b ) = (2.2 ± 0.2) × 10 −10 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 . These rate constants k 1a are close to the collision frequency, in contrast to the very much lower rate constants for O( 3 P) reactions with fluorocarbons. Major products from the reaction of O( 1 D) atoms with CF 2 Cl 2 or CHF 2 Cl and CFCl 3 are COF 2 and COFCl, respectively.
Backprojection of volcanic tremor

Backprojection has become a powerful tool for imaging the rupture process of global earthquakes. We demonstrate the ability of backprojection to illuminate and track volcanic sources as well. We apply the method to the seismic network from Okmok Volcano, Alaska, at the time of an escalation in tremor during the 2008 eruption. Although we are able to focus the wavefield close to the location of the active cone, the network array response lacks sufficient resolution to reveal kilometer-scale changes in tremor location. By deconvolving the response in successive backprojection images, we enhance resolution and find that the tremor source moved toward an intracaldera lake prior to its escalation. The increased tremor therefore resulted from magma-water interaction, in agreement with the overall phreatomagmatic character of the eruption. Imaging of eruption tremor shows that time reversal methods, such as backprojection, can provide new insights into the temporal evolution of volcanic sources.
Chromophore Formation in Green Fluorescent Protein

The green fluorescent protein (GFP) from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria forms an intrinsic chromophore through cyclization and oxidation of an internal tripeptide motif [Prasher, D. C., et al. (19...
Stars, polygons and clusters; an investigation of polygon displays

One technique for displaying multi-variate quantitative data is to represent the values graphically in the form of a polygon or star. This allows the observer to view the complex data quickly, as a whole. Such displays have been used in various applications, for data exploration and presentation, and in status displays; they are also suited to categorization and identification tasks. For polygon displays to be reliably used, they should be capable of being interpreted consistently. An experimental investigation was undertaken to ascertain the effect of certain visual features of the display on the consistency with which untrained participants categorized data presented as polygons. The independent variables included background information, shading of figure and form. Two sets of data were used; the participants performed a categorization task on both sets of data. The results of the categorization task were analysd for consistency with standard clustering algorithms and for consistency across individuals. The results of the analysis that have implications for display design include the level of clustering consistency achieved by the participants, the interaction effects of the visual variables on consistency, and the effect of distinctive visual patterns on human judgments of similarity.
Development of an injection-controlled high-power XeF(C->A) excimer laser

The performance of a scaled, repetitively pulsed injection controlled XeF (C-A) laser system is reported. A 1 Hz electron beam pumped XeF (C-A) laser system produced 0.8 J per pulse with an intrinsic efficiency of 1.5 percent. Details of a compact halogen compatible flow loop is reported. Various unstable resonator geometries were evaluated. A minimum beam divergence of 150 microrad (full angle) corresponding to a three times diffraction-limited beam was determined from far field measurements.
Comparing electronic probes for volumetric water content of low-density feathermoss

Purpose – Feathermoss is ubiquitous in the boreal forest and across various land‐cover types of the arctic and subarctic. A variety of affordable commercial sensors for soil moisture content measurement have recently become available and are in use in such regions, often in conjunction with fire‐susceptibility or ecological studies. Few come supplied with calibrations suitable or suggested for soils high in organics. Aims to test seven of these sensors for use in feathermoss, seeking calibrations between sensor output and volumetric water content.Design/methodology/approach – Measurements from seven sensors installed in live, dead and burned feathermoss samples, drying in a controlled manner, were compared to moisture content measurements. Empirical calibrations of sensor output to water content were determined.Findings – Almost all of the sensors tested were suitable for measuring the moss sample water content, and a unique calibration for each sensor for this material is presented. Differences in sensor...