cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dexamethasone Induces Resistance to the Lethal Consequences of Electron Transport Inhibition in Cultured Hepatocytes

Abstract Pretreatment of cultured rat hepatocytes with 1μM dexamethasone protected against cell killing by 5 μM rotenone and 1 mM cyanide, Simultaneous treatment (no pretreatment) was ineffective, as was pretreatment with 10 μM of sex hormones or the mineralocorticoid aldosterone, Protection by dexamethasone was blocked by 10 μM of glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, RU486, and by 1 μM of the inhibitor of protein synthesis, cycloheximide, Cells pretreated with dexamethasone for 6, 12, and 18 h showed increasing degrees of protection, Pretreatment with dexamethasone had no effect on either the decline of cellular ATP or the loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential, In addition, dexamethasone did not prevent the mitochondrial permeability transition, By contrast, dexamethasone prevented the increased release of [ 3 H]arachidonic acid from phospholipids produced by cyanide. These data describe an inductive effect of dexamethasone in protecting cultured hepatocytes against inhibition of electron transport by rotenone and cyanide, It is concluded that pretreatment with dexamethasone prevents cell killing by inhibiting a mechanism that couples the mitochondrial permeability transition to the accelerated degradation of plasma membrane phospholipids.
The co‐cultural experience of shyness: A comparison of the friendship networks of black communicators and white communicators

This article compares the communication friendship networks of black communicators and white communicators at varying levels of shyness. The investigation was based on the premise that there is a need to learn more about the experience of shyness within various co‐cultures in order to understand the impact shyness may have on intercultural interaction. Subjects completed a shyness scale and a friendship network inventory. The results indicate that there are significant cultural differences in the experience of shyness as reflected in the friendship networks of African Americans and Euro‐Americans.
Pharmacy Students’ Attitudes Toward Reporting Serious Adverse Drug Events

Objectives. To determine pharmacy students’ attitude toward and knowledge of reporting serious adverse drug events (ADEs) to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Method. A 58-item survey questionnaire constructed to measure respondents’ intention to report ADEs (3 items), attitude toward reporting ADEs (20 items), knowledge of ADE reporting (9 items), and demographic data was administered to all third-year (final-year) pharmacy students at the Appalachian College of Pharmacy. Results. The majority of the 58 students who responded (91% response rate) intended (84%) and planned (85.3%) to report serious ADEs when they encounter them. Most respondents had favorable attitudes toward reporting serious ADEs to the FDA; respondents believed that reporting serious ADEs was valuable (5.6 ± 1.5, mean ± SD), good (3.0 ± 1.7), and beneficial (5.7 ± 1.5). Many students also believed that ADE reporting resulted in increased risk of malpractice, compromised relationships with physicians, broken trust with patients, disruption of the normal workflow, and was time consuming. Many students had inadequate knowledge on reporting ADEs. Conclusion. Although pharmacy students had strong intentions and favorable attitudes toward ADE reporting, they had inadequate knowledge of how to report serious ADEs.
MAZES without minotaurs: Herbert Simon and the sciences of the artificial

Summary In this essay, I remember Herbert Simon as author of Sciences of the Artificial and my thesis advisor and collaborator. Even for a lifetime of deep insights into human behavior and its role in shaping the world we live in, Simon’s insight into the need for a whole new class of sciences is an astonishing one. The artificial is essential for entrepreneurship and for developing an organization-centric view of markets and economies.
Mental Manipulations and the Problem of Causal Exclusion

Christian List and Peter Menzies 2009 have looked to interventionist theories of causation for an answer to Jaegwon Kim's causal exclusion problem. Important to their response is the idea of realization-insensitivity. However, this idea becomes mired in issues concerning multiple realization, leaving it unable to fulfil its promise to block exclusion. After explaining why realization-insensitivity fails as a solution to Kim's problem, I look to interventionism to describe a different kind of solution.
Which evolutionary processes influence natural genetic variation for phenotypic traits

Although many studies provide examples of evolutionary processes such as adaptive evolution, balancing selection, deleterious variation and genetic drift, the relative importance of these selective and stochastic processes for phenotypic variation within and among populations is unclear. Theoretical and empirical studies from humans as well as natural animal and plant populations have made progress in examining the role of these evolutionary forces within species. Tentative generalizations about evolutionary processes across species are beginning to emerge, as well as contrasting patterns that characterize different groups of organisms. Furthermore, recent technical advances now allow the combination of ecological measurements of selection in natural environments with population genetic analysis of cloned QTLs, promising advances in identifying the evolutionary processes that influence natural genetic variation.
AlGaAs-InGaAs slab-coupled optical waveguide lasers

The slab-coupled optical waveguide laser (SCOWL) concept, recently proposed and demonstrated, is extended to the AlGaAs-InGaAs-GaAs material system. Both 980- and 915-nm SCOWL devices feature a nearly circular large-diameter single-spatial mode that can be butt coupled with high efficiency to a single-mode fiber. Single-ended continuous-wave output powers of greater than 1 W have been obtained at 980 nm.
Electron spectral function in two-dimensional fractionalized phases

We study the electron spectral function of various zero-temperature spin-charge separated phases in two dimensions. In these phases, the electron is not a fundamental excitation of the system, but rather ``decays'' into a spin-1/2 chargeless fermion (the spinon) and a spinless charge e boson (the chargon). Using low-energy effective theories for the spinons (d-wave pairing plus possible N\'eel order) and the chargons (condensed or quantum-disordered bosons), we explore three phases of possible relevance to the cuprate superconductors: (1) ${\mathrm{AF}}^{*},$ a fractionalized antiferromagnet where the spinons are paired into a state with long-ranged N\'eel order and the chargons are 1/2-filled and (Mott) insulating; (2) the nodal liquid, a fractionalized insulator where the spinons are d-wave paired and the chargons are uncondensed; and (3) the d-wave superconductor, where the chargons are condensed and the spinons retain a d-wave gap. Working within the ${Z}_{2}$ gauge theory of such fractionalized phases, our results should be valid at scales below the energy gap of the vison---the basic vortex excitation in the theory. However, on a phenomenological level, our results should apply to any spin-charge separated system where the excitations have these low-energy effective forms. Comparison with angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy data in the undoped, pseudogapped, and superconducting regions is made.
The effect of processing on the 455 °C tensile and fatigue behavior of boron-modified Ti-6Al-4V

Abstract This work investigated the effect of nominal boron (B) additions of 0.1 wt.% and 1.0 wt.% on the elevated-temperature (455 °C) fatigue deformation behavior of Ti–6Al–4V (wt.%) for maximum applied stresses between 250 and 550 MPa (R = 0.1, 5 Hz). The alloys were evaluated in the as-cast condition as well as the cast-and-extruded condition. Boron additions resulted in a dramatic refinement of the as-cast grain size, and larger boron additions resulted in larger titanium-boride (TiB) phase volume percents. For the as-cast alloys, the B-containing alloys exhibited longer average fatigue lives than those for Ti–6Al–4V, which was suggested to be related to their increased strength and stiffness due to the addition of the strong and stiff TiB phase. The longest average fatigue lives were exhibited by the Ti–6Al–4V–0.1B alloy, which also exhibited the greatest elongation-to-failure value. The extrusions, which were performed in the β-phase field, resulted in a significantly smaller grain size, a smaller α-colony size, and finer α-lath width compared to that for the as-cast B-modified alloys. The TiB whiskers were aligned in the extrusion direction and the α-phase was also strongly textured such that the basal plane was predominately oriented perpendicular to the extrusion axis. Together these microstructural features were responsible for the significantly higher 455 °C yield strength, ultimate tensile strength, and fatigue strength exhibited by the cast-and-extruded alloys compared with the as-cast alloys. In the extruded condition, B-addition did not improve the tensile or fatigue strength.
Superconductor fluctuations in tunneling junctions below the transition temperature

The fluctuation current through a Josephson junction has been calculated, one side of which is a stable superconductor, the other a fluctuating one. The theoretical functions cover the frequency range 0< or =..omega..<3.5..delta... They reflect the characteristic experimental features in a consistent picture. In addition, an expression for the relaxation time of the order parameter modulus has been derived over the whole gap region for temperatures close to T/sub c/, based on a pair-breaking mechanism.
The pseudorandom asymptotic behavior of digitally controlled analog systems

Summary form only given. The author has investigated some interesting descriptive and prescriptive questions that arise from a careful examination of the manner in which finite-precision phenomena, including measurement quantization and finite-wordlength arithmetic, affect the closed-loop performance of digitally controlled, discrete-time, state-space linear systems. In many cases of practical interest, a traditional signal-plus-noise analysis of these finite-precision effects is misleading at best. Nonetheless, recent work demonstrates that the asymptotic behavior of the systems considered is often best described in statistical terms; the time-evolution of such a system's state is usually chaotic, and its long-term macroscopic properties can often be summarized neatly in terms of a measure on the system's state space that is preserved by the closed-loop dynamics. The author is interested especially in understanding the ways in which various properties of this invariant measure (such as its differential entropy and ergodic decomposition) depend on the parameters of the open-loop system and on the choice of feedback control law. >
Dynamic gaze measurement with adaptive response technology in Virtual Reality based social communication for autism

Impairments in skills related to social communication are thought to be core deficits in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Specifically, these children demonstrate atypical viewing patterns in part characterized by greater fixation towards non-social objects than faces of individuals during social communication. Additionally, several assistive technologies, particularly Virtual Reality (VR), have been investigated to promote social interactions in this population. Thus given the promise of VR-based social interaction and atypicalities surrounding eye-gaze and social information processing characterizing ASD, in the current study, a novel technology was developed. This study combined social tasks presented in VR environment with a computationally-enhanced eye-tracker to provide individualized feedback. The developed system is capable of delivering individualized feedback based on a child's dynamic gaze patterns during VR-based social communication task. Result from a usability study with six adolescents with ASD demonstrate the technological capacity of such a system to adaptively respond and potentially modify aspects of behavioral viewing patterns (e.g., fixation counts, fixation duration, etc.) during VR-based social task.
Generalized decomposition method for complex systems

Many practical systems have complex structures that are not purely series, parallel, or series-parallel, such as communication networks, power plant control systems, electric power systems, computing systems, and etc. The emergence of those network redundant systems has been seen increasingly due to very high reliability requirements. The complex redundant techniques greatly improve system reliability, but also increase the difficulty in system reliability analysis to a great extent as well. For most of these practical complex systems, the existing methods give no way to obtain the expression of the system reliability, which is desire for design purpose. To deal with this problem, this paper proposes an approach generalized from the decomposition method, in which the conditional probability equation is extended from one key component to several keystones at a time. It has been found that the reliability of many complex systems becomes obtainable in this way, especially for the complex networks with certain structural patterns. The general reliability expression of the proposed method is given in this paper. The method is illustrated by examples, and the power of the method is demonstrated by applying it to a real complex system.
Comparisons of coupled-dipole solutions and dipole refractive indices for light scattering and absorption by arbitrarily shaped or agglomerated particles

Comparisons are made between two solutions for light scattering and absorption by arbitrarily shaped or agglomerated particles. Both solutions have made improvements that result in better accuracy than that achieved by the original coupled-dipole solution of Purcell and Pennypacker [(PP); Astrophys. J.186, 705 ( 1973)]. One solution, which has an additional self-interaction term, was derived by Iskander, Chen, and Penner [(ICP); Appl. Opt.28, 3083 ( 1989)]. The other is Dungey and Bohren’s refinement of PP [(PP–DB); J. Opt. Soc. Am.8, 81 ( 1991)], which calculates the dipole polarizability from the Doyle expression instead of from the Clausius-Mossotti (CM) relation. It is found that ICP has better overall accuracy than PP–DB, especially for absorption, regarding which PP–DB is even less accurate than PP. ICP is all-around theoretically sound, whereas PP–DB is not. For nonabsorbing materials, although corrected for the violation of zero extinction for single dipoles, PP–DB creates another violation of nonzero absorption. For the dipole refractive index, the Maxwell–Garnett (MG) relation is expected to be an accurate model, since it can be approximately deduced from ICP. MG can also be used as an accurate effective refractive-index model for inhomogeneous particles.
The effect of serial correlation on confidence regions for the parmnters of a multivariate normal population

The affect upon the significance levels of confidence regions for the mean of a multivariate normal population are determined for certain violations of the independence assumption.
Hermes: an integrated language and system for distributed programming

Hermes is an experimental language for implementing complex systems and distributed applications. It conceals low-level programming details, such as data representation, distribution, communications protocols, and operating system calls, while retaining expressiveness, checkability, and efficiency. Hermes supports multiple interacting applications and services within a single environment. Applications and services interact by making calls and passing typed parameters-exactly the same way modules interact within an application. The syntax and semantics of interaction are uniform, regardless of whether the interacting components are local or remote and whether they belong to the same user or to different users. The distinctive features of Hermes are processes as the basic units of modularity and interaction, ports as capabilities, a representation-independent pointerless type system, and compile-time checking which enforces protection on the granularity of a module. The concept of a multiapplication environment is discussed. >
Electron Beam-Induced Radiation Damage: The Bubbling Response in Amorphous Dried Sodium Phosphate Buffer

Irradiation of an amorphous layer of dried sodium phosphate buffer (pH = 7.0) by transmission electron microscopy (100-120 kV) causes rapid formation of numerous small spherical bubbles [10-100 A (= 1-10 nm)] containing an unknown gas. Bubbling is detected even with the first low-dose exposure. In a thin layer (ca. 100-150 A), bubbling typically goes through nucleation, growth, possible fusion, and end-state, after which further changes are not apparent; co-irradiated adjacent areas having a slightly smaller thickness never develop bubbles. In moderately thicker regions (ca. over 200 A), there is no end-state. Instead, a complex sequence of microstructural changes is elicited during continued intermittent high-dose irradiation: nucleation, growth, early simple fusions, a second round of extensive multiple fusions, general reduction of matrix thickness (producing flattening and expansion of larger bubbles, occasional bubble fission, and formation of very large irregularly-shaped bubbles by a third round of compound fusion events), and slow shrinkage of all bubbles. The ongoing lighter appearance of bubble lumens, maintenance of their rounded shape, and extensive changes in size and form indicate that gas content continues throughout their surprisingly long lifetime; the thin dense boundary layer surrounding all bubbles is proposed to be the main mechanism for their long lifetime.
A Developmental Perspective on Functional Somatic Symptoms

Objective To provide a new approach for conceptualizing and studying functional somatic symptoms (FSS) in children and adolescence. Methods A developmental model is proposed based on the synthesis of the extant literature and previous theoretical perspectives of FSS in children and adolescents. Results Multiple risk and protective factors from child, familial, social, and environmental domains, the interactions across risk domains, and potential developmental pathways of FSS are identified. Conclusions This article underscores the necessity of taking a broader, developmental view of FSS. The tenets of developmental psychopathology emphasize the utility of viewing FSS on a continuum of severity rather than as a discrete entity or diagnosis. This article concludes with directions for future research and treatment implications.
Importance of forecast error multivariate correlations in idealized assimilations of GPS radio occultation data with the ensemble adjustment filter

The importance of multivariate forecast error correlations between specific humidity, temperature, and surface pressure in perfect model assimilations of Global Positioning System radio occultation (RO) refractivity data is examined using the Ensemble Adjustment Filter (EAF) and the NCAR global Community Atmospheric Model, version 3. The goal is to explore whether inclusion of the multivariate forecast error correlations in the background term of 3D and 4D variational data assimilation systems (3DVAR and 4DVAR, respectively) is likely to improve RO data assimilation in the troposphere. It is not possible to explicitly neglect multivariate forecast error correlations with the EAF because they are not used directly in the algorithm. Instead, the filter only makes use of the forecast error correlations between observed quantities (RO here) and model state variables. However, because the forecast error correlations for RO observations are dominated by correlations with a subset of state variable types in certain regions, the importance of multivariate forecast error correlations between state variables can be indirectly assessed. This is done by setting the forecast error correlations of RO observations and some state variables (e.g., temperature) to zero in a set of assimilation experiments. Comparing these experiments to a control in which all state variables are impacted by RO observations allows an indirect assessment of the importance of multivariate correlations between state variables not impacted by the observations and those that are impacted. Results suggest that proper specification of the multivariate forecast error correlations in 3DVAR and 4DVAR systems should improve the analysis of specific humidity, surface pressure, and temperature in the troposphere when assimilating RO data.
Separation of Organic Molecular Mixtures in Carbon Nanotubes and Bundles: Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Molecular dynamics simulations are used to investigate the diffusive flow of binary molecular mixtures through single-walled carbon nanotubes. Both H-terminated and C-terminated open nanotube ends are considered in the study. The specific mixtures examined are methane/ethane, methane/n-butane, and methane/isobutane. The simulations predict which binary mixtures separate as a result of this diffusive flow and which remain mixed and how these results depend on the nanotube properties such as diameter and helical symmetry. The simulations also indicate how the structure and size of the molecules in the mixtures influence the results. For example, n-butane and isobutane are predicted to have significantly different separation behaviors when they are mixed with methane molecules. In addition, the degree of separation predicted depends on whether the nanotubes are in bundles.
What processes drive the ocean heat transport

The ocean contributes to regulating the Earth’s climate through its ability to transport heat from the equator to the poles. In this study we use long simulations of an ocean model to investigate whether the heat transport is carried primarily by wind-driven gyres or whether it is dominated by deep circulations associated with abyssal mixing and high latitude convection. The heat transport is computed as a function of temperature classes. In the Pacific and Indian ocean, the bulk of the heat transport is associated with wind-driven gyres confined to the thermocline. In the Atlantic, the thermocline gyres account for only 40% of the total heat transport. The remaining 60% is associated with a circulation reaching down to cold waters below the thermocline. Using a series of sensitivity experiments, we show that this deep heat transport is primarily set by the strength and patterns of surface winds and only secondarily by diabatic processes at high latitudes in the North Atlantic. Abyssal mixing below 2000 m has hardly any impact on ocean heat transport. A major implication is that the role of the ocean in regulating Earth’s climate strongly depends on how surface winds change across different climates in both hemispheres at low and high latitudes.
Characterization of human platelet binding of recombinant T cell receptor ligand

Background: Recombinant T cell receptor ligands (RTLs) are bio-engineered molecules that may serve as novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of neuroinflammatory conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS). RTLs contain membrane distal a1 plus b1 domains of class II major histocompatibility complex linked covalently to specific peptides that can be used to regulate T cell responses and inhibit experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The mechanisms by which RTLs impede local recruitment and retention of inflammatory cells in the CNS, however, are not completely understood. Methods: We have recently shown that RTLs bind strongly to B cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells, but not to T cells, in an antigenic-independent manner, raising the question whether peripheral blood cells express a distinct RTL-receptor. Our study was designed to characterize the molecular mechanisms by which RTLs bind human blood platelets, and the ability of RTL to modulate platelet function. Results: Our data demonstrate that human blood platelets support binding of RTL. Immobilized RTL initiated platelet intracellular calcium mobilization and lamellipodia formation through a pathway dependent upon Src and PI3 kinases signaling. The presence of RTL in solution reduced platelet aggregation by collagen, while treatment of whole blood with RTL prolonged occlusive thrombus formation on collagen. Conclusions: Platelets, well-known regulators of hemostasis and thrombosis, have been implicated in playing a major role in inflammation and immunity. This study provides the first evidence that blood platelets express a functional RTL-receptor with a putative role in modulating pathways of neuroinflammation.
Chronic low-level lead toxicity in the rat. III. An integrated assessment of long-term toxicity with special reference to the kidney

Abstract Male and female rats whose mothers had been exposed to Pb before and during pregnancy and lactation at exposure levels of 0, 0.5, 5, 25, 50, and 250 ppm Pb as Pb-acetate in drinking water were continued on the respective regimens for 6 or 9 months. Body weights of males and females were not significantly different from controls at 6 months of age; however, female body weights were significantly decreased at 250 ppm at 9 months of age. In males at 9 months of age, spleen weights were significantly increased at 250 ppm Pb and kidney weights were increased at 0.5 ppm Pb and above; in females the liver, pituitary, and heart weights were affected at 250 ppm Pb. No significant Pb effects were found in sperm counts or sperm morphology, hematology profiles, or serum chemistries. Blood, brain, femur, and kidney Pb levels as well as urinary ALA excretion were all significantly dose related. Histopathological lesions were noted in the spleen (250 ppm) and in the kidney as evidenced by cytomegaly/karyomegaly (beginning at 5 ppm in males; 25 ppm in females), nuclear inclusion body formation and increased numbers of iron-positive granules within renal proximal tubule cells. These effects were more marked after 9 months exposure. Ultrastructural studies revealed mitochondrial swelling and the presence of increased numbers of lysosomes within renal proximal tubule cells. Energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis, performed on adjacent sections, showed the highest intracellular Pb concentrations in nuclear inclusion bodies within renal proximal tubule cells. Inhibition of renal mitochondrial respiration for both succinate and NAD-linked substrates was found in 50- and 250-ppm Pb exposure groups at 9 months but not at 6 months. Mitochondrial δ-aminolevulinic acid synthetase and ferrochelatase, but not δ-aminolevulinic dehydratase, were also found to be inhibited at these Pb levels at 9 months. The lowest exposure level resulting in a detectable effect of Pb (cytomegaly/karyomegaly in renal proximal tubule cells) was 5 ppm associated with a median blood Pb concentration of 11 μg/dl.
Historical trends in the jet streams

[1] Jet streams, the meandering bands of fast winds located near the tropopause, are driving factors for weather in the midlatitudes. This is the first study to analyze historical trends of jet stream properties based on the ERA-40 and the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis datasets for the period 1979 to 2001. We defined jet stream properties based on mass and mass-flux weighted averages. We found that, in general, the jet streams have risen in altitude and moved poleward in both hemispheres. In the northern hemisphere, the jet stream weakened. In the southern hemisphere, the sub-tropical jet weakened, whereas the polar jet strengthened. Exceptions to this general behavior were found locally and seasonally. Further observations and analysis are needed to confidently attribute the causes of these changes to anthropogenic climate change, natural variability, or some combination of the two. Citation: Archer, C. L., and K. Caldeira (2008), Historical trends in the jet streams, Geophys. Res. Lett., 35, L08803, doi:10.1029/2008GL033614.
HemOnc.org: A Collaborative Online Knowledge Platform for Oncology Professionals

Future enhancements, including more metadata about drugs and increasingly detailed efficacy and toxicity information, will continue to improve the value of this free source of chemotherapy drug and regimen information.
Loss of function mutation in toll-like receptor-4 does not offer protection against obesity and insulin resistance induced by a diet high in trans fat in mice

Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) triggers inflammatory signaling in response to microbial lipoploysaccharide. It has been reported that loss of TLR4 protected against saturated fat-induced inflammation and insulin resistance. It is not known whether loss of TLR4 function offers protection against trans fat (TF) induced obesity, inflammation, and insulin resistance. We investigated whether mice with loss of function mutation in TLR4 were resistant to TF-induced pathologies such as obesity, inflammation, hyperglycemia, and hyperinsulinemia. C57BL/6j and C57BL/10 mice were cross bred to generate TLR4 mutant and wild type (WT). TLR4 mutant (n = 12) and WT (n = 12) mice were fed either low fat (LF) (13.5% fat energy) or high TF diets (60% fat energy) for 12 weeks. In vitro experiments were conducted on mouse macrophage cells (RAW 264.7 and J774A.1) to investigate whether elaidic (trans 18:1) or oleic acid (cis 18:1) would upregulate inflammatory markers. TLR4 mutant mice were ~26.4% heavier than WT mice. In both genotypes, mice that received TF diet were significantly heavier than those mice that received LF diet (P < 0.01). TLR4 mutant mice compared to WT mice had significantly higher fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, insulin resistance, serum leptin, and serum cholesterol when they received TF diet (P < 0.05). No upregulation of iNOS or COX2 in response to either elaidic or oleic acid in macrophage cells was observed. Loss of function mutation in TLR4 not only did not protect mice from TF-induced obesity, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and hypercholesterolemia but also exacerbated the above pathologies suggesting that functional TLR4 is necessary in attenuating TF-induced deleterious effects. It is likely that TF induces pathologies through pathways independent of TLR4.
Brain CT to Assess Intracranial Pressure in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury

INTRODUCTION Morphologic features of computed tomography (CT) scans of the brain can be used to estimate intracranial pressure (ICP) via an image-processing algorithm. Clinically, such estimations can be used to prognosticate outcomes and avoid placement of invasive intracranial monitors in certain patients with severe traumatic brain injury. Features on a CT scan that may correlate with measurements of low ICP are sought. METHODS A measure is proposed that is a function of the distribution of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in and around the brain. In our method, we present an algorithm that semiautomatically segments brain parenchyma from CSF, and apply standard image processing calculations. The ratio of CSF volume to the size of the intracranial vault (ICV) or volume inside the skull, csf(v) /icv(v) is calculated and then plotted against the actual recorded ICP, yielding a relationship between the image features and ICP. RESULTS We analyzed a total of 45 scans from 20 patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). We showed that a ratio csf(v)/icv(v) > .034 correlates with an ICP < 20 mmHg (P = .0046). For csf(v)/icv(v) ≤ .034, a distinction between low and high ICP cannot be effectively estimated by this univariate measure. CONCLUSION This method permits a noninvasive means of identifying patients who are low risk for having elevated ICP; by following Brain Trauma Foundation guidelines strictly such a patient may be subjected to an unnecessary, invasive procedure. This work is a promising pilot study that will need to be analyzed for a larger population.
Timing of video-assisted thoracoscopic debridement for pediatric empyema

Abstract Background: Video-assisted thoracoscopic debridement (VATD) is a new method of managing pediatric empyema. The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the relation between the timing of VATD and its success in avoiding the need for open decortication. Study Design: Twenty-one children aged 3 to 16 years (mean, 8 years) with symptomatic, loculated, parapneumonic empyema were treated with VATD at two tertiary pediatric centers between 1994 and 1997. The preoperative duration of symptoms, hospitalization, and previous need for thoracostomy drainage were compared between patients having VATD only and those who subsequently required a thoracotomy and decortication. Statistical analysis used the Wald chi-square test or Fisher's exact test with p Results: Video-assisted thoracoscopic debridement was successful in 15 patients (group 1) and unsuccessful in six patients (group 2), who required a thoracotomy and decortication. Group 1 had a shorter mean duration of preoperative symptoms (13 versus 27 days; p=0.03), a shorter median duration of preoperative hospitalization (6 versus 18 days; p=0.04), and a lower incidence of previous thoracostomy drainage (4/15 versus 5/6; p=0.05). Conclusions: The technique of VATD is most likely to be successful when used within one week of diagnosis of a loculated parapneumonic empyema. A prospective trial comparing VATD with intrapleural fibrinolytic agents for the initial treatment of pediatric empyema is needed.
Supervisory process from a supportive-expressive relational psychodynamic approach.

Substantial theoretical and empirical focus has been placed on detailing the processes that therapists use in psychotherapy. Relatively limited investigation, however, has been conducted into the utility of the various techniques and processes that supervisors use in facilitating the development of trainee competence to conduct psychotherapy. The present article explores 2 sets of supervisory techniques/processes that can be used to assist novice therapists in the development of clinical skills from a supportive– expressive (Luborsky, 1984) relational (Greenberg & Mitchell, 1983) psychodynamic approach: (a) providing systematic and structured training in interpretation, and (b) facilitating trainee use of countertransference. We detail the theoretical underpinnings and research findings for each supervisory process, followed by presentation of vignettes illustrating supervisor–supervisee interactions that demonstrate the use of these processes.
Microinjection of a p21ras Antibody into PC12 Cells Inhibits Neurite Outgrowth Induced by Nerve Growth Factor and Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor

AbstractThe role of p21ras in signal transduction in PC12 cells was studied using an antibody that blocks its function. Native cells were microinjected with either a control solution or a solution containing the monoclonal antibody Y13-259. Treatment of the cells with growth factors appeared to enhance the ability of the cells to survive the microinjection procedure. Of the cells microinjected with the control solution 66-69% of those treated with either nerve growth factor (NGF) or basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were still present 24 h post-injection, compared with only 57% for those not treated with growth factor after microinjection. This effect of the growth factors was inhibited by introduction of the Y13-259 antibody, suggesting that it occurs through a pathway that involves p21ras. Similarly, introduction of the Y13-259 antibody into cells also resulted in a statistically significant decrease in the percentage of neurite-bearing cells; 25-36% of the cells microinjected with the control solut...
The pre-Flexnerian reports: Mark Twain's criticism of medicine in the United States

By the time Mark Twain was born, in 1835, the political forces of Jacksonian democracy had created an era of unregulated medical practice in the United States. Licensure laws were almost nonexistent, and any citizen could practice medicine. Regular ("allopathic") medicine was competing with at least two dozen other sects, including homeopathic, botanical, and hydropathic medicine. Although allopathy presented itself as the "scientific" branch of medicine and proclaimed the practices of the other sects to be "quackery," its therapies were aggressive and toxic and had no proven advantage over the treatments used by competitors. Through the efforts of the American Medical Association (AMA), allopathic medicine eliminated its competition by promoting the reestablishment of licensure laws in the late 1800s. In a continuation of the same endeavor, the AMA sought to identify weak and inadequate medical schools and commissioned Abraham Flexner to write the famous Flexner report of 1910 (the year of Mark Twain's death). Twain, an insightful political observer and social critic who was familiar with the competing medical systems and the medical politics of the 19th century, questioned the wisdom of limiting patients' medical options. He doubted the competence and intentions of physicians as a group even as he maintained confidence in the abilities of his own physicians. He was critical of the empirical medical practices used during his youth, but he saw hope in the new scientific orientation of medicine in the early 20th century. Twain's commentaries provide a unique perspective on pre-Flexnerian medicine in the United States.
VIABILITY AND METABOLISM OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS AFTER FREEZING, LYOPHILIZATION, AND IRRADIATION

Ahn, T. H. (University of California, Los Angeles), H. Nishihara, Charles M. Carpenter, and G. V. Taplin. Viability and metabolism of Staphylococcus aureus after freezing, lyophilization, and gamma irradiation. J. Bacteriol. 88:545–552. 1964.—Reproductive viability and oxidative activity on various substrates (alanine, glutamic acid, glucose, lactic acid) were studied in Staphylococcus aureus cells subjected to (i) freezing and thawing, (ii) lyophilization, (iii) irradiation in suspension, (iv) irradiation in lyophilized state, and (v) lyophilization and irradiation in the presence of various substrates. Freezing and thawing in dilute albumin solution had no effect on viable cell count and on lactic acid oxidation, but the oxidation rates of alanine, glutamic acid, and glucose were decreased. Lyophilization reduced the viable cell count to 25 to 30% of the initial value, and decreased the oxidation rates of glutamic acid and alanine proportionally, whereas decrease in glucose oxidation was less than proportional. The lactic acid oxidation rate was not affected by lyophilization. An irradiation dosage of about 40,000 r was required to reduce the viable count of cells irradiated in suspension by one log10 unit; lyophilized cells required 140,000 to 170,000 r. Cells irradiated in suspension with dosages sufficient to render them completely nonviable on culture continued to respire on lactic acid at about 60% the rate of nonirradiated cells, but the residual activities on the other substrates tested were less than 10 to 12%. Lyophilized cells irradiated with sufficient dosages for cultural nonviability retained 40 to 80% of the oxidative capacity of nonirradiated cells on the test substrates. Cells lyophilized and irradiated in the presence of albumin generally retained a greater portion of their oxidative activities compared with cells lyophilized and irradiated in buffer. Cells irradiated in the presence of various oxidizable substrates gave varying results, depending both on the substrate present during irradiation and the substrate added for the oxidative studies.
The Neighbourhood Contact Hypothesis: Evidence from the Multicity Study of Urban Inequality:

The paper provides evidence on the neighbourhood contact hypothesis, which states that interracial neighbourhood contact acts to break down prejudice. Contact, therefore, may result in stable racially integrated neighbourhoods. By exploiting unique features of new data from the Multicity Study of Urban Inequality, our estimates are the first to account directly for the endogeneity of contact. Results indicate that neighbourhood contact affects Whites' attitudes towards Black neighbours only if this contact is with Blacks of the same or higher social status. Blacks' attitudes towards White neighbours, on the other hand, are affected by neighbourhood contact regardless of the relative social status of participating Whites, although the effect is twice as strong if the contact is with Whites of equal or higher status.
From a Laboratory Tool to a Clinical Application

All of the studies in rats and guinea pigs noted above, save one, have been conducted using the imposition of DC electrical fields. That is all that is required if one is study­ing the effects of one polarity of voltage applied across axons of one projection, or a behavior (such as the CTM reflex), dependent on spinal cord axons that are of one projection within white matter. While this has been a good way to explore the biolo­gy of applied voltages and nerve regeneration in animals, a clinical tool would not be obvious from such techniques, especially in the injured spinal cord where regenera­tion of both ascending and descending projections are required within the long tracts.
Endocardial Endothelial Dysfunction Progressively Disrupts Initially Anti then Pro-Thrombotic Pathways in Heart Failure Mice.

Objective An experimental model of endocardial thrombosis has not been developed and endocardial endothelial dysfunction in heart failure (HF) is understudied. We sought to determine whether disruption of the endothelial anti-coagulant activated protein C (APC) pathway in CREBA133 HF mice promotes endocardial thrombosis in the acute decompensated phase of the disease, and whether alterations in von Willebrand factor (vWF) secretion from HF endocardium reduces thrombus formation as HF stabilizes. Approach and results Echocardiography was used to follow HF development and to detect endocardial thrombi in CREBA133 mice. Endocardial thrombi incidence was confirmed with immunohistochemistry and histology. In early and acute decompensated phases of HF, CREBA133 mice had the highest incidence of endocardial thrombi and these mice also had a shorter tail-bleeding index consistent with a pro-thrombotic milieu. Both APC generation, and expression of receptors that promote APC function (thrombomodulin, endothelial protein C receptor, protein S), were suppressed in the endocardium of acute decompensated HF mice. However, in stable compensated HF mice, an attenuation occurred for vWF protein content and secretion from endocardial endothelial cells, vWF-dependent platelet agglutination (by ristocetin), and thrombin generation on the endocardial surface. Conclusions CREBA133 mice develop HF and endocardial endothelial dysfunction. Attenuation of the anti-coagulant APC pathway promotes endocardial thrombosis in early and acute decompensated phases of HF. However, in stable compensated HF mice, disruptions in endothelial vWF expression and extrusion may actually reduce the incidence of endocardial thrombosis.
Strain Tuning of Tin–Halide and Lead–Halide Perovskites: A First-Principles Atomic and Electronic Structure Study

Using density functional theory (DFT)-based calculations, we investigate the effects of biaxial strain and the accompanying structural distortions on the energy landscapes, band gaps, and band edges of the perovskite photovoltaic materials CsSnI3 and CsPbI3. We show that biaxial strains within ±3% of the respective cubic lattice parameters can alter band gaps by several tenths of an electronvolt, mainly through the tuning of antibonding interactions in the valence band maximum, while temperature-controlled octahedral rotations further widen band gaps. Notably, we predict that biaxial strain, particularly tensile strain at low temperature, has the potential to induce ferroelectric polarization in these materials. Throughout this work, we rationalize trends in electronic structure based on the character and symmetry of band-edge crystal orbitals and discuss their implications with respect to broader classes of materials.
Jaikumar Textiles, Ltd.: The Nylon Division (B)

In the B case, a second constraining resource is added to the decision environment of the A case (UVA-QA-0364), making linear programming appropriate and useful. Because there are two decision variables, the problem can be solved graphically. A set of memoranda to the decision maker in the case motivates discussion of a shadow price and its associated range.
Abstract 352: Locally Deployed Perivalvular Leptin Promotes Thickening of Aortic Valve Leaflets Associated with Remodeling of the Left Ventricle in ApoE-Deficient Mice

Background: Locally available leptin is involved in atherogenesis and remodeling of the arterial wall. Recently, we demonstrated its contribution to aortic aneurysm formation in mice, and hypothesized that leptin may also drive the process of aortic valve stenosis (AVS) by promoting medial degeneration in the valve cusps. Methods: ApoE-deficient mice underwent left mini-thoracotomy to allow the deployment of a miniature polyglycolic-base film designed for sustained release of mouse leptin (20μg), or placebo film on the aortic surface at the peri-valvular region. All mice received a high fat diet, and underwent serial cardiac echo examinations thereby, recording the diameter of the ascending aorta, blood flow through the aortic valve, and left ventricle morphology, throughout 45 days’ follow up. Results: Longitudinal echocardiography assessment in leptin vs placebo treated mice revealed progressive dilatation of the proximal ascending aorta, corroborating postmortem histological evidence for local fragment...
Building a National Focus for Student Exchange With Africa: The National Consortium for Study in Africa

The National Consortium for Study in Africa (NCSA) grew out of a concern about the paucity of high-quality studyabroad opportunities in Africa for North American undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty. Africa is the second largest continent in geographic size and the ancestral home of 15 percent of the U.S. population, a demographic segment that has lived in the United States longer than most European immigrants. As a result, much of American art, music, language, and culture has derived from Africa and the AfroCaribbean cultures. Africa also is an important and growing source of U.S. trade, which is larger than that of all the Commonwealth of Independent States of eastern Europe. In spite of the country's prominence, less than 4 percent of North American students who study abroad enroll for study in Africa.
Understanding the Merchant Credit Card Acceptance Fee Class Action Settlement Proposal

The seven-year legal battle between merchants that accept credit cards, on one side, and Visa, MasterCard, and the largest card-issuing banks, on the other, has entered a settlement phase. Unlike settlements in standard law suits where the parties can freely agree to any terms they choose, in a class action, the court must (1) provide class members with the opportunity to object and (2) determine that the compromise “is fair, reasonable, and adequate.” Although this part of the case promises to be no less controversial than its predecessors, it should move to resolution much more quickly. By the end of 2013, the trial court is likely to decide whether to grant final approval to the settlement.This paper briefly reviews the history of antitrust attacks on the fees that merchants pay to accept credit cards, including a detailed discussion of the allegations in the complaint in In re: Payment Card and Merchant Discount Antitrust Litigation. It then explains the complicated proposed settlement in this case, working through the provisions relating to (1) damages, (2) injunctive relief, and (3) the releases from future liability that the class members would provide to the defendants. Finally, this paper analyzes the settlement’s policy implications and legality, predicting that the court will not approve the b(2) mandatory injunctive relief class, but it may approve the b(3) opt out damages class. Whether that result would be acceptable to the parties on either side remains to be seen.