cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chronic Neurobehavioral Sex Differences in a Murine Model of Repetitive Concussive Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulting from repeated head trauma is frequently characterized by diffuse axonal injury and long-term motor, cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Given the delay, often decades, between repeated head traumas and the presentation of symptoms in TBI patients, animal models of repeated injuries should be studied longitudinally to properly assess the longer-term effects of multiple concussive injuries on functional outcomes. In this study, male and cycling female C57BL/6J mice underwent repeated (three) concussive brain injuries (rCBI) delivered via a Leica ImpactOne cortical impact device and were assessed chronically on motor (open field and rotarod), cognitive (y-maze and active place avoidance), and neuropsychiatric (marble-burying, elevated zero maze and tail suspension) tests. Motor deficits were significant on the rotarod on the day following the injuries, and slight impairment remained for up to 6 months. All mice that sustained rCBI had significant cognitive deficits on the active place avoidance test and showed greater agitation (less immobility) in the tail suspension test. Only injured male mice were significantly hyperactive in the open field, and had increased time spent in the open quadrants of the elevated zero maze. One year after the injuries, mice of both sexes exhibited persistent pathological changes by the presence of Prussian blue staining (indication of prior microbleeds), primarily in the cortex at the site of the injury, and increased GFAP staining in the perilesional cortex and axonal tracts (corpus callosum and optic tracts). These data demonstrate that a pathological phenotype with motor, cognitive, and neuropsychiatric symptoms can be observed in an animal model of rCBI for at least one year post-injury, providing a pre-clinical setting for the study of the link between multiple brain injuries and neurodegenerative disorders. Furthermore, this is the first study to include both sexes in a pre-clinical long-term rCBI model, and female mice are less impaired functionally than males.
Estimation of methane emissions from the U.S. ammonia fertilizer industry using a mobile sensing approach

To date, estimation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the natural gas (NG) value chain have focused on upstream (production) and midstream (gathering, transmission, and storage) operations. In this study, we estimate methane emissions from an important downstream consumer of NG, the ammonia fertilizer industry, which commonly uses NG as a feedstock and a fuel for the production of ammonia and other upgraded products. Using a Google Street View (GSV) car equipped with a high-precision methane analyzer, we adopted a mobile sensing approach to measure methane mixing ratios along public roads that are downwind of the ammonia fertilizer plants. Useful data were collected from six plants, which represent >25% of the total number of U.S NG-based ammonia fertilizer plants, and use >20% of the total NG consumption by this industry. Based on the measured data, a source characterization model was applied to estimate the methane emission rates from the upwind plants. Assuming that the estimates are representative of emissions during normal operations of a plant, we calculated the NG loss rate (i.e. the ratio between NG emission rate and NG throughput). If the sampled plants are representative of the U.S. ammonia fertilizer industry, the industrial-averaged NG loss rate (± standard deviation) is estimated to be 0.34% (±0.20%), and the total methane emissions (± standard deviation) from this industry are estimated to be 29 (±18) Gigagram per year (Gg CH4/yr) in 2015–2016. This is significantly higher than the reported methane emissions of 0.2 Gg CH4/yr from the U.S. EPA’s Facility Level Information on Greenhouse Gas Tools (FLIGHT). This study begins to fill an important knowledge gap in quantifying methane emissions along the NG value chain, and demonstrates the capability of mobile sensing for characterizing airborne emissions.
Education as Empowerment

It was May 2, 1997, when two of the world’s most prominent educational scholars and theorists, Donaldo Macedo and Paolo Freire, were taking what would be their last stroll together through Manhatta...
Chapter 14 – Paraneoplastic Glomerulopathy

Paraneoplastic syndrome refers to clinical manifestations of renal disease which cannot be attributed to direct tumor burden, infiltration, or metastasis, but are instead caused by secretion of hormones, growth factors, cytokines and tumor antigens from the tumor itself. A spectrum of glomerular histopathology has been described in association with a variety of primary neoplasms and a variety of renal functional and structural abnormalities have been described in patients with neoplastic disease. The objectives of this chapter are to (1) describe the histopathologic features of primary GNs; (2) report on the prevalence of PNGNs and their associated malignancies; (3) discuss the purported pathogenetic mechanisms for neoplasia-induced glomerular injury based on information obtained from case reports, clinical and experimental models of PNGN; and (4) offer suggestions for the screening and management of patients with suspected PNGN.
Ignoring the Atrial Electrogram

A 71-year-old female has a dual chamber pacemaker implanted 3 years ago for symptomatic sinus bradycardia. She presents to the Emergency Room complaining of shortness of breath and palpitations. She is noted to be tachycardic with a regular, nonpaced rhythm of approximately 140 bpm. The patient has no known prior history of atrial arrhythmias. The situation is investigated.
Mutational analysis confirms the presence of distal inhibitor-selectivity determining residues in B. stearothermophilus dihydrofolate reductase

Many antibacterial and antiparasitic drugs work by competitively inhibiting dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), a vital enzyme in folate metabolism. The interactions between inhibitors and DHFR active site residues are known in many homologs but the contributions from distal residues are less understood. Identifying distal residues that aid in inhibitor binding can improve targeted drug development programs by accounting for distant influences that may be less conserved and subject to frequent resistance causing mutations. Previously, a novel, homology-based, computational approach that mines ligand inhibition data was used to predict residues involved in inhibitor selectivity in the DHFR family. Expectedly, some inhibitor selectivity determining residue positions were predicted to lie in the active site and coincide with experimentally known inhibitor selectivity determining positions. However, other residues that group spatially in clusters distal to the active site have not been previously investigated. In this study, the effect of introducing amino acid substitutions at one of these predicted clusters (His38-Ala39-Ile40) on the inhibitor selectivity profile in Bacillus stearothermophilus dihydrofolate reductase (Bs DHFR) was investigated. Mutations were introduced into these cluster positions to change sidechain chemistry and size. We determined kcat and KM values and measured KD values at equilibrium for two competitive DHFR inhibitors, trimethoprim (TMP) and pyrimethamine (PYR). Mutations in the His38-Ala39-Ile40 cluster significantly impacted inhibitor binding and TMP/PYR selectivity - seven out of nine mutations resulted in tighter binding to PYR when compared to TMP. These data suggest that the His38-Ala39-Ile40 cluster is a distal inhibitor selectivity determining region that favors PYR binding in Bs DHFR and, possibly, throughout the DHFR family.
Effect of cable surface characteristics and flow turbulence on the aerodynamic behaviour of stay cables in dry conditions

Abstract This article describes a wind-tunnel study to evaluate the aerodynamic behaviour of stay cables of a bridge with various surface geometries in dry conditions. Nine cable models were fabricated and tested. Aerodynamic forces acting on the static models were measured for different wind speeds, cable-wind angles and cable axial rotation angles, in smooth and turbulent flow. The aerodynamic forces of bare, round cable models with different roughness levels were used as a baseline to compare the aerodynamic loading of the cables with surface geometry features. A comprehensive database of existing and emerging cable geometries in a wide range of flow conditions and cable-wind angles was generated. The trends exhibited by models with geometric features are similar to results available in the open literature. The aerodynamic drag coefficient was largely affected by the presence of cable surface geometry. The model with helical strakes had the lowest drag coefficient throughout the range of Reynolds numbers that was evaluated. It was observed that turbulence had a similar effect on all models, resulting in a reduction of the drag coefficient at lower Reynolds numbers and an earlier increase in drag that is associated with the supercritical Reynolds number regime. The presence of turbulent flow resulted in higher drag coefficients at high Reynolds numbers. An important secondary finding was that models fabricated with the Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) technique have a higher surface roughness than high-density polyethylene (HDPE) stay cable sleeves but when printed, they have a similar surface roughness.
Achieving universal genetic assessment for women with ovarian cancer: Are we there yet? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Purpose Several professional organizations recommend universal genetic assessment for people with ovarian cancer as identifying pathogenic variants can affect treatment, prognosis, and all-cause mortality for patients and relatives. We sought to evaluate the literature on genetic assessment for women with ovarian cancer and determine if any interventions or patient characteristics drive utilization of services. Methods We searched key electronic databases to identify trials that evaluated genetic assessment for people with ovarian cancer. Trials with the primary aim to evaluate utilization of genetic assessment with or without interventions were included. Eligible trials were subjected to meta-analysis and the moderating influence of health interventions on rates of genetic assessment were examined. Results A total of 35 studies were included (19 report on utilization of genetic services without an intervention, 7 with an intervention, and 9 with both scenarios). Without an intervention, pooled estimates for referral to genetic counseling and completion of genetic testing were 39% [CI 27–53%] and 30% [CI 19–44%]. Clinician-facilitated interventions included: mainstreaming of genetic services (99% [CI 86–100%]), telemedicine (75% [CI 43–93%]), clinic-embedded genetic counselor (76% [CI 32–95%]), reflex tumor somatic genetic assessment (64% [CI 17–94%]), universal testing (57% [28–82%]), and referral forms (26% [CI 10–53%]). Random-effects pooled proportions demonstrated that Black vs. White race was associated with a lower rate of genetic testing (26%[CI 17–38%] vs. 40% [CI 25–57%]) as was being un-insured vs. insured (23% [CI 18–28%] vs. 38% [CI 26–53%]). Conclusions Reported rates of genetic testing for people with ovarian cancer remain well below the goal of universal testing. Interventions such as mainstreaming can improve testing uptake. Strategies aimed at improving utilization of genetic services should consider existing disparities in race and insurance status.
Surgical Treatment of Impacted Mandibular Second Molars: A Systematic Review.

Purpose The evidence on surgical uprighting and surgical exposure for the management of impacted mandibular second molars is limited. This systematic review evaluated the efficacy of both of these surgical procedures in the management of impacted mandibular second molars. Methods The authors conducted a systematic review without meta-analysis of English language articles on Pubmed and Embase databases without publication date restrictions. Additional studies were identified by searching reference lists and manually reviewing published literature in key journals. Potential included study types were cases series, cohort studies, and randomized clinical trials studying surgical uprighting or surgical exposure of impacted mandibular second molars. The outcomes studied were the positioning of the tooth in the dental arch, pulpal obliteration or calcification, infection, root resorption, and root fracture. Results Of the 1,438 records identified, 8 were included in the review, representing a total of 433 molars. The age of study participants in the included studies ranged from 7 to 20 years. A total of 22 of 27 (81.5%) impacted mandibular second molars included in this study were reported to be successfully positioned in the dental arch after surgical exposure. A total of 374 of 408 (91.7%) mandibular second molars included in this study were successfully positioned in the dental arch after surgical uprighting. There were no reported cases of infection and root fracture of impacted mandibular second molars treated by surgical exposure. In surgical uprighting, the overall reported rates of pulpal obliteration or calcification, infection, root resorption, and root fracture were 27.1, 1.9, 14.9, and 1.0%, respectively. Conclusions While there are few studies comparing treatment strategies for the management of impacted mandibular second molars, surgical uprighting appears to be a successful treatment option for these patients with few reported complications.
相対論的プラズマ物理学 5.相対論的電子•陽電子プラズマ

Electron-positron plasmas are believed to exist around the center of galaxy and compact stars. This relativistic electron-positron pair plasma has special features different from normal plasmas. The equilibrium conditions are given to solve the rate equation for pair creations and pair annihilation. The limit of temperature exists around 15 MeV under the condition that electron-positron plasma stays in equilibrium. In addition to the astrophysical plasmas, the dense electron-positron plasmas are produced by ultra-intense lasers in alaboratory.The studies of the relativistic electron-positron plasmas become important subjects in both astrophysics and laboratory plasma physics.
System-Size Dependence in Grand Canonical and Canonical Ensembles

Abstract The thermodynamics for a system with given temperature, density, and volume is described by the Canonical ensemble. The thermodynamics for a corresponding system with the same temperature, volume, and average density is described by the Grand Canonical ensemble. In general, a chosen thermodynamic potential (e.g., free energy) is different in the two cases. Their relationship is considered here as a function of the system size. Exact expressions relating the fundamental potential for each (free energy and pressure, respectively) are identified for arbitrary system size. A formal asymptotic analysis for large system size gives the expected equivalence, but without any characterization of the intermediate size dependence. More detailed evaluation is provided for the simple case of a homogeneous, non-interacting Fermi gas. In this case, the origin of size dependence arises from only two length scales, the average interparticle distance and quantum length scale (thermal deBroglie or Fermi length). The free energies per particle calculated from each ensemble are compared for particle numbers 2 ≤ N ≤ 64 for a range of temperatures above and below the Fermi temperature. The relevance of these results for applications of density functional theory is discussed briefly.
A thickness model for the TiSi2/TiN stack in the titanium salicide process module

Abstract A reliable TiSi 2 TiN stack thickness model is an essential component for modeling the titanium salicide process, and such a model is not well-developed in current process simulators and in the literature. To determine this model, a design of experiments was set up to examine five process variables, namely, as-deposited Ti thickness, reaction temperature, reaction time, As + implanted dose, and the reaction ambient pressure. Weight and sheet resistance measurements were used to evaluate the thickness and efficiency of reaction (%Ti converted to suicide). A good first-order linear model was obtained, with a residual standard deviation (variation of model from data) of ~30 A. The model establishes quantitatively, that the TiSi 2 thickness is proportional to the as-deposited Ti thickness and reaction temperature, inversely proportional to the implanted As + dose, and weakly proportional to the reaction time. Since TiN and TiSi 2 are competing reactions, TiN exhibits inverse functional relationships with the variables, as compared with TiSi 2 . The efficiency of the reaction also has been quantified by the model. The ambient pressure has been found to have no impact on either the TiSi 2 TiN stack thickness, or the reaction efficiency. The model has been validated by cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy, which agrees with the model prediction within experimental error.
Managing Uncertainty in Organizational Communication

Contents: Preface. Introduction and Rationale. Uncertainty Reduction Theory in Interpersonal Contexts. Uncertainty in Group and Organizational Contexts. A Theory of Managing Uncertainty: A New Model. Cognitive and Behavioral Processes for Managing Uncertainty: A Qualitative Study of Car Salespeople. The Influence of Competing Motives on Managing Uncertainty: Responses to Organizational Scenarios. A Textual Analysis of Managing Uncertainty: A Reanalysis of the Lucille Burger Story. Implications and Conclusions. Appendix.
The ring-type polymerase sliding clamp family.

Ring-type polymerases consist of a DNA polymerase, a ring-shaped sliding clamp protein and a clamp-loading complex. Sliding clamp proteins are found in all organisms and are called proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in eukaryotes and the β clamp in prokaryotes. Both PCNA and β form a ring around DNA, which is made up of two subunits of three domains each in β but three subunits of two domains each in PCNA. Despite this difference and a lack of detectable sequence homology, the structures of the two rings are very similar. The sliding clamp slides along DNA and tethers the polymerase to the DNA, enabling rapid and processive DNA replication.
A general methodology for integration of microarray data

We present a method for the integration of microarray datasets employing a fixed structure Bayesian network. Rather than learning all interactions simultaneously, we focus on undirected functional interactions between pairs of genes. Using Expectation Maximization, we learn one set of network parameters per functional category of interest. As we integrate further processing methods and refine the network structure, we hope both to improve performance and to increase the ability of the technique to expose specific biological properties of microarrays.
LeZi-update: an information-theoretic framework for personal mobility tracking in PCS networks

The complexity of the mobility tracking problem in a cellular environment has been characterized under an information-theoretic framework. Shannon's entropy measure is identified as a basis for comparing user mobility models. By building and maintaining a dictionary of individual user's path updates (as opposed to the widely used location updates), the proposed adaptive on-line algorithm can learn subscribers' profiles. This technique evolves out of the concepts of lossless compression. The compressibility of the variable-to-fixed length encoding of the acclaimed Lempel---Ziv family of algorithms reduces the update cost, whereas their built-in predictive power can be effectively used to reduce paging cost.
Ali A Mazrui: a great man, a great scholar

In 2013, Ali A Mazrui gave a lecture in Muscat (Oman) about Barack Obama, the 44th president of the USA, in which he suggested that Obama was a great man but not yet a great president. Mazrui said we would have to wait and see if Obama would become a great president. I think Mazrui was right. But we would not have to wait any longer to say: ‘Ali A Mazrui: a great man, a great scholar’. On 12 October 2014, Ali Mazrui passed away at the age of 81. He was indeed a great man and an extraordinary scholar. This essay is a special tribute to him.
Purification of the mosquitocidal and cytolytic proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis.

Abstract Two proteins from parasporal crystals of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis were purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by gel filtration and anion-exchange chromatography. The larger of the two proteins (molecular weight, 68,000) was not cytolytic, whereas the smaller protein (molecular weight, 28,000) was highly cytolytic when assayed against rat erythrocytes. When these proteins were assayed against larvae of the yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, the larger protein was at least 100-fold more toxic than the smaller protein. Although proteolytic activity was not detected in solubilized crystals nor in purified protein preparations, the toxin (molecular weight, 68,000) was readily degraded to smaller, nontoxic molecules, even when maintained at 4 degrees C. Mixtures of the two purified proteins were significantly more toxic to mosquito larvae than was either protein alone. Thus, it is likely that both the mosquitocidal and the cytolytic protein play roles in the overall insecticidal action of the parasporal crystal produced by this bacterium.
The Real Estate Portfolio of the United States House of Representatives

This study examines the real estate investments of members of the United States House of Representatives from 1985 to 1995 with a focus on agency theory. The real estate holdings are characterized in terms of the number of properties owned, the reported value of the properties, property types, the property locations and transactions. Representatives are found to hold more real estate when compared to those of other investors in the United States with similar levels of income. Representatives also seem to time the market better, presumably because they understand more about the implications of the changes in tax laws they enacted. Thus, the Tax Reform Act of 1986 caused House members to reduce their real estate holdings much faster than other U.S. investors. This lower level of real estate investment may also have reduced the economic linkages between Representatives and their constituents, which might affect their incentive to fight for the interests of their constituents.
Selecting high-confidence predictions from ordinary differential equation models of biological networks

Many cellular processes are governed by large and highly-complex networks of chemical interactions and are therefore difficult to intuit. Computational modeling provides a means of encapsulating information about these interactions and can serve as a platform for gaining understanding of the biology and making predictions about cellular response to perturbation. In particular, there has been considerable interest in ordinary differential equation (ODE) models, which have several attractive features: ODEs can describe molecular interactions with mechanistic detail, it is relatively straightforward to implement perturbations, and, in theory, they can predict the concentration and activity of every species as a function of time. However, both the topology and parameters in such models are subject to considerable uncertainty. We explore the ramifications of these sources of uncertainty for making accurate predictions and develop methods of selecting high confidence predictions from uncertain models. In particular, we promote a shift in emphasis from model selection to prediction selection, and use consensus among model ensembles to identify the predictions most likely to be accurate. By constructing decision trees, this consensus can also be used to partition the space of potential perturbations into regions of high and low confidence. We apply our methods to the Fas signaling pathway in apoptosis to satisfy two goals: first, to design a therapeutic cocktail to reduce cell death in the presence of high levels of stimulus, and second, to design experiments that may lead to a better understanding of the biological network. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)
Few cell lines with GABAA mRNAs have functional receptors

In the preceding companion article (Tyndale et al., 1994) we used the PCR to investigate the occurrence of 13 GABAA receptor subunit mRNAs in several cell lines, including those derived from brain (B65, B104, and NB41A3), cerebellum (C17), glia (C6), pituitary (AtT-20), adrenal medulla (PC12), and the endocrine pancreas (RINm5F and beta TC3). In the present study we used the whole-cell configuration of the patch- clamp technique to determine which of these cell lines express functional GABAA receptors. All of the cell lines contain detectable levels of at least one GABAA receptor subunit mRNA (Tyndale et al., 1994); however, only RINm5F and beta TC3 cells exhibited GABA-evoked currents. GABA activated currents in all RINm5F cells, but currents were only barely detectable in 50% of beta TC3 cells tested. Many of the cell lines that failed to respond to GABA were derived from cell types with functional GABAA receptors. For example, the failure of PC12 cells to respond to GABA contrasts with the observation of GABA responses recorded from all primary cultured adrenomedullary chromaffin cells tested. GABA-evoked currents recorded from beta TC3 cells were too small (< 10 pA) to characterize pharmacologically. However, GABA activated robust currents recorded from RINm5F cells. These currents reversed at a holding potential similar to the equilibrium potential for Cl-, were blocked by the antagonist bicuculline methiodide (10 microM), and were potentiated by pentobarbital (100 microM). RINm5F cell GABAA receptors were insensitive to diazepam (10 microM) and were inhibited by Zn2+ (10 microM).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Users' Judgments of Managers and Auditors: The Impact of Accounting Treatment and Reconciliation

We examine how accounting disclosures affect users' assessments of management credibility and, in turn, their expectations of the auditor. In a lease obligation setting, our experiment separates the effects of understanding the financial impact of accounting treatment (by manipulating the presence of a supplemental reconciliation from disclosure to recognition) from inferences made based on management's choice of accounting disclosures (by manipulating the source of the reconciliation). Users who receive a reconciliation report lower management credibility, higher investment risk, and higher audit expectations when the reconciliation is provided by a source other than management. By documenting boundary conditions in which audit expectations are higher for disclosed information, we extend research on the influence of reporting discretion to audit expectations, with implications for the expectation gap and auditors' potential business risk.
Accreditation And Assessment: A Provocative Approach

Gaining and maintaining accreditation is of great importance to colleges and schools (Yunker 2000). In this process, assessment is used to gauge the goals and objectives or the college and school. At no expense, we show that 5 items that remedy the problems associated with assessment. In addition, we give the questions asked during a learning outcomes discussion. Any Dean or administrator who facilitates an active dialogue with faculty increases their chances for a successful accreditation process.
A reduced dimension branch-and-bound algorithm for molecular design

This paper addresses the solution of mixed-integer nonlinear mathematical programs in which the number of linear constraints far exceed the number of nonlinear constraints, and with most variables participating in the nonconvex terms. Some computer-aided molecular design models have these features. A branch-and-bound (BB) algorithm is proposed that is specifically tailored to solving such problems. In a conventional BB algorithm, branching is performed on all the search variables that appear in the nonlinear terms. This translates to a large number of node traversals. To overcome this problem, we have proposed a new strategy for branching on a set of branching functions, which depend linearly on the search variables. The branching functions are determined from a special tree function (STF) representation of both the objective function and constraints. In order to construct the corresponding linear underestimators, we have developed the Sweep method. The proposed algorithm scales well with problem size. Specifically, as the problem size increases, the computational effort increases almost linearly. The computational efficiency of the algorithm is demonstrated by solving a molecular design problem to global optimality.
Hg2+ causes neurotoxicity at an intracellular site following entry through Na and Ca channels

Abstract At motor nerve terminals, Hg 2+ causes (a) irreversible depolarization, (b) increase in transmitter release, and (c) subsequent irreversible block of transmitter release. All effects are antagonized when a Na channel blocker (tetrodotoxin, TTX) and a Ca channel blocker (Co 2+ ) are present, but not when either blocker is used alone. The effects are not antagonized by TTX plus Co 2+ when the mercurial is lipid-soluble (methylmercury). This indicates that the neurotoxic action of Hg 2+ is at an intracellular site and that entry is gained through both Na and Ca channels. The results suggest that metals may inhibit transmitter release at either the Ca channel or at the release site, but that irreversible toxicity is due to an intracellular action, possibly involving SH groups.
Potential misuse of ipecac

Study objective: To evaluate the use of ipecac by health care professionals. Design: A descriptive case series based on a one-year review of all calls to a poison center. Setting: A university hospital-affiliated regional poison center. Interventions: The use of ipecac was judged appropriate or inappropriate based on the consensus of three of professionals associated with the poison center using predetermined contraindications. Measurements and main results: In 20% of cases in which ipecac was used, its use was inappropriate. The most common inappropriate situation was that too much time had elapsed from the time of ingestion. Among adults the most common contraindication was the ingestion of a substance known to cuase altered mental status. Among children, the most common contraindication was the ingestion of a nontoxic substance or amount of substance. The poison center recommended ipecac inappropriately less often than emergency departments and usually in children ingesting a nontoxic substance. EDs recommended ipecac inappropriately with a broader range of contraindications and more often in adults. Conclusion: Ipecac has potentially adverse consequences and should not be used reflexively. Providers of emergency care should be educated about possible contraindications to its use.
Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle Among Cancer Survivors

With improving longevity, the late-occurring adverse effects of cancer and its treatment are becoming increasingly apparent. As in other clinical populations, healthy lifestyle behaviors encompassing weight management, a healthy diet, regular exercise, and smoking cessation have the potential to reduce morbidity and mortality significantly in cancer survivors. This article addresses the strength of evidence for recommendations in areas of weight management, diet, exercise, and smoking cessation; and the current evidence examining the efficacy of various intervention approaches to promote health behavior changes among adult cancer survivors.
Leptin Therapy Alters Appetite and Neural Responses to Food Stimuli in Brain Areas of Leptin-Sensitive Subjects Without Altering Brain Structure

Context: Leptin is a key regulator of energy intake and expenditure. Individuals with congenital leptin deficiency demonstrate structural and functional brain changes when given leptin. However, whether acquired leptin deficiency may operate similarly is unclear. Objective: We set out to determine whether the brains of individuals with acquired leptin deficiency may react to leptin in a similar manner. Design: We used functional magnetic resonance imaging before and after short- and long-term metreleptin treatment in three leptin-sensitive patients with acquired hypoleptinemia. Nine healthy women were scanned as normoleptinemic controls. Setting: The setting was an academic medical center. Patients or Other Participants: The participants were 3 hypoleptinemic women and nine normoleptinemic, matched women. Interventions: We used metreleptin, recombinant leptin, therapy for 24 weeks in hypoleptinemic women only. Main Outcome Measure: We measured neural changes in response to viewing food as compared to nonf...
2-Deoxyribose 5-phosphate aldolase: genetic analyses of structure.

Abstract A total of 33 mutant strains of Salmonella typhimurium deficient in deoxyribose 5-phosphate activity have been isolated and characterized as missense or nonsense. Three-factor transductional analyses of the mutants were used to construct a fine structure map of the deoC gene, which codes for a peptide of 28,500 molecular weight. An unusual clustering of the missense mutants was observed, where 75% of all the missense mutants mapped in an area which corresponds to 19% of the total gene length. It is suggested that this area of the protein is particularly sensitive to amino acid replacements but that other areas of the protein are reasonably tolerant of such changes. Nonsense mutations are found scattered throughout the gene. This is expected since the carboxyl-terminal tyrosine is essential for enzymatic activity.
Comments on "Stability of time-delay systems

It is shown that a theorem of stability of time-delay system is not valid for some conditions. An alternative proof is given for the theorem which reveals the conditions for which stability can be determined.
Estrogen status and psychophysical stress modify temporomandibular joint input to medullary dorsal horn neurons in a lamina-specific manner in female rats

Abstract Estrogen status and psychological stress contribute to the expression of several chronic pain conditions including temporomandibular muscle and joint disorders (TMJD). Sensory neurons that supply the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) region terminate in laminae I and V of the spinal trigeminal nucleus (Vc/C1–2 region); however, little is known about lamina-specificity and environmental influences on the encoding properties of TMJ brainstem neurons. To test the hypothesis that Vc/C1–2 neurons integrate both interoceptive and exteroceptive signals relevant for TMJ nociception, we recorded TMJ-evoked activity in superficial and deep laminae of ovariectomized rats under high and low estradiol (E2) and stress conditions. Rats received daily injections of low (LE) or high (HE) dose E2 and were subjected to forced swim (FS) or sham swim conditioning for 3 days. The results revealed marked lamina-specificity in that HE rats displayed enhanced TMJ-evoked activity in superficial, but not deep, laminae independent of stress conditioning. By contrast, FS conditioned rats displayed increased background firing and TMJ-evoked activity of neurons in deep, but not superficial, laminae independent of E2 status. FS also enhanced TMJ-evoked masseter muscle activity and suggested the importance of deep dorsal horn neurons in mediating evoked jaw muscle activity. In conclusion, E2 status and psychophysical stress play a significant role in modifying the encoding properties of TMJ-responsive medullary dorsal horn neurons with a marked lamina-specificity.
Cusp-like flaws along a rough surface

Abstract The stress concentration due to cusp-like flaws along a rough surface is important to the understanding of flaw initiation at material surfaces under environmental corrosion. This paper is part of a new effort to develop theoretical models for various micromechanical failure processes in thin film devices, such as the nucleation of surface cracks in coatings of magnetic storage devices under sliding contact. The stress field near an isolated surface cusp is studied using complex variable methods. Calculations indicate that the cusp induces the same stress singularity with similar stress intensity factors as a surface crack, thus establishing a role of surface cusps as precursors or nucleation sites for macroscopically observable cracks.
Two's Company, Three's a Crowd1

Pronominal systems express information about the social relationship between participants in a speech event. A discussion of the social implications of the dyad and triad indicates how, in some pronominal systems, social distance and deference are introduced into a relationship by symbolically transforming it from a dyad to a triad. In addition, if is shown how this transformation is accomplished through the pronominal system. [cross-cultural, sociolinguistics, semantics, language and culture]
New definitions for new higher education institutions

This chapter provides new definitions or descriptors for different types of virtual universities that have been proposed by several authors.
A Real-time EMG-driven Musculoskeletal Model of the Ankle.

The real-time estimation of muscle forces could be a very valuable tool for rehabilitation. By seeing how much muscle force is being produced during rehabilitation, therapists know whether they are working within safe limits in their therapies and patients know if they are producing enough force to expect improvement. This is especially true for rehabilitation of Achilles tendon ruptures where, out of fear of overloading and causing a rerupture, minimal therapy is typically done for eight weeks post-surgery despite animal studies that show that low-level loading is beneficial. To address this need, we have developed a biomechanical model that allows for the real-time estimation of forces in the triceps surae muscle and Achilles tendon. Forces are estimated using a Hill-type muscle model. To account for differences in neuromuscular control of each subject, the model used EMGs as input. To make this clinically useful, joint angles were measured using electrogoniometers. A dynamometer was used to measure joint moments during the model calibration stage, but was not required during real-time studies. The model accounts for the force-length and force-velocity properties of muscles, and other parameters such as tendon slack length and optimal fiber length. Additional parameters, such as pennation angle and moment arm of each muscle in the model, vary as functions of joint angle. In this paper, the model is presented and it application is demonstrated in two subjects: one with a healthy Achilles tendon and a second 6 months post Achilles tendon rupture and repair.
Dietary pattern and asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background The literature on the relationship between diet and asthma has largely focused on individual nutrients, with conflicting results. People consume a combination of foods from various groups that form a dietary pattern. Studying the role of dietary patterns in asthma is an emerging area of research. The purpose of this study was to systematically review dietary patterns and asthma outcomes in adults and children, to review maternal diet and child asthma, and to conduct a meta-analysis on the association between asthma prevalence and dietary patterns in adults. Methods We searched Medline, Scopus, and ISI Web of Knowledge up to January 2014. Two researchers independently reviewed studies meeting the inclusion criteria using the American Dietetic Association quality criteria. A linear mixed model was used to derive the pooled effect size (95% confidence interval) for each of three dietary pattern categories (healthy, unhealthy, and neutral). Results Thirty-one studies were identified (16 cross-sectional, one case-control, 13 cohort, and one randomized controlled trial), including 12 in adults, 13 in children, five in pregnant woman-child pairs, and one in both children and pregnant woman-child pairs. Six of the 12 adult studies reported significant associations between dietary patterns and asthma outcomes (eg, ever asthma and forced expiratory volume in one second). Seven of ten studies examining the Mediterranean diet showed protective effects on child asthma and/or wheeze. Four of the six studies in mother-child pairs showed that maternal dietary patterns during pregnancy were not associated with child asthma or wheeze. The meta-analysis including six adult studies, the primary outcome of which was the prevalence of current or ever asthma, showed no association with healthy, unhealthy, or neutral dietary patterns. Conclusion The evidence suggests no association of dietary patterns with asthma prevalence in adults or of maternal diet with child asthma or wheeze. The Mediterranean diet in children may prevent asthma or wheeze, but randomized controlled trials are lacking.
Using a Text Mining Tool to Support Text Summarization

This paper presents a mining tool that is able to extract graphs from texts, and proposes their use in helping students to write summaries. The text summarization method is based on the use of the graphs as graphic organizers, leading students to further reflect about the main ideas of the text before getting to the actual task of writing. An experiment carried out demonstrated that the tool helped students reflect about the main ideas of the text and supported the writing of the summaries.
Monitoring gastrointestinal function in the equine intensive care unit

Abstract Gastrointestinal complications such as adynamic ileus, tympany, diarrhea, and gastric ulceration are common conditions treated in the equine intensive care unit. As such, monitoring of gastro-intestinal function is critical for the appropriate management of intensive-care patients. Gastrointestinal function is determined by serial physical examinations, clinical pathological data, abdominal ultrasonography, fecal testing, and gastroscopy.
Economics of managerial neglect in supply chain delivery performance

This article addresses the economic impact of improving delivery performance in a two-stage supply chain when delivery performance is evaluated with respect to a delivery window. Building on contemporary management theories that advocate variance reduction as the critical step in improving the overall performance of a system, an expected cost model is developed that financially quantifies the benefit of reducing delivery variance. The present worth of the expected costs, due to untimely delivery, that accrue over a finite time horizon provide management with input for justifying financial investment to support a continuous improvement program to reduce delivery variance. The concept of managerial neglect is introduced and quantified as an opportunity cost of management neglecting to improve delivery performance in a timely manner.
Carrier-free 194Ir from an 194Os/194Ir generator : a new candidate for radioimmunotherapy

Abstract Iridium-194 ( t 1 2 = 19.15 h ) decays by beta-particle emission (Emax = 2.236 MeV) and is a potential candidate for radioimmunotherapy. An important characteristic is availability of 194Ir from decay of reactor-produced 194Os ( t 1 2 = 6 y ). We report the fabrication of the first 194Os/194Ir generator system using activated carbon. In addition, a novel gas thermochromatographic method was developed for the one step conversion of metallic Os to OsO4 and subsequent separation and purification of OsO4. In this manner, the reactor irradiated enriched 192Os target was converted to 194OsO4, which was then converted to the K2OsCl6 for generator loading. The yield and the elution profile of carrier-free 194Ir, and 194Os breakthrough were determined for a prototype generator which was evaluated over a 10-month period.
Interkinetic Nuclear Migration: A Mysterious Process in Search of a Function

During interkinetic nuclear migration (INM), the nuclei in many epithelial cells migrate between the apical and basal surfaces, coordinating with the cell cycle, and undergoing cytokinesis at the apical surface. INM is observed in a wide variety of tissues and species. Recent advances in time-lapse microscopy have provided clues about the mechanisms and functions of INM. Whether actin or microtubules are responsible for nuclear migration is controversial. How mitosis is initiated during INM is poorly understood, as is the relationship between the cell cycle and nuclear movement. It is possible that the disagreements stem from differences in the tissues being studied, since epithelia undergoing INM vary greatly in terms of cell height and cell fates. In this review we examine the reports addressing the mode and mechanisms that regulate INM and suggest possible functions for this dramatic event.
Munc18-dependent regulation of synaptic vesicle exocytosis by syntaxin-1A in hippocampal neurons.

Abstract The fusion of secretory vesicles with the plasma membrane requires the formation of soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complexes between the vesicle-SNARE vesicle-associated membrane protein present on the vesicular membrane and the target-SNAREs SNAP-25 and syntaxin-1A. Syntaxin-1A fluctuates between an open and closed form allowing it to selectively bind to different biological effectors in different conformations. In the open form, it can participate in SNARE complex formation, however, in the closed form it negatively regulates N- and P/Q-type voltage-dependent calcium channels, and is capable of inhibiting calcium influx. Thus paradoxically, syntaxin appears to have both positive and negative roles in controlling calcium-driven synaptic vesicle fusion at synaptic terminals. We show here that overexpression of syntaxin-1A inhibited exocytosis, in a manner that could be rescued by either elevating or reducing external calcium, or increasing action potential firing frequency. Elevating the level of Munc18 by coexpression with syntaxin-1A also abolished this inhibition, suggesting that Munc18 serves to limit the negative regulatory role of syntaxin by binding to, and thereby buffering, its closed form. Our results also indicate that syntaxin can control the frequency–response characteristics of the presynaptic fusion machinery.
Structural polymorphism of the DC1 light chains from DR1-, DR2-, and DRw6-positive cell lines.

The heavy and light chain subunits of the DC1 antigen from several cell lines expressing different DR specificities were compared by two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis. The DC1 light chains from cell lines typed as DR1, DR2, or DRw6 differed in their isoelectric points. No difference in charge was observed for the DC 1 heavy chain from the three cell lines. The DC1 light chains from different DRw6-positive cell lines were also found to be structurally polymorphic. The DRw6 cell lines examined did not all express the same DR-like light chains, indicating that the DRw6 specificity is biochemically complex, which is in agreement with the serologic studies of others.