cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Calorie restriction for enhanced longevity: The role of novel dietary strategies in the present obesogenic environment

Calorie restriction (CR) is a potent modulator of longevity in multiple species. A growing body of evidence shows that sustained periods of CR without malnutrition improves risk factors involved in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and neurological disorders in humans. Innovative dietary strategies such as intermittent fasting and protein restriction have recently emerged as alternative approaches that improve markers of aging. Some of these newer strategies might provide benefits for healthy aging with little to no CR and therefore, compared to traditional CR, may be easier to follow. Further to providing an update of CR studies in humans, the present narrative review appraises the influence of these contemporary dietary strategies on mechanisms posited to drive CR-induced longevity in humans, including those involving energy metabolism, oxidative damage, inﬂammation, glucose homeostasis, and functional changes in the neuroendocrine systems. The review also discusses the utilization of these diets for populations in the current obesogenic environment, and comments on whether current research can inform an optimal diet that attenuates aging, can be easily followed, and promises to improve longevity in humans.
The influence of dexmedetomidine on the emergence agitation of pediatric patients after the operations of sense organs under general anesthesia using sevoflurane.

BACKGROUND We investigated the influence of dexmedetomidine on the emergence agitation of pediatric patients after ophthalmologic operation under general anesthesia using sevoflurane. METHODS We selected 90 patients that were administered pediatric ophthalmologic operation for the study. The patients were randomly divided into 3 groups according to the administration way of drugs, i.e. the normal saline group (Group S, n = 30), the midazolam group (Group M, n = 30) and the dexmedetomidine group (Group D, n = 30). For all patients, anesthesia induction was performed using sevoflurane before anesthesia, and the anesthesia was maintained in the operation with a combination of sevoflurane and remifentanil; laryngeal mask airway (LMA) was used for assisted ventilation. 10 minutes before the end of operation, 15mL of 0.9% normal saline, 0.05mg/kg of midazolam and 0.5μg/kg of dexmedetomidine were administered to Group S, Group M and Group D, respectively. After the operation, we observed the awakening time, time of the LMA removal as well as the recovery time in the post anesthesia care unit (PACU) of patients in all three groups. We evaluated the postoperative condition of sedation and agitation of the patients using Ramsay sedation scale, 5-point scale and pediatric anesthesia emergence deliriums scale (PAED) and performed statistical analysis. RESULTS In the comparisons of awakening time, time of the LMA removal as well as the recovery time, we found that Group M was the longest sequentially followed by Group D and Group S with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). While the comparison of the scores of Ramsay sedation scale revealed that Group D scored highest followed by Group M and Group S with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05), both of the comparisons of the scores of 5-point scale and PAED scale showed that Group D scored the lowest, followed by Group M and Group S in sequence with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Dexmedetomidine can significantly lower the incidence of emergence agitation of pediatric patients after the ophthalmologic operation under sevoflurane anesthesia.
Liquid Landscape: Geography and Settlement at the Edge of Early America

In Liquid Landscape, Michele Currie Navakas contends that Florida's peculiarly fluid geographic and social terrain created a conundrum for early American writers because it challenged Lockean notio...
Monitoring and analysis of syphilis in pregnant women in Baoshan District, Shanghai

Objective To explore the epidemiologic feature of maternal syphilis and the status of prevention and control of the disease in Baoshan District. Methods Syphilis monitoring data of pregnant women were analyzed retrospectively in Baoshan district of Shanghai from 2004 to 2009. Results The positive rate of syphilis in pregnant women was 0.31％ ( 195/63 227 ).Among them,residing and migratory pregnant women accounted for 0.17％ (37/22 287) and 0.39％ (158/40 940) respectively (X2 =22.699,P ＜0.01 ). A total of 145 cases received the examination of treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA).And 136 cases were positive.The positive rate of rapid plasma reagin test (RPR) was 51.35％(19/37) in residing early pregnant women and 24.68％ (39/158) in migratory counterparts (X2 =22.192,P =0.000).And 152 cases were followed up to record pregnancy outcomes,including normal delivery of live births ( n =146 ),artificial termination of pregnancy ( n =3 ),stillbirth and spontaneous abortion ( n =3). Forty-three cases became lost. And the rate of loss was 22.78％ (36/158) in migratory pregnant women and 18.92％ (7/37) in residing counterparts. Conclusions It is imperative to improve the prevention and control mechanisms of pregnancy syphilis and the model of consulting services. We should also pay more attention to screening and follow-up work in migratory pregnant women. Key words: Syphilis; Pregnant women; Mass screening
Outcomes of Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy patients needing Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation - Extra corporeal life support organization (ELSO) database analysis

Background: Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in its moderate to severe form is treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH) with trials showing significant improvement in the mortality and neuro-outcomes. Pulmonary hypertension complicates the clinical course of up to10-25% of these patients with HIE. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) improves survival in pulmonary hypertension but its use is controversial in HIE as “irreversible brain damage” is a contraindication per Extra corporeal life support organization (ELSO) guidelines. The inability to predict neuro-outcomes in HIE patients has led …
Micromagnetic instabilities in spin-transfer switching of perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions

Micromagnetic instabilities and nonuniform magnetization states play a significant role in spin-transfer induced switching of nanometer scale magnetic elements. Here we model domain wall mediated switching dynamics in perpendicularly magnetized magnetic tunnel junction nanopillars. We show that domain wall surface tension always leads to magnetization oscillations and instabilities associated with the disk shape of the junction. A collective coordinate model is developed that captures aspects of these instabilities and illustrates their physical origin. Model results are compared to those of micromagnetic simulations. The switching dynamics are found to be very sensitive to the domain wall position and phase, which characterizes the angle of the magnetization in the disk plane. This sensitivity is reduced in the presence of spin torques, and the spin current needed to displace a domain wall can be far less than the threshold current for switching from a uniformly magnetized state. A prediction of this model is conductance oscillations of increasing frequency during the switching process.
Pirfenidone regulates LPS mediated activation of neutrophils

Excessive inflammation or its absence may result in impaired wound healing. Neutrophils are among the first innate immune cells to arrive at the injury site. They participate in infection control and debris removal to initiate healing. If not timely resolved, neutrophils can cause excessive tissue inflammation and damage. Drugs with anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects are of promise for improving healing by balancing the primary defensive functions and excessive tissue damage actions. Of interest, pirfenidone (Pf), an FDA approved anti-fibrotic drug to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, has been shown to ameliorate inflammation in several animal models including mouse deep partial-thickness burn wounds. However, there is a lack of mechanistic insights into Pf drug action on inflammatory cells such as neutrophils. Here, we examined the treatment effects of Pf on LPS-stimulated neutrophils as a model of non-sterile inflammation. Firstly, Pf reduced chemotaxis and production of pro-inflammatory ROS, cytokines, and chemokines by LPS-activated neutrophils. Secondly, Pf increased anti-inflammatory IL-1RA and reduced neutrophil degranulation, phagocytosis, and NETosis. Thirdly, Pf affected downstream signaling kinases which might directly or indirectly influence neutrophil responses to LPS. In conclusion, the results suggest that Pf lessens the inflammatory phenotypes of LPS-activated neutrophils.
Curating and Visualizing Dense Networks of Monsoon Precipitation Data: Integrating Computer Science Into Forward Looking Climate Services Development

Monsoon precipitation demonstrates a wide range of spatial and temporal variability in the U.S. Southwest. A variety of precipitation monitoring networks, including official networks, municipal flood control districts, and citizen science observers, can help improve our characterization and understanding of the monsoon. The data management challenges of integrating these diverse data sources can be formidable. Computer science and data management techniques provide a pathway for the design of forward looking climate services, especially those developed in collaboration with experts in this field. In this paper we present such a collaboration, integrating natural, social and computer science expertise. We document how we identified data networks and their sources and the computer science and data management workflow we employed to integrate and curate these data. We also present the web based data visualization tool and API that we developed as part of this process (monsoon.environment.arizona.edu). We use case study examples from the Tucson, AZ region to demonstrate the visualizer. We also discuss how this type of collaboration could be extended to existing or potential stakeholder collaborations, as we facilitate access to a curated set of data that gives an increasingly granular perspective on monsoon precipitation variability. We also discuss what this collaborative approach integrating natural, social and computer science perspectives can add to the evolution of climate services.
Academic-community partnerships to promote end-of-life care competencies through interprofessional teamwork

Abstract This curricular resource describes an interprofessional educational program and curricular structure for teaching a rare but critical skill: how to care for someone when there is no cure, and to do so in a home environment when death is expected and supported as a natural process. Through academic-community partnerships and a blended-experiential model, students learn from hospice patients, their family members, other community volunteer caregivers, and hospice staff while simultaneously engaging in curricular activities that include online training modules, reflective writing exercises, and weekly discussion sessions with peers, faculty, and providers, all key components identified for professional identity formation (Simmonds et al., 2020; Wald et al., 2015).1,2 The program was developed with the Learn, See, Practice, Prove, Do model, an evidence-based educational framework that helps students gain competence in their procedural skills and transition from the role of observer to that of a skilled care provider (Sawyer et al., 2015). Students were given pretest and posttest surveys, reflective journaling assignments, and a posttest questionnaire. Triangulation of data sources indicates that learning objectives and desired outcomes were consistently achieved. In addition, students reported high levels of satisfaction with the program, significant improvements in both empathy and self-efficacy to provide end-of-life care, and program impacts on both their personal perspectives and career goals/professional identities.
Healthcare worker resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic: An integrative review.

Aim The purpose of this review was to examine resilience among healthcare workers during the coronavirus-disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an unprecedented strain on healthcare workers internationally. Rising infection rates, inadequate personal protective equipment, and the lack of availability of hospital beds has resulted in further deterioration of the already-fragile mental health of healthcare workers. Resilient workers have lower rates of burnout and improved patient outcomes. Evaluation PubMed and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases were searched using the terms resilience, nurse and COVID-19 to identify studies on resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results were organized by outcome measures for comparison. Key issues Resilience scores among frontline healthcare workers worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic in the studies reviewed were overall found to be in the moderate range. Data from the United States showed a decrease in nurse resilience, whereas participants from China had increased resilience compared with pre-pandemic levels. Conclusions Building resilience in nurses and other healthcare workers can serve as a protective factor against negative outcomes related to the job, including burnout, anxiety and depression, and can improve patient outcomes. Implications for nursing management Strategies for building resilience in healthcare workers are discussed.
The effect of maternal education on parenting and early childhood development: An instrumental variables approach.

Maternal education is often considered an important determinant of children's early development. However, there is little empirical evidence on whether it is maternal education that contributes to better developmental outcomes or other ecological factors that relate to both education and children's development. This study used data on 4,874 mother-child (M age = 47.7 months) dyads from Uganda of the 2016 Demographic and Health Survey to assess the effects of maternal education on parenting and children's development. Taking advantage of a natural experiment with an instrumental variables approach, the study identified positive causal impacts of maternal schooling on children's development. Additional years of schooling also increased maternal engagement in stimulating activities, children's attendance to early childhood education programs, and reduced harsh corporal punishment. A mediation analysis suggested that increases in maternal stimulation and children's attendance to early childhood education programs and reductions in harsh corporal punishment partially explain the effects of maternal education on children's development. The positive impacts of education on parenting and child development indicate the need for more efforts to expand access to education in Uganda and other low- and- middle-income countries, including the abolishment of school fees for primary education. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Pediatric Global Health in Children with Very Early-Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

OBJECTIVE Children with very early-onset inflammatory bowel disease (VEO-IBD) represent a distinct group of patients with IBD with unique phenotypic and genetic characteristics; however, they are frequently omitted from psychosocial research. This study used a novel, brief measure of pediatric global health to assess (1) overall health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in children with VEO-IBD, (2) HRQOL compared to healthy children, and (3) whether gastrointestinal symptoms account for the differences in HRQOL between these groups. METHODS Caregivers of 51 children with VEO-IBD (Mage = 4.26 years, 75% male) and 54 healthy children (Mage = 3.50 years, 54% male) completed the PROMIS Pediatric Global Health Scale (PGH-7) parent-proxy form to assess HRQOL and a questionnaire assessing gastrointestinal symptoms. Descriptive statistics, analysis of variance with covariates (ANCOVA), and meditation analyses with bootstrapping were conducted. RESULTS Caregivers of children with VEO-IBD rated their HRQOL as relatively positive, although children with greater disease yielded lower ratings on some PGH-7 items (e.g., fun with friends, physical health, sadness). Compared to healthy youth, children with VEO-IBD scored lower on the PGH-7, with significantly lower item-level scores on overall health, physical health, mental health, and quality of life. Gastrointestinal symptoms mediated the association between health status (i.e., VEO-IBD vs. healthy) and HRQOL, αβ = -2.84, 95% CI = -5.70, -0.34. CONCLUSIONS While some children with VEO-IBD are at risk for deficits in HRQOL, many are quite resilient. Psychosocial screening is necessary for providing appropriate referrals to behavioral health services and learning more about psychosocial adjustment in children with VEO-IBD.
College students' experiences early in the COVID-19 pandemic: Applications for ongoing support.

Objective To explore U.S. college students' experiences during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants Students at a Northeastern public university. Methods Participants were interviewed via videoconference between April 1 and May 31, 2020. Interviews were audio-recorded and professionally transcribed; analyzed using deductive and inductive approaches to thematic analysis. Results 34 students (68% female; 56% racial/ethnic minority) participated. Deductively derived themes included: (1) trust/mistrust; (2) desire for change; (3) precarity; and (4) silver linings. Subthemes included variation in vaccine confidence, concern regarding inequalities, and anxiety about education. Building on deductively derived themes, we hypothesized that participation in change-oriented activities could benefit well-being and novel approaches to information dissemination may be needed to overcome institutional distrust. Conclusions This study offers insights into potential short and long-term pandemic impacts as well as mitigation strategies college and university faculty and administrations may consider.
Impact of Combat Stress on Mental Health Outcomes: BRFSS Survey Data 2006

Objectives: This study sought to determine the relationship between combat experience and mental health outcomes. The study sought to determine whether age was a significant factor in poor mental health outcomes. Methods: Multiple logistic regression (n = 195,048) and multiple linear regression (n = 264,154) were performed on the 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey. Veteran status and a host of demographic and health status questions were analyzed in relation to diagnosis of anxiety or depressive disorder (multiple logistic regression) and to number of days poor mental health (multiple linear regression). Results: Diagnosis of anxiety or depression was not found to be associated with veteran status. Among both veterans and nonveterans, diagnosis was associated with age <35 years, female gender, white race, unemployment, poor general health, poor physical health, and low levels of emotional support and life satisfaction. In veterans, diagnosis of anxiety or depression was associated with use of disability equipment. In non-veterans, diagnosis of anxiety or depression was associated with heavy drinkers. Greater days of poor mental health was found to be associated with non-veteran status (B = 0.323). Among both veterans and non-veterans, greater number of poor mental health days was associated with younger age, female gender, white race, unemployment, poor general health, poor physical health, low levels of emotional support or life satisfaction, and heavy drinkers. In veterans, greater days of poor mental health was associated with use of disability equipment. In non-veterans, greater days of poor mental health days associated with divorced, separated, or widowed marital status. Conclusions: Contrary to expectations, veteran status was found to be a protective factor for poor mental health outcomes in this analysis. Younger age was found to be associated with poor mental health outcomes, but was an equal association in both veterans and non-veterans, suggesting that mental health outcomes have not been worsened by recent changes in combat characteristics. Denial of mental health status, stoicism within the military community, and limitations of the survey are proposed to explain the unexpected outcome of this analysis.
Preservation challenges for geological data at state geological surveys

Abstract State geological surveys are home to legacy geological data that holds value in the present. Early legislation of geological surveys often included requirements that state surveys have a museum or cabinet to house their physical collections. These collections currently include data such as cores, cuttings, thin sections and fossils. State geological surveys maintain these collections to support scientific research that has value to those in government, industry, academia and the public. Survey collections and other similar science data collections, are in danger of being lost due to various risks such as poor curation, few access points, lack of funding, and space considerations. Efforts to preserve these collections have increased, beginning with a National Research Council report in 2002 highlighting this plight, and the founding of the National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) in 2005. Currently, programs like EarthCube address this problem by focusing on cyberinfrastructure needs that will ease discovery and access to specimen datasets. Even with these efforts, there is still much work to be done. Increasing preservation and ease of access requires training in data curation and preservation as well as a better understanding of the users of geological data. This paper will introduce geological collections, provide examples of preservation challenges surrounding these types of collections, and suggest future research directions. This includes collaborations with library and information scientists, archivists, museums curators, as well as cross training of domain scientists. Future management systems for these collections should provide increased discovery and access to geological data.
Ten weeks of treadmill running decreases stiffness and increases collagen turnover in tendons of old mice

Increased tendon stiffness in response to mechanical loading is well established in young animals. Given that tendons stiffen with aging, we aimed to determine the effect of increased loading on tendons of old animals. We subjected 28-month-old mice to 10 weeks of uphill treadmill running; sedentary 8- and 28-month-old mice served as controls. Following training, plantaris tendon stiffness and modulus were reduced by approximately half, such that the values were not different from those of tendons from adult sedentary animals. The decrease in plantaris tendon stiffness was accompanied by a similar reduction in the levels of advanced glycation end-product protein adducts in tibialis anterior tendons of trained compared with sedentary old mice. In Achilles tendons, elevated mRNA levels for collagen type 1, matrix-metalloproteinase-8, and lysyl oxidase following training suggest that collagen turnover was likely also increased. The dramatic mechanical and structural changes induced by training occurred independent of changes in cell density or tendon morphology. Finally, Achilles tendon calcification was significantly reduced following exercise. These results demonstrate that, in response to exercise, tendons from old animals are capable of replacing damaged and dysfunctional components of extracellular matrix with tissue that is mechanically and structurally comparable to adult tissue.
Dose tolerance limits and dose volume histogram evaluation for stereotactic body radiotherapy

Almost 20 years ago, Emami et al. presented a comprehensive set of dose tolerance limits for normal tissue organs to therapeutic radiation, which has proven essential to the field of radiation oncology. The paradigm of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has dramatically different dosing schemes but, to date, there has still been no comprehensive set of SBRT normal organ dose tolerance limits. As an initial step toward that goal, we performed an extensive review of the literature to compare dose limits utilized and reported in existing publications. The impact on dose tolerance limits of some key aspects of the methods and materials of the various authors is discussed. We have organized a table of 500 dose tolerance limits of normal structures for SBRT. We still observed several dose limits that are unknown or not validated. Data for SBRT dose tolerance limits are still preliminary and further clinical trials and validation are required. This manuscript presents an extensive collection of normal organ dose tolerance limits to facilitate both clinical application and further research.
Absorption Spectra and Enzymatic Properties of Monomer and Dimer States of Cytochrome c Oxidase

Abstract The spectroscopic and enzymatic properties of a monomeric form of cytochrome oxidase are described and compared with those of the enzyme dimer. The dimer form of the enzyme, isolated by the Yonetani method, is dissociated into a monomer at alkaline pH (pH 9.5 to 11.0) in a medium containing a nonionic detergent such as Emasol. The data show that with several preparations of the enzyme the monomeric form retains 83 to 97% of the catalytic activity of the dimer. Ultrafiltration experiments with the use of a membrane that is able to discriminate between monomer and dimer demonstrate that reassociation to the dimeric form, under conditions closely approaching those used in the assay, is too slow to account for the observed activity. Therefore, in buffers containing nonionic detergents, exposure of cytochrome oxidase to alkaline pH in the range of 9.5 to 11.0 does not lead to denaturation. The absorption spectra of the monomer form show that the γ-Fe2+ maximum is at 441 nm and the α-Fe2+ maximum at 604 to 605 nm. The maxima for the γ-Fe2+-CO and α-Fe2+-CO bands are at 430 to 431 nm and 604 to 605 nm, respectively. The α-band of the Fe2+-CO monomer is completely symmetrical, with no shoulder at 593 nm. The γ-Fe2+-CO band of the monomer is only slightly asymmetric and lacks the 444 nm shoulder present in the typical cytochrome aa3 (i.e. dimer) spectrum. A solution of the monomer was found to react with approximately twice as much carbon monoxide as a solution of the monomer of equal heme A content. Thus, in present terminology, the monomer appears to have many of the properties attributed to cytochrome a3 in the typical cytochrome aa3 preparation.
Sport Psychology : Performance Enhancement, Performance Inhibition, Individuals, and Teams

Part 1. Introduction. 1. Introduction to Sport Psychology. 2. Motivation for Sport and Achievement. Part 2. Performance Enhancement. 3. Optimal Levels of Anxiety, Intensity, or Arousal. 4. Pre-performance Routines. 5. Mental Skills Training: Self-Talk, Concentration, Mental Imagery. 6. Relaxation Training: Calming the Physiology. 7. Goals. 8. Goal Orientation. 9. Self-efficacy and Sport Self-confidence. Part 3. Performance Inhibition. 10. Choking Under Pressure and Anxiety and Performance. 11. Self-handicapping. 12. Procrastination and Perfectionism. 13. Learned Helplessness. 14. Performance Inhibition Due to Personality Factors. 15. Substance Abuse. 16. Burnout. 17. Athletic Injuries. Part 4. Individuals and Teams. 18. Gender and Sport. 19. Ethnic and Cultural Differences and Sport Psychology. 20. Youth and Sport. 21. Leadership and Coaching. 22. Team Cohesiveness.
Preparation and characterization of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies specific for covalently linked DNA/RNA cross sections.

ABSTRACT Covalently linked cross sections refer to structures that mimic hydrogen-bonded purine–pyrimidine, purine– purine, and pyrimidine–pyrimidine duplexes. Cross sections dA [unk] U and A [unk] dT, which have been synthesized chemically, have molecular dimensions similar to purine–pyrimidine base pairs in a double helix. We propose that antibodies to such covalent cross sections might facilitate the study of the pathogenesis of specific diseases or of biochemical processes in which base pair involvement is suspected and/or demonstrated. We have made polyclonal antibodies against "A:U" and "A:T" cross sections by immunizing rabbits with dA [unk] U and A [unk] dT, each conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). The antibodies were found to be highly specific for the cross sections and to cross react minimally to single nucleosides. Hybridomas secreting monoclonal antibodies to "A:T" were then generated from spleen cells of mice immunized with A [unk] dT conjugated to KLH. The MAbs produced were also...
Cryo-EM: Spinning the Micelles Away

Structural characterization of integral membrane proteins (MPs) demands that the samples be pure, monodisperse, and stable. Detergents are required to extract MPs from the lipid bilayer in which they reside and to stabilize them for downstream biophysical analyses. Some of the best MP-stabilizing detergents pose problems for cryo-EM studies, but in this issue of Structure, Hauer et al. (2015) now offer a solution called GraDeR.
Anisotropic Chemical Etching of Copper Foil I . Electrochemical Studies in Acidic Solutions

Etching of thick copper foil masked except for a single rectangular opening having an aspect ratio (width:depth) of 5:1 or 1:1 was investigated in the presence of controlled laminar flow across the width of the pattern opening. In a solution of, copper was found to form a surface film spontaneously at the "corrosion potential," to dissolve at a rate that depended upon convective mass‐transfer conditions, and also to exhibit anisotropic wet chemical etching. Based on thermodynamic calculations, it was estimated that the dominant cupric species were Cu+2, , , and , and that the dominant cuprous species was . Based on rotating disk measurements it was concluded that anisotropic chemical etching was related to the presence of a sparingly soluble surface film of . Under operating conditions for which anisotropic etching was observed, current transients were found to exhibit a characteristic "overshoot" response that may represent a useful diagnostic signal for process control.
Medicine and Morality in Haiti: The Contest for Healing Power

Medicine and Morality in Haiti: The Contest for Healing Power. Paul Brodwin. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996 (cloth and paper), xvi. 240 pp.
Association between chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 gene -2518 A/G polymorphism and pancreatitis risk: a meta-analysis.

Abstract Objective Many studies have focused on the relationship between chemokine (C–C motif) ligand 2 gene ( CCL2 ) −2518 A/G polymorphism and pancreatitis risk, but the results remain inconsistent. Thus, a meta-analysis was carried out to derive a more precise estimation of the association between CCL2 −2518 A/G polymorphism and pancreatitis risk. Methods Relevant publications were searched in several widely used databases and six studies were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the strength of the association between CCL2 −2518 A/G polymorphism and pancreatitis risk. Results Significant associations between CCL2 −2518 A/G polymorphism and pancreatitis risk were observed in both overall meta-analysis (OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.43–0.89 for AA versus AG + GG; OR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.51–0.98 for A allele versus G allele), and acute pancreatitis subgroup (OR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.31–0.99 for AA versus AG + GG), especially severe acute pancreatitis subgroup when compared with controls (OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.24–0.97 for AG versus GG; OR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.18–0.70 for AA + AG versus GG). However, no significant pancreatitis risk variation was detected for all genetic models in the severe acute pancreatitis versus mild acute pancreatitis subgroup and the subgroup analysis based on ethnicity. Conclusions The CCL2 −2518 A/G polymorphism probably associates with pancreatitis risk, especially severe acute pancreatitis risk when compared with controls, with the G allele acting as a risk factor.
Effects of fractures on seismic-wave velocity and attenuation

The effects of fractures on the seismic velocity and attenuation of a rock are investigated using theoretical results and experimental data. Fractures in a rock mass influence the traveltimes and amplitudes of seismic waves that have propagated through them. The displacement discontinuity model, recently employed in fracture investigations, is modified to describe the effect of fractures on seismic-wave velocity and attenuation. This new model, the modified displacement discontinuity model (MDD), is formulated in a way analogous to transmission-line analysis. The fractures are treated as transmission lines for the passage of seismic waves. The MDD takes into consideration realistic fracture parameters which include the fracture length, the fractional area of a fracture surface in contact, and the nature of the infilling material. A single fracture of varying geometric and material properties is shown to affect dramatically the transmission properties of a propagating waveform, and hence the seismic velocity and attenuation. These effects have been shown to result in a frequency-dependent velocity and attenuation. The sensitivity of the fracture parameters to seismic-wave velocity and attenuation was investigated and interesting results were obtained. Fracture parameters used in designing experimental models consisting of synthetically manufactured cracks were fed into the MDD and a well-known crack model, Hudson's model, for comparison. Velocities as a function of the incident-wave angle were obtained from both numerical models and were compared with the results from the experimental modelling. For P waves, the MDD model results show better agreement with those of the experimental model for all crack densities investigated than those from Hudson's model.
Dihexadecyl phosphate monolayers at the heptane/water interface: Model interfacial system for solvent extraction studies

Abstract Spread monolayers of dihexadecyl phosphate (DHDP) at the heptane/water (aqueous solution of metal salts) interface have been studied by the Brooks' frame technique (J.H. Brooks and B.A. Pethica, Trans. Faraday Soc., 60 (1964) 208). DHDP was observed to form relatively stable monomolecular films under appropriate conditions. Interfacial pressure area (π- A ) isotherms of DHDP monolayers at the interface of heptane/aqueous metal chloride solutions (sodium, calcium, or nickel) were determined and show a general expanded/condensed phase transition. The possibility of surface micelle formation and its role in the solvent extraction of metal ions are briefly discussed.
Prevention of meningococcal disease.

Neisseria meningitidis is the most common cause of meningitis in children aged 2–18 with a mortality rate ranging from 4–40% and substantial morbidity in 11–19% of survivors. Of the four serogroups of Neisseria meningitidis, serogroups B and C are the most common causes in the United States, with serogroup C causing most disease among adolescents, a population at risk for invasive meningococcal disease. The meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine was developed in response to increasing rates of bacterial meningitis among military recruits. With widespread use of the vaccine in the military, there was a dramatic decreased incidence in invasive meningococcal disease. However, there may be limitations to the polysaccharide vaccine including lack of durable protection, lack of induction of T-cell-dependent immune response, and lack of immunogenicity in children less than 2 years of age. Based on the success of other conjugate vaccines in pediatrics, a new conjugate polysaccharide vaccine, Menactra®, has been app...
Identification of the intercalant species in SbCl5-graphite using Mössbauer spectroscopy

Abstract 121Sb Mossbauer spectra of SbCl5-graphite have been obtained. The spectra provide clear evidence for the presence of the acceptor molecular ion SbCl6-(Sb5+ and neutral SbCl3(Sb3+ in the intercalate layers, with weak evidence for neutral intercalated SbCl5. Lineshape analyses of the Sb3+ region of the spectra further indicate that two chemical Sb3+ sites fit the data significantly better than one site. We attribute the second Sb3+ site to SbCl4- and find the concentration ratio [SbCl4-]/[SbCl3] ∼ 0.25. Samples prepared by the reaction of graphite with vapor mixtures of SbCl5 and SbCl3 were found to exhibit dramatically higher concentrations of SbCl3 than those samples prepared from a reaction with SbCl5 alone. This latter result is interesting in view of the fact that the reaction of graphite with SbCl3 vapor does not lead to an intercalation compound.
Strategy as economics versus economics as strategy

Clearly, strategy and economics differ along one critical dimension: strategy is concerned descriptively with firms and normatively with the tasks of managers, whereas economics is concerned descriptively with the entire economic system and normatively with the efficiency of that system. Nonetheless, the overlap is considerable, and both management scholars and economists have ransacked economic thought for inspirations to strategic theory and managerial practice. This essay will examine and evaluate that enterprise. More interestingly, perhaps, it will suggest that perhaps the process ought to be reversed. Economics as it is now practiced would do well to learn from strategy. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Applied optical diagnostics of semiconductors

Optical techniques are finding an increasing number of applications for the characterization of semiconductor materials and devices. An introduction to this field is given, starting with a review of the principles behind the most popular techniques. The techniques are illustrated by examining specific examples of technological importance taken from the recent literature. They include several examples of identification of materials, mapping of wafers with high spatial resolution, and in-situ probing of growth and of device operation. >
Effect of Graded Nrf2 Activation on Phase-I and -II Drug Metabolizing Enzymes and Transporters in Mouse Liver

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor that induces a battery of cytoprotective genes in response to oxidative/electrophilic stress. Kelch-like ECH associating protein 1 (Keap1) sequesters Nrf2 in the cytosol. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of Nrf2 in regulating the mRNA of genes encoding drug metabolizing enzymes and xenobiotic transporters. Microarray analysis was performed in livers of Nrf2-null, wild-type, Keap1-knockdown mice with increased Nrf2 activation, and Keap1-hepatocyte knockout mice with maximum Nrf2 activation. In general, Nrf2 did not have a marked effect on uptake transporters, but the mRNAs of organic anion transporting polypeptide 1a1, sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide, and organic anion transporter 2 were decreased with Nrf2 activation. The effect of Nrf2 on cytochrome P450 (Cyp) genes was minimal, with only Cyp2a5, Cyp2c50, Cyp2c54, and Cyp2g1 increased, and Cyp2u1 decreased with enhanced Nrf2 activation. However, Nrf2 increased mRNA of many other phase-I enzymes, such as aldo-keto reductases, carbonyl reductases, and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1. Many genes involved in phase-II drug metabolism were induced by Nrf2, including glutathione S-transferases, UDP- glucuronosyltransferases, and UDP-glucuronic acid synthesis enzymes. Efflux transporters, such as multidrug resistance-associated proteins, breast cancer resistant protein, as well as ATP-binding cassette g5 and g8 were induced by Nrf2. In conclusion, Nrf2 markedly alters hepatic mRNA of a large number of drug metabolizing enzymes and xenobiotic transporters, and thus Nrf2 plays a central role in xenobiotic metabolism and detoxification.
An “exact model” study of vibronic interactions in radiationless transitions with applications to internal conversion in pyrazine

Abstract An “exact model” study of vibronic interactions and the “proximity effect” in radiationless transitions is reported. A comparison is made between the “exact” results and those obtained employing the crude adiabatic Born—Oppenheimer scheme and the adiabatic Born—Oppenheimer scheme. It is shown that the computed radiationless decay rates are very sensitive to the scheme adopted. The exact solutions of the linear Herzberg—Teller vibronic coupling model are employed in a theoretical investigation of the “proximity effect” and internal conversion in pyrazine. The presented results suggest that the deuterium isotope effect on the internal conversion rate in pyrazine may be very small, although the vibrational energy distribution in S 0 may be dramatically altered.
Body Burden Measurements and Models to Assess Inhalation Exposure to Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE)

Abstract Biomarkers of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) exposure and the partitioning of inhaled MTBE into the body were investigated in a human chamber study. Two subjects were exposed to an environmentally relevant nominal 5,011 µg/m3 (1.39 ppm) MTBE for 1 hour, followed by clean–air exposure for 7 hours. Breath and blood were simultaneously sampled, while total urine was collected at prescribed times before, during, and after the exposure. Mass–balance and toxicokinetic analyses were conducted based upon the time series measurement of multiple body–burden endpoints, including MTBE in alveolar breath, and MTBE and tertiary butyl alcohol (TBA) in venous blood and urine. The decay of MTBE in the blood was assessed by fitting the post–exposure data to a 2– or 3–exponential model that yielded residence times (τ) of 2–3 min, 15–50 min, and 3–13 h as measured by alveolar breath, and 5 min, 60 min, and 32 h as evaluated from venous blood measurements. Based on observations of lower than expected blood and br...
Analysis of the HIV-1 LTR NF-kappaB-proximal Sp site III: evidence for cell type-specific gene regulation and viral replication.

It has been widely demonstrated that the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope, specifically the V3 loop of the gp120 spike, evolves to facilitate adaptation to different cellular populations within an infected host. Less energy has been directed at determining whether the viral promoter, designated the long terminal repeat (LTR), also exhibits this adaptive quality. Because of the unique nature of the cell populations infected during the course of HIV-1 infection, one might expect the opportunity for such adaptation to exist. This would permit select viral species to take advantage of the different array of conditions and factors influencing transcription within a given cell type. To investigate this hypothesis, the function of natural variants of the NF-kappaB-proximal Sp element (Sp site III) was examined in human cell line models of the two major cell types infected during the natural course of HIV-1 infection, T cells and monocytes. Utilizing the HIV-1 LAI molecular clone, which naturally contains a high-affinity Sp site III, substitution of low-affinity Sp sites in place of the natural site III element markedly decreased viral replication in Jurkat T cells. However, these substitutions had relatively small effects on viral replication in U-937 monocytic cells. Transient transfections of HIV-1 LAI-based LTR-luciferase constructs into these cell lines suggest that the large reduction in viral replication in Jurkat T cells, caused by low-affinity Sp site III variants, may result from reduced basal as well as Vpr- and Tat-activated LTR activities in Jurkat T cells compared to those in U-937 monocytic cells. When the function of Sp site III was examined in the context of HIV-1 YU-2-based LTR-luciferase constructs, substitution of a high-affinity element in place of the natural low-affinity element resulted in increased basal YU-2 LTR activity in Jurkat T cells and reduced activity in U-937 monocytic cells. These observations suggest that recruitment of Sp family members to Sp site III is of greater importance to the function of the viral promoter in the Jurkat T cell line as compared to the U-937 monocytic cell line. These observations also suggest that other regions of the LTR may compensate for Sp recruitment defects in specific cell populations.
Ethylene epoxidation over silver and copper-silver bimetallic catalysts: I. Kinetics and selectivity

Abstract Copper–silver bimetallic catalysts offer improved selectivities compared with silver alone in the direct epoxidation of ethylene. This bimetallic combination was previously identified by density functional theory calculations, and its performance advantage was verified in preliminary catalytic reactor experiments. We report here a more detailed investigation of the performance of monolith-supported silver and Cu–Ag bimetallic catalysts at different feed compositions and reaction temperatures. From these studies, information about activation energies and reaction orders for ethylene epoxidation was obtained. The superior performance of the Cu–Ag bimetallic catalysts prepared by sequential impregnation was demonstrated over a wide range of feed compositions.
Pelviureteric junction obstruction as sequelae of Kawasaki disease

We present a 7-year-old boy who was admitted with a history of cough for a week, neck pain with associated swelling for 4 days, fever, and vague periumbilical pain. He was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease, and subsequently developed vasculitis of the ureter and stricture of the ureteric lumen at the level of the pelviureteric junction.
921 IMPROVED LYMPHOCYTE STIMULATION AFTER KETOCONAZOLE TREATMENT FOR CHRONIC MUCOCUTANEOUS CANDIDIASIS (CMC)

921 IMPROVED LYMPHOCYTE STIMULATION AFTER KETOCONAZOLE TREATMENT FOR CHRONIC MUCOCUTANEOUS CANDIDIASIS (CMC)
Modeling of NBTI saturation effect and its impact on electric field dependence of the lifetime

Abstract Negative Bias Temperature Instability of pMOSFETs is investigated under various stress gate voltages and temperatures. It is shown that degradation tends to saturate and the dependence of lifetime on electric field (Eox) is expressed as a power-law of Eox. We propose new empirical and kinetic models. The Eox dependence of the lifetime described by the power-law is derived from our empirical model describing the saturation of degradation. Moreover, our kinetic model explains the saturation behavior.
Fluid pressure in the frontal thrust of the Oregon accretionary prism: Experimental constraints

Seismic reflection profiles of many accretionary prisms, including the Oregon prism, exhibit high-amplitude, reversed-polarity reflections from the decollement and other thrusts. It has been suggested that these reflectors image fault zones with enhanced fluid content due to dilation by very high fluid pressure. We present measurements of velocity as a function of effective stress on samples of the Oregon frontal thrust that show that velocity decreases by up to 15% as fluid pressure rises from hydrostatic to lithostatic conditions, under constant confining stress, in fault zone and wall rock alike. Synthetic seismic modeling shows that the frontal-thrust reflector at this location is the result of a thin low-velocity zone in the plane of the fault, 100-300 m/s slower than the walls. Combining models with experimental results, we conclude that fluid pressure of 86% to 98% of lithostatic stress reduces velocity enough to generate the reflections.