cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The detachment of a viscous drop in a viscous solution in the presence of a soluble surfactant

When a buoyant viscous drop is injected into a viscous fluid, it evolves to form a distended shape that detaches via the rapid formation and pinching of a neck. The effects of surfactants in altering this process are studied numerically. In the absence of surfactants, surface contraction is fastest in the vicinity of the neck. Thus, when surfactants are present, they accumulate there and alter the ensuing dynamics by reducing the surface tension that drives the contraction. The surface tension is described by a nonlinear surface equation of state that accounts for the maximum packing of surfactant in a monolayer. When surfactant adsorption-desorption is very slow, interfaces dilute significantly during drop expansion, and drops form necks which are only slightly perturbed in their dynamics from the surfactant-free case. When adsorption-desorption dynamics are comparable to the rate of expansion, drops thin to form a primary neck at low surfactant coverage, to form both primary and secondary necks at moderate coverages, form only a secondary neck at higher coverages, or fail to neck at elevated coverages. When surfactant adsorption-desorption kinetics are rapid, the surface remains in equilibrium with the surrounding solution, and drops behave like surfactant-free drops with a uniform surface tension. These arguments are used to construct a phase diagram of drop neck shapes as a function of surfactant coverage. A map of neck/no-neck thresholds is also constructed as a function of surfactant coverage and sorption dynamics, suggesting that drop detachment can be used as a means of characterizing surfactant dynamics.
Looking good versus doing good: which factors take precedence when children learn about new tools?

Abstract We present two experiments exploring whether individuals would be persuaded to imitate the intentional action of an adult model whose actions suggest that the correct way to complete a task is with an inefficient tool. In Experiment 1, children ages 5–10 years and a group of adults watched an adult model reject an efficient tool in favor of one that was inefficient, but claim it was “made for” the task. Results indicated low rates of imitation of the model’s intentional choice until 9 and 10 years of age. In Experiment 2, children ages 3–11 years again watched a model reject a functional tool in favor of a nonfunctional one. This time, the demonstration took place on video. For half of the participants, the model from the video was present to offer a choice between the two tools (high-pressure condition), and for the other half, she was absent (low-pressure condition). Children also completed a social desirability questionnaire to explore relationships between imitation choices and personality. Results indicated that rates of imitation were associated with higher scores on the social desirability scale among children ages 3–7 years. Among 8- to 11-year-olds – and especially among 9- and 10-year-olds – the decision to copy the model’s intentional choice was more likely when the model was present than when she was absent. The findings reveal the contributions of age, personality, and social pressure to differences in imitation.
Prey capture efficiency in brown capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) is influenced by sex and corpus callosum morphology.

The diet of capuchin monkeys consists largely of fruits, but these monkeys commonly prey upon insects and other invertebrates as well as vertebrates such as lizards, birds, and fish. Capturing small fast-moving prey requires the ability to process complex visuospatial information such as motion detection, shape, and pursuit. Here we report the results of an experimental investigation into whether capuchins display sex differences in prey capture efficiency, and whether these differences are associated with the morphology of regions of the corpus callosum (CC) involved in visuospatial ability. We examined the prey capture behavior of seven capuchin subjects (four female, three male) in the laboratory by providing subjects opportunities to fish. Additionally, we obtained structural magnetic resonance images from these subjects to determine if spatial-ability was related to CC anatomy. Over 30 fishing trials, we recorded the number of prey capture attempts, success rate in capturing fish, and hand techniques used in these attempts. Males were significantly faster and more successful than females at capturing prey. In addition, males had smaller total CC:brain ratios than females. Males displayed a left hand bias, as well as significant unimanual usage, whereas females displayed no significant preference for hand usage. Individual capture times were correlated with total CC:brain ratio. Taken together, our results suggest a relationship between prey capture efficiency, sex, and the degree of brain lateralization. Am. J. Primatol. 72:502–508, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A heuristic approach to the three-dimensional cargo-loading problem

SUMMARY Since no exact analytical method for solving the three-dimensional cargo-loading problem has been developed, the heuristic approaches with practical assumptions are still useful. A dynamic programming approach to this problem is proposed in this paper. Loading a three-dimensional cargo space is done layer by layer, a special property which is taken advantage of in the proposed algorithm. The computational performance of this heuristic is demonstrated by comparing its results with suggested values published by the General Services Administration, Washington, DC.
Ventricular modification in carbachol-induced drinking: Reply to Routtenberg

Two recent studies (Myers & Cicero, 1968; Khavari, Heebink, & Traupmann, 1968) presented data which failed to support the view proposed by Routtenberg that carbachol-induced drinking may be due to ventricular modification (Routtenberg, 1967). Routtenberg (1968a, b) has raised some questions regarding the above two studies. In this note I am answering the three questions posed by Routtenberg (1968b) regarding our report (Khavari et al, 1968).
Genetic Heterogeneity and PCR Detection of Cryptosporidium parvum

Publisher Summary The identification of genetic markers for virulence and drug sensitivity is one of the common goals driving the study of Cryptosporidium parvum heterogeneity. A variety of methods have been applied to the study of genotypic and phenotypic polymorphism in C. parvum . Of particular interest are polymorphisms amenable to typing by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as C. parvum cannot be expanded in vitro . Fingerprinting of isolates by the restriction of PCR fragments or allele-specific PCR has given promising results. As originally observed by isoenzyme analysis, genetic fingerprinting has confirmed the occurrence in humans of unique C. parvum genotypes that are not found among calf isolates. Although, PCR detection of C. parvum DNA from individual oocysts has been reported, the sensitivity of PCR detection when working with environmental or fecal samples is significantly reduced. Therefore, PCR is currently not used for routine diagnosis or environmental monitoring of C. parvum . The further refinement of the detection and genetic fingerprinting protocols can provide essential tools for indentifying the environmental sources of the oocysts of C. parvum and elucidating transmission cycles.
Cardiac Biomarkers in the Critically Ill

Cardiac biomarkers have well-established roles in acute coronary syndrome and congestive heart failure. In many instances, the detection of cardiac biomarkers may aid in the diagnosis and risk assessment of critically ill patients. Despite increasing interest in the use of cardiac biomarkers in noncardiac critical illness, no clear consensus exists on how and in which settings markers should be measured. This article briefly describes what constitutes an ideal biomarker and focuses on those that have been most well studied in critical illness, specifically troponin, the natriuretic peptides, and heart-type fatty acid-binding protein.
On a possible mechanism for the normal fluid critical velocity in liquid He II

Abstract It is suggested that normal fluid turbelence may not be as “ordinary” as is generally thought, and that its origin may depend on the nature of the rotons in the excitation gas.
Frames and brains: elicitation and control of response tendencies

Using magnetic resonance imaging, De Martino and colleagues investigated the neural signature that is associated with decisions between small sure amounts of money and large riskier amounts when the framing of the outcomes is varied. We interpret their results within a dual-system framework, in which different frames evoke distinct emotional responses that different individuals can suppress to various degrees. The study advances the integration of brain imaging results into cognitive theory.
Enhanced analgesic responses after preferential delivery of morphine and fentanyl to the olfactory epithelium in rats.

Background Centrally acting opioid analgesics such as morphine and fentanyl are effective, but their efficacy is often limited by a delayed response or side effects resulting from systemic first pass before reaching the brain and the central nervous system (CNS). It is generally accepted that drugs applied to the nasal cavity can directly access the brain and the CNS, which could provide therapeutic advantages such as rapid onset and lower systemic exposure. The olfactory region of the nasal cavity has been implicated in facilitating this direct nose-to-CNS transfer. If the fraction of opioid administered to the olfactory region could be improved, there could be a larger fraction of drug directly delivered to the CNS, mediating greater therapeutic benefit. Methods We have developed a pressurized olfactory delivery (POD) device to consistently and noninvasively deposit a majority of drug on the olfactory region of the nasal cavity in Sprague-Dawley rats. Using the tail-flick latency test and analysis of plasma and CNS tissue drug exposure, we compared distribution and efficacy of the opioids morphine and fentanyl administered to the nasal olfactory region with the POD device or the nasal respiratory region with nose drops or systemically via intraperitoneal injection. Results Compared with nose drop administration, POD administration of morphine resulted in a significantly higher overall therapeutic effect (area under the curve [over the time course] [AUC](effect)) without a significant increase in plasma drug exposure (AUC(plasma)). POD of morphine resulted in a nose-to-CNS direct transport percentage of 38% to 55%. POD of fentanyl led to a faster (5 vs 10 minutes) and more intense analgesic effect compared with nasal respiratory administration. Unlike intraperitoneal injection or nose drop administration, both morphine and fentanyl given by the POD device to olfactory nasal epithelium exhibited clockwise (plasma) versus effect hysteresis after nasal POD administration, consistent with a direct nose-to-CNS drug transport mechanism. Conclusions Deposition of opioids to the olfactory region within the nasal cavity could have a significant impact on drug distribution and pharmacodynamic effect, and thus should be considered in future nasally administered opioid studies.
The prevalence and influence of the combination of humor and violence in Super Bowl commercials

The growing concern over violence in the media has led to vast amounts of research examining the effects of violent media on viewers. An important subset of this research looks at how humor affects this relationship. While research has considered this subset in television programming, almost no research has explored this in the context of advertising. This paper builds on the little research that exists by examining the effects of combining humor and violence, as well as the theoretical approaches that underlie these effects. A content analysis is conducted to identify the prevalence of violence, humor, and the combination of these elements in a longitudinal sample of Super Bowl commercials (2005, 2007, and 2009). Further, we investigate the relationship between the joint occurrence of humor and violence in ads and ad popularity. We conclude that violent acts are rampant in these commercials and that many acts are camouflaged by the simultaneous presence of humor, especially in the most popular ads.
The Value of Age, Height, and Weight as a Classification Device for Secondary School Students in the Seven AAHPER Youth Fitness Tests

Abstract More than 13,000 secondary school students were given the seven tests reported in the AAHPER Youth Fitness Test Manual to determine the value of age, height, and weight as a classification device. An IBM Type 650 Magnetic Drum Data Processing Machine was used to calculate simple correlations, multiple correlations, and regression coefficients for the ten variables of age, height, and weight and the seven tests for each of the four groups of senior high school girls, junior high school girls, senior high school boys, and junior high school boys. In general, age, height, and weight have negligible value for classification purposes in all four groups. This study indicates that if classification indexes are used, they should be calculated for the specific selected events.
Mechanism of action of immunotherapy

The immune system plays a vital role in regulating the growth of tumors. Some types of inflammatory responses can promote tumor growth, while a tumor-specific adaptive immune response can potentially control tumor growth. Malignancies have the ability to evade the immune system, and proliferate and metastasize. The goal of immunotherapy is to marshal the specificity and long-term memory of the adaptive immune response to achieve durable tumor regression and possible cure, although, to date, this has been achieved in only a small subset of patients. A variety of approaches to immunotherapy have been investigated. These include administration of exogenous cytokines or therapeutic vaccines to increase the frequency of tumor-specific T cells, adoptive transfer of tumor-specific immune effector cells, and, more recently, the application of a variety of immune checkpoint inhibitors and agonists of co-stimulatory receptors to overcome tumor-induced immune-suppressive mechanisms. Some approaches have been more successful than others for reasons that are now becoming apparent, and these observations have led to an exciting resurgence in clinical research to develop more effective immunotherapeutic strategies.
Enthalpy of adsorption for hydrocarbons on concrete by inverse gas chromatography

Abstract Enthalpies of adsorption, Δ H a , are reported for several light hydrocarbons on normal construction concrete. Δ H a , which are a measure of the adhesion strength of a molecule on a surface, were determined by gas–solid chromatography with a packed column containing 60–80 mesh concrete particles. With this approach, the specific retention volume for a compound is measured as a function of temperature, and these data are used to calculate Δ H a . For the hydrocarbons studied, we found that Δ H a was relatively large for unsaturated hydrocarbons. These are the first determinations of Δ H a of hydrocarbons on construction concrete, but useful comparisons with other ionic solids such as clays can be made.
Electromyographic Studies of Gastro-intestinal Tract. II. Is There a Gradient of Electrical Potential Along the Small Intestine?

SummaryThere is no constant gradient in electrical potential along the small bowel of the rabbit. The values that are found tend to persist for a while after excision of the bowel.
miR-206 and -486 induce myoblast differentiation by downregulating Pax7.

The Pax7 transcription factor is required for muscle satellite cell biogenesis and specification of the myogenic precursor lineage. Pax7 is expressed in proliferating myoblasts but is rapidly downregulated during differentiation. Here we report that miR-206 and -486 are induced during myoblast differentiation and downregulate Pax7 by directly targeting its 3′ untranslated region (UTR). Expression of either of these microRNAs in myoblasts accelerates differentiation, whereas inhibition of these microRNAs causes persistence of Pax7 protein and delays differentiation. A microRNA-resistant form of Pax7 is sufficient to inhibit differentiation. Since both these microRNAs are induced by MyoD and since Pax7 promotes the expression of Id2, an inhibitor of MyoD, our results revealed a bistable switch that exists either in a Pax7-driven myoblast state or a MyoD-driven myotube state.
Influences of productivity, vegetation, and fish on macroinvertebrate abundance and size in Midwestern USA impoundments

The influences of productivity, vegetation coverage, and benthivorous fish abundance on macroinvertebrate abundance and mean size were examined in Midwestern USA impoundments. While impoundment productivity was not strongly related to total abundance and mean size of macroinvertebrates, it was related to specific taxa. As productivity increased, Ephemeroptera and Odonata abundance decreased and Diptera abundance increased. Despite the shift in taxonomic composition, mean individual size of the macroinvertebrate community varied little with changes in impoundment productivity. Relationships between macroinvertebrates and benthivorous fish were mixed. Macroinvertebrate abundance, especially Diptera, increased with increases in bluegill Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque abundance and decreased with increases in channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus (Rafinesque) (which are stocked annually) abundance. Fish were not related to the mean size of macroinvertebrates. Macrophyte coverage was not related to macroinvertebrate abundance or mean size. Overall, macroinvertebrate abundance was mostly related to productivity and benthivorous fish in these impoundments. Mean size of macroinvertebrates did not differ with productivity, fish abundance, or macrophyte coverage.
Toxicological effects of the aquatic herbicide, fluridone, on male water mites (Hydrachnidiae: Arrenurus: Megaluracarus)

The acute toxicities for technical grade fluridone (Sonar™) and the commercial formulation of fluridone (Sonar®AS) were assessed for male water mites (Hydrachnidiae: Arrenurus: Megaluracarus). Signs of toxicity were evaluated by detection of locomotor dysfunction or death after exposure to concentrations of 100,000, 10,000, 1,000, and 100 μg/L of Sonar™ and 10,000, 5,000, 1,000, 100, and 10 μg/L of Sonar®AS in US EPA, moderately hard reconstituted water (MHRW). The median effective concentration (EC50) was 891 and 631 μg/L for Sonar™ at 48 and 96 h and less than 10 μg/L for Sonar®AS at 96 h. Increased duration of exposure to Sonar®AS from 48 to 96 h had a significant effect on increasing the rate of combined morbidity and mortality. At the lowest concentration of Sonar®AS tested, which is half the concentration allowed within 400 m of any functioning potable water intake for human usage, 40% of the mites were adversely affected at 48 h and 70% were affected after 96 h of exposure. This study demonstrates that Sonar®AS is 60-fold more toxic to water mites than the active ingredient alone. At currently acceptable application rates of 90–150 μg/L fluridone, the addition of ingredients classified as inert, as in Sonar®AS, result in an increased risk of adverse effects on populations of male water mites (Arrenurus: Megaluracarus) in aquatic ecosystems.
Archaeological Resources of San Nicolas Island, California

San Nicolas is a small island located off the coast of southern California some 75 miles southwest of Los Angeles and 55 miles from the nearest point of the mainland. It is the most distant from the mainland of eight islands referred to collectively as the Channel Islands. San Nicolas is about 8 miles long by 4 miles wide and is 32.2 square miles in area. According to Norris (n.d., pp. 67-74), San Nicolas Island is a faulted asymmetric anticline composed of Pleistocene sediments lying unconformably on Eocene sandstone and shale. Original deposition during the Eocene was followed by anticline development and faulting in Eocene-Oligocene times. Miocene volcanic activity probably accounts for the several small diabase dikes on the island and for rhyolitic Begg Rock 7 miles northwest. The Pleistocene sediments were laid down during the first half of that period when the island was nearly or entirely submerged.
Boundary controllability of a coupled wave/Kirchoff system

Abstract We consider two problems in boundary controllability of coupled wave/Kirchoff systems. Let Ω be a bounded region in R n , n ⩾2, with Lipschitz continuous boundary Γ . In the motivating structural acoustics application, Ω represents an acoustic cavity. Let Γ 0 be a flat subset of Γ which represents a flexible wall of the cavity. Let z denote the acoustic velocity potential, which satisfies a wave equation in Ω , and let v denote the displacement on Γ 0 , which satisfies a Kirchoff plate equation on Γ 0 . These equations are coupled via ∂z / ∂ν = v t on Γ 0 (where ν is the exterior unit normal to Γ 0 ), and the backpressure— z t appears in the Kirchoff equation. In the first problem, we consider a control u 0 in the Kirchoff equation on Γ 0 , and an additional control u 1 in the Neumann conditions on a subset Γ 1 of Γ , where Γ ⧹ Γ 1 satisfies geometric conditions. Using both controls, we obtain exact controllability of the wave and plate components in the natural state space. In the second problem we consider only the control u 0 . Without geometric conditions, exact controllability is not possible, but we show that for any initial data, we can steer the plate component exactly, and the wave component approximately.
Contribution of tryptophan to the biologic properties of anti-dinitrophenyl antibody.

Abstract Labeling of a few trytophan residues with 2-OH-5-NO 2 benzylbromide decreases the complement fixing and sensitizing capacity of anti-dinitrophenyl antibody, leaving the antibody combining site unaffected. This suggests a role for a trytophan containing peptide in the affected activities.
Programmed death as a therapeutic target to reduce myocardial infarction

In the United States, angioplasty or bypass surgery to remove coronary occlusions is performed on approximately two million patients each year. Although reperfusion is essential for salvaging ischemic myocardium, it also promotes infarction by activating programmed cell death in the formerly ischemic tissue. Reperfusion injury begins when oxidative stress and calcium accumulation by the mitochondria cause activation of the so-called mitochondrial death channels. These channels have become the focus of evolving strategies to protect the heart from infarction. Preclinical and preliminary clinical studies indicate that agents with diverse modes of action can reduce infarct size by 50% or more and significantly preserve myocardial functions. This article reviews the most advanced pharmacological approaches for their ability to reduce infarct size by inhibiting the mitochondrial death pathways.
Analogy between electrical machines and heat transfer-irreversible heat engines

Abstract This paper extends to electrical machines the thermodynamics and heat transfer optimization approach that has been developed for heat engines. Four models of thermodynamically irreversible electrical motors with heat transfer to the ambient are proposed and optimized: general reversible motor in series with its resistance, induction motor with transformer, synchronous motor with transformer and direct current motor. The conversion efficiency at maximum power is 1 2 . When, as in specific applications, the operating temperature of the windings must not exceed a specified level, the power output is lower and the efficiency higher. In the case of an electrical power generator it is shown that the generator and the heat engine that drives it can be optimized separately for maximum power.
The CA125 antigen level as a prognostic versus a predictive test in epithelial ovarian cancer.

The CA125 antigen level as a prognostic versus a predictive test in epithelial ovarian cancer
Patterns of excitation and inhibition evoked by horizontal connections in visual cortex share a common relationship to orientation columns

Combined optical imaging and electrophysiological techniques were used to assess directly the functional nature of long-range excitatory and inhibitory synaptic interactions between orientation columns in area 17 of ferret visual cortex. A significant correlation was found between the layout of iso-orientation columns and the pattern of evoked synaptic inputs between cortical sites: the largest-amplitude inhibitory and excitatory synaptic responses were evoked in single neurons when stimulation and recording electrodes were located in orientation columns sharing the same angle preference. Both excitatory and inhibitory synaptic responses decreased in amplitude when stimulation and recording electrodes were located in orientation columns with orthogonal angle preferences. Changing the stimulus intensity altered the balance of evoked excitation and inhibition without changing the columnar specificity of inputs. These results directly demonstrate that horizontal connections modulate both excitatory and inhibitory synaptic interactions between iso-orientation columns.
Indications for treatment of silent myocardial ischemia

A rational approach to treatment of silent myocardial ischemia is based on an appreciation of those factors influencing prognosis in the three types of patients that clinicians see with this disorder: those who are totally asymptomatic (type 1), those who are asymptomatic following myocardial infarction (type 2), and those who have angina and silent myocardial ischemia (type 3). Prognosis in type 1 and type 2 patients is generally good, except when triple vessel or left main disease is present. Risk factor modification and anti-ischemic medication should be employed in these patients, with serious consideration given to revascularization procedures. The latter approach is less controversial in type 3 patients who have frequent episodes of silent myocardial ischemia, especially if high dose anti-ischemic agents fail.
Restoration of eyelid closure in facial paralysis using artificial muscle: preliminary cadaveric analysis.

Objectives: Electroactive polymer artificial muscle is an emerging technology that has the potential to be used in rehabilitating facial movement in patients with paralysis. These electroactive polymers act like human muscles by expanding and contracting based on variable voltage input levels. The authors seek to establish a reproducible eyelid blink with artificial muscle. The aim of this proof of concept study is to determine whether eyelid closure can be created with a novel eyelid sling model. Study Design: A human cadaver study was performed. Methods: With use of four cadaver heads, an extended upper and lower blepharoplasty incision was used to secure an upper and lower expanded polytetrafluoroethylene implant in the medial orbital wall and tarsal plates. The slings were passed through a hole drilled in the lateral orbital wall or around a titanium screw. Lateral pull on the sling created eyelid closure, and the necessary distance of pull was measured. Results: The eyelid sling mechanism functioned to achieve complete eyelid closure. Less tension was required for eyelid closure when the sling was placed in both eyelids (3 mm of pull instead of 6 mm). Conclusions: The application of artificial muscle to a range of problems that affect both patient morbidity and quality of life is promising. Eyelid closure was created in a cadaver model using a novel sling, but future studies will need to address the feasibility of a prototype artificial muscle eyelid device in humans.
The Use of optogenetics to decipher the neuronal connectivity underlying sensory integration.

Our brains are constantly processing information from the surroundings to provide us with a comprehensive understanding of the outside world. However, the mechanisms by which this information is encoded remain elusive. Insights into the connectivity in deeper layers of the olfactory pathway in Drosophila unravel interesting integrative properties of this type of sensory information.
Japanese Labor in World War II

Apart from the intrinsic value of understanding the fate of Japanese workers during the war, Japanese labor history in World War II also gives us a non-Western point of comparison for studies of wartime labor in the West. To facilitate that comparison, we should consider government policy, the response of the labor movement, and the conditions of workers during the war. In Japan, labor and economic history periodization of World War II does not conform to the European and American conceptions. For the Japanese, the war began with the outbreak of the "China incident" in 1937; Pearl Harbor, traumatic as it was for the United States, only marks the beginning of a new stage the Japanese call the "Pacific War." It is not surprising, then, that Japanese labor history begins its wartime phase in 1937. In fact, to comprehend changes during the 1937-45 war, at least brief mention must be made of earlier developments. All belligerent nations attempt to control and motivate their workers in times of war. Mobilization plans are a form of crisis intervention to force change. In Japan the experience has been regarded as a "dark valley," as the economist ?k?chi Kazuo put it in 1970. Labor lost the freedom to choose an employer. Workers faced inflation, rationing, long hours, and a reduced standard of living. Many lost their homes and their lives to aerial bombardment. Since war is an extreme crisis, old patterns and vested interests were swept away quickly. One of the victims of change was the organized labor movement, which was nearly totally dissolved during the war. The decline in union membership and the incorporation of unions into government-sponsored patriotic associations meant a loss in autonomy.1 However, many government innovations unintentionally contributed to the postwar labor system in Japan. Encouraged by American occupation policy, the postwar labor movement blossomed with a renewed vigor and variety that suggests a germination under both negative and positive influences of wartime policy and working conditions. Economic controls, some labor practices, and the hardships of war on the home front all contributed to the postwar industrial relations system. The labor historian Andrew Gordon has called wartime labor controls "a study in the pathology of authoritarian intervention in the economy," but he also sees the war as a revolutionary gestation period for the successful postwar system.2 While in many respects wartime labor history constitutes a break with earlier trends, recent writing by other scholars also stresses the need to look for continuities as well as changes during the 1937-45 period. The growing body of literature on labor during the interwar period by Stephen Large, Sheldon Garon,
The urban safety net: can it keep people healthy and out of the hospital?

There is much discussion and debate over the relative vulnerability and capacity of the health care safety net to care for the growing numbers of uninsured and disenfranchised persons in urban poor communities. In this study, we present findings from a community-based survey of 248 adults identified at eight safety net provider sites in Baltimore, Maryland, to contextualize recent findings that described Baltimore’s safety net capacity as having more hospital-and intensive service-based interventions, with higher proportions of the population reportedly unable to get care when needed compared with other cities. The average age of respondents was 41.2 years, most (87.3%) were African American, unemployed (75.8%), homeless (57.0%), and with at least one chronic medical problem (77.8%). Almost one half (47.6%) also reported a chronic mental health condition, and 51.2% reported having difficulty accessing health care services in the past. Overall, 76.9% reported accessing additional community sites for daily sustenance needs, with most of these sites community nonprofit or faith-based organizations. In the multiple logistic regression model, only individuals with chronic mental health conditions were significantly more likely to report difficulties accessing health care. The lack of a Community Access Program or other structured efforts to facilitate integration of services among providers in Baltimore and an “all-payer” system that reimburses uncompensated care only for hospital admissions are postulated as two structural elements that may contribute to these findings.
Evidence for altered positional specificity of LCAT in vivo: studies with docosahexaenoic acid feeding in humans.

The percentage of saturated cholesteryl esters (CEs) synthesized by human LCAT is several times higher than expected from the sn-2 acyl composition of plasma phosphatidylcholine (PC), whereas the synthesis of 20:4 CE and 22:6 CE is much lower than expected. To explain these discrepancies, we proposed that LCAT transfers some saturated fatty acids from the sn-1 position of PC species that contain 20:4 or 22:6 at sn-2. The present studies provide in vivo evidence for this hypothesis. We determined the composition and synthesis of CE species in plasma of volunteers before and after a 6 week dietary supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (22:6; DHA). In addition to an increase in the DHA content of all plasma lipids, there was a significant (+12%; P These results show that the positional specificity of human LCAT is altered when the concentration of 16:0-22:6 PC is increased by DHA supplementation.
A Longitudinal Case Series Description of Meningitis Due to Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. pasteurianus in Infants

Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. pasteurianus, previously known as Streptococcus bovis biotype II.2, is known to cause multiple infectious complications, including bacterial meningitis, in adults. Only sporadic individual case reports have identified this pathogen as a cause of meningitis in infants. This study is the first to longitudinally document S. gallolyticus subsp. pasteurianus as a cause of meningitis in four epidemiologically unrelated infants less than 2 weeks of age. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of all 4 isolates were identical, and further were identical to 3 central nervous system (CNS) strains (two adults and one child) reported in existing literature. S. gallolyticus subsp. pasteurianus is an increasingly recognized cause of meningitis and bacteremia in the newborn period, and it merits further study with respect to etiology of infection.
The Comparative Effectiveness of Systematic Desensitization and an Integrative Approach in Treating Public Speaking Anxiety: A Literature Review and a Preliminary Investigation

An analysis of the literature related to public speaking anxiety (PSA) and various treatments of it are discussed. PSA is a state or situational type of anxiety which can have tremendous effects on those who suffer from it. Two of the major treatments–systematic desensitization (SD) and the integrative approach (IA) are reviewed and then experimentally tested to determine which is the more effective in treating PSA. The results are somewhat inclusive but there is strong evidence to suggest that both SD and IA reduce trait and state anxiety. It was, however, found that IA is more effective in decreasing the symptoms associated with PSA.
Tolerance of Infections

A host has two methods to defend against pathogens: It can clear the pathogens or reduce their impact on health in other ways. The first, resistance, is well studied. Study of the second, which ecologists call tolerance, is in its infancy. Tolerance measures the dose response curve of a host's health in reaction to a pathogen and can be studied in a simple quantitative manner. Such studies hold promise because they point to methods of treating infections that put evolutionary pressures on microbes different from antibiotics and vaccines. Studies of tolerance will provide an improved foundation to describe our interactions with all microbes: pathogenic, commensal, and mutualistic. One obvious mechanism affecting tolerance is the intensity of an immune response; an overly exuberant immune response can cause collateral damage through immune effectors and because of the energy allocated away from other physiological functions. There are potentially many other tolerance mechanisms, and here we systematically describe tolerance using a variety of animal systems.
Scoring Divergent Thinking Tests Using Total Ideational Output and a Creativity Index

There are several problems with the scoring techniques currently used with tests of ideational creativity. The present investigation tested two possible improvements in scoring procedures. The firs...
Can natriuretic peptide levels predict the cardiovascular complications of COX-2 inhibitors and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs?

There is evidence that fluid retention, whether due to a disease process or due to a medication, is associated with a number of cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure, strokes, coronary artery disease, and cardiovascular death. There is additional evidence that fluid retention that manifests as increased intravascular volume adversely affects cardiovascular outcomes. Because natriuretic peptide levels reflect intravascular volume and pressure, it is hypothesized that when patients are prescribed medications that promote fluid retention—such as non-selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors—monitoring natriuretic peptide levels before and after initiating the medication may allow these medications to be used more safely.
P 127. Evaluation of outcomes from Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for the treatment of chronic pain

Introduction Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been proposed as an alternative non-invasive technique with potential to alleviate pain in patients with various pain syndromes. Objective To evaluate the clinical outcomes of five-day tDCS treatment in patients with chronic pain of various etiologies. Methods This is a retrospective review of medical records of 100 patients who had chronic pain of different etiologies and were treated with tDCS between November 2008 and September 2010. The patients were divided in the following categories based on the etiology of their pain: neuropathic, central, nociceptive/somatic, nociceptive/visceral and headaches. Patients provided self-ratings of pain using the 11-point Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) before and after each tDCS treatment, and ratings of pain characteristics before and after the five-day treatment course. The chart review was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at BIMC. Transcranial direct current stimulation was delivered using a Phoresor II 850 PM unit in five 20-min sessions on 5 consecutive days, at 2 mA, applying either anodal (a-tDCS) over the motor cortex or cathodal (c-tDCS) stimulation over the somatosensory cortex, using two saline-soaked sponge electrodes of size 25 cm 2 . Results One hundred patients received 172 five-day treatment courses. The patient distribution per category was the following: 59 neuropathic, 28 nociceptive/somatic, 6 headache, 6 central pain and 1 nociceptive/visceral pain. Eighty patients received a-tDCS only, 14 patients had c-tDCS only, 6 patients received both. Of those receiving a-tDCS, 57 got 1 treatment cycle and 23 got between 2 and 5 cycles; 2 of 20 c-tDCS patients received multiple cycles (2 and 7 respectively). Pain intensity (mean, SD) before and after a-tDCS was 6.2 ± 2.4 and 3.9 ± 2.9 ( n = 86); before c-tDCS 6.8 ± 2.2, after 4.2 ± 3.7 ( n = 20). Pain reduction ⩾ 30% was observed in: (i) Forty-four patients (76%) in the neuropathic pain group [with the highest number of responders among patients with facial pain, post-herpetic neuralgia and complex regional pain syndrome]; (ii) 20 patients (77%) in the nociceptive/somatic category ( n = 26); 83% in the headache group ( n = 6); 20% in the central-pain group ( n = 5). Secondary benefits besides pain relief were: decreased intake of pain medication, mood and sleep improvement, improved mobility and function, itch relief. Durability of analgesic effects was up to 12 weeks and showed high inter-individual variability. Neither a-tDCS nor c-tDCS resulted in any serious adverse events (AEs). The most frequently reported non-serious AEs were: (i) transient tingling/burning/itching under the electrode during the stimulation (reported in 27 (4.2%) of a-tDCS visits and 14 (7.9%) of c-tDCS visit); (ii) transient headache after the stimulation:16 (2.5%) of a-tDCS, 2 (1.1%) of c-tDCS; iii) Fatigue: reported in 7 (1.1%) of a-tDCS, 0 of c-tDCS. Conclusion The findings support the evidence of analgesic efficacy of tDCS in a diversity of chronic pain types.
Quantitative Correlation of Optic Nerve Pathology with Ocular Pressure and Corneal Thickness in the DBA/2 Mouse Model of Glaucoma

PURPOSE. To investigate quantitatively the relationships between elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), axonal loss, and corneal thickness in the DBA/2 mouse model of glaucoma, to understand better how these factors contribute to disease progression. METHODS. IOP was measured with a handheld tonometer (Tono-Pen; Medtronic Solan, Jacksonville, FL) in 195 to 446 eyes of mice 2 to 10 months of age sampled from a colony of 400 DBA/2 mice. From a group of 24 eyes at 4, 9, and 10 months of age, correlations were determined between the density and number of RGC axons, corneal thickness, and IOP. RESULTS. Mean IOP levels in the colony were 15 to 16 mm Hg at 2 months of age and rose almost linearly at a rate of 0.9 mm Hg/mo before reaching 22 to 23 mm Hg at 10 months. Both the density and number of axons decreased with increasing average lifetime IOP. IOP variation within age groups strongly correlated with density. Age-matched mice with lower mean IOP had greater preservation of axons in the optic nerve. Elevated IOP was accompanied by increased corneal thickness at the limbus. Surprisingly, corneal thickness was a strong predictor of axonal density (r 2 0.75), regardless of age. CONCLUSIONS. IOP increased with age in most, but not all, DBA/2 mice. In age-matched mice, differences in IOP corresponded to differences in axonal density and number. In young mice with elevated IOP, the loss of axons resembled that of older animals with similar IOP. Whether corneal thickness is a byproduct of elevated IOP remains unknown, but it may be useful as an index of optic nerve degeneration. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2006;47:986 –996) DOI:10.1167/iovs.05-0925
Approximation algorithms for VLSI partition problems

Polynomial time approximation algorithms are described for several VLSI partitioning problems, including graph and hypergraph partitioning, and nonplanar edge deletion. The algorithms find solutions that are within a polylogarithmic factor of the optimal solution for several of the problems. All of the algorithms use the Leighton-Rao (7988) graph-separator algorithm as a subroutine. >
Online Monitoring of Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization of Cyclooctadiene and a Functionalized Norbornene

The kinetics and mechanisms involved in the ring-opening metathesis polymerization of 5-norbornene-2-yl acetate (NAc) and cyclooctadiene (COD) in dichloromethane (DCM) were quantified using automatic continuous online monitoring of polymerization (ACOMP). The results yielded time-dependent monomer conversion and the effects of temperature and reactant concentration, evolution of weight-average molecular mass Mw, and intrinsic viscosity ( )w. The evolution of the molecular mass was generally consistent with a "living" mechanism in a rapid first phase, where expected target masses for p(NAc) were met, but often revealed a secondary, slight degradative phase. In contrast, p(COD) yielded molar masses far below target values and generally showed a more pronounced degradative phase. These latter two phenomena for p(COD) appear to be symptomatic of a mechanism that shortens chains with concomitant increase in polydispersity. Furthermore, through a combination of Mw, viscosity, and concentration dependencies it was deduced that the slow degradative phase for both p(NAc) and p(COD) is due almost entirely to cross-metathesis reactions. A probabilistic analysis for cross-metathesis supports these assertions. Automatic continuous mixing (ACM) was used to measure second virial coefficients and intrinsic viscosity, and these are consistent with polymers having large solvent domains and strong interactions for p(NAc). In a further application, a second addition of monomer during reactions revealed that no observable termination takes place over time. Results were cross-checked by conventional multidetector gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Ultimately, this method should help in the control of reactions to produce highly specific polymers and architectures.
Polyamines Are Not Required for Aerobic Growth of Escherichia coli: Preparation of a Strain with Deletions in All of the Genes for Polyamine Biosynthesis

A strain of Escherichia coli was constructed in which all of the genes involved in polyamine biosynthesis—speA (arginine decarboxylase), speB (agmatine ureohydrolase), speC (ornithine decarboxylase), spe D (adenosylmethionine decarboxylase), speE (spermidine synthase), speF (inducible ornithine decarboxylase), cadA (lysine decarboxylase), and ldcC (lysine decarboxylase)—had been deleted. Despite the complete absence of all of the polyamines, the strain grew indefinitely in air in amine-free medium, albeit at a slightly (ca. 40 to 50%) reduced growth rate. Even though this strain grew well in the absence of the amines in air, it was still sensitive to oxygen stress in the absence of added spermidine. In contrast to the ability to grow in air in the absence of polyamines, this strain, surprisingly, showed a requirement for polyamines for growth under strictly anaerobic conditions.
The role of astrocyte mitochondria in differential regional susceptibility to environmental neurotoxicants: tools for understanding neurodegeneration

In recent decades, there has been a significant expansion in our understanding of the role of astrocytes in neuroprotection, including spatial buffering of extracellular ions, secretion of metabolic coenzymes, and synaptic regulation. Astrocytic neuroprotective functions require energy, and therefore require a network of functional mitochondria. Disturbances to astrocytic mitochondrial homeostasis and their ability to produce ATP can negatively impact neural function. Perturbations in astrocyte mitochondrial function may accrue as the result of physiological aging processes or as a consequence of neurotoxicant exposure. Hydrophobic environmental neurotoxicants, such as 1,3-dinitrobenzene and α-chlorohydrin, cause regionally specific spongiform lesions mimicking energy deprivation syndromes. Astrocyte involvement includes mitochondrial damage that either precedes or is accompanied by neuronal damage. Similarly, environmental neurotoxicants that are implicated in the etiology of age-related neurodegenerative conditions cause regionally specific damage in the brain. Based on the regioselective nature of age-related neurodegenerative lesions, chemically induced models of regioselective lesions targeting astrocyte mitochondria can provide insight into age-related susceptibilities in astrocyte mitochondria. Most of the available research to date focuses on neuronal damage in cases of age-related neurodegeneration; however, there is a body of evidence that supports a central mechanistic role for astrocyte mitochondria in the expression of neural injury. Regional susceptibility to neuronal damage induced by aging by exposure to neurotoxicants may be a reflection of highly variable regional energy requirements. This review identifies region-specific vulnerabilities in astrocyte mitochondria in examples of exposure to neurotoxicants and in age-related neurodegeneration.