cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hemolytic disease of the newborn

In the pathologic states, collectively known as “hemolytic disease of the newborn”, the placenta is an integral component of the reacting system, and often reflects injury shared with the fetus. Hellman and Hertig described the salient features of placentas associated with the hydropic and icteric forms of this disease. Later authors reiterated their observations and pointed out certain features suggestive of pathogenesis (King, Schmidt, Potter, Alvarez, et al.). Just as Hellman and Hertig remarked on the morphologic similarities between these placentas and those associated with congenital syphilis, others have commented on resemblances to less common fetoplacental diseases, which may mimic erythroblastosis fetalis as the latter affects both the fetus and the placenta (Morison, Scott, Burstein et al., Hirszfeld et al., Eng, Callahan, Bain, Hall, Esch, Schubert, Kouvalainen et al., Dussart).
Empowering legislatures: the politics of legislative veto oversight among the U.S. states

State legislatures in the United States began using the legislative veto in 1939 to block rules issued by state agencies. At present, 25 state legislatures possess some form of independent legislative veto authority. This study uses a transaction cost theoretical approach to analyse factors expected to influence the adoption and expansion of legislative veto oversight. Results indicate that such measures are more likely in non-Southern states when a single party controls the state legislature, while legislative size and professionalisation do not substantially affect legislative veto reforms. Empirical analysis differentiating veto power according to whether legislators can nullify or suspend rules shows some differences in the factors affecting the imposition of each oversight type. The most consistent finding is that empowering legislatures with legislative veto authority is more likely to occur with a Republican governor in office.
A National Study of Surgically Managed Atypical Pulmonary Carcinoid Tumors.

Background Atypical pulmonary carcinoid tumors represent a subset of non-small cell lung cancer; however, their relative infrequency has left prognosis, management and long-term survival associated with atypical carcinoids, incompletely characterized. Methods Patients aged 18 years or more diagnosed with atypical or typical pulmonary carcinoid between 2010 and 2015 within the National Cancer Database were evaluated. Survival was measured using Kaplan-Meier survival and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression, adjusting for patient and tumor attributes. Results A total of 816 atypical and 5688 typical carcinoid patients were identified in the cohort. Patients with atypical carcinoids tended to be older, have larger tumors, and later stage disease. The unadjusted overall 5-year survival for atypical carcinoid patients was 84%, 74%, 52%, and 51% for stages I, II, III, and IV, respectively. The unadjusted 5-year survival for typical carcinoids was 93%, 93%, 89%, and 87% for stages I, II, III, and IV, respectively. Nodal upstaging (ie, lymph node metastases identified in surgical specimens of clinically staged N0 patients) was seen in 16% of atypical and 7% of typical carcinoid patients. Increasing age, comorbidities, and stage were identified as significant predictors of mortality for atypical patients in multivariable analysis. Extent of surgical resection (lobectomy vs sublobar) was not identified as a predictor of survival for atypical carcinoid. Conclusions Atypical carcinoid tumors represent a distinct subset of carcinoid tumors, with a tendency toward more aggressive behavior. Further study of the optimal surgical management is warranted.
Astrocyte deletion of α2-Na/K ATPase triggers episodic motor paralysis in mice via a metabolic pathway.

Familial hemiplegic migraine is an episodic neurological disorder characterized by transient sensory and motor symptoms and signs. Mutations of the ion pump α2-Na/K ATPase cause familial hemiplegic migraine, but the mechanisms by which α2-Na/K ATPase mutations lead to the migraine phenotype remain incompletely understood. Here, we show that mice in which α2-Na/K ATPase is conditionally deleted in astrocytes display episodic paralysis. Functional neuroimaging reveals that conditional α2-Na/K ATPase knockout triggers spontaneous cortical spreading depression events that are associated with EEG low voltage activity events, which correlate with transient motor impairment in these mice. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses show that α2-Na/K ATPase loss alters metabolic gene expression with consequent serine and glycine elevation in the brain. A serine- and glycine-free diet rescues the transient motor impairment in conditional α2-Na/K ATPase knockout mice. Together, our findings define a metabolic mechanism regulated by astrocytic α2-Na/K ATPase that triggers episodic motor paralysis in mice. Mutations of α2-Na/K ATPase can cause familial hemiplegic migraine via unclear mechanisms. Here, the authors show that deletion of α2-Na/K ATPase in astrocytes results in gene expression and metabolic changes leading to cortical spreading depression and episodic transient motor paralysis in mice.
Hypoalbuminaemia, Not Biologic Exposure, Is Associated with Postoperative Complications in Crohn’s Disease Patients Undergoing Ileocolic Resection

BACKGROUND There are limited data on the postoperative outcomes in Crohn's disease patients exposed to preoperative ustekinumab or vedolizumab. We hypothesised that preoperative biologic use in Crohn's disease is not associated with postoperative complications after ileocolic resection. METHODS Crohn's disease patients who underwent ileocolic resection over 2009-2019 were identified at a large regional health system. Preoperative biologic use within 12 weeks of surgery was categorised as no biologic, anti-tumour necrosis factor, vedolizumab, or ustekinumab. The primary endpoint was 90-day intra-abdominal septic complication. Risk factors included preoperative medical therapies, demographics, disease characteristics, laboratory values, and surgical approach. Regression models assessed the association of biologic use with intra-abdominal septic complication. RESULTS A total of 815 Crohn's disease patients who underwent an ileocolic resection were included [62% no biologic, 31.4% anti-tumour necrosis factor, 3.9% vedolizumab, 2.6% ustekinumab]. Primary anastomosis was performed in 85.9% of patients [side-to-side 48.8%, end-to-side 26%, end-to-end 25%] in primarily a stapled [77.2%] manner. Minimally invasive approach was used in 41.4%. The 90-day postoperative intra-abdominal sepsis rate of 810 patients was 12%, abscess rate was 9.6%, and anastomotic leak rate was 3.2%. Multivariable regression modelling controlling for confounding variables demonstrated that preoperative biologic use with anti-tumour necrosis factor [p = 0.21], vedolizumab [p = 0.17], or ustekinumab [p = 0.52] was not significantly associated with intra-abdominal septic complication. Preoperative albumin < 3.5 g/dl was independently associated with intra-abdominal septic complication (odds ratio [OR] 1.76 [1.03, 3.01]). CONCLUSIONS In Crohn's disease patients undergoing ileocolic resection, preoperative biologics are not associated with 90-day postoperative intra-abdominal septic complication. Preoperative biologic exposure should not delay necessary surgery.
The National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster Relief and Disaster Assistance Missions: An Approach to Better Collaboration with the Public Sector in Post-Disaster Operations

FEMA currently divides post-disaster operations into two phases: Response and Recovery. The nonprofit sector, primarily through the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National VOAD) member organizations, provides services and distributes goods in ways that straddle both Response and Recovery. In terms of provision of goods and services to individuals, these two phases invoke ESF-6 and ESF-14. FEMA has traditionally had a difficult time categorizing National VOAD members' activities, partially because of the difficulty in categorizing whether their work fits into Response or Recovery. As FEMA is currently drafting the National Recovery Framework, this paper suggests that this is a particularly strong opportunity for FEMA to better capture the way in which National VOAD members participate in post-disaster operations. The paper describes National VOAD member operations, the “relief and disaster assistance” missions (hereinafter referred to interchangeably as “Relief” or “Relief and Disaster Assistance”), as a current of activities that run through the preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery stages of the disaster cycle. This paper argues that by developing a better understanding of the types of services National VOAD members provide and the motivations for providing them, FEMA and state and local governments will be better able to utilize the nonprofit sector in post-disaster operations.
The Quantitative Relation between National Levels of Urbanization and Economic Growth

The association between levels of urbanization and per capita incomes is one of the best known and most robust empirical regularities characterizing national economic growth. Many studies have analyzed available data towards establishing causal patterns, relating economic growth to urbanization and distinguishing dynamical regimes associated with contextual factors such as policy, institutions or culture. However, the derivation of the origins of the observed correlations in mathematical terms has apparently not yet been accomplished. Here, we show how it arises from the properties of cities, including endogenous urban growth and selection effects, whereby a growing fraction of a nation’s population lives in larger urban areas, which manifest higher per capita income due to agglomeration effects. The resulting mathematical formulation allows for an exact decomposition of economic growth across scales - from individuals and households to firms, cities and nations - showing how aggregated processes result from population averaged growth and structural changes.
Myasthenia Gravis Mimicking Stroke - Implications of Cognitive Errors and Clinical Factors (P5.4-032)

Objective: To identify the clinical factors and cognitive errors that lead to the misdiagnosis of myasthenia gravis (MG) as stroke. Background: MG is an immune-mediated disorder characterized by fluctuating fatigue of skeletal muscles, often involving extrinsic ocular, bulbar muscles and at times presenting with hemibody/focal weakness thus mimicking a stroke. Design/Methods: MG patients (2013–2017) with at least 1 year follow up were analyzed. Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected. The type of cognitive error, clinical factors contributing to the misdiagnosis as stroke were recorded. Diagnostic errors were categorized according to Patient Safety Network’s categories of cognitive bias. Statistical analysis was done using Fischer’s Exact test. Results: 21 patients −13 women, 19 Caucasians (90.5%), mean age of 66.7+/−4.07 were included. 10 were MGFA class 3a, 7 were MGFA class 2b, 3 were MGFA3b. 18 patients were acetylcholine receptor antibody positive, 1 was MuSK positive. Slurred speech (8 patients, 38.1%) was the most common symptom that resulted in misdiagnosis, followed by hemibody weakness (7 patients, 33.3%), and dysphagia (3, 14.3%). Smoking (12, 57.1%) and hypertension (11, 52.4%) were common risk factors for stroke. Small vessel disease was suspected as the most common etiology (15, 71.4%). 10 patients received thrombolytic therapy and 16 patients were on antiplatelets. 4 patients who presented with recurrent symptoms were placed on anticoagulants. 18 patients presented with their symptoms acutely to the emergency department and 3 of them presented to the clinic. Availability bias due to lower threshold to diagnose stroke was the most common cognitive error (9 patients, p Conclusions: Acute presentation of bulbar symptoms and focal weakness to the emergency department results in misdiagnosis of MG as stroke. Disclosure: Dr. Kukulka has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bailey has nothing to disclose. Dr. yelam has nothing to disclose. Dr. Nagarajan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Govindarajan has nothing to disclose.
Challenges Facing the Bovine Veterinarian in the 21st Century

It is a tremendous thrill for me to see this Congress come to fruition after over six years of preparation. When, as Dean of Minnesota's College of Veterinary Medicine, I joined with the officers of AABP, Harold Amstutz and Eric Williams, during the tail-end of a hurricane in Dublin, Ireland in 1986, to make a bid for this 17th World Congress of Buiatrics to be held in the Twin Cities in 1992, certain commitments were made.
Hsa_circ_0004712 downregulation attenuates ovarian cancer malignant development by targeting the miR-331-3p/FZD4 pathway.

Background Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are gradually reported to be implicated in the development of malignant tumors, including ovarian cancer (OC). This paper intended to explore the function and action mechanism of hsa_circ_0004712 in OC. Results In our results, hsa_circ_0004712 was aberrantly overexpressed in OC tissues and cells. Downregulation of hsa_circ_0004712 impaired OC cell proliferation, colony formation, invasion and migration, and accelerated apoptosis. Hsa_circ_0004712 directly targeted miR-331-3p whose inhibitors reversed the effects of hsa_circ_0004712 downregulation. FZD4 was targeted by miR-331-3p, and hsa_circ_0004712 could positively regulated FZD4 expression by targeting miR-331-3p. The anti-tumor effects of miR-331-3p restoration were reversed by FZD4 overexpression. Downregulation of hsa_circ_0004712 also impaired tumor development in vivo by regulating miR-331-3p and FZD4. Conclusion In conclusion, hsa_circ_0004712 deficiency repressed OC development by mediating the miR-331-3p/FZD4 pathway, predicting that hsa_circ_0004712 was a promising biomarker for OC diagnosis and therapy.
Fracture Toughness Concept

Fracture toughness is an indication of the resistance of a material to physical separation by a process of unstable macrocrack propagation. Conceptually, it is an intrinsic material parameter that should not vary with changes in specimen size, speed of loading, temperature, etc. The brittle-ductile transition size effect of metal specimens is discussed using the strain energy density theory. By assuming that the critical strain energy factor, S c r , is a material constant, predictions on the fracture behavior of metals can be made. The following remarks are helpful toward defining a fracture toughness parameter associated with instability of the macrocrack: 1. The dominant or continuum crack travels in the elastic portion of the material always skirting around or bypassing the yield material and hence releases only elastic energy. 2. Stable macrocrack growth in metals is the result of necking or constraint from specimen boundary. 3. The last ligament of macrofracture will terminate in a plane inclined to the free surface or boundary of the specimen.
Fetal Diagnosis by X Ray

Many of the fetal conditions that in the past were shown with difficulty by X ray can now be depicted rapidly and well by ultrasonography. Nevertheless, after a diagnosis is made by ultrasound, especially of a disease of the skeleton, a confirmatory radiograph is often worthwhile. If termination of pregnancy is contemplated, little will be lost by one or a few films, and sometimes much will be gained. Even the best ultra-sonographer can be mistaken, and the abortion of a normal, wanted child is an unmitigated disaster.
Mediation and medical malpractice: the need to understand why patients sue and a proposal for a specific model of mediation.

Although there is an ongoing debate in the United States about the severity of the medical malpractice litigation crisis, 1 the fact remains that some patients sue their health care providers. When...
Induction of Kidney Metallothionein and Metallothionein Messenger RNA by Zinc and Cadmium

The influence of a 7.7-mumole (0.5-mg) dose of parenteral zinc on the synthesis of metallothionein in rat kidney was examined. The amount of zinc bound to metallothionein was maximal 9--15 hours after zinc administration. Pulse labeling with [35S]cystine showed the rate of renal metallothionein was stimulated to a maximum 6 hours after zinc administration and declined thereafter. Total RNA was extracted by the guanidine thiocyanate procedure from kidneys that had been flash frozen in liquid N2. Polyadenylated RNA (mRNA) was isolated by oligo (dT)-cellulose chromatography. The mRNA was translated in a wheat germ system and newly synthesized metallothionein was isolated by activated thiol--Sepharose 4B chromatography. Metallothionein mRNA activity nearly doubled after zinc administration adn was closely correlated with the enhancement in synthetic rate of this protein in kidney. Actinomycin D administered prior to either zinc or cadmium completely blocked both the stimulation of metallothionein synthesis and mRNA activity found in kidney in response to these metals. The results suggest renal metallothionein is induced by zinc or cadmium through a mechanism that requires altered expression of the metallothionein gene(s).
Fracto-Emission from Adhesive Failure

Fracto-emission (FE) is the emission of particles and photons during and after fracture of materials. The types of particles that have been observed include electrons (EE), negative and positive ions (NIE and PIE), neutral species in both ground states (NE) and in excited states (NE*), and visible photons (phE)—often called triboluminescence.(1,2) This emission can often serve as a sensitive probe of crack growth and may prove to be a useful tool for investigating molecular and microscopic events accompanying crack formation and for studying the details of failure modes in a variety of materials. These effects are also of interest in terms of their relations to electrostatic consequences of bond breaking (e.g., noise generated in sensitive circuits under stress, grinding of materials in confined spaces, and mechanical and interfacial effects associated with explosives and solid propellents), the detection of fracture inside the earth’s crust, and the transport of atoms and gases in geological systems.
SCATTERING OF 192-MEV ELECTRONS FROM THE DEUTERON

Elastic scattering of 192-Mev electrons from deuterium has been studied using both solid (C${\mathrm{D}}_{2}$) and high-pressure gas targets. The results obtained by these two methods are in agreement and yield the following conclusions: (1) The range of the neutron-proton potential is between 1 and 4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}13}$ cm if a square potential well is assumed and if the deuteron wave functions predicted by the binding energy of the deuteron are used. (2) It is, however, impossible with the present data to eliminate the possibility of other charge distributions for deuterium such as uniform or Gaussian.Inelastic electron scattering from deuterium was also investigated, and promises to give independent information of the deuteron structure.
Complex dynamics of the Si(111)- 7 × 7 surface: Total-energy calculations

We studied the dynamics of a semi-infinite Si(111)-7×7 system, using the force-constant matrix obtained from the total-energy calculation based on a nonorthogonal tight-binding Hamiltonian. We modeled the semi-infinite system by merging the optimized surface slab seamlessly onto the bulk to underscore the importance of the system size in obtaining all the relevant surface phonon modes of Si(111)-7×7. Our study has uncovered modes that have hitherto not been reported by ab initio molecular-dynamics studies and, also, provides detailed explanations of the nature of all important surface dynamical features (e.g., modes associated with dimers, adatoms, stacking faults, and rest atoms), using an analysis of the site density of states and pair density of states that identifies directly coupled vibrations.
Long Noncoding RNAs: Cellular Address Codes in Development and Disease

In biology as in real estate, location is a cardinal organizational principle that dictates the accessibility and flow of informational traffic. An essential question in nuclear organization is the nature of the address code—how objects are placed and later searched for and retrieved. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as key components of the address code, allowing protein complexes, genes, and chromosomes to be trafficked to appropriate locations and subject to proper activation and deactivation. lncRNA-based mechanisms control cell fates during development, and their dysregulation underlies some human disorders caused by chromosomal deletions and translocations.
Compendium of national guidelines for imaging the pregnant patient.

OBJECTIVE. Diagnostic imaging performed during pregnancy, particularly if it involves the use of ionizing radiation, can be a source of great anxiety for both health care providers and patients. Especially with the growing public awareness of the increasing radiation from medical imaging, including CT, it is important to have a contemporary policy for imaging evaluation in the pregnant or potentially pregnant patient. Implementation of such policies and guidelines would be useful for those developing or modifying policies for imaging pregnant or potentially pregnant patients; those developing regional or national guidelines or recommendations (i.e., professional specialty societies, including emergency medicine, radiology, and obstetrics and gynecology); and groups such as National Council on Radiation Protection, advocacy groups, and individuals writing research grants or articles. CONCLUSION. To this end, a compendium of resources representing national organization guidelines would be useful. The purpos...
Neutrino interactions at nuclear reactors

Recent neutrino interaction experiments at nuclear reactors are reviewed. The high statistics study of ve interaction with protons at small distances allow one to test our understanding of the reactor source; the accuracy in the integrated ve flux of 2% was achieved at present. I briefly review the experiments on the ve interaction with deuterons and on the neutrino decay, and concentrate on the ve interaction with protons, the reaction most suitable to test the electron antineutrino disappearance channel. While the present limit of Δm2 at full mixing are at the 10−2 eV2 level, experiments planned at San Onofre and Chooz will push the sensitivity to 10−3 eV2, fully excluding or confirming the vμ → ve oscillation hypothesis of the atmospheric neutrino anomaly. The ve scattering on electrons is sensitive to the neutrino magnetic moments. The MUNU experiment, now in preparation, will push its upper limit to 2–3. 10−11 Bohr magnetons.
Rajend Mesthrie (ed.), Concise encyclopedia of sociolinguistics. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2001. Pp. xxvii, 1031. Hb $237.

Mesthrie's Concise encyclopedia of sociolinguistics (hereafter, CESO) is a newly edited, condensed, and updated offshoot of the Encyclopedia of language and linguistics, originally published in ten volumes in 1993. This laudable volume aims to “give a comprehensive overview of the main topics in an important branch of language study, generally known as Sociolinguistics” (p. 1). As theoretical background, the branch is traced from the Sanskrit scholar Pānini to more recent origins in historical linguistics, anthropology, rural dialectology, and the study of mixed languages. The field is further presented as the most proper of all branches for language study today, as Mesthrie – updating Labov's (1972) famous claim about the implications of the term sociolinguistics – writes that “having ‘human communication’ as part of the definition of language makes it impossible to study language comprehensively without due regard to social contexts of speech” (1). CESO is an attempt to catalog the relevant components of those social contexts.
Compressive failure model for fiber composites by kink band initiation from obliquely aligned, shear-dislocated fiber breaks

Abstract Predicting compressive failure of a unidirectional fibrous composite is a longstanding and challenging problem that we study from a new perspective. Motivated by previous modelling of tensile failure as well as experimental observations on compressive failures in single carbon fibers, we develop a new micromechanical model for the compressive failure process in unidirectional, planar composites. As the compressive load is increased, random fiber failures are assumed to occur due to statistically distributed flaws, analogous to what occurs in tension. These breaks are often shear-mode failures with slanted surfaces that induce shear dislocations, especially when they occur in small groups aligned obliquely. Our model includes interactions of dislocated and neighboring intact fibers through a system of fourth-order, differential equations governing transverse deformation, and also allows for local matrix plastic yielding and debonding from the fiber near and within the dislocation arrays. Using the Discrete Fourier Transform method, we find a ‘building-block’ analytical solution form, which naturally embodies local length scales of fiber microbuckling and instability. Based on the influence function, superposition approach, a computationally efficient scheme is developed to model the evolution of fiber and matrix stresses. Under increasing compressive strain the simulations show that matrix yielding and debonding crucially lead to large increases in bending strains in fibers next to small groups of obliquely aligned, dislocated breaks. From the paired locations of maximum fiber bending in flanking fibers, the triggering of an unstable kink band becomes realistic. The geometric features of the kink band, such as the fragment lengths and orientation angles, will depend on the fiber and matrix mechanical and geometric properties. In carbon fiber–polymer matrix systems our model predicts a much lower compressive failure stress than obtained from Rosen’s classic microbuckling model, yielding values much closer to those observed experimentally.
Computed tomography of the spine: Techniques and procedures

Abstract Techniques which may be useful adjuncts to spine CT examination are presented. These methods of display and contrast enhancement include use of intravascular, intradiskal and intrathecal contrast agents, digital radiographic positioning and variations of computer display.
Maintenance of protein synthesis in hearts of diabetic animals

Abstract Skeletal muscle of diabetic animals contained increased numbers of ribosomal subunits and decreased polysomes. However, numbers of polysomes and subunits in heart muscle 5 diabetic rats were the same as controls. Incorporation of14C-phenylalanine into protein of diabetic hearts occurred at the control rate. When control hearts were perfused, in vitro , with medium containing glucose and normal plasma levels of amino acids, polysomes decreased and subunits increased. These changes were prevented by addition of either insulin or palmitate suggesting that these factors facilitated peptide-chain initiation in heart muscle.
Infectious disease hospitalizations among infants in the United States.

OBJECTIVE. This study describes the burden and epidemiologic features of infectious disease hospitalizations among infants in the United States. METHODS. Hospitalizations with an infectious disease listed as a primary diagnosis for infants ( RESULTS. During 2003, an estimated 286739 infectious disease hospitalizations occurred among infants in the United States and accounted for 42.8% of all infant hospitalizations. The national infectious disease hospitalization rate was 7010.8 hospitalizations per 100000 live births, or ∼1 infectious disease hospitalization for every 14 infants. The median length of stay was 3 days, and stays totaled >1 million hospital days for infants. Infectious disease hospitalization rates were highest among boys and nonwhite infants. The most commonly listed diagnoses among the infant infectious disease hospitalizations included lower respiratory tract infections (59.0%), kidney, urinary tract, and bladder infections (7.6%), upper respiratory tract infections (6.5%), and septicemia (6.5%). The median cost of an infectious disease hospitalization was $2235, with total annual hospital costs of approximately $690 million, among infants in the United States. CONCLUSIONS. Infectious disease hospitalizations among infants account for substantial health care expenditures and hospital time in the United States, with respiratory disease hospitalizations constituting more than one half of all hospitalizations. Younger infants, boys, and nonwhite infants were at increased risk for infectious disease hospitalization. Measures to reduce racial disparities and the occurrence of respiratory tract infections should substantially decrease the infectious disease burden among infants.
The Roles Of Academia, Rare Diseases, And Repurposing In The Development Of The Most Transformative Drugs

Transformative drugs, defined as pharmaceuticals that are both innovative and have groundbreaking effects on patient care, are the “holy grail” of drug research and development. The sources of drug innovation are often debated, with pharmaceutical manufacturers arguing that high drug prices support innovative output from their sector. We studied the developmental histories of twenty-six drugs or drug classes approved by the Food and Drug Administration between 1984 and 2009 that were judged by expert physicians to be transformative (in two cases, the first drug in a transformative class was approved before 1984). Most of the twenty-six were first approved early in the study period; only four were approved in 2000 or later. Many were based on discoveries made by academic researchers who were supported by federal government funding. Others were jointly developed in both publicly funded and commercial institutions; the fewest number of drugs had originated solely within pharmaceutical industry research progr...
Matrix metalloproteinase-1 expression enhances tumorigenicity as well as tumor-related angiogenesis and is inversely associated with TIMP-4 expression in a model of glioblastoma

Herein we continue the study of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) with respect to glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cell tumorigenicity and angiogenesis. A model of tumorigenicity with cells stably altered to over-express or knock-down MMP-1 revealed that it significantly increases tumor incidence and size. Organized endothelial growth in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC)-GBM co-cultures was significantly increased in the presence of MMP-1. CD31 analysis of model tumors elucidated a substantial recruitment of endothelium in MMP-1 enhanced samples. Antibody arrays indicated an inverse expression of certain anti-angiogenic factors with respect to MMP-1, the most notable of which was a significant increase in tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-4 (TIMP-4) in the absence of MMP-1, as validated by immunoblot.
Calculation of the shortest-time path for traversal of an obstacle course by a robot

The problem of sequencing the movement of a robot so that it can carry out a given task in the minimum required time is of considerable importance, because of the efficiency of such a solution. The problem considered is an application of this idea, as applied to the context of the Navigation Challenge in the International Guided Vehicle Competition (IGVC). The objective is to find a sequence of points and a path in space that the robot has to traverse in order to complete the objective of the competition. A mathematical programming based model and example solution for the Bearcat Robot is given. The challenge in this event is for a robot to autonomously travel, using Differential GPS, from a starting point to a number of target destinations, while recognizing and avoiding the obstacles present, given only a map showing the coordinates of those targets, in the least possible time. The solution can be implemented easily using the Excel Solver, or AMPL. These solutions are practically applicable and easy to run in the competition since they give the sequence of points to be followed. In addition, the program is used together with a heuristic for situations where there are velocity constraints on the robot.
Utility and the Basis of Moral Rights: A Reply to Professor Brandt

Is it true that utilitarianism can accommodate the modern belief that human beings have certain moral rights against everybody 'just in virtue of their human nature?'1 I should have thought the most a utilitarian could grant was that we had rights just in virtue of the utility of respecting such rights, not just in virtue of our human nature. In fact, that is more like the view Professor Brandt actually supports. What he argues is that there is not the a priori difficulty with the idea of utilitarian moral rights that some philosophers have thought there was. However, I think the possibility of utilitarian moral rights is not the same as the view that we all have human rights against everybody just in virtue of our human nature. As I hear it, 'just in virtue of our human nature' is an alternative to a utilitarian basis for rights. Ill return to that.
On the language specificity of the brain response to syntactic anomalies: Is the syntactic positive shift a member of the p300 family?

Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were recorded from 13 scalp electrodes while subjects read sentences, some of which contained either a verb that disagreed in number with the subject noun (syntactic anomaly) or a word in uppercase letters (physical anomaly). Uppercase words elicited the P300 complex of positivities, whereas agreement violations elicited a late positive shift with an onset around 500 msec and a duration of several hundred msec. These effects differed in their morphology, temporal course, amplitude, and scalp distribution. Furthermore, manipulations of the probability-of-occurrence and task relevance of the anomalies had robust effects on the response to uppercase words, but not on the response to agreement violations. Finally, these anomalies had additive effects when agreement-violating uppercase (doubly anomalous) words were presented. These results are taken to be an initial indication that the positive shift elicited by agreement violations is distinct from the P300 response to unexpected, task-relevant anomalies that do not involve the violation of a grammatical rule.
Side effects and double-blind studies— I. A clinical comparison between thioridazine hydrochloride and a combination of phenobarbital and atropine sulfate

Abstract A combination of phenobarbital and atropine sulfate was used as an active control substance in a double-blind study involving ten chronic schizophrenic patients. This combination was compared with thioridazine to test the hypothesis that the active control substance would simulate the symptoms and side effects of the active drug. Similar symptom and side effect patterns were observed for both of these substances on a schedule of 47 symptoms and side effects. Hallucinations and delusions, however, were observed less frequently in the patients taking thioridazine. It can be concluded that this active control substance adequately controlled for any observer or patient bias which could have resulted from side effects. Further studies are being conducted to evaluate the degree of ‘blindness’ achieved by this design, and to determine whether the therapeutic effects, alone, of the phenothiazine obviate the necessity to control for side effect in future studies.
Scale-Up From Laboratory Pipe-Flow Data to Large Flows

By scale-up, one means the prediction of pressure drop in large industrial or commercial pipelines, or other flow situations, based on results from laboratory-scale small pipe facilities. Scale-up for the use of non-Newtonian fluids or drag-reducing solutions in long-distance oil pipelines, central-station heating or cooling schemes, or application to ship design, are important current interests. A simple analytical approach has been developed which provides excellent scaling over a wide range of pipe sizes for both water-based and oil-based polymer solutions. Examples are given which show close comparisons of scaling from small pipes to actual test data from much larger diameter industrial-scale facilities.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Paradox and Tradition in Black Theology

This article presents two recent criticisms of Black theology, one political and one theological. To respond to these criticisms, it develops an account of Black theology with paradox at its heart. This constructive work occurs in dialogue with the early writings of James Cone. The article argues that the turn to contextualism in Cone's later work leads to the fruitful resources of his earlier work being overlooked, especially his use of paradox. With those resources, an account of Black theology that avoids the dangers of secularism can be formulated.
Utilization of Colorectal Cancer Screening Tests: A 1997 Survey of Massachusetts Internists☆

Abstract Background. Physician noncompliance with screening recommendations has been a major barrier to effective colorectal cancer control. The overall objectives of this study were to assess the current attitudes and screening behavior of primary care physicians in light of new efficacy data, revised guidelines, improved technology, and more widespread insurance coverage. Methods. Questionnaires inquiring about knowledge, beliefs, and practice patterns related to colorectal cancer screening were mailed in mid-1997 to 700 randomly selected Massachusetts internists. Results. The overall response rate was 63%. Nearly 60% of respondents reported an increase in screening behavior during the past 5 years. Most (80%) were aware of at least one set of screening guidelines and 90% reported utilizing one or more recommended screening strategies. Fecal occult blood testing (FOBT), alone (47%) or in combination with flexible sigmoidoscopy (50%), was the preferred strategy for most respondents. Colonoscopy was rarely utilized (5%) despite high perceived effectiveness. Concern about patient compliance was a significant determinant of FOBT utilization, whereas perceived effectiveness, concerns about time or efficacy data, prior procedural training, date of licensure, and use of instructional materials were independent determinants of sigmoidoscopy utilization. Conclusion. Massachusetts' internists report high rates of utilization of select colorectal cancer screening strategies. Future studies must validate self-reported compliance and explore barriers to screening colonoscopy.
Comparison selection: An approach to the study of consumer judgment and choice.

Abstract We introduce an alternative perspective on the study of consumer judgment and decision making, which is based on the notion that judgment and choice problems consist of comparisons that decision makers might select. Our new perspective proposes that if we can predict the likelihood that particular comparisons will become focal in a judgment or choice task, we will be able to gain a better understanding of and anticipate the resulting effect. Building on related literatures, we propose that comparison selection is driven by the task's latitude of acceptance (LOA) and comparison fluency (i.e., the overall ease of making that comparison). The task's LOA curve represents the range and concentration of potentially acceptable comparisons, whereas comparison fluency refers to the salience and ease of making the comparison. We illustrate our approach using previously studied problems (e.g., choice, variety seeking, the “jacket and calculator” problem, and contingent valuation) as well as new empirical tests.
Gender Assignment at Birth: Three Cases of Reassignment/Ambiguity At or Beyond Adolesence † 466

Gender Assignment at Birth: Three Cases of Reassignment/Ambiguity At or Beyond Adolesence † 466
Management of primary brain stem gliomas and spinal cord gliomas

P rimary brain stem and spinal cord gliomas are rare. They occur most frequently in children and young adults. Gliomas constitute approximately 5% to 10% of central nervous system tumors, affect sexes equally, and are treated with surgery and radiation.’ Although the brain stem and spinal cord are contiguous structures, tumors in these locations are best described separately because of different treatment options.
Real-time monitoring of cardiac metabolism using biosensors shows myocardial protection during ischemia-reperfusion injury with glucose-insulin-potassium administration

Background Systemic infusion of glucose–insulin–potassium (GIK) is thought to confer myocardial protection during ischemia-reperfusion injury. Our laboratory has experience with real-time monitoring of glucose and pH levels using needle-mounted biosensors. We tested the hypothesis that GIK enhances myocardial metabolism as displayed by real-time myocardial metabolic monitoring. Methods A total of 40 kg male swine were randomized to receive GIK (n = 7) or lactated Ringer’s (n = 7) solution intravenously at 1.5 mL/kg/hour. Ischemia was induced in the left anterior distribution (LAD) by 20 minutes LAD occlusion, followed by 20 minutes reperfusion. Hearts were instrumented anteriorly and posteriorly with continuously recording myocardial pH and glucose biosensors. Biopsies from the LAD distribution were taken at baseline, maximum ischemia, and after reperfusion to assess cardiac adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels. Results GIK animals had less myocardial pH decrease than controls during both ischemia (pH decrease –0.03 vs –0.37, P = .04) and reperfusion (pH decrease –0.10 vs –0.44, P = .05). Neither ATP (74% vs 73% decrease from baseline) nor glucose (27% vs 33% decrease from baseline) varied significantly between groups during ischemia. GIK animals had faster normalization of ATP (100% vs 79% increase from ischemia) and glucose (69% vs 28% increase from ischemia) during reperfusion. Conclusions Real-time myocardial metabolic monitoring shows that cardiac pH is improved by GIK during ischemia-reperfusion injury; however, ATP and glucose levels were not significantly enhanced. GIK animals trended toward earlier recovery during reperfusion. Mediators of this metabolic enhancement need to be explored.
Modeling chromatographic dispersion: a comparison of popular equations.

Abstract An analyte that is introduced onto a column as a finite band broadens as it moves along the column. This band-broadening is generally attributed to three independent processes, including flow path inequalities, molecular diffusion, and resistance to mass transfer. Many equations have been derived in attempts to mathematically model the process. Some of the more popular of these include the equations of van Deemter, Giddings, Horvath and Lin, and Knox. Although the basis of each equation is theoretically different, the differences among them are minor, and most of the equations can be used to adequately fit plate height data. Chromatographers often collect efficiency data to monitor the performance of their columns, and then use one of the above equations to fit the data. The choice of which equation to use can be daunting, since the theories are conflicting. Using an extensive collection of data, we have compared these equations on the basis of the resulting fit. This study was performed using analytes covering a wide range of retention values and mobile phases of differing strengths. The Foley–Dorsey equation was used to calculate the number of theoretical plates for the efficiency study and special precautions were taken to ensure that the observed broadening was due to only processes occurring in the column and that the peaks were adequately sampled. The variance from extra-column sources was measured and subtracted from the system variance. Although more complex equations gave very slightly better fits, 50 years after its introduction the van Deemter equation remains an incredibly accurate representation of band-broadening processes.
ESTIMATING DISEASE PREVALENCE AND INCIDENCE USING ADMINISTRATIVE DATA: SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED

The prevalence and incidence of a disease are among the most fundamental measures in epidemiology. Prevalence is a measure of the burden of disease in a population in a given location and at a particular time, as represented in a count of the number of people affected. Counts of the number of people with a disease are required to plan appropriately for their healthcare needs. For example, large numbers of patients with rheumatoid arthritis will necessitate training and staffing with more rheumatologists than if the number of patients with the disease was low; similarly, having many patients with osteoarthritis will require more orthopedic surgeons and surgical beds. Prevalence estimates, which adjust these counts to the size of the source population, are also useful clinically in providing context for diagnostic decision making. Knowing that coronary artery disease is much more common than myocarditis is helpful in evaluating patients with anterior chest pain. Prevalence may also be used to compare disease burden across locations or time periods. However, because prevalence is determined by not only the number of persons affected but also their survival, prevalence is a less useful measure than incidence rates in studies of etiology. Incidence rates represent the number of new cases of disease among the number of susceptible persons in a given location and over a particular span of time. The primary value of incidence rates is in studies of disease etiology, by comparing how the rates vary among different subgroups or with different exposures. To provide prevalence and incidence rate estimates that are both reliable and generalizable, studies must include a sample large enough to capture most (if not all) cases and sufficiently distributed, both geographically and sociologically, to be representative of the general population. With uncommon diseases, including most autoimmune rheumatic diseases, the challenge is multiplied … Address correspondence to Dr. M. Ward, Building 10 CRC, Room 4-1339, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-1468. E-mail: wardm1{at}mail.nih.gov
Contextual image understanding of airport photographs

While performing the photo interpretation task using very high resolution images, the resolution of the image is often reduced to make its processing feasible. However, in low resolution images, it becomes quite difficult to segment and locate targets of interest such as aircraft, which are relatively small. Further, in recognizing aircraft, it is generally assumed that aircraft are already located. The emphasis is placed on model matching for recognizing isolated aircraft. However, locating potential areas in the images, where aircraft may be found, is non-trivial since it requires an accurate labeling of an image. We have developed a Knowledge-Based Photo Interpretation (KBPI) system that analyzes high resolution images. This system locates aircraft by first finding large structures in low resolution images and focusing attention on areas such as tarmacs, runways, parking areas, that have high probability of containing aircraft. Higher resolution images of the regions that are the focus of attention are used in subsequent analysis. The system makes extensive use of contextual knowledge such as spatial and locational information about airport scenes. We show results using high resolution TV data.