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The evaluation of adult patients suspected of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) includes a focused history and examination, 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), and cardiac serum marker analysis. The ECG plays a pivotal role in the early diagnosis and management of STEMI. A number of ECG entities in this patient population will present with ST-segment elevation and other electrocardiographic abnormalities which can mimic STEMI. In this article, we review the most frequent STEMI mimic patterns, highlight their ECG characteristics, and compare these individual ECG entities to the electrocardiographic abnormalities present with STEMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of 3D and 4D printing is advancing rapidly, offering new ways to control the transformation of programmable 3D structures in response to external stimuli. This study examines the impact of 3D printing parameters, namely the UV ink thickness (applied using a UV inkjet printer on pre-3D-printed programmable structures) and thermal activation, on the dimensional and surface changes to high-stress (HS) and low-stress (LS) programmable samples and on print quality. The results indicate that HS samples shrink in the longitudinal direction, while expanding in terms of their height and width, whereas LS samples exhibit minimal dimensional changes due to lower programmed stress. The dynamic mechanical analysis shows that UV ink, particularly cyan and CMYK overprints, reduces the shrinkage in HS samples by acting as a resistive layer. Thicker ink films further reduce the dimensional changes in HS samples. Thermal activation increases the surface roughness of HS structures, leading to the wrinkling of UV ink films, while LS structures are less affected. The surface gloss decreases significantly in HS structures after UV ink application; however, thermal activation has little impact on LS structures. UV ink adhesion remains strong across both HS and LS samples, suggesting that UV inks are ideal for printing on programmable 3D structures, where the colour print quality and precise control of the shape transformation are crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lowering LDL-cholesterol is a fundamental goal for both primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Our study aims to analyse potential sex disparities regarding the tolerability and effectiveness of lipid-lowering therapy in patients with and without reported statin intolerance who are being treated at a lipid-outpatient clinic. Methods: From 2017 to 2022, n = 1062 patients (n = 612 men, n = 450 women) at high-risk were referred to our lipid-outpatient clinic because of difficulties in lipid control by primary healthcare providers. The main therapeutic objective was to optimize lipid-lowering therapy according to current treatment guidelines. Results: Patients presented with high LDL-C baseline levels (4.97 ± 1.81 mmol/l (192 ± 70 mg/dL) in men and 5.46 ± 2.04 mmol/l (211 ± 79 mg/dL) in women). Intolerance towards statins was reported more frequently by women (48.2%) than by men (38.9%, p = 0.004). LDL-C continuously decreased with individual treatment adjustments across follow-up visits. In total, treatment goals (LDL < 1.4 mmol/l (< 55 mg/dl) or < 1.8 mmol/l (< 70 mg/dl)) were accomplished in 75.8% of men and 55.5% of women after the last follow-up visit (p < 0.0001). In men, these data are almost identical in subjects with statin intolerance. In contrast, treatment goals were reached less frequently in women with statin intolerance compared to women tolerant to statin therapy. Conclusion: Even if treated in a specialized lipid clinic, women are less likely to reach their target LDL-C than men, particularly when statin intolerant. Nevertheless, many patients with statin intolerance can be successfully treated using oral combination and PCSK9 inhibitor therapy. However, ongoing follow-up care to monitor progress and to adjust treatment plans is necessary to reach this goal. Plain English Summary: We investigated patients at high cardiovascular risk who were referred to our specialized lipid outpatient clinic because of elevated lipid levels and difficulties in lipid-lowering treatment in the primary care setting. The primary goal of such a clinic is to help patients to achieve optimal lipid levels through personalized treatment plans. We focused on prescription behavior and differences in treatment tolerability and effectiveness between men and women. A large proportion of patients (more frequently women (48.2%) than men (38.9%)) reported intolerance towards statins and most patients' LDL-cholesterol levels were far away from treatment goals. However, when treated at a specialized lipid clinic providing ongoing follow-up care to monitor progress and to adjust treatment plans if necessary, many of those patients were able to tolerate lipid lowering medication to achieve better lipid control and to maintain their lipid levels within target ranges. However, women were less likely to reach LDL-cholesterol treatment targets compared to men, especially if they reported intolerance towards statins. Ongoing follow-up care to monitor progress and to adjust treatment plans is necessary to reach treatment goals. Highlights: •If men or women are treated at a specialized lipid-outpatient clinic, a statin therapy can be implemented in many of those who were previously considered statin-intolerant. •With the introduction of novel lipid-lowering drugs and combination strategies, it is possible to achieve treatment goals even with statin intolerance in a large proportion of patients. •Despite receiving a treatment at a specialized lipid center, women were less likely to reach their target LDL-C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fiber optic sensors integrated into fuel cell stacks have the potential to significantly enhance the temperature control and health monitoring of fuel cells. Inhomogeneous loading, both within individual cells and across different cells in a stack, leads to the formation of local hotspots that accelerate aging and degrade performance. This study investigates the behavior and feasibility of incorporating polyimide-coated optical fiber sensors into bipolar plates for precise and spatially resolved temperature monitoring. The sensor is successfully integrated into a single cell of a fuel cell stack, positioned on the bipolar plate in direct contact with the membrane. Pre-tests are conducted to thoroughly evaluate the technical properties of the fiber in relation to specific cell requirements. Additionally, a physical prototype featuring the sensor is developed and employed to validate its effectiveness under realistic operating conditions. The temperature measurement obtained via the fiber exhibits a continuous profile throughout the entire length, covering both the active area and distributor region of the cell. Throughout the entire 60 min test period, the measuring system provided continuous and uninterrupted temperature measurements, encompassing the start of the stack, the heating phase, the subsequent stable operating point, and the cooling phase. However, some technical challenges are identified, as mechanical pressure exerted on the fiber influences the measured temperature. While this work demonstrates promising results, further advancements are necessary to address inhomogeneous loading within fuel cells and hotspot mitigation. The precise monitoring of temperature distribution enables early detection of potential damage, facilitating timely interventions to improve the service life and overall performance of fuel cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In poultry slaughtering, cross-contamination with Salmonella Enteritidis is a constant ongoing challenge. Interaction between food contact surfaces can potentially transfer pathogenic material like feces from carcasses to another one. One approach to break this chain is to modify surfaces that frequently come into contact with the animal during the slaughtering process. Surface alterations like nanoscale coatings have already been successfully applied in various fields to lower the bacterial load. The aim of the study was to compare bacterial attachment, proliferation and detachment of Salmonella Enteritidis and Escherichia coli on uncoated and on nanoscale silica coated rubber picker fingers at laboratory scale. It was shown that both target organisms did not adhere less to coated surface than to uncoated picker fingers, whereas no difference in bacterial growth or detachment was detected. It can be concluded that the coating used in this study did not contribute to a reduction of the bacterial load on this surface in the specific experimental setups employed. Further studies should focus on whether nanoscale surface modifications achieve improved results under more practical conditions and whether other factors such as surface durability can be influenced by a coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treating individuals with single-sided deafness (SSD) with a cochlear implant (CI) offers significant benefits for speech perception in complex spatial listening environments. After implantation, training without involvement of the normal-hearing ear is essential. Therefore, the AudioLink streaming device (MED-EL GmbH, Austria) can be used to connect the externally worn audio processor to media devices; thus, the auditory stimuli are directly streamed to the implanted ear. The aim was to test whether children with SSD, aged 5–12 years, accept this training method and whether auditory training, streamed directly via AudioLink using the Tiptoi device (Ravensburger GmbH., Ravensburg, Germany), improves speech recognition. A total of 12 children with SSD and implanted with a CI received Tiptoi training via AudioLink and were asked to practice daily for 10 min over a period of one month. All participants completed the training. The measurements employed to assess improvement included speech audiometry, speech, spatial, and quality of hearing scale for parents (SSQ P), and specially designed tasks crafted for this study. Daily training of 9.93 min was reported. The word recognition score (WRS) at 65 dB and 80 dB in aided condition significantly improved and the WRS streamed via AudioLink was significantly better after training. The speech, spatial, and qualities of hearing scale for parents (SSQ P questionnaire) showed significant improvement in the dimension of quality of hearing and overall gain. The outcomes of the Tiptoi tasks resulted in a significant benefit in both categories of the "recognition of sounds" and "understanding of sentences". The results are very encouraging and do not only show the positive uptake of daily training at home but also how this resulted in a significant improvement in subjective and objective measures for this rather short training period of one month only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross‐contamination in the poultry slaughtering process can lead to thespread of zoonotic bacteria like Salmonellaenterica. Surfaces of equiptment may facilitate contamination of carcasses due to bacterial adherence and transfer. In this study, attachment, proliferation, and detachment of Salmonella Enteritidis and Escherichia coli were comparatively investigated on uncoated and silica‐coated stainless‐steel surfaces. The conditions occurring in the slaughtering workflow were imitated on laboratory scale, for example, spilling of contaminated liquid onto equipment surfaces, pressing or sliding of carcasses against surfaces during the slaughtering procedure, and cleaning of contaminated stainless‐steel surfaces with water or detergent. Growth on stainless‐steel surfaces was measured for 8 h. The applied silica coating led to a partly higher repelling effect without impact on proliferation for the target organisms on stainless steel. Further development of the coating and daption to the exact circumstances as well as more extending testing under real conditions would be the next steps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurobehavioral task performance is modulated by the circadian and homeostatic processes of sleep/wake regulation. Biomathematical modeling of the temporal dynamics of these processes and their interaction allows for prospective prediction of performance impairment in shift-workers and provides a basis for fatigue risk management in 24/7 operations. It has been reported, however, that the impact of the circadian rhythm—and in particular its timing—is inherently task-dependent, which would have profound implications for our understanding of the temporal dynamics of neurobehavioral functioning and the accuracy of biomathematical model predictions. We investigated this issue in a laboratory study designed to unambiguously dissociate the influences of the circadian and homeostatic processes on neurobehavioral performance, as measured during a constant routine protocol preceded by three days on either a simulated night shift or a simulated day shift schedule. Neurobehavioral functions were measured every 2 h using three functionally distinct assays: a digit symbol substitution test, a psychomotor vigilance test, and the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale. After dissociating the circadian and homeostatic influences and accounting for inter-individual variability, peak circadian performance occurred in the late biological afternoon (in the "wake maintenance zone") for all three neurobehavioral assays. Our results are incongruent with the idea of inherent task-dependent differences in the endogenous circadian impact on performance. Rather, our results suggest that neurobehavioral functions are under top-down circadian control, consistent with the way they are accounted for in extant biomathematical models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Only about 10%–30% of the organic matter produced in the epipelagic layers reaches the dark ocean. Under these limiting conditions, reduced inorganic substrates might be used as an energy source to fuel prokaryotic chemoautotrophic and/or mixotrophic activity. The aprA gene encodes the alpha subunit of the adenosine‐5′‐phosphosulfate (APS) reductase, present in sulfate‐reducing (SRP) and sulfur‐oxidizing prokaryotes (SOP). The sulfur‐oxidizing pathway can be coupled to inorganic carbon fixation via the Calvin–Benson–Bassham cycle. The abundances of aprA and cbbM, encoding RuBisCO form II (the key CO2 fixing enzyme), were determined over the entire water column along a latitudinal transect in the Atlantic from 64°N to 50°S covering six oceanic provinces. The abundance of aprA and cbbM genes significantly increased with depth reaching the highest abundances in meso‐ and upper bathypelagic layers. The contribution of cells containing these genes also increased from mesotrophic towards oligotrophic provinces, suggesting that under nutrient limiting conditions alternative energy sources are advantageous. However, the aprA/cbbM ratios indicated that only a fraction of the SOP is associated with inorganic carbon fixation. The aprA harbouring prokaryotic community was dominated by Pelagibacterales in surface and mesopelagic waters, while Candidatus Thioglobus, Chromatiales and the Deltaproteobacterium_SCGC dominated the bathypelagic realm. Noticeably, the contribution of the SRP to the prokaryotic community harbouring aprA gene was low, suggesting a major utilization of inorganic sulfur compounds either as an energy source (occasionally coupled with inorganic carbon fixation) or in biosynthesis pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses on author co-citation analysis - ACA, particularly presenting a proposal to define the selection of authors. Objectives: a) to compare total citation, citation per citing document and author's cocitation with himself, to define the most appropriate indicator for inclusion of authors; and b) to propose a way to establish a cut-off point for creating of the matrices. Two data sets, retrieved from the Web of Science, were used: set A, composed of 17,992 references from 421 articles; Set B, composed of 5,771 references from 151 articles. The citation per citing document is more appropriate to classify authors than the total number of citations and author's co-citation with himself. To include authors whose citations by citing documents reach approximately 20% proved to be appropriate, but authors cited only once, which constitute absolute dispersion data, should not be included in the calculations. Regarding the data in Set A, 180 authors (20.6% of the sum of citations) and 72 authors (20.1% of the sum of citations) were defined, considering all the positions of the references and the first positions, respectively. It concludes by the validity of the proposal for contextualizing the data analyzed and considering the best distribution of cited authors mentioned in the corpus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Total sleep deprivation (TSD) and time-on-task (TOT), especially in combination, increase cognitive instability and cause performance impairment. There are large inter-individual differences in TSD and TOT effects which, in part, have a genetic basis. Here, we show that the dopamine receptor D2 C957T genetic polymorphism predicts the magnitude of the TOT effect on a psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) during 38 h of TSD. This finding indicates that dopamine availability in the striatum, where the dopamine receptor D2 is most prevalent, influences the TOT effect, suggesting a role for dopaminergic pathways in sustained attention deficits during sleep loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, Ti6Al4V alloy is surface modified by femtosecond laser ablation. The microstructure image obtained by secondary electron microscopy reveals a combination of micrometer spikes or cones superimposed by nanoripples (laser‐induced periodic surface structures). To make the surface hydrophilic, anodization is performed resulting in further smoothness of microstructure and a final thickness of 35 ± 4 nm is estimated for oxide produced after anodization at 10 V (scan rate = 0.1 V s−1) versus standard hydrogen electrode. The obtained electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) is approximately 8 times larger compared with flat mirror polished Ti6Al4V surface. Combined chemical analysis by Pourbaix diagram and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses reveal that titanium and aluminum are passivating into TiO2 and Al2O3, but the dissolution of aluminum in the form of solvated ion is inevitable. Finally, cell seeding experiments on anodized and laser‐treated titanium alloy samples show that the growth of murine fibroblast cells is significantly suppressed due to unique surface texture of the laser‐treated and anodized titanium alloy sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presentation of pulmonary embolism (PE) varies from asymptomatic to lifethreatening, and management involves multiple specialists. Timely diagnosis of PE is based on clinical presentation, D-dimer testing, and computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA), and assessment by a Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) is critical to management. Artificial intelligence (AI) technology plays a key role in the PE workflow with automated detection and flagging of suspected PE in CTPA imaging. HIPAA-compliant communication features of mobile and web-based applications may facilitate PERT workflow with immediate access to imaging, team activation, and realtime information sharing and collaboration. In this review, we describe contemporary diagnostic tools, specifically AI, that are important in the triage and diagnosis of PE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use the interference of deformation-potential-and Frö hlich-induced Raman scattering from LO phonons in zincblende materials to identify the in-plane axes of zincblende (100) surfaces and interfaces. This procedure, which allows e.g. to distinguish between the 011 and the 0-11 direction, is demonstrated experimentally for n-and p-type GaAs (100). The main potential of the method is its application to heterostructures. Here it allows the unambiguous assignment of polarized Raman scattering features from surfaces and interfaces to their characteristic symmetry directions. Two examples are presented: (i) localized vibrations of CdSe monolayers, embedded in BeTe stacks, and (ii) vibration modes of Te dimers on clean (2× 1) reconstructed BeTe (100) surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, bottom-up protein identification in MALDI-MS is based on employing singly charged peptide ions, which are predominantly formed in the ionization process. However, peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) with subsequent tandem MS confirmation using these peptide ions is often hampered due to the lower quality of fragment ion mass spectra caused by the higher collision energy necessary for fragmenting singly protonated peptides. Accordingly, peptide ions of higher charge states would be of high interest for analytical purposes, but they are usually not detected in MALDI-MS experiments as they overlap with singly charged matrix clusters and peptide ions. However, when utilizing ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), doubly charged peptide ions can be actively used by separating them from the singly protonated peptides, visualized, and selectively targeted for tandem MS experiments. The generated peptide fragment ion spectra can be used for a more confident protein identification using PMF with tandem MS confirmation, as most doubly protonated peptide ions yield fragment ion mass spectra of higher quality compared to tandem mass spectra of the corresponding singly protonated precursor ions. Mascot protein scores can be increased by approximately 50% when using tandem mass spectra of doubly charged peptide ions, with ion scores up to six times higher compared with ion scores of tandem mass spectra from singly charged precursors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Challenges to ensiling are coming from a wide spectrum. Faster harvest rates are making it more difficult to achieve target silage densities. Larger harvest equipment is increasing soil compaction and rural road issues. Older silos are too small and are overfilled, creating safety issues, or temporary piles are placed on bare ground permitting soil contamination. Mycotoxins and other pathogens in silages are still a problem. Global warming may affect the forage crops grown and crop characteristics as well as rates of silage fermentation and aerobic deterioration. Silage as an input to bio‐refineries has an unclear future. Silage analysis is challenged by sampling and knowing what components truly predict nutritional value. The future holds many opportunities for both ensiling and silage research. Robotic harvesting will release more labour for silo packing, and there are opportunities to develop tools to estimate silage density during filling. Total mixed ration silages should allow more by‐products in rations. The development of novel silage additives to improve silage hygiene or increase nutrient availability appears promising. Predicting the onset of aerobic deterioration with quick tests for lactate‐assimilating yeasts or silage temperatures seems possible. Metabolomics and metabonomics, in addition to the microbiome tools in development, put us at the cusp of being able to see which microorganisms are active in the silo and rumen and what compounds of significance they are producing. This could lead to many advances in silage quality including reduced microbial toxins, better hygiene and improved utilization by livestock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In sex-role-reversed species, females are typically the more competitive sex, defending territories and access to mates, while males take care of the young, often without any help from the female. In males of species with traditional sex roles, testosterone levels generally rise during the breeding season and modulate territorial and aggressive behaviour. Similarly, testosterone may modulate aggressive behaviour in females of sex-role-reversed species. To test this idea, we experimentally increased testosterone levels in sex-role-reversed polyandrous female Barred Buttonquails (Turnix suscitator) by implanting them with testosterone pellets and testing their behavioural responses during a simulated territorial challenge. Contrary to expectations, the testosterone treatment did not elicit a stronger aggressive response towards a simulated intruder than in control females. Furthermore, testosterone levels of control females were not elevated during the challenge, and were actually lower after the challenge than before it. Our study did not find any evidence that exogenous testosterone increases aggression in female Barred Buttonquails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: In‐source decay (ISD) matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI) mass spectrometry with a 1,5‐diaminonaphthalene (1,5‐DAN) matrix is used for the structural characterisation of peptides. However, MALDI spectra are intrinsically complicated by the presence of matrix ions, which interfere with the peptide fragments. This may cause false‐positive results or reduced sequence coverage. This paper reports investigations of ISD processes in an intermediate pressure MALDI ion source and a protocol for the removal of interfering ions using ion mobility separation (IMS). Methods: An intermediate pressure MALDI source of a Q‐IMS‐Q‐TOF instrument (Synapt G2) has been employed for the ISD of selected peptides using a 1,5‐DAN matrix. Results: Successful coupling of the MALDI source tuned for ISD experiments using IMS is demonstrated. The IMS made it possible to remove interfering matrix ions effectively from the spectra and thus to increase the confidence of spectral interpretation. Extensive fragment series corresponding to N–Cα bond cleavages were observed under optimised conditions; on the other hand, weaker series of ions caused by peptide bond cleavages were prevalent for default conditions and/or the α‐hydroxycinnamic acid matrix. Conclusions: Ion mobility has been used for the elimination of matrix ions. The technique has been applied to top‐down sequencing of non‐tryptic peptides, such as the human palmitoylated analogue of prolactin‐releasing peptide used in recent obesity studies, and human and insect antimicrobial peptides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surfaces of titanium grade 5 (Ti6Al4V) samples were altered on a micro and nano scale by femtosecond laser irradiation and subsequent electrochemical anodization. The produced micro-cones and nano-ripples covered by the additional oxide layer were characterised and their influence on osteoblast-like Saos-2 cell growth was studied. Surface topography and morphology were studied by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). From the wettability experiments, it was found that the contact angle vs. roughness follows the Wenzel equation and that the wettability increases after the anodization. The composition of the formed oxide layer was determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and oxide incorporation of phosphate ions could be confirmed. Moreover, estimated electrochemical surface area (ECSA) of the femtosecond laser treated sample was 14 times larger compared to a polished sample. The anodic oxide film formation factors for different electrolytes were determined and were in the range of 1.3 nm V−1–2.0 nm V−1. Finally, the samples anodized with 0.1 M H 2 SO 4 and 3 M H 3 PO 4 showed decreased Saos-2 cell growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF-A) in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) represent the first major, sustained wars in which emergency physicians (EPs) fully participated as an integrated part of the military’s health system. EPs proved invaluable in the deployments, and they frequently used the full spectrum of trauma and medical care skills. The roles EPs served expanded over the years of the conflicts and demonstrated the unique skill set of emergency medicine (EM) training. EPs supported elite special operations units, served in medical command positions, and developed and staffed flying intensive care units. EPs have brought their combat experience home to civilian practice. This narrative review summarizes the history, contributions, and lessons learned by EPs during OEF-A/OIF and describes changes to daily clinical practice of EM derived from the combat environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additives have been available for enhancing silage preservation for decades. This review covers research studies published since 2000 that have investigated the efficacy of silage additives. The review has been divided into 6 categories of additives: homofermentative lactic acid bacteria (LAB), obligate heterofermentative LAB, combination inoculants containing obligate heterofermentative LAB plus homofermentative LAB, other inoculants, chemicals, and enzymes. The homofermentative LAB rapidly decrease pH and increase lactic acid relative to other fermentation products, although a meta-analysis indicated no reduction in pH in corn, sorghum, and sugarcane silages relative to untreated silages. These additives resulted in higher milk production according to the meta-analysis by mechanisms that are still unclear. Lactobacillus buchneri is the dominant species used in obligate heterofermentative LAB silage additives. It slowly converts lactic acid to acetic acid and 1,2-propanediol during silo storage, improving aerobic stability while having no effect on animal productivity. Current research is focused on finding other species in the Lb. buchneri group capable of producing more rapid improvements in aerobic stability. Combination inoculants aim to provide the aerobic stability benefits of Lb. buchneri with the silage fermentation efficiency and animal productivity benefits of homofermentative LAB. Research indicates that these products are improving aerobic stability, but feeding studies are not yet sufficient to make conclusions about effects on animal performance. Novel non-LAB species have been studied as potential silage inoculants. Streptococcus bovis is a potential starter species within a homofermentative LAB inoculant. Propionibacterium and Bacillus species offer improved aerobic stability in some cases. Some yeast research has focused on inhibiting molds and other detrimental silage microorganisms, whereas other yeast research suggests that it may be possible to apply a direct-fed microbial strain at ensiling, have it survive ensiling, and multiply during feed out. Chemical additives traditionally have fallen in 2 groups. Formic acid causes direct acidification, suppressing clostridia and other undesired bacteria and improving protein preservation during ensiling. On the other hand, sorbic, benzoic, propionic, and acetic acids improve silage aerobic stability at feed out through direct inhibition of yeasts and molds. Current research has focused on various combinations of these chemicals to improve both aerobic stability and animal productivity. Enzyme additives have been added to forage primarily to breakdown plant cell walls at ensiling to improve silage fermentation by providing sugars for the LAB and to enhance the nutritive value of silage by increasing the digestibility of cell walls. Cellulase or hemicellulase mixtures have been more successful at the former than the latter. A new approach focused on Lb. buchneri producing ferulic acid esterase has also had mixed success in improving the efficiency of silage digestion. Another new enzyme approach is the application of proteases to corn silage to improve starch digestibility, but more research is needed to determine the feasibility. Future silage additives are expected to directly inhibit clostridia and other detrimental microorganisms, mitigate high mycotoxin levels on harvested forages during ensiling, enhance aerobic stability, improve cell wall digestibility, increase the efficiency of utilization of silage nitrogen by cattle, and increase the availability of starch to cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the rates of co-occurring disorders in two large federally-funded programs that target youth. In the mental health treatment system, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) supports the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program. SAMHSA's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) supports a number of grant programs providing substance abuse treatment for adolescents. The data from these programs underscores the need for the use of systematic, validated, biopsychosocial assessment instruments for all youth entering either the substance abuse or mental health treatment systems. The current evidence base for models of co-occurring treatment for youth is discussed and recommendations made for future activity related to adolescent co-occurring treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To assess the effect of two additives on alfalfa silage and on in vitro ruminal fermentation when using ruminal inocula from high feed-efficient ( HE) and low feed-efficient ( LE) lactating cows. Methods and Results First- and second-cut alfalfa was harvested at 40% bloom stage, treated with control (no additive), Lactobacillus plantarum ( LP) or formic acid (Formic), ensiled in 1·0 l minisilos, and fermented for 60 days. Fermented alfalfa was incubated in vitro for 24 h using ruminal inoculum from HE and LE lactating cows. The pH was lower in alfalfa silage treated with LP and Formic, and produced lower ammonia-N than did the control. In vitro true dry matter digestibility ( IVTDMD) was higher with ruminal inoculum from HE than LE cows, but there was no consistent effect of treated alfalfa on microbial biomass yield and in vitro volatile fatty acids. Conclusions The IVTDMD was numerically greater with ruminal inoculum from higher feed-efficient cows although statistical significance was only demonstrated with the first-cut alfalfa. However, treated alfalfa silage did not show the effect expected on in vitro microbial biomass yield. Significance and Impact of the Study The feed efficiency of cows used as a source of ruminal inocula may affect IVTDMD and be a source of variation across in vitro runs. Differences in ruminal fermentation between cows of different feed efficiency could help to explain differences in milk yield and other parameters of dairy cattle performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Around 466 mln people worldwide suffer from disabling hearing loss, and 34 mln of those are children In Austria 1-2 children in 1000 are born with a hearing disorder and between 0.1 and 5% suffer from unilateral, called Single- Sided Deafness (SSD) Treating SSD-patients with a cochlear implant (CI), offers significant benefits for speech perception in complex spatial listening environments After implantation, the brain needs time and training to adapt to auditory signals from both sides before speech and environmental sounds become natural again Therefore, this new, different way of hearing necessitates training without involvement of the normal hearing ear Especially the rehabilitation of SSDchildren requires regular, daily, hence best at home, training to ensure success Practice material for auditory training with children is scarce Furthermore, in the case of SSD the normal hearing ear is only covered manually (earplug or similar), which especially at home is often not done correctly and even in clinical settings there is always a certain possibility that the normal hearing ear is active during the exercises, hence the implanted ear is not trained properly The newest generations of implants such as the Synchrony 2 CI, offers an external universal connectivity device, the so called AudioLink This device can be used to connect the externally worn audio processor (AP) with a phone, tablet, TV or other media devices and the auditory stimuli is directly streamed to the implanted ear This advantage is tested for its effectiveness in the here presented study Objectives: In our study, we connected the Tiptoi game to the AudioLink for therapeutic purposes Tiptoi is a digital audio learning system Children can use an electronic pen when interacting with Tiptoi books, games, puzzles, or even a globe The pen has a built-in microphone and the Tiptoi sequence of sounds, noises and words and their assignment in the book is comparable to the speech perception test for adults when repeating words, with the difference that it is tested in a playful way The aim of this pilot study was to test (1) whether children, aged 5--12 years, suffering from SSD accept this training method and (2) whether this training improves the speech recognition after Tiptoi training streamed directly via AudioLink Material and methods: 10 implanted SSD patients received Tiptoi training via AudioLink as an additional voluntary therapy intervention The children were asked to practice daily for 10 minutes for a duration of one month Before and after training, the following measurements were performed: Göttinger Children's Language Test WRS (presentation level of 65 dB and 80 dB vs streaming via AudioLink), Tiptoi tasks (recognising 10 sounds and understand 10 sentences), SSQP questionnaire. Results: Out of the ten included subjects, seven children already finished the four weeks of AudioLink training at home Based on the diary a daily training of 8 7 minutes was reported The WRS at 65 and 80 dB in aided condition was improved (P=0.1 and P=0.05 respectively) Whereas the WRS streamed via AudioLink, ensuring direct auditory input through the implant, was significantly better after training (P=0.02) The SSQP Questionnaire showed a significant improvement in the Dimension of Speech and Overall gain (P=0.03 and P=0.04, respectively) The outcomes of the Tiptoi tasks resulted in a significant benefit in the category "recognition of sounds", while the category "understanding of sentences" only showed tendencies for improvement (P=0.02 and P=0.12). Conclusions: The preliminary results are very encouraging and showing not only the positive uptake of daily training at home but also resulted in significant improvements in subjective as well as objective measures for this rather short training period of only 1 month. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface modifications of dental implants play a crucial role for material stability, durability, and patient contentment; hence optimization of the commonly used techniques can have significant impact. Surface properties affect the osseointegration of implants; however, the surface for the optimal osseointegration is still being researched. Herein, the surface roughness and topography of dental implant screws after polishing, sandblasting, and laser treatment via tapping‐mode atomic force microscopy are investigated. The measurements are performed at the implants' shank, crest, and root sites and evaluated for surface roughness, kurtosis, and skew values. Laser‐treated and sandblasted samples have a significantly higher roughness compared to the machined sample. The roughness at the root of the samples is higher in case of the laser‐treated and machined samples, while lower for the sandblasted implant. It is found that laser treatment leads to a roughness lower than that of sandblasted dental screws but significantly higher than that of mechanically polished implants. Differences in the roughness at different topological sites show the need for more precise treatment of implants in order to optimize the roughness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Our objective was to gain insight into whether bedside rounding at shift turnover in the emergency department improved education quality, as compared with board rounds. Board rounds are commonly used in the emergency department, where the teams review the patient and transfer care near a computer screen or written board, rather than at the patient's bedside. The impact on teaching or patient care has not been extensively compared between the two approaches. Methods We conducted a prospective study in an academic emergency department to compare bedside rounds versus board rounds. A convenience sample of 408-hour clinical shifts were randomised to either bedside or board rounds. Data collected included frequency of discussion of differential diagnosis, questions asked per patient, total time for which alternative therapies were discussed, total time for which alternative tests were discussed, total time for which exam findings were discussed and demonstrated, and resident impression of education quality. Results The randomisation of 20 shifts in each cohort provided a total of 274 patient cases. Our primary outcome was an increased frequency of discussion of the differential diagnosis, which occurred more often in the bedside group (72 versus 53%). We also detected that with bedside rounding more questions per patient were asked, and alternative therapies and tests, exam findings and results were discussed more often. Conclusions Bedside rounding in the emergency department, as compared with board rounding, appears to increase the frequency of learner education measures. Emergency medicine residents reported the quality of education was better with bedside rounding. Bedside rounds took on average 4 minutes longer, without achieving statistical significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study sought to evaluate the clinical outcome after extended sentinel lymph node dissection (eSLND) and radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer (PCa). Subjects and Methods: From August 2002 until February 2011, a total of 819 patients with clinically localized PCa, confirmed by biopsy, were treated with RRP plus eSLND. Biochemical recurrence-free survival (RFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS) were assessed with Kaplan-Meier curves. Various histopathological parameters were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: The mean follow-up was 5.3 years. Lymph node (LN) metastases occurred in 140 patients. We removed an average of 10.9 LNs via eSLND from patients with pN1 PCa. Postoperatively, 121 pN1 patients temporarily received adjuvant androgen deprivation therapy. The mean survival periods for RFS, RFS after secondary treatment, CSS, and OS were 4.7, 7.0, 8.8, and 8.1 years, respectively. The cancer-specific death rate of the 140 pN1 patients was 13.6%. RFS, CSS, and OS were significantly correlated with pathological margin status, LN density, the total diameter of evident metastases, and membership in the subgroup 'micrometastases only'. Conclusion: Despite the presence of LN metastases, patients with a low nodal tumor burden demonstrate a remarkable clinical outcome after undergoing eSLND and RRP, thus suggesting a potential curative therapeutic approach. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diagnostics and treatment of dementia are progressively gaining importance for European neurologists. Our hospital structures are poorly prepared for patients suffering from dementia. As a consequence of cognitive and physical deficits, dementia patients have an increased risk for serious complications and poor outcomes in hospital environments. In this review, the specific needs of dementia patients are outlined, describing how geriatricians, neurologists and psychiatrists may contribute to better patient care, e.g. with consultation or liaison services, geriatric wards, dedicated dementia wards or memory clinics in interaction with nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, psychologists and social workers. Due to their multifaceted needs, dementia patients can most successfully be supported in clinical environments that closely integrate specialized inpatient, outpatient and primary care offers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal coloration is one of the most conspicuous aspects of human-perceived organismal diversity, yet also one of the least understood. In particular, explaining why species have specific colors (e.g., blue vs. red) has proven elusive. Here, we quantify for nearly all bird species, the proportion of the body covered by each of 12 human-visible color categories, and test whether existing theory can predict the direction of color evolution. The most common colors are black, white, gray and brown, while the rarest are green, blue, purple, and red. Males have more blue, purple, red, or black, whereas females have more yellow, brown, or gray. Sexual dichromatism is partly due to sexual selection favoring ornamental colors in males but not in females. However, sexual selection also correlated positively with brown in both sexes. Strong social selection favors red and black, colors used in agonistic signaling, with the strongest effects in females. Reduced predation risk selects against cryptic colors (e.g., brown) and favors specific ornamental colors (e.g., black). Nocturnality is mainly associated with brown. The effects of habitat use support the sensory drive theory for camouflage and signaling. Darker colors are more common in species living in wet and cold climates, matching ecogeographical rules. Our study unambiguously supports existing theories of color evolution across an entire class of vertebrates, but much variation remains unexplained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 77-year-old woman presented to the emergency department complaining of a headache following a syncopal episode (while standing) earlier that day. She said that she'd lost consciousness for several minutes, and then experienced several minutes of mild confusion that resolved spontaneously. On physical exam, she was oriented to person and place, but not time. She had a contusion in her left occipitoparietal region without extensive bruising or deformity. The patient had normal cardiopulmonary, abdominal, and neurologic exams. Her past medical history included hypertension and normal pressure hydrocephalus, and her vital signs were within normal limits. She was taking aspirin once daily. The patient's initial head and neck computerized tomography (CT) scans were normal, but she was hospitalized because of her confusion. During her hospitalization, the patient had mild episodic headaches that resolved with acetaminophen. The next day, her confusion resolved, and repeat CT scans were unchanged. She was discharged within 24 hours. Two weeks later, the patient returned to the hospital after her daughter found her on the toilet, unable to stand up from the sitting position. She was confused and experienced a worsening of headache during transport to the hospital. No recurrent falls or additional episodes of trauma were reported. A CT scan was performed. WHAT IS YOUR DIAGNOSIS? HOW WOULD YOU TREAT THIS PATIENT? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dairy producers frequently ask questions about the risks associated with applying dairy slurry to growing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Our objectives were to determine the effects of applying dairy slurry on the subsequent nutritive value and fermentation characteristics of alfalfa balage. Dairy slurry was applied to 0.17-ha plots of alfalfa; applications were made to the second (HARV1) and third (HARV2) cuttings during June and July of 2012, respectively, at mean rates of 42,400 ± 5271 and 41,700 ± 2397 L/ha, respectively. Application strategies included (1) no slurry, (2) slurry applied directly to stubble immediately after the preceding harvest, (3) slurry applied after 1 wk of post-ensiled regrowth, or (4) slurry applied after 2 wk of regrowth. All harvested forage was packaged in large, rectangular bales that were ensiled as wrapped balage. Yields of DM harvested from HARV1 (2,477 kg/ha) and HARV2 (781 kg/ha) were not affected by slurry application treatment. By May 2013, all silages appeared to be well preserved, with no indication of undesirable odors characteristic of clostridial fermentations. Clostridium tyrobutyricum, which is known to negatively affect cheese production, was not detected in any forage on either a pre- or post-ensiled basis. On a pre-ensiled basis, counts for Clostridium cluster 1 were greater for slurry-applied plots than for those receiving no slurry, and this response was consistent for HARV1 (4.44 vs. 3.29 log10 genomic copies/g) and HARV2 (4.99 vs. 3.88 log10 genomic copies/g). Similar responses were observed on a post-ensiled basis; however, post-ensiled counts also were greater for HARV1 (5.51 vs. 5.17 log10 genomic copies/g) and HARV2 (5.84 vs. 5.28 log10 genomic copies/g) when slurry was applied to regrowth compared with stubble. For HARV2, counts also were greater following a 2-wk application delay compared with a 1-wk delay (6.23 vs. 5.45 log10 genomic copies/g). These results suggest that the risk of clostridial fermentations in alfalfa silages is greater following applications of slurry. Based on pre- and post-ensiled clostridial counts, applications of dairy slurry on stubble are preferred (and less risky) compared with delayed applications on growing alfalfa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing complexity of current embedded systems is pushing their design to higher levels of abstraction, leading to a convergence between hardware and software design methodologies. In this paper, we aim at narrowing the gap between hardware and software design by introducing a strategy that handles both domains in a unified fashion. We leverage on aspect-oriented programming and object-oriented programming techniques in order to provide unified C\! +\! + descriptions of embedded system components. Such unified descriptions can be obtained through a careful design process focused on isolating aspects that are specific to hardware and software scenarios. Aspects that differ significantly in each domain, such as resource allocation and communication, were isolated in aspect programs that are applied to the unified descriptions before they are compiled to software binaries or synthesized to dedicated hardware using high-level synthesis tools. Our results show that our strategy leads to reusable and flexible components at the cost of an acceptable overhead when compared to software-only C/C \!+ \! + and hardware-only C \!+ \! + implementations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research, design, fabrication and results of various screen printed capacitive humidity sensors is presented in this paper. Two types of capacitive humidity sensors have been designed and fabricated via screen printing on recycled paper and cardboard, obtained from the regional paper and cardboard industry. As printing ink, commercially available silver nanoparticle-based conductive ink was used. A considerable amount of work has been devoted to the humidity measurement methods using paper as a dielectric material. Performances of different structures have been tested in a humidity chamber. Relative humidity in the chamber was varied in the range of 35%-80% relative humidity (RH) at a constant temperature of 23 °C. Parameters of interest were capacitance and conductance of each sensor material, as well as long term behaviour. Process reversibility has also been considered. The results obtained show a mainly logarithmic response of the paper sensors, with the only exception being cardboard-based sensors. Recycled paper-based sensors exhibit a change in value of three orders of magnitude, whereas cardboard-based sensors have a change in value of few 10s over the entire scope of relative humidity range (RH 35%-90%). Two different types of capacitor sensors have been investigated: lateral (comb) type sensors and modified, perforated flat plate type sensors. The objective of the present work was to identify the most important factors affecting the material performances with humidity, and to contribute to the development of a sensor system supported with a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip directly on the material, for use in smart packaging applications. Therefore, the authors built a passive and a battery-supported wireless module based on SL900A smart sensory tag's IC to achieve UHF-RFID functionality with data logging capability [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of ultraviolet (UV) printing technology has impacted printing industry in last years due to its applicability on many different ⪢absorptive⪡ as well as ⪢non-absorptive⪡ printing materials. The printability of building materials and recycled foils is relatively unknown. For primary building materials like stones, functionality can be explored with the use of UV printing technology; increased visual, informative effect or even "creative printing" of buildings. Also several aspects of recycled foils reusability as a printing material could be find (printed packaging material or also like secondary building materials). In the present study, printability of the stone and recycled foil and durability of UV prints was explored by means of macroscopically and microscopically characterization. Results indicate that higher print quality can be achieved on polished stone and on coated foil, which surfaces have higher smoothness. Durability of UV prints at freezing is higher at unpolished stone and coated foil that is at materials with the higher surface energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the process of creating tactile adaptation of various paintings, which are mostly done in the microcapsule technique and the thermovacuum technique. Topics discussed include the three stages of adaptation used by the group on the painting "Portrait of Empress Elisabeth of Habsburg" and the explanation on the process done in each adaptation stage. Also mentioned are technologies used in creating the tactile painting.

We recently developed adenovirus/transposase hybrid-vectors utilizing the previously described hyperactive Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposase HSB5 for somatic integration and we could show stabilized transgene expression in mice and a canine model for hemophilia B. However, the safety profile of these hybrid-vectors with respect to vector dose and genotoxicity remains to be investigated. Herein, we evaluated this hybrid-vector system in C57Bl/6 mice with escalating vector dose settings. We found that in all mice which received the hyperactive SB transposase, transgene expression levels were stabilized in a dose-dependent manner and that the highest vector dose was accompanied by fatalities in mice. To analyze potential genotoxic side-effects due to somatic integration into host chromosomes, we performed a genome-wide integration site analysis using linker-mediated PCR (LM-PCR) and linear amplification-mediated PCR (LAM-PCR). Analysis of genomic DNA samples obtained from HSB5 treated female and male mice revealed a total of 1327 unique transposition events. Overall the chromosomal distribution pattern was close-to-random and we observed a random integration profile with respect to integration into gene and non-gene areas. Notably, when using the LM-PCR protocol, 27 extra-chromosomal integration events were identified, most likely caused by transposon excision and subsequent transposition into the delivered adenoviral vector genome. In total, this study provides a careful evaluation of the safety profile of adenovirus/Sleeping Beauty transposase hybrid-vectors. The obtained information will be useful when designing future preclinical studies utilizing hybrid-vectors in small and large animal models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In four parallel experiments, herbage [three harvests of alfalfa (308 to 379g dry matter (DM)/kg), one of whole-plant corn (331g DM/kg)] was ensiled with three different treatments: no inoculant (control), Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) or formic acid (FA), in 1-L mini-silos and fermented for 60d at room temperature (22°C). Mini-silos were opened and analyzed for fermentation characteristics and soluble N fractions. A subsample of wet silage from each mini-silo was ground to 4mm and stored at −20°C. Silages were thawed and subjected to 9h ruminal in vitro incubations to measure gas production and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production as well as microbial biomass yield (MBY) and microbial non-ammonia N (MNAN) formation using 15N as a marker. In all four experiments, silage fermentation products and pH indicated good preservation across all treatments. Analysis of data showed that FA- and LP-treated silages had lower concentrations of ammonia-N and free amino acids N than control. The FA treatment was lower in soluble N, but higher in peptide-N, than control. Silage pH was lowest in FA (4.25), followed by LP (4.28), and control (4.38). Ruminal in vitro gas production and VFA concentrations were not different among treatments (P>0.05). Compared to control, FA- and LP-treated silage yielded greater MNAN and MBY. These findings suggested that L. plantarum preserved more true protein during silage fermentation than control, which in turn increased in vitro ruminal microbial growth. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The frustrations of forage producers attempting to conserve high-quality alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) silage during periods of unstable or inclement weather are widely known. Our objectives for this series of studies were to (1) assess indicators of ensilability, such as pH, buffering capacity, water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), and starch for wilting alfalfa forages receiving no rainfall or damaged by simulated or natural rainfall events; (2) use these data as inputs to calculate the threshold moisture concentration that would prohibit a clostridially dominated fermentation; and (3) further evaluate the effects of rain damage or no rain damage on measures of forage nutritive value. Rainfall events were applied to wilting forages by both simulated and natural methods over multiple studies distributed across 4 independent forage harvests. Generally, simulated rainfall was applied to alfalfa under controlled conditions in which forages were relatively wet at the time of application, and subsequently were dried to final moisture endpoints under near ideal conditions within a constant temperature/humidity environmental chamber, thereby limiting postwetting wilting time to =21 h. As a result, indicators of ensilability, as well as measures of nutritive value, changed only marginally as a result of treatment. Consistently, reductions in concentrations of WSC and starch occurred, but changes in WSC were relatively modest, and postwetting concentrations of WSC may have been buoyed by hydrolysis of starch. When forages were subjected to natural rainfall events followed by prolonged exposure under field conditions, indicators of ensilability were much less desirable. In one study in which alfalfa received 49.3 mm of natural rainfall over a prolonged (8-d) field-exposure period, fresh pH increased from 6.48 to 7.43 within all forages exposed to these extended, moist wilting conditions. Furthermore, sharp reductions were observed in buffering capacity (410 vs. 337 mEq/kg of DM), WSC (6.13 vs. 2.90%), starch (2.28 vs. 0.45%), and clostridially dominated fermentation (62.7 vs. 59.4%). Based on these experiments, the potential for good fermentation is affected only minimally by single rainfall events applied to relatively wet forages, provided these events are followed by rapid dehydration; however, attaining acceptable silage fermentations with forages subjected to prolonged exposure under poor drying conditions is likely to be far more problematic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Introduction: A considerable body of evidence indicates the involvement of the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) in the pathogenesis and treatment of depression. Methods: The acute effect of fluvoxamine, on 5-HT synthesis rates was investigated in rat brain regions, using α-14C-methyl-L-tryptophan as a tracer. Fluvoxamine (25 mg/kg) and saline (control) were injected intraperitoneally, one hour before the injection of the tracer (30 μCi). Results: There was no significant effect of fluvoxamine on plasma free tryptophan. After Benjamini–Hochberg False Discovery Rate correction, a significant decrease in the 5-HT synthesis rate in the fluvoxamine treated rats, was found in the raphe magnus (−32%), but not in the median (−14%) and dorsal (−3%) raphe nuclei. In the regions with serotonergic axon terminals, significant increases in synthesis rates were observed in the dorsal (+41%) and ventral (+43%) hippocampus, visual (+38%), auditory (+65%) and parietal (+37%) cortex, and the substantia nigra pars compacta (+56%). There were no significant changes in the 5-HT synthesis rates in the median (+11%) and lateral (+24%) part of the caudate-putamen, nucleus accumbens (+5%), VTA (+16%) or frontal cortex (+ 6%). Conclusions: The data show that the acute administration of fluvoxamine affects 5-HT synthesis rates in a regionally specific pattern, with a general elevation of the synthesis in the terminal regions and a reduction in some cell body structures. The reasons for the regional specific effect of fluvoxamine on 5-HT synthesis are unclear, but may be mediated by the presynaptic serotonergic autoreceptors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aim To elucidate the involvement of noradrenergic system in the mechanism by which diazepam suppresses basal hypothalamlc-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity. Methods Plasma corticosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels were determined in female rats treated with diazepam alone, as well as with diazepam in combination with clonidine (a2-adrenoreceptor agonist), yohimbine (a2-adrenoreceptor antagonist), alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (a-MPT, an inhibitor of catecholamine synthe-sis), or reserpine (a catecholamine depleting drug) and yo-himbine Results Diazepam administered in a dose of 2.0 mg/kg suppressed basal HPA axis activity, ie, decreased plasma corticosterone and ACTH levels. Pretreatment with cloni-dine or yohimbine failed to affect basal plasma corticoster-one and ACTH concentrations, but abolished diazepam-induced inhibition of the HPA axis activity. Pretreatment with a-MPT, or with a combination of reserpine and yo-himbine, increased plasma corticosterone and ACTH lev-els and prevented diazepam-induced inhibition of the HPA axis activity. Conclusion The results suggest that a2-adrenoreceptors activity, as well as Intact presynaptic noradrenergic func-tion, are required for the suppressive effect of diazepam on the HPA axis activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

J. M. Bochenski contributed to analytic philosophy of religion by investigating formal structures of religious belief and questions about its justification. Some of these features are not specific to religious convictions but are also characteristic of other kinds of worldview ( Weltanschauung). In this article these features are developed as a philosophy of worldviews. Beyond any effort to give a psychological description or explanation of the content of a worldview, special attention needs to be paid to the rational core of one's personal worldview, for this factor shows the potentialities and the limits of the arguments that can be used in dialogue. Such dialogue is important for the reasonable growth of anyone's personal life-carrying convictions. It also helps in developing a respectful understanding of other worldviews and thus promotes cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on Rita M. Gross, a scholar and practitioner of Buddhism's editorial work on the journal "Buddhist-Christian Studies." She had a sense for the zeitgeist for the academic world. The author treasure the experience of working with Rita as coeditor of "Buddhist-Christian Studies." She understood very well that the main task as editors was to help others express their views in the possible way.

In male birds, size and blackness of melanin-based ornaments may signal competitive ability and quality. Testosterone is an important physiological mediator of these signals as these ornaments are testosterone dependent. Experimental manipulation of circulating testosterone in females suggests that similar mechanisms are at work in plumage ornaments of females. However, hormone manipulations typically result in testosterone levels that are far higher than physiological concentrations experienced by females. Thus, it remains unclear whether natural variation of testosterone levels would be sufficient to generate variation in female plumage coloration. A signaling value of plumage ornamentation is particularly important in females of sex-role reversed species, in which females are the more competitive sex. We examined the relationship between plumage coloration, body condition, and circulating testosterone in female barred buttonquails (Turnix suscitator), a classically polyandrous species. Even though female testosterone levels were low, they were strongly positively related with body condition and the size and blackness of the melanin throat patch. In males, no such relationships were apparent, suggesting that females may have an enhanced sensitivity for testosterone or its metabolites. These unique results reveal that a hormonal mechanism may be involved in sex-role reversal in this species. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]