State University of New York System

About: State University of New York System is a education organization based out in Albany, New York, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 54077 authors who have published 78070 publications receiving 2985160 citations.

Tumor Necrosis Factor-α in Sera of Obese Patients: Fall with Weight Loss

Abstract: In view of the recent demonstration that obesity in animals and humans is associated with an increase in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) expression, that this expression falls with weight loss, and that TNFalpha may specifically inhibit insulin action, the possibility that TNFalpha may be a mediator of insulin resistance has been raised. We have undertaken this study to investigate whether serum TNFalpha concentrations are elevated in obese subjects, whether they fall after weight loss, and whether this fall parallels the fall in insulin release after glucose challenge. Obese patients (age range: 25-54, weight mean +/- SD: 96.4 +/- 13.8 kg, body mass index: 35.7 +/- 5.6 kg/m2) were started on a diet program. The mean weight fell to 84.5 +/- 11.3 (P < 0.0001) and body mass index to 31.3 +/- 4.9 (P < 0.0001). Plasma TNFalpha concentrations were markedly elevated in the obese (3.45 +/- 0.16 pg/mL), when compared with controls (0.72 +/- 0.28 pg/mL), and fell significantly (2.63 +/- 1.40 pg/mL) after weight loss (P < 0.02). The magnitude of insulin release after glucose (75 g) challenge (area under the curve) also fell significantly (P < 0.01) after weight loss. The magnitude of weight loss and fall in TNFalpha were related to basal body weight (r = 0.57, P < 0.001) and basal TNFalpha (r = 0.55, P < 0.001) concentrations, respectively, but not to each other or to the glucose-induced insulin release (area under the curve). We conclude that obesity is associated with increased plasma TNFalpha concentrations, which fall with weight loss. Because circulating TNFalpha may mediate insulin resistance in the obese, a fall in TNFalpha concentrations may contribute to the restoration of insulin resistance after weight loss, Thus, TNFalpha may be an important circulating cytokine, which may provide a potentially reversible mechanism for mediating insulin resistance.

Chance and consensus in peer review

Abstract: An experiment in which 150 proposals submitted to the National Science Foundation were evaluated independently by a new set of reviewers indicates that getting a research grant depends to a significant extent on chance. The degree of disagreement within the population of eligible reviewers is such that whether or not a proposal is funded depends in a large proportion of cases upon which reviewers happen to be selected for it. No evidence of systematic bias in the selection of NSF reviewers was found.

OpenMolcas : From Source Code to Insight

Abstract: In this Article we describe the OpenMolcas environment and invite the computational chemistry community to collaborate. The open-source project already includes a large number of new developments realized during the transition from the commercial MOLCAS product to the open-source platform. The paper initially describes the technical details of the new software development platform. This is followed by brief presentations of many new methods, implementations, and features of the OpenMolcas program suite. These developments include novel wave function methods such as stochastic complete active space self-consistent field, density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) methods, and hybrid multiconfigurational wave function and density functional theory models. Some of these implementations include an array of additional options and functionalities. The paper proceeds and describes developments related to explorations of potential energy surfaces. Here we present methods for the optimization of conical intersections, the simulation of adiabatic and nonadiabatic molecular dynamics, and interfaces to tools for semiclassical and quantum mechanical nuclear dynamics. Furthermore, the Article describes features unique to simulations of spectroscopic and magnetic phenomena such as the exact semiclassical description of the interaction between light and matter, various X-ray processes, magnetic circular dichroism, and properties. Finally, the paper describes a number of built-in and add-on features to support the OpenMolcas platform with postcalculation analysis and visualization, a multiscale simulation option using frozen-density embedding theory, and new electronic and muonic basis sets.

Temporal integration by a slowly inactivating K+ current in hippocampal neurons.

Abstract: A central aspect of neuronal function is how each nerve cell translated synaptic input into a sequence of action potentials that carry information along the axon, coded as spike frequency. When transduction from a graded depolarizing input to spikes is studied by injecting a depolarizing current, there is often a remarkably long delay to the first action potential, both in mammalian and molluscan neurons. Here, I report that the delayed excitation in rat hippocampal neurons is due to a slowly inactivating potassium current, ID. ID co-exists with other voltage-gated K+ currents, including a fast A current and a slow delayed rectifier current. As ID activates in the subthreshold range, and takes tens of seconds to recover from inactivation, it enables the cell to integrate separate depolarizing inputs over long times. ID also makes the encoding properties of the cell exceedingly sensitive to the prevailing membrane potential.

Developing qualitative research questions: a reflective process

Abstract: The reflective and interrogative processes required for developing effective qualitative research questions can give shape and direction to a study in ways that are often underestimated. Good research questions do not necessarily produce good research, but poorly conceived or constructed questions will likely create problems that affect all subsequent stages of a study. In qualitative studies, the ongoing process of questioning is an integral part of understanding the unfolding lives and perspectives of others. This article addresses both the development of initial research questions and how the processes of generating and refining questions are critical to the shaping of a qualitative study.