Bare It Or Bar It: Should Government Regulate Adult Pornography to Prevent Exposure to Minors? Transcript of the Symposium

Bare It Or Bar It: Should Government Regulate Adult Pornography to Prevent Exposure to Minors? A Dialogue Featuring: Nadine Strossen, president of the American Civil Liberties Union and Professor of Law at New York School of Law. Michael Johnson, senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund. Moderated by Allan D. Sobel, director of the Arlin M. Adams Center for Law and Society. Presented Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2007 Degenstein Center Theate

Should the Death Penalty be Abolished? Transcipt of Symposium

Should the Death Penalty be Abolished? A Dialogue Featuring: Richard Dieter, J.D., executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center in Washington, DC. B. Lyn McClellan, J.D., bureau chief of the Felony Trial Bureau, Harris County, Texas, District Attorney\u27s Office. Moderated by Allan D. Sobel, director of the Arlin M. Adams Center for Law and Society. Presented Thursday, Mar. 27, 2008 Degenstein Center Theate

Code Blue: Can We Save the Health Care System? Transcript of the Symposium

Code Blue: Can We Save the Health Care System? A Dialogue Featuring: Claudia M. Fegan, M.D., associate chief medical officer, Cook County Health and Hospital System and former president of Physicians for a National Health Program. Devon Herrick, Ph.D., senior fellow, National Center for Policy Analysis. Moderated by Allan D. Sobel, director of the Arlin M. Adams Center for Law and Society. Presented Thursday, March 26, 2008 Degenstein Center Theate

Activation of prothrombin accompanying thrombolysis with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator

AbstractIncreases in thrombin activity in patients given fibrinolytic agents for acute myocardial infarction have been shown to be important in limiting the ultimate success of coronary thrombolysis. The present study was designed to determine whether increases in thrombin activity reflect, in part, activation of prothrombin accompanying thrombolysis. Plasma concentrations of prothrombin fragment 1.2, a polypeptide released when prothrombin is activated by factor Xa, were measured in 22 patients with acute myocardial infarction before and after treatment with 100 mg of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA). Concentrations of prothrombin fragment 1.2 increased from 0.83 ± 1.1 nM(mean ± SD) before rt-PA infusion to 1.5 ± 1.5 nM2 h after initiation of the infusion (p < 0.05). After a 5,000-U intravenous dose of heparin given at the end of the infusion of rt-PA, concentrations of prothrombin fragment 1.2 decreased from 1.8 ± 1.5 to 1.1 ± 0.9 nM(n = 20, p < 0.05), although values were still increased compared with concentrations before rt-PA.These results indicate that thrombin activity increases in patients given rt-PA at least in part because of activation of the coagulation system leading to activation of prothrombin. Thus, inhibition of the reactions involving coagulant proteins that lead to activation of prothrombin may be of value as conjunctive treatment to potentiate the efficacy of pharmacologic thrombolysis

Importance of continued activation of thrombin reflected by fibrinopeptide A to the efficacy of thrombolysis

Factors responsible for initial success or failure of coronary thrombolysis and persistent recanalization or early reocclusion have not been thoroughly elucidated. Both adequate initial clot lysis and preclusion of rethrombosis are required. Failure may reflect clot lysis followed immediately or somewhat later by rethrombosis. To determine whether differences in the intensity and persistence of the activation of thrombin are determinants of success or failure of recanalization, plasma fibrinopeptide A, a fibrinogen product liberated by thrombin, was serially assayed in 19 patients treated with intravenous streptokinase. In patients exhibiting recanalization (n = 9), plasma fibrinopeptide A decreased after administration of streptokinase but before administration of heparin. In patients without initially apparent recanalization, fibrinopeptide A increased, suggesting ongoing thrombosis, and subsequently decreased promptly after heparin. In patients with initial recanalization followed by overt reocclusion the pattern was different. Despite recanalization, fibrinopeptide A continued to rise markedly. Elevations persisted despite administration of heparin. Thus, inhibition of activation of thrombin is associated with successful recanalization. Conversely, persistent activation of thrombin may be a predisposing factor to both apparent initial failure of recanalization and nvprt early reocclusion

ADAMTS -1 and -4 are up-regulated following transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat and their expression is modulated by TNF in cultured astrocytes

ADAMTS (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs) enzymes are a recently described group of metalloproteinases. The substrates degraded by ADAMTS-1, -4 and -5 suggests that they play a role in turnover of extracellular matrix in the central nervous system (CNS). ADAMTS-1 is also known to exhibit anti-angiogenic activity. Their main endogenous inhibitor is tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-3. The present study was designed to investigate ADAMTS-1, -4 and -5 and TIMP-3 expression after experimental cerebral ischaemia and to examine whether cytokines known to be up-regulated in stroke could alter their expression by astrocytes in vitro. Focal cerebral ischaemia was induced by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat using the filament method. Our results demonstrate a significant increase in expression of ADAMTS-1 and -4 in the occluded hemisphere but no significant change in TIMP-3. This was accompanied by an increase in mRNA levels for interleukin (IL)-1, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF). ADAMTS-4 mRNA and protein was up-regulated by TNF in primary human astrocyte cultures. The increased ADAMTS-1 and -4 in experimental stroke, together with no change in TIMP-3, may promote ECM breakdown after stroke, enabling infiltration of inflammatory cells and contribute to brain injury. In vitro studies suggest that the in vivo modulation of ADAMTS-1 and -4 may be controlled in part by TNF.</p

Emergence of robust precipitation changes across crop production areas in the 21st century

A warming climate will affect regional precipitation and hence food supply. However, only a few regions around the world are currently undergoing precipitation changes that can be attributed to climate change. Knowing when such changes are projected to emerge outside natural variability—the time of emergence (TOE)—is critical for taking effective adaptation measures. Using ensemble climate projections, we determine the TOE of regional precipitation changes globally and in particular for the growing areas of four major crops. We find relatively early (<2040) emergence of precipitation trends for all four crops. Reduced (increased) precipitation trends encompass 1–14% (3–31%) of global production of maize, wheat, rice, and soybean. Comparing results for RCP8.5 and RCP2.6 clearly shows that emissions compatible with the Paris Agreement result in far less cropped land experiencing novel climates. However, the existence of a TOE, even under the lowest emission scenario, and a small probability for early emergence emphasize the urgent need for adaptation measures. We also show how both the urgency of adaptation and the extent of mitigation vary geographically

Water vapor and the dynamics of climate changes

Water vapor is not only Earth's dominant greenhouse gas. Through the release of latent heat when it condenses, it also plays an active role in dynamic processes that shape the global circulation of the atmosphere and thus climate. Here we present an overview of how latent heat release affects atmosphere dynamics in a broad range of climates, ranging from extremely cold to extremely warm. Contrary to widely held beliefs, atmospheric circulation statistics can change non-monotonically with global-mean surface temperature, in part because of dynamic effects of water vapor. For example, the strengths of the tropical Hadley circulation and of zonally asymmetric tropical circulations, as well as the kinetic energy of extratropical baroclinic eddies, can be lower than they presently are both in much warmer climates and in much colder climates. We discuss how latent heat release is implicated in such circulation changes, particularly through its effect on the atmospheric static stability, and we illustrate the circulation changes through simulations with an idealized general circulation model. This allows us to explore a continuum of climates, constrain macroscopic laws governing this climatic continuum, and place past and possible future climate changes in a broader context.Comment: 22 pages, 11 figure