cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of COVID-19 on a Neurosurgical Service: Lessons from the University of California San Diego.

BACKGROUND: The institution-wide response of the University of California San Diego Health system to the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic was founded on rapid development of in-house testing capacity, optimization of personal protective equipment usage, expansion of intensive care unit capacity, development of analytic dashboards for monitoring of institutional status, and implementation of an operating room (OR) triage plan that postponed nonessential/elective procedures. We analyzed the impact of this triage plan on the only academic neurosurgery center in San Diego County, California, USA. METHODS: We conducted a de-identified retrospective review of all operative cases and procedures performed by the Department of Neurosurgery from November 24, 2019, through July 6, 2020, a 226-day period. Statistical analysis involved 2-sample z tests assessing daily case totals over the 113-day periods before and after implementation of the OR triage plan on March 16, 2020. RESULTS: The neurosurgical service performed 1429 surgical and interventional radiologic procedures over the study period. There was no statistically significant difference in mean number of daily total cases in the pre-versus post-OR triage plan periods (6.9 vs. 5.8 mean daily cases; 1-tail P = 0.050, 2-tail P = 0.101), a trend reflected by nearly every category of neurosurgical cases. CONCLUSIONS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of California San Diego Department of Neurosurgery maintained an operative volume that was only modestly diminished and continued to meet the essential neurosurgical needs of a large population. Lessons from our experience can guide other departments as they triage neurosurgical cases to meet community needs.
Is Teaching of English Language and Literature in India a Perpetuation of Literary Colonialism

The teaching of English language and literature in India is a futile exercise in the academia since this mechanically imitative academic activity is carried out with total indifference and insensitivity to the needs and hopes, and aspirations and ambitions of thousands of students who join B.A. English either on their volition or on compulsion. While framing course objectives and syllabi, Boards of Studies in English in Indian universities never take into account the needs and competencies of the prospective students who join the course without any academic preparation at the school. English Studies is being offered at all levels as if it were an extension of the colonial project. Its grand objectives are incommensurate with contemporary Indian realities. Ironically, it is a sordid state of affairs that English language and literature students can leave the portals of their institutions with degrees in first class but without ever having truly read any literature or acquired functional literacy skills in English at all. Indigestible literary explications in the form of dry lectures in the classroom without their being solicited by student demands drive students to rely upon rote learning through bazaar notes, and the demand for proficiency in English remains a distant dream for many a student even after M. Phil degree programme. English language and literature teaching in India has become a highly subsidized sick industry with a vicious circle of imagined consumers and untrained or ill-trained workforce. It lacks both direction and vision. It has to be revamped with changing times and needs by making it more consumer-friendly and relevant with objectives revisited. Students of English literature as well as General English demand the acquisition of skills in communicative modern English. Literacy skills in English are a pre-requisite for the appreciation of literary merits of the canonical literature. Literary skills of reading and interpreting literature and cognitive skills of academic, research, and rhetorical writing on literary works are the demands of the students of English literature. Emphasis should therefore be laid on the ‘reading’ of English literature and ‘learning’ of the English language by students rather than ‘teaching’ them by teachers. Indian students of English literature as post-colonial second-language users of English need English as a weapon to win the material world for better economic prospects in social life rather than as a wand to capture the world imaginatively for aesthetic considerations in private life. Therefore, this paper argues that teachers of English should change their role as service- providers with a view to facilitating the learning process. They should metamorphose from being all-knowing undemocratic ‘interpreters’ and ‘dictators’ of literary knowledge into becoming ‘catalysts’ and ‘guides’ of students who need literacy skills in English for occupational purposes. In short, English language and literature teaching should be ‘de- institutionalized.’
Update in Paravalvular Leak Closure

Given the low occurrence of clinically important paravalvular leak (PVL), there are no large registries or trials in this space to investigate management strategies. This review integrates newer evidence, particularly in imaging guidance for these complex procedures, novel techniques and approaches that our group has taken, as well as approaches to more complex PVL plugging reported in case reports. Perhaps the largest area of growth in the management of PVL is the use of advanced imaging in both pre-procedure evaluation and intra-procedural guidance with gated cardiac CT, 3D TEE, and fluoroscopy fusion technologies. Outside the USA, a new device, the Occlutech PLD, has become available with early data indicating high success rates. There remains little randomized data to support the efficacy of percutaneous PVL closure. Gated cardiac CT has become key to the pre-procedure evaluation for transcatheter closure as it allows for increased procedural efficiency and more accurate pre-procedure planning, particularly when combined with 3D printing. Intra-procedural TEE-fluoro fusion allows for more rapid crossing of defects by providing a visual target for interventionalists. The advent of purpose-built devices for PVL closure may further increase the efficacy and efficiency of percutaneous closure, but significant barriers remain for approval of these devices in the USA.
The Patient in Patient Safety: Contemporary Issues, From COVID-19 to Citizen Science

In the 4th panel on the topic of The Patient in Patient Safety, we highlighted topics of current relevance and facilitated a reflection session. The objective was to highlight the ways in which the...
Coronary Artery Calcium and Cardiac Events

To the Editor: In the article on electron-beam tomography in the May 27 issue of Circulation , Kondos et al1 report on calcium scores and events in a self-referred population who presumably paid out of pocket for their scans. Unfortunately, despite the large number of patients in this study, the data were not gathered in a manner that helps us to better understand the role of coronary calcification in risk prediction for cardiovascular events. Coronary calcium is a risk marker, not a risk factor, a distinction well described in the recent statement from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Heart Association.2 A risk factor is a trait that when present elevates the risk of coronary disease and, most importantly, can be treated with resulting reduction of risk. A risk marker is merely a finding that has been associated with increased coronary risk. Risk markers have not been shown to be independently causative of coronary artery disease and, …
Multiple Criteria Decision Making Models in Group Decision Support

Use of multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) models to aid the group decision process was tested. Two multiple criteria group decision support systems (MCGDSS) were studied, one using the AHP/Tchebycheff method of Iz and the other using Kersten's NEGO system. These systems were compared with a commercial GDSS, VisionQuest. VisionQuest does not include multiple criteria tools. To make the study comparable, VisionQuest was augmented with an ad hoc linear programming model that could generate solutions with specified characteristics requested by the using group. The three systems were compared on the dimensions of solution quality and decision support effectiveness. One of the hypotheses was that MCDM models would force participants to examine criteria, preferences, and aspirations more thoroughly, thus leading to decisions of better quality. Subjects using the MCGDSSs were expected to have higher mean quality and effectiveness values. However, the quality and effectiveness values of the VisionQuest/ad hoc system were found to be better on the dimension of effectiveness. Explanations for this result are included in the paper. Another hypothesis was that the AHP/Tchebycheff method of Iz, a value-oriented system, would yield more effective group support than the goal-oriented NEGO system. However, the NEGO system was found to yield solutions with better quality measures than the solutions obtained with the AHP/Tchebycheff system. Observation of the groups using the MCDM systems indicate that both the AHP/Tchebycheff and NEGO methods can be revised to enhance their effectiveness. The primary difficulty encountered with the AHP/Tchebycheff method was in the large number of pairwise comparisons required by AHP. The NEGO method can be enhanced by including specification of desired attainment levels in the first stage of the method. Both MCDM techniques have potential to benefit group decision support by giving using groups a means to design better solutions.
Innovation in undergraduate Computer Science education

As the practice of computing evolves, so does Computer Science as a discipline. This puts continual pressure on Computer Science educators to review, revise, and rewrite courses and the curriculum. Educators have been rising up to the challenge, creating new courses, introducing innovative ideas and practices into existing courses, re-organizing the major and carving out minors. This panel will present some of the innovations that have been introduced into the undergraduate Computer Science curriculum.
Correlations between quantum chemical indices and the pKas of a diverse set of organic phenols

ABSTRACT: In earlier studies (Gross and Seybold, Int J Quantum Chem, 2001, 85,569; Gross et al., Int J Quantum Chem, 2002, 90, 445), it was shown that variations inseveral calculated quantum chemical charge and energy parameters were stronglycorrelated with the p K a variations in a set of substituted phenols. Here, we examinewhether this approach can be extended to the p K a s of a diverse set of more complexorganic phenolic compounds. Three levels of theory were tested: (1) the RM1semiempirical method, with and without the SM5.4 solvent model, (2) densityfunctional theory at the B3LYP/6-311G** level, and (3) single-point B3LYP/6-31!G*calculations with the self-consistent reaction ﬁeld SM8 solvent model. The best resultswere obtained with quantum chemical indices calculated using the SM8 solvent model. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem 109: 3679–3684, 2009 Key words: p K a; density functional theory; RM1; correlations; solvent models Introduction T he acid/base behaviors of organic compoundsare of both fundamental and practical interestandhaverelevancetomanybiochemical,pharmaceu-tical, industrial, and environmental processes [1]. Ac-cordingly, it is important to understand the electronicfactors determining the ionizing tendencies in suchcompounds, and to be able to use this understandingto predict the ionization constants of new or untestedcompounds. In previous studies, we examined thecorrelations of a variety of quantum chemical param-eters with the experimentally observed aqueous-phase p
Micromachined microbial fuel cells

This paper presents a micromachined microbial fuel cell as an energy source for microsystems. A microorganism, saccharomyces cerevisiae, is used to catalyse glucose that is the fuel for the cell and electricity is produced by the overall redox reaction. A two-mask, bulk-micromachining process is used to fabricate the fuel cell and the prototype has an electrode area of 0.51 cm/sup 2/. Both proton-exchange membrane and electron mediator are used to assist the operation. The bio-electrical responses of the micromachined microbial fuel cell are characterized with an open-circuit potential measured at an average value of 343 mV. The power density is measured as 0.5 /spl mu/W/cm/sup 3/ under a 10-ohm load.
Physiology: nitrate at the ion exchange.

The distinction between CLC ion channels and ion exchangers has become blurred. The physiological role of CLC exchangers has been a mystery, but one function is evidently to concentrate nitrate in plant vacuoles.
Socio-demographic homogenizing trends within fixed-boundary spatial areas in the United States

Abstract Using complete census tract, county, and PMSA analog data with longitudinally fixed (standardized) boundaries for the entire United States in 1980, 1990, and 2000, we investigate potential homogenizing trends within spatial areas hypothesized by Massey and others but contradicted by the theorizing of Florida and others. The results for seven socio-demographic variables show a trend toward increasing similarity in the majority of socio-demographic variables in all types of spatial units examined. However, we observe increasing heterogeneity in some conditions and for some variables, particularly racial/ethnic characteristics and family structure. These findings are consistent with the collective body of prior evidence based on less comprehensive data, suggesting that theories of social change and spatial characteristics may benefit from some degree of theoretical integration in which the circumstances under which homogenization or heterogenization may be most likely are better specified theoretically.
Detailed oxidation kinetics and flame inhibition effects of chloromethane

A comprehensive experimental and numerical study has been performed on the detailed oxidation kinetics and the flame inhibition effects of chloromethane, with an emphasis on the isolation of the temperature and chemical effects caused by substitution of methane in the fuel by chloromethane. The experimental efforts involved the determination of laminar burning velocities for a series of fuel mixtures of different ratios of chloromethane to methane, but with a fixed ratio of total fuel to oxygen (and air). The thermal and chemical effects were isolated by comparing the laminar burning velocities obtained with the adiabatic flame temperature uncompensated with the substitution of methane by chloromethane, versus those obtained with fixed adiabatic flame temperature achieved by replacing nitrogen in air with an equal amount of argon. The experimental results indicate that temperature reduction due to increased chloromethane substitution is a significant factor for the reduction in the laminar burning velocity. Furthermore, when the results at a fixed flame temperature were examined on the basis of the mass burning rate, which is the eigenvalue for laminar flame propagation, the response was found to be insensitive to the chloromethane concentration in the mixture. This implies the possibility of a corresponding insensitivity to the chlorine flame chemistry. Concurrently, a detailed reaction mechanism of chloromethane/methane oxidation was compiled and validated against literature data from shock tube to flow reactor studies. Numerical simulation of the present experimental situation was then performed. The numerical results were found to be in close agreement with the current experimental findings.
Convergence rate of a penalty-function scheme

The penalty-function approach is an attractive method for solving constrained nonlinear programming problems, since it brings into play all of the well-developed unconstrained optimization techniques, If, however, the classical steepest-descent method is applied to the standard penalty-function objective, the rate of convergence approaches zero as the penalty coefficient is increased to yield a close approximation to the true solution.
Prevalence and Characteristics of Herpes Simplex Virus Type-2 Coinfection in Veterans With Hepatitis C

Abstract Introduction Epidemiologic links between herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) exist but are poorly characterized. Seroprevalence studies of HSV-2 in veteran populations with chronic HCV infection are lacking. Methods The authors reviewed the medical histories and results of the HerpeSelect IgG (Focus Diagnostics, Cypress, CA) of 244 HCV-infected male veterans engaged in care. All patients were human immunodeficiency virus negative and > 99% defined themselves as heterosexual. Results Using the manufacturer’s recommended cutoff for positive results (> 1.1), 51.5% of HCV-infected veterans were seropositive for HSV-2. When increasing the cutoff to > 3.5, 38.7% of persons were seropositive for HSV-2. Reports of previous diagnosis with genital ulcer disease (9/213; 4.3%) or genital herpes (4/213; 1.9%) were rare. Conclusions HSV-2 infection commonly occurred in the study sample of HCV-infected veterans but was infrequently recognized. Future studies should optimize the use of type-specific serologic screening tests in HCV-infected persons. The high prevalence of HSV-2 in this population merits further investigation into any potential biologic interactions between these common viral infections.
Bioavailability of Zinc in Fermented Soybeans

The bioavailability of zinc in soybean meal fermented by lactic acid-producing bacteria (LAPB) and by Rhizopus oligosporus in tempeh fermentation was evaluated with the rat bioassay, using the slope ratio method and log total femur zinc or weight gain versus zinc intake as response parameters. Fermentation significantly increased (P < 0.05) the RBV of zinc from 73.0% in boiled non-fermented soybeans (pH 6.7) to 84.5% in boiled LAPB fermented soybeans. The highest RBV (95.3%) was found in the autoclaved and LAPB fermented product (pH 6.5). Rhizopus oligosporus fermentation resulted in a RBV of 89.0%. Thus, fermentation in the processing of soybeans will improve zinc bioavailability in this food.
Snow surveys and hydro-forecasting

A COMPREHENSIVE description of the apparatus and methods involved in a cooperative precipitation survey and the results obtained are given in this paper. The scope of the paper is limited principally to the watershed area of the eastern Sierra Nevada range of California, the runoff from which constitutes the chief source of water supply for Reno, Nevada, and environs. Statistical information is presented which reveals the accuracy of predictions based on snow surveys, as compared with actual runoff for various seasons. (A. I. E. E. Paper No. 31 M 4)
Weight status and the perception of body image in men.

Understanding the role of body size in relation to the accuracy of body image perception in men is an important topic because of the implications for avoiding and treating obesity, and it may serve as a potential diagnostic criterion for eating disorders. The early research on this topic produced mixed findings. About one-half of the early studies showed that obese men overestimated their body size, with the remaining half providing accurate estimates. Later, improvements in research technology and methodology provided a clearer indication of the role of weight status in body image perception. Research in our laboratory has also produced diverse findings, including that obese subjects sometimes overestimate their body size. However, when examining our findings across several studies, obese subjects had about the same level of accuracy in estimating their body size as normal-weight subjects. Studies in our laboratory also permitted the separation of sensory and nonsensory factors in body image perception. In all but one instance, no differences were found overall between the ability of obese and normal-weight subjects to detect overall changes in body size. Importantly, however, obese subjects are better at detecting changes in their body size when the image is distorted to be too thin as compared to too wide. Both obese and normal-weight men require about a 3%–7% change in the width of their body size in order to detect the change reliably. Correlations between a range of body mass index values and body size estimation accuracy indicated no relationship between these variables. Numerous studies in other laboratories asked men to place their body size into discrete categorizes, ranging from thin to obese. Researchers found that overweight and obese men underestimate their weight status, and that men are less accurate in their categorizations than are women. Cultural influences have been found to be important, with body size underestimations occurring in cultures where a larger body is found to be desirable. Methodological issues are reviewed with recommendations for future studies.
Associations between Proprioceptive Neural Pathway Structural Connectivity and Balance in People with Multiple Sclerosis.

Mobility and balance impairments are a hallmark of multiple sclerosis (MS), affecting nearly half of patients at presentation and resulting in decreased activity and participation, falls, injuries, and reduced quality of life. A growing body of work suggests that balance impairments in people with mild MS are primarily the result of deficits in proprioception, the ability to determine body position in space in the absence of vision. A better understanding of the pathophysiology of balance disturbances in MS is needed to develop evidence-based rehabilitation approaches. The purpose of the current study was to 1) map the cortical proprioceptive pathway in-vivo using diffusion weighted imaging and 2) assess associations between proprioceptive pathway white matter microstructural integrity and performance on clinical and behavioral balance tasks. We hypothesized that people with MS (PwMS) would have reduced integrity of cerebral proprioceptive pathways, and that reduced white matter microstructure within these tracts would be strongly related to proprioceptive-based balance deficits. We found poorer balance control on proprioceptive-based tasks and reduced white matter microstructural integrity of the cortical proprioceptive tracts in PwMS compared with age-matched healthy controls. Microstructural integrity of this pathway in the right hemisphere was also strongly associated with proprioceptive-based balance control in PwMS and controls. Conversely, while white matter integrity of the right hemisphere’s proprioceptive pathway was significantly correlated with overall balance performance in healthy controls, there was no such relationship in PwMS. These results augment existing literature suggesting that balance control in PwMS may become more dependent upon 1) cerebellar-regulated proprioceptive control, 2) the vestibular system, and/or 3) the visual system.
Behavior of transfer ribonucleic acids on polyacrylamide gel columns

Abstract Partial separation of Escherichia coli B tRNA's into groups was obtained by gel permeation chromatography on a Bio-Gel P-100 column. The tRNA's were eluted with a buffered solution containing NaCl and MgCl 2 . Variables affecting the position of the tRNA's on the chromatogram were temperature, pH, and NaCl and MgCl 2 concentrations. Possible reasons for the separations are molecular weight, shape, and charge effects. Melting curves and osmotic pressure measurements indicate that the separations probably result from conformational differences rather than differences in molecular weights.
The Motorcycle as a Psychological Tool

The potential value of a motorcycle for psychological assessment and intervention with youth is described. The speculations were based primarily on observational data obtained from a 2-yr. period as a staff member in a minibike program.
Significance of Family History in Breast Cancer Treated with Breast Conservation Therapy

: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of family history (FH) of breast cancer on the outcome of patients with local-regional breast cancer treated with breast conservation therapy. Of 974 patients treated with breast conservation therapy, a total of 794 consecutive cases were evaluable with adequate FH data and a greater-than-1-year follow-up. All patients had local-regional disease (stages O-IIIA) and underwent lumpectomy, axillary node dissection, and radiation therapy. Seventeen percent of patients had a positive family history of breast cancer, which was defined as a first degree relative (mother, sister, daughter). A significant difference was seen in overall survival in patients with and without an FH of breast cancer (p = 0.027). While FH did not correlate with differences in local failure, distant failure, disease specific survival, or overall survival in patients less than or equal to age 50, a positive FH correlated with a worse disease specific survival (p = 0.045) and a worse overall survival (p = 0.017) in patients over age 50. Multivariate (Cox) analysis confirmed the significance of FH (p = 0.008), tumor size (p = 0.001), and nodal status (p = 0.015). Comparing patients with and without an FH, no differences were seen in age at presentation, age of menarche, age of menopause, parity, tumor size, histologic and nuclear grade, nodal status, or estrogen receptor status. In patients with an FH of breast cancer, the most commonly affected relative was the mother (9.4%). While FH did not impact on outcome of patients age 50 or younger, it was prognostic for a poorer overall survival in older patients, and poorer disease-specific survival. Patients with an FH of breast cancer are similar to patients without a family history in tumor and patient characteristics. An FH of breast cancer does not correlate with an increased local or distant failure in our study population as a whole, but does correlate with a poorer overall survival when compared to patients without an FH of breast cancer.?
Agonistic TAM-163 antibody targeting tyrosine kinase receptor-B: Applying mechanistic modeling to enable preclinical to clinical translation and guide clinical trial design

TAM-163, an agonist monoclonal antibody targeting tyrosine receptor kinase-B (TrkB), is currently being investigated as a potential body weight modulatory agent in humans. To support the selection of the dose range for the first-in-human (FIH) trial of TAM-163, we conducted a mechanistic analysis of the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) data (e.g., body weight gain) obtained in lean cynomolgus and obese rhesus monkeys following single doses ranging from 0.3 to 60 mg/kg. A target-mediated drug disposition (TMDD) model was used to describe the observed nonlinear PK and Emax approach was used to describe the observed dose-dependent PD effect. The TMDD model development was supported by the experimental determination of the binding affinity constant (9.4 nM) and internalization rate of the drug-target complex (2.08 h−1). These mechanistic analyses enabled linking of exposure, target (TrkB) coverage, and pharmacological activity (e.g., PD) in monkeys, and indicated that ≥ 38% target coverage (time-...
A New Two-Phase Flow Map and Transition Boundary Accounting for Surface Tension Effects in Horizontal Miniature and Micro Tubes

A new flow map is proposed to emphasize the importance of surface tension in two-phase flow in horizontal miniature and micro tubes. A transition boundary based on a force balance including shear, buoyancy and surface tension forces is also proposed. The flow map is compared against a number of existing experimental data sets totaling 1589 data points. Comparison of the proposed map and model with previous models shows substantial improvement and accuracy in determining surface tension dominated regimes. Furthermore, the proposed flow map shows how each regime transition boundary is affected by surface tension.
Discussion of the role of accounting in financial disclosure

Professor Birnberg deals with several important issues in his paper and I shall confine my comments to three of these. The first is the question of what, if any, is the usefulness of the distinction between retrospective and prospective accounting. Second, I shall discuss the effect of the use of master-servant, superior-subordinate, or principal-agent framework on the analysis of accounting issues. I think it is more useful to analyse accounting problems by emphasizing the mutuality and simultaneity of these relationships and by de-emphasizing the asymmetry. One result of an increasing recognition of this nature of the accounting problems is that the accounting systems can be seen as the result of equilibrium among diverse sets of interests. I shall discuss this movement in accounting by relating to the notions such as information inductance and the economic consequences of accounting.
The genetics of glutamic-pyruvic transaminase in mice: inheritance, electrophoretic phenotypes, and postnatal changes.

Glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT, E.C. 2.6.1.2) from 18 inbred strains of mice was subjected to starch gel electrophoresis. Two electrophoretic phenotypes were observed: a fast-migrating pattern in 16 strains and a slower-migrating pattern in two strains. A comparison of electrophoretic patterns of F1 and backcross progeny of two strains of mice showed that the inheritance of GPT is autosomal with two codominant alleles. The genetic locus for GPT is designated Gpt-1, and its two alleles are designated Gpt-1a and Gpt-1b to represent the fast-migrating (A) and slow-migrating (B) patterns. The GPT was expressed in 11 tissues with different amounts of enzyme activity. Developmental studies of GPT activity in liver showed that between 5 and 12 days after birth the mean activity was 10 units/g protein. Between 12 and 19 days, a dramatic rise in activity occurred and adult values of 300 units/g protein were reached by 26 days.
Differentiation of spasmodic and psychogenic dysphonias with phonoscopic evaluation

Objectives: Identify laryngeal behaviors that differentiate patients with spasmodic dysphonia and patients with psychogenic dysphonia. Study Design: Retrospective review of patients evaluated over a 3-year period with a diagnosis of either spasmodic or psychogenic dysphonia. Videotaped phonoscopic (laryngeal imaging) examinations of all noted aberrant behaviors were examined. Tally behaviors according to each subject group. Methods: Three examiners unfamiliar with patients' previous diagnoses reviewed videotaped studies. Aberrant behaviors were noted and each patient was assigned to spasmodic or psychogenic dysphonia group. Agreement among examiners and agreement with previous diagnoses was established. Results: Six abnormal behaviors were noted, including tremor, hyperadduction, false fold constriction, sphincteric constriction, hyperabduction and paradoxical movements of the true and false folds. Percentage of patients in each group with each behavior was determined. Conclusions: Individual behaviors did not generally appear to differentiate the two groups; however, patterns of behaviors did, and may be of considerable value in differentiating spasmodic and psychogenic dysphonias.
Solvents and techniques for the extraction of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons from filter samples of diesel exhaust

Abstract The amounts of five polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons-fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, and benzo(a)pyrene-extracted by six solvents with four extraction techniques have been determined for diesel exhaust particulate collected on Teflon-coated glass fiber filters. Samples were analyzed by high pressure liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Toluene and methylene chloride gave higher recoveries than methanol, isopropanol, acetonitrile, and acetone for benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, and benzo(a)pyrene. Soxhlet extraction for two hours (approximately 48 cycles) with toluene or acetonitrile was more effective than simple mechanical agitation, ultrasonic agitation for 15 minutes or immersion in refluxing ‘solvent’ for two hours.
Organizational factors associated with readiness to implement and translate a primary care based telemedicine behavioral program to improve blood pressure control: the HTN-IMPROVE study

Hypertension is prevalent and often sub-optimally controlled; however, interventions to improve blood pressure control have had limited success. Through implementation of an evidence-based nurse-delivered self-management phone intervention to facilitate hypertension management within large complex health systems, we sought to answer the following questions: What is the level of organizational readiness to implement the intervention? What are the specific facilitators, barriers, and contextual factors that may affect organizational readiness to change? Each intervention site from three separate Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs), which represent 21 geographic regions across the US, agreed to enroll 500 participants over a year with at least 0.5 full time equivalent employees of nursing time. Our mixed methods approach used a priori semi-structured interviews conducted with stakeholders (n = 27) including nurses, physicians, administrators, and information technology (IT) professionals between 2010 and 2011. Researchers iteratively identified facilitators and barriers of organizational readiness to change (ORC) and implementation. Additionally, an ORC survey was conducted with the stakeholders who were (n = 102) preparing for program implementation. Key ORC facilitators included stakeholder buy-in and improving hypertension. Positive organizational characteristics likely to impact ORC included: other similar programs that support buy-in, adequate staff, and alignment with the existing site environment; improved patient outcomes; is positive for the professional nurse role, and is evidence-based; understanding of the intervention; IT infrastructure and support, and utilization of existing equipment and space. The primary ORC barrier was unclear long-term commitment of nursing. Negative organizational characteristics likely to impact ORC included: added workload, competition with existing programs, implementation length, and limited available nurse staff time; buy-in is temporary until evidence shows improved outcomes; contacting patients and the logistics of integration into existing workflow is a challenge; and inadequate staffing is problematic. Findings were complementary across quantitative and qualitative analyses. The model of organizational change identified key facilitators and barriers of organizational readiness to change and successful implementation. This study allows us to understand the needs and challenges of intervention implementation. Furthermore, examination of organizational facilitators and barriers to implementation of evidence-based interventions may inform dissemination in other chronic diseases.
Axotomy induced changes in cholinergic enzymes in rat nerve and muscles.

— The effect of axotomy on acetylcholinesterase (AChE. EC 3.1.1.7). butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE. EC 3.1.1.8) and choline acetyltransferase (CAT, EC 2.3.1.6) activities in sciatic nerve stumps above (proximal) and below (distal) the site of transection. as well as in soleus (SOL) and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles, has been studied in rat. Within 2 weeks. AChE activity decreased on a per mm basis, in proximal nerve by 65%, in distal nerve by 80% and on a per whole muscle basis, in denervated muscle by 85%. BuChE activity increased in proximal nerve and distal nerve to 150% of control and decreased in muscle to 51% of control. CAT activity in the proximal nerve stump was reduced to 70% of control and in the distal stump to less than 1% within 1 week. CAT activity in muscle decreased to 20 and 30% of control for soleus and EDL respectively during a 14 day period. The reduction in AChE and CAT activity observed in the proximal nerve segment may reflect changes in the synthesis, as well as the transport and local degradation of these enzymes. Previous studies on axotomy induced changes have not examined the simultaneous changes in proximal and distal nerve as well as denervated muscle in a single animal species.
Diversity and differences

Transmembrane Signalling. Intracellular Messengers and Implications for Drag Development. Edited by Stefan R. Nahorski. Wiley: 1990. Pp. 248. £39, $76. G-Proteins as Mediators of Cellular Signalling Processes.. Edited by M. D. Houslay G. Milligan. Wiley: 1990. Pp. 232. £35, $72.45.
Transfusion-associated cytomegalovirus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome in an infant

An infant who received mulytiple blood transfusions in the neonatal intensive care unit developed a transfusion-associated CMV infection at age 11 weeks and thereafter was noted to have hepatosplenomegaly, mitogen hyporesponsiveness, persistent viruria, an abnormal distribution of T-lymphocyte subpopulations, and poor growth. He has had recurrent opportunistic infections. including Pneumocystic carinii pneumonia. Six donors of blood products received by this infant were investigated; one was found to have chronic lymphadenopathy, weight loss, intermittent diarrhea, lymphopenia, and a profound depression of lymphocytes with a helper/inducer surface phenotype (T4 positive). Family members have an abnormal distribution of T cell subpopulation similar to those reported in asymptomatic homosexuals. The course of disease in our patient suggests that acquired immune deficiency syndrome may be transmitted to young infants via blood products.
The Future of Teaching Interpersonal Communication

A discussion focused on the future of teaching interpersonal communication invites two perspectives. The first addresses the link between current content and instructional practices and their influ...
Stagger-Tuned Loop Antennas for Wide-Band Low-Frequency Reception

This paper describes a system of stagger-tuned high-Q loop antennas designed for 100 kc Loran pulse reception. The individual loop antenna outputs are first added in a summing amplifier followed by a grounded-grid amplifier and a cathode-follower stage before being fed to the receiver. Based upon preliminary theoretical analysis, an experimental antenna array is developed, which confirms its capability of achieving a wide bandwidth with relatively small dimensions. A squaring scheme of obtaining omnidirectional reception property is suggested; and a modified electrolytic tank method, which is adaptable to the present system in synthesizing a given response characteristic, is also described.
Our VOICE: an interdisciplinary approach to shared governance.

Abstract The authors’ purpose was to make public to other healthcare executives the demonstrated success of an interdisciplinary shared governance process benefiting any healthcare organization. Main components of a successful model include a conducive work environment free of distractions, available resources in order to gather information to complete a project, and committees chosen focused on high priority for patient and staff satisfaction, quality, and safety. An essential piece of the puzzle is that grassroots staff needs to own the process. The authors share the current model and discuss outcomes, success, and lessons learned throughout their decade-long journey.
Compatibility of Varian 2100C gated operations with enhanced dynamic wedge and IMRT dose delivery

An enhanced dynamic wedge (EDW) is one of the latest technical innovations frequently used in the radiotherapy department. Its usage is enthusiastically supported by radiation therapists. Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is the other, which has become popular within the past several years. Its usage is not as straightforward as the EDW. However, its ability to further increase dose conformity to the target and to spare the surrounding normal tissues has been evidenced. Both of these treatment modalities demand sophisticated software, which controls precision motion and speed of jaws or multileaf collimators as well as dose rate. This paper deals with the question of how accurately the EDW profiles and IMRT dose distributions be maintained when the additional constraint of linear accelerator gating is invoked. For this, square pulses mimicking breathing were used in gated and nongated modes for film dosimetry and ion chamber measurements using the Varian 2100C linear accelerator. The results show no observable difference between gated and nongated EDW profiles and IMRT dose distribution regardless of the machine repetition rate. Also studied in this paper are the "fuzzy" dose distributions caused by realistic finite gate window settings.
A method for the rapid establishment of normal adult mammalian colonic epithelial cell cultures.

Normal colonic epithelial cell cultures of mammalian origin are required to facilitate the study of both normal cellular functions as well as pathogenesis of certain (human) colonic diseases. To date, little information is available regarding the growth requirements of colonic epithelial cells in culture of eitehr animal or human origin. Such data would enable the development of a long-term culture system for these cells. In this study, we present methodology that results in the establishment of homogeneous cultures of adult rabbit colonic epithelial reproducibly, quickly, and in quantity. The epithelial nature of the cultures is unambiguously established by intermediate filament typing using antikeratin antibodies. Such culutres can now be used for a variety of functional studies as well as to investigate the growth requirements of colonic epithelial in culture.
My teacher loves me but she hates mice: or, an existential lamentation on the loss of the public school

When and where did we learn to stop caring about rodent feces in a child’s classroom? This essay is a lamentation, delivered as opening remarks at a gathering of educators concerned about access to a rich and relevant curriculum for all children. The reality of public education in the growing portion of the United States that is not wealthy, is of unmet needs at every level. A political economy of divestment, coupled with an ideology that promotes a sense of both futility and inevitability, allows our schools to exist without teaching. This piece calls citizens back to public schools. Our schools are the last place where a sense of public entitlement still holds moral force, and activism centered in schools is a starting place for reclaiming the notion of a collective and mutual obligation of care.
The relationship between cognitive, motor-kinesthetic, and oculomotor adaptation

The literature concerning adaptation to prism indicates that several adaptive mechanisms may be important. The particular mechanism or mechanisms involved depends (at least in part) upon the type of adaptive exposure. In the present study. three adaptive mechanisms (cognitive. oculomotor, and motor-kinesthetic) were investigated. Ss were asked to point in the dark at an illuminated target. The target was seen displaced from its veridical position due to a wedge prism placed before S’s right eye. The left eye was occluded. Ss then viewed their visual target pointing errors through the displacing prism without seeing any part of their bodies. One group of Ss was instructed to ignore these prism-induced errors and to continue pointing at the target’s visual position. A second group of Ss was instructed to compensate fully for their errors and to at tempt to eliminate them on all future trials. For the latter group errors were completely eliminated, while for Ss instructed to ignore their errors, relatively small improvement in visual target settings occurred. This improvement was called cognitive adaptation, since it depended on the S’s conscious control. In addition. for both conditions. evidence was found that allowing Ss to view their prism-induced pointing errors resulted in some form of motor-kinesthetic adaptation. This adaptation was hypothesized to represent a change in the judged position of the pointing hand relative to its felt position. It was concluded that this motor-kinesthetic adaptation was dependent, in part, upon cognitive information concerning the effects of the prism and that it serves to reduce conflict between cognitive and visual cues, i.e., between what S believes and what he sees.
Optimal Filling of FG/BG Layers of Compound Document Images

In the basic 3-layer MRC model for compound document image coding, image pixels are separated into foreground and background layers. Pixels placed in the FG (BG) layer are called holes in the complementary layer and they can be assigned (filled) any values. This article proposes an optimal algorithm for hole filling. Our algorithm first divides the input into blocks to reduce complexity of the mask layer and then minimizes the sum of squares of Haar transform AC coefficients, which we show to be also equal to the square of DCT AC coefficients of the block. Experiments show that our method reduces the average energy by 30% more for the FG layer and by 20% more for BG layer blocks than [1].
Urinary diversion-related outcome in patients with pelvic recurrence after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer.

Abstract Objectives. To evaluate the impact of urinary diversion on disease status, complications, and subsequent treatment in patients with pelvic tumor recurrence after radical cystectomy for bladder cancer. Methods. A retrospective review of 201 consecutive cases of radical cystectomy for bladder cancer, performed at our institution between March 1991 and March 1996, identified 33 patients (16.4%) with disease recurrence in the pelvis with or without systemic metastasis. Urinary diversion in patients with tumor recurrence was an ileal conduit, continent cutaneous diversion, or orthotopic neobladder in 19, 3, and 11 patients, respectively. The mean follow-up for all patients undergoing cystectomy was 25.9 months (range 8 to 75). The mean time to diagnosis of local disease recurrence after cystectomy was 13.9 months (range 5 to 50). Results. In 21 (63.6%) of 33 patients, pelvic recurrence and systemic metastasis were present simultaneously. Disease recurrence was associated with poor outcome: only 8 patients (24.2%) were alive and disease free, 7 of whom had isolated local recurrence without evidence of systemic metastasis. There was no difference in overall survival or type of therapy delivered once disease recurrence was diagnosed between patients with an orthotopic neobladder and those with a cutaneous (continent or incontinent) urinary diversion. The only diversion-related complication resulting from pelvic recurrence was 1 case of tumor invasion into an orthotopic neobladder, requiring conversion to an ileal conduit. Conclusions. The type of urinary diversion did not impact a patient’s risk of complications, the ability to receive salvage treatment, or overall survival once pelvic recurrence was diagnosed. Patients at high risk of pelvic recurrence should not be excluded from receiving an orthotopic urinary diversion.
Overt and covert sexual abuse: relationship to body image and eating disturbance.

Objective To separate forms of overt and covert sexual abuse and assess their independent contribution to the development of body image and eating disturbance. Method: A new measure was developed—the Covert-Overt Sexual Abuse Questionnaire (COSAQ)—and correlated with levels of body image, eating disturbance, social desirability, self-esteem, and depression. Results: Factor analyses on three independent samples yielded two distinct subscales which were labelled Overt and Covert. Each scale had excellent internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Regression analyses demonstrated the ability of the Covert factor to explain variance associated with body image disturbance and eating dysfunction beyond that accounted for by levels of social desirability, self-esteem, depression, and overt sexual abuse. Discussion: These findings support the importance of a more “subtle” form of early trauma—covert sexual abuse—in the development of body image and eating-related problems. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 22:273–284, 1997.