cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In cross-sectional observations, dietary quality is not associated with CVD risk in women; In men the positive association is accounted for by BMI

Abstract The role that BMI plays in the association between dietary quality and CVD risk is not known. We aimed to better understand this relationship using statistical methods which correct for sex-specific underreporting of dietary intake. Overall, dietary quality was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) on data from 9797 non-pregnant adults (aged >20 years) who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2005 to 2010. CVD risk factors included blood pressure, fasting glucose and insulin, homeostatic models of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), HDL- and LDL-cholesterol (HDL-C and LDL-C), TAG and C-reactive protein (CRP). We controlled for demographic and lifestyle covariates, and we used the population ratio approach (which adjusts for the underreporting of intake) to compare mean HEI scores between the top and bottom quartiles of covariate-adjusted CVD risk factors. In women, the total HEI score was not associated with any CVD risk factors (all Q>0·11). In men, the total HEI score was associated with covariate-adjusted residuals for fasting insulin (Q 0.10). In the present analyses, dietary quality was associated with five CVD risk factors in a sex-specific manner. Moreover, the association of BMI with CVD risk attenuated the relationship between CVD risk and diet, which suggests that BMI is an important factor in heart disease prevention.
Adjoint-based control of a new eulerian network model of air traffic flow

An Eulerian network model for air traffic flow in the National Airspace System is developed and used to design flow control schemes which could be used by Air Traffic Controllers to optimize traffic flow. The model relies on a modified version of the Lighthill-Whitham-Richards (LWR) partial differential equation (PDE), which contains a velocity control term inside the divergence operator. This PDE can be related to aircraft count, which is a key metric in air traffic control. An analytical solution to the LWR PDE is constructed for a benchmark problem, to assess the gridsize required to compute a numerical solution at a prescribed accuracy. The Jameson-Schmidt-Turkel (JST) scheme is selected among other numerical schemes to perform simulations, and evidence of numerical convergence is assessed against this analytical solution. Linear numerical schemes are discarded because of their poor performance. The model is validated against actual air traffic data (ETMS data), by showing that the Eulerian description enables good aircraft count predictions, provided a good choice of numerical parameters is made. This model is then embedded as the key constraint in an optimization problem, that of maximizing the throughput at a destination airport while maintaining aircraft density below a legal threshold in a set of sectors of the airspace. The optimization problem is solved by constructing the adjoint problem of the linearized network control problem, which provides an explicit formula for the gradient. Constraints are enforced using a logarithmic barrier. Simulations of actual air traffic data and control scenarios involving several airports between Chicago and the U.S. East Coast demonstrate the feasibility of the method
Go Figure: Calculus Students' Use of Figures and Graphs in Technical Report Writing

Understanding how to read and use graphs to communicate scientiﬁc and mathematical in-formation is critical for STEM majors, as well as an important part of quantitative literacy. Ourstudy suggests that ﬁrst-semester calculus students do not know how to use graphs in a technicalreport without explicit instruction. Although not a surprising result, it leaves us wondering aboutwhen such skills are developed, and if calculus I is a place to start. Our work is now exploringthe potential beneﬁt on students’ use of graphs by having them formally evaluate other students’reports.KEYWORDS: Calculus, Technical Writing, Quantitiative Literacy
Wandala and the DGB sites: political centralisation and its alternatives north of the Mandara Mountains, Cameroon

The DGB sites, with their striking dry-stone architecture, are the largest and among the earliest archaeological sites in the northern Mandara Mountains of Cameroon. Even given their size and internal complexity, they provide only ambiguous messages about what power and authority might have looked like in the region five centuries ago. At the same time, these sites are situated in proximity to the heartland of the Wandala polity, which was first noted in European and Arabic sources over the period of DGB occupation. Over the next centuries, Wandala progressively differentiated itself from neighbouring Chadic-speaking communities, adopting the political appurtenances and expansionist tactics of an Islamic Sudanic state. This paper discusses the implications of this geographic and political proximity for both Wandala and the occupants of the DGB sites.
Using Image Analysis to Estimate Boxed Beef Value

Eighty-four grain-finished steers were slaughtered, evaluated for composition characteristics via image analysis, and fabricated into boxed beef wholesale cuts to determine which measured composition indicators present at the crosssection between the 12th and 13th ribs would most accurately predict boxed beef value. Prediction equations were developed to estimate carcass side value, value per 45.35 kg, primal round value, primal loin value, primal rib value, primal chuck value, and collective primal brisketplate-flank-shank value. Composition indicators chosen to predict boxed beef value included side hot carcass weight; marbling score; LM length, width, and area; subcutaneous fat thickness and area; iliocostalis muscle area; ratio of subcutaneous fat thickness to side hot carcass weight; ratio of LM area to side hot carcass weight; ratio of LM area to subcutaneous fat area; ratio of LM width to subcutaneous fat thickness; and ratio of LM area to subcutaneous fat thickness. Variables frequently correlated with boxed beef value included side hot carcass weight; LM length, width, and area; and subcutaneous fat area. Adjusted R
Understanding Farmers’ Forecast Use from Their Beliefs, Values, Social Norms, and Perceived Obstacles*

Although the accuracy of weather and climate forecasts is continuously improving and new information retrieved from climate data is adding to the understanding of climate variation, use of the forecasts and climate information by farmers in farming decisions has changed little. This lack of change may result from knowledge barriers and psychological, social, and economic factors that undermine farmer motivation to use forecasts and climate information. According to the theory of planned behavior (TPB), the motivation to use forecasts may arise from personal attitudes, social norms, and perceived control or ability to use forecasts in specific decisions. These attributes are examined using data from a survey designed around the TPB and conducted among farming communities in the region of eastern Nebraska and the western U.S. Corn Belt. There were three major findings: 1) the utility and value of the forecasts for farming decisions as perceived by farmers are, on average, around 3.0 on a 0–7 scale, indicating much room to improve attitudes toward the forecast value. 2) The use of forecasts by farmers to influence decisions is likely affected by several social groups that can provide “expert viewpoints” on forecast use. 3) A major obstacle, next to forecast accuracy, is the perceived identity and reliability of the forecast makers. Given the rapidly increasing number of forecasts in this growing service business, the ambiguous identity of forecast providers may have left farmers confused and may have prevented them from developing both trust in forecasts and skills to use them. These findings shed light on productive avenues for increasing the influence of forecasts, which may lead to greater farming productivity. In addition, this study establishes a set of reference points that can be used for comparisons with future studies to quantify changes in forecast use and influence.
Unraveling Somalia: Race, Violence, and the Legacy of Slavery

Unraveling Somalia: Race, Violence, and the Legacy of Slavery. Catherine Besteman. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1999. ix. 284 pp., maps, photographs, glossary, notes, bibliography, index.
A Multisite Survey of Suctioning Techniques and Airway Management Practices

• BACKGROUND Ventilator-associated pneumonia, common in critically ill patients, is associated with microaspiration of oropharyngeal secretions and may be related to suctioning and airway management practices. • OBJECTIVES To describe institutional policies and procedures related to closed-system suctioning and airway management of intubated patients, and to compare practices of registered nurses and respiratory therapists. • METHODS A descriptive, comparative, multisite study of facilities that use closed-system suctioning devices on most intubated adults was conducted. Nurses and respiratory therapists who worked at the sites completed surveys related to their practices. • RESULTS A total of 1665 nurses and respiratory therapists at 27 sites throughout the United States responded. The typical respondent had at least 6 years’ experience with patients receiving mechanical ventilation (61%) and a baccalaureate degree or higher (54%). Most sites had policies for management of endotracheal tube cuffs (93%), hyperoxygenation (89%) and use of gloves (70%) with closed-system suctioning, and instillation of isotonic sodium chloride solution for thick secretions (74%). Only 48% of policies addressed oral care and 37% addressed oral suctioning. Nurses did more oral suctioning and oral care than respiratory therapists did, and respiratory therapists instilled sodium chloride solution more and rinsed the suctioning device more often than nurses did. • CONCLUSIONS Policies vary widely and do not always reflect current research. Consistent performance of practices such as wearing gloves for airway management and maintaining endotracheal cuff pressures must be evaluated. Collaborative, research-based policies and procedures must be developed and implemented to ensure best practices for intubated patients. (American Journal of Critical Care. 2003;12:220-232)
Estimation of switching activity in sequential circuits using dynamic Bayesian networks

We propose a novel, non-simulative, probabilistic model for switching activity in sequential circuits, capturing both spatio-temporal correlations at internal nodes and higher order temporal correlations due to feedback. This model, which we refer to as the temporal dependency model (TDM), can be constructed from the logic structure and is shown to be a dynamic Bayesian network. Dynamic Bayesian networks are extremely powerful in modeling high order temporal as well as spatial correlations; it is an exact model for the underlying conditional independencies. The attractive feature of this graphical representation of the joint probability function is that not only does it make the dependency relationships amongst the nodes explicit but it also serves as a computational mechanism for probabilistic inference. We report average errors in switching probability of 0.006, with errors tightly distributed around the mean error values, on IS-CAS'89 benchmark circuits involving up to 10000 signals.
Trypanocidal activity of novel alkanediamide-linked bisbenzamidines and bisbenzamidoximes

Background: Human African trpanosomiasis (HAT) is caused by the protozoan parasites Trypanosoma brucie gambiense (T.b.g) and Trypanosoma brucie rhodesiense (T.b.r) and is usually fatal when left untreated. It is one of the most neglected tropical diseases in the world causing an estimated 50,000 deaths annually. Current drug therapy suffers from high toxicity, undesirable intravenous route of administration and emergence of parasite resistance. The present study is to evaluate the trypanocidal activity of a novel series of alkanediamide-linked bisbenzamidines and bisbenzamidoximes against several clinical isolates of Trypanosoma brucie. Methods: A series of 20 bisbenzamidines and bisbenzamidoximes were synthesized and tested in vitro against a drug-sensitive strain of T. b. brucei Lab 110 EATRO and a drugresistant strain of T. b. r. KETRI 243. The bisamidoximes were designed to improve oral bioavailability by functioning as orally-active prodrugs of the most active bisamidines. The in vivo efficacy of 8 bisbenzamidines and bisbenzamidoximes were evaluated using mice infected with the drug-sensitive (T. b. brucei Lab 110 EATRO) or drug-resistant strains of T.b.r. KETRI 2002 and KETRI 2538. Results: The tested compounds generally showed similar in vitro potencies against both strains of T.b. The most potent compounds were bisbenzamidines linked with a hexanediamide, heptanediamide or octanediamide group (inhibitory concentration for 50% (IC50) = 1-3 nM). Several of the most potent bisbenzamidine compounds were effective in curing mice infected with the drug-sensitive or drug-resistant strains of T. b. rhodesiense. Curative doses were < 15mg/kg/day for 3 days given by the intraperitoneal injection in the mouse model of infections. However, replacing the terminal basic bisamidines with less basic bisamidoxime groups resulted in prodrugs that were not orally effective against T. b. brucei infected mice. Conclusion: The results suggest that alkanediamidelinked bisbenzamidines are highly effective against T. brucei, but further optimization of the prodrug strategy is needed to improve their oral bioavailability.
Counselor Training: Empirical Findings and Current Approaches

The literature on counselor training has included attention to cognitive and interpersonal skill development and has reported on empirical findings regarding the relationship of training with client outcomes. This article reviews the literature on each of these topics and discusses empirical and theoretical underpinnings of recently developed approaches to counselor training: the Skilled Group Counselor Training Model (M. H. Smaby, C. D. Maddux, E. Torres-Rivera, & R. Zimmick, 1999) and the Skilled Counselor Training Model (S. Urbani et al., 2002). Critique of this literature includes suggestions for further research on the effectiveness of counselor training.
Quantum gravity motivated computer simulations

Computer simulations are reviewed as a new tool to gain a better understanding of problems related to four-dimensional quantum gravity. There are two major directions: The more than twenty years old Regge calculus provides a discrete formulation of gravity that is well-suited for numerical investigations. Alternatively, conventional lattice gauge theory methods can be used to simulate certain field theoretical models of gravity.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FLOW OF AN IONIZED PERFECT GAS THROUGH A MAGNETIC FIELD

BS>The problem of the compressible flow of a perfect gas with constant fractional ionization through a magnetic field is considered. The Joulean heat dissipation is assumed to be taken out of the gas so that the flow can be treated as isentropic. The present analysis differs slightly from others previously reported in the literature mainly in that the entire conductivity tensor and the variation of its elements with gas properties are taken into account. It is felt that the somewhat unrealistic condition of isentropic flow is much less restrictive than the assumption of a scalar constant conductivity. Under these conditions, a relatively simple integration of the flow equations is possible. The assumption of isentropic flow implies that the difference in stagnation enthalpies at the entrance and exit of the magnetic field region is equal to the electrical output plus the Joulean heat. Therefore the ratio of the output power to the difference in stagnation enthalpies gives a measure of the Joulean heat dissipation and hence of the efficiency of the device. (auth)
Cardiac troponin T mutations result in allele-specific phenotypes in a mouse model for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Multiple mutations in cardiac troponin T (cTnT) can cause familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (FHC). Patients with cTnT mutations generally exhibit mild or no ventricular hypertrophy, yet demonstrate a high frequency of early sudden death. To understand the functional basis of these phenotypes, we created transgenic mouse lines expressing 30%, 67%, and 92% of their total cTnT as a missense (R92Q) allele analogous to one found in FHC. Similar to a mouse FHC model expressing a truncated cTnT protein, the left ventricles of all R92Q lines are smaller than those of wild-type. In striking contrast to truncation mice, however, the R92Q hearts demonstrate significant induction of atrial natriuretic factor and β-myosin heavy chain transcripts, interstitial fibrosis, and mitochondrial pathology. Isolated cardiac myocytes from R92Q mice have increased basal sarcomeric activation, impaired relaxation, and shorter sarcomere lengths. Isolated working heart data are consistent, showing hypercontractility and diastolic dysfunction, both of which are common findings in patients with FHC. These mice represent the first disease model to exhibit hypercontractility, as well as a unique model system for exploring the cellular pathogenesis of FHC. The distinct phenotypes of mice with different TnT alleles suggest that the clinical heterogeneity of FHC is at least partially due to allele-specific mechanisms. J. Clin. Invest. 104:469-481 (1999).
Narrow Dust Jets in a Diffuse Gas Coma: A Natural Product of Small Active Regions on Comets

Comets often display narrow dust jets but more diffuse gas comae when their eccentric orbits bring them into the inner solar system and sunlight sublimates the ice on the nucleus. Comets are also understood to have one or more active areas covering only a fraction of the total surface active with sublimating volatile ices. Calculations of the gas and dust distribution from a small active area on a comet's nucleus show that as the gas moves out radially into the vacuum of space it expands tangentially, filling much of the hemisphere centered on the active region. The dust dragged by the gas remains more concentrated over the active area. This explains some puzzling appearances of comets having collimated dust jets but more diffuse gaseous atmospheres. Our test case is 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the Rosetta mission target comet, whose activity is dominated by a single area covering only 4% of its surface.
Change in metabolism and nitrogen isotopic composition of amino acids through egg production of the calanoid copepod Acartia steueri

Organisms have complex metabolic networks, and their fluxes could be sensitive depending on various physio logical and environmental conditions. As one of these factors, reproduction (e.g., egg production) is a common and essential process to create new individuals. However , little is known about the effect of reproduction in metabolic fluxes of organisms. In this study, we cultured the calanoid copepod Acartia steueri, and measured the stable nitrogen isotopic composition (δ 15 N) of amino acids in adult males and females and their eggs in order to demonstrate the effect of reproduction in amino acid metabolic fluxes of this species. The δ 15 N values of glutamic acid and phenylalanine and the estimated trophic position were 6.3‰, −2.6‰ and 1.73 for male adults; 7.0‰, −2.6‰ and 1.78 for female adults; and 7.3‰, −2.3‰ and 1.82 for eggs, respectively. These results demonstrate no substantial change in the isotopic signature of amino acids among the examined samples, implying that the balance in the amino acid metabolism between assimilation (i.e., absorbing input and biomass construction) and dissimilation (i.e., amino
A Data-Driven Model of Pedestrian Following and Emergent Crowd Behavior

Pedestrian following is a common behavior, and may provide a key link between individual locomotion and crowd dynamics. Here, we present a model for following that is motivated by cognitive science and grounded in empirical data. In Experiment 1, we collected data from leader-follower pairs, and showed that a simple speed-matching model is sufficient to account for behavior. In Experiment 2, we manipulated the visual information of a virtual leader, and found that followers respond primarily to changes in visual angle.
Skin cancer, skin lesions, and the inorganic arsenic content of well water in Huhhot, Inner Mongolia

4561 We conducted a cross-sectional epidemiological study of skin cancer and other skin lesions (keratoses and dyspigmentation) among 3,719 residents exposed to inorganic arsenic from drinking water from 184 wells in three villages in Huhhot, Inner Mongolia, China. The study area came to the attention of medical personnel, because of an unusually high number of requests for dermatological medications. The study population received complete dermatological examinations and provided life histories of well usage. The Chinese government measured arsenic levels in a nationwide survey. Geological processes, not industrial or agricultural sources, accounted for the arsenic. Arsenic levels ranged from non-detectable ( 35% of the study population ingested well waters with peak arsenic concentrations of
Critical Evaluation of a New Ultramicro System for Routine Clinical Chemistry Procedures

A critical appraisal is presented of 11 clinical chemical methods presently available with the Beckman/Spinco Ultramicro Analytical System. After certain modifications, the suggested technics, with the exception of that for serum bicarbonate estimation, offer acceptable standards of accuracy for clinical work.
Does Investor Diversity of Opinion, Information Asymmetry, or Uncertainty Resolution Affect Acquirer Returns?

Several literatures predict a relation between acquirer announcement returns and uncertainty about the acquirer's growth prospects. Models with downward-sloping demand curves for stocks predict that an increase in shares outstanding leads to a lower stock price for firms with greater diversity of opinion among investors. Information asymmetry models imply that equity issues by firms with greater information asymmetries are accompanied by larger share price decreases. Valuation models predict a negative relation between uncertainty resolution and share prices. We find that, for our sample of firms with long-term analyst forecasts, acquirer abnormal returns for acquisitions of public firms paid for with equity decrease as proxies for the acquirer's diversity of opinion, information asymmetry, and/or uncertainty resolution increase. In contrast, abnormal returns for acquisitions of public firms paid for with cash and for acquisitions of private firms paid for with equity either are unaffected or increase as these proxies increase. Strikingly, while diversity of opinion can explain the abnormal returns difference between cash and equity offers for public firms, idiosyncratic volatility appears to be capable of explaining abnormal return differences between cash and equity offers for public firms as well as equity offers for private firms.
Book Review: Perspectives on Chinese Urbanization

The scale and speed of migration into Chinese cities is unprecedented in modern times. Consequently, no single state has ever been pressed to alter its built environment so drastically in just one generation. Much has and will be written about this critical period in urban history. Three timely recent books stand out. The Concrete Dragon by Thomas J. Campanella lucidly describes the broader aesthetic alterations in Chinese cities during this planning and building boom. Shanghai Rising, a volume edited by Xiangming Chen, explores the complicated nexus of state power and global forces that underpins growth in the eponymous business capital. The Great Urban Transformation by You-Tien Hsing explains China’s furious territorial politics from a geographic perspective. Together these interdisciplinary works speak to the broader aesthetic, cultural, and territorial dimensions of urban China’s (literal) ascent. While urbanization is hardly unique to China, these books all give sufficient emphasis to the national context. They grapple with the requisite role of global forces in reshaping local environments, but in toto they tell a story of urbanization with Chinese characteristics.
Timing of site fixation upon the wintering grounds in sparrows

The winter home of a bird, although vitally important in the study of adaptations, has received little attention as compared to various aspects of breeding. During the fall and winter much mortality occurs and may be the limiting factor in many populations (Mac Arthur 1971). We will explore the process of site fixation onto the winter quarters and its implications to the population.
The development and unraveling of marine resource co-management in the Pemba Channel, Zanzibar: institutions, governance, and the politics of scale

Marine resource management programs face conflicting mandates: to scale-up marine conservation efforts to cover larger areas and meet national and international conservation targets, while simultaneously to downscale and decentralize management authority to resource users and local communities. These conflicting goals create tensions in marine resource management. This paper explores these tensions by presenting and evaluating the outcomes of a fisheries co-management program on the island of Pemba, Tanzania, where institutions and scale were configured and reconfigured under externally funded programs to improve marine conservation through co-management. The initial institutional arrangements for co-management supported a functioning system to protect marine resources, ensure fishermen’s access, and distribute tourism revenues. However, a subsequent push to scale-up marine management reconfigured institutional arrangements and power in a more hierarchical and potentially weaker system. With the expansion of the co-management program, protected area coverage, financial resources, and the number of community organizations created for fisheries co-management expanded tremendously; however, community participation in marine management decreased, and the fishermen’s association previously involved in co-management dissolved. Several factors contributed to this outcome: inadequate time to solidify co-management institutions and arrangements, diverse resource users inexperienced with local management, a sudden and substantial new source of funding, and political pressures to restructure marine management. Rather than focusing primarily on expanding coverage and devolving authority, it is important to adapt co-management arrangements to the local contexts in which they operate.
Evidence for Magnesium Secretion during Phosphate Depletion in the Rat

Phosphate depletion in the rat is associated with the rapid development of marked magnesuria (1, 2). This phenomenon has been attributed to a decrease in the renal tubular transport of magnesium since the magnesuria occurred in the face of falling filtered load of this ion.However, it is also possible that magnesium secretion by the renal tubule occurs during phosphate depletion and contributes to the magnesuria. The present study was undertaken to examine this question.Methods. Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 220–280 g and 7 to 10 weeks old were housed individually in metabolic cages. During an adaptation period of 7 days, all rats were fed control diet containing 0.44% phosphate, 0.4% sodium, 0.41% calcium, and 0.03% magnesium (I.C.N. Pharmaceutical Co., Cleveland, Ohio). The rats were then randomly allocated to the phosphate-depleted group or the control group. The phosphate-depleted group (PD) received a diet identical to the control diet except that its phosphate content was reduced to 0.03%. Contr...
STIM1-dependent Ca(2+) microdomains are required for myofilament remodeling and signaling in the heart.

In non-excitable cells stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) is a key element in the generation of Ca2+ signals that lead to gene expression, migration and cell proliferation. A growing body of literature suggests that STIM1 plays a key role in the development of pathological cardiac hypertrophy. However, the precise mechanisms involving STIM-dependent Ca2+ signaling in the heart are not clearly established. Here, we have investigated the STIM1-associated Ca2+ signals in cardiomyocytes and their relevance to pathological cardiac remodeling. We show that mice with inducible, cardiac-restricted, ablation of STIM1 exhibited left ventricular reduced contractility, which was corroborated by impaired single cell contractility. The spatial properties of STIM1-dependent Ca2+ signals determine restricted Ca2+ microdomains that regulate myofilament remodeling and activate spatially segregated pro-hypertrophic factors. Indeed, mice lacking STIM1 showed less adverse structural remodeling in response to pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy. These results highlight how STIM1-dependent Ca2+ microdomains have a major impact on intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, cytoskeletal remodeling and cellular signaling, even when excitation-contraction coupling is present.
Behavior of Preserved Skin Grafts in Their Hosts

This chapter is concerned with experimental and clinical observations of the biologic events that occur in preserved skin grafts after transplantation to recipients. The various types of preservative techniques, the duration and temperature of graft storage, and the diagnostic assay procedures for assessing the condition and eventual fate of preserved skin grafts following transplantation are also briefly described.
Knee Dislocations with Vascular Injuries

SUMMARY Any knee that is dislocated or that has both anterior and posterior cruciates and one collateral ligament tom should be carefully evaluated for neurologic and vascular injury. Reduction and immobilization should be performed. If the pulses are anything but normal, arrangements should be made to proceed to the operating room immediately. A one-shot arteriogram can be obtained in the operating room, but proceeding directly with popliteal artery exploration is reasonable if the pulses have not returned to normal. If the pulses have returned to normal, an arteriogram should be obtained. After the vascular repair has been done, a fasci- otomy of the lower leg should be performed. In the young healthy active patient who does not have significant necrotic muscle or severe nerve injury, delayed reconstruction and early, very aggressive rehabilitation is recommended. Whether this treatment improves the results of this injury remains to be seen. Discussion with the vascular surgeon concerning the use of a tourniquet is recommended. If not functioning, the peroneal nerve is often severely stretched, and no treatment to date has been very encouraging. An ankle foot orthosis or tendon transfers to achieve dorsiflexion may be needed.
Wintering grassland bird responses to vegetation structure, exotic invasive plant composition, and disturbance regime in coastal prairies of Texas

ABSTRACT Many migratory grassland passerines complete their annual life cycle within the United States and investigations into wintering ecology of these species are scarce, particularly in ecoregions where habitat quality is considered to be compromised, such as the coastal prairie of Texas. During 2008–2010, we investigated wintering grassland bird ecology as related to coastal prairie composition and management practices on the mid-upper Texas coast. To quantify grassland bird composition and density among management regimes, we performed 260 transect surveys on 40 different study site pastures deployed among 7 different management regimes, varying in plant community composition as well as frequency (or occurrence) of burning, grazing, and mowing from 29 October 2008–7 April 2009 and 17 November 2009–17 March 2010. A total of 79 bird species (48 species in 2008–2009 and 66 species in 2009–2010) were recorded during this study. Sites that were recently (<2 years prior) grazed, burned, or mowed tended to...
Refractory Ventricular Fibrillation Successfully Cardioverted With Dual Sequential Defibrillation.

Abstract Background Current guidelines for the treatment of adult patients in cardiac arrest are supplied by the American Heart Association through basic life support and advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) provider courses. When treatments defined by the ACLS guidelines are unsuccessful in terminating a lethal dysrhythmia, the use of alternative strategies may prove useful. In this case, two defibrillators were used to deliver a greater than normal energy waveform over an extended time interval to return a patient to a normal sinus rhythm. Case Report A 56-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with complaints of chest pain, nausea, and vomiting. The patient's initial work-up, including an electrocardiogram and cardiac troponin, did not show evidence of acute ischemia, and she was admitted to the observation unit for further evaluation. While in the emergency department, the patient developed ventricular fibrillation, and ACLS was initiated. After four unsuccessful defibrillation attempts, a second defibrillator was placed on the patient, and the two were activated almost simultaneously. The patient had immediate return of spontaneous circulation, underwent cardiac catheterization, and was discharged home 1 week later. Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? This case shows that dual sequential defibrillation may be a successful method for terminating refractory ventricular fibrillation. Further investigation on cardiac resuscitation should be conducted to standardize the dual sequential defibrillation delivery procedure. Until such guidelines are established, physicians should take this treatment into consideration when standard ACLS measures have failed to successfully terminate refractory ventricular fibrillation.
Use of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation in women with node-positive endometrial cancer: A National Cancer Database study.

5588Background: Women with node-positive endometrial cancer have higher rates of disease recurrence and decreased survival compared to those with early stage disease. Adjuvant treatment is consider...
Activity of the mitochondrial metabolism inhibitor cpi-613 in combination with high dose Ara-C (HDAC) and mitoxantrone in high risk relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

7015 Background: CPI-613 is a novel agent that targets mitochondrial metabolism. It inhibits mitochondrial respiration in AML cells and in a single agent phase I study was active for several patien...
Effect of Copolymer Composition on Electronic Conductivity of Electrochemically Oxidized Poly(3-hexylthiophene)- b -poly(ethylene oxide) Block Copolymers

This is a study of the effect of copolymer composition on the electronic conductivity of poly(3-hexylthiophene)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (P3HT-b-PEO) block copolymers. A wide variety of P3HT-b-PEO block copolymers with P3HT volume fraction ranging from 0.28 to 0.86 were synthesized. Lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (LiTFSI) salt was added to the P3HT-b-PEO copolymers to enable electrochemical oxidation. Three terminal electrochemical cells were used to oxidize the P3HT microphase; the two outer electrodes were used to oxidize P3HT, while a nickel mesh located within the P3HT-b-PEO enabled measurement of electronic conductivity by ac impedance. Symmetric block copolymers with P3HT volume fractions in the vicinity of 0.5 exhibited the highest electronic conductivity in the oxidized state. The symmetric copolymers also exhibited the highest crystallinity. The intrinsic conductivity of oxidized P3HT microphases increases exponentially with increasing crystallinity.
Afterword: Organizing for Western European Studies: The Pioneering Stage

In his 1975 essay, "Library Resources on Western Europe in the United States: A Critique," Erwin Welsch, social studies bibliographer at the University of Wisconsin, lamented the absence of an organizational structure that would provide for the exchange of ideas, on a regular basis, among librarians and researchers concerned with Western Europe. One result of the lack of a national interaction among faculty members and librarians on any but the local level.. .is a failure to develop a national consciousness among librarians of the current directions of social, scientific and historical research on Western Europe and the demands these will place on the library. As a first priority, Welsch recommended the establishment of a formal organization to provide for professional interaction and exchange of information. Comments Reprinted from The State of Western European Studies : Implications for Collection Development, Anthony M. Angiletta, [et al.], editors (New York: Haworth Press, 1984), pages 239-251. NOTE: At the time of publication, the author Martha L. Brogan was affiliated with the University of Minnesota. Currently June 2007, she is Associate University Librarian for Collection Development and Management at the University of Pennsylvania. This book chapter is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn.edu/library_papers/39
Seventy-Five Years of Vegetation Treatments on Public Rangelands in the Great Basin of North America

On the Ground • Land treatments occurring over millions of hectares of public rangelands in the Great Basin over the last 75 years represent one of the largest vegetation manipulation and restoration efforts in the world. • The ability to use legacy data from land treatments in adaptive management and ecological research has improved with the creation of the Land Treatment Digital Library (LTDL), a spatially explicit database of land treatments conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. • The LTDL contains information on over 9,000 confirmed land treatments in the Great Basin, composed of seedings (58%), vegetation control treatments (24%), and other types of vegetation or soil manipulations (18%). • The potential application of land treatment legacy data for adaptive management or for retrospective analyses of effects of land management actions on physical, hydrological, and ecological patterns and processes is considerable and just beginning to be realized.
Changes in prostate cancer detection rate of MRI-TRUS fusion vs systematic biopsy over time: evidence of a learning curve.

To determine the effect of urologist and radiologist learning curves and changes in MRI-TRUS fusion platform during 9 years of NCI’s experience with multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI)/TRUS fusion biopsy. A prospectively maintained database of patients undergoing mpMRI followed by fusion biopsy (Fbx) and systematic biopsy (Sbx) from 2007 to 2016 was reviewed. The patients were stratified based on the timing of first biopsy. Cohort 1 (7/2007−12/2010) accounted for learning curve. Cohort 2 (1/2011–5/2013) and cohort 3 (5/2013–4/2016) included patients biopsied prior to and after debut of a new software platform, respectively. Clinically significant (CS) disease was defined as Gleason 7 (3+4) or higher. McNemar’s test compared cancer detection rates (CDRs) of Sbx and Fbx between time periods. 1528 patients were included in the study with 230, 537 and 761 patients included in three respective cohorts. Median age (interquartile range) was 61.0 (±9.0), 62.0 (±7.3), and 64.0 (±11.0) years in three cohorts, respectively (P<0.001). Fbx and Sbx had comparable CS CDR in cohort 1 (24.8 vs 22.2%, P=0.377). Fbx detected significantly more CS disease compared to Sbx in the following two periods (cohort 2: 31.5 vs 25.0%, P=0.001; cohort 3: 36.4 vs 30.3%, P<0.001) and detected significantly less low risk disease in the same period (cohort 2: 14.5 vs 19.6%, P<0.001; cohort 3: 12.6 vs 16.7%, P<0.001). Even after multivariate adjustment with age, PSA, race, clinical stage and MRI suspicion score, Fbx CS cancer detection increased in successive cohorts (cohort 2: OR 2.23, P=0.043; cohort 3: OR 2.92, P=0.007). In the past 9 years, there has been significant improvement in the accuracy of Fbx. Our results show that after an early learning period, Fbx detected higher rates of CS cancer and lower rates of clinically insignificant cancer than Sbx. Software advances allowed for even greater detection of CS disease.
Gaps in appropriate use of treatment strategies in osteoarthritis.

Abstract Optimal management of osteoarthritis (OA) requires a combination of therapies, with behavioral (e.g., exercise and weight management) and rehabilitative components at the core, accompanied by pharmacological treatments and, in later stages, consideration of joint replacement surgery. Although multiple sets of OA treatment guidelines have been developed, there are gaps in the implementation of these recommendations. Key areas of concern include the underuse of exercise, weight management, and other behavioral and rehabilitation strategies as well as the overuse of opioid analgesics. In this review, we describe the major categories of treatment strategies for OA, including self-management, physical activity, weight management, physical therapy and other rehabilitative therapies, pharmacotherapies, and joint replacement surgery. For each category, we discuss the current evidence base to report on appropriate use, data regarding adherence to treatment recommendations, and potential approaches to optimize use.
A new SVD-based optimal inverse filter design for ultrasonic applications

A new approach for the design of optimal pseudoinverse filter for ultrasonic applications is presented. The filter is derived from the spatio-temporal impulse response of the US system at scatterer locations (assumed to be on a uniform grid) in the region of interest (ROI). We provide a derivation for the filter coefficients based linear formulation of the pulse propagation from the scatterers to the transducer. In this paper, we show the frequency response of the derived filter using experimental data and we demonstrate that the new formulation does indeed behave as an inverse filter (i.e., it provides spectral inversion in the passband of the original system). However, for coded-excitation systems, the pseudoinverse can be derived for 2D and 3D imaging. This approach will provide the opportunity for simultaneous acquisition of many image lines upon each transmit. Thus, it can be used to increase the frame rate of ultrasound imaging systems
A high efficiency stirrer for suspension cell culture with or without microcarriers.

The stirrer described in this paper employs “Teaspoon stirring” in which a secondary motion is superimposed on the rotation of the liquid. This secondary motion arises from the viscous drag from the wall and bottom of the flask. The culture medium is rotated by a bulb-ended rod suspended from inside the flask cap: the bulb orbits around in a circular trough farmed between a central indent in the base and the rounded periphery of the base. There are no bearings and no stagnant areas. The power used to stir 4 flasks each holding 500 ml of medium is less than 2 watts. The speed is electronically controlled by a tachometer and automatically gives a smooth start and stop as well as “Interval stirring” to assist initial attachment of cells.
Mosaic and tapestry: Metaphors as geographical concept generators

This paper examines the use of the metaphorical terms ‘mosaic’ and ‘tapestry’ in conceptualizing the structure of spatial organization over more than a century of geographic thought. The duality be...
Longitudinal Barriers to Thiopurine Adherence in Adolescents With Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Objectives Cross-sectionally, more adherence barriers are associated with lower medication adherence. However, little is known about longitudinal associations between adherence barriers and adherence. Among adolescents with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), this study examined both (1) how time-varying self-reported adherence barriers affect daily thiopurine adherence and (2) how adherence barriers at baseline affect daily thiopurine adherence over a six-month period. Methods Eighty-one adolescents 11-18 years old prescribed a once-daily oral IBD maintenance medication participated in a six-month observational study. Adherence barriers were self-reported monthly via the Medication Adherence Measure (MAM): Medication Subscale. Daily adherence estimates were collected via Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS) Track Caps. Results Generalized linear mixed modeling indicated that time alone did not significantly predict whether one was more likely to be adherent (p = .602). However, increasing adherence barriers lowered the likelihood that a participant would be adherent on a given day, and the interaction between time and barriers predicted likelihood of adherence on a given day (p < .01). Specifically, when participants reported no adherence barriers at baseline, adherence did not significantly change over time (p = .369). However, when barriers were endorsed, adherence decreased over time (p < .01). Conclusions Fewer adherence barriers over time predicted greater likelihood of adherence on a given day, which is consistent with previous cross-sectional research. Routine assessment of barriers to adherence over the course of adolescence is critical in addressing suboptimal adherence behavior in youth with IBD.
A qualitative study to understand over-the-counter medication use and decision-making among residents of senior-living communities

Abstract Introduction OTC medications are generally considered safe and convenient to use without requiring a prescription. However, the safety of an OTC medication and the final health outcome depends in part upon consumers’ perceptions, beliefs, and their decision-making about OTC medication use. This study uses a qualitative approach to explore the knowledge, beliefs, and practices associated with OTC medication use and decision-making in adults aged 65 years and older. Methods A set of focus groups (N = 10) were conducted in a sample of independently living older adult residents of senior apartment buildings (N = 80) using purposeful sampling. All focus groups were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed qualitatively. Results Most participants considered OTC medications safe and effective to use if following the drug label instructions appropriately. Brand name products were perceived as equally or more effective compared to generic products by participants. Two approaches to OTC treatment decision-making were observed: 1) a decision to treat their symptoms by themselves (self-recommended) or 2) a decision to ask and/or follow their physician's recommendation (physician-recommended). Each of these treatment approaches may lead to the other depending on the person's financial and healthcare resources, the severity of the symptoms, experiences with the medication, and relationship with the physician. Maximum and fast relief was mentioned as the most important attribute in the final OTC purchase decision, followed by the lower cost, and easy to swallow dosage forms. Aspirin and ibuprofen were the two most frequently reported OTC medications associated with adverse effects and inappropriate use. Conclusions Older adults, in general, feel positive about OTC medications and are satisfied with using them. Considering the self-reported malpractices and side effects associated with OTC medications, older adults should be encouraged to make safe and responsible decisions about self-medication.