cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adrenocortical Carcinoma in Children: A Clinicopathological Analysis of 41 Patients at the Mayo Clinic from 1950 to 2017.

Background/Aims: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is an aggressive childhood cancer. Limited evidence exists on a definite histopathological criterion to differentiate ACC from adrenocortical adenoma. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathological data of children with ACC, identify prognostic factors, and validate a histopathological criterion to differentiate ACC from adrenocortical adenoma. Methods: This retrospective cohort included 41 children, followed at the Mayo Clinic from 1950 to 2017 (onset of symptoms ≤21 years). Outcomes of interest were: alive with no evidence of disease, alive with evidence of disease, and dead of disease. Results: Median age at onset of symptoms was 15.7 years (n = 41; range, 0.2–21 years). Female:male ratio was 3.6: 1. Mixed symptomatology (> 1 hormone abnormality) was the most common presentation (54%, n = 22). Sixty-six percent of patients (n = 27 out of 41) underwent total adrenalectomy. Metastatic disease was more common in children aged > 12 years (p = 0.002 compared to < 4 years). The most common sites of metastases were the liver and lungs. Overall 2-year and 5-year survival rates were 61% (95% CI 45–77) and 46% (95% CI 30–62), respectively. Metastasis at the time of diagnosis was independently associated with poor prognosis (risk ratio 13.7%; 95% CI 3.9–87.7). Weiss criteria (29%) and modified Weiss criteria (33%) were less accurate in younger patients (< 12 years), compared to the Wieneke index (100%). Conclusion: The presence of metastases was an independent prognostic factor. The Wieneke index was the most accurate in predicting clinical outcomes in younger children.
Culturally Relevant Pedagogy (CRP)

CRP draws upon students’ background, knowledge, and culture experiences as a source of examples and teaching strategies to help students understand science concepts by connecting students’ lives outside and inside of school.
Pituitary and Hypothalamic Regulation of Sex Differences in Serum-Luteinizing Hormone Levels in Gonadectomized Rats: In Vitro Perifusion Studies

Publisher Summary In male rats, luteinizing hormone (LH) rises quickly within 8 hr of castration; however, in females, there is no significant increase for several days. These differences cannot be explained by sex steroid milieu, sex differences in pituitary LH content, or gender differences in LH response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) dose. This chapter presents a study to demonstrate that gonadectomy produces sex differences in pituitary sensitivity to different GnRH pulse frequencies and/or hypothalamic GnRH releasability, resulting in a strong sex difference in serum LH rise. The increase in in vivo GnRH pulse frequency to 1.3 pulses/hr following castration in male rats and the increased LH pulse frequency in ovariectomized female rat suggested that weak sex differences in LH release at GnRH frequencies slower than 1 pulse/hr are not relevant to sex differences in serum LH postgonadectomy. The lack of sex differences at the pituitary level and the drop in NMA-stimulated GnRH release following gonadectomy by female, but not male, median eminence suggests that the hypothalamus plays a greater role than the pituitary in regulating sex differences in LH release postgonadectomy.
A Brief History of Triplet Repeat Diseases

Instability of repetitive DNA sequences within the genome is associated with a number of human diseases. The expansion of trinucleotide repeats is recognized as a major cause of neurological and neuromuscular diseases, and progress in understanding the mutations over the last 20 years has been substantial. Here we provide a brief summary of progress with an emphasis on technical advances at different stages.
ST Segment Elevation and Depressions in Supraventricular Tachycardia without Coronary Artery Disease

ST segment changes are well documented in literature during supraventricular tachycardias. We present a case of a 21-year-old male who presents with chest pain, shortness of breath, and dizziness with an ECG showing atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia and diffuse ST segment depressions. Patient spontaneously converted to sinus rhythm, but he was still complaining of crushing chest pain. ECG taken after conversion showed sinus rhythm at a rate of 65 and showed obvious persistence of ST depressions in majority of leads. Emergent left heart catheterization showed normal coronaries. Such ST depression is suggestive of global ischemia in small intracardiac vessels that cannot be evaluated by left heart catheterization.
At the Heart of Trauma-Informed Care

“Trauma-informed care” provides a framework to guide clinicians in responding to the epidemic of trauma. Yet few clinicians feel comfortable defining trauma-informed care or describing how it translates into practice. This reflective piece suggests four dimensions of trauma-informed care: 1) Awareness of the prevalence of trauma and its long-term effects on physical and emotional health to every encounter; 2) attitudes that recognize resilience and take into account how trauma may influence behavior and engagement in care; 3) an approach to care that prioritizes safety, choice and collaboration while working to build trust; and 4) education regarding trauma’s effects, and connection to resources to support healing. These dimensions seek to clarify the provider’s role in creating a trauma-informed health care environment and stimulate reflection on how best to serve patients affected by trauma.
Employer and Worker Contributions to Health Reimbursement Arrangements and Health Savings Accounts, 2006-2012

This paper presents findings from the 2008-2012 EBRI/MGA Consumer Engagement in Health Care Survey (CEHCS) and the 2006 and 2007 EBRI/Commonwealth Fund Consumerism in Health Care Surveys. It examines the availability of health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) and health savings account (HSA)-eligible plans (consumer-driven health plans, or CDHPs), as well as employer and individual contribution behavior. According to the 2012 CEHCS, 11.6 million adults ages 21-64 (or 7 percent of the population) were enrolled in a plan with an HRA or HSA. An additional 7 million reported that they were covered by an HSA-eligible plan but had not opened such an account. Thus, overall, 18.6 million adults ages 21-64 with private insurance, representing 15.4 percent of that market, were either in a CDHP or an HSA-eligible plan but had not opened the account that would be used to fund covered expenses. When their children were counted, 25.2 million individuals with private insurance, representing 14.6 percent of the market, were either in a CDHP or an HSA-eligible plan. Seven out of 10 workers (69 percent) with an HRA or HSA reported that their employers contributed to the account in 2012. The percentage of workers with an HRA or HSA plan whose employers contributed to the account has been steadily increasing since 2009. Workers with employee-only coverage did not increase their own contributions in 2012, but those with family coverage did. The report found a correlation between health engagement and individual contributions to an HSA. Those defined as being engaged in their health reported that they did at least one of the following: checked whether their health plan would cover their care or medication; checked the price of a doctor’s visit, medication, or other health care service before receiving care; checked the quality rating of a doctor or hospital before receiving care; talked to their doctor about prescription options, costs, other treatment options and costs; used an online cost tracking tool provided by their health plan to manage health expenses; developed a budget to manage health care expenses; asked for a generic drug instead of a brand name drug; or asked their doctor to recommend a less costly prescription drug. It was found that individuals with some engagement with the health care system contributed higher amounts to their HSA than those with no engagement. In 2012, 48 percent of those with no engagement with the health care system contributed $1,500 or more, whereas 55 percent of those with some engagement with the health care system contributed $1,500 or more. The PDF for the above title, published in the February 2013 issue of EBRI Notes, also contains the fulltext of another February 2013 EBRI Notes article abstracted on SSRN: “Debt of the Elderly and Near Elderly, 1992-2010.”
Measurement agreement in percent body fat estimates among laboratory and field assessments in college students: Use of equivalence testing

The purpose of this study was to examine the agreement in percent body fat estimates among 7 laboratory and field assessments against dual-emission x-ray absorptiometry using equivalence testing. Participants were 437 college students (mean age = 19.2±0.6 years). Dual-emission x-ray absorptiometry was used as the criterion with hydrostatic weighing, skinfold thickness, air displacement plethysmography, near infrared reactance, and three methods of bioelectrical impedance analysis examined as surrogate assessments. Relative agreement was examined using intraclass correlation coefficients. Group level agreement was examined using equivalence testing. Individual-level agreement was assessed using Mean Absolute Percent Error and Bland-Altman Plots. Single measure intraclass correlation coefficient scores ranged from 0.71-0.80. Hydrostatic weighing, skinfold thickness, air displacement plethysmography, and 4-electrode bioelectrical impedance analysis showed statistical equivalence with the criterion using a 10% Equivalence Interval with absolute mean differences ranging from 1.0%-4.9% body fat. Mean Absolute Percent Error ranged from 11.7% using skinfold thickness to 21.9% using Omron (hand-held) bioelectrical impedance analysis. Limits of Agreement were heteroscedastic across the range of mean scores compared to dual-emission x-ray absorptiometry, with greater mean differences observed at higher levels of percent body fat. Hydrostatic weighing, skinfold thickness, air displacement plethysmography, and 4-electrode bioelectrical impedance analysis showed strong evidence for statistical equivalence with dual-emission x-ray absorptiometry in a sample of college students.
Utilization and reimbursements for sinus procedures: A five-year analysis.

Objectives/hypothesis Balloon sinuplasty has become an increasingly popular option for patients undergoing surgical treatment of sinusitis. This study analyzes utilization and growth of these procedures across a large cohort of patients over a 5-year period. Study design Retrospective data review. Methods This was a retrospective review of Medicare utilization and billing data. Utilization and payment values were obtained from Medicare claims data using Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services datasets. All Medicare claims were analyzed from 2012 to 2016. Data were extracted for balloon sinuplasty and endoscopic sinus surgery claims. Procedure location, total submitted claims, charges, and payments were compared. Results From 2012 to 2016, the number of balloon procedures increased from 5,603 to 25,640. Traditional endoscopic sinus surgery procedures increased from 15,509 to 18,164. Aggregate Medicare payments to otolaryngologists for endoscopic sinus surgery have remained relatively stable, whereas there has been a 450% increase in total payments to providers of balloon sinuplasty. In 2016, total payments to providers of balloon procedures ($40.5 million) were substantially higher than payments to providers of non-balloon-based endoscopic sinus surgery ($4.7 million). The number of providers performing balloon procedures has increased 277% versus 17% for traditional sinus surgery. Conclusions There has been a rapid expansion in the number of sinus procedures in the Medicare population from 2012 to 2016. Office-based balloon procedures account for the overwhelming majority of the increases in procedures and payments. Per procedure and aggregate payments are now higher for sinuplasty procedures than for traditional sinus surgery. Level of evidence NA Laryngoscope, 129:2224-2229, 2019.
Destructive and non-destructive evaluation of reinforced concrete dry casks affected by alkali-silica reactivity damage

AbstractThis article investigates the effect of alkali–silica reaction (ASR) damage on the structural performance of reinforced concrete (RC) dry casks for spent nuclear fuel (SNF) storage. Dry cas...
Vascular Anatomy of the Hand in Relation to Flaps

The vascular supply of the hand and wrist is derived from the radial and ulnar arteries. This forms a complex network of vessels on the palmar and dorsal surfaces of the hand. Anastomoses and branching patterns of vessels at the level of the carpals, metacarpals, and phalanges form the basis of old and new flap designs. This article provides an overview on the vascular anatomy of the hand and forearm with emphasis on the blood supply to various flaps.
An interdisciplinary approach using case management and clinical pharmacy improves results for people with diabetes

Abstract Background People with diabetes face many challenges to following healthcare provider recommendations for self-management and few are able to achieve and maintain reductions in average blood glucose level. Interdisciplinary teams are a promising strategy to help patients with diabetes improve outcomes. Methods An observational analysis of electronic health record data to evaluate the impact of a clinical pharmacist, case manager, or a combination of both on clinical outcomes for patients with diabetes. Findings All patients (N = 970), regardless of visit type, had a statistically significant improvement in A1C, LDL, and total cholesterol over 1 year. Patients who saw both a case manager and clinical pharmacist had the greatest improvements with the steepest changes across all measures. Conclusion Clinics should create interdisciplinary teams that include a clinical pharmacist and a case manager to have the best outcomes for their patients with diabetes.
Enhancing Patients' Wayfinding and Visitation Experience Improves Quality of Care.

Abstract Purpose To understand the impact of wayfinding challenges on patient hospital visitation experience, organizational costs, and emerging technology trends that may alleviate wayfinding challenges. Design A review of literature on the relationship of wayfinding to patient's hospital visitation experience. Methods A literature search identifying issues associated with wayfinding challenges in complex health care facilities was conducted. Case examples are provided to illustrate that the removal of barriers can improve the wayfinding experience. This review also informs technology trends that may effectively facilitate wayfinding in complex health care facilities. Findings Large hospital complexes exhibit many characteristics comparable to the physical features of a city environment. These complexities present challenges to patients to navigate to their destinations. An effective wayfinding system is a collection of tools that combines permanent signage, printed information, landmarks, architectural features and design elements, and human interactions. Navigational technology modeling holds the promise to aid patients and individuals with visual and cognitive challenges to find their way to their desired destinations effectively and efficiently, and improves their quality of life. Conclusions Improved patient travel time correlates to reduce idled nursing time, with cost savings accrued to organization. Research shows that wayfinding mobile applications hold the promise of improving patients' hospital visitation experience.
Modern Evolutionary Biology and Brazilian Population Genetics: Theodosius Dobzhansky at the University of São Paulo

On the one hand, much has been written on Theodosius Dobzhansky’s central role in the development of the field of population genetics and modern evolutionary theory, as well as on his sociopolitica...
Retrospective analysis of the effects of Blastomyces antigen concentration in urine and radiographic findings on survival in dogs with blastomycosis.

BACKGROUND: The Blastomyces antigen concentration in urine (BACU) test is used to diagnose blastomycosis and monitor treatment in dogs. It is unknown if a higher BACU is associated with shorter survival. OBJECTIVES: To determine if the magnitude of BACU before treatment is associated with survival in dogs with blastomycosis. ANIMALS: Fifty-two dogs with blastomycosis. METHODS: Retrospective case review. BACU, radiographic lung severity (RLS) score (0-4 scale), and survival time up to 1 year after diagnosis were obtained through medical record review of dogs with Blastomyces dermatitidis. RESULTS: The overall survival was: discharge, 87%; 1 week, 85%; 2 months, 74%; and 6 months, 69%. BACU correlated with RLS score (rs = 0.33, P = .02). BACU and RLS scores were lower in survivors to 2 months than nonsurvivors (average BACU difference of 2.5 ng/mL, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.2-4.8 ng/mL, P = .04; median RLS difference of 2; range, 0-4, P = .02). Dogs with BACU 5 ng/mL (P = .03) and dogs with severe (3-4) RLS scores (P = .04). All dogs with a BACU <5 ng/mL or mild RLS score were alive at last follow-up (median, 365 days; range, 44-365 days). In all, 68.1% of other dogs survived to 2 months (95% CI, 54.8%-84.8%). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Dogs with lower BACU and RLS scores have improved survival; however, it is unclear what specific cutoffs should be used for prognosis.
Activation of locus coeruleus to rostromedial tegmental nucleus (RMTg) noradrenergic pathway blunts binge-like ethanol drinking and induces aversive responses in mice

Abstract There is strong evidence that ethanol entails aversive effects that can act as a deterrent to overconsumption. We have found that in doses that support the development of a conditioned taste aversion ethanol increases the activity of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive neurons in the locus coeruleus (LC), a primary source of norepinephrine (NE). Using cre-inducible AAV8-ChR2 viruses in TH-ires-cre mice we found that the LC provides NE projections that innervate the rostromedial tegmental nucleus (RMTg), a brain region that has been implicated in the aversive properties of drugs. Because the neurocircuitry underlying the aversive effects of ethanol is poorly understood, we characterized the role of the LC to RMTg circuit in modulating aversive unconditioned responses and binge-like ethanol intake. Here, both male and female TH-ires-cre mice were cannulated in the RMTg and injected in the LC with rAVV viruses that encode for a Gq-expressing designer receptor exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) virus, or its control virus, to directly control the activity of NE neurons. A Latin Square paradigm was used to analyze both 20% ethanol and 3% sucrose consumption using the “drinking-in-the-dark” (DID) paradigm. Chemogenetic activation of the LC to RMTg pathway significantly blunted the binge-ethanol drinking, with no effect on the sucrose consumption, increased the emission of mid-frequency vocalizations and induced malaise-like behaviors in mice. The present findings indicate an important involvement of the LC to RMTg pathway in reducing ethanol consumption, and characterize unconditioned aversive reactions induced by activation of this noradrenergic pathway.
The cell of cancer origin provides the most reliable roadmap to its diagnosis, prognosis (biology) and therapy

Cancers arise from single transformed cells from virtually every organ of the body, divide in a relatively uncontrolled manner, and metastasize widely. A search for a "magic bullet" to precisely diagnose, characterize, and ultimately treat cancer has largely failed because cancer cells do not differ significantly from their organ-specific cells of origin. Instead of searching for genomic, epigenetic, transcriptional, and translational differences between cancers and their cells of origin, we should paradoxically focus on what cancer cells have in common with their untransformed cells of origin. This redirected search will lead to improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies where therapeutic index considerations and drug-limiting toxicities can largely be circumvented. We cite three cancer examples that illustrate this paradigm-shifting strategy: pseudomyxoma peritonei (PP), metastasis of unknown origin (cancers of unknown primary) (MUO), and cancers that arise from potentially dispensable organs (CAD). In each of these examples, the cell of cancer origin still provides the most reliable road map to its diagnosis, prognosis (biology), and therapy.
Biphoton Pulse Shaping

Recent research has demonstrated how classical optical signal-processing techniques can be extended to nonclassical entangled-photon states, permitting unprecedented control of the time-frequency correlations shared by these light quanta. In this chapter, we introduce the basic theory behind such biphoton pulse shaping and highlight several key experiments conducted in this field. Our emphasis is not only on how entangled photons benefit from these traditionally classical techniques, but also how their specifically quantum properties produce interesting effects not observable with classical fields. We consider both Fourier-transform pulse shaping, which relies on programmable spectral filtering, and electro-optic modulation, in which the temporal phase or amplitude of the biphoton is manipulated by an electrical signal. Both avenues of research have facilitated new insights into biphoton correlations and look to play an important role in the future of quantum state manipulation and the next generation of quantum communication networks.
Optimal Utterance Selection for Unit Selection Speech Synthesis Databases

This paper describes techniques to find an optimal data set for building high quality unit-selection speech synthesis inventories. As the quality of unit-selection speech synthesis is dependent on the coverage of the database used in the selection, it is important to select the right data to record. In this paper we describe some simple techniques as well as a more complex acoustic modeling technique based on the database speaker's acoustic characteristics. Result of a simple evaluation procedure are presented justifying the technique.
Innovative retrofit technique for distortion-induced fatigue cracks in steel girder web gaps

Cracking in web gaps of steel girder bridges is often difficult and expensive to repair, especially at the top web gap. A commonly-used retrofit technique involves creating new load path between a transverse connection plate and the top flange of the girder, by means of bolted angles on both sides of the transverse connection plate. This technique often requires removing portions of the bridge deck to create the bolted connection at the top flange, which is an approach that can incur significant expense and inconvenience to the traveling public. This study was aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of a newly-developed retrofit technique, in which connection is made between the transverse connection plate and the girder web, through use of bolted angles on both sides of the transverse connection plate and a backing plate on the opposing face of the girder web. The retrofit was evaluated through extensive structural testing and finite element modeling. Testing was performed on a 9.1-m [30-ft] long test bridge system, comprised of three 910-mm [36-in.] deep girders and a concrete deck. The system was loaded to produce distortion-induced fatigue cracking, and then the bridge was retrofitted with the newly-developed stiffener-to-web repair technique. Results of the testing were compared to findings from finite element analyses, as well as findings from structural tests performed on 2.7-m [9-ft.] long segments of similar girders tested under distortion-induced fatigue. Results have indicated that the newly-developed retrofit technique has significant potential for effectively controlling distortion-induced fatigue cracking in web gaps of steel girder bridges without requiring disruption to the concrete deck.
Cytokinin: Evidence for Spatial Control of Signal Transduction

Although it is well established that in animal cells Ca2+ plays a role in signal transduction leading to the triggering and or mediation of cell division [see 14], we have limited understanding of how plant cells translate hormonal signals into developmental change [see 10–12, 15, 21]. Several models have been proposed to explain stimulus-response coupling in both plants and animals [15, 17, 20]. These models all consist of a sequential four-component system that include (1) perception of the stimulus by a receptor, (2) activation of an intracellular second messenger, (3) cascade and amplification of the message, and (4) physiological response.
Validation of the space weather modeling framework using ground‐based magnetometers

[1] Geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) can disrupt power grid operations, causing significant interference for many people; therefore, predictions of ground-based magnetic perturbations and their time derivatives are quite important. This study quantifies how well the University of Michigan's Global MHD code predicts approximately 150 ground-based magnetometer traces for a number of storm-time intervals. It is found that in order to accurately represent the magnetic perturbation, Biot-Savart integrals over the entire hemisphere are needed, especially when calculating the vertical component. The 4 May 1998 storm is examined in detail. The code compares well with some stations, quantified by a normalized root mean squared error and cross correlation, while missing even the general trends for other stations. When multiple magnetometer station perturbations are averaged together, the model does an adequate job in the north and vertical components but reverses the trends in the eastward component. The code does significantly better when comparing an AL-like index but does not have as strong a variation as the actual data. Comparison of dB/dt in a wide window rather than simultaneously shows better model performance in capturing events but worse in yielding false alarms. It is further found that the MHD code models the magnetic perturbations better in the summer hemisphere than in the winter hemisphere.
The Establishment of Peripheral Sensory Arbors in the Leech:In Vivo Time-Lapse Studies Reveal a Highly Dynamic Process

Pressure-sensitive (P) neurons located in the leech CNS form elaborate terminal arbors in the body wall of the animal during mid-embryogenesis. In the experiments discussed here, arbor development in the target region was studied in intact, unanesthetized leech embryos using time-lapse video microscopy of individual, fluorescently stained P neurons. Analysis of time-lapse recordings made over a period of several days revealed that arbor formation is a very dynamic process. At any particular time, most high-order terminal branches were either extending or retracting, in approximately equal numbers and at very similar rates. Many branches underwent several rounds of extension and retraction every hour. Net arbor growth occurred at a much lower rate than the extension and retraction rates of individual branches. Process retraction sometimes resulted in an apparent change in the topological order of processes. Significantly, the initiation of new branches was restricted to a few locations along the parent process, which were termed "hot spots." Moreover, the capacity to generate high-order branches correlated with parent process stability. The target region of the growing P cell arbor in the body wall was subsequently examined using confocal microscopy in fixed preparations. The arbor expanded between the longitudinal and circular muscle layers, a region occupied by small unidentified cells. Simultaneous imaging of the dye-labeled terminal arbor and the surrounding tissue at two different wavelengths suggested that the high-order processes were navigating around these cells, which sometimes forced the growing processes to assume a bent form. These observations suggest that the formation of the P cell arbor can be best described as a "dynamically unstable" process that is constrained by interactions with its environment.
Simultaneous Binary Collisions for Collinear Four-Body Problem

In this paper, we use canonical transformations to collectively analytically continue the singularities of the simultaneous binary collision solutions for the collinear fourbody problem in both the decoupled case and the coupled case. And more importantly, we describe the relationship between the decoupled solutions and the coupled solutions.
Blind channel identifiability/equalizability of single input multiple output nonlinear channels from second order statistics

We explore the utility of second-order statistics for blind identification/equalization of nonlinear channels. Under standard assumptions it is shown that the channel cannot be identified to within a scaling factor from the output second order statistics, but that the ambiguity is at a level that permits equalization. We show that these results cover cases that the prior literature does not address.
Chapter 8 Intrinsic noise from voltage-gated ion channels: Effects on dynamics and reliability in intrinsically oscillatory neurons

Publisher Summary The biophysical mechanisms underlying electrical excitability and communication in the nervous system make electrical noise ubiquitous and inescapable. This chapter describes the major sources of biological noise in neurons (nerve cells) and how each can be characterized experimentally. It reviews some of the consequences of biological noise and presents a detailed case study on how noise interacts with oscillatory dynamics in a particular population of neurons in the mammalian brain (stellate neurons of the medial entorhinal cortex). The chapter argues that intrinsic noise from voltage-gated sodium ion (Na + ) channels is sufficient to alter the electrical dynamics of stellate cells in a number of specific ways. Key effects of intrinsic noise from Na + channels include (1) enhancement of excitability and sensitivity to small stimuli, (2) alteration of cellular bifurcation behavior and “softening” of the neural threshold; (3) enhancement of robustness of electrical behaviors in the face of perturbations of model parameters, (4) reduction of neuronal reliability in response to broadband stimuli, and (5) enhanced reliability with inputs that have significant energy content within the theta (4–12 Hz) band.
Suspicion formation among police officers: an international literature review

Recent research on racial profiling has renewed attention on how police officers develop suspicions about citizens, and how these suspicions influence the official behavior of police. In order to guide the current research, a review of the wealth of existing qualitative and quantitative research on this topic is necessary. This literature review examines the existing international research in psychology, sociology, and criminology on police officer development of suspicion. It also lays out a framework for organizing the findings with four broad methods of suspicion development: stereotypical perceptions about typical criminal offenders, prior knowledge about specific citizens; incongruent circumstances, and suspicious nonverbal cues. It concludes with the few studies linking officer suspicions to official police behavior.
Comparison of 30-day outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting surgery verus hybrid coronary revascularization stratified by SYNTAX and euroSCORE

Objective The optimal treatment of multivessel coronary artery disease is not well established. Hybrid coronary revascularization by combining the left internal mammary artery–left anterior descending artery graft and drug-eluting stents in non–left anterior descending artery territories might offer superior results compared with sole coronary artery bypass grafting or sole percutaneous coronary intervention. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the 30-day outcomes of 381 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 301) vs hybrid coronary revascularization (n = 80). In a 2 × 2 matrix, the 2 groups were stratified by the Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score (≤32 vs ≥33) and the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (euroSCORE) ( Results After stratification using the SYNTAX and the euroSCORE, the preoperative characteristics were similar within the 4 groups, except for the ≥33 SYNTAX/>5 euroSCORE. The hybrid coronary revascularization patients were older (77 vs 65 years, P = .001). The postoperative outcomes using combined SYNTAX and the euroSCORE stratification showed a similar rate of the composite endpoint for all groups except for patients with ≥33 SYNTAX/>5 euroSCORE (0% for the coronary artery bypass grafting group vs 33% for the hybrid coronary revascularization group, P = .001). An analysis of the secondary endpoint showed similar results across all groups, except for in the ≥33 SYNTAX/>5 euroSCORE group, in which bleeding (re-exploration for bleeding and transfusion >3 packed red blood cell units per patient) was 44% in the hybrid coronary revascularization group vs 11% in the coronary artery bypass grafting group ( P = .05). Conclusions Hybrid coronary revascularization is a safe alternative to coronary artery bypass grafting in many patients with multivessel coronary artery disease. However, in high-risk patients with complex coronary artery disease (≥33 SYNTAX/>5 euroSCORE), coronary artery bypass grafting is superior to hybrid coronary revascularization.
Family experiences related to the decision to institutionalize an elderly member in Taiwan: an exploratory study.

Abstract Industrialization and urbanization have changed the structure of Taiwanese families. Placing elder family members with impairments in nursing homes has become a new caregiving alternative. However, Taiwanese commonly consider this placement to be a violation of traditional filial obligation. Therefore, institutionalization is a highly sensitive cultural issue. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with nine family members, revealing three major processes in the decision of institutionalization — breaking harmony, rebuilding harmony and evolution, as well as four important factors that influence the decision — the quality of the relationship between the elder and his/her family, characteristics of the elder, financial condition of the family and perceived public opinion toward institutionalization. The findings suggest that the decision process in institutionalization is a gradual, fluid, cyclical movement without definite steps.
Experimental study on ductile-regime micro-grinding character of soda-lime glass with diamond tool

This paper proposes a model to predict the material removal mode in soda-lime glass micro-grinding. This model defines material removal process to three stages which conclude ductile type, ductile-brittle type and brittle type by the quantization of undeformed chip thickness h m . The model for computing undeformed chip thickness in micro-grinding has been built considering tool topography, grit distribution and size effect in this paper. Micro-grinding experiments with different cutting depth on soda-lime glass have been designed and conducted. From experiment results, it was found that the edge crack length tends to have a wide range with different h m . Three types of chip have been investigated in results, and coolant has been verified to be an important factor to soda-lime glass ductile-regime micro-grinding. Critical depths of soda-lime glass micro-grinding have been found to be 2 and 5 nm, grinding forces in experiment provide the proof to predictive model proposed by this paper.
Particle transport by benthic invertebrates: its role in egg bank dynamics

The ecological and evolutionary dynamics of zooplankton is in part a function of the numbers and ages of dispausing eggs hatching from aquatic sediments. Successful recruitment from this ‘egg bank’ must depend upon the eggs being present at or near the sediment surface. Often, however, zooplankton diapausing eggs are found as deep as 15 to 30 cm in the mud. Bioturbation may provide a mechanism for the regular return of buried eggs to the sediment surface. A substantial portion of the population of the copepod, Diaptomus sanguineus, living in Bullhead Pond, a small lake in Rhode Island, USA, is present as diapausing eggs. To study the role of bioturbation in egg-bank dynamics, we introduced polystyrene beads, the same size and specific gravity as copepod eggs, at two depths in large-diameter sediment chambers in the laboratory. Treatments included chambers with natural and reduced densities of benthos. Consistent with other studies, our results show that the joint activities of tubificid oligochaetes and chironomid larvae are responsible for bidirectional (up and down) transport of beads in the top 2 cm of the sediment. We observed no bead movement below this depth. Thus, eggs in the top two centimeters of sediment in this lake are exposed with some regularity to conditions that stimulate hatching at the sediment-water interface. In Bullhead Pond, these eggs have a mean age of 12.2 years (based on 210Pb-dating). Eggs buried more deeply will only be returned to the sediment surface by relatively rare, localized disturbances. This return of old eggs to the surface affects ecological and evolutionary dynamics in a complex way.
A modified model for projecting age-structured populations in random environments

A discrete-time age-structured population model with vital rates linked to a stochastic environmental process was developed as a generalization of an existing model by making the explicit link between variability in the vital rates and variability in the environment more flexible. This modified model uses biologically relevant probability distributions for the vital rates, and allows for temporal autocorrelation and an arbitrary covariance structure between vital rates. Through simulations, the properties of the projected population in the short-term were investigated and compared to analytical approximations. The distribution of the total population size did not quickly approach lognormality under all conditions. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the vital rates to the environmental process had a strong effect on the variance and distribution of the projected population size. These results suggest that short-term projections need to be carried out through simulation methods, as the analytical approximations technically apply only to the long-run asymptotic behavior. Techniques for parameter estimation were considered; recommendations depend on the form of the data available. The approach described allows the empirical calculation of the probability distribution for predicted population size, a quantity relevant to the use of formal decision analysis in natural resource management.
Purification and characterization of outer membrane protein P6, a vaccine antigen of non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae.

Outer membrane protein P6 is a promising vaccine antigen with potential to prevent infections caused by non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae. A convenient and reliable method for the purification of P6 and an assessment of the purity, yield, protein structure, antigenicity and immunogenicity of the purified protein are described. The method begins with intact H. influenzae and utilizes a series of incubations and centrifugations using a single buffer to remove all cell components with the exception of the peptidoglycan to which the P6 is associated. P6 is dissociated from the complex with heat and the insoluble peptidoglycan is removed by centrifugation. The procedure yields highly purified P6. Contamination with lipooligosaccharide is less than 0.025 endotoxin U per μg P6. The yield of P6 is approximately 2 mg of P6 per l H. influenzae culture. The purified P6 retains both the secondary and tertiary structure as measured by circular dichroism and analysis with monoclonal antibodies. The purified P6 is immunogenic in animals. A convenient method for purifying P6 which retains antigenicity and immunogenicity will be an important tool for future studies of the vaccine potential of P6.
Relationship experience as a predictor of romantic jealousy

Abstract We examined between-sex differences and within-sex differences in jealousy in response to a romantic partner’s sexual and emotional infidelity. In addition to replicating established sex differences in jealousy, we investigated a potential trigger for within-sex differences in jealousy. We hypothesized that men will be more distressed by sexual infidelity and women will be more distressed by emotional infidelity and that relationship experience will trigger men and women to respond in evolutionarily predictable ways. We replicated previous research on sex differences in jealousy and demonstrated that relationship experience predicts upset over infidelity, but primarily for men. Relative to men without relationship experience, men with such experience reported greater distress about a partner’s sexual infidelity. Discussion focuses on the relevance of relationship experience to within-sex differences in distress over a partner’s infidelities.
The ability of urban residential lawns to disconnect impervious area from municipal sewer systems.

: Runoff from urban catchments depends largely on the amount of impervious surface and the connectivity of these surfaces to the storm sewer drainage system. In residential areas, pervious lawns can be used to help manage stormwater runoff by intercepting and infiltrating runoff from impervious surfaces. The goal of this research was to develop and evaluate a simple method for estimating the reduction in stormwater runoff that results when runoff from an impervious surface (e.g., rooftop) is directed onto a pervious surface (e.g., lawn). Fifty-two stormwater runoff reduction tests were conducted on six residential lawns in Madison, Wisconsin during the summer of 2004. An infiltration-loss model that requires inputs of steady-state infiltration rate, abstraction (defined here as surface storage, vegetation interception and cumulative total infiltration minus steady-state infiltration during the period prior to steady-state), and inundated area was evaluated using experimental data. The most accurate results were obtained using the observed steady-state infiltration rates and inundated areas for each test, combined with a constant abstraction for all tests [root mean squared (RMS) difference = 1.0 cm]. A second case utilized lawn-averaged steady-state infiltration rates, a regression estimate of inundated area based on flow-path length, and lawn-specific abstractions based on infiltration rate (RMS difference = 2.2 cm). In practice, infiltration rates will likely be determined using double-ring infiltration measurements (RMS difference = 3.1 cm) or soil texture (RMS difference = 5.7 cm). A generalized form of the model is presented and used to estimate annual stormwater runoff volume reductions for Madison. Results indicate the usefulness of urban lawns as a stormwater management practice and could be used to improve urban runoff models that incorporate indirectly connected impervious areas.
Mechanism of epinephrine-induced tachycardia in the frog.

ALTHOUGH epinephrine was the first hormone isolated, knowledge of its mechanism of action has remained negligible. One method of attacking the problem of its mode of action is through a study of antagonists; this method has now provided somewhat unexpected information on the subject.
Clinical and immunologic evaluation of a purified fraction of ragweed pollen (delta): A double-blind study

Abstract The delta fraction appeared to be as effective clinically as whole ragweed extract in the relief of symptoms of ragweed pollinosis. The immunologic response, as measured by the hemagglutinating and reagin antibody titers, is essentially the same following treatment with either delta or whole ragweed extract. This fraction can be readily reproduced. Its allergenic activity may be measured in terms of dry weight. This is a definite step toward the standardization of ragweed antigens.
Hypothermia and rewarming injury in hippocampal neurons involve intracellular Ca2+ and glutamate excitotoxicity

Abstract This study examines the causes of hypothermia and rewarming injury in CA1, CA3, and dentate neurons in rat hippocampal slice cultures. Neuronal death, assessed with propidium iodide or Sytox® fluorescence, Fluoro-Jade labeling, and Cresyl Violet staining, depended on the severity and duration of hypothermia. More than 6 h at temperatures less than 12 °C followed by rewarming to 37 °C (profound hypothermia and rewarming, PH/RW) caused swelling and death in large number of neurons in CA1, CA3, and dentate. During PH, [ATP] decreased and [Ca 2+ ] i and extracellular [glutamate] increased, with neuron rupture and nuclear condensation following RW. The data support the hypothesis that neuronal death from PH/RW is excitotoxic, due to ATP loss, glutamate receptor activation and Ca 2+ influx. We found that antagonism of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, but not 2-amino-3-(5-methyl-3-oxo-1,2- oxazol-4-yl) propanoic acid or metabotropic glutamate receptors, decreased neuron death and prevented increases in [Ca 2+ ] I caused by PH/RW. Chelating extracellular Ca 2+ decreased PH/RW injury, but inhibiting L- and T-type voltage-gated Ca 2+ channels, K+ channels, Ca 2+ release from the endoplasmic reticulum, and reverse Na + /Ca 2+ exchange did not affect the Ca 2+ changes or cell death. We conclude that the mechanism of PH/RW neuronal injury in hippocampal slices primarily involves intracellular Ca 2+ accumulation mediated by NMDA receptors that activates necrotic, but not apoptotic processes.
Congenital Urinary Tract Anomalies In Pediatric Renal Trauma Patients

ABSTRACTPurpose: Congenital genitourinary tract anomalies occur commonly in the general population. Anomalous kidneys are thought to be more frequently injured by trauma than normal kidneys. We reviewed patients with renal injuries to determine the etiology, severity, associated injuries and associated congenital genitourinary abnormalities.Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of renal injuries was performed on patients evaluated and/or admitted to the trauma service. Severity, outcome, external cause of injury and patient demographics were evaluated. Patients were excluded from study if there was no radiographic or physical (postmortem or surgical) evidence of injury. Findings on urinalysis alone did not confirm a renal injury without other evidence. Trauma registry data from all enrolled patients were used for comparison.Results: A total of 14,763 patients were enrolled in the trauma registry from July 1984 to December 2000, of whom 384 (2.6%) were given a diagnosis of renal injury but only 193...