cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Overstated Harms of Breast Cancer Screening? A Large Outcomes Analysis of Complications Associated With 9-Gauge Stereotactic Vacuum-Assisted Breast Biopsy.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to assess the rate, type, and severity of complications related to 9-gauge stereotactic vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (SVAB) and to delineate associated fac...
Emergency department and hospital crowding: causes, consequences, and cures

Overcrowding with associated delays in patient care is a problem faced by emergency departments (EDs) worldwide. ED overcrowding can be the result of poor ED department design and prolonged throughput due to staffing, ancillary service performance, and flow processes. As such, the problem may be addressed by process improvements within the ED. A broad body of literature demonstrates that ED overcrowding can be a function of hospital capacity rather than an ED specific issue. Lack of institutional capacity leads to boarding in the ED with resultant ED crowding. This is a problem not solvable by the ED and must be addressed as an institution-wide problem. This paper discusses the causes of ED overcrowding, provides a brief overview of the drastic consequences, and discusses possible cures that have been successfully implemented.
Chapter 3.: Matters of Substance: Students' Voices

America's romance with certainty leads to a belief that substances improve life and fits with the New Psychiatry. It's use of psychotropic medications to treat an array of mental illnesses changes ...
Discrepant Responding across Measures of College Students' Sexual Victimization Experiences: Conceptual Replication and Extension.

Sexual violence victimization affects approximately 1 in 5 college women and 1 in 6 college men; however, rates of sexual victimization vary widely, in part due to measurement issues. The present s...
Sport Participation in Patients with Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators.

Athletes diagnosed with cardiovascular disease may receive implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). Until recently, there were no data describing the safety of return to play for athletes receiving an ICD, and consensus recommendations restricted ICD patients to competitive sports no more vigorous than bowling or golf. The ICD Sports Registry prospectively followed 440 athletes who continued sports participation after receiving an ICD, for up to 4 years. While many received shocks, both appropriate and inappropriate, during competition or practice, as well as during other physical activity or rest, there were no failures to defibrillate and no injuries related to arrhythmia or shock during sports. Recent subanalyses as described below have focused on how best to program the ICD, and on the younger subgroup including interscholastic athletes. Based on these data, the most recent consensus statement from the AHA/ACC on athletic eligibility now describes sports participation with an ICD as a IIB recommendation, “may be considered”.
Physiological Effects of Exogenously Applied Reflectants and Anti-Transpirants on Leaf Temperature and Fruit Sunburn in Citrus

High temperatures and drought are common stresses limiting crop growth and productivity in subtropical regions where citrus are produced. In addition to impacts on physiological processes such as transpiration, photosynthesis, and respiration, excessive solar radiation can also reduce fruit productivity by inducing physiological disorders such as sunburn. This study evaluated the effects of radiation reflectants and anti-transpirants on leaf physiology, and fruit sunburn in grapefruit trees (Citrus x paradisi Macfs. cv. Rio Red) in south Texas during the 2016 and 2017 growing seasons. Two calcium-based reflectants, and a methene/pinolene-based anti-transpirant were foliar applied to fruit-bearing trees. Reflectants reduced fruit and leaf temperatures by 0.2°C and 0.21°C, respectively, while the anti-transpirant treatments increased fruit and leaf temperature by approximately 0.83°C and 0.2°C relative to the controls. Stomatal conductance decreased by 1.3% and 3.3%, respectively, in response to the reflectant treatments, while anti-transpirant treatments resulted in decreased stomatal conductance (8.3%) relative to the controls. More sunburned fruit were found in anti-transpirant treated trees in both years (6% and 8.2% for 2016 and 2017) and the reflectant treatments reduced sunburn incidence by 4.9% and 1.8% in those years. These observations indicate that reflectant applications could be a viable strategy to mitigate heat/radiation stress and sunburn in grapefruit.
Supramolecular liquid crystals displaying competitive hydrogen bonding: Mesogenic associative chain structures using rigid and flexible pyridyl groups

AbstractA series of liquid–crystalline supramolecular copolymers formed through hydrogen bonding has been created. These polymers are composed of a bis-benzoic acid and two different pyridyl specie...
Estado del arte del uso de BIM para la resolución de demandas en proyectos de construcción

Multiple attributes make construction projects to be likely to face disputes during its execution, such as the nature of adversarial relationships between stakeholders, tight budgets, and the lack of incentives in contracts encouraging collaboration. Furthermore, the impact of claims will vary but is likely to have a negative impact on projects. Consequently, stakeholders have to manage the process of claim resolution. A challenge of this process is the understanding and clarity of the information used to resolve construction claims. A technology that has faced a steady growth in the construction industry is Building Information Modeling (BIM). The benefits of implementing BIM in construction projects are widely recognized such as automation of the quantity take-off estimation process, quick reaction to design changes, better visualization of the construction schedule, and design coordination. Nonetheless, limited studies have addressed how the existing benefits from implementing BIM can be used as a platform to facilitate the resolution of construction claims. This study explores and discusses the existing literature to identify the main benefits of implementing BIM in the resolution of construction claims. The aim is to assess what exists in the legal branch of implementing BIM in construction to suggest its use in this regard.
Unnesting the Fixed Point in the Estimation of Dynamic Programs

A conditional choice probability (CCP) estimator of a dynamic empirical model solves both a dynamic programming problem and a maximum likelihood problem. The estimator can dispatch the former problem before tackling the latter when the utility function is linearly parameterized; otherwise it must nest the former within the latter. This "nested fixed point" bogs down the estimator, requiring it to solve hundreds or thousands of difficult value function equations. I develop a method to disentangle the two problems under any utility function (thus circumventing the onerous value function calculations). My estimator is asymptotically efficient and has a closed-form characterization when the utility function is linearly parameterized.
Impact of Spontaneous Haploid Genome Doubling in Maize Breeding.

Doubled haploid (DH) technology has changed the maize-breeding landscape in recent years. Traditionally, DH production requires the use of chemical doubling agents to induce haploid genome doubling and, subsequently, male fertility. These chemicals can be harmful to humans and the plants themselves, and typically result in a doubling rate of 10%–30%. Spontaneous genome doubling and male fertility of maize haploids, without using chemical doubling agents, have been observed to a limited extent, for nearly 70 years. Rates of spontaneous haploid genome doubling (SHGD) have ranged from less than 5% to greater than 50%. Recently, there has been increased interest to forgo chemical treatment and instead utilize this natural method of doubling. Genetic-mapping studies comprising worldwide germplasm have been conducted. Of particular interest has been the detection of large-effect quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting SHGD. Having a single large-effect QTL with an additive nature provides flexibility for the method of introgression, such as marker-assisted backcrossing, marker-assisted gene pyramiding, and systematic design. Moreover, it allows implementation of new methodologies, such as haploid-inducer mediated genome editing (HI-edit) and promotion of alleles by genome editing. We believe the use of SHGD can further enhance the impact of DH technology in maize.
Further Evidence that Terminal β-Galactopyranosyl Groups are Immunodeterminant in Blood Group N Specificity

Abstract Rabbit anti- asialo ganglioside (ASG) sera specific for terminal β-Gal-(l→3)-GalNAc agglutinate human O,M but to a higher titer O,N erythrocytes, while rabbit anti-ganglioside G M1 sera do not. ASG antibody was readily and about 10 times more efficiently absorbed by O,N than by O,M erythrocytes. Erythrocyte agglutination by the anti-ASG sera was completely inhibited by O,M glycoprotein at 1 mg/ml and by 0.2 mg/ml O,N glycoprotein. ASG effectively inhibited the red cell agglutinations by anti-ASG serum, ganglioside G Ml did not. Blood group N-like specificity thus occurs on glycolipids and β-Gal-(l→3)-GalNAc is a complementary grouping for both anti-ASG and anti-N sera.
Comparing Groups: Tables and Visualizations

Marketing analysts often investigate differences between groups of people. Do men or women subscribe to our service at a higher rate? Which demographic segment can best afford our product? Does the product appeal more to homeowners or renters? The answers help us to understand the market, to target customers effectively, and to evaluate the outcome of marketing activities such as promotions.
Slimy worms or sticky kids How caregiving tasks and gender identity attenuate disgust response

Disgust is derived from evolutionary processes to avoid pathogen contamination. Theories of gender differences in pathogen disgust utilize both evolutionary psychological and sociocultural perspectives. Drawing on research that suggests that masculine and feminine gender identities are somewhat orthogonal, we examine how gender identity intersects with pathogen disgust. In addition, building on evolutionary psychological and sociocultural accounts of how caregiving and parental investment affect pathogen disgust, we present a new measure of caregiving disgust and compare its properties across gender, parental status, and political ideology with those of a conventional pathogen disgust measure. This registered report finds that how masculinity and femininity affect disgust varies by gender, disgust domain, and their intersection; that parental status effects vary by disgust domain but not gender; that reframing disgust in terms of caregiving eliminates the gender gap in disgust; and that the caregiving frame unexpectedly strengthens the relationship between disgust and political ideology.
Does increasing access-to-care delay accessing of care? Evidence from kidney transplantation.

Abstract Policies increasing healthcare availability might decrease the cost of delaying accessing of care, leading to potential negative consequences if patients delay treatment. We analyze a policy designed to increase access to kidney transplantation through the use of time since dialysis inception to prioritize patients for transplant, which was piloted at 26 of the 271 kidney transplant centers in the United States in 2006 and 2007. We model the patient’s optimization problem comparing the benefits and costs of early waitlisting and predict that the policy change will lead to delayed waitlisting. To empirically test this prediction, we use difference-in-differences fixed effects panel regression techniques to analyze data on patients who began dialysis between 1/1/2000 and 12/31/2009. The results support the model’s prediction; patients on dialysis who waitlist for kidney transplantation increase pre-waitlist dialysis duration by 11.6 percent or approximately 76 days from a pre-policy mean of 652 days (SD = 654). With regard to waitlist outcomes, the policy is associated with a 4.5 percentage point decrease in the probability of receiving a deceased donor transplant, somewhat offset by a 3.0 percentage point increase in the probability of receiving a live donor transplant. On the extensive margin, patients on dialysis decrease their likelihood of ever waitlisting by 1.5 percentage points. We find an increase in pre-waitlist dialysis time and a decrease in the likelihood of waitlisting at all, especially among populations likely to have experienced increased access to transplantation through the policy change: patients self-identifying as Black or Hispanic rather than Non-Hispanic White, and patients without private insurance. These results suggest that some individuals may not benefit if their access to care increases, if the increase in access sufficiently decreases the penalty of delaying accessing of care.
Seismic Debris Field for Collapsed RC Moment Resisting Frame Buildings

AbstractThe debris field of earthquake-induced building collapse can block or reduce the capacity of adjacent sidewalks and roads, hinder emergency and evacuation operations, and therefore adversel...
Psycholinguistics and emergency communication: A qualitative descriptive study

Abstract Psycholinguistics is a field in behaviorism science that was established by George Miller to study the psychological impact of languages on the human mind. Specific research and application of psycholinguistics in emergency communication are limited, where it is often purely analyzed under language barriers. The main objective of this study is to develop new knowledge about Psycholinguistic in emergency communication through highlighting some of the communication gaps that are usually overlooked in emergency planning, and provide some recommendations in order to improve the overall emergency communication systems by reconsidering the way we look at language as an important psychosocial factor that impacts vulnerable communities. Previous research studies in psychology, linguistics, and emergency communication were critically analyzed, and a qualitative methodology, involving semi-structured interviews with ten subjects from Gainesville, Florida, who speak English as a second language, was chosen in order to provide a flexible approach to broadly explore the phenomenon that is being studied. This study provided insights into one main research question: how can different languages influence our understanding of emergency notification? 5 main themes were found; gaps in direct translation, variations in emotional impact, variations in grammatical language structure, fusion attitudes, and lack of technical terminology.
Pulmonary aspergillosis associated with covid-19

Among the potential pathogens in patients with COVID-19 that we should pay more attention to is Aspergillosis, as pulmonary Aspergillosis is a critical complication of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome, especially those with severe pneumonia. In this study, Aspergillus sp. was isolated from patients with COVID-19 from the respiratory tract, and its presence was surveyed as a co-infection with a viral infection. The results showed that Aspergillosis constituted a relatively high percentage in patients 10.8% of the total infections, represented by four species (Aspergillus tamarii, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus candidus, and Aspergillus niger). Also, the most susceptible age to infection with co-infections is the elderly, where the age of more than 60 years, and that diabetes is the most risk factor for infection with Aspergillosis accompanying the virus. Males were also more susceptible to co-infection than females. © 2021, Dr. Yashwant Research Labs Pvt. Ltd.. All rights reserved.
Development of a QSAR model to predict molecular inhibition of human STAT3

Herein is described a method to develop a QSAR model to predict the molecular inhibition of human STAT3. The model was built using machine learning using Python 3.3. A random forest machine learning algorithm was deployed. The model produced a R2 value of 0.86, indicating that our QSAR model is effective at predicting inhibitory compounds of STAT3.
MCD: Mutual Clustering across Multiple Social Networks

Community detection in online social networks has been a hot research topic in recent years. Meanwhile, to enjoy more social network services, users nowadays are usually involved in multiple online social networks simultaneously, some of which can share common information and structures. Networks that involve some common users are named as multiple "partially aligned networks". In this paper, we want to detect communities of multiple partially aligned networks simultaneously, which is formally defined as the "Mutual Clustering" problem. The "Mutual Clustering" problem is very challenging as it has two important issues to address: (1) how to preserve the network characteristics in mutual community detection? and (2) how to utilize the information in other aligned networks to refine and disambiguate the community structures of the shared users? To solve these two challenges, a novel community detection method, MCD (Mutual Community Detector), is proposed in this paper. MCD can detect social community structures of users in multiple partially aligned networks at the same time with full considerations of (1) characteristics of each network, and (2) information of the shared users across aligned networks. Extensive experiments conducted on two real-world partially aligned heterogeneous social networks demonstrate that MCD can solve the "Mutual Clustering" problem very well.
Absorption of short chain fatty acids from the human jejunum.

Acetate, propionate, andn-butyrate are the major short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) anions in the gastrointestinal tract of animal and man, accounting for 90% of total SCFA in stool water. Their absorption from the human ileum was investigated in 8 volunteer subjects by the triple-lumen perfusion technique. Each test solution contained one of the SCFAs at a concentration of 0–100 mM; sodium, potassium, and bicarbonate concentrations were kept constant, as were pH and osmolality. Absorption of each SCFA was found to be rate-limited with an apparentK′m between 22 and 27 mM and a calculatedVmax between 0.54 and 0.82 mmol/hr cm. Water, sodium, and chloride transport were not affected by substantial rates of SCFA absorption. Rather, significant stimulation of calculated bicarbonate secretion and a rise in intraluminal pH were consistently observed. The results are compatible with either of two mechanisms for SCFA absorption: an anion exchange between bicarbonate (or hydroxyl) and SCFA ions, or protonation of the SCFA anion at the mucosal surface followed by simple diffusion of nonionized SCFA into the absorbing cell.
On the undecidability of partial polymorphic type reconstruction

We prove that partial type reconstruction for the pure polymorphic lambda-calculus is undecidable by a reduction from the second-order unification problem, extending a previous result by H.-J. Boehm. We show further that partial type reconstruction remains undecidable even in a very small predicative fragment of the polymorphic lambda-calculus, which implies undecidability of partial type reconstruction for lambda^ML as introduced by Harper, Mitchell, and Moggi.
Customization and interoperability in WME [Web-based mathematics education]

One of the advantages of the Web-based mathematics education (WME) system is flexibility. That is, freedom for teachers to customize lesson plans and lesson material. The customized components can then be shared and distributed to anyone else using WME. However, offering such flexibility demands self-sufficiency among WME site components. Reported within are the WME component structures and how they aid methods for handling customization and interoperation.
Stability of betamethasone sodium phosphate, hydrocortisone sodium phosphate, and prednisolone sodium phosphate injections submitted by U.S. hospitals

The stability of betamethasone sodium phosphate, hydrocortisone sodium phosphate, and prednisolone sodium phosphate, injections stored in hospital pharmacies across the United States was studied. Through a voluntary drug stability program, FDA selected 58 samples (representing two manufacturers) from pharmacies representing a cross section of the country. The samples were analyzed for strength, identification, pH, and related impurities. All of the hydrocortisone sodium phosphate and prednisolone sodium phosphate samples met USP requirements for strength and pH. Assays of the betamethasone sodium phosphate injection samples yielded results that were in compliance with the manufacturer's strength and pH limits; there are no USP requirements for betamethasone sodium phosphate injection. All samples were within USP limits for related free steroids. Betamethasone sodium phosphate, hydrocortisone sodium phosphate, and prednisolone sodium phosphate injections obtained from hospital pharmacies appear to be stable after storage under actual marketplace conditions.
Was Cajal right about sleep

Cajal’s careful observations of the anatomy of the nervous system led him to some lesser-known predictions about the function of glia as mediators of sleep. Reporting over 120 years later in BMC Biology, Bellesi et al. examine changes in gene expression and morphology of astrocytes with sleep. Their results provide support for and revisions to Cajal’s predictions. See research article: doi: 10.1186/s12915-015-0176-7 .
Rapid Ethanol Tolerance Mediated by Adaptations in Acute Tolerance in Inbred Mouse Strains

It has been postulated that decreased acute sensitivity to ethanol is an important genetically-mediated risk factor for the development of alcoholism. Previous work in mice and rats has indicated that ethanol sensitivity can be reduced in a genotype-dependent manner by a single dose of ethanol 24 h prior to testing, so-called 'rapid' tolerance. The current studies were undertaken to determine if the observed rapid tolerance was mediated by alterations in initial sensitivity or acute functional tolerance (AFT), the two primary components of acute sensitivity. Separate groups of C57BL/6, DBA/2, ILS, and ISS inbred mouse strains were administered a single pretreatment dose of saline or ethanol (5 g/kg). The original and modified versions of the loss of righting reflex test, ethanol-induced hypothermia, and ataxia on a stationary dowel rod were tested 24 h later. Dependent on the test and strain, varying degrees of rapid tolerance were observed; a pronounced sensitization was detected in one case. There was a concomitant increase in the rate and/or magnitude of AFT with little change in initial sensitivity suggesting that rapid tolerance was mediated primarily by alterations in AFT. This conclusion may have implications for the contribution of acute sensitivity to human alcoholism.
Characteristics, design implications, and applicability of passive solar heating systems for buildings

The paper reviews the performance characteristics of various passive solar heating systems for buildings, the main design factors affecting their performance, the relative advantages and main problems associated with them, and their applicability to different building types and climatic regions. Emphasis is placed on the architectural design issues associated with the different passive solar heating systems and to the problems that may be encountered when passive solar heating is applied in regions with hot summers.
Magnetic resonance and positron emission tomography imaging of the corpus callosum: size, shape and metabolic rate in unipolar depression

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) with fluorodeoxyglucose were used to study the size and shape of the corpus callosum in 20 patients with unipolar depressive disorder and 16 normal controls. An automated algorithm outlined the corpus callosum and divided it into quarters. The anterior and posterior quarters of the corpus callosum were larger in depressed patients than in controls, findings similar to most earlier MRI studies of the corpus callosum in schizophrenics. The patient-normal difference was more marked in females than in males. PET glucose metabolic values were higher in patients with thinner or smaller callosums. The presence of marked sex differences makes future larger studies controlling body size and age important.
Thyroid MALT lymphoma in patients with a compressive goiter

Background. Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas account for less than 1% of all primary thyroid malignancies. They typically arise as neoplastic transformations within areas of autoimmune thyroiditis. Although they tend to have an indolent course, these lymphomas present a diagnostic challenge requiring a high level of suspicion in patients at increased risk of development. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed 3 cases of primary MALT thyroid lymphoma discovered in patients with a compressive goiter. This represents the experience at a single institution from 1996 to 2005. Hospital and clinic records were reviewed to identify the workup, treatment, and outcome. Results. One of 3 patients underwent preoperative fine-needle aspiration (FNA). All patients underwent total thyroidectomy to relieve compressive symptoms, and the final pathology revealed MALT lymphoma. Two patients subsequently underwent radiation therapy. All patients are alive without evidence of disease recurrence. Conclusions. These cases are notable for the unexpected presentation of MALT lymphoma within a compressive goiter. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2006
Noncognate binding to histones of IgG from patients with idiopathic systemic lupus erythematosus.

The mechanism of attachment of circulating immune complexes (CIC) to glomerular basement membranes (GBM) has not yet been elucidated. Since it has been proposed that histone may be the ligand between GBM and DNA/anti-DNA CIC, we explored by ELISA and Western blots the nature of the interaction of IgG with histone on solid phase. Cognate binding of IgG anti-histone antibody was characteristically dependent on in its F(ab')(2) fragment and was inhibited by free histone. On the other hand, heat-aggregated IgG, a model for CIC, and IgG from most patients with idiopathic SLE had a characteristic noncognate binding behavior to histone: it was dependent on Fcgamma rather than on the F(ab')(2) fragment and was not effectively inhibited by free histones. Also, binding to histone of in vitro generated DNA/anti-DNA immune complexes was not dependent on DNA as a histone ligand, but on Fcgamma. Finally, there was good agreement between the binding of this IgG to histone and to C1q. We concluded that: (1) altered IgG and/or CIC bind to solid-phase-attached histone primarily through their Fcgamma and (2) CIC may mimic IgG antihistone antibodies in solid-phase immunoassays.
Microporous zeolite modified yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) sensors for nitric oxide (NO) determination in harsh environments

Abstract This study is focused on development of a nitrogen monoxide (NO) sensor capable of operation in harsh environments, as exemplified by automotive exhaust streams. The basis of the sensor is a mixed potential response generated by exposure of gases to a platinum–yttria stabilized zirconia (Pt–YSZ) interface. The asymmetry between the two Pt electrodes on YSZ is generated by covering one of the electrodes with a zeolite, which helps promote the NO/NO2 equilibrium prior to the gases reaching the electrochemically active interface. The mixed potential generated is logarithmically related to NO concentration (0–1000 ppm) at temperatures between 500 and 700 °C, the optimum temperature being 500 °C. The microporosity of the zeolite makes it permeable to oxygen, thus, minimizing the interference to O2. The sensor shows interference from CO and NO2. Three sensor designs have been examined, including a planar design that can be packaged appropriately for surviving automotive exhaust streams. Automotive tests indicate that the sensor is capable of detecting NOx in engine exhausts.
Biomechanical properties of tree saplings and free-standing lianas as indicators of susceptibility to logging damage.

Abstract Liana infestations often impede natural regeneration of commercially important tree species after selective logging of tropical lowland forests. To help elucidate the genesis of these tangles, the biomechanical properties, stem anatomy and resprouting capacities of tree saplings and free-standing juvenile lianas and their responses to mechanical damage typical of selective logging were investigated in Ulu Segama, Sabah, Malaysia. Tree saplings and free-standing lianas were similar in almost all of the parameters compared. Whole-sapling flexibilities, root–stem junction flexibilities, stem taper, and resprouting capacities of tree saplings and free-standing lianas were not different. The maximum fiber-wall thickness, and proportions of vessel lumena, xylem rays and axial parenchyma per cross-sectional area did not differ. Trees and lianas also suffered similar frequencies of damage and mortality after bulldozer passage. Only the elastic resilience of tree saplings and free-standing lianas differed; tree saplings were slightly more resilient than free-standing lianas. These results suggest that the susceptibility and response of tree saplings and free-standing lianas to mechanical damage is similar. An increase in the density of lianas relative to trees was not observed in surviving vegetation on skid trails. This result suggests that liana tangles frequently encountered in selectively logged tropical forest are not the result of differential survival of trees and lianas.
In Vitro Acrylamide Exposure Alters Growth Cone Morphology

Abstract Acrylamide intoxication leads to degeneration of the longest axons of the central and peripheral nervous systems in humans and laboratory animals. Axonal derangements resulting from in vivo acrylamide exposure are first noted within synapses of the longest axons before involving more proximally located axonal segments or shorter axons, thus illustrating the specificity of acrylamide for the terminal axonal regions. As a possible model system for investigating the mechanism of toxicity of acrylamide on the distal axon, we exposed neurite-extending chick dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells to acrylamide in vitro and then examined growth cones for alterations in morphology and function. Exposing DRG explants to media containing from 0.125 to 1.0 mM acrylamide for 16 hr leads to specific and dose-responsive alterations of growth cone morphology including: a nearly total loss of filopodial elements, the preservation of highly active but two-dimensional lamellar structures, an inappropriate extension of the axonal cytoskeleton into the forward region of most growth cones, and a frequent breakdown of the central and peripheral growth cone domains. The sulfhydryl alkylating agents ethacrynic acid, iodoacetamide, and iodoacetic acid were tested and none produced acrylamide-like morphological alterations at any dose. DRG cultures were also exposed to the neurotoxic acrylamide analogs glycidamide, N -hydroxymethacrylamide (HM-ACR), and methacrylamide (M-ACR). At concentrations of 0.25 to 1.0 mM, glycidamide exposure resulted in acrylamide-like growth cone alterations. HM-ACR exposure also resulted in growth cones that were acrylamide-like but only at concentrations >1.5 mM. M-ACR did not produce acrylamide-like growth cones at doses of up to 16.6 mM. Thus, in vitro exposure of DRG explants to acrylamide and two neurotoxic acrylamide analogs leads to reproducible and specific morphological alterations that are dose-dependent and separable from the effects of sulfhydryl alkylation.
Extraction of granular type material (GTM) permittivity at microwave frequencies

Permittivity of granular type material (GTM) is determined by waveguide reflection/transmission method which is considered most accurate in dielectric material characterization. In this process, GTM is mixed with another host medium. In the simulation, GTM and host medium both are assumed to have known value of complex permittivity and GTM permittivity is extracted from the observed linear relationship between volume fraction of GTM and composite (GTM+host) permittivity.
Simulations: A tool for studying quantum condensed matter systems

Quantum Monte Carlo techniques provide a new method for studying the properties of condensed matter systems. A review of this approach and the type of information which it can provide is given.
Effects and mechanism of action of aminophylline on cardiac function and regional blood flow distribution in conscious dogs.

The effects of aminophylline, 1 mg/kg/min infused intravenously for 10 minutes, were examined on left ventricular (LV) diameter, pressure, an indexes of myocardial contractility, as well as systemic, coronary and regional hemodynamics in conscious dogs. Aminophylline increased mean arterial pressure 12 +/- 2%, LV systolic pressure 8 +/- 1%, LV dP/dt 20 +/- 2%, velocity of myocardial fiber shortening 13 +/- 2% and heart rate 5 +/- 2%, and reduced LV end-diastolic diameter 2 +/- 0.5%. Vascular resistance rose in the systemic bed 13 +/- 5%, the coronary bed 26 +/- 3%, the mesenteric bed 26 +/- 5% and the iliac bed 36 +/- 4%, but did not rise in the renal bed. Both beta-adrenergic receptor blockade with propranolol and chronic treatment with reserpine attentuated but did not abolish the positive inotropic response induced by aminophylline. Alpha-adrenergic receptor blockade with phentolamine prevented aminophylline-induced vasoconstriction in the systemic, coronary, mesenteric and iliac beds. In contrast to the vasoconstriction with i.v. aminophylline, when the drug was infused directly into the iliac artery, it elicited marked iliac vasodilation. Thus, in the intact conscious dog, i.v. aminophylline, in a dose that had little effect on heart rate, increased LV contractility and reduced preload. The increase in contractility was dependent in part on intact beta-adrenergic nervous activity and endogenous catecholamine stores. The increase in systemic, coronary, iliac and mesenteric resistances involved alpha-adrenergic mechanisms. These actions appear to involve autonomic mechanisms, because the only direct effect of aminophylline on the iliac artery was marked vasodilation.
Internet Support Groups for Health: Ready for the Affordable Care Act

Millions of Americans have gained health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). However, it is presently unclear whether adequate numbers of primary care, behavioral health, and other medical specialists will be available to provide these and millions of other insured Americans with timely and convenient access to care. Approximately half of all U.S. adults have at least one chronic medical illness whose treatment requires long-term adjustments in lifestyle and medical monitoring. Yet physicians typically monitor their patients’ conditions via in-person encounters of limited frequency and duration. Attending such visits is difficult for those who are unable to take time off from work, live in rural locations, or have transportation issues. These challenges, coupled with the widespread adoption of online social media, present an opportunity for accountable care organizations (ACOs) to promote the delivery of patient-centered chronic illness care through deployment of moderated Internet support groups (ISGs) that allow member-patients 24/7 access to personalized education, treatment advice, and peer support. The number of public ISGs that allow users to discuss their health from the convenience of home and wherever they have Internet access has grown rapidly. Perhaps informed by the rise of Facebook and other general online communities, some ISGs have grown into collections of 200,000 or more members who self-organize into various disease-specific forums (e.g., patientslikeme.com), while others focus on a specific disorder or condition (e.g., mylvad.com). Emerging evidence suggests that ISG participants experience greater confidence in knowledge about their health and treatment options, increased control of their illness, reduced social isolation, and decreased psychologic distress.1,2 Consequently, this widely available and relatively low-cost technology has critical public health potential to promote patient engagement in self-care activities and improve health at reduced costs to the U.S. health care system.3
Synaptic responses mediated by identified histamine-containing neurones

EFFORTS to prove that histamine has a role in synaptic neurotransmission have been less successful than for other biogenic amines. For example, there has been no convincing physiological or pharmacological evidence to support the transmitter candidacy of this imidazole at any known synapse. In the central nervous system (CNS) of the marine mollusc Aplysia californica chemical measurements of single isolated neurones have revealed large concentrations of histamine within two identified neurones1. The histamine-containing neurones (HN) uniquely possess a specific histidine decarboxylating enzyme and they can synthesise and store labelled histamine2. These biochemical observations prompted the suggestion2 that the two identified nerve cells utilise histamine as a neurotransmitter. The physiological studies reported here show that each HN monosynaptically elicits multicomponent excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (p.s.ps) in different follower neurones, the somal membranes of which show appropriate potential changes to iontophoretic application of histamine. This suggests that histamine is a neurotransmitter released from the nerve terminals of the HN.
Iterative Purification and Effect Size Use With Logistic Regression for Differential Item Functioning Detection

Two unresolved implementation issues with logistic regression (LR) for differential item functioning (DIF) detection include ability purification and effect size use. Purification is suggested to control inaccuracies in DIF detection as a result of DIF items in the ability estimate. Additionally, effect size use may be beneficial in controlling Type I error rates. The effectiveness of such controls, especially used in combination, requires evaluation. Detection errors were evaluated through simulation across iterative purification and no purification procedures with and without the use of an effect size criterion. Sample size, DIF magnitude and percentage, and ability differences were manipulated. Purification was beneficial under certain conditions, although overall power and Type I error rates did not substantially improve. The LR statistical test without purification performed as well as other classification criteria and may be the practical choice for many situations. Continued evaluation of the effec...
Low-Resolution Crystallography Is Coming of Age

The threshold of what is considered "acceptable" resolution for obtaining mechanistic insights is being pushed by recent structures at 3.8 to 4.7 A resolution. One of these structures, that of a fully glycosylated SIV gp120 envelope glycoprotein in an unliganded conformation at 4.0 A resolution, is described in this issue (Chen et al., 2005).
Work-Related Disability: Results From the American Migraine Study:

Migraine headache is a highly prevalent, often severely painful and frequently disabling disorder. The indirect costs related to disability greatly exceed the direct cost of medical care. The objective of this paper is to describe work-related disability associated with migraine headache and predictors of disability. In a two-stage survey of the US population, we estimate missed workdays and impairment at work in a sample of 1663 migraine suffers, age 18 years and older. Lost workday equivalents (LWDE) was derived as the sum of actual missed workdays and the product of percentage effectiveness at work and days at work with the most severe headache. Overall, reported actual lost workdays and reduced effectiveness at work contributed approximately equally to total LWDE. A total of 51.1% of females and 38.1% of male migraineurs experienced six or more LWDE per year. This subgroup of migraine sufferers accounted for about 90% of the total LWDE experienced by all respondents. Among women, headache duration was the strongest predictor of LWDE followed by less significant associations with number of symptoms and pain level. Among men, only pain level was significantly associated with LWDE. Among sociodemographic factors, disability was more likely among older (40+) subjects and less likely among individuals with higher education and higher income (females only), even after adjusting for headache features. Health-care interventions may yield the greatest individual benefit (by reducing pain and disability) and the greatest societal benefit (by reducing indirect costs) if they are directed to those who account for the greatest proportion of disability.
Abciximab-Associated Pseudothrombocytopenia

A60-year-old woman was transferred for coronary angiography after a non–Q-wave myocardial infarction. She was treated with aspirin, metoprolol, unfractionated heparin, and abciximab administered as a weight-based bolus followed by infusion. A complete blood count in blood anticoagulated with EDTA (purple-top Vacutainer) was obtained shortly after her arrival in the catheterization laboratory, 4 hours after the abciximab bolus. The reported platelet count had decreased from 440 000/mL to 21 …
New Modalities in the Chronic Ischemic Diabetic Foot Management

The diabetic population is increasing worldwide at a staggering rate. Diabetic foot ulcers are a major contributor to nontraumatic lower limb amputations and peripheral arterial disease is one of main contributing pathophysiologic causes of diabetic ulcers. The dire need to reduce complication and wound healing recovery period of the chronic ischemic diabetic foot (CIDF) is indispensable to limb salvage and improvement of quality of life of patients with CIDF. This article discusses newer modalities that have been proposed to improve CIDF efficiently, safely, and effectively either alone or as adjuvants to conventional therapy.
Cancer Pain Management: Pharmacist Knowledge and Practices

Although opioids are the cornerstone of cancer pain management, little is known about pharmacists' knowledge and practices relating to the use of these drugs for this indication. This study was conducted to assess pharmacists' knowledge about the optimal use of opioids in cancer pain management and to describe the types and frequencies of pharmacist practices in cancer pain management. A mail survey was used to collect data from a random sample of 600 pharmacists licensed to practice in the state of Utah. Knowledge was assessed with a 14 item measure. Thirteen items were developed to evaluate pharmacists1 practices related to cancer pain management. Of the 594 surveys delivered, 318 (53.5%) were returned and analyzed. A concordance of at least 70% with the desired response denoted an absence of knowledge deficits. Seven of the knowledge items achieved satisfactory outcomes. A total knowledge index, one way analyses of variance (ANOVA) and subsequent Scheffe tests revealed a mean knowledge score significan...
Changes in type of collagen synthesized by chick fibroblasts in vitro in the presence of 5-bromodeoxyuridine.

Abstract Chick embryo fibroblasts cease to synthesize their normal collagen product when grown in the presence of the thymidine analogue, 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). The drug causes an alteration of synthesis from the normal Type I collagen (α1(T)2α2) to a mixture of Type I and Type I trimer (α1(I)3). While the significance of the synthesis of Type I trimer is unclear, it has been noted that chondrocytes synthesize this collagen type following in vitro senescence and in the presence of BrdU. Since BrdU may cause a switching in the temporal pattern of collagen biosynthesis in chondrocytes and in fibroblasts it is proposed that BrdU may alter the normal regulatory controls acquired by the cells during the course of their differentiation. The synthesis of Type I trimer might provide a marker for such a break-down in a wide variety of cell types.
Spiral defect drift in the wave fields of multiple excitation patterns

Spiral waves in excitable systems decay to drifting defects if forced by high-frequency wave trains. Using the Barkley model we analyze the drift velocity in planar wave trains as a function of wave frequency. Within two antiparallel, planar wave trains of equal frequency a defect is pushed into the collision region where it stops. Within two circular wave fields, however, it continues its drift in a direction perpendicular to the axis connecting the pacemakers. Depending on the forcing frequency and the initial position, this motion occurs either away from or toward the pacemaker axis. Three circular wave fields can be used to position the defect at a unique point close to the center of the pacemaker triangle. The results are also observed in experiments with the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction.
Self-guiding multimode interference threshold switch

We propose a new passive optical thresholding device that combines the principles of multimode interference (MMI) with self-guiding. The multimode region is composed of a nonlinear optical material that will support a self-guided beam (i.e., a material with a positive Kerr nonlinearity). The device operates by switching between the MMI mode of operation and the self-guiding mode of operation, depending on the input light intensity. We describe the basic principles of a self-guiding MMI device, simulate the device, and discuss design issues associated with these optically controlled optical switches.
On topological entropy of maps

We introduce an ‘entropy’ hm(f) for a continuous mapping of a compact metric space to itself which is denned in terms of (n, ∈)-separated subsets of inverse images of individual points. This invariant is compared with the inverse-image entropy h_(f) introduced recently by Langevin and Walczak. The two main results are: (1) the inequality hm(f) ≤ h(f) ≤ hm(f) + h_(f) relating hm, h_ and the topological entropy h(f); (2) if pseudo-orbits are used in place of orbits in the definition of hm then the quantity that results is equal to the topological entropy. We actually establish an inequality that at least formally is slightly stronger than (1) by defining a variant of h_ which we call hi; it is trivial to show that hi ≤ h_, and we show that h ≤ hi + hm, from which (1) follows.
Signal integration during development: Insights from the Drosophila eye

The Drosophila eye is a highly ordered epithelial tissue composed of ∼750 subunits called ommatidia arranged in a reiterated hexagonal pattern. At higher resolution, observation of the constituent photoreceptors, cone cells, and pigment cells of the eye reveals a highly ordered mosaic of amazing regularity. This relatively simple organization belies the repeated requirement for spatially and temporally coordinated inputs from the Hedgehog (Hh), Wingless (Wg), Decapentaplegic (Dpp), JAK-STAT, Notch, and receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling pathways. This review will discuss how signaling inputs from the Notch and RTK pathways, superimposed on the developmental history of a cell, facilitate context-specific and appropriate cell fate specification decisions in the developing fly eye. Lessons learned from investigating the combinatorial signal integration strategies underlying Drosophila eye development will likely reveal cell–cell communication paradigms relevant to many aspects of invertebrate and mammalian development. Developmental Dynamics 229:162–175, 2004. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.