cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Leukoreduction Before Red Blood Cell Transfusion Has No Impact on Mortality in Trauma Patients

Background Studies suggest that leukocytes in donated blood increase mortality and length of hospital stay (LOS) after transfusion. These studies included few trauma patients, however. Many institutions now mandate leukoreduction (LR) of transfusion products, which increases costs by approximately $30/unit. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of LR on mortality and LOS in trauma patients. Methods A retrospective before-and-after cohort study was conducted at a level one urban trauma center. LR of all transfusion products commenced in January 2002. All patients treated within the intervention period (March 2002 through January 2004) received LR products. Those transfused during March 2000 through January 2002 served as controls. The trauma registry was queried for patients ≥18 years who survived ≥2 days and received ≥2 units of blood. Mortality and LOS were determined for each group. Subset analysis was performed on patients receiving 2–6 transfusions and those receiving massive transfusion (≥6 units). Mortality and LOS for control and intervention subsets were compared. Means were compared using Student’s t -test, proportions using χ 2 (significance P ≤ 0.05). Results There were 439 patients in the control group and 240 patients in the intervention group. Groups were similar in age and mechanism of injury. There was no difference in mortality overall ( P = 0.68) or after massive transfusion ( P = 0.14). There was no difference in LOS overall (control, 12 ± 17 days; intervention, 12 ± 13.8 days, P = 0.46) or after subset analysis. Conclusions In those transfused patients who survive 48 h post-injury, LR of blood transfusion products has no beneficial impact on patient survival or hospital LOS. The associated costs of universal LR are not justified.
Regenerative medicine: Cartilage transplants hold promise for challenging bone defects.

Unmet needs in fracture healing have led investigators to question existing paradigms in the hopes of uncovering overlooked solutions. Such is the case in a recent study showing that introduction of a cartilage construct into a mouse tibial defect induces remarkable healing owing to the transformation of donor chondrocytes into new bone.
Morbidity of endomyocardial biopsy in cardiomyopathy

Abstract The transvenous technique of endomyocardial biopsy was developed over 15 years ago.1–3 Before the proliferation of heart transplant centers, this procedure was performed at only a limited number of transplant and heart failure centers in the United States. Complication rates for endomyocardial biopsy are quoted in the published reports, but detailed analyses in specific patient populations are lacking.4–6 One retrospective study has suggested that the procedural risks differ in transplant and nontransplant patient populations. 7 The performance of endomyocardial biopsy to exclude cardiac allograft rejection is an accepted indication in heart transplant recipients. The merit of endomyocardial biopsy in diagnosing myocarditis and evaluating cardiomyopathy has been questioned because the diagnostic sensitivity of the procedure is limited and the results will not significantly influence patient management. 8–11 Therefore, clarification of the risks of this procedure in patients with unexplained heart failure allows clinicians to make informed decisions regarding the risk/ benefit ratio of the procedure in specific patients. This study documents the procedural complications of endomyocardial biopsy in 706 consecutive patients with cardiomyopathy evaluated at a single institution.
Dispersion in photonic media and diffraction from gratings: a different modal expansion for the R-matrix propagation technique

A method of solving problems of diffraction and dispersion in electromagnetic theory is presented. A modal expansion technique is used with a recursive R-matrix propagation scheme. This method retains the inherent R-matrix numerical stability and yet, contrary to some recent studies, is quite easy to implement for periodic structures (both two and three dimensional), including gratings and photonic crystal media. Grating structures may be multilayered structure, linear or crossed. Photonic media may be latticelike structures of finite or infinite depth. The eigenvalues of the modes are obtained by diagonalizing a matrix rather than searching for zeros of characteristic equations. Diffraction from dielectric and metallic sinusoidal gratings is calculated, and the results are compared with other published results. Transmission is calculated through a seven-layer-deep square arrangement of dielectric cylinders. Also, with the Floquet theorem, the bulk dispersion of the same cylinder geometry is calculated, and the results are compared with other published results. Of particular interest as a computational tool is a description of how a complex structure can be recursively added, whole structures at a time, after the initial structure has been calculated. This is very significant in terms of time savings, since most of the numerical work is done with the initial structure.
Internal gettering heat treatments and oxygen precipitation in epitaxial silicon wafers

As-received P/P + (100) epitaxial silicon wafers were heat treated using the one-, two-, and three-step internal gettering heat treatment cycles in wet oxygen, dry oxygen, and nitrogen ambients. The results indicate that ambients have an effect on the growth of bulk defects and denuded zone formation in the epitaxial silicon wafers.
Streambed gravel sampling and frequency base conversion: A solution to data set sharing

[1] The analysis of streambed particle size distribution is fundamental to geology, geomorphology, engineering, ecology, and hydrology. There is a continued need for standard analytical methods to accommodate different practices in sample collection, particle size characterization, frequency analysis, and frequency base conversion. We focus upon two related topics: (1) quantitative description of size of irregular particles and (2) frequency base conversion procedures. The first is needed to accurately determine physical particle properties (diameter, surface area, volume, and weight), and the second to determine the statistical influence on one or more of these properties of each particle in a mixture. We collected natural streambed particles, measured various calipered diameters including a nominal diameter using each particle volume, and calculated a shape factor for each diameter that converts it to an equivalent sieved diameter. Next, we extended a model originally derived in 1929 for a lognormal distribution to a streambed particle size distribution that severely deviated from a lognormal distribution. After successfully converting from number to weight frequency (and the reverse) of samples collected by grid, area, and volume, we extended the conversion to apply across these collection methods. These results make streambed frequency analysis independent of the particular diameter used, the observed frequency base, and the sample collection procedure. The immediate utility of our analysis is to facilitate data sharing among disciplines. The ultimate benefit is to free researchers to select the most convenient diameter measurement, size frequency classification, frequency base, and sample collection procedure from the many alternative strategies available.
Shape Guided Object Segmentation

We construct a Bayesian model that integrates topdown with bottom-up criteria, capitalizing on their relative merits to obtain figure-ground segmentation that is shape-specific and texture invariant. A hierarchy of bottom-up segments in multiple scales is used to construct a prior on all possible figure-ground segmentations of the image. This prior is used by our top-down part to query and detect object parts in the image using stored shape templates. The detected parts are integrated to produce a global approximation for the objects shape, which is then used by an inference algorithm to produce the final segmentation. Experiments with a large sample of horse and runner images demonstrate strong figure-ground segmentation despite high object and background variability. The segmentations are robust to changes in appearance since the matching component depends on shape criteria alone. The model may be useful for additional visual tasks requiring labeling, such as the segmentation of multiple scene objects.
The Development and Validation of a Scale to Measure Attitudes Toward Women's Genitals

ABSTRACT Sexual behaviors may be related to or influenced by a range of factors including individuals' attitudes toward women's genitals. To date, however, no reliable and valid measure exists with which researchers or clinicians can assess individuals' attitudes toward women's genitals. The purpose of this study was to develop a reliable and valid scale to measure attitudes toward women's genitals and to test its predictive capacity. The process of developing the Attitudes Toward Women's Genitals Scale (ATWGS) was conducted in three phases: (1) elicitation, which involved a comprehensive literature review and surveys completed by 370 men and women; (2) development, review, and revision of an initial item pool; and (3) survey administration and psychometric analysis, which involved an initial survey administration to 604 men and women and a second administration, for the purposes of establishing temporal stability of the scale, to 16 individuals. The final ATWGS resulted in a 10-item scale that exhibited ...
Ethics Consultations and Patients With Neurological Diseases

called attention toethical dilemmas in daily hospital interactions and has stimu-lated fruitful discussion about how to deal with ethical issuesamong hospital staff and, most importantly, between caretak-ers and patients. It effectively promotes the use of formalethical consultation. From our perspective, neurological syn-dromes generate diverse ethical dilemmas that may requirespecific attention.Treating patients in a vegetative or nearly vegetative stateis costly and agonizing. Neurophysiologic studies provide noeasy answers for treating these patients. For example, 12% ofpatients in a vegetative state and 77% of those in a nearlyvegetative state show event-related electrical potentials sup-porting the existence of semantic processing, ie, the ability tocomprehend the meaning of language.
The use of resistivity‐methods in the location of salt‐water bodies in the El Paso, Texas, Area

During 1935 and 1936 the Ground-Water Division of the United States Geological Survey made an investigation of the ground-water resources of the El Paso, Texas, Area. Geological and hydrological studies comprised the principal part of the investigation, and these studies were supplemented by measurements of earth-resistivity made largely by the Geophysical Section of the Geological Survey along traverses aggregating 51 miles. The extent to which resistivity-methods may be useful in ground-water work has been the subject of much discussion. A full evaluation of the method can not be made at this time. However, the work in the El Paso Area indicates that the presence of faults and of underground bodies of salt water may be definitely determined by resistivity-measurements.
Normal-conducting rf structure test facilities and results

The designs for a next-generation linear collider based on normal-conducting rf structures require operation at gradients much higher than those in existing linacs. For the NLC/JLC 11.4-GHz structures, the design unloaded gradient is 65 MV/m, which is about four times that of the 2.9-GHz SLAC Linac. The CLIC proposal using 30-GHz structures requires an even higher gradient, 170 MV/m. Both the CLIC and NLC/JLC groups are aggressively pursuing programs to develop structures that operate reliably at these gradients and also have acceptable efficiencies and transverse wakefields. Much progress has been made in the past few years, and this paper reviews the programs, test facilities and results from this research.
A Hybrid Approach for Mapping Conjugate Gradient onto an FPGA-Augmented Reconfigurable Supercomputer

Supercomputer companies such as Cray, Silicon Graphics, and SRC Computers now offer reconfigurable computer (RC) systems that combine general-purpose processors (GPPs) with field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). The FPGAs can be programmed to become, in effect, application-specific processors. These exciting supercomputers allow end-users to create custom computing architectures aimed at the computationally intensive parts of each problem. This report describes a parameterized, parallelized, deeply pipelined, dual-FPGA, IEEE-754 64-bit floating-point design for accelerating the conjugate gradient (CG) iterative method on an FPGA-augmented RC. The FPGA-based elements are developed via a hybrid approach that uses a high-level language (HLL)-to-hardware description language (HDL) compiler in conjunction with custom-built, VHDL-based, floating-point components. A reference version of the design is implemented on a contemporary RC. Actual run time performance data compare the FPGA-augmented CG to the software-only version and show that the FPGA-based version runs 1.3 times faster than the software version. Estimates show that the design can achieve a 4 fold speedup on a next-generation RC
Use of Bedside Ultrasound to Assess Degree of Dehydration in Children With Gastroenteritis

Objectives: Prospectively identifying children with significant dehydration from gastroenteritis is difficult in acute care settings. Previous work by our group has shown that bedside ultrasound (US) measurement of the inferior vena cava (IVC) and the aorta (Ao) diameter ratio is correlated with intravascular volume. This study was designed to validate the use of this method in the prospective identification of children with dehydration by investigating whether the IVC ⁄Ao ratio correlated with dehydration in children with acute gastroenteritis. Another objective was to investigate the interrater reliability of the IVC ⁄Ao measurements. Methods: A prospective observational study was carried out in a pediatric emergency department (PED) between November 2007 and June 2009. Children with acute gastroenteritis were enrolled as subjects. A pair of investigators obtained transverse images of the IVC and Ao using bedside US. The ratio of IVC and Ao diameters (IVC ⁄Ao) was calculated. Subjects were asked to return after resolution of symptoms. The difference between the convalescent weight and ill weight was used to calculate the degree of dehydration. Greater than or equal to 5% difference was judged to be significant. Linear regression was performed with dehydration as the dependent variable and the IVC ⁄Ao as the independent variable. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was calculated to assess the degree of agreement between observers. Results: A total of 112 subjects were enrolled. Seventy-one subjects (63%) completed follow-up. Twentyeight subjects (39%) had significant dehydration. The linear regression model resulted in an R 2 value of 0.21 (p < 0.001) and a slope (B) of 0.11 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.08 to 0.14). An IVC ⁄Ao cutoff of 0.8 produced a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 56% for the diagnosis of significant dehydration. Forty-eight paired measurements of IVC ⁄Ao ratios were made. The Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.76. Conclusions: In this pilot study the ratio of IVC to Ao diameters, as measured by bedside US, was a marginally accurate measurement of acute weight loss in children with dehydration from gastroenteritis. The technique demonstrated good interrater reliability. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2010; 17:1042‐1047 a 2010 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Interaction between CCAAT/Enhancer Binding Protein and Cyclic AMP Response Element Binding Protein 1 Regulates Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Transcription in Cells of the Monocyte/Macrophage Lineage

Recent observations have shown two CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) binding sites to be critically important for efficient human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication within cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage, a cell type likely involved in transport of the virus to the brain. Additionally, sequence variation at C/EBP site I, which lies immediately upstream of the distal nuclear factor kappa B site and immediately downstream of a binding site for activating transcription factor (ATF)/cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB), has been shown to affect HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR) activity. Given that C/EBP proteins have been shown to interact with many other transcription factors including members of the ATF/CREB family, we proceeded to determine whether an adjacent ATF/CREB binding site could affect C/EBP protein binding to C/EBP site I. Electrophoretic mobility shift analyses indicated that selected ATF/CREB site variants assisted in the recruitment of C/EBP proteins to an adjacent, naturally occurring, low-affinity C/EBP site. This biophysical interaction appears to occur via at least two mechanisms. First, low amounts of CREB-1 and C/EBP appear to heterodimerize and bind to a site consisting of a half site from both the ATF/CREB and C/EBP binding sites. In addition, CREB-1 homodimers bind to the ATF/CREB site and recruit C/EBP dimers to their cognate weak binding sites. This interaction is reciprocal, since C/EBP dimer binding to a strong C/EBP site leads to enhanced CREB-1 recruitment to ATF/CREB sites that are weakly bound by CREB. Sequence variation at both C/EBP and ATF/CREB sites affects the molecular interactions involved in mediating both of these mechanisms. Most importantly, sequence variation at the ATF/CREB binding site affected basal LTR activity as well as LTR function following interleukin-6 stimulation, a treatment that leads to increases in C/EBP activation. Thus, HIV-1 LTR ATF/CREB binding site sequence variation may modulate cellular signaling at the viral promoter through the C/EBP pathway.
Switched reluctance motor without torque ripple or electrolytic capacitors

Switched reluctance machines (SRMs) sidestep many of the issues with permanent magnet and induction machines and embody the lowest cost and simplest manufacturing of the motor technologies. Major drawbacks to SRMs have been (1) the need for failure-prone electrolytic capacitors, (2) large torque ripple, and (3) acoustic noise. Conventionally, these drawbacks have been addressed independently either through (1) excitation control or (2) machine design, but not as a holistic system or solution. This paper presents a design for high-efficiency low-cost SRM while producing smooth output torque and avoiding pulsating inverter input current and the associated electrolytic capacitor. We propose a comprehensive approach which combines both phase excitation control and machine design to cooperatively address the excursions of input and output powers from their average values.
BDNF Modulates, But Does Not Mediate, Activity-Dependent Branching and Remodeling of Optic Axon Arbors In Vivo

The proper development of axon terminal arbors and their recognition of target neurons depend, in part, on neuronal activity. Neurotrophins are attractive candidate signals to participate in activity-dependent development and refinement of neuronal connectivity. In the visual system, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been shown to modulate the elaboration and refinement of axonal arbors and to participate in the establishment of topographically ordered visual maps. By examining in vivo with time-lapse microscopy the effects of activity blockade and BDNF on optic axon arborization, I show that the dynamic mechanisms by which neurotrophins and neuronal activity regulate axon arborization differ. Acute retinal activity blockade by intraocular injection of tetrodotoxin (TTX) rapidly and significantly increased branch addition and elimination, thus interfering with axon branch stabilization. The effects of activity blockade on branch dynamics resulted in increased arbor complexity in the long term and were prevented by altering endogenous BDNF levels at the target. BDNF promoted axon arborization by increasing branch addition and lengthening, without affecting branch elimination. Activity blockade, however, did not prevent the growth-promoting effects of BDNF, indicating that BDNF can affect axon arborization even in the absence of activity. Together this evidence indicates that BDNF acts as a modulator, but not as a direct mediator, of activity during the morphological development of neurons. Consequently, neuronal activity and BDNF use distinct but interactive mechanisms to control the development of neuronal connectivity; BDNF modulates axon arborization by promoting growth, neuronal activity participates in axon branch stabilization, and together these two signals converge to shape axon form.
Value of public goods from sports stadiums: the CVM approach

Many state and local governments have subsidized the construction of arenas and stadiums for the use of professional sports teams. They often justify the subsidies by claiming the projects create valuable public goods and positive externalities, though such benefits are difficult to measure. An application of the contingent valuation method (CVM) is used to measure the value of public goods generated by two proposed projects in Lexington, Kentucky: a new basketball arena for the University of Kentucky and a minor league baseball stadium. Neither project would generate sufficiently valuable public goods to justify public financing. Although the results cannot be generalized to other cases, they do shed light on some of the main issues involved, and they demonstrate the feasibility of applying CVM to the evaluation of subsidized stadiums.
Controlled trial of intravenous immune globulin in recent-onset dilated cardiomyopathy

Background—This prospective placebo-controlled trial was designed to determine whether intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) improves left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in adults with recent onset of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy or myocarditis. Methods and Results—Sixty-two patients (37 men, 25 women; mean age ±SD 43.0±12.3 years) with recent onset (≤6 months of symptoms) of dilated cardiomyopathy and LVEF ≤0.40 were randomized to 2 g/kg IVIG or placebo. All underwent an endomyocardial biopsy before randomization, which revealed cellular inflammation in 16%. The primary outcome was change in LVEF at 6 and 12 months after randomiz. Overall, LVEF improved from 0.25±0.08 to 0.41±0.17 at 6 months (P<0.001) and 0.42±0.14 (P<0.001 versus baseline) at 12 months. The increase was virtually identical in patients receiving IVIG and those given placebo (6 months: IVIG 0.14±0.12, placebo 0.14±0.14; 12 months: IVIG 0.16±0.12, placebo 0.15±0.16). Overall, 31 (56%) of 55 patients at 1 year had an increase in LV...
Neural degeneration and the transport of neurotransmitters

A number of neurodegenerative diseases selectively affect distinct neuronal populations, but the mechanisms responsible for selective cell vulnerability have generally remained unclear. The toxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) reproduces the selective degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra characteristic of Parkinson's disease. The plasma membrane dopamine transporter mediates this selective toxicity through accumulation of the active metabolite N-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+). In contrast, the vesicular amine transporter protects against this form of injury by sequestering the toxin from its primary site of action in mitochondria. Together with the identification of defects in glutamate transport from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, these observations suggest that neurotransmitter transport may have a major role in neurodegenerative disease. The recent cloning of cDNAs encoding these transport proteins will help to explore this hypothesis.
Coping and psychosocial adjustment of women with diabetes.

PURPOSEThe purpose of this study was to investigate relationships between coping styles and psychosocial adjustment for women with diabetes.METHODSThe sample consisted of 115 community-residing women with diabetes. Coping was measured by the Revised Jalowiec Coping Scale and psychosocial adjustment by the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale. Pearson's product moment correlation was used to assess relationships between coping and adjustment.RESULTSThe most frequently and effectively used coping styles were optimistic, confrontive, self-reliant, and supportant. The psychological, social, and health care domains showed the most problems; the fewest were in the extended family, sexual, and vocational domains. Relationships were found between women's coping styles and psychosocial adjustment, with better adjustment associated with effective use of confrontive, supportant, optimistic, self-reliant, and palliative coping styles.CONCLUSIONSImportant relationships exist between the ways women cope with diabet...
Triangulation using a meta-matrix.

Triangulation using a meta-matrix Background and significance. Quantitative and qualitative data analysis are often undertaken as separate enterprises, as they emerge from differing philosophies of science and methodologies for data collection, management and analysis. Quantitative data analysis is sometimes seen in philosophic and methodologic conflict with a naturalistic, human science perspective of science. Researchers interested in data from both realms often rely on triangulation procedures, in which each is considered from its representative lens. Results are then projected out into a common area where data are melded and discussed. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the meta-matrix as a tool for triangulation in nursing research and to demonstrate its usefulness in an exemplar case. Design/methods. The exploratory nature of a recent study led to the decision to manage triangulation using an emerging methodology, thereby allowing consideration of all data simultaneously through the use of a meta-matrix. Discussion of the meta-matrix as a method is presented. Findings. Use of the meta-matrix facilitated data analysis and allowed pattern recognition across data sets. Discovery of several unexpected relationships deepened understanding of the results and assisted in identifying questions for further research. Conclusions/implications. The meta-matrix method provides a useful alternative approach for secondary-level data analysis in mixed-methods research.
On-Demand Digital Print Services: A New Commercial Print Paradigm as an IT Service Vertical

On-demand digital print service is a form of personalized manufacturing service. Key to commercial print value-creation chain is the service engagement and fulfillment between the content suppliers and the print service providers (PSP). Content suppliers are the service clients, they request print services and supply content for print. PSPs provide the fulfillment services to the content suppliers in exchange for payment: converting the supplied content into printed products and shipping them to the end-customer. In this paper, we will describe on-demand digital print service, and the application of service-oriented architecture (SOA) as platform to integrate information and communication technologies (ICT) into the end-to-end print service fulfillment process to enable digital print automation, and the SOA implementation assisted by process modeling. We also extend the SOA framework to include the order negotiation process and envisage a coupled demand-fulfillment paradigm. SOA-based digital print automation leverages from the integration of ICT into the print manufacturing operations management, it is an IT service vertical.
Exploring the relationship between two forms of narcissism and competitiveness

This study investigated the theoretical and empirical links between narcissism and competitiveness by focusing on the multifaceted features of these individual difference variables. The present study compared measures of overt narcissism (Narcissistic Personality Inventory, NPI; Raskin & Terry, 1988) and covert narcissism (Hypersensitive Narcissism Scale, HSNS; Hendin & Cheek, 1997) with measures of competitiveness (Revised Competitiveness Index, CI-R; Houston, Harris, McIntire, & Francis, 2002) and hypercompetitiveness (Hypercompetitive Attitude Scale, HCS; Ryckman, Hammer, Kaczor, & Gold, 1990). Based on a sample of 324 undergraduates, positive relationships were found between overt narcissism and general competitiveness and hypercompetitiveness. However, covert narcissism was negatively related to general competitiveness but positively related to hypercompetitiveness. The findings highlight the similarities and distinctions between different forms of narcissism and competitiveness and provide a broader framework for understanding the relationship between narcissism and competitiveness. Implications for the interpersonal manifestation of these different forms are discussed.
An Enzyme Kinetics Experiment for the Undergraduate Organic Chemistry Laboratory.

An experiment using 1H NMR spectroscopy to observe the kinetics of the acylase 1-catalyzed hydrolysis of N-acetyl-dl-methionine has been developed for the organic laboratory. The l-enantiomer of the reactant is hydrolyzed completely in less than 2 h, and 1H NMR spectroscopic data from a single sample can be worked up to generate Michaelis−Menten and Lineweaver−Burke kinetic plots. The experiment introduces organic chemistry students to the use of a 1H NMR spectrometer, serves as an introduction to enzyme kinetics, and illustrates the stereospecificity of enzyme catalysis.
Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance and Multidetector Computed Tomography

The advanced imaging technologies, cardiovascular computed tomography (using X-ray), and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (using magnetic and radio frequency or RF fields) generally provide more comprehensive and frequently unique clinical information compared with other technologies. They are not used routinely, but rather for specific indications. Since they are more technically advanced, they are more expensive and require additional knowledge for proper acquisition and interpretation. The strength of CCT resides in its ability to provide excellent imaging quality of the large- and medium-sized coronary arteries using IV-administered contrast medium. While CCT utilizes X-rays, the radiation dose is drastically decreasing with improving technology. The strengths of CMR are the ability to visualize morphology, function, perfusion, viability, and metabolism without ionizing radiation, although sometimes requiring IV gadolinium contrast agent. These two technologies have received relatively recent Nobel prizes (one for CT and three for MRI), and both continue to improve with the advent of new software and hardware. This chapter provides a background for most of the commonly employed applications of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the heart.
Comparing Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty and Stent Placement for Treatment of Subclavian Arterial Occlusive Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Subclavian artery occlusive disease (SAOD) is often associated with cerebrovascular symptoms such as subclavian steal syndrome and stroke. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and stent placement for the treatment of SAOD. We searched Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Scopus through October 16, 2014. From each study, we abstracted baseline patient characteristics, study design variables, and outcome data including rates of technical success, primary patency (≤2 and >2 years follow-up), symptom resolution, and complications. Meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model. A total of 35 non-comparative studies with 1726 patients were included. Technical success rate was significantly higher in the stent group than the PTA group (92.8 vs 86.8 %, p = 0.007). Long-term primary patency rates (76.9 vs 79.6 %, p = 0.729) and symptom resolution rates (82.2 vs 73.0 %, p = 0.327) were not statistically different. There was no statistically significant difference in the rates of stroke or death. Stent placement for treatment of SAOD may be associated with higher rates of technical success but similar rates of symptom resolution and long-term outcomes. The confidence in the available estimates is low. Further comparative studies are needed to guide patients and clinicians in shared decision making.
American Workers, American Movies: Historiography and Methodology

“American Workers, American Movies: Historiography and Methodology” surveys the ways in which scholars have examined the relationship between workers and movies. For many years, scholarship about movies and workers took one of two basic approaches: Cinema scholars wrote about images of workers in films, while labor historians wrote histories of union activity within the movie industry. The two schools were usually quite distinct. In the last twenty years, a burst of scholarship in both fields has broadened our understandings of the images that appeared on the screen and, in some cases, how those images were constructed in the first place. The goal of this essay is twofold: to review key themes and recent works in the field, and to suggest ways in which working-class historians might approach and incorporate studies of film into their own work. Indeed, the author calls upon scholars to go beyond simply deconstructing images, and to explore more complicated questions involving the forces responsible for shaping the ideology and class focus on American cinema.
cAMP-activated anion conductance is associated with expression of CFTR in neonatal mouse cardiac myocytes.

In this study, patch-clamp techniques were applied to cultured neonatal mouse cardiac myocytes (NMCM) to assess the contribution of cAMP stimulation to the anion permeability in this cell model. Ad...
MicroRNA-Detargeted Mengovirus for Oncolytic Virotherapy.

Mengovirus, a member of the Picornaviridae family, has a broad cell tropism and can cause encephalitis and myocarditis in multiple mammalian species. Attenuation has been achieved by shortening the polycytidine tract in the 5′ noncoding region (NCR). A poly(C)-truncated strain of mengovirus, vMC24, resulted in significant tumor regression in immunocompetent BALB/c mice bearing syngeneic MPC-11 plasmacytomas, but the associated toxicities were unacceptable. To enhance its safety profile, microRNA target sequences complementary to miR-124 or miR-125 (enriched in nervous tissue), miR-133 and miR-208 (enriched in cardiac tissue), or miR-142 (control; enriched in hematopoietic tissues) were inserted into the vMC24 NCRs. The microRNA-detargeted viruses showed reduced replication and cell killing specifically in cells expressing the cognate microRNAs, but certain insertions additionally were associated with nonspecific suppression of viral fitness in vivo. In vivo toxicity testing confirmed that miR-124 targets within the 5′ NCR suppressed virus replication in the central nervous system while miR-133 and miR-208 targets in the 3′ NCR suppressed viral replication in cardiac tissue. A dual-detargeted virus named vMC24-NC, with miR-124 targets in the 5′ NCR and miR-133 plus miR-208 targets in the 3′ NCR, showed the suppression of replication in both nervous and cardiac tissues but retained full oncolytic potency when administered by intratumoral (106 50% tissue culture infectious doses [TCID50]) or intravenous (107 to 108 TCID50) injection into BALB/c mice bearing MPC-11 plasmacytomas. Overall survival of vMC24-NC-treated tumor-bearing mice was significantly improved compared to that of nontreated mice. MicroRNA-detargeted mengoviruses offer a promising oncolytic virotherapy platform that merits further development for clinical translation. IMPORTANCE The clinical potential of oncolytic virotherapy for cancer treatment has been well demonstrated, justifying the continued development of novel oncolytic viruses with enhanced potency. Here, we introduce mengovirus as a novel oncolytic agent. Mengovirus is appealing as an oncolytic virotherapy platform because of its small size, simple genome structure, rapid replication cycle, and broad cell/species tropism. However, mengovirus can cause encephalomyelitis and myocarditis. It can be partially attenuated by shortening the poly(C) tract in the 5′ NCR but remains capable of damaging cardiac and nervous tissue. Here, we further enhanced the safety profile of a poly(C)-truncated mengovirus by incorporating muscle- and neuron-specific microRNA target sequences into the viral genome. This dual-detargeted virus has reduced pathogenesis but retained potent oncolytic activity. Our data show that microRNA targeting can be used to further increase the safety of an attenuated mengovirus, providing a basis for its development as an oncolytic platform.
Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing: A Comparative Cost Analysis of Whole-Breast Radiotherapy Versus Balloon-Based Brachytherapy in the Management of Early-Stage Breast Cancer.

Purpose:Value in health care is defined as outcomes achieved per dollar spent, and understanding cost is critical to delivering high-value care. Traditional costing methods reflect charges rather than fundamental costs to provide a service. The more rigorous method of time-driven activity-based costing was used to compare cost between whole-breast radiotherapy (WBRT) and accelerated partial-breast irradiation (APBI) using balloon-based brachytherapy.Materials and Methods:For WBRT (25 fractions with five-fraction boost) and APBI (10 fractions twice daily), process maps were created outlining each activity from consultation to post-treatment follow up. Through staff interviews, time estimates were obtained for each activity. The capacity cost rates (CCR), defined as cost per minute, were calculated for personnel, equipment, and physical space. Total cost was calculated by multiplying the time required of each resource by its CCR. This was then summed and combined with cost of consumable materials.Results:Th...
Abstract 140: Weight changes in African American and White breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: Weight gain after a breast cancer diagnosis is associated with cancer recurrence, worse cancer prognosis, higher comorbidity, and increased likelihood of inaccurate chemotherapy dose reductions during treatment. This health problem is especially relevant for African Americans, as they are more likely to be obese and to present comorbid conditions compared to their White counterparts. However, limited research describes patterns of weight change by race. The goal of this study was to assess and compare weight change after chemotherapy in Black and White breast cancer patients. METHODS: Ninety-eight Black and White women diagnosed with invasive non-metastatic breast cancer were recruited from two metropolitan areas. Medical records were abstracted to obtain clinical (e.g. cancer stage) and treatment variables (e.g. chemotherapy regimen). Weight change was examined in women who underwent chemotherapy and it was conceptualized as the relative percent of weight change and change in body mass index (BMI - kg/m 2 ) categorized as normal, overweight, and obese. Differences in baseline characteristics by race were evaluated using the chi-square or Fisher9s exact test for categorical variables and t-test for continuous variables. We performed bivariate associations between study variables and relative weight change. RESULTS: African-American women had higher BMI at baseline (at the start of therapy) as compared to Whites (p Only 9% of women lost more than 5% of their pre-treatment weight. Normal weight women had the highest mean relative weight increase (3.57%; 95% CI: 1.05%, 6.10%) compared to those that were overweight or obese. Fifteen percent of women shifted to a higher BMI category; 26% of those that were normal became overweight; 17% of overweight patients became obese. Blacks were more likely than whites to shift to a higher BMI (p=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: The American Cancer Society guidelines recommend cancer survivors to maintain a normal weight and avoid weight gain. We found that women in all BMI categories were likely to gain weigh with those in the normal category having the highest risk of weight gain. Results underscore the need for integrating weight control within cancer treatment plans to prevent weight gain and promote weight maintenance in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Interventions that address dietary habits and promote increased physical activity to maintain fat-free mass may be warranted. Future studies that help to elucidate behaviors and/or biological factors that contribute to weight gain overall and in blacks will be important. Citation Format: Vanessa B. Sheppard, Chiranjeev Dash, Bridget Oppong, Fikru Hirpa, Elizabeth Dennis, Lucile L. Adams-Campbell. Weight changes in African American and White breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 140. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-140
Urinary excretion of aldosterone in dogs with elevated plasma titers of antirenin.

SummaryDaily injections of crude hog renin into 7 trained, normotensive dogs elicited formation of antirenin titers ranging from 4-80 AR units/ml plasma. Urinary aldosterone excretion levels determ...
The Pyrolysis of a Tungsten Alkyne Complex as a Low Temperature Route to Tungsten Carbide

The synthesis of designed organometallic compounds and their selective activation and transformation into materials of high purity (for electronic applications), high strength and/or high temperature stability (for refrac-tory or structural applications), represents a potential area of extreme growth in organometallic chemistry. Research in this area could provide entirely new, inexpensive, fabrication methods for common and exotic materials. In this paper, we develop design principles for the preparation of organometallic precursors, “premetallics” that can be selectively con-verted, in high yields, to a desired refractory metal. We also describe our preliminary efforts to prepare tungsten carbides (WCx) from a pre-metallic. Pyrolysis studies using Cp2W2(CO)4(DMAD) [DMAD = Dimethyl-acetylene dicarboxylate], 5, as the premetallic demonstrate that 5 will decompose at temperatures of ∼ 700°C to give good yields of W2C. 5 is soluble and decomposes fully in 10–20 minutes, without the need of another reactant.
Adsorption on Fe-MOF-74 for C1–C3 Hydrocarbon Separation

An increase in demand for energy efficient processes for the separation of a mixture of hydrocarbons drives the need for understanding metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) that can provide better noncryogenic alternatives for the fractionation of hydrocarbon mixtures. Here we study the structure and properties of a metal–organic framework, Fe-MOF-74, and its effectiveness to separate C1–C3 hydrocarbon mixtures. The binding of these hydrocarbons to the open metal sites of Fe-MOF-74 has been investigated using a meta-generalized gradient approximation density functional, M06-L, which has previously been validated for systems containing transition metals. For interpretive purposes, charge model 5 (CM5) is used to determine the partial atomic charges on the metal cations and the oxygen atoms of the ligands surrounding these metal centers. Our computations show preferential binding to the metal center of Fe-MOF-74 of unsaturated hydrocarbons over saturated ones in agreement with experimental results, and the calcul...
Examining Mental Health Differences between Transfer and Nontransfer University Students Seeking Counseling Services

ABSTRACTThis article sought to examine the differences between transfer and nontransfer students on mental health factors, social involvement, and academic success. It was found that transfer students had significantly higher scores on several mental health factors as compared to nontransfer students. It was also found that transfer students were less involved in athletics and campus organizations, but engaged in more work hours per week. Finally, results indicated that the transfer students were not experiencing significant differences in their academic performance compared to nontransfer students. Future research should examine these differences to better understand the impact of the transition and adjustment of transferring to a new institution.
Drying-out Technology for Large-scale Circulating Fluidized Bed Boiler

The drying-out of circulating fluidized bed(CFB)boiler is a crux for sintering a large amount of refractory and wear- resistant materials in furnace of CFB boiler into formation,and achieving flame resistance,abrasion resistance,thermal shock stability and high-temperature compressive strength.Combining with the drying-out experience of boilers for 2x300MW units in Qinhuangdao power plant,the technological process and problems needing to pay attention of flameless drying-out of large-scale CFB boilers have been emphatically presented.
Screening for Colon Malignancy with Colonoscopy

Screening of asymptomatic individuals for colon malignancy has been advocated for the past 20 yr in the hopes of reducing colon cancer mortality. Although sigmoidoscopy is an important element of current screening recommendations, the sensitivity of this test in asymptomatic subjects has never been studied. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and location of polyps and cancers in an asymptomatic population by performing full colonoscopy. We wished to assess the sensitivity of screening flexible sigmoidoscopy to 60 cm by determining how many patients with adenomas or cancer had "index" adenomatous polyps in the distal 60 cm. One hundred five healthy male outpatients, over 50 yr old, with negative examinations for occult blood in stools and no prior history of colon pathology, had full colonoscopy. Careful examination of the distal 60 cm was performed, followed by a full colon examination to the cecum. Forty-three patients (41%) had adenomatous polyps, and only 19 of these patients had an index adenomatous polyp in the distal 60 cm. Therefore, the sensitivity of sigmoidoscopy was 44%. The prevalence of adenomas increased with age. Patients were assigned to one of three groups based on the findings in the distal 60 cm. Group 1 (n = 65) had no polyps in the distal 60 cm, but 18 of these patients (28%) had adenomatous polyps in the proximal colon. Among 21 patients with only hyperplastic polyps in the distal 60 cm (group 2), six patients (29%) had proximal adenomas. In group 3, eight of 19 patients (42%) with adenomas in the distal 60 cm also had proximal adenomatous polyps. We conclude that adenomatous polyps are common in asymptomatic men who have negative tests for fecal occult blood. Sigmoidoscopy to 60 cm had a sensitivity of only 44% in this patient population, suggesting that this is an insensitive test for the detection of patients with adenomatous polyps.