cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nested Policy Reinforcement Learning.

Off-policy reinforcement learning (RL) has proven to be a powerful framework for guiding agents' actions in environments with stochastic rewards and unknown or noisy state dynamics. In many real-world settings, these agents must operate in multiple environments, each with slightly different dynamics. For example, we may be interested in developing policies to guide medical treatment for patients with and without a given disease, or policies to navigate curriculum design for students with and without a learning disability. Here, we introduce nested policy fitted Q-iteration (NFQI), an RL framework that finds optimal policies in environments that exhibit such a structure. Our approach develops a nested $Q$-value function that takes advantage of the shared structure between two groups of observations from two separate environments while allowing their policies to be distinct from one another. We find that NFQI yields policies that rely on relevant features and perform at least as well as a policy that does not consider group structure. We demonstrate NFQI's performance using an OpenAI Gym environment and a clinical decision making RL task. Our results suggest that NFQI can develop policies that are better suited to many real-world clinical environments.
Utilization of Observation Units for the Care of Poisoned Patients: Trends from the Toxicology Investigators Consortium Case Registry

Many poisoned patients may only require a period of observation after their exposure. There are limited data describing the use of observation units for managing poisoned adult and pediatric patients. We performed a retrospective review of all patients reported to the ToxIC Case Registry between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2013. Eligible patients included those who received a bedside consultation by a medical toxicologist and whose care was provided in an observation unit, or those who were admitted under the care of a medical toxicologist in an observation unit. A total of 15,562 poisonings were reported to the registry during the study period, of which 340 (2.2 %) involved patients who were cared for in an observation unit. Of these patients, 22.1 % were 18 years of age or younger, and the remaining 77.9 % were greater than 18 years of age. The most common reason for exposure was the intentional ingestion of a pharmaceutical agent in both adult (30.2 %) and pediatric patients (36.0 %). Alcohols (ethanol) (24.9 %), opioids (20.0 %), and sedative-hypnotics (17.7 %) were the most common agent classes involved in adult patient exposures. The most common agent classes involved in pediatric exposures were antidepressants (12.0 %), anticonvulsants (10.7 %), and envenomations (10.7 %). In adult patients, the most common signs and symptoms involved the nervous system (52.0 %), a toxidrome (17.0 %), or a major vital sign abnormality (14.7 %). In pediatric patients, the most common signs and symptoms involved the nervous system (53.3 %), a toxidrome (21.3 %), or a major vital sign abnormality (17.3 %). The results of this study demonstrate that a wide variety of poisoned patients have been cared for in an observation unit in consultation with a board-certified medical toxicologist. Patterns for the reasons for exposure, agents responsible for the exposure, and toxicological treatments will continue to evolve. Further study is needed to identify better those poisoned patients who can be appropriately managed in an observation unit.
Current and Future Trends in Computer Use in Elementary School Settings

The study examined current and future trends in computer use in elementary school settings. A survey instrument was developed and validated for distribution to a random sample of 200 technology coordinators in the public school districts in the state of Texas from whom 95 responses were received. The survey instrument was used to obtain information about five areas of computer use in elementary schools. These areas are: physical configurations, instructional uses, implementation issues, training and staff development, and Internet use. The study found that all public school districts that participated in the study have acquired computer hardware in their elementary schools. In addition, some other advanced computer technology components are starting to be found in elementary schools, such as teacher workstations, CD-ROM, interactive video, computer multimedia, LCD panels, and laser printers. Respondents reported that elementary school teachers in their districts have incorporated computers into their classrooms as an instructional tool and many changes have occurred in teachers teaching styles due to computers. However, there are some problems that hinder the effective use of computers. The major problem is lack of training. A high percentage of respondents, 81.3%, indicated that the majority of their elementary school teachers had completed less than 30 hours of technology related professional development. Another problem was lack of funding which prevents most school districts from acquiring computer hardware and software. Currently, elementary schools in 87% of districts that participated in the study are connected to the Internet and the plan is that by the year 2001 all elementary schools will be connected.
The future of cancer imaging

Conventional (anatomical, structural) imaging is insensitive to the presence of cancer, often failing to yield the very information needed for accurate diagnosis and staging, for proper treatment selection and monitoring or for effective follow-up after treatment. This, fortunately, is changing. Newer techniques, already in clinical testing, are rapidly pushing clinical imaging in the same direction as the rest of medicine: away from simple detection of the gross structural end-effects of disease, and toward a patient-specific approach based on physiologic, histologic, antigenic, molecular, and (ultimately) genetic markers of disease. By 2010, unimodal, nonspecific, and insensitive radiological images may look as primitive to us as the first Roentgen radiographs. In some cases, these new scans will be so seamlessly integrated into therapeutic treatment that they may not even be thought of as imaging per se. This chapter looks forward to see how imaging for oncology may look in the coming decade, focusing upon near-term trends and techniques by selecting those already demonstrated in vivo in at least animals or which are now under human study, and thus which have moved far enough that they have already begun to impact patient care, or are likely to begin do so in the near future.
Light extraction efficiency from visible light-emitting diodes

Summary form only given. Because escape probability is about 2% per radiating surface, it is a good idea to use all six emitting surfaces of a solid rectangular LED. We introduce a photonic gas model for modelling this type of LED. Light extraction efficiency in thick (250/spl times/250/spl times/250 /spl mu/m) transparent substrate LED is a result of competition of light escape from the semiconductor chip, reabsorption in the active layer, and free-carrier absorption in the bulk. This modelling is confirmed by Monte Carlo simulations.
Isolation, characterization, and partial purification of a fatty acyl coenzyme A reductase from bovine cardiac muscle.

Abstract A heat-stable soluble enzyme has been isolated from bovine cardiac muscle which catalyzes the reduction of palmityl coenzyme A and stearyl coenzyme A to the corresponding fatty aldehyde. The enzyme has been purified about 480-fold over the original 105 x g supernatant fraction by heating, ammonium sulfate fractionation, and gel filtration chromatography. It has a molecular weight in the range 85,000 to 95,000 and requires NADH as a cofactor. A pH optimum in the range 7.0 to 7.5 has been demonstrated. Palmityl-CoA and stearyl-CoA are substrates for the enzyme. The aldehyde product has been verified by chromatography and conversion to derivatives.
Rescue therapy for acute migraine, part 2: neuroleptics, antihistamines, and others.

Objectives.— This second portion of a 3-part series examines the relative effectiveness of headache treatment with neuroleptics, antihistamines, serotonin antagonists, valproate, and other drugs (octreotide, lidocaine, nitrous oxide, propofol, and bupivacaine) in the setting of an emergency department, urgent care center, or headache clinic. Methods.— MEDLINE was searched using the terms “migraine” AND “emergency” AND “therapy” OR “treatment.” Reports were from emergency department and urgent care settings and involved all routes of medication delivery. Reports from headache clinics were only included if medications were delivered by a parenteral route. Results.— Prochlorperazine, promethazine, and metoclopramide, when used alone, were superior to placebo. Droperidol and prochlorperazine were superior or equal in efficacy to all other treatments, although they also have more side effects (especially akathisia). Metoclopramide was equivalent to prochlorperazine and, when combined with diphenhydramine, was superior in efficacy to triptans and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Meperidine was inferior to chlorpromazine and equivalent to the other neuroleptics. The overall percentage of patients with pain relief after taking droperidol and prochlorperazine was equivalent to sumatriptan. Conclusions.— Prochlorperazine and metoclopramide are the most frequently studied of the anti-migraine medications in the emergent setting, and the effectiveness of each is superior to placebo. Prochlorperazine is superior or equivalent to all other classes of medications in producing migraine pain relief. Dopamine antagonists, in general, appear to be equivalent for migraine pain relief to the migraine-“specific” medications sumatriptan and dihydroergotamine, although there are fewer studies involving the last two. Lack of comparisons to placebo and the frequent use of combination medications in treatment arms complicate the comparison of single agents to one other.
Recent Advances in Maya Archaeology

This paper focuses on the discoveries of the last decade in Maya archaeology, and assesses their impact on previous models and synthetic frameworks. Although the bibliography includes 700 items published during the last 10 years, it is not exhaustive; on the contrary, a frustratingly large number of discoveries had to be omitted. Two areas exploding with new research are (1) the elicitation of a greater variety of data from hieroglyphic texts, and (2) a series of chemical and biological breakthroughs in the analysis of human burials. The former make it easier to assess the role of elite actors or “agents” in processes of sociopolitical change. The latter hold out the hope of documenting warfare (through skeletal trauma), migration (by tracing tooth enamel isotopes to ground water), status or gender differences in diet (through bone chemistry), and biological connections of individuals to each other and to earlier populations (through DNA). By combining these new data, we are on our way to integrating humanism and science, and to treating Maya polities as case studies in primary or secondary state formation.
Reconstruction of Failed Urethroplasty

The overall incidence of bulbomembranous urethral stricture or bladder neck contracture after radiation therapy is roughly 3–16 %. Time to stricture presentation is usually delayed (24 months) and insidious. Radiation urethral strictures typically have an unhealthy or pale appearance on cystoscopy, with varying degrees of local tissue induration or dense fibrotic scarring. Radiation-induced urethral strictures are often refractory to urethrotomy or dilation and merely palliative and require successive treatments. Management methods include intermittent self-catheterization, off-label use of an endourethral prosthesis, excision and primary urethral anastomosis urethroplasty, onlay flap and graft urethroplasty, salvage prostatectomy with anastomotic urethrovesical urethroplasty, combined abdominoperineal urethroplasty, onlay flap urethroplasty, and supravesical urinary diversion surgery. Urethroplasty seems to be feasible and reasonably successful for RT strictures in the short term, with the best results with anastomotic urethroplasty.
Models for Coherent Structures in the Wall Layer

There has been much interest in recent years regarding the application of methods, ideas and models from dynamical systems and bifurcation theory to the study of turbulent fluid flow. The first paper in which an explicit link was made between strange attractors and turbulence is that of RUELLE and TAKENS [1], although, unknown to those authors, LORENZ [2] (considerably earlier) had proposed a three dimensional set of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) as a minimal model for two dimensional Benard convection.
Deformation: Displacements and Strains

Abstract We begin development of the basic field equations of elasticity theory by first investigating the kinematics of material deformation. As a result of applied loadings, elastic solids will change shape or deform, and these deformations can be quantified by knowing the displacements of material points in the body. Under the continuum hypothesis, this concept will establish a displacement field at all points within the elastic solid. Using appropriate geometry, particular measures of deformation can be constructed leading to the development of the strain tensor. As expected, the strain components are related to the displacement field. The purpose of this chapter is to introduce the basic definitions of displacement and strain, establish relations between these two field quantities, and finally investigate requirements to ensure single-valued, continuous displacement fields. As appropriated for linear elasticity, these kinematical results will be developed under the conditions of small deformation theory. Developments in this chapter will lead to two fundamental sets of field equations: the strain–displacement relations and the compatibility equations.
Financial Consequences from Implementing Lean Manufacturing with the Support of Non-Financial Management Accounting Practices

In the last 30 years, many U.S. firms have adopted lean manufacturing strategies. Despite evidence of substantial variation in firms' success with JIT, TQM, and other lean strategies, relatively few studies have examined management accounting practices as a potential source of such variation. Using structural equation modeling, this study examines two advanced management accounting practices - benchmarking and the use of non-financial manufacturing performance measures - as potential mediators of financial performance in lean manufacturing environments. Consistent with the view that firms' management accounting systems must fit their operational strategies, our structural model indicates that lean strategies' financial performance effects are enhanced when non-financial manufacturing performance measures and benchmarking are included in a firm's management accounting system.
Association of group learning with mathematics achievement and mathematics attitude among eighth-grade students in the US

This study examined a large, nationally-representative sample of eighth-grade students in the US to assess how the frequency of group learning activity in mathematics classrooms was associated with mathematics achievement and three measures of attitudes toward mathematics. Results showed that moderate amounts of group work in class had positive effects on mathematics achievement scores. Moreover, a significant interactive effect was evident, with girls showing greater achievement benefits from group work than boys. Increased levels of group work were also associated with more positive attitudes toward mathematics.
Nanoindentation-induced defect-interface interactions: Phenomena, methods and limitations

Abstract Nanoindentation for measuring thin film mechanical properties is probably the most popular yet ill-understood method due to its inherent complexities. As opposed to burst pressure or microtensile tests of lithographed structures, where relatively uniform stress fields may be generated, the indentation-induced stress gradients can produce unique challenges. Because of the test's simplicity and ability to mechanically probe the smallest of scales, it is becoming increasingly applied. Five possible stages of deformation are suggested from Hertzian elastic to film delamination and double buckling. In particular metal films on harder substrates are emphasized where it is shown that dislocation nucleation and arrest are only partially understood. Later stages of film delamination are illustrated with Cu/SiO 2 /Si where it is shown that the true work of adhesion is 0.6 J/m 2 . Current limitations of indentation-induced delamination measures of toughness involve large scatter associated with sensitivity of the fracture radius to the contact radius ratio.
Stellate Ganglion Block for Painful Congenital Venous Malformation of the Arm

Stellate ganglion block is an established intervention used in pain management settings. Its use in the treatment of congenital venous malformations (VM) of the upper limb has never been described. We present a case of ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion block for a patient who derived excellent relief from pain uncontrolled with conservative and pharmacological methods.
Predicting level of care in mental health services under a continuum of care

Abstract In an effort to control the spiraling costs of mental health care, public and private sectors have moved rapidly toward managed mental health care. An important feature of many managed mental health care systems is the use of alternative or “intermediate” services in place of costly residential services. The introduction of these intermediate services affords clinicians a wider range of treatment options. Little is known, however, about the decision making process in assigning children to these services. Using data on an innovative system that made those services available, this article identifies predictors of intermediate service use. Multivariate analyses are based on different variants of logistic regression; the analysis illustrates the use of multinominal and nested logistic regression.
Vacuum constriction devices for erectile dysfunction: a long-term, prospective study of patients with mild, moderate, and severe dysfunction.

Abstract Objectives. To evaluate, using a long-term, prospective study, the satisfaction rate, attrition rate, and follow-up treatment of well-trained patients using an external vacuum erection device, the Osbon ErecAid System, in the treatment of mild, moderate, and severe organic erectile dysfunction. Methods. One hundred twenty-nine patients were assessed to determine the severity and cause of their erectile dysfunction. Patients with organic erectile dysfunction who were interested in the Osbon ErecAid received the device after thorough training. Patients received a follow-up questionnaire regarding satisfaction, months of use, reasons for discontinuing, and further treatment. Results. Our attrition rate was 65% overall and was lowest among patients with moderate erectile dysfunction (55%). All patients with mild dysfunction discontinued use, and a large number (70%) of patients with complete dysfunction also discontinued use. Of the patients who discontinued, most stopped treatment early (median 1 month, mean 4 months) and 63% did not seek further treatment. Thirty-five percent of patients were satisfied with the device and have continued to use it long term (mean 37 months). Conclusions. Our study showed a lower success rate than previous reports. Patients who were satisfied with the Osbon ErecAid continued to use it for long periods. Patients who were not satisfied dropped out very quickly, and many did not seek further treatment. Patients with moderate erectile dysfunction had a higher rate of success than patients with mild or severe erectile dysfunction.
N-City Traveling Salesman Problem: Optimization by Simulated Annealings

The problem of finding the shortest closed path connectingN randomly chosen points is one of the classicNp-complete problems. We show that the length of tour depends logarithmically on the cooling rateQ in a simulated Monte Carlo anneal. We speculate that this is a general property of allNp-complete problems.
Analysis of excitatory synapses in the guinea pig inferior colliculus: a study using electron microscopy and GABA immunocytochemistry

Abstract The inferior colliculus (IC) integrates ascending auditory input from the lower brainstem and descending input from the auditory cortex. Understanding how IC cells integrate these inputs requires identification of their synaptic arrangements. We describe excitatory synapses in the dorsal cortex, central nucleus, and lateral cortex of the IC (ICd, ICc and IClc) in guinea pigs. We used electron microscopy (EM) and post-embedding anti-GABA immunogold histochemistry on aldehyde-fixed tissue from pigmented adult guinea pigs. Excitatory synapses were identified by round vesicles, asymmetric synaptic junctions, and gamma-aminobutyric acid-immunonegative (GABA-negative) presynaptic boutons. Excitatory synapses constitute ∼60% of the synapses in each IC subdivision. Three types can be distinguished by presynaptic profile area and number of mitochondrial profiles. Large excitatory (LE) boutons are more than 2 μm2 in area and usually contain five or more mitochondrial profiles. Small excitatory (SE) boutons are usually less than 0.7 μm2 in area and usually contain 0 or 1 mitochondria. Medium excitatory (ME) boutons are intermediate in size and usually contain 2 to 4 mitochondria. LE boutons are mostly confined to the ICc, while the other two types are present throughout the IC. Dendritic spines are the most common target of excitatory boutons in the IC dorsal cortex, whereas dendritic shafts are the most common target in other IC subdivisions. Finally, each bouton type terminates on both gamma-aminobutyric acid-immunopositive (GABA+) and GABA-negative (i.e., glutamatergic) targets, with terminations on GABA-negative profiles being much more frequent. The ultrastructural differences between the three types of boutons presumably reflect different origins and may indicate differences in postsynaptic effect. Despite such differences in origins, each of the bouton types contact both GABAergic and non-GABAergic IC cells, and could be expected to activate both excitatory and inhibitory IC circuits.
Mass spectral evidence for the hydroxymethylene radical cation

Abstract Collisionally-activated decompositions show that ·CHO + H ions are stable, confirming theoretical predictions.
L-deprenyl, a selective monoamine oxidase type-B inhibitor in endogenous depression.

Abstract In a group of 12 endogenously depressed patients who failed to respond to a week of placebo medication, L-deprenyl, a selective type-B monoamine oxidase inhibitor, produced a significant improvement over the whole range of depressive symptomatology. This is the first reported study of the antidepressant properties of L-deprenyl using a lower dose range, where both selective inhibition of type-B monoamine oxidase (MAO) would occur and the patient would be protected from the hypertensive cheese reaction. The possibility of an MAO inhibitor relatively free from the risk of a cheese reaction and yet an effective antidepressant would be a valuable new therapeutic agent. In addition, monitoring the degree of inhibition of platelet MAO may be a useful way of determining the therapeutic dosage for individual patients.
Chatin's graph coloring algorithm as a method for assigning positions to Diana attributes

Diana, the widely used abstraction for Ada compilers' intermediate representation of Ada programs, consists of graphs of attributed nodes. A graph-coloring algorithm allocates positions for attributes within nodes of the graph, making a space and time-efficient implementation.
CHRONIC UNILATERAL HYDRONEPHROSIS-EVALUATION OF RENAL FUNCTION

We have established a colony of albino rats with congenital right sided unilateral hydronephrosis (RUHN). Successive breedings have resulted in a stable population where male animals have a 95% incidence of right sided hydronephrosis and females have a 60% incidence. Five male 2 month old animals with proven RUHN at sacrifice were given a standard laboratory diet with free access to water prior to study. Inulin clearances (CIN) of RUHN kidneys averaged 249.3 ± 58.5 (SEM) μl/min·gm kidney while the contralateral non-hydronephrotic kidneys (LK) averaged 571.8 ± 72.7 μl/min·gm kidney (p<.01). PAH clearances (CPAH) were 890.3 ± 162.4 μl/min·gm kidney for RUHN kidneys and 1842.5 ± 213.8 for LK (p<.01). The extraction of PAH was not reduced in either kidney. Fractional water excretion (V/GFR) was 1.08 ± 0.19% for RUHN and 0.43 ± 0.04% for LK (p<.01). Sodium excretion waa 0.042 ± 0.012 μEq/min·100 μl GFR for RUHN and 0.019 ± 0.005 for LK (p<.05). RUHN kidneys have significantly decreased in and CIN and CPAH and increased sodium and water excretion per unit GFR. This model of naturally occurring, congenital, partial, urinary tract obstruction results in physiologically significant hydronephrosis, and thus is a useful model for assessing the effect of this lesion on renal functional and morphological development.
Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus Strains Isolated from Raw Milk Utilized in Small-Scale Artisan Cheese Production

Staphylococcus aureus is an important agent of bacterial mastitis in milking animals and of foodborne intoxication in humans. The purpose of this study was to examine the genetic and phenotypic diversity, enterotoxigenicity, and antimicrobial resistance of S. aureus strains isolated from raw milk used for the production of artisan cheese in Vermont. Cross-tabulations revealed that the 16 ribotypes identified among the 90 milk isolates examined were typically associated with a specific animal species and that more than half of these ribotypes were unique to individual farms. In general, specific EcoRI ribotypes were commonly associated with specific phenotypical characteristics, including staphylococcal enterotoxin production or the lack thereof. Limited antimicrobial resistance was observed among the isolates, with resistance to ampicillin (12.51%) or penicillin (17.04%) most common. Two isolates of the same ribotype obtained from the same farm were resistant to oxacillin with 2% NaCl. More than half (52.22%) of isolates produced toxin, and 31 of the 32 isolates solely produced staphylococcal enterotoxin type C. Although these data demonstrate that S. aureus strains found in raw milk intended for artisan cheese manufacture are capable of enterotoxin production, staphylococcal enterotoxin C is not typically linked to foodborne illness. Because S. aureus is a common contaminant of cheese, an understanding of the ecology of this pathogen and of the antimicrobial susceptibility and toxigenicity of various strains will ultimately contribute to the development of control practices needed to enhance the safety of artisan and farmstead cheese production.
Effects of prostaglandin E1 on lung function in bronchial asthma

1. Prostaglandin E1 aerosol was given to a total of 37 patients with chronic airways obstruction. — 2. In 5 patients lung function was not improved by PGE1. In 18 others it improved, but in 3 of these isoprenaline caused a further improvement. — 3. In the majority of the patients it caused transient cough followed by a definite improvement of vital capacity and peak flow, which reached its peak after 30–40 min after the inhalation. The prostaglandin cough could not be prevented by isoprenaline aerosol given beforehand. It is thought possible that this cough was mediated by special receptors. — 4. It is concluded that prostaglandin E1 is a potent bronchodilator in man, the action of which is possibly mediated by a mechanism different from that of isoprenaline. Given in maximum effective doses isoprenaline had, at least in some patients, a stronger dilator action.
Morphology of Tropical Upwelling in the Lower Stratosphere

Abstract Sensitivity tests of a mechanistic model of the mean meridional circulation driven by specified eddy forcing are conducted to investigate how the morphology of tropical upwelling in the lower stratosphere is related to the structure of the forcing expected to be associated with the stratospheric surf zone. The basic morphology of tropical upwelling is found to be similar among the mechanistic model forced with reasonable eddy fluxes, the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) SKYHI GCM, U.K. Met Office (UKMO) analyses, and other climate models, indicating the robustness of the upwelling features. Atmospheric data are analyzed to characterize the interannual variability of wave drag. The influence of such variations on the interannual variability of tropical upwelling in the lower stratosphere is explored, which may help explain the observed interannual variability of stratospheric water vapor.
Affecting the effectors: a kick in the gut?

After leaving lymphoid tissues, do T cells receive additional signals for survival and differentiation at effector sites? A unique cell population in the intestinal lamina propria may provide such a signal via the costimulatory molecule CD70.
Scaling of the island density and island-size distribution in irreversible submonolayer growth of three-dimensional islands

Motivated by observations of three-dimensional (3D) island formation in a variety of experiments, we have carried out kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of a simplified model of 3D island growth with critical island size $i=1$ (irreversible growth). Of particular interest are the exponents ${y}_{1}$ and ${y}_{1}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ describing the dependence of the submonolayer island density in the precoalescence regime on dose and coverage respectively, as well as the exponent ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{1}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ describing the dependence of the peak island density on the ratio $D/F$, where $D$ is the monomer hopping rate and $F$ is the (per site) deposition rate. We find that the values of ${y}_{1}$ and ${y}_{1}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ (e.g., ${y}_{1}\ensuremath{\simeq}0.24,\text{ }{y}_{1}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{\simeq}0.32$) are significantly lower than the standard rate-equation (RE) predictions $({y}_{1}=1/3,\text{ }{y}_{1}^{\ensuremath{'}}=3/7\ensuremath{\simeq}0.43)$. This may be explained by the fact that, in contrast to the standard RE assumption of size-independent capture numbers, for 3D islands the island radius increases with the number of atoms in an island. Accordingly, the average capture number increases with coverage and as a result, the coverage dependence of the island density for 3D islands is intermediate between that for two-dimensional (2D) islands $({y}_{1}={y}_{1}^{\ensuremath{'}}=0)$ and the standard RE prediction. As a result, the measured value of ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{1}^{\ensuremath{'}}\text{ }({\ensuremath{\chi}}_{1}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{\simeq}0.30)$ is slightly larger than the standard RE prediction $({\ensuremath{\chi}}_{1}^{\ensuremath{'}}=2/7\ensuremath{\simeq}0.29)$ but still lower than the value $({\ensuremath{\chi}}_{1}=1/3)$ for irreversible 2D island growth. For comparison with our simulations we also present self-consistent RE results for the island and monomer densities as a function of coverage and excellent agreement is obtained without any adjustable parameters. Results for the scaled island-size distribution (ISD) for 2D and 3D irreversible island growth are also presented. Somewhat surprisingly, we find that there is very little difference between the scaled ISD for 3D islands and that for 2D islands. In addition to our simulation results, the scaling behavior of the 3D island density for general critical island size $i$ is also discussed. Our results suggest that while the exponent ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{i}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ describing the flux dependence of the peak island density is the most accurate indicator, the exponent ${y}_{i}$ may also be useful to estimate the critical island size $i$ in submonolayer 3D growth.
Pentoxifylline protects splanchnic prostacyclin synthesis during mesenteric ischemia/reperfusion

This study examines the hypothesis that pentoxifylline protects splanchnic PGI2 synthesis during severe mesenteric ischemia/reperfusion injury. Anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats (300 grams) were subjected to sham or superior mesenteric artery occlusion for 20 minutes followed by 30 minutes of reperfusion. The ischemia/reperfusion groups received either enteral allopurinol (10 mg/kg) daily for 5 days prior to ischemia, PTX (50 mg/kg) 10 minutes prior to ischemia or carrier. The superior mesenteric artery was cannulated and removed with its intact intestine (SV + SI). The SV + SI was perfused in vitro with oxygenated Krebs buffer. The venous effluent was collected and assayed for release of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, PGE2 and thromboxane B2 by enzyme immunoassay. Severe mesenteric ischemia/reperfusion decreased SV + SI 6-keto-PGF1 alpha release by 40% compared to the sham group but did not alter release of PGE2 or thromboxane B2. Pretreatment of the animals with PTX and not allopurinol preserved SV + SI 6-keto-PGF1 alpha release at all times of perfusion to a level similar to the sham group. These data showed that severe mesenteric ischemia/reperfusion injury abolished release of endogenous splanchnic PGI2. PTX exerted a protective effect against severe mesenteric ischemia/reperfusion injury by maintaining release of splanchnic PGI2, a potent endogenous splanchnic vasodilator.
Maturation, peer context, and indigenous girls' early-onset substance use

This paper examines a biosocial model of the impact of puberty on Indigenous girls' early-onset substance use by considering the potential mediating role of peer context (i.e. mixed-sex peer groups and substance use prototypes) on the puberty and substance use relationship. Data include responses from 360 girls of a common Indigenous cultural group residing on reservations/reserves in the upper Midwest and Canada. Results of structural equation modeling revealed that the statistically significant relationship between girls' pubertal development and early-onset substance use was mediated by both mixed-sex/romantic peer groups and favorable social definitions of substance use. Implications for substance use prevention work include addressing the multiple and overlapping effects of peer influence from culturally-relevant perspectives.
Validation of prehospital trauma triage criteria for motor vehicle collisions.

Background Triage of an injured patient to an appropriate trauma center can have an impact on morbidity and mortality. We sought to validate the 2012 national field triage guidelines for motor vehicle crashes. Methods This is a retrospective cross-sectional study using the National Automotive Sampling System Crashworthiness Data System. Vehicle damage criteria proposed as prehospital triage guidelines were correlated with injury severity. Results There were 85,761 individuals representing 29,397,234 occupants in car crashes from 2003 to 2008. Of the patients, 3.8% met physiologic Step 1 criteria with a mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) of 9.1 (95% confidence interval [CI], -3.1 to 20.9); Step 1 had a positive predictive value (PPV) of 20.8% (95% CI, 20.1-21.4%) for severe injury (ISS > 15). Of the patients, 0.43% met anatomic Step 2 criteria alone, with a mean ISS of 18.1 (95% CI, 16.4-19.8) and a PPV of 48.5% (95% CI, 46.8-50.1%). Step 3 criteria include injury mechanism; 3.7% of the patients met one of these criteria alone with a mean ISS of 5.1 (95% CI, 4.4-5.8) and a PPV of 9.7% (95% CI, 9.3-10.2%).Patients who met only Step 3 criteria were examined to determine crash characteristics that predict severe injury. Intrusion of greater than 12 inches had a PPV of 10.4% (95% CI, 9.5-11.3); steering wheel collapse had a PPV of 25.7% (95% CI, 23.0-28.4%). Older patients (age > 55 years) who met Step 3 mechanism criteria had higher predictive values for injury for nearly all crash characteristics. Conclusion Injury mechanism criteria alone predict significant injury in a substantial proportion of patients who did not meet the physiologic or anatomic criteria. Vehicular crash data could improve the ability of emergency medical service providers to triage injured occupants. Consideration of transport to a trauma center should be given for elderly patients and drivers with steering wheel collapse. Level of evidence Epidemiologic study, level III.
Can outflow obstruction be induced within the normal left ventricle

Abstract Previously reported experimental studies have indicated that outflow obstruction can be produced within the normal left ventricle of the dog under conditions of reduced cardiac output or augmented myocardial contractile force, or both. This hypothesis was re-examined in the experiments described. In 36 normal dogs, isoproterenol and other inotropic drugs were administered before and during hemorrhagic shock or a period of controlled decreased venous return. In 21 dogs, systolic pressure gradients between the left ventricle and central aorta were recorded when left ventricular pressure was measured from a catheter introduced from the aorta or left atrium. The elevated left ventricular pressures responsible for the gradients were shown to be artifacts, however, when the pressure was simultaneously measured from a catheter in the apex of the ventricle. It is concluded that there is presently no valid hemodynamic evidence that outflow obstruction can be induced within the normal ventricle of the dog, and consideration is given to possible mechanisms responsible for the factitious pressure pulses recorded in these and other investigations.
(+)-3-Oxo-4-pregnene-20β-carboxyl­ic acid: catemeric hydrogen bonding in a steroidal keto acid

The title keto acid, (+)-23,24-dinor-3-oxo­chol-4-en-22-oic acid, C22H32O3, forms carboxyl-to-ketone hydrogen-bonding catemers [O⋯O = 2.699 (4) A and O—H⋯O = 173°], linking mol­ecules screw-related in b. The four mol­ecules in the cell form two parallel counter-directional chains, screw-related in a. Intermolecular C—H⋯O=C close contacts to different neighboring mol­ecules were found for the ketone and the acid.
The role of plasma membrane redox activity in light effects in plants.

Stimulations by light of electron transport at the plasma membrane make it possible that redox activity is involved in light-induced signal transduction chains. This is especially true in cases where component(s) of the chain are also located at the plasma membrane. Photosynthetic reactions stimulate transplasma membrane redox activity of mesophyll cells. Activity is measured as a reduction of the nonpermeating redox probe, ferricyanide. The stimulation is due to production of a cytosolic electron donor from a substance(s) transported from the chloroplast. It is unknown whether the stimulation of redox activity is a requirement for other photosynthetically stimulated processes at the plasma membrane, but a reduced intermediate may regulate proton excretion by guard cells. Blue light induces an absorbance change (LIAC) at the plasma membrane whose difference spectrum resembles certainb-type cytochromes. This transport of electrons may be due to absorption of light by a flavoprotein. The LIAC has been implicated as an early step in certain blue light-mediated morphogenic events. Unrelated to photosynthesis, blue light also stimulates electron transport at the plasma membrane to ferricyanide. The relationship between LIAC and transmembrane electron flow has not yet been determined, but blue light-regulated proton excretion and/or growth may depend on this electron flow. No conclusions can be drawn regarding any role for phytochrome because of a paucity of information concerning the effects of red light on redox activity at the plasma membrane.
Transcending the medical/media opposition in research on news coverage of health and medicine:

Health and medicine are major topics of news coverage, but research on health and medical reporting has remained mainly confined to specialist subfields, with less impact on broader academic fields, including journalism studies, than would seem warranted by its importance. This article argues that assumptions implicit in much of this literature have limited the development of a wider tradition of research on health journalism. We point particularly to what we call the linear-reflectionist perspective, which sees health journalism as an often-flawed mechanism for transmitting pre-existing medical knowledge to the mass public. We propose an alternative framework that seeks to illuminate the complexity and importance of this field of study.
Identifying cancer biomarkers through a network regularized Cox model

A central problem in cancer genomics is to identify interpretable biomarkers for better disease prognosis. Many of the biomarkers identified through Cox Proportional Hazard (PH) models are biologically uninterpretable. We propose the use of graph Laplacian regularized Cox PH model to integrate biological networks into the feature selection problem in survival analysis. Simulation studies demonstrate that the performance of the proposed algorithm is superior to L1 and L1+L2 regularized Cox PH models. Utility of this algorithm is also validated by its ability to identify key known biomarkers such as p53 and myc in estrogen receptor positive breast cancer patients using genomic abberration data generated by the Cancer Genome Altas consortium. With the rapid expansion of our knowledge of biological networks, this approach will become increasingly useful for mining high-throughput genomic datasets.
Expression of antioxidant proteins in human intestinal Caco-2 cells treated with dietary flavonoids.

Dietary flavonoids are known to scavenge free radicals but little information is available on their roles in antioxidant protein gene expression. The goal of this paper is to investigate the effect of flavonoid treatment on the antioxidant protein expression in human intestinal Caco-2 cells. The antioxidant proteins of interest were metallothionein (MT), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Treatment of Caco-2 cells with 100 μM genistein, biochanin A, daidzein or kaempferol significantly increased MT mRNA up to 15 fold. On the contrary, CAT mRNA level was not affected by various flavonoids. We also developed gel activity assays to determine the specific activities of CAT and Cu/Zn SOD in flavonoid-treated Caco-2 cells. Compared to the conventional spectrophotometric assays, the gel assays allow a separation of antioxidant activities of the enzymes from that of the flavonoids. CAT and Cu/Zn SOD were found not to be affected by 48-h treatment of 100 μM dietary flavonoids (genistein, biochanin A, daidzein, flavone, quercetin, or kaempferol). In conclusion, the effects of flavonoids on antioxidant protein expression are structure- and gene-specific. When evaluating antioxidant capacity of flavonoids, their ability to modulate antioxidant protein expression should also be taken into consideration.
Crystallization of alfalfa mosaic virus coat protein as a T = 1 aggregate

Abstract Reassembled alfalfa mosaic virus coat protein was partially digested with trypsin to remove the first 26 amino acids (Bol et al. , 1974). These particles are empty icosahedral protein shells built with 60 alfalfa mosaic virus protein subunits. This aggregate has been crystallized in two different crystal forms, one of which diffracts X-rays to at least 3.4 A resolution. The type I crystals (space group P6 3 , a = 200 A , c = 314 A ) contain two particles per cell separated by 195 A with each sitting on a 3-fold axis. The type II crystals contain three particles per cell in space group P 3 1 or P 3 2 ( a = 201 A , c = 485 A ). Other T = 1 viral particles have very similar diameters.
Phase 2 study of romiplostim in patients with low- or intermediate-risk myelodysplastic syndrome receiving azacitidine therapy

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of romiplostim, a thrombopoietin mimetic, in patients with low- or intermediate-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) receiving azacitidine therapy. Forty patients with low- or intermediate-risk MDS were stratified by baseline platelet counts (< 50 vs ≥ 50 × 10(9)/L) and randomized to romiplostim 500 μg or 750 μg or placebo subcutaneously once weekly during 4 cycles of azacitidine. The primary endpoint was the incidence of clinically significant thrombocytopenic events, defined by grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia starting on day 15 of the first cycle or platelet transfusion at any time during the 4-cycle treatment period. No formal hypothesis testing was planned. The incidence of clinically significant thrombocytopenic events in patients receiving romiplostim 500 μg, romiplostim 750 μg, or placebo was 62%, 71%, and 85%, respectively. The incidence of platelet transfusions was 46%, 36%, and 69%, respectively. These differences were not statistically significant with the small numbers in each group. Romiplostim 750 μg significantly raised median platelet counts during cycle 3 on day 1 (P = .0373) and at the nadir (P = .0035) compared with placebo. Grade 3 rash and arthralgia each were reported in 1 romiplostim-treated patient (4%). This study suggests romiplostim may provide clinical benefits in MDS patients during azacitidine therapy.
Characterization of a biotin-conjugated ovine prolactin ligand

Ovine prolactin was biotinylated with N-hydroxysuccinimidobiotin. Biotinylation was proportional to the molar ratio of reactants. Gel electrophoresis of the biotinylated derivative revealed little or no change in migration, but isoelectric focusing showed an acidic shift when compared to oPRL. Biotinylated ovine prolactin (B-oPRL) was detected by anti-oPRL antiserum and avidin-fluorescein-isothiocyanate (FITC) on protein blots. Competitive binding assays using 125I-B-oPRL and 125I-oPRL revealed: (a) similar dissociation constants and ID50 values for binding to anti-oPRL antibodies; (b) similar dissociation constants and maximum binding values for binding to liver membrane preparations; and (c) similar dissociation curves for displacement by several pituitary hormones. In contrast, binding of biotinylated oPRL to Nb2 node cells was reduced by approximately 70% and its bioreactivity was only 10% of that of oPRL. Our results indicate that biotinylation of oPRL does not alter its binding characteristics as measured by radioimmunoassay and radioreceptor assay using hepatic lactogenic receptors, but decreases its binding and bioreactivity when measured in Nb2 lymphoma cells. Assuming that N-hydroxysuccinimidobiotin interacts with reactive free amino groups of oPRL, our results suggest that these groups are essential for binding and bioreactivity of the molecule in the Nb2 lymphoma cell system.
Genomic Cloning and Promoter Analysis of Aortic Preferentially Expressed Gene-1 IDENTIFICATION OF A VASCULAR SMOOTH MUSCLE-SPECIFIC PROMOTER MEDIATED BY AN E BOX MOTIF

Abstract Aortic preferentially expressed gene-1 (APEG-1) was originally identified as a 1.4-kilobase (kb) transcript preferentially expressed in differentiated vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). Its expression is markedly down-regulated in de-differentiated VSMC, suggesting a role for APEG-1 in VSMC differentiation. We have now determined that APEG-1 is a single-copy gene in the human, rat, and mouse genomes and have mapped human APEG-1 to chromosome 2q34. To study the molecular mechanisms regulating its expression, we characterized the genomic organization and promoter of mouse APEG-1. APEG-1 spans 4.5 kb in the mouse genome and is composed of five exons. Using reporter gene transfection analysis, we found that a 2.7-kb APEG-15′-flanking sequence directed a high level of promoter activity only in VSMC. Its activity was minimal in five other cell types. A repressor region located within an upstream 685-base pair sequence suppressed the activity of this 2.7-kb promoter. Further deletion and mutation analyses identified an E box motif as a positive regulatory element, which was bound by nuclear protein prepared from VSMC. In conjunction with its flanking sequence, this E box motif confers VSMC-specific enhancer activity to a heterologous SV40 promoter. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of an E box motif that mediates gene expression restricted to VSMC.