cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Community Connections: Exploring the Constructive Potential of Facebook for Civic Engagement

Recognizing the importance of civic engagement to the health of local communities and the overall success of a democracy, this research sought to better understand the relationship between online media use and civic engagement. Specifically, the constructive potential of the social networking site Facebook was explored using the theoretical framework of communication infrastructure theory (CIT; Ball-Rokeach, Kim, & Matei, 2001). Results of a cross-sectional survey with a national sample of 375 participants indicated that Facebook does hold potential for civic engagement. The two most important findings of the research were that Facebook facilitated connection to neighborhood storytelling and that connection to storytelling was positively associated with civic engagement. As such, results indicated that Facebook holds potential for civic engagement insofar as the site facilitates connection to neighborhood storytelling. Additionally, Facebook was a regular part of participants’ daily routines, a means to maintain social capital, and a forum for occasional civic participation. Cumulatively, these results highlight a number of strengths that citizens and communities can build upon to improve social capital and increase civic engagement. CIVIC ENGAGEMENT & FACEBOOK ii
California Encephalitis Virus

This chapter provides an overview of the classification and description of California encephalitis (CE) virus, its hosts, the key developments regarding the virus, and the diagnostic techniques and reagents. It is a member of the California group of viruses. It causes a mild to severe febrile disease, occurring in young children. The hosts that are infected by California encephalitis virus include man and small mammals, primarily California ground squirrels. California encephalitis virus, the prototype of the California complex, was originally isolated in 1943 from Aedes melanimon mosquitoes collected in Kern County, California. Small mammals serve as the amplifying hosts in the summer cycle with transovarial transmission, which is the only potential overwintering mechanism to date. The preferred viral diagnosis is the inoculation of tissue culture with confirmation by fluorescent antibody technique. In some instances, a more expensive but sensitive method of intracerebral suckling mouse inoculation may be required to obtain an isolate. Specific neutralization tests may be required for the virus identification of isolates that come from areas where other closely related California group viruses occur. The preferred serological diagnosis is plaque reduction neutralization. This technique is the most sensitive, has the greatest dependability but is the most expensive.
Identifying Effective Motivational Interviewing Communication Sequences Using Automated Pattern Analysis.

Motivational interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based strategy for communicating with patients about behavior change. Although there is strong empirical evidence linking “MI-consistent” counselor behaviors and patient motivational statements (i.e., “change talk”), the specific counselor communication behaviors effective for eliciting patient change talk vary by treatment context and, thus, are a subject of ongoing research. An integral part of this research is the sequential analysis of pre-coded MI transcripts. In this paper, we evaluate the empirical effectiveness of the Hidden Markov Model, a probabilistic generative model for sequence data, for modeling sequences of behavior codes and closed frequent pattern mining, a method to identify frequently occurring sequential patterns of behavior codes in MI communication sequences to inform MI practice. We conducted experiments with 1,360 communication sequences from 37 transcribed audio recordings of weight loss counseling sessions with African-American adolescents with obesity and their caregivers. Transcripts had been previously annotated with patient-counselor behavior codes using a specialized codebook. Empirical results indicate that Hidden Markov Model and closed frequent pattern mining techniques can identify counselor communication strategies that are effective at eliciting patients’ motivational statements to guide clinical practice.
Alfred Farag & Sa’dallah Wannous

Alfred Farag is one of the most prolific dramatists in the Arab world’s artistic scene. He enjoyed and appreciated a wide spectrum of dramatic and literary work, from Shakespeare to Brecht; his only condition was that a work of art must both excel in artistic expression and maintain an element of entertainment. Sa’dallah Wannous is one of the top playwrights in modern Arabic culture. He was influenced in the beginning by the European Absurd Movement, but his breakthrough came with political plays under the influence of Brecht.
Typical-Atypical Interactions: One Patient’s Experience of Weight Bias in an Inpatient Eating Disorder Treatment Setting

AbstractThis article examines one patient’s experiences with weigh bias in an inpatient eating disorder treatment setting with a focus on interactions between the patient and her primary therapist. These therapeutic interactions had multiple unintended consequences, including bolstering feelings of denial, modeling of disordered behaviors, and disrupting the therapeutic alliance. Additional instances of weight bias with other treatment professionals, including an inpatient nutritionist and psychiatrist, are briefly discussed. The article ends with several brief recommendations for how clinicians can more skillfully approach issues of weight and size in the therapeutic alliance in order to resist size-related oppressions rather than reinforce them.
The log F: A Distribution for All Seasons

Families of parametric models are widely used to summarize data, to obtain predictions, assess goodness of fit, to estimate functions of the data not easily derived directly, and to render manageable random effects. The trustworthiness of the results obtained depends on the generality of the parametric family employed. A very flexible set of statistical models based on the logarithm of an F variate was introduced over 20 years ago. It’s versatility appears to be little appreciated by the statistical community. We try to convince readers that this family belongs in the tool box of all applied statisticians and that it should be one of the first tools used in data exploration. We present examples that cover a variety of statistical functions and application areas, and we offer freely available computer code.
Involving Firearm Stakeholders in Community-Based Suicide Prevention Efforts

About half of all suicide deaths in the USA are by firearm. Putting time and distance between a person in suicidal crisis and means of inflicting lethal force is an effective suicide prevention strategy. The current review summarizes the emerging literature on the involvement of firearm stakeholders in community-based efforts to reduce access to lethal means for people at risk for suicide. A small but growing set of scholarly articles indicates that the personal values underlying firearm ownership need not be impediments to firearm suicide prevention. By engaging gun owners in helping to craft culturally relevant messages and encouraging trusting and mutually respectful relationships between gun owners and non-gun-owners, it is possible to advance toward a common goal of reducing death and suffering. If fewer people in suicidal crisis have ready access to firearms, the USA will see a reduction in its suicide rate. To date, the academic literature on lethal means reduction predominantly consists of healthcare-based, clinician-led interventions. An emerging literature on community-based, firearm stakeholder-engaged efforts suggests that these inclusive models present major opportunities to amplify key messages and normalize life-saving behaviors.
THE DRILONEMATOIDEA, NEMATODE PARASITES OF THE COELOM OF EARTHWORMS

Publisher Summary This chapter explains the Drilonematoidea, nematode parasites of the coelom of earthworms. The Drilonematoidea are probably the most ancient of nematode parasites. They are found as adults in the coeloma and seminal vescicles of earthworms. The life history and larval stages are unknown. Species are assigned to this superfamily on a combination of characters, because the absence of a stoma is about the only common character. A few of ther main characters are that the esophagus is cylindrical, clavate, or slightly rhabditoid; spicules are present or absent; there are one or two ovaries; functional anus in female is either present or absent; and caudal suckers are either present or absent. Scolecophilus and Scolecophiloidea are synonymized. The chapter discusses many new genera and species, including a genus with a single cephalic hook.
Morally Animated: Toward a First-Year Seminar From the Person up

AbstractThe first-year seminar has historically been concerned with socializing students into collegiate life. As with any type of socialization, the first-year seminar perpetuates and is perpetuat...
Adolescent Tobacco Use and Misperceptions of Social Norms Across Schools in the United States.

Objective:This study assesses tobacco use norm misperceptions by distinguishing between perceived and actual peer norms for both tobacco use attitudes and behavior, and examines the association bet...
Cloning and functional testing of rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) IL-9 and IL-33.

BACKGROUND IL-9 and IL-33 can profoundly influence immune responses. As a necessary first step toward defining their impact in the rhesus macaque model, we confirmed their endogenous expression and sequence identity and generated expression vectors for the recombinant expression of rhesus IL-9 and IL-33. METHODS RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing was used to define the expression and sequences for rhesus IL-9 and IL-33. The resulting recombinant cytokines were tested by ELISA and proliferation assays. RESULTS Full-length rhesus IL-9 and the mature form of rhesus IL-33 share 78% and 73% nucleotide similarity, respectively, with humans. Both cytokines are expressed in lymphocytes, with IL-9 expression also evident in CD4+ T cells. Recombinantly expressed rhesus IL-9 and IL-33 were each biologically active in vitro, including enhancing the proliferation of a rhesus B cell line. CONCLUSIONS The recombinant rhesus IL-9 and IL-33 constructs produce biologically active cytokines that can act upon rhesus B cells.
Reconciling opposing perceptions of access to physical activity in a gentrifying urban neighborhood.

OBJECTIVE We sought to understand perspectives on access to physical activity in a gentrifying neighborhood. DESIGN This qualitative descriptive study used street intercept interviews and photo documentation. SAMPLE Participants included members (n = 19) of a gentrifying neighborhood in a northeastern city. RESULTS Participants held markedly different perceptions of opportunities for physical activity. Some participants, particularly area university students or those who are identified as White, perceived the neighborhood as favorable to physical activity, with high walkability and abundant resources. Other participants, particularly those who identified as Black or African-American, felt it was difficult to be physically active because neighborhood recreation facilities are scarce or unaffordable and parks are poorly maintained or unsafe. Multiple participants noted strategies to overcome neighborhood barriers to physical activity. Regardless of neighborhood perceptions, family and friends played an important role in influencing physical activity. CONCLUSIONS Nurses must consider how disparities in actual and perceived access to neighborhood resources influence participation in physical activity, particularly in gentrifying neighborhood. Public health nurses are embedded in the neighborhoods that they serve, providing a unique opportunity to understand and address the impact of neighborhood on health.
Cognitive Functioning in Turner Syndrome: Addressing Deficits Through Academic Accommodation

Background: The cognitive profile of Turner syndrome, a genetic disorder resulting from partial or complete X-chromosome deletion, presents characteristic deficits. Despite this, studies have yet t...
2019: A year of expansion in psychedelic research, industry, and deregulation:

Public and scientific interest into psychedelic drugs has grown steadily over much of the last two decades, before an exponential increase in recent years. We contend that 2019, in particular, invo...
The Miracle of Brand Value Creation: Where Does the Value Come From?

Strong brands are the result of brand value creation within a company. Established brands may lead to higher market share, higher sales volumes, and higher price margins for the respective product or service. In this chapter, we analyze the sources of brand value creation from a functional perspective, both for B2C and B2B markets. We also show that the functions of reducing information cost and risk have a positive impact on the decision of a customer to purchase a product or service by reducing uncertainties in the decision-making (evaluation) process. In addition, the function of symbolic meaning can increase the perceived value of a product or service from a customer’s point of view. Moreover, we provide practical examples of each of these functions.
A Dissemination Strategy to Identify Communities Ready to Implement a Pediatric Weight Management Intervention in Medically Underserved Areas.

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES We developed a competitive application process to test the feasibility of a fund and contract dissemination strategy to identify and engage communities that demonstrated the necessary resources and motivation to adopt, implement, and sustain a pediatric weight management intervention, Building Healthy Families, in rural and micropolitan (<50,000 residents) communities in Nebraska. INTERVENTION APPROACH From April through December 2019, a community advisory board with representation from rural and micropolitan clinical, public health, education, and recreational organizations collaboratively developed a request for applications, as a fund and contract dissemination strategy, to encourage community adoption of Building Healthy Families. EVALUATION METHODS Quantitative assessments included determining the distribution of requests for applications, evaluating organizational readiness to change assessment (ORCA) ratings (on a scale of 1 to 5, from strongly disagree to strongly agree that the organization is ready to change), and reviewing community advisory board member ratings of applications. We gathered qualitative data from community narratives provided in response to the request for applications and community advisory board reviews of the applications. RESULTS The request for applications was distributed to all 93 counties in Nebraska. Of the 8 communities that submitted a letter of intent, 7 submitted a community narrative. Across the 8 communities, 31 ORCAs were completed by the organizational decision makers (n = 15) and staff members (n = 16) who would be responsible for screening, recruiting, or implementing the intervention. Overall mean ORCA scores varied by ratings of evidence (4.1-4.6), context (4.2-4.9), and facilitation (4.3-4.8), indicating a high degree of readiness. Community advisory board ratings of applications ranged from 2.3 to 3.4 of 4 points. Qualitative data indicated that lower community narrative scores were primarily caused by weak implementation and sustainability plans. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH Findings provide guidance for translating pediatric weight management programs in medically underserved geographic areas by maximizing the probability of successful adoption and implementation through a fund and contract dissemination strategy.
Pharmacists Leadership in a Medication Shortage Response: Illustrative Examples from a Health System Response to the COVID-19 Crisis

As medication experts, clinical pharmacists play an active and dynamic role in a medication shortage response. Supplementing existing guidelines with an actionable framework of discrete activities to support effective medication shortage responses can expand the scope of pharmacy practice and improve patient care. Dissemination of best practices and illustrative, networked examples from health systems can support the adoption of innovative solutions. In this descriptive report, we document the translation of published shortage mitigation guidelines into system success through broad pharmacist engagement and the adaption and implementation of targeted strategies. The profound, wide-reaching medication shortages that accompanied the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are used to highlight coordinated but distinct practices and how they have been combined to expand the influence of the pharmacy enterprise.
Facial Reanimation in Face Transplantation

Face transplantation is a life-transforming surgery for patients with complex and devastating facial injuries who have exhausted the traditional armamentarium of plastic surgery. The ultimate success of this procedure is dependent upon the regeneration of the recipient’s facial nerves into donor tissue, restoring the complex movement of facial musculature to enable optimal results. Goals of facial reanimation in face transplant are similar to those in facial paralysis; dependent on the recipient defect, these include spontaneous smile, ability to blink, restoration of oral commissure integrity, and capacity to show facial expression. These goals can be reached through careful preoperative assessment of donor and recipient facial nerve function and intraoperative nerve mapping of donor and recipient nerve branches. We also advocate for distal nerve branch coaptation to reduce potential aberrant reinnervation and synkinesis and to shorten the distance required for regeneration to target muscles. We also recognize the need for standardized assessment of facial nerve motor function among face transplant patients to further improve outcomes in this innovative field. Face transplant success and patient satisfaction with postoperative quality of life is largely dependent upon the degree of nerve regeneration and reanimation. Thus, careful assessment of this aspect of the procedure is paramount.
Late morbidity and mortality following revascularization surgery for moyamoya disease in the pediatric population

Objective There are limited reports on long-term morbidity in pediatric patients who have undergone surgical revascularization for moyamoya disease (MMD). Here, the authors report long-term morbidity and mortality in a population of pediatric patients who underwent pial synangiosis for MMD from 1988 through 2016. Methods A single-center retrospective review of the hospital and personal operative databases of the senior authors was carried out to identify all patients who were treated for MMD at Boston Children's Hospital between 1988 and 2016, and who experienced any episode of late morbidity or mortality, which the authors defined as an event resulting in significant neurological deficit or death occurring more than 1 year after revascularization surgery. Hospital records were reviewed to determine pertinent demographic data, the initial mode of patient presentation, and associated comorbidities. Radiographic studies, when available, were reviewed for documentation of the diagnosis and for confirmation of the late complication, and the literature on this topic was reviewed. Results In total, 460 patients with MMD underwent surgery between 1988 and 2016 using the pial synangiosis surgical technique; 15 (3.3%) of these patients (9 females and 6 males) experienced documented late death (n = 14) or severe morbidity (n = 1). The median age at revascularization surgery was 8.0 years (range 1-21 years). The causes of these late complications were grouped into three etiologies: intraventricular or intracerebral hemorrhage (n = 8), systemic complications related to associated comorbidities or preoperative disabilities (n = 5), and the development of malignant brain tumors (n = 2). Four patients whose MMD was associated with a history of cranial radiation therapy died. These events occurred from as early as 2 years to as late as 27 years postoperatively. Conclusions The risk of late morbidities and mortality following pial synangiosis for MMD in the pediatric patient appeared to be low. Nevertheless, the occurrence of catastrophic cerebrovascular events, particularly intracerebral and intraventricular hemorrhage in the otherwise neurologically stable revascularized patient, was concerning. Although there is value in long-term surveillance of patients who have undergone surgery for MMD, from both a neurological and a general medical standpoint, particularly in patients with the risk factor of prior cranial radiation therapy, it is not clear from the data how the late deaths in this population could have been prevented.
Endobronchial Leiomyoma: A case report with cryoprobe extraction and review of literature

Large airway tumors are uncommon, accounting for about 0.6% of all pulmonary tumors [[1], [2], [3]]. The majority of these tumors (80-90%) are malignant, represented primarily by squamous cell carcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma [2,4]. Benign central airway tumors are less common and are generally comprised of hamartomas and papillomas. Tracheobronchial leiomyomas are exceedingly rare, representing only about 0.6% of all benign lung neoplasms [3]. We report here on a case of primary endobronchial leiomyoma without uterine involvement treated successfully with cryoresection with excellent outcome.
Evaluating effects of sex and age on white matter microstructural alterations in alcohol use disorder: A diffusion tensor imaging study.

BACKGROUND Alterations in white matter microstructure associated with chronic alcohol use have been demonstrated in previous diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) research. However, there is conflicting evidence as to whether such differences are influenced by an individual's biological sex. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of sex differences in the white matter microstructure of the brains of individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and healthy controls. METHODS One hundred participants with AUD (38 female, aged 21 to 68) participating in the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism's inpatient treatment program and 98 healthy control participants (52 female) underwent a diffusion-weighted scan. Images collected were processed for each subject individually, and voxelwise, tract-based spatial statistics analysis was conducted to test for differences in the DTI measures of fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD). RESULTS A 2-way, between-subjects ANCOVA that tested for differences by group and sex revealed widespread differences between AUD and control subjects, but no interaction between group and sex. Additional analyses exploring demographic and alcohol use variables showed significant impacts of age on white matter microstructure that were more pronounced in individuals with AUD. Plots of FA by age, sex, and group in major white matter tracts suggest a need to explore higher order interactions in larger samples. CONCLUSIONS These results bolster recent findings of similar microstructural properties in men and women with AUD but provide a rationale for the consideration of age when investigating the impacts of chronic alcohol use on the brain's white matter.
438 Relevance of adalimumab serum concentration and anti-adalimumab antibodies in secondary loss of response in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Adalimumab (ADA) is fully humanized, monoclonal antibody against tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α), and is efficacious biological treatment option for patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). However, some patients who respond to the ADA therapy subsequently lose response to this treatment and present with relapse of JIA. In a period of five years (2015-2020), a cohort of 19 patients with JIA, treated with ADA in Children’s Hospital Zagreb, was followed. Disease activity was evaluated based on counts of joints with active disease, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and physician global assessment of disease activity. Blood samples were collected from patients who presented with JIA relapse and suspected loss of response (LOR), as well as randomly from patients who had achieved appropriate disease control with ADA therapy as a control group. Levels of adalimumab and anti-adalimumab antibodies (AAA) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) (Immundiagnostik AG, Bensheim, Germany). Use of concomitant methotrexate (MTX) therapy was noted, as well as time of AAA development from the beginning of ADA therapy. Out of 19 patients on ADA, six presented with LOR. Out of six, positive AAA and subtherapeutic ADA concentrations were found in four patients, while in two patients ADA concentrations were subtherapeutic but AAA negative. Two of the six relapsed patients did not receive MTX at the time of serum sampling due to adverse reactions to this drug. The median time to development of relapse of JIA and proven AAA was eleven months (2–20 months) after initiation of ADA therapy. Adalimumab has so far been replaced by tocilizumab in four patients with LOR. Of the thirteen patients in the control group, two had positive AAA and subtherapy ADA concentrations, and one had only subtherapy ADA concentrations. Four of the thirteen patients in the control group did not receive MTX at the time of sampling, all four had negative AAA, and one also had a subtherapeutic concentration of ADA. In our patients with relapsed JIA, positive AAA and subtherapeutic ADA concentrations were associated with loss of therapeutic response. However, the occurrence of AAA and subtherapeutic concentrations of ADA in the control group also indicate the need for further research in a larger number of patients, as well as the need for serial measurement and testing the ability of AAA to neutralize ADA.
Automorphic Forms and Applications

Introduction Armand Borel, Automorphic Forms on Reductive Groups: Automorphic forms on reductive groups Bibliography L. Clozel, Spectral Theory of Automorphic Forms: Spectral theory of automorphic forms Mostly SL(2) The spectral decomposition of $L^2(G(\mathbb{Q})\backslash G(\mathbb{A}))$: Arthur's conjectures Known bounds for the cuspidal spectrum and the Burger-Sarnak method Applications: Control of the spectrum All reductive adelic groups are tame Bibliography James W. Cogdell, $L$-functions and Converse Theorems for $GL_n$: $L$-functions and converse theorems for $GL_n$ Fourier expansions and multiplicity one Eulerian integrals for $GL_n$ Local $L$-functions Global $L$-functions Converse theorems Converse theorems and functoriality Bibliography Philippe Michel, Analytic Number Theory and Families of Automorphic $L$-functions: Analytic number theory and families of automorphic $L$-functions Analytic properties of individual $L$-functions A review of classical automorphic forms Large sieve inequalities The subconvexity problem Some applications of subconvexity Bibliography Freydoon Shahidi, Langlands-Shahidi Method: Langlands-Shahidi Method Basic concepts Eisenstein series and $L$-functions Functional equations and multiplicativity Holomorphy and boundedness Applications Bibliography Audrey Terras, Arithmetical Quantum Chaos: Arithmetical quantum chaos Finite models Three symmetric spaces Bibliography David A. Vogan, Jr., Isolated Unitary Representations: Isolated unitary representations Bibliography Wen-Ching Winnie Li, Ramanujan Graphs and Ramanujan Hypergraphs: Ramanujan graphs and Ramanujan hypergraphs Ramanujan graphs and connections with number theory Ramanujan hypergraphs Bibliography.
Validation of the Food-Linked Virtual Response task.

This research validates a computerized dietary selection task (Food-Linked Virtual Response or FLVR) for use in studies of food consumption. In two studies, FLVR task responses were compared with measures of health consciousness, mood, body mass index, personality, cognitive restraint toward food, and actual food selections from a buffet table. The FLVR task was associated with variables which typically predict healthy decision-making and was unrelated to mood or body mass index. Furthermore, the FLVR task predicted participants’ unhealthy selections from the buffet, but not overall amount of food. The FLVR task is an inexpensive, valid, and easily administered option for assessing momentary dietary decisions.
Regression, 10k Rule of Thumb for

The 10k rule of thumb and its modifications give benchmarks on adequacy of dataset size in terms of number of observations required in regression models. Specifically, this rule suggests having a minimum of 10 observations per predictor variable. Keywords: regression; number of observations required; maximal number of variables; overfitting; degrees of freedom; events per variable
Property, Public and Private

Property, public and private refers both to (i) a normative relationship between agents and things, and (ii) the things that stand in that normative relationship to agents. In the paradigm case of property, an individual is related to some physical object by having an exclusive right to use that object as he chooses (i.e., it is the property of that agent to do with as he sees fit). In the paradigm case, the property holder's right of disposition is only subject to the constraint that he not dispose of his property in ways that violate others' rights. Many instances of property diverge in one or more respects from this basic paradigm. An agent's property need not be a physical object, but can instead be a more abstract. Distinct agents may have property in different aspects of the same thing; for example, one may have the usual land ownership rights, while another may hold the subsurface mineral rights. Distinct agents may jointly own particular things (e.g., “community” property). Is private property morally justified? The case discussed by Harold Demsetz and like narratives suggest a consequentialist vindication. But many have opposed private property regimes because they undercut communal or public life. Keywords: agent; Harold Demsetz (on property rights); consequentialism; rights
Congruence of primary brain tumor patient and caregiver symptom report.

BACKGROUND: Evaluating the severity of symptoms in patients with primary brain tumors (PBTs) is important in clinical care and research but may be difficult due to patient neurocognitive (NC) impairment. This study was conducted to evaluate the congruence of symptom reporting in patient and caregiver dyads, examining potential impact of NC impairment and Karnofsky performance status (KPS). METHODS: PBT patients undergoing NC testing and their caregivers were included in this study. These dyads (paired patient and caregiver group) completed the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory-Brain Tumor Module prior to testing, and impairment was categorized based on NC test scores. Concordance and equivalency was then assessed using Bland-Altman analysis and 2 one-sided techniques. RESULTS: A total of 115 dyads participated. Median patient and caregiver age was 49 and 51 years, respectively, and 63% of patients were male (73% female caregivers). Most patients had a good KPS (≥90, 66%) but were classified as NC impaired (58%). Caregiver's report of patient symptoms are congruent to the self-report of the patient. Equivalency between patient and caregiver report were found using prespecified confidence intervals. KPS group (good, ≥90; poor, ≤80) comparisons of equivalency indicated no significant differences in symptoms and interference reporting between dyads (good = 0.49, P > .05; and poor = 0.3, P > .05) overall, but there was a tendency for higher report by caregivers if the patients had a poor KPS. CONCLUSIONS: Caregivers of PBT patients have similar assessments of symptom severity (highly congruent) with patient self-report regardless of NC function or KPS. These findings suggest that caregivers may serve as proxy report of symptoms for primary brain tumor patients. Cancer 2012. © 2012 American Cancer Society.
The check-up: In-person, computerized, and telephone adaptations of motivational enhancement treatment to elicit voluntary participation by the contemplator.

Countless barriers come between people who are struggling with substance abuse and those charged with providing substance abuse treatment. The check-up, a form of motivational enhancement therapy, is a harm reduction intervention that offers a manner of supporting individuals by lowering specific barriers to reaching those who are untreated. The check-up was originally developed to reach problem drinkers who were neither seeking treatment nor self-initiating change. The intervention, marketed as an opportunity to take stock of one's experiences, involves an assessment and personalized feedback delivered with a counseling style termed motivational interviewing. Check-ups can be offered in care settings to individuals who, as a result of screening, manifest risk factors for specific disorders such as alcoholism. They can also be free-standing and publicized widely to the general public. This paper will discuss illustrations of in-person, computerized, in-school, and telephone applications of the free-standing type of check-up with reference to alcohol consumers, adult and adolescent marijuana smokers, and gay/bisexual males at risk for sexual transmission of HIV. The paper's major focus is to highlight how unique features of each application have the potential of reducing barriers to reaching specific at-risk populations. Also considered are key policy issues such as how check-up services can be funded, which venues are appropriate for the delivery of check-up interventions, pertinent competency criteria in evaluating staff who deliver this intervention, how marketing can be designed to reach contemplators in untreated at-risk populations, and how a check-up's success ought to be defined.
Everolimus Causing Severe Hypertriglyceridemia and Acute Pancreatitis

Everolimus is an mTOR inhibitor commonly used to treat metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs) and renal cell carcinoma, and for posttransplant immunosuppression. This report presents a case of a 36-year-old man being treated with everolimus for a metastatic pNET who developed severe hypertriglyceridemia and acute pancreatitis. The incidence of hypertriglyceridemia reported in large prospective randomized trials is reviewed and the management of hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis is discussed. Careful monitoring of triglyceride levels and dose adjustments of everolimus together with lipid-lowering therapy can allow patients to continue this medication. Because there are increasing indications for the use of everolimus, prescribing oncologists must be cognizant of the common and serious side effects.
Study of a Port Design for Silo Blenders

Experimental results are reported on two silo-blenders equipped with a new design of ports in their downcomers. None of the mixing streams was falling freely. The mixing of pellets within the ports is determined as a function of the port geometric characteristics such as awning angle, height of port, width of awning and width of the downcomer, and of the particle properties such as the angle of repose. It was observed that two dimensionless quantities are sufficient to describe the mixing fraction at the port. Visual observations on the flow near the port were made and the port’s mixing response surface was estimated. When the new port design was fitted in a cylindrical blender the active channel of the port was recorded as well as the average velocity distribution in the channel.
Fate tracing reveals hepatic stellate cells as dominant contributors to liver fibrosis independent of its aetiology

Although organ fibrosis causes significant morbidity and mortality in chronic diseases, the lack of detailed knowledge about specific cellular contributors mediating fibrogenesis hampers the design of effective antifibrotic therapies. Different cellular sources, including tissue-resident and bone marrow-derived fibroblasts, pericytes and epithelial cells, have been suggested to give rise to myofibroblasts, but their relative contributions remain controversial, with profound differences between organs and different diseases. Here we employ a novel Cre-transgenic mouse that marks 99% of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), a liver-specific pericyte population, to demonstrate that HSCs give rise to 82-96% of myofibroblasts in models of toxic, cholestatic and fatty liver disease. Moreover, we exclude that HSCs function as facultative epithelial progenitor cells in the injured liver. On the basis these findings, HSCs should be considered the primary cellular target for antifibrotic therapies across all types of liver disease.
Occult Cervical Metastasis in Head and Neck Cancer and its Impact on Therapy

(2002). Occult Cervical Metastasis in Head and Neck Cancer and its Impact on Therapy. Acta Oto-Laryngologica: Vol. 122, No. 1, pp. 107-114.
Marine Ecosystem Health as an Expression of Morbidity, Mortality and Disease Events

Abstract Over the last 50 years, national, international and private stewardship and conservation organizations have spent billions of dollars collecting marine ecosystem information. This remains divided among many custodians, scattered among thousands of published sources and, from a global perspective, is fragmentary in nature. It is argued that new resource management questions regarding coastal ecosystem health can be addressed through the recovery and `data mining' of this previously collected and often discarded information. A retrospective marine epidemiological approach was developed to demonstrate that marine morbidity, mortality, and disease information is recoverable by keyword searching of academic journals and through the retrieval of publicly available digital and print-media information. Observational records compiled from disturbances occurring within the Northwestern Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea confirm that anomalous marine morbidity and mortality events have increased in number and frequency during the last 30 years. A global approach is summarized for systematically reconstructing spatial and temporal disturbance indicator time series using data mining and data reduction techniques.
Prepubic urethrectomy with urethral stripping.

AbstractPurpose: Prepubic urethrectomy is a simple, safe alternative to perineal urethrectomy. The lithotomy position can be avoided and, thus, operative time and risk of deep venous thrombosis are decreased. We developed a simple modification because of difficulty in dissecting the bulbous urethra.Materials and Methods: From 1996 through 1998 prepubic urethrectomy was performed using a modified procedure in 21 patients with invasive bladder carcinoma undergoing radical cystectomy and supravesical diversion. After periurethral mobilization the urethra was cannulated with an 18F catheter, sutured distal and stripped free.Results: Operative time decreased to 20 to 30 minutes with no significant postoperative complications.Conclusions: Our modification of prepubic urethrectomy is safe, fast and easy.
Definitive evidence using enucleated cytoplasts for a nongenomic basis for the cystic change in endoplasmic reticulum structure caused by STAT5a/b siRNAs.

STAT5a/b species are well known as transcription factors that regulate nuclear gene expression. In a novel line of research in human pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (HPAECs), we previously observed that STAT5a associated with the Golgi apparatus and that siRNA-mediated knockdown of STAT5a/b led to the rapid development of a dramatic cystic change in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) characterized by deposition along cyst membranes and tubule-to-cyst boundaries of the proteins reticulon-4 (RTN4; also called Nogo-B) and the ER-resident GTPase atlastin-3 (ATL3) and Golgi fragmentation. We now report that STAT5a can be observed in ER sheets in digitonin-permeabilized HPAECs and that anti-STAT5a cross- immunopanned ATL3 but not RTN4. Moreover, there was marked accumulation of the 63-kDa cytoskeleton-linking membrane protein and ER-spacer CLIMP63 (also called cytoskeleton-associated protein 4, CKAP4) and KDEL-mCherry within the cysts. That the STAT5a/b-siRNA-induced cystic ER phenotype developed in the presence of the transcription inhibitor 5,6-dichloro-1-β-d-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB) had suggested that the mechanism was independent of the transcription factor functions of STAT5a/b, i.e., was “nongenomic.” We have now definitively tested the requirement for the nucleus in eliciting the STAT5a/b-siRNA-induced cystic ER phenotype. Enucleated HPAEC cytoplasts were prepared using adherent 35-mm cultures using the cytochalasin B-centrifugation method (typically yielding 65–75% enucleation). STAT5a/b siRNAs readily elicited the cystic ER phenotype including the marked luminal accumulation of CLIMP63 and Golgi fragmentation in the recovered HPAEC cytoplasts demonstrably lacking a nucleus. These studies provide unequivocal evidence using enucleated cytoplasts for a nongenomic mechanism(s) underlying the cystic change in ER structure elicited by STAT5a/b knockdown.
The biogenesis of anthocyanins, IX. The effect of ribonuclease on anthocyanin formation in Spirodela oligorrhiza.

Abstract Ribonuclease inhibits anthocyanin formation in Spirodela oligorrhiza and, even more powerfully, in corn-leaf discs. Its action is, however, dependent on decreasing the level of heavy-metal ions in the Spirodela tissue. The findings substantiate the conclusion previously drawn from studies with antimetabolites that a nucleic acid is the catalyst or limiting factor in the synthesis of anthocyanin in Spirodela. The finding that deoxyribonuclease does not inhibit anthocyanin production in Spirodela lends support to the hypothesis that the nucleic acid is an RNA, not a DNA.
Novel Products and New Technologies for Use of a Familiar Carbohydrate, Milk Lactose

Abstract The cheese industry produces large amounts of lactose in the form of cheese whey and whey permeate, generating ∼27million tonnes/yr in the US alone. Many uses have been found for whey and lactose, including uses in infant formula; bakery, dairy, and confectionery products; animal feed; and feedstocks for lactose derivatives and several industrial fermentations. Lactose use in food products, however, is somewhat limited because of its low solubility and indigestibility in many individuals. For this reason, lactose is often hydrolyzed before use. Still, demand is insufficient to use all available whey lactose. The result is a low market value for lactose; almost half of the whey produced each year remains unused and is a significant waste disposal problem. Several approaches are possible for transforming lactose into value-added products. For example, galactooligosaccharides can be produced through enzymatic treatments of lactose and may be used as a probiotic food ingredient. Organic acids or xanthan gum may be produced via whey fermentation, and the fermented whey product can be used as a food ingredient with special functionality. This paper reviews the physical characteristics, production techniques, and current uses of lactose, whey, and lactose derivatives. Also examined are novel fermentation and separation technologies developed in our laboratory for the production of lactate, propionate, acetate, and xanthan gum from whey.
Cellular origins of cold-induced brown adipocytes in adult mice

This work investigated how cold stress induces the appearance of brown adipocytes (BAs) in brown and white adipose tissues (WATs) of adult mice. In interscapular brown adipose tissue (iBAT), cold exposure increased proliferation of endothelial cells and interstitial cells expressing platelet-derived growth factor receptor, α polypeptide (PDGFRα) by 3- to 4-fold. Surprisingly, brown adipogenesis and angiogenesis were largely restricted to the dorsal edge of iBAT. Although cold stress did not increase proliferation in inguinal white adipose tissue (ingWAT), the percentage of BAs, defined as multilocular adipocytes that express uncoupling protein 1, rose from undetectable to 30% of total adipocytes. To trace the origins of cold-induced BAs, we genetically tagged PDGFRα(+) cells and adipocytes prior to cold exposure, using Pdgfra-Cre recombinase estrogen receptor T2 fusion protein (CreER(T2)) and adiponectin-CreER(T2), respectively. In iBAT, cold stress triggered the proliferation and differentiation of PDGFRα(+) cells into BAs. In contrast, all newly observed BAs in ingWAT (5207 out of 5207) were derived from unilocular adipocytes tagged by adiponectin-CreER(T2)-mediated recombination. Surgical denervation of iBAT reduced cold-induced brown adipogenesis by >85%, whereas infusion of norepinephrine (NE) mimicked the effects of cold in warm-adapted mice. NE-induced de novo brown adipogenesis in iBAT was eliminated in mice lacking β1-adrenergic receptors. These observations identify a novel tissue niche for brown adipogenesis in iBAT and further define depot-specific mechanisms of BA recruitment.
The effects of teaching experience and grade level taught on teacher stress: A LISREL analysis

Abstract In this study a LISREL model of teacher stress was tested which used grade level taught and years of teaching experience as independent variables; perceived stress and life events stress were used as observed indicators of the latent dependent variable teacher stress. Subjects were 166 elementary and secondary public school teachers from schools in northwestern Ohio. Goodness-of-fit indices indicated a good fit of the proposed model. Grade level taught had a negative effect on teacher stress, whereas teaching experience did not account for a significant portion of the variance in the dependent variable. These results suggest that it might be beneficial to school administrators and others to focus more on possibly strong effects of grade level taught on teacher stress, rather than concerning themselves with alleviating the stress experienced by novice teachers.
The Republicanism of Eleftherios Venizelos: Ideology or Tactics?

Abstract‘Venizelos himself is as you know the most orderly and conservative of revolutionaries but many of his followers are not.’ This statement, included in a June 1917 telegram to the Foreign Office by Lord Granville, Britain's diplomatic representative to the Greek Provisional Government in Thessaloniki, provides an important guide for understanding much of Eleftherios Venizelos' political career. Loyal to the basic principles of tum-of-the-century European liberalism, Venizelos nonetheless committed himself to extremist initiatives and authoritarian methods on several occasions. And despite pressures for more radical action by supporters, Venizelos generally tried to contain the extent, of his campaigns for political change. Bearing these broader points in mind, along with his constant attention to Greece's relations with the European powers, it is also possible to understand Venizelos' attitudes towards the establishment of a republic in Greece. His controversial role regarding this question, at tim...
Identification of an SAS (Sp1c Adjacent Site)-Like Element in the Distal 5′-Flanking Region of the Rat Lutropin Receptor Gene Essential for Cyclic Adenosine 3′,5′-Monophosphate Responsiveness

One of the hallmarks of the differentiation of granulosa cells is the estradiol and FSH/cAMP-dependent induction of the LH receptor (LHR). Previous studies using granulosa cells isolated from diethylstilbestrol-pretreated immature rats identified a novel cAMP-responsive element termed the SAS site (Sp1c adjacent site) in the promoter region of the rat (r) LHR gene. The studies presented herein show that there is an additional distal site located at nucleotide (nt)− 933/−924 that appears to interact with the same transcription factor that binds to the promoter SAS site. Similar to the SAS site, the complex formed between granulosa cell nuclear extracts and this distal site is enhanced by cAMP treatment of the granulosa cells. The core sequence required for the formation of the DNA/protein complex at this distal rLHR site was determined to be AGTGG(A)GGGG. With the exception of adenine at −928, substitution of any residue within this sequence prevented formation of this complex. The core sequence of this di...