cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermal Modeling of Quilt Packaging Interconnects

This paper discusses thermal reliability simulations of Quilt Packaging (QP), a novel chip-to-chip interconnect technology. A simulation model of QP is developed. The issue of reliability arises due to the different coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) of materials used in the QP system for the operating temperature of circuits. Thermal stress is produced due to the CTE differences, the magnitude of which depends on the materials and dimensions of the structure. Simulation results work as guideline to obtain reliability data for QP structures.
Region-based enhancement of digital chest radiographs

In routine chest radiographs, the mediastinum is often underexposed and vascular structures are obscured by the diaphragm. We have developed a region-based processing algorithm to enhance contrast and brightness of selected anatomical regions, such as the mediastinum, without altering the other regions. We employ wavelet processing technique to segment a chest radiograph into different gray level regions and then apply different degrees of contrast enhancement procedure to them. The image enhancement is controlled by a proposed sigmoid function. The enhanced images showed improved visualization in the mediastinum area over the original unprocessed chest radiographs. Furthermore, the visibility of vascular structures which are obscured by the diaphragm and mediastinum is improved.
Regular exercise enhances insulin activation of IRS-1-associated PI3-kinase in human skeletal muscle

Insulin action in skeletal muscle is enhanced by regular exercise. Whether insulin signaling in human skeletal muscle is affected by habitual exercise is not well understood. Phosphatidylinositol 3...
Role of vascular networks in extending glucose sensor function: Impact of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis on continuous glucose monitoring in vivo.

The concept of increased blood vessel (BV) density proximal to glucose sensors implanted in the interstitial tissue increases the accuracy and lifespan of sensors is accepted, despite limited existing experimental data. Interestingly, there is no previous data or even conjecture in the literature on the role of lymphatic vessels (LV) alone, or in combination with BV, in enhancing continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in vivo. To investigate the impact of inducing vascular networks (BV and LV) at sites of glucose sensor implantation, we utilized adenovirus based local gene therapy of vascular endothelial cell growth factor-A (VEGF-A) to induce vessels at sensor implantation sites. The results of these studies demonstrated that 1) VEGF-A based local gene therapy increases vascular networks (blood vessels and lymphatic vessels) at sites of glucose sensor implantation; and 2) this local increase of vascular networks enhances glucose sensor function in vivo from 7 days to greater than 28 days post sensor implantation. This data provides “proof of concept” for the effective usage of local angiogenic factor (AF) gene therapy in mammalian models in an effort to extend CGM in vivo. It also supports the practice of a variety of viral and non-viral vectors as well as gene products (e.g. anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrosis genes) to engineer “implant friendly tissues” for the usage with implantable glucose sensors as well as other implantable devices.
Oversight Capabilities in the States Are Professionalized Legislatures Better at Getting What They Want

Once legislators delegate policymaking responsibility to executive agencies, they have the ability to oversee and potentially influence the actions of these agencies. In this article, we examine, f...
Purification and sequencing of a 21 kDa and 25 kDa bovine enamel metalloproteinase

The developing enamel matrix contains metalloproteinases that are presumed to have a role in hydrolysis of enamel matrix proteins. Determination of the identity and function of these proteinases requires further information such as their amino acid composition and sequence. In this study, we purified the 21 kDa and 25 kDa matrix metalloproteinase from secretory stage bovine enamel matrix. After extraction, these proteinases were further purified by sequential separation by ion exchange. Con A affinity chromatography, and reversed phase HPLC. The proteinases were separated by SDS PAGE, transferred to a PVDF membrane and the N-terminus was sequenced. The N-terminal sequences of both proteinases were the same, and showed homology to the porcine enamelysin (MMP 20) cDNA sequence. A cDNA for bovine MMP 20 was isolated from a bovine enamel organ cDNA library using a probe generated by PCR amplification. The coding regions of bovine and porcine MMP 20 cDNAs were highly homologous and contained the same regions of predicted amino acid sequence homology with the proteinase N-terminal sequences. These results suggest that the 21 kDa and 25 kDa enamel matrix metalloproteinases are cleavage products of the initially secreted MMP 20, and that the sequence for MMP 20 is conserved across species.
Substance P Regulates Puberty Onset and Fertility in the Female Mouse

Puberty is a tightly regulated process that leads to reproductive capacity. Kiss1 neurons are crucial in this process by stimulating GnRH, yet how Kiss1 neurons are regulated remains unknown. Substance P (SP), an important neuropeptide in pain perception, induces gonadotropin release in adult mice in a kisspeptin-dependent manner. Here, we assessed whether SP, through binding to its receptor NK1R (neurokinin 1 receptor), participates in the timing of puberty onset and fertility in the mouse. We observed that 1) selective NK1R agonists induce gonadotropin release in prepubertal females; 2) the expression of Tac1 (encoding SP) and Tacr1 (NK1R) in the arcuate nucleus is maximal before puberty, suggesting increased SP tone; 3) repeated exposure to NK1R agonists prepubertally advances puberty onset; and 4) female Tac1(-/-) mice display delayed puberty; moreover, 5) SP deficiency leads to subfertility in females, showing fewer corpora lutea and antral follicles and leading to decreased litter size. Thus, our findings support a role for SP in the stimulation of gonadotropins before puberty, acting via Kiss1 neurons to stimulate GnRH release, and its involvement in the attainment of full reproductive capabilities in female mice.
Millimeter-wave propagation through a terrestrial atmosphere

At millimeter-wave frequencies, the terrestrial atmosphere is absorptive, dispersive, and inhomogeneous. Because it is inhomogeneous, rays are bent by refraction, and because it is dispersive, the amount of bending depends on the frequency. Thus the path length between two terminals depends on frequency, which means that there is an additional frequency distortion to be accounted for. The author derives an 'effective reactivity' to do such an accounting. He shows that the correction involved is rather small. >
The Rhetoric of the Economy and the Polity

The Great Recession is not the end of capitalism. An innovative economy makes mistakes, but that is not a good reason to regulate it out of its innovations. The innovations—not unions or regulation—have increased real income per head by a factor of 100 in the places that have adopted bourgeois liberty and dignity. An innovative economy is “rhetorical” because, if our economic lives are not frozen by tradition, we must persuade each other what is to be done. “Rhetoric,” of course, is the ancient word for unforced persuasion. Samuelsonian economics, which is the usual kind, ignores words, persuasion, rhetoric. Yet one quarter of national income in a modern economy is earned from “sweet talk.” Discovery, which Austrian economists like Schumpeter and Kirzner emphasize, depends on rhetoric, and the rhetoric depends on ethics. Realist political philosophy, and agency theory in business schools, miss the ethical foundations of our lives.
Manual wheeled mobility – current and future developments from the human engineering research laboratories

Medical rehabilitation and assistive technology are immersed in a world transitioning to a basis in evidence-based practice. Fortunately, there is a growing body of knowledge related to manual wheelchair mobility to form a basis for clinical decision making. The results from research studies are useful for designing better wheelchairs, fitting and training people appropriately, contributing to evidence-based-medicine and guiding future research. This review describes some of the work related to manual wheelchairs that has and is being conducted within the University of Pittsburgh and the Human Engineering Research Laboratories of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and its application.
Focus on community: directions for nursing knowledge development.

Focus on community: directions for nursing knowledge development Nurses are challenged to advance the theoretical foundations of community practice. This paper offers ideas on what has been done and what needs to be done to meet this challenge. Within a community health nursing perspective, the paper defines community, proposes an integrated knowledge development framework that focuses on community, analyses contemporary theoretical and philosophical foundations of community in nursing, considers three world-views in which nursing can be framed, and examines parameters for knowledge development for the future.
Predominant cultivable microbiota in periodontosis.

The predominant cultivable microbiota of periodontosis lesions was studied in 5 patients using a specially designed anaerobic sampling device and current anaerobic methodology. Two samples from the apical portion of periodontosis lesions and one sample from clinically normal sites were taken from each patient. The results indicated that samples obtained from pocket sites consisted of significantly increased proportions of Gram negative anaerobic rods when compared to a predominantly Gram positive flora in the control sites. Many of these organisms could not be classified. An additional 9 periodontosis patients were sampled and it was determined that groups of Gram negative anaerobic rods from similar to the first 5 patients were isolated. These organisms were differentiated into 5 groups based on morphologic, cultural, and biochemical characteristics.
Rebel Without a Cause: Approaches to a Maverick Masterwork

According to J. David Slocum, the legacy of the 1950s seminal film Rebel Without a Cause lies not only in its powerful depiction of youthful rebellion but in its affirmation of the mainstream insti...
Imaging of aortic arch anomalies and associated findings

Imaging is important in the diagnosis of aortic arch disease. Echocardiography is the test of choice. It possess minimal risk, can be performed at the bedside without sedation and provides a complete evaluation of the heart and the great vessels. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) is an alternative when echocardiography is limited by acoustic windows. It does not use ionizing radiation or nephrotoxic contrast. 3D reconstruction and soft tissue characterization are possible. cMRI evaluates physiology and may be an alternative to diagnostic catheterization. Longer scan times, need for sedation and the presence of implantable metal devices that may be a contraindication for cMRI are the main limiting factors. Computed tomography with angiography has very short scanning times, limiting the need for sedation. It has high spatial resolution and can evaluate physiology. Its use is limited because it uses radiation, has poor temporal resolution compared with cMRI and uses iodinated contrast. Catheterization is the test of choice, and can serve for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
The value of asset visibility in the supply chain single and dual source models

We investigate the value of asset visibility in two inventory ordering models. The first model is a basic single source model, and we use a previous result to show that in this case asset visibility does not reduce costs. We then generalize this model to include a second supply option and show that if decisions are made optimally and asset visibility can add value. We apply these results to an application in which random security inspections are introduced in the supply chain.
Correlation of aeroradioactivity and geology in southeastern Connecticut and adjacent New York and Rhode Island

Radioactivity patterns in southeastern Connecticut, adjacent Rhode Island, and New York closely reflect bedrock units. This relationship is not greatly affected by surficial deposits of Pleistocene age because most deposits are locally derived and bedrock outcrops are relatively abundant. Most bedrock units are medium- to high-grade metasedimentary, metavolcanic, and metaplutonic rocks that range in age from possible Precambrian to middle Paleozoic. The rest are postmetamorphic granite and pegmatite of late Paleozoic age. The area is on the west flank of an anticlinorium of granitic gneiss and subordinate metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks at a place where the anticlinorium changes trend from north to east. The Honey Hill and Lake Char faults mark a zone of low-angle faulting between the granite-gneiss terrane and stratified rocks of the Merrimack synclinorium to the north and west. The east-trending Honey Hill fault marks the southern end of the Merrimack synclinorium. Four fields denoting different levels and patterns of radioactivity coincide with major geologic provinces. The granite-gneiss terrane, which contains abundant potassic, ledge-forming granitic rocks (the Sterling Plutonic Group), coincides with a field of relatively high radioactivity, in which subordinate lows reflect outcrop areas of quartzitic rocks of the Plainfield Formation. This terrane is flanked to the west and north by layered metavolcanic rocks of mafic to intermediate composition belonging mostly to the Quinebaug Formation. These rocks coincide with a field of relatively low to moderate levels of radioactivity. The lowest level within this field is produced by the Preston Gabbro, which is at the right-angle bend in the structure. A sequence of metasedimentary schist and gneiss of the Tatnic Hill Formation, Hebron Formation, Scotland Schist, and the sill-like Canterbury Gneiss overlies the Quinebaug Formation. These rocks produce a field of moderate levels of radioactivity but have nodes of high radioactivity where pegmatite is abundant. A field of moderate intensity south of the east-trending anticlinorium of granitic gneiss coincides with layered and massive granodioritic and quartz-dioritic gneiss and subordinate amphibolite equivalent stratigraphically to the layered metavolcanic rocks north of the anticlinorium. The late metamorphic to postmetamorphic, low-angle Honey Hill and Lake Char faults, which follow the bend in the structure at the base of and within the metavolcanic rocks on the north and west sides of the anticlinorium, respectively, can be recognized only by the radiometric pattern that reflects the tectonic pinch-out of the Quinebaug Formation westward along the Honey Hill fault. A pluton of Narragansett Pier Granite of late Paleozoic age, which has associated dikes of Westerly Granite, is reflected in a sub field of high radioactivity in southern Rhode Island. Material derived from these rocks is apparently responsible for a relatively high level of radioactivity in the Charlestown moraine immediately south of the out crop area.
Training device for a double-opposing Z-plasty for cleft palate repair

Cleft palate occurs in one in every 600 births worldwide. The standard method for repairing cleft palate is the double-opposing Z-plasty. This surgery is extremely difficult to visualize as well as to perform, so proper training is certainly necessary for those hoping to practice the surgery. To improve upon the training process, Shiners Hospitals for Children requested a training device for surgical residents to practice the Z-plasty. The device accurately models the human palate and provide s a good representation of the visual and sensory conditions experienced during the surgery. The device takes into account all anatomical features of the palate and serves to represent their sizes, shapes, colors, and mechanical properties to give the residents a training device that closely simulates real -world conditions. The device is also reusable so as to provide residents with multiple chances to become acquainted with the procedure.
Impact of Voltage Mapping to Guide Whether to Perform Ablation of the Posterior Wall in Patients With Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

BACKGROUND Fibrosis as a substrate for atrial fibrillation (AF) has been shown in numerous preclinical models. Voltage mapping enables in vivo assessment of scar in the left atrium (LA), which can be targeted with catheter ablation. OBJECTIVE We hypothesized that using the presence or absence of low voltage to guide ablation beyond pulmonary vein antral isolation (PVAI) will improve atrial arrhythmia (AF/AT)-free survival in persistent AF. METHODS AND RESULTS Single-center retrospective analysis of 2 AF ablation strategies: (1) standard ablation (SA) versus (2) voltage-guided ablation (VGA). PVAI was performed in both groups. With SA, additional lesions beyond PVAI were performed at the discretion of the operator. With VGA, additional lesions to isolate the LA posterior wall were performed if voltage mapping of this region in sinus rhythm showed scar (LA voltage < 0.5 mV). AF-/AT-free endpoint was defined as no sustained AF/AT seen off antiarrhythmic medications after a 2-month postablation blanking period. Seventy-six patients underwent SA and 65 underwent VGA. Patients were well matched for comorbidities, LVEF, and left atrial size. Posterior wall ablation was performed in 57% of patient with SA compared to 42% with VGA. VGA ablation increased 1-year AF-/AT-free survival in patients when compared to SA (80% vs. 57%; P = 0.005). In a multivariate analysis, VGA was the only independent predictor of AF-/AT-free survival (hazard ratio of 0.30; P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS The presence of LA posterior wall scar may be an important ablation target in persistent AF. A prospective randomized trial is needed to confirm these data.
Creativity Map: Toward the Next Generation of Theories of Creativity

What is creativity and how should it be studied after more than 60 years of research? In this paper I call for more terminological clarity in creativity research, especially regarding the distinction between creative potential and creative behavior. The former concerns cognitive abilities and processes and personality dispositions facilitating creative expression. The latter refers to observable behavior, communicated ideas, or products that result from the interaction between individual potential and situational or cultural influences. Much research has focused on different attributes of creative potential, such as creative personality or divergent thinking abilities. I argue that future work in this area will have to specifically address domain-specific creative potential as well as the interaction between attributes of creative potential and situational or social attributes. The interaction of personal potential and social environment will determine whether creativity is expressed and how it is expressed.
Status of Commercial Net‐Pen Farming of Pacific Salmon in Puget Sound

Commercial salmon farms producing coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha) have been established at several sites within central and southern Puget Sound, Washington. From an experimental salmon farm in 1971–72 that produced 60 metric tons of pan-size fish, the industry has grown in 1973–74 to a production estimated at 350 metric tons. Although the technical feasibility of saltwater pen culture has been demonstrated, certain problems hinder a profitable operation. The major constraints are disease, availability of feeds and saltwater farm sites, institutional barriers (laws and regulations), and knowledge of saltwater hasbandry.
Examining photolysis rates with a prototype online photolysis module in CMAQ

Abstract A prototype online photolysis module has been developed for the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) modeling system. The module calculates actinic fluxes and photolysis rates (j values) at every vertical level in each of seven wavelength intervals from 291 to 850 nm, as well as the total surface irradiance and aerosol optical depth within each interval. The module incorporates updated opacity at each time step, based on changes in local ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and particle concentrations. The module is computationally efficient and requires less than 5% more central processing unit time than using the existing CMAQ “lookup” table method for calculating j values. The main focus of the work presented here is to describe the new online module as well as to highlight the differences between the effective cross sections from the lookup-table method currently being used and the updated effective cross sections from the new online approach. Comparisons of the vertical profiles for the photolysis ra...
TeamSense: Prototyping Modular Electronics Sensor Systems for Team Biometrics

Electronic sensors systems can be used to unobtrusively gather real-time measurements of human interaction and biometrics. However, developing custom sensor systems can be costly, time intensive and often requires high technical expertise in embedded mechatronic systems. We present a prototyping case study of a real world system, TeamSense, with the scenario of a manager who wishes to use embedded sensors to develop data-driven insights on team performance. Team Biometrics is a term used here to refer to a sensor system that measures some physical characteristic of a group of individuals. We explore how existing novice electronics toolkits, such as Arduino, can be used to develop a custom wireless biometric sensing network, without requiring deep technical experience, time investment, or cost. A series of functional data collection prototypes are presented, and we present lessons learned from initial testing with live deployment in a team setting. The need for more (1) modular and (2) mutable electronics and software components were discovered to be a limiting factor in allowing more experimentation in the early stages of sensor system prototyping. Modularity enables fixed functional blocks to be swapped in and out of a system (enabling combinations), and mutability allows modification of blocks to change their function (enabling mutation). We propose a future sensor platform that explores how modularity and mutability affects electronics prototyping with sensors. This work has broad implications for Designing Thinking, and importance of toolkits in reducing the barriers to entry for rapid prototyping with sensors.
News Contained a Study of Fundamentalism in the Sense Applied

Praise be to God, prayer and peace upon the Messenger of God and his family and companions and allies and after: This research study news contained in the sens e it is an applied study of the fundamentalist issues emerging due to the lack of any previous study it. The research plan included the introduction, four sections and a conclusion follows Made aware of the usefulness of the assets of Principles and the importance of research and his statement Boot in the methods of discourse commissioning The first section in the division of word to the news of the establishment of the truth of both The second topic in the definition and types of command and positive The third topic in the news contained in the sens e of what it and its significance and wisdom of the manual Section IV the impact of the news contained in the sense it in the branches of fiqh Conclusion of the most important findings I ask Allah Almighty help and guide, and may Allah bless our Prophet Muhammad and his family and him.
Improving Nutritional Quality: Nutrition Labeling

The safety, quality, and honest representation of our food supply, always subject to scrutiny, criticism, and improvement, also extends to the nutritional attributes of foods. This has been especially evident within the past decade. Since the Ten State Nutrition Survey of 1968–1970 and the 1969 and 1971 White House Conferences on Food, Nutrition and Health, a kind of nutrition awareness revolution has been growing in the United States. Terms such as “empty calories” and “junk foods,” together with increasing food costs, have had powerful influences upon consumers and have encouraged strong demands for nutritional product improvement and the communication of meaningful nutrition information, especially in the case of highly processed products. Responding to these demands and other factors to be described in this chapter, the Food and Drug Administration, in 1972 and 1973, published guidelines and requirements for what has come to be known as nutrition labeling. These followed intensive investigation and debate with and among various interest groups, and controversy continues to date.
Simultaneous Presentation of Speech and Sign Prompts to Increase MLU in Children With Intellectual Disability

Expressive language is an important skill to develop in children with intellectual disabilities. It not only aids in decreasing the likelihood of challenging behaviors from occurring but also aids in increasing the individuals independence and assistance in them becoming successful members of society. No previous studies have examined the effectiveness of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) interventions at increasing expressive language measured with mean length of utterances (MLU) in children with intellectual disabilities. The present study used an alternating treatment comparison design to evaluate the effectiveness of three communication interventions: (a) verbal imitation prompting, (b) American Sign Language prompting, and (c) simultaneous verbal imitation prompting and key word sign prompting on MLU in a 9-year-old child with intellectual disability. The study was conducted in the child’s classroom, and her teacher implemented the interventions. Results indicated simultaneous verbal a...
Effects of dietary nutrients on intestinal taurocholic acid absorption.

AbstractIn order to assess the intraluminal event that may be responsible for bile acid malabsorption in cystic fibrosis, taurocholic acid absorption was determined in the presence and absence of representative unhydrolyzed dietary nutrients in animal models. Triglyceride (corn oil) significantly reduced taurocholic acid uptake by villi isolated from hamster ileum. Likewise, when combinations of nutrients were studied, only those combinations of nutrients containing triglyceride inhibited taurocholic acid absorption. Neither starch nor albumin or a combination of these two substrates altered this process. Triglyceride also produced significant reductions in taurocholic acid absorption in perfused segments of terminal ileum of rats as determined by reduced biliary recovery of absorbed bile acid. Again, starch and albumin had no effect in vivo. These findings support an “intraluminal theory” of bile acid malabsorption in cystic fibrosis limited to only the adverse influence of unhydrolyzed lipid on this nor...
Towards an Entropy Stable Spectral Element Framework for Computational Fluid Dynamics

Entropy stable (SS) discontinuous spectral collocation formulations of any order are developed for the compressible Navier-Stokes equations on hexahedral elements. Recent progress on two complementary efforts is presented. The first effort is a generalization of previous SS spectral collocation work to extend the applicable set of points from tensor product, Legendre-Gauss-Lobatto (LGL) to tensor product Legendre-Gauss (LG) points. The LG and LGL point formulations are compared on a series of test problems. Although being more costly to implement, it is shown that the LG operators are significantly more accurate on comparable grids. Both the LGL and LG operators are of comparable efficiency and robustness, as is demonstrated using test problems for which conventional FEM techniques suffer instability. The second effort generalizes previous SS work to include the possibility of p-refinement at non-conforming interfaces. A generalization of existing entropy stability machinery is developed to accommodate the nuances of fully multi-dimensional summation-by-parts (SBP) operators. The entropy stability of the compressible Euler equations on non-conforming interfaces is demonstrated using the newly developed LG operators and multi-dimensional interface interpolation operators.
Can angiotensin II receptor blockers be used in patients who have developed a cough or angioedema as a result of taking an ACE inhibitor

The new drugs have a lower side effect profile, but caution is indicated when giving them to patients with a history of ACE inhibitor-induced angioedema.
Lifestyle and Weight Management Counseling in Uterine Cancer Survivors: A Study of the Uterine Cancer Action Network

Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences, attitudes, and preferences of uterine cancer survivors with regard to weight and lifestyle counseling. Materials and Methods Members of the US Uterine Cancer Action Network of the Foundation for Women’s Cancer were invited to complete a 45-item, Web-based survey. Standard descriptive statistical methods and χ2 tests were used to analyze responses. Results One hundred eighty (28.3%) uterine cancer survivors completed the survey. Median age was 58 years, 85% were white, and median survivorship period was 4.4 years. Most had stage I–II disease (69%) and were overweight or obese (65%). Eighty-nine percent of respondents received care by a gynecologic oncologist. Increased respondent body mass index was associated with decreased exercise frequency (P = 0.016). Only 50% of respondents underwent any weight/lifestyle counseling, with those living in the West and Southwest reporting the highest rates (70.8% and 69.2%, P = 0.011). Most who received counseling felt that discussions were motivating, performed in a sensitive manner, and did not undermine the patient–physician relationship. Specific recommendations were rarely offered; there were no reported referrals to weight loss programs or bariatric specialists, and few (6%) reported referrals to nutritionists. Respondents (85%) preferred their gynecologic oncologist address weight using direct, face-to-face counseling with specific recommendations regarding interventions and referral to specialists. Finally, self-reported overweight respondents experienced greater success with weight loss compared to those reporting obesity or morbid obesity (30.8% vs 15.8% vs 12.5%, P = 0.011). Conclusions Uterine cancer survivors reported high obesity, low activity rates, and a desire for substantive weight loss counseling from their gynecologic oncologists. Respondents suggested that current counseling practices are inadequate and incongruent with their needs. Further research to define optimal timing, interventional strategies, and specific recommendations for successful lifestyle changes in this population is warranted.
Ethnic influences on body awareness, trait anxiety, perceived risk, and breast and gynecologic cancer screening practices.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To examine ethnic influences on body awareness, trait anxiety, perceived risk, and breast and gynecologic cancer screening practices. DESIGN Descriptive, correlational secondary analysis. SETTING Urban and rural home and community populations. SAMPLE 233 women: 138 (59%) Caucasian, 37 (17%) African American, 29 (12%) Hispanic, and 29 (12%) American Indian women (X = 46.86 years) were recruited through mailings, churches, and community organizations. METHODS Structured questionnaires. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES Body awareness, trait anxiety, perceived risk, and breast and gynecologic cancer screening practices. FINDINGS Ethnicity predicted breast and gynecologic cancer screening practices (except clinical breast examination), body awareness, trait anxiety, and perceived risk. Hispanic and American Indian women reported greater breast self-examination frequency than Caucasian and African American women. Caucasian and African American women reported more mammogram use than Hispanic and American Indian women. Increased body awareness was related to fewer gynecologic exams for American Indian women. CONCLUSIONS Women of different ethnic backgrounds respond differently to breast and gynecologic cancer screening practices. The influence of psychosocial variables on these practices varied with different groups. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE Nursing interventions to increase breast and gynecologic cancer screening should be ethnic-specific, with particular attention to the meaning of body awareness to American Indian women and trait anxiety and perceived risk to African American women.
Are hypothalamic hormones central neurotransmitters

Chemical neutotransmitters share a number of properties. They are found in, synthesised by, and released from neurons. When they are released from nerves, they have specific, drug sensitive effects on target cells; and these effects are also seen when they are applied to target cells exogenously. Finally, neurotransmitters are rapidly metabolised or removed from the synaptic cleft so that their actions are brief. ‘Hypothalamic hormones’ (releasing hormones and release inhibiting hormones) have not traditionally been thought of as neurotransmitters. Although it is true that these hormones are released from nerves into the portal vessels to act on cells of the anterior and intermediate lobes of the pituitary, it is unlikely that their only sites of action are in the pituitary. Data suggesting that the hypothalamic hormones function as chemical neurotransmitters are reviewed below.
Fast and selective ring-opening polymerizations by alkoxides and thioureas

Ring-opening polymerization of lactones is a versatile approach to generate well-defined functional polyesters. Typical ring-opening catalysts are subject to a trade-off between rate and selectivity. Here we describe an effective catalytic system combining alkoxides with thioureas that catalyses rapid and selective ring-opening polymerizations. Deprotonation of thioureas by sodium, potassium or imidazolium alkoxides generates a hydrogen-bonded alcohol adduct of the thiourea anion (thioimidate). The ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide mediated by these alcohol-bonded thioimidates yields highly isotactic polylactide with fast kinetics and living polymerization behaviour, as evidenced by narrow molecular weight distributions (Mw/Mn < 1.1), chain extension experiments and minimal transesterifications. Computational studies indicate a bifunctional catalytic mechanism whereby the thioimidate activates the carbonyl of the monomer and the alcohol initiator/chain end to effect the selective ring-opening of lactones and carbonates. The high selectivity of the catalyst towards monomer propagation over transesterification is attributed to a selective activation of monomer over polymer chains. By simply deprotonating a neutral hydrogen-bond donor thiourea it is possible to generate a class of highly efficient and tunable thioimidates that can simultaneously activate a pro-nucleophile and an electrophile. These bifunctional thioimidates exhibit fast kinetics and high selectivity for ring-opening polymerizations of cyclic lactones and carbonates.
In Conclusion: What Research Is Missing for Cooperative Research Centers?

In his preface to this volume, Louis Tornatzky rightly notes that “this is the first summative amalgamation of theory-driven empirical research on the phenomenon of cooperative research centers, despite the fact that centers of this nature have been around for over 30 years(.)”
Racial disparities in the transgenerational transmission of low birthweight risk.

ABSTRACTObjective: To examine the association of maternal low birthweight (LBW) with infant LBW and infant LBW subgroups (i.e. moderate and very LBW), overall and among non-Hispanic (NH) white and ...
Evaluation of sampling techniques for gas-phase siloxanes in biogas

Abstract Biogas from landfills and wastewater treatment facilities typically contain siloxane contaminants that can cause severe operational problems in engines and boilers when biogas is used as fuel. Likely due to their relatively low volatility, reliable siloxane sampling and analysis has proven challenging, and no standard sampling technique for gas-phase siloxanes exists, leading to high variability in analytical results. This study evaluates four techniques commonly used for sampling gas-phase siloxanes. Samples of a reference gas containing decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) were taken using these techniques and measured D5 concentrations were compared to the reference gas D5 concentration. Methanol impingers and thermal desorption tubes proved to be most accurate and reliable, whereas Tedlar® bags and SUMMA canisters yielded lower D5 recovery rates due to adsorption to container surfaces. Based on these results, the methanol impinger and thermal desorption tube sampling methods appear to be more suitable for the quantitative analysis of gas-phase siloxanes in biogas.
Effect of a low intensity static magnetic field on different biological parameters that characterize the cellular stress

Low intensity static magnetic fields (SMF) modify different biological parameters that characterize the cell stress. We have initial measurements of oxidative stress (OS), mitochondrial superoxide, Ca2+ and cell and mitochondrial membrane potential. The observed variations in these parameters show decreases in cell growth, mitochondrial superoxide and OS that could explain the decrease of intracellular calcium. The decrease in intracellular calcium could explain the increase in cell membrane potential and the latter the increase in cell growth observed. We believe that modulation of these parameters using a magnetic field and the consequent modification of the rates of cell division could have important clinical implications. Additional results at larger SMF will be presented.
Treatment I: The Basic Techniques

In this first chapter devoted to clinical intervention, I focus on several promising treatment approaches that were designed to alter processes that are important in the development of conduct disorders. In keeping with the applied-science orientation to treatment, I also limit the focus to treatments that have been shown in controlled outcome studies to bring about clinically meaningful changes in the adjustment of children and adolescents with conduct disorders. Although the effectiveness of each approach has been tested in controlled outcome studies, the discussion in this chapter focuses primarily on the clinically relevant aspects of the intervention techniques rather than on the results of outcome research (see Kazdin, 1995, for a more detailed discussion of outcome research). However, there are several important findings from the outcome research that have important clinical implications.
Intracavitary use of radioactive colloidal phosphorus 32 in the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer

The use of radioactive colloidal phosphorus 32 (32P) in the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer continues to be controversial. One institution's experience with the use of 32P in 30 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer was reviewed retrospectively. One hundred percent of attempts at placement of 32P intra-abdominally were ultimately successful. The complication rate was 11%. Mean clinical (asymptomatic) disease-free survival in patients with stage III ovarian cancer was as follows: 26 months based on absence of disease at reassessment surgery; 26 months based on microscopic residuum; and 30 months based on minimal (< 5 mm) residuum. Mean disease-free survival in patients with early-stage (stages IC through IIC) ovarian cancer was 66 months.
Denting Analysis Of Ring Stiffened Cylindrical Shells

The objective of this paper is to assess the effect of ring stiffeners on the local response of cylindrical shells subjected to large deflections caused by transverse concentrated loads. A new model has been developed to account for the strengthening of the shell in the circumferential direction as the deformation zone spreads away from the load application point. The model is general and can be applied to shells with any type of stiffeners. Strains and rotations were also determined in the dent-affected zone near the stiffeners. It was found that ring stiffened shells are more susceptible to fracture than similar shells with uniform thickness.
Communication Research in the Environmental Health Sciences

The need to effectively communicate evidence-based environmental health messages to a range of stakeholders is fundamental for informed decision making about environmental risk factors. There are a range of strategies used to help communicate emerging environmental health science, but there are clear perceived drawbacks when relying on many of these approaches. For example, research findings and their environmental health implications are often communicated by scientists who focus on the accuracy and comprehensive explanations of the research rather than sensitivity to factors that will increase the acceptance of the environmental health messages. Communication efforts also are sometimes led by creative professionals who might be perceived as oversimplifying science so much that the true implications of the research are not appropriately reflected. Science journalists, often a primary source of information for lay audiences, are generally reliable interpreters of research; however, their availability and the outlets for which science journalists typically write are unlikely to maintain an ongoing focus on specific environmental health issues unless a crisis or timely news event is unfolding – and soon after their initial report on an issue, their interest wanes. While scientists, creative professionals, and journalists have an important role to play in communicating about environmental health issues, so do communication researchers.
Abstract 500: Low Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) Potentiates Obesity in Leptin Receptor Mutant Mice

Obesity aggravates type 2 diabetes and thus cardiometabolic complications. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2), a cardiac mitochondrial enzyme is known to be cardioprotective. ALDH2*2 is the most comm...
An examination of Dose Loss of Tc99m-MAA Due to Needle Cap Adsorption and Transportation

2078 Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine if the radiopharmacy should change needle caps immediately after dose draw to reduce dose loss or send their doses using luer locks instead of needle caps to reduce dose loss. Methods: A two part study of the degree of adsorption was documented with a sample size of 80 doses of 111 - 185 megabecquerel (MBq) of Tc99m-MAA using needle caps and B Braun Medical luer cap dual function male and female ends. For comparison of initial dose loss upon dose draw in the needle, 40 doses were assayed with the same needle cap used to draw up the dose, then re-assayed with a clean needle cap in which the percentage lost was calculated. Similarly, for the comparison of adhesion of luer locks and needles, 80 doses divided into two groups of 40 were drawn up and assayed, 40 with needle caps and 40 with luer locks. The doses were then re-assayed with either a new needle cap or luer lock after sitting for 1-1.5 hours and mock transported. Results: For initial dose loss during dose draw the percent lost from initial dose draw up exclusively in the needle was 6.2%. For the comparison of adhesion in the needle versus the luer lock after transport, 82.5% of the time >10% of the dose was lost in the needle. Comparatively, 22.5% of the time >10% of the dose was lost using a luer lock. Conclusions: The radiopharmacy should not change the needle cap on doses after dose draw to reduce dose loss during initial dose draw. The radiopharmacy should send their doses using luer locks rather than needle caps to reduce dose loss.
Global Citizenship Development: Effects of Study Abroad and Other Factors.

The present study examined the development of global citizenship traits in undergraduate students at a liberal arts college in Southern California. Two hundred and sixty-eight students participated in a survey that measured their global citizenship traits. Using a cross-sectional correlational design, the study examined the experience and development of the students as they strive to become global citizens. The results indicated that students face challenges and a sense of discomfort during study abroad, but their global citizenship traits tend to improve after return. Additionally, the study explored students’ perceptions of the curriculum, co-curricular activities, and campus life characteristics. The quantitative analyses suggested that the college’s mandatory study abroad program offers students an opportunity to seek their global citizenship identities.
THE ELECTROCARDIOGRAM IN NONSYSTEMIC VENTRICULAR PACING IN A PATIENT WITH CONGENITALLY CORRECTED TRANSPOSITION OF THE GREAT ARTERIES AND DEXTROCARDIA

Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (CCTGA) has a high incidence of dextrocardia and complete heart block. A 34 year-old male with CCTGA, dextrocardia, and third degree atrioventricular block status-post dual chamber pacemaker presented with acute heart failure syndrome. EKG
The Negotiation of Students’ National Identities in a Bilingual School in Honduras

With thousands of students enrolled in bilingual schools in Latin America, there are long-standing concerns regarding students’ negotiation of their national identities. Arguments have been raised ...
Complexity in the use of artificial intelligence in anatomic pathology

Abstract Over and above the characterization of an image in terms of classification labels, artificial intelligence can detect specific features within that image that contribute to an understanding of its clinical behavior. The analysis of an image can be more robust and provide more information than that which can be obtained by unaided morphological interpretation by the human eye. However, the capability is hampered by the huge annotated datasets that are required for supervised deep learning training as currently implemented. The kinds of unsupervised experiential training that occurs in humans are not currently helpful. However, there are a variety of weakly supervised strategies that allow for substantial reduction in the amount of specific annotation necessary for training. In any training regimen, care must be taken to preserve and detect information about the relationships among patterns in the data. New approaches toward this goal will also be discussed.
Early onset of cannabis use and alcohol intoxication predicts prescription drug misuse in American Indian and non-American Indian adolescents living on or near reservations.

Prescription drug misuse (PDM) is a growing issue within the American Indian (AI) population, especially in younger populations. This study estimates relationships between PDM and early initiation ...
Performance of Atrial Fibrillation Risk Prediction Models in Over 4 Million Individuals.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with increased risks of stroke and heart failure. Electronic health record (EHR)–based AF risk prediction may facilitate efficient deployment of i...
The changing risk and burden of wildfire in the United States.

Recent dramatic and deadly increases in global wildfire activity have increased attention on the causes of wildfires, their consequences, and how risk from wildfire might be mitigated. Here we bring together data on the changing risk and societal burden of wildfire in the United States. We estimate that nearly 50 million homes are currently in the wildland–urban interface in the United States, a number increasing by 1 million houses every 3 y. To illustrate how changes in wildfire activity might affect air pollution and related health outcomes, and how these linkages might guide future science and policy, we develop a statistical model that relates satellite-based fire and smoke data to information from pollution monitoring stations. Using the model, we estimate that wildfires have accounted for up to 25% of PM2.5 (particulate matter with diameter