cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Not in My Back Yard: A Comparative Analysis of Crime Around Publicly Funded Drug Treatment Centers, Liquor Stores, Convenience Stores, and Corner Stores in One Mid-Atlantic City

SafetyLit note: Although not indicated in the title or abstract, this research was conducted in the United States. OBJECTIVE: This research examined whether publicly funded drug treatment centers (DTCs) were associated with violent crime in excess of the violence happening around other commercial businesses. METHOD: Violent crime data and locations of community entities were geocoded and mapped. DTCs and other retail outlets were matched based on a Neighborhood Disadvantage score at the census tract level. Street network buffers ranging from 100 to 1,400 feet were placed around each location. Negative binomial regression models were used to estimate the relationship between the count of violent crimes and the distance from each business type. RESULTS: Compared with the mean count of violent crime around drug treatment centers, the mean count of violent crime (M = 2.87) was significantly higher around liquor stores (M = 3.98; t test; p CONCLUSIONS: Violent crime associated with drug treatment centers is similar to that associated with liquor stores and is less frequent than that associated with convenience stores and corner stores. Language: en
Vocal coordination and vocal imitation: A role for mirror neurons?

Some birds and mammals have vocal communication systems in which coordination between individuals is important. Examples would include duetting or antiphonal calling in some birds and mammals, rapid exchanges of the same vocalization, and vocal exchanges between paired individuals and other nearby pairs. Mirror neurons may play a role in such systems but become functional only after experience.
The Hubble-Shuttle Linkage and the Future of Space-Based Astronomy

When NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe announced the cancellation of Servicing Mission 4 (SM4) of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), scientists and politicians were outraged. A decision that could shorten the lifetime of this enormously successful observatory initially seems difficult to justify. However, a close examination of the history of the HST and its linkage to the Space Shuttle reveals that the decision was the right one for the future of both space-based astronomy and human spaceflight. By avoiding the pitfalls of connecting these two separate enterprises, NASA will be better able to implement the Vision for Space Exploration. Using Hubble as a case study, this paper demonstrates from a programmatic and a scientific perspective the weaknesses inherent in linking space-based astronomy to human spaceflight. Although the four servicing missions conducted so far have greatly augmented the scientific value of the HST, the telescope has encountered numerous setbacks because of its dependence on the Shuttle. Furthermore, with or without the SM4 upgrades made, Hubble will not survive long enough to serve as an adequate complement to the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). A Next-generation Hubble Space Telescope (NHST) will be needed when the JWST’s planned five-year mission ends in 2016. The cancellation of SM4 could spur the development of such a telescope. Even if efforts to service Hubble robotically are not fully successful before the telescope goes dark, robotic servicing capabilities will have been developed for the NHST and other future space telescopes. The cancellation of Hubble Servicing Mission 4 signifies the end of an unnecessary linkage between human spaceflight and space-based astronomy. By removing this dependency as soon as possible, NASA will be able to reserve the costs and risks associated with human spaceflight for those activities for which humans are best suited – the exploration and development of the inner solar system.
The separation of officials from local staff: The logic of the Empire and personnel management in the Chinese bureaucracy:

This article contrasts and examines two distinct modes of personnel management practice in the Chinese bureaucracy: (1) the historical pattern of the separation of officials from local staff (guanli fentu); (2) the contemporary pattern of stratified mobility (cengji fenliu) among officials across levels of administrative jurisdiction. I argue that these two patterns, albeit distinct, have been rooted in the same institutional logic of governance in China, which is discussed and explicated in light of ‘the logic of the Chinese Empire’, especially in terms of the principal–agent problems associated with the scale of governance, the complementary roles of formal and informal institutions, and the shift between symbolic and substantive authority in central–local government relationships. The personnel management practices and the resulting mobility patterns have provided stable institutional bases for central-local government relationships, and they have set limits to the downward reach of the state and the u...
Energetics of Great Egrets Foraging in Upland Agricultural Fields

I examined the foraging and diet energetics of the Great Egret across an upland landscape to compare relative costs and benefits associated with commensal, non-commensal, solitary and group foraging strategies. Across strategies, Great Egrets used a combination of different foraging modes. Net energetic gains and costs differed across strategies. Foraging costs were lower for solitary egrets, mainly as a result of decreased foraging times and lower aggression and relocation frequencies. Solitary egrets likely suffered unmeasured costs from territoriality, expensive capture efforts and handling larger prey. Group foragers accumulated higher costs due to having longer foraging times, and higher pursuit, relocation and aggression frequencies. Commensal foragers had lower overall costs in comparison to solitary and group foragers. When ranked by energetic cost-benefit ratio, solitary foraging was the most efficient strategy and group foraging strategies were the least efficient. The overall benefits from prof...
Bronchial epithelial cells release chemoattractant activity for monocytes

Lung macrophages are monocyte-derived cells that play a central and essential part in local immunity. Because the bronchial epithelial cells that line the airway can modulate their local cellular environment by releasing chemotactic factors for neutrophils, lymphocytes, and fibroblasts, we postulated that the bronchial epithelial cells might release chemotactic activity for monocytes. To test this hypothesis, bovine bronchial epithelial cells were isolated and cultured. The supernatant fluids were collected at 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h and evaluated for monocyte chemotactic activity, using a blind-well chamber technique. The supernatant fluids possessed significantly greater chemotactic activity than medium alone, with optimal migration contained in supernatant fluids harvested at 72 h (5.8 +/- 2.3 vs. 39.8 +/- 2.8 cells/high-power field, P less than 0.001). Partial characterization of the released monocyte chemotactic activity revealed that the cells released a low-molecular-weight lipid-soluble chemotactic factor after 24 h in culture, but in contrast, a high-molecular-weight protein chemokinetic factor was released after 72 h in culture. These findings suggest that bronchial epithelial cells may release chemotactic activity for, and thus may modulate the recruitment of, monocytes into bronchial passages.
Introduction to Carbon Materials Research

A brief historical review of carbon nanotube research is presented and some basic definitions relevant to the structure and properties of carbon nanotubes are provided.
GSK-3 inhibition overcomes chemoresistance in human breast cancer

Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β (GSK-3β), a serine/threonine protein kinase, is an emerging therapeutic target in the treatment of human breast cancer. In this study, we demonstrate that the pharmacological inhibition of GSK-3 by two novel small molecule GSK-3 inhibitors, 9-ING-41 and 9-ING-87, reduced the viability of breast cancer cells but had little effect on non-tumorigenic cell growth. Moreover, treatment with 9-ING-41 enhanced the antitumor effect of irinotecan (CPT-11) against breast cancer cells in vitro. We next established two patient-derived xenograft tumor models (BC-1 and BC-2) from metastatic pleural effusions obtained from patients with progressive, chemorefractory breast cancer and demonstrated that 9-ING-41 also potentiated the effect of the chemotherapeutic drug CPT-11 in vivo, leading to regression of established BC-1 and BC-2 tumors in mice. Our results suggest that the inhibition of GSK-3 is a promising therapeutic approach to overcome chemoresistance in human breast cancer, and identify the GSK-3 inhibitor 9-ING-41 as a candidate targeted agent for metastatic breast cancer therapy.
Population Growth and the Take-off Hypothesis

Like Pirandello’s ‘Six Characters in Search of an Author’ Professor Rostow has given us an interesting historical hypothesis in search of a theory.1 While this quip exaggerates the case, since the Economic Journal (1956) articles do have many statements about economic behaviour, nevertheless, I believe it is correct if we interpret ‘theory’ in a narrow sense. The central hypothesis, and this is all that I shall be concerned with in this paper, is that at some point in a country’s development events may occur that will considerably speed up its rate of growth, and that when this persists for two or three decades 2 the country then enters a stage of self-sustained growth. This hypothesis is worth considering on many grounds, not the least of which is that Rostow has succeeded in clothing it in a language that gives his hypothesis great suggestive and evocative power.
Atrial Fibrillation Research in the Observation Unit and the Emergency Department

Atrial fibrillation is a frequent arrhythmia seen in the emergency department (ED). The focus in this chapter is to describe the recent literature regarding Afib and issues the researchers face when studying Afib in the ED and observation unit (OU). One major area of study has been the use of cardiac troponin, which has been found to be a sensitive test that helps predict morbidity and mortality in Afib patients seen in the ED. It is commonly used to help ED providers risk stratify patients for disposition, with troponin-positive patients often being admitted. Another area of research is the use of cardioversion in the ED (electrical or pharmacological), which is used in some parts of the world in EDs and OUs. There is also evidence examining rate control in ED Afib patients, focusing on calcium channel versus beta-blockers: limited studies suggest that calcium channel blockers are more effective in rate control. In addition, the ED may be a setting where patients at risk for stroke can be assessed and, if they are not on appropriate anticoagulant prophylaxis, can be referred to their primary care physician or cardiologist. Finally, recent work in clinical decision rules can help disposition planning by risk stratifying patients with Afib. Overall, emergency physician researchers have performed several studies on Afib but numerous questions remain.
Active 2D and carbon-based materials: physics and devices(Conference Presentation)

In nanophotonics we create material-systems, which are structured at length scales smaller than the wavelength of light. When light propagates inside such effective materials numerous novel physics phenomena emerge including thresholdless lasing, atto-joule per bit efficient modulators, and exciton-polariton effects. However, in order to make use of these opportunities, synergistic device designs have to be applied to include materials, electric and photonic constrains - all at the nanoscale. In this talk, I present our recent progress in exploring 2D and TCO materials for active optoelectronics. I highlight nanoscale device demonstrations including their physical operation principle and performance benchmarks. Details include epsilon-bear-zero tuning of thin-film ITO, Graphene electro-static gating via Pauli-blocking, plasmonic electro-optic modulation, and hetero-integrated III-V and carbon-based plasmon lasers on Silicon photonics.
Mate Searching Animals as Model Systems for Understanding Perceptual Grouping

A critical component of communication in humans and nonhuman animals is the ability to group signals so that they can be assigned to their correct sources. This is especially true for mate choice behavior, as incorrect stimulus grouping could lead to inaccurate evaluation of signalers by receivers, ultimately resulting in costly mate choice decisions . Sexual signals are often complex, consisting of components that vary in several physical parameters and across sensory modalities. Thus, the mate choice behavior of receivers is well suited for psychophysical tests of the limits and mechanisms of perceptual grouping both within and across sensory modalities. This chapter examines perceptual grouping in comparative models of mate choice behavior. We focus primarily on mate attraction in frogs, reviewing first the effects of spectral, temporal, and spatial parameters on sequential and simultaneous auditory grouping. We then review research on cross-modal perceptual grouping of frog visual and acoustic signals, a perceptual ability analogous to that of grouping human speech with its coincident mouth movements. In addition, we suggest that data from comparative models are not only useful for understanding signal processing in animal communication but also for potentially understanding the fundamental mechanisms receivers use to sort complex signals across all taxa and how such mechanisms may evolve.
Dimensions of self-selected leisure activities, trait coping and their relationships with sleep quality and depressive symptoms

Although leisure is presumed to be beneficial, certain profiles of leisure may be especially good. This paper tests whether dimensions of self-selected leisure activities (SSLAs) differentially rel...
Parallels between writing biographies and clinical practice

Parallels between Writing Biographies and Clinical Practice (Urdang, 2014) compares the processes of writing biographies and clinical social work, focusing on issues of representation, relationship...
Bringing minimal routing back to HPC through silicon photonics: a study of "flexfly" architectures with the structural simulation toolkit (SST)

In system-level interconnects for high-performance computing (HPC), low-diameter hierarchical topologies like dragonfly are gaining in popularity. The topologies require adaptive routing schemes for high performance, but using non-minimal paths can stress the long-distance inter-group links that are the most expensive and scarce network resource.Âa We introduce "FlexflyâAIJ, a network design incorporating optical switches that steers bandwidth onto minimal paths instead of diverting packets, alleviating contention. Performance results and the simulation methodology using the Structural Simulation Toolkit (SST) are introduced.
Potential Roles of Antiphospholipid Antibodies in Generating Platelet-C4d in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Premature, accelerated onset of atherothrombotic disease is prevalent in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Most, if not all, atherothrombotic diseases are likely to involve platelets and complement. Previously, we discovered that platelets bearing complement activation product C4d (P-C4d) are present in SLE patients, and are significantly associated with antiphospholipid (aPL) antibody positivity and stroke in SLE patients. The goal of the present study was to further elucidate the role of aPL and other platelet-reactive autoantibodies in the generation of P-C4d. To determine the association between P-C4d and aPL antibodies, the serum levels of aPL antibodies and P-C4d of 180 SLE patients were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassays and flow cytometry, respectively. To investigate the role of aPL antibodies, and possibly other autoantibodies as well, in mediating the generation of P-C4d, in vitro 2-step P-C4d induction experiments were performed. The results showed that the presence and levels of aPL antibodies in the serum were specifically elevated in SLE patients with positive P-C4d. The plasma and immunoglobulins purified from SLE patients who were positive for P-C4d and aPL were capable of inducing C4d deposition on normal platelets in vitro. The capacity of SLE plasma in inducing P-C4d appeared to correlate proportionately to the serum aPL levels. Collectively, the results demonstrate that both aPL and other platelet-reactive autoantibodies may participate in mediating the generation of P-C4d in SLE patients.
Dual-Channel, Molecular-Sieving Core/Shell ZIF@MOF Architectures as Engineered Fillers in Hybrid Membranes for Highly Selective CO2 Separation

A novel core/shell porous crystalline structure was prepared using a large pore metal organic framework (MOF, UiO-66-NH2, pore size, ∼ 0.6 nm) as core surrounded by a small pore zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF, ZIF-8, pore size, ∼ 0.4 nm) through a layer-by-layer deposition method and subsequently used as an engineered filler to construct hybrid polysulfone (PSF) membranes for CO2 capture. Compared to traditional fillers utilizing only one type of porous material with rigid channels (either large or small), our custom designed core/shell fillers possess clear advantages via pore engineering: the large internal channels of the UiO-66-NH2 MOFs create molecular highways to accelerate molecular transport through the membrane, while the thin shells with small pores (ZIF-8) or even smaller pores generated at the interface by the imperfect registry between the overlapping pores of ZIF and MOF enhance molecular sieving thus serving to distinguish slightly larger N2 molecules (kinetic diameter, 0.364 nm) from ...
Efficient evaluation of the effects of manufacturing tolerances on VED performance

We demonstrate a practical numerical method for the evaluation of the effects of fabrication tolerances on the steady-state performance of any vacuum electronic device (VED) that consists of a circuit interacting with a linear beam through a series of gaps. The success of the method is a consequence of the Hamiltonian form of the equations that govern the beam-circuit interaction, which implies the conservation of phase space volume. Using this property of the system we have derived a simple expression for the perturbed output voltage resulting from any small perturbation of the circuit, in terms of an adjoint solution to the linearized equations. We show that once the adjoint solution is obtained using a simulation code, it may be used to evaluate the effects of any perturbation of the circuit without additional simulations. The adjoint solution therefore acts like a type of Green's function for manufacturing tolerances. The method applies to small or large signal operation of standing and traveling wave devices using either single or multiple round or sheet beams.
Een Patiënt Met Lichen Planus

De vraag die mij gesteld werd was simpel: ‘Ik heb een nieuwe patient met lichen planus. Waarmee moet ik rekening houden?’
Pheromone and Host Odor Perception in Bark Beetles

In recent years, there has been considerable interest in olfactory perception in insects. This has primarily been because of the identification of pheromones. However, more recently the interest in olfactory perception results from investigations on the potential use of behavioral chemicals in pest management. In this light, bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) are unique and challenging subjects for study.
Neurodevelopmental outcomes following necrotizing enterocolitis

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a gastrointestinal emergency predominantly affecting premature infants, is associated with increased risk for poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. NEC often strikes during a period of rapid and dynamic neurologic development when the brain is particularly vulnerable to insults and nutrient deficits. The pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental impairment following NEC is likely multifactorial, with both nutritional and non-nutritional factors at play. Follow-up testing that ensures early detection and intervention for impairments is crucial to optimize neurodevelopmental outcomes following NEC. A multifaceted approach to follow-up after NEC is necessary, with close monitoring of growth, serial developmental assessments, neurologic examinations, hearing and vision testing and neuroimaging. Further research is needed to understand the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental impairment following NEC, to identify more targeted follow-up tests, and to discover interventions aimed at optimizing neurodevelopmental outcomes following NEC.
An Investigation on the Effects of Cellulose Nanofibrils on the Performance of Cement Paste and Concrete

Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) have the potential to enhance cement and concrete properties because of the way they change both how water is distributed during mixing and how they modify the hydration process. In this work, the effects of CNFs on certain properties of cement paste and concrete were investigated. For the cement paste, workability, shrinkage properties, and compressive strength were investigated. In the cement paste study, 32 batches with variable CNF concentrations in 4 groups with different water-to-cement (w/c) ratios (0.35, 0.40, 0.45, and 0.50) were prepared and tested. Two rheological tests were performed; one used an ammeter to measure torque versus rotational speed, and a second used a standard flow table. Both tests showed a decrease in the workability of cement pastes that was due to the increase in CNF volume for all pastes, which suggests that CNF retains mix water in the fresh state. Thus, the water held in the CNF is not available during initial mixing of the cement paste. The results of the free shrinkage tests for all 32 cement pastes were collected for up to 90 days. Additional results showed that at a low w/c ratio (0.35), adding a small quantity of CNF (0.05 %) can reduce free shrinkage by 13 %. In compressive strength tests, a small dosage of CNF (0.05 %) improved compressive strength (up to 28 %), but higher dosages reduced strength. Results suggest that CNF has a good potential to be considered as a new natural plant-based internal curing agent in cement paste and concrete. For the concrete specimens, the primary focus was on workability effects and compressive strength. In the concrete study, twelve batches with different CNF volumes were prepared, and the corresponding slump results were measured. Results showed that to preserve the slump values, extra water content of 5–8 % should be added for every 0.1 % of CNF incorporated in the concrete mixture. Based on compressive strength tests, it has been shown that CNF is the weakest link in concrete microstructures and controls the compressive strength.
The genus allium. Part 2

Allium is a genus of some 500 species belonging to the family Liliaceae. However only a few of these are important as food plants, notably onion, garlic, chive, leek, and rakkyo. Such plants have been used for many centuries for the pungency and flavoring value, for their medicinal properties, and, in some parts of the world, their use also has religious connotations. The flavors of members of the genus Alliums, in addition to having certain characteristics, are also complex, being derived enzymically from a number of involatile precursors. In addition to there being variation of flavor between different alliums, there are also considerable changes that occur as a result of cooking and processing. Of course, these are of importance to the consumer and food technologist-processor. The review will introduce the subject by an historical perspective and will set this against data on the present cultivation and usage of commercially cultivated alliums. The chemical composition of these plants will be discussed, emphasis being given to nonvolatile constituents which are, perhaps, less often considered. Discussion of the volatile constituents, which will include mention of the methods currently used for their analysis and for the determination of "flavor strength", will be mainly concerned with literature taken from the last 5 years. In considering the extent and nature of allium cultivation and processing, factors affecting the nutritional value and quality will be highlighted. The medicinal properties of garlic and onion oils have been much studied over the last decade and the review will include critical assessment of this area and also will touch on the more general properties (antimicrobial, antifungal, antibacterial, and insecticidal) of these oils. Finally mention will be made of the antinutritional, toxic, or otherwise undesirable effects of alliums, for example, as inadvertent components of animal diets, tainting of milk and other food products. It is our intention to review the literature up to mid-1984.
Why public health needs GIS: a methodological overview

The short paper provides an overview on how geographic issues have become increasingly relevant to public health research and policy, particularly through the lens of geographic information systems (GIS). It covers six themes with an emphasis on methodological issues. (1) Our health-related behavior varies across geographic settings, so should public health policy. (2) Facilities (supply) and patients (demand) in a health care market interact with each other across geopolitical borders, and measures of health care accessibility need to capture that. (3) Our health outcome is the result of joint effects of individual attributes and neighborhood characteristics, and an adequate definition of neighborhood is critical for assessing neighborhood effect. (4) Disease rates in areas of small population are unreliable, and one effective way to mitigate the problem is to construct a larger, internally-homogenous and comparable area unit. (5) Defining a scientific geographic unit for health care market is critical for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers to evaluate health care delivery, and GIS enables us to define the unit (e.g., primary care service areas, hospital service areas, and cancer service areas) automatically, efficiently and optimally. (6) Aside from various optimization objectives around "efficiency", it is as important to plan the location and allocation of health care resources toward maximum equality in health care access. Case studies are cited to illustrate each theme.
Increasing Information Seeking About Antibiotic Risks: Testing a Clinical Intervention Message Using the Risk Information Seeking and Processing Model

We employed the risk information seeking and processing (RISP) model to inform the design of antibiotic stewardship messages aiming at influencing intentions to seek or avoid antibiotic risk inform...
'Were I but a man as others are': Secrecy and Gender on the Renaissance Stage

Ben Jonson’s play Epicoene and William Heminge’s play The Fatal Contract both feature metacommentary on the nature of acting. In both texts, the main character is disguised as a member of the opposite gender, even to the audience, for all but the last few lines of the play. In Epicoene , the boy Epicoene serves as a boy-bride, leading to a satirical endpoint of revelation. The Fatal Contract stars the woman Chrotilda, dressed as a eunuch in order to enact her revenge. Both plays therefore present in-play acting along specifically gendered lines, representing the feigning of a woman, and a woman feigning. In doing so, they respond to the complex discussion surrounding both gender and acting, linking the subversive potential of female disguise with other gender-specific evils. This response is not clean or straightforward, with both plays presenting both threats and seductive potentials. Further complicating the discussion is the genre of each play, which imposes additional gender and disguise expectations on the characters. In this paper, I argue that these two plays help to illuminate a metatextual perspective on female acting, with gender and genre expectations fulfilled in order to contain subversive potential. Ultimately, however, both plays and disguised characters defy clean or safe classification.
Rethinking the Senate

This Essay is a lightly edited version of remarks at the Federalist Society's Panel, "The Proper Role of the Senate," held virtually on March 14, 2020, and in dialogue with Judge Raymond Kethledge, Amada H. Neely, and Professors Sandy Levinson and John Yoo.
Gut Microbiome and Liver Cancer

Liver cancer is a major cause of cancer-related death, and its incidence keeps rising. The liver is exposed to gut microbial products and metabolites via portal blood and influenced by the gut microbiome. Alteration of the gut microbiome is commonly observed in high-risk factors for liver cancer such as obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and cirrhosis. The association between dysbiosis and liver cancer has been suggested. Importantly, animal studies provide direct evidence that the gut microbiome promotes liver cancer. The current knowledge of the gut microbiome’s contribution to liver cancer and the reported mechanisms will be reviewed in this chapter.
Proton Transfer in a Bare Superacid-Amine Complex: A Microwave and Computational Study of Trimethylammonium Triflate.

The complex formed from trimethylamine ((CH3)3N) and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (triflic acid, CF3SO3H) has been observed by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy in a supersonic jet. Spectroscopic data, most notably 14N nuclear quadrupole coupling constants, are combined with computational results at several levels of theory to unambiguously demonstrate complete or near-complete proton transfer from the triflic acid to the trimethylamine upon complexation. Thus, the system is best regarded as a trimethylammonium triflate ion pair in the gas phase. The formation of an isolated ion pair in a 1:1 complex of a Bronsted acid and base is unusual and likely arises due to the strong acidity of triflic acid. Simple energetic arguments based on proton affinities and the Coulomb interaction energy can be used to rationalize this result.
Chapter 13 – Laser Applications in Material Processing

Material processing refers to a variety of industrial operations in which the laser operates on a workpiece to modify it. Few of its applications include: welding, hole drilling, cutting, trimming of electronic components, heat treating, and alloying. There are various properties of laser light that enable the material processing applications. These properties include collimation, radiance, and focusability, and aid in concentrating the laser light by a lens for achieving extremely high irradiance at the surface of the workpiece. Thus, lasers can be used for precision processing. They produce very large heating rates in the affected volume. This leads to small heat-affected zones, and makes laser processing advantageous when one desires to affect only a localized region. In a laser material processing operation, the lens must be protected from the material vaporized from the workpiece. Any debris splattered back on the lens can quickly damage the lens, requiring costly replacement.
A new risk scheme to predict warfarin-associated hemorrhage: The ATRIA (Anticoagulation and Risk Factors in Atrial Fibrillation) Study.

Objectives The purpose of this study was to develop a risk stratification score to predict warfarin-associated hemorrhage. Background Optimal decision making regarding warfarin use for atrial fibrillation requires estimation of hemorrhage risk. Methods We followed up 9,186 patients with atrial fibrillation contributing 32,888 person-years of follow-up on warfarin, obtaining data from clinical databases and validating hemorrhage events using medical record review. We used Cox regression models to develop a hemorrhage risk stratification score, selecting candidate variables using bootstrapping approaches. The final model was internally validated by split-sample testing and compared with 6 published hemorrhage risk schemes. Results We observed 461 first major hemorrhages during follow-up (1.4% annually). Five independent variables were included in the final model and weighted by regression coefficients: anemia (3 points), severe renal disease (e.g., glomerular filtration rate <30 ml/min or dialysis-dependent, 3 points), age ≥75 years (2 points), prior bleeding (1 point), and hypertension (1 point). Major hemorrhage rates ranged from 0.4% (0 points) to 17.3% per year (10 points). Collapsed into a 3-category risk score, major hemorrhage rates were 0.8% for low risk (0 to 3 points), 2.6% for intermediate risk (4 points), and 5.8% for high risk (5 to 10 points). The c -index for the continuous risk score was 0.74 and 0.69 for the 3-category score, higher than in the other risk schemes. There was net reclassification improvement versus all 6 comparators (from 27% to 56%). Conclusions A simple 5-variable risk score was effective in quantifying the risk of warfarin-associated hemorrhage in a large community-based cohort of patients with atrial fibrillation.
The American Congress

1. The American Congress: modern trends 2. Representation and lawmaking in Congress: the constitutional and historical context 3. Congressional elections and policy alignments 4. Members, goals, resources, and strategies 5. Parties and leaders 6. The standing committees 7. The rules of the legislative game 8. The floor and voting 9. Congress and the president 10. Congress and the courts 11. Congress, lobbyists, and interest groups 12. Congress and budget politics.
Pentose pathway of glucose metabolism in isolated granular pneumocytes. Metabolic regulation and stimulation by paraquat.

Abstract Activity of the pentose phosphate pathway of glucose metabolism was measured in isolated granular pneumocytes under a variety of metabolic conditions known to alter this pathway in intact lungs. Granular pneumocytes were isolated by trypsinization of rat lungs and maintained in primary culture for 24 hr before use. Cells were incubated for 1 hr at 37° with 5.5 mM glucose specifically labeled as 1- 14 C, 6- 14 C, U- 14 C, or 5- 3 H for determination of glucose utilization, pentose cycle activity, and partition of CO 2 production between mitochondrial and pentose pathways. With control cells, total glucose utilization was 111 ± 4.8 nmoles · hr −1 · (10 6 cells) −1 (mean ± S.E., N = 19), and 2.2% was metabolized by the pentose cycle. Pentose cycle CO 2 production was 7.3 nmoles · hr −1 · (10 6 cells) −1 representing 34% of total CO 2 production. Dinitrophenol (50μM) stimulated mitochondrial CO 2 production 5-fold but had no effect on the pentose cycle activity. Phenazine methosulfate (5 μM) had no effect on mitochondrial activity but stimulated pentose cycle activity 15-fold. Antimycin A (0.4 μg/ ml) markedly inhibited both pathways. After a 30-min preincubation with paraquat (3 mM), the pentose cycle CO 2 production increased to 107 nmoles · hr −1 · (10 6 cellls) −1 accounting for 39.6% of glucose utilization and 88.4% of CO 2 production. Mitochondrial CO 2 production was unchanged with paraquat. These studies demonstrate that the pentose cycle in resting granular pneumocytes accounts for a major fraction of the CO 2 production from glucose and that activity of this pathway is regulated by the utilization of cytoplasmic reducing equivalents. Paraquat produces marked stimulation of pentose cycle activity in granular pneumocytes, resulting in maximal utilization of cytoplasmic NADPH.
Tracheal stenosis following cuffed tube tracheostomy. Anatomical variation and selected treatment.

Abstract Tracheal stenosis resulting from tracheostomy and the use of cuffed tracheal tubes has been treated by either endobronchial or cervical sleeve resection in 6 patients. Three patients had an obstructing thin, transverse membrane or a granuloma with only mild cartilaginous distortion that permitted resection through a bronchoscope. The remaining 3 patients required segmental resection up to 4 cm. in length. The only recurrence was in a patient with a subglottic deformity involving the cricoid cartilage that limited the completeness of resection. The bronchoscopic approach is effective for patients carefully selected by laminagraphy and endoscopic evaluation.
Frailty: A Common Pathway in Aging and Cancer

The construct of frailty is germane to that of aging, but a clinical definition of frailty is still wanted. In the geriatric literature, frailty has been conceived in two different ways. The first one is a threshold beyond which the functional reserve of a person is critically reduced and the tolerance of stress negligible. The second is as a progressive reduction of functional reserve due to a progressive accumulation of deficit. In this construct it may be hard to distinguish frailty from aging. Neither concept has at present a clear application in the management of older cancer patients. Studies are needed to establish whether the construct of frailty proposed by Fried et al. may be predictive of decreased cancer-independent survival and of decreased treatment tolerance in older cancer patients.
Fatty liver associated with administration of tetracycline in pregnant and nonpregnant women

Abstract 1. Administration of tetracycline in certain circumstances during pregnancy may create a clinicopathologic picture similar to or identical with acute fatty metamorphosis of the liver in pregnancy. 2. Acute fatty metamorphosis of the liver may occur also in the nonpregnant state, under certain conditions, in association with administration of tetracycline. 3. Renal failure is an important part of the clinical picture and is secondary to the acute fatty liver: pancreatitis may also be part of this syndrome. 4. Hepatic biopsy is essential to the diagnosis. 5. The reversibility of the syndrome depends on early suspicion and diagnosis.
Ethics and Statistics: They'd Rather Be Rigorous Than Right

Most of this particular column will be devoted to a scientific controversy that does not have a direct ethical dimension. The ethics question will come up at the end, when I argue that there are sy...
Fellow Scholars: Let’s Liberate Ourselves from Scientific Machinery

In science, a well-oiled machinery exists that can be used to obtain research funding, to create information for data analysis, and to publish results. Innovation does take place. However, there exist basic assumptions, beliefs, and convictions that are neither questioned nor reconsidered, but can confine innovation within the frame provided. In this article, two examples are given to encourage researchers to reconsider these quasi-factual assumptions. The first example is that of person-oriented research. Results of person-oriented research allow researchers to validly describe both individuals and aggregates, and, therefore, devise intervention plans that are more likely to succeed. The second example is that of causality. New statistical methods to evaluate causal hypotheses allow one to make decisions about causal processes that, before the development of these methods, were impossible to justify statistically. Both examples show that reconsidering commonly held beliefs can result in most useful and a...
Colonization of Disturbed Trees by the Southern Pine Bark Beetle Guild (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

The southern pine bark beetle guild [ Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann, D. terebrans (Olivier), Ips calligraphus (Germar), I. grandicollis (Eichhoff), and I. avulsus (Eichhoff)] uses disturbed hosts as habitat for establishment of within-tree populations. We examined the process of colonization of disturbed hosts. Using a procedure designed to emulate effects of a lightning strike, pines were severely disturbed. Response was characterized by measuring beetle populations that (1) arrived at the trees and (2) successfully attacked the trees. Establishment of within-tree populations was characterized by measuring length of egg gallery excavated by attacking adults. The time delay between arrival and attack for D. frontalis and I. calligraphus was also calculated. Attack densities of both species became asymptotic as arrival increased. The percentage of arriving beetles that attacked ranged from 9 to 41 for D. frontalis and from 8 to 59 for I. calligraphus . Numbers of beetles that arrived at the tree but did not attack ranged from 2.7 to 50.2 beetles per dm2 for D. frontalis and from 0.2 to 10.0 beetles per dm2 for I. calligraphus . Most D. frontalis and I. calligraphus attacked on the day they arrived. The delay between arrival and attack was longer for I. calligraphus than for D. frontalis . Egg gallery excavated by D. frontalis increased throughout the study. Eventually, the Ips species were excluded from the lower half of the bole. The low attack densities observed in this study illustrate the significance of disturbed trees in providing refuges for enzootic levels of bark beetles. The aggregation behavior of beetle populations colonizing disturbed hosts supported the contention that these trees serve as foci for initiation of infestations. Furthermore, in disturbed pines, small numbers of beetles were capable of overcoming host defense systems.
THE EFFECT OF DAILY HETERO-PITUITAEY IMPLANTS INTO ADULT BUT SEXUALLY INACTIVE MALE GROUND SQUIRRELS*

While extensive work has been done with, pituitary implants in female rats and mice very little has been published on the male mammal. In contrast with the great follicular development in the ovary there has been little change reported in the histology of the testis after pituitary implants. Smith and Engle (1) showed an increased size of the male reproductive organs exclusive of the testes in young rats and mice but in adnlt male rats no effect of implants was seen. Pituitary implantation into ground squirrels was begun in this laboratory in 1929 and has continued to 1932 in both sexes and to 1933 in the male. In 1931 Johnson and Wade (2) reported a change from primary spermatocyte spireme stages to actively dividing spermatocyte divisions and spermatids as a result of eight daily implants of rat pituitaries into each of two males. Microphotographs showed these changes and indicated an increase in size of the tubules. A procedure of taking a sample of one testis before the implants were made was describe...
X-ray contrast media: where are we now, and where are we going?

The U.S. market for x-ray contrast media (XCM) has grown from $103,000,000 in 1985 to approximately +f41 billion today. The increase in market size represents a moderate increase in number of procedures (5% to 7% per year) and a large increase in the cost per milliliter of solution. The number of XCM available continues to increase, and three are currently in clinical trials in the United States. Clinically significant increases in either efficacy or safety are unlikely with these agents; however, increased competition may cause some slight erosion in the price per milliliter. The development of new XCM focuses on strategies to target different distribution spaces and new or simplified syntheses.
Lower initial dose desoxycorticosterone pivalate for treatment of canine primary hypoadrenocorticism

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of initial doses of desoxycorticosterone pivalate (DOCP) that are lower and less expensive than the presently recommended initial dose of 2.2 mg/kg for treating dogs with primary hypoadrenocorticism. Methods A retrospective study was performed on 49 dogs with primary hypoadrenocorticism, including 36 with initial DOCP doses less than 2.2 mg/kg. Medical records were reviewed for clinical data. All study dogs were followed up with telephone calls to owners or veterinarians to determine the date of death or last follow-up. Data were analysed to investigate relationships between initial DOCP dose and survival and serum Na, K and their ratio. Results Regardless of their initial DOCP dose, none of the dogs developed uncontrolled hypoadrenocorticism or severe electrolyte abnormalities or clinical problems that would have made an increase in the DOCP dose necessary. Over time, most dogs had a decrease in their DOCP dose in mg/kg, because of weight gain during treatment. No statistically significant relationships were found between initial DOCP dose and survival or post-treatment serum Na, K or Na : K, with the exception of one statistically significant result that suggested lower efficacy for higher doses. Conclusion Initial DOCP doses less than 2.2 mg/kg may be effective in controlling serum electrolyte concentrations in dogs with primary hypoadrenocorticism without adversely affecting survival. If confirmed by additional research, these findings would enable practitioners to reduce the cost of DOCP treatment by using lower initial doses, potentially saving the lives of dogs that would otherwise be euthanased because of treatment expense.
Syntheses and reactions of halogenated pentacyclo[5.5.0.02,6.03,10.05,9]dodec-11-enes

Abstract Procedures for converting pentacyclo[5.5.0.02,6.03,10.05,9]dodecan-11-one (4) into 11-Br and 11-Cl substituted pentacyclo[5.5.0.02,6.03,10.05,9]dodec-11-enes (i.e., 8a and 8b, respectively) are described. In addition, cage ketone 4 was converted into the corresponding α,α′-dibromo derivative, 10, which subsequently was reacted sequentially with H2N-NH2 and methanolic CuBr2-NEt3, thereby affording 11,12-dibromopentacyclo[5.5.0.02,6.03,10.05,9]dodec-11-ene (12). Reaction of 8a with Br2 under a variety of experimental conditions led to the isolation and characterization of 11,11,12-tribromopentacyclo[5.5.0.02,6.03,10.05,9]dodecane (7), 12, and 2,exo-3,exo-12-tribromopentacyclo[7.3.0.02,7.04,11.06,10]dodecane (13). Similarly, reaction of 8b with Br2 under a variety of experimental conditions led to the isolation and characterization of exo-11-chloro-enao-11,exo-12-dibromopentacyclo[5.5.0.02,6.03,10.05,9]dodecane (14), 2-chloro-exo-3,exo-12-dibromopentacyclo[7.3.0.02,7.04,11.06,10]dodecane (15), and 11-chloro-12-bromopentacyclo[5.5.0.02,6.03,10.05,9]dodec-11-ene (16). Finally, sequential reaction of pentacyclo[5.5.0.02,6.03,10.05,9]dodecan-12-one (9) with H2N-NH2 and methanolic CuBr2-NEt3 afforded exo-7,8-dibromopentacyclo[6.6.0.02,6.03,11.05,10]dodecane (18). The structures of 13 and 18 were established unequivocally via application of X-ray crystallographic methods.
Asymmetry of Reinforcement and Punishment in Human Choice

The hypothesis that a penny lost is valued more highly than a penny earned was tested in human choice. Five participants clicked a computer mouse under concurrent variable-interval schedules of monetary reinforcement. In the no-punishment condition, the schedules arranged monetary gain. In the punishment conditions, a schedule of monetary loss was superimposed on one response alternative. Deviations from generalized matching using the free parameters c (sensitivity to reinforcement) and log k (bias) were compared in the no-punishment and punishment conditions. The no-punishment conditions yielded values of log k that approximated zero for all participants, indicating no bias. In the punishment condition, values of log k deviated substantially from zero, revealing a 3-fold bias toward the unpunished alternative. Moreover, the c parameters were substantially smaller in punished conditions. The values for bias and sensitivity under punishment did not change significantly when the measure of net reinforcers (gains minus losses) was applied to the analysis. These results mean that punishment reduced the sensitivity of behavior to reinforcement and biased performance toward the unpunished alternative. We concluded that a single punisher subtracted more value than a single reinforcer added, indicating an asymmetry in the law of effect.