cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Corticosterone Concentrations in the Serum and Milk of Lactating Rats: Parallel Changes after Induced Stress*

Transfer of corticosterone from serum to milk was studied in lactating rats after ether and pentobarbital anesthesia. Two minutes after the onset of anesthesia stress, total serum and milk corticosterone concentrations were not significantly different. By 30 min, corticosterone concentrations in serum increased to a peak and plateaued at about this level during the 2-h experimental period, while concentrations in milk reached a maximal plateau only at 50 min poststress. The peak corticosterone concentrations in serum and milk were 76 +/- 6 and 36 +/- 4 micrograms/dl, respectively. By centrifugal ultrafiltration dialysis, the percentages of free corticosterone in serum and milk were not significantly different at the maximal concentrations; thus, free corticosterone in serum was about 200% of that in milk. In contrast, anesthesia stress had no effect on serum and milk corticosteroid-binding globulin concentrations; the serum to milk ratio was approximately 10:1. No accumulation of corticosterone in milk was observed after repeated ether stress. Decreases in milk corticosterone levels after recovery from ether stress paralleled that of its serum counterpart. These results indicate that corticosterone concentrations in milk increase rapidly after ether stress, but are limited to a level significantly lower than that in serum. The possible effects of corticosterone in milk on the development of infant rats remains to be defined.
Visualizing the Dead: Contemporary Cemetery Landscapes

Cemeteries are repositories of cultural information which offer clues to a society’s perspective on life and death. Over the past several decades, cemetery landscapes have become more secular, graphic and personalized. Industrial era cemetery landscapes with their emphasis on conformity are giving way to post-industrial landscapes with their emphasis on individuality, unique accomplishments, and the looser norms that bind together our everyday worlds. A four-part model is proposed as a lens through which to analyze cemetery landscapes. It focuses attention on four elements the burial zone, the grave marker, the contiguous zone, and the land use zone. Evidence of change in cemetery environments is drawn largely from grave markers (permanent records of a person’s life) and contiguous zones (ephemeral records that change and disappear) as they have been photographically documented in cemeteries across the U.S. and Canada (14 states and 2 provinces). In addition to municipal and church cemeteries, evidence is also presented from a family cemetery, a tribal cemetery, and a national cemetery. Increasingly common in cemeteries are more fully developed biographies of the deceased, more expressions of visual artistry, and more secular images (including references to education, work, tools, possessions, avocations, and organizational memberships). Religiosity, family relationships, and mournful good-byes remain the subject of many grave markings. Humor is still rare, but increasing. Traditional values, changing cultural attitudes and new technologies are driving these trends. Finally, the reader is pointed to a post-cemetery age in which cremation and ex-situ memorialization are increasingly common.
Estimation of electronic parameters of neurons using an inverse Fourier transform technique

The authors estimate the passive electronic parameters of hippocampal granule cells. A shunt cable model, where the somatic and dendritic time constants can be different, is used to describe the potential changes in the soma and along the dendritic tree. Parameter values are estimated by nonlinear least-squares fitting of the model output to the voltage response of the stimulated cell to current pulses. The solutions are obtained in a two-step process. First, the sensitivity functions are derived from the Laplace transform solution of the theoretical model. Second, the time-domain solutions are obtained numerically by an inverse FFT. A sensitivity analysis indicates that accurate estimates require the use of a short current pulse injected at the soma and the sampling of the voltage response close to the end of that pulse. This parameter estimation procedure has been tested on hippocampal granule cells. It yields accurate estimations of neural parameters and will be a useful tool for measuring passive properties of neurons. >
Toxicity of a Mixture of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid and Mono- soduim Methanearsonate to the Red Swamp Crawfish, Procambarus clarkii

2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and monosodium methanearsonate are often sold in commercial herbicide mixtures. Toxicity studies have been performed for each herbicide individually, but there is a dearth of information concerning the toxicity of these herbicides in a mixture. The following study examined the toxicity of a mixture of these two herbicides in the red swamp crawfish, Procambarus clarkii. 96-hour acute toxicity assays were performed to determine whether surfactant significantly altered the toxicity of these herbicides individually or in combination. Marking’s additive index was calculated to identify the interactions of the herbicide mixture. Surfactant was observed to significantly increase the toxicity of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and the toxicity of the herbicide mixture. The herbicide mixture alone displayed half the toxicity of the individual herbicides, but the mixture with surfactant was twice as toxic as the individual herbicides. The synergistic action of surfactant may be attributed to increased pesticide absorption across biological membranes. 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and surfactant may also compromise gill function, increasing the sensitivity of the crawfish to herbicide toxicity. The antagonistic effects of the herbicide mixture in the absence of surfactant may be caused by competition of both herbicides for the same sites of activity.
Partial-Resonant Buck–Boost and Flyback DC–DC Converters

This paper introduces innovative nonisolated and isolated soft-switched dc-dc topologies with the step-up/down ability. The nonisolated topology is constructed by adding a small ac capacitor in parallel with the main inductor of the conventional buck-boost converter and replacing its semiconductor devices with the reverse-blocking switches. By using a novel control scheme, true zero-voltage switching is realized at both turn-on and turn-off of the power switches irrespective of the input voltage, output voltage, or load value. The isolated form of the converter is created by substituting the main inductor with an air-gapped high-frequency transformer, similar to the flyback converter. In this case, two smaller ac capacitors are placed on both sides of the transformer to realize soft switching as well as passive clamping; no extra clamping circuit is required. The basic operation of the proposed partial-resonant converters includes four modes and is described in detail. The comprehensive analysis of the topologies is carried out as well. Various experimental results in different operating conditions are provided to verify the performance of the proposed power converters.
Respiratory viruses seasonality in children under five years of age in Buenos Aires, Argentina: a five-year analysis.

Abstract Objectives. During the winter months there is a remarkable increase in paediatric hospitalisations due to viral acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI). We aimed to perform a five-year retrospective analysis (1998–2002) of ALRI viral aetiology in children under 5 years of age admitted to public hospitals in Buenos Aires city to evaluate its seasonality. Materials and methods. Nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) were analysed by indirect immunofluorescence to determine viral aetiology. A Spearman's rank correlation test between meteorological parameters and viral frequencies was performed. Results. Viruses were identified in 6083 (32.8%) of 18 561 NPA tested. Among the former 4796 (78.8%) were RSV, 508 (8.3%) IA, 473 (7.8%) AV, 293 (4.8%) PIV and 13 (0.2%) IB. RSV and IA peaked during the coldest and dampest months, whereas PIV did so in early spring and AV lasted throughout the year. For RSV and IA an inverse correlation with mean monthly temperature ( r =−0.9 and r =−0.87, respectively, p r =−0.92 and r =−0.80, respectively, p r =0.6, p r =0.47, p =0.0068, respectively). Conclusions. This study highlights the seasonal variation of ALRI and allows the implementation of adequate healthcare strategies and practice guidelines.
Transverse instability of energy-exchanging counterpropagating waves in photorefractive media

The transverse instability of counterpropagating waves in photorefractive media that is due to the formation of reflection gratings is studied. We obtain new solutions for the instability threshold that account for the reflection-grating-mediated transfer of energy between the pump waves. We find that the instability threshold is minimized for equal-intensity pump beams inside the medium, corresponding to externally supplied beams of unequal intensity when there is energy coupling between the pump beams. A coupling-constant-times-interaction-length product of at least 1.1 when the coupling constant is purely real, or at least 6.3 when the coupling constant is purely imaginary, is sufficient for observation of transverse instabilities. Comparison with the physically available photorefractive coupling constant leads to the conclusion that a variety of commonly available materials should be suitable for the observation of transverse instabilities. In addition, new results for the instability threshold of a reflection-grating four-wave mixing oscillation are obtained that include the effects of direct coupling between the pump waves.
Human Placental Biotin Transport: Normal Characteristics and Effect of Ethanol

Biotin, a vitamin essential for many metabolic reactions, is supplied to the fetus exclusively from the mother. Deficiency of biotin in pregnancy leads to impaired fetal growth and development. Alcohol taken in pregnancy likewise may cause fetal growth abnormalities. Normal biotin transport via the placenta and the effects of ethanol on this transport apparently have not been studied. Our aims were to characterize these phenomena for the normal human-term placenta. Using maternal-facing placental membrane vesicles, biotin uptake was sodium- and temperature-dependent, saturable, and inhibited by structural analogs of biotin (desthiobiotin, biocytin, and biotin methyl ester), as well as by 4 and 10 hr exposure to 3 g/liter ethanol. Using the isolated perfused single cotyledon method to measure placental transport of biotin at a perfusion concentration of 1 nM, the overall rate of biotin transport was found to be only 30% that of antipyrine, a freely diffusible marker. Clearance of biotin was ∼2 ml/hr. g placenta, which was equal to the clearance of passively transferred l-glucose; biotin clearance was similar in both maternal to fetal and fetal to maternal directions. Overall transfer of biotin from maternal to fetal compartments was not inhibited by 500-fold greater concentrations of the three analogs, did not proceed against a biotin concentration gradient, and was not inhibited by 90–240 min exposure to an initial concentration of 4 g/liter ethanol. Concentration of biotin in the fetal compartment at the end of the study was not higher than on the maternal side (after maternal to fetal infusion), but placental concentration was 2- to 3-fold greater. No significant metabolism of biotin was detected. Exposing human placental cultured trophoblast on day 3 to 24 hr of ethanol (2 g/liter) had no effect on the net uptake of biotin by these cells. These studies provide evidence that maternal-facing placental membranes take up biotin by a mediated, carrier-dependent process that is inhibited by ethanol; however, based on the perfusion studies, we conclude that the overall (maternal-fetal) rate-limiting transfer of biotin by the human placenta is most consistent with a passive process, which is not inhibited by short-term exposure to ethanol.
Teaching NeuroImages: Lymphomatoid granulomatosis involving lung and brain in an immunocompetent woman

A 56-year-old woman presented with 5 months of dysarthria and progressive gait changes. Examination revealed scanning speech, wide-based ataxic gait, and dysmetria. MRI demonstrated T2 abnormality with patchy enhancement within bilateral cerebellar hemispheres and supratentorial deep white matter (figure 1). Miliary lung lesions were present. Histopathologic examination of lung and cerebellum revealed lymphoproliferation. A third biopsy of FDG-PET avid …
An anillin homologue, Mid2p, acts during fission yeast cytokinesis to organize the septin ring and promote cell separation

Anillin is a conserved protein required for cell division (Field, C.M., and B.M. Alberts. 1995. J. Cell Biol. 131:165-178; Oegema, K., M.S. Savoian, T.J. Mitchison, and C.M. Field. 2000. J. Cell Biol. 150:539-552). One fission yeast homologue of anillin, Mid1p, is necessary for the proper placement of the division site within the cell (Chang, F., A. Woollard, and P. Nurse. 1996. J. Cell Sci. 109(Pt 1):131-142; Sohrmann, M., C. Fankhauser, C. Brodbeck, and V. Simanis. 1996. Genes Dev. 10:2707-2719). Here, we identify and characterize a second fission yeast anillin homologue, Mid2p, which is not orthologous with Mid1p. Mid2p localizes as a single ring in the middle of the cell after anaphase in a septin- and actin-dependent manner and splits into two rings during septation. Mid2p colocalizes with septins, and mid2 Delta cells display disorganized, diffuse septin rings and a cell separation defect similar to septin deletion strains. mid2 gene expression and protein levels fluctuate during the cell cycle in a sep1- and Skp1/Cdc53/F-box (SCF)-dependent manner, respectively, implying that Mid2p activity must be carefully regulated. Overproduction of Mid2p depolarizes cell growth and affects the organization of both the septin and actin cytoskeletons. In the presence of a nondegradable Mid2p fragment, the septin ring is stabilized and cell cycle progression is delayed. These results suggest that Mid2p influences septin ring organization at the site of cell division and its turnover might normally be required to permit septin ring disassembly.
On intervals in subgroup lattices of finite groups

We investigate the question of which finite lattices L are isomorphic to the lattice [H,G] of all overgroups of a subgroup H in a finite group G. We show that the structure of G is highly restricted if [H,G] is disconnected. We define the notion of a "signalizer lattice" in H and show for suitable disconnected lattices L, if [H,G] is minimal subject to being isomorphic to L or its dual, then either G is almost simple or H admits a signalizer lattice isomorphic to L or its dual. We use this theory to answer a question in functional analysis raised by Watatani.
Pharmacokinetics of Intravitreal Bevacizumab (Avastin)

Purpose To describe the pharmacokinetics of 1.25 mg of intravitreal bevacizumab (Avastin). Design Experimental animal study. Participants Twenty Dutch-belted rabbits. Methods One eye of each of 20 rabbits was injected with 1.25 mg of intravitreal bevacizumab. Both eyes of each of 4 rabbits were enucleated at days 1, 3, 8, 15, and 29. Bevacizumab concentrations were measured in aqueous fluid, whole vitreous, and serum. Main Outcome Measures Bevacizumab concentrations in the aqueous, vitreous, and serum. Results Whereas vitreous concentrations of bevacizumab declined in a monoexponential fashion with a half-life of 4.32 days, concentrations of >10μg/ml bevacizumab were maintained in the vitreous humor for 30 days. Bevacizumab concentrations in the aqueous humor of the injected eye reached a peak concentration of 37.7 μg/ml 3 days after drug administration. A maximum serum concentration of 3.3 μg/ml was achieved 8 days after intravitreal injection and the concentration fell below 1 μg/ml 29 days after injection. Elimination of bevacizumab from the aqueous humor and serum paralleled that found in the vitreous humor, with half-life values of 4.88 days and 6.86 days, respectively. Very low concentrations of bevacizumab were detected in the fellow uninjected eye. Concentrations of bevacizumab in the vitreous of the fellow eye varied incrementally, from 0.35 ng/ml at 1 day to 11.17 ng/ml at 4 weeks. Concentrations of bevacizumab in the aqueous humor of the fellow eye reached their peak at 1 week, at 29.4 ng/ml, and declined to 4.56 ng/ml at 4 weeks. Conclusion The vitreous half-life of 1.25 mg intravitreal bevacizumab is 4.32 days in a rabbit eye. Very small amounts of bevacizumab were detected in the serum and in the fellow uninjected eye.
On the description of fermion systems in boson representations: (IV). Numerical calculation of quadrupole excitations in Cd, Sn, Te, Sm and Pb

Abstract Quadrupole vibrational excitations are described in a modified quadrupole-plus-pairing model, using the boson expansion method. The radial dependence of the quadrupole force is chosen so as to yield as an average field a Wood-Saxon type potential. A qualitatively correct description is provided for the phase transition in the Sm isotopes, but the energy spectra, transition probabilities and static quadrupole moments of nuclei near closed shells are barely consistent with experiment, the most puzzling disagreement being the sign of the static quadrupole moment of the first 2 + state in 122 Te.
C2AP: Coverage-aware and Connectivity-constrained Actor Positioning in Wireless Sensor and Actor Networks

In addition to the miniaturized sensor nodes, wireless sensor and actor networks (WSANs) employ significantly more capable actor nodes that can perform application specific actions to deal with events detected and reported by the sensors. Since these actions can be taken at any spot within the monitored area, the actors should be carefully placed in order to provide maximal coverage. Moreover, the actors often coordinate among themselves in order to arbitrate tasks and thus inter-actor connectivity is usually a requirement. In this paper, we propose a distributed actor positioning algorithm that maximizes the coverage of actors without violating the connectivity requirement. The approach applies repelling forces between neighboring actors, similar to molecular particles in Physics, in order to spread them in the region. However, the movement of each actor is restricted in order to maintain the connectivity of the inter-actor network. The performance of the approach is validated through simulations.
Spin Correlations in Top Quark Production and the Top Quark Mass

Top-antitop quark pairs produced at the Tevatron have a sizeable spin correlation. That correlation feeds into the angular distribution of the decay products, particularly in the dilepton channel. Including the expected correlation in an overall analysis of a handful of actual dilepton events continues to favor a lower top mass (centered on 155 GeV) than the single lepton events.
SensDep: a design tool for the deployment of heterogeneous sensing devices

In this paper, we introduce SensDep as a software design tool that incorporates several solution strategies to optimize sensor networks cost and coverage. The tool helps the designer answer many "what-if" questions that usually arise in the design of surveillance operations networks. Also, it considers several operation capabilities for the sensing devices including reliability, mobility, transfer cost, sensors' cost, lifespan and power self scheduling in addition to the environment parameters during the deployment process. Moreover, it provides the designer the optimal deployment scheme for small size designs using mathematical programming. It also provides near optimal schemes for large scale designs using a set of heuristic solutions. A set of experiments is conducted to test the tool capabilities for different design settings. Several design scenarios are presented to illustrate how the tool can be utilized.
Ferrite spinels as catalysts in the oxidative dehydrogenation of butenes

Both CoFe2O4 and CuFe2O4 spinels are active catalysts for oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butenes to butadiene. However, both suffer from their tendency to catalyze total oxidation as well. Neither is an effective n-butene isomerization catalyst, even at high temperatures. Surface and lattice oxygen atoms participate in the reactions, and the steady state in the presence of gaseous oxygen, at least for CoFe2O4, is near the totally oxidized state. Selectivity for the dehydrogenation reaction is strongly dependent on the presence of gaseous oxygen in the case of the Co catalyst, although the selectivity over the Cu catalyst is not a strong function of gaseous oxygen. The kinetics are not simple; the pressure dependencies are less than first order in both butene and oxygen pressures and the reactions are inhibited by the presence of butadiene. CH bond cleavage is probably involved in the rate-determining step of all reactions, although the reactions showed some characteristics of both interand intramolecular mechanisms.
Dual band FSS with fractal elements

Experimental and computed results of a frequency selective surface (FSS) based on a certain type of fractal element are presented. The fractal element is a two iteration Sierpinski gasket dipole. Owing to the dual band behaviour of the two iteration Sierpinski gasket dipole, two stopbands are exhibited within the operating frequency band. This behaviour is obtained by arraying one simple element in a single layer frequency selective surface (FSS).
A long-wave absorbing form of chlorophyll a responsible for the “red drop” in fluorescence at 298 °K and the F723 band at 77 °K

Abstract When Chlorella cells are ruptured at pH 4.6 by sonication in air, its absorption spectrum can be best explained if one assumes that a long-wave chlorophyll a form (Chl a 693) is preferentially destroyed. Using these preparations, and comparing them with the algal suspension and the sonicates prepared at pH 7.8 under argon, we make the following conclusions: (a) The red drop beginning at about 675–680 nm in the action spectrum ∗ of fluorescence at 298 °K must be due to the presence of a non-(or weakly) fluorescent form of chlorophyll a . We suggest that this form is Chl a 693. The red drop is absent in the aerobic sonicates. (b) The red drop in fluorescence in whole algal cells is not due to any errors in absorption measurements; this drop is clearly present in the anaerobic sonicates. (c) The emission band at 723 nm, discovered by S. S. Brody in whole Chlorella cells at 77 °K, may be due to increased fluorescence efficiency of Chl a 693 at low temperature; the F723 band is absent in aerobic sonicates.
More than 150 consecutive open umbilical hernia repairs in a major Veterans Administration Medical Center

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of surgical site infection for open elective umbilical hernia repairs and to identify the factors related to an increased risk of infection and/or recurrence. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 152 open elective umbilical hernia repairs between 2003 and 2007 was performed. RESULTS: Overall, 19% of repairs became infected. Both high ASA classification (P .01) and mesh repair (P .01) significantly predicted wound infection, whereas age 60 years, body mass index 30, smoking, immunosuppression, diabetes, and hernia size did not. Only 2 of 17 infected mesh repairs required removal of the mesh. The recurrence rate was 1.5% for mesh and 9.2% for suture repairs. CONCLUSIONS: Umbilical hernia repair is associated with a high rate of infection, and most superficial mesh infections can be treated with antibiotics alone. In addition, mesh repair of umbilical hernias decreased the rate of recurrence but increased the risk of infection compared with suture repairs. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Hypothermia Therapy for Brain Injury

Induced hypothermia is an acknowledged useful therapy for treating conditions that lead to cell and tissue damage caused by ischemia, including traumatic brain injury, stroke, and cardiac arrest. An accumulating body of clinical evidence, together with several decades of research, has documented that the efficacy of hypothermia is dependent on achieving a reduced temperature in the target tissue before or soon following the ischemia-precipitating event. The temperature must be lowered to within a rather small range of values to effect therapeutic benefit without introducing collateral problems. Rewarming must be much slower than cooling. Many different methods and devices have been used for cooling, with mixed results. There are existing opportunities for bioengineers to improve our understanding of the mechanisms of hypothermia and to develop more effective methods of cooling the brain following trauma.
Countertrade Offsets in International Procurement: Theory and Evidence

International government procurement is rife with deviations from the perfectly competitive market model and arm’s-length exchange. In the defense, aerospace, capital equipment, automotive, and telecommunications industries, for example, we encounter imperfectly competitive markets. The complexities of high transaction costs, incomplete and asymmetric information, and bounded rationality mark this exchange setting. In this environment, economic theory predicts that markets typically underproduce relative to the socially optimal level, and sellers frequently earn supernormal profits, rents, and quasi-rents.
South African Health Care Inequalities and the Perpetuation of HIV/AIDS

This paper explores systemic inequalities present within the two-tier South African health care system and its role in perpetuating the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country post-apartheid. The paper delves into the legal and societal origins in perpetuating the epidemic, especially among poorer subsections within South African society that were historically marginalized during the apartheid era.
Long-term responses to thalidomide and rituximab in Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia

8017 Background: Rituximab is active in Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM), producing response rates of 40–50%. Lower response rates are observed among patients with the FcγRIIIA-158 FF polymorph...
Anisotropy Induced in an Uncrosslinked Elastomer Via Large Strain Deformation

Abstract The anisotropy induced in an ungelled SBR elastomer upon large scale deformation and the rate at which the deformed elastomer returns to its original state upon removal of the deforming fo...
Guidelines for Thyroid Testing

New assay methods for the measurement of human thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and improved assays for the measurement of free thyroid hormones have led to changes in the use of available tests for diagnosis and management of thyroid disease. In this article, I review the normal physiologic and pathophysiologic features of the thyroid system and their relationship to the interpretation of thyroid tests. An analysis of the cost-effectiveness of various tests is beyond the scope of this presentation. The use of thyroid tests, however, is based on the assumption that they will be ordered to facilitate decisions concerning diagnosis or management, not as part of a multiphasic screening of large numbers of asymptomatic individuals, except in specific populations in which such screening is either mandatory or effective.
Evaluation of Resistance to Tufted Apple Bud Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) Within and Among Apple Cultivars

The natural resistance of five commercial apple cultivars to Platynota idaeusalis (Walker) was investigated in a Pennsylvania orchard. Densities of P. idaeusalis larvae were found to vary significantly, in both larval generations, among leaf types within trees, and among cultivars. Fruit injury and fruit drop also varied among cultivars but were not closely linked to larval density. The concentrations of two major phenolic compounds in apple foliage, phloridzin and its hydrolysis product phloretin, were poor predictors of P. idaeusalis density, although foliar phloridzin concentrations were related to both premature apple fall and to fruit injury by second generation larvae. When P. idaeusalis larvae were fed phloridzin incorporated into artificial diet, they exhibited minor increases in pupal weight and decreases in development time. These responses were shown to be the result of a balance between increases in growth efficiency and decreases in relative growth rate and assimilation efficiency. Variation in foliar phloridzin and phloretin concentrations does not appear to be the mechanism underlying natural resistance of different apple cultivars to P. idaeusalis.
The clinical and molecular epidemiology of pre-transplant vancomycin-resistant enterococci colonization among liver transplant recipients

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infections cause significant morbidity in liver transplant recipients. The epidemiology and impact of pre-transplant colonization with VRE among patients who undergo liver transplantation are poorly understood. We conducted an observational cohort study to identify risk factors and outcomes associated with pre-transplant VRE colonization and described the molecular diversity among VRE strains colonizing patients who undergo liver transplantation. Perirectal VRE surveillance cultures were performed prior to transplantation. Repetitive sequence-based polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) testing was used to identify clonality among VRE isolates. Of 61 patients who underwent pre-transplant VRE surveillance and subsequent liver transplantation, 27 (44%) were colonized with VRE. In multivariate analysis, pre-transplant VRE colonization was associated with central venous catheterization (OR 9.4, 95% confidence interval [CI]= 1.3-70.2, p = 0.03) and rifaximin use (OR 15.4, 95% CI 1.5-159.7, p = 0.02). Pre-transplant VRE colonization was associated with more hospital days post-transplant (26.6 vs. 16.1 d, p = 0.04). Of VRE-colonized patients analyzed with rep-PCR, 68% were colonized with the same strain as another patient in the cohort. Active surveillance identifies VRE-colonized patients who may benefit from targeted antimicrobial prophylaxis and enhanced infection prevention measures to prevent VRE spread. The relationship between rifaximin receipt and VRE colonization warrants further study. The identification of similar VRE isolates may suggest linked transmission during pre-transplant hospitalizations, which should be further investigated in prospective studies.
Quantitative effects of corticosterone on rat bone marrow.

SummaryA method has been described for the determination of the total numbers of bone marrow cells in the rat femur. Administration of corticosterone to adrenalectomized rats results in significant increases in the numbers of nucleated erythroid cells and decreases in the numbers of neutrophils and eosinophils within femoral marrow.
Endocrine Cells in the Normal Human Stomach: A fine structural study

This study describes the fine structure of endocrine cells observed in normal human stomachs. Four morphological types could be identified. ECL cells constituted the majority of endocrine cells observed in each section of the body, but were not positively identified in the pylorus. G cells constituted the majority of endocrine cells observed in most sections of the pylorus, but were not observed in the body. EC cells were infrequent in the body, but were readily observed in the pylorus, especially in the lower portions of the glands. D cells were scattered in both the body and pylorus in moderate numbers. From 5 to 20% of endocrine cells observed in each section could not be classified. The significance of the different morphological types of gastric endocrine cells remains uncertain.
An Aristotelian Theory of Natural Ethics

This book is an extended argument for recognizing and embracing the intimate and powerful connections between evolved human nature and the human good. I have framed these links with Aristotle’s function argument, wherein he suggested that a good instance of any being or entity is found in the excellent expression of its nature. The evolutionary perspective allows us to deepen and extend Aristotle’s timeless and very timely ethics in ways he presaged but could not fully foresee. Aristotle’s ethics, in turn, have made it possible to reinterpret and enrich the understanding of our evolution in ways that only come into view when we look at evolution through a eudaimonic lens. I have focused on the social nature of human beings to develop a theory of the good life for human beings with respect to our evolved sociality. Our social nature is not the totality of our nature, but it is an extremely important dimension, and because it is so central, it has profound implications for the good life. I have discussed seven domains of human sociality, but even chapter-length treatments of these topics provide incomplete accounts of these important aspects of human sociality. Yet, if my argument succeeds in demonstrating that these seven domains conform to Aristotle’s function argument and his account of the good life, then that argument can be further elaborated and extended to other aspects of human nature. This reinterpretation is an attempt to bridge human nature, as it is illuminated by evolutionary science, and ethics, as envisioned by Aristotle.
Does dual antiplatelet therapy affect blood loss and transfusion requirements in robotic-assisted coronary artery surgery?

OBJECTIVE Patients who present for coronary surgery often receive preoperative dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and a thienopyridine derivative (clopidogrel or prasugrel), especially after a recent acute coronary syndrome. Studies have shown that patients on aspirin and clopidogrel are at increased risk for perioperative bleeding and related events. We sought to examine the impact of dual antiplatelet therapy on bleeding and transfusion requirements in patients undergoing robotic-assisted minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS From January 2010 to November 2011, a total of 110 patients underwent robotic-assisted off-pump coronary surgery at our institution. All patients underwent robotic-assisted harvest of the left internal mammary artery from the chest wall. Some patients then underwent direct coronary anastomosis to the left anterior descending coronary artery via a left minithoracotomy, whereas others had a complete robotic endoscopic procedure within the closed chest. The patients were divided into two groups for outcome analysis on the basis of preoperative antiplatelet therapy: group 1 (either aspirin alone or no antiplatelet agents at all; n = 53) and group 2 (aspirin plus clopidogrel or prasugrel; n = 57). RESULTS Perioperative chest tube drainage was not significantly different between the patient groups, irrespective of the preoperative antiplatelet agents used. Transfusion requirements and other morbidities were also similar in both groups of patients. CONCLUSIONS Preoperative dual antiplatelet therapy does not result in significantly increased bleeding or perioperative transfusion requirements. If clinically indicated, it is reasonable to continue preoperative combination antiplatelet therapy in patients undergoing robotic-assisted coronary surgery.
Against Financial-Literacy Education (Korean Edition) (금융교육에 대한 새로운 시각)

The dominant model of regulation in the United States for consumer credit, insurance, and investment products is disclosure and unfettered choice. As these products have become increasingly complex, consumers' inability to understand them has become increasingly apparent, and the consequences of this inability more dire. In response, policymakers have embraced financial literacy education as a necessary corollary to the disclosure model of regulation. This education is widely believed to turn consumers into "responsible" and "empowered" market players, motivated and competent to make financial decisions that increase their own welfare. The vision is of educated consumers handling their own credit, insurance, and retirement planning matters by confidently navigating the bountiful unrestricted marketplace.Although the vision is seductive, promising both a free market and increased consumer welfare, the predicate belief in the effectiveness of financial literacy education lacks empirical support. Moreover, the belief is implausible, given the velocity of change in the financial marketplace, the gulf between current consumer skills and those needed to understand today's complex non-standardized financial products, the persistence of biases in financial decisionmaking, and the disparity between educators and financial services firms in resources with which to reach consumers.Harboring this belief may be innocent, but it is not harmless; the pursuit of financial literacy poses costs that almost certainly swamp any benefits. For some consumers, financial education appears to increase confidence without improving ability, leading to worse decisions. When consumers find themselves in dire financial straits, the regulation through education model blames them for their plight, shaming them and deflecting calls for effective market regulation. Consumers generally do not serve as their own doctors and lawyers and for reasons of efficient division of labor alone, generally should not serve as their own financial experts. The search for effective financial literacy education should be replaced by a search for policies more conducive to good consumer financial outcomes.
They Ask Me Why I Teach

(1981). They Ask Me Why I Teach. Journal of Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 52, No. 9, pp. 24-24.
A case of hypertrichosis lanuginosa acquisita as a sign of malignancy

A 69-year-old woman was referred by her primary care physician with concerns about excessive hair growth on her face during the previous six months (figure 1). She had a history of psoriasis on her scalp and elbows, rosacea, onychomycosis, and basal cell carcinoma on her left upper back. She had quit smoking more than 30 years prior. Her review of systems was negative for weight change, change in bowel or bladder habits, dyspnea, and lymphadenopathy. She was on no new medications. Physical exam was [...]
Monitoring methane emissions at Southern Hydrate Ridge using an OOI Cabled Array Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler

Gas hydrate deposits along continental margins are commonly associated with overlying methane seeps, which support extensive biological communities on and within the sediments. In addition, the rising methane-rich plumes may be responsible for increased biological productivity within the overlying ocean. The extent to which methane seeps contribute to oceanic and atmospheric carbon is thought to be relatively minor, but this conclusion is largely based on infrequent observations of bubble release over short timescales. Here, we present initial results of bubble plume variability from a cabled Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) deployed for 2 years at Southern Hydrate Ridge (SHR), a well-studied hydrate-bearing seep site off the coast of Oregon. This area is characterized by extensive bacterial mats, focused venting of bubble plumes, and rare exposed gas hydrate on the seafloor. The upward-looking ADCP is a part of NSF's Ocean Observatories Initiatives Cabled Array infrastructure at SHR. Live data from eleven cabled instruments and three un-cabled sensors at SHR for which data are collected post annual Operations and Maintenance cruise enable long-term monitoring of process linkages at SHR seeps. Preliminary results indicate that bubble plumes extend over much of the water column at SHR, though further analysis is required to determine whether seepage is forced over tidal periods. Future studies involving the incorporation of data from proximal instrumentation at SHR would provide a comprehensive understanding of the link between subsurface gas transport and gas distribution throughout the overlying water column
Roost sites of the silver-haired bat ( Lasionycteris noctivagans ) in the Black Hills, South Dakota

We investigated the roosting ecology of silver-haired bats ( Lasionycteris noctivagans ) in the Black Hills, of western South Dakota. Using radiotelemetry, we located 39 roosts, 10 of which were maternity aggregations containing 6 to 55 bats. The roosts were mostly in ponderosa pine ( Pinus ponderosa ) snags that averaged 39 cm diameter at breast height. Solitary bats preferred roosting under loose bark or in crevices in trees, regularly moving among trees. All maternity aggregations were found in tree cavities, primarily those created by woodpeckers. Roost trees were located in patches of forest with relatively high snag densities, about 21 snags/ha. This study suggests that snags play an important role in maintain silver-haired bat populations in ponderosa pine ecosystems.
Investigating Adolescents’ Critical Consciousness Development through a Character Framework

Brazilian philosopher-educator Paulo Freire defined critical consciousness as the ability to engage in reflection and action upon the world in order to transform it. A growing body of research has found that critical consciousness is predictive of a number of important academic and civic outcomes in adolescents from oppressed groups. The present mixed methods study considered the critical consciousness development of 335 adolescents (57% female, 92% African American or Latinx) attending urban secondary schools that sought to foster their students' critical consciousness, but featured five different pedagogical approaches. We hypothesized that considering these adolescents' critical consciousness development through a character lens would highlight ways in which different schooling models contribute differentially to their students' development of the intellectual, performance, and civic dimensions of critical consciousness. Longitudinal analyses revealed significant differences in the critical consciousness development of adolescents attending different schooling models along these dimensions. Interviews with adolescents and field work conducted at their schools offered insight into the programming and practices that may have contributed to these differences in students' critical consciousness development.
Longitudinal Methods in Substance Use Research

This chapter presents a review of longitudinal methods used in the study of substance abuse—epidemiology, prevention, and treatment. The distinction between repeated cross-sectional and panel designs for data collection is reviewed, including influential studies using each design type. A number of important longitudinal perspectives on the epidemiology of substance abuse are also reviewed, as well as important longitudinal prevention and treatment studies. Statistical techniques for the analysis of longitudinal data are briefly discussed. The chapter concludes with a number of recommendations for the future of longitudinal substance abuse research.
Anthropometry Applications for Machine Safeguarding

Abstract Anthropometry is the study of human body measurements. One area of occupational safety which depends upon anthropometry information is the dimensioning of reach distances for machine safeguarding. This paper discusses sources of anthropometric data for designing safeguarding methods which prevent workers from contacting hazards by putting them at distances where the hazards cannot be reached. This information is particularly valuable for U.S. ergonomists, safety engineers, and machine workstation designers who should understand how anthropometric information relates to requirements in their OSHA and ANSI standards for machine guarding.
Type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer survival: The multiethnic cohort.

This analysis examined type 2 diabetes (T2D) as a predictor of colorectal cancer (CRC) survival within the Multiethnic Cohort Study. Registry linkages in Hawaii and California identified 5,284 incident CRC cases. After exclusion of cases with pre-existing cancer diagnosis within 1 year and systemic disease, the analytic dataset had 3,913 cases with 1,800 all-cause and 678 CRC-specific deaths after a mean follow-up of 9.3 ± 5.2 years. Among CRC cases, 707 were diagnosed with T2D 8.9 ± 5.3 years before CRC. Cox regression with age as time metric was applied to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for T2D status as predictor of CRC-specific and all-cause survival while adjusting for known confounders. Overall, CRC-specific survival was not associated with pre-existing T2D (HR = 0.84; 95% CI = 0.67-1.07). However, a significant interaction was seen for comorbidity (pinteraction = 0.03) with better survival among those without pre-existing conditions (HR = 0.49; 95% CI = 0.25-0.96) while no association was seen in patients with comorbid conditions. All-cause mortality was also not related to pre-existing T2D (HR = 1.11; 95% CI = 0.98-1.27), but significantly elevated for individuals with T2D reporting comorbid conditions (HR = 1.36; 95% CI = 1.19-1.56). Stratification by T2D duration suggested higher CRC-specific and all-cause mortality among participants with a T2D history of ≥10 than <10 years. The findings were consistent across sex and ethnic subgroups. In contrast to previous reports, pre-existing T2D had no influence on disease-specific and all-cause survival among CRC patients. Only participants with additional comorbidity and possibly those with long T2D duration experienced higher mortality related to T2D.
Quantifying Highly Variable Air–Sea Momentum Flux Using Wavelet Analysis

AbstractSurface wind stress is a crucial driver of upper-ocean processes, impacting air–sea gas flux, wind-wave development, and material transport. Conventional eddy covariance (EC) processing req...
Intravascular Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Stenting for Treatment of LVAD Outflow Graft Obstruction

Introduction Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) outflow graft obstruction is a well-known and significant complication. The typical management involves treatment of presumed thrombosis of the graft with intensified anticoagulation or surgery. More recently, endovascular stenting has been reported as a possible treatment option. We describe the management of a LVAD outflow cannula obstruction with never reported intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided covered endovascular stenting. Case report A 68 year-old female with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy status-post LVAD implantation in March 2016 presented with persistent symptomatic low flow alarms and clinical signs of heart failure. Symptoms seemed to worsen when she laid on her right side. She was compliant with her anticoagulation and lactate dehydrogenase level was found to be near her baseline. A CT scan with IV contrast revealed intraluminal obstruction of the LVAD outflow graft secondary to a kinked portion of the outflow cannula near the bend relief with a possible thrombotic component. The severe angulation of the cannula likely developed due to the patient's gradual weight gain of 28kg in the 24 months since LVAD implantation. Given the patient's risk profile, a percutaneous endovascular stenting approach was taken. IVUS was used to visualize the obstruction and kinking of the graft. A balloon-expandable covered stent was deployed at the stenotic site while the LVAD was briefly stopped to avoid stent/balloon migration. A covered stent was used to minimize the risk of thrombus migration/extrusion. IVUS was used again after post-dilation of the stent to confirm placement with no thrombus extrusion. Several hours later the patient had recurrent low-flow alarms. A repeat CT scan revealed that the kink had migrated and been transmitted within the outflow cannula towards the LVAD. The patient returned to the angiography suite where 2 balloon expandable stents were deployed more proximally within the outflow cannula and in an overlapping fashion with the original covered stent. Non-covered stents were used for the second procedure as there was no suspected thrombotic component. IVUS showed no significant residual kinking post-stenting. This was confirmed with a repeat CT scan. The patient recovered without any hemodynamic or neurologic sequelae. Conclusion Percutaneous endovascular stenting is an emerging option for treatment of outflow tract obstruction in LVAD patients that are not candidates for surgery. IVUS can be a valuable tool during intervention to confirm proper stent position, thrombus isolation, and outflow cannula geometry.