cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Restoration of Trichophyton mentagrophytes growth in medium depleted of metals by chelation: Importance of iron

The present study examined the requirement of Trichophyton mentagrophytes ATCC-18748 for iron. Nutrient broth depleted of iron by the chelating cation exchange resin Chelex-100 did not support the growth of T. mentagrophytes beyond germ tube formation. The soluble chelate of iron, ferric ammonium citrate, restored the capacity of the chelated medium to support fungal growth in proportion to the amount of iron added. Ferric chloride, which rapidly becomes insoluble at neutral pH, was not effective in the medium. The soluble salts of cobalt, chromium, copper, manganese, nickel, and zinc individually did not replace the requirement for iron. A method for defining the iron requirement based upon utilization of iron from ferric ammonium citrate is described. These data indicate that the growth of T. mentagrophytes ATCC-18748 is iron-dependent, which is consistent with the hypothesis that serum transferrin inhibits dermatophyte growth by the mechanism of iron deprivation.
Medication adherence and attrition to biologic treatment in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Abstract Purpose The objectives of this study were to assess medication adherence rate and attrition rate in first-time adalimumab (ADA) or etanercept (ETA) users in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. This study also identified the risk factors associated with nonadherence and treatment abandonment. Methods This was a retrospective study with a 2-year follow-up. A total 2151 adult RA patients (18 years of age and older) who initiated ADA or ETA treatment in the Kaiser Permanente Southern California health plan between 2002 and 2009 were identified. Among those on treatment in the first year, continuous treatment receipt was determined by having at least 1 medication refill in the second year; otherwise treatment was considered as abandoned. Medication adherence was measured through proportion of days covered (PDC) and compared between patients continuously on treatment and those abandoning treatment. Risk factors of nonadherence (PDC Findings Patients who abandoned treatment had significantly lower PDC (37.3%) and lower average number of refills (5.1) than adherers (PDC = 88.8%; average number of refills = 12.4) and nonadherers (PDC = 53.3%; average refills = 8.2). Age, African Americans (odds ratio [OR], 1.49; 95% CI, 1.03–2.17), corticosteroids use (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.63–0.98), and history of physical/occupational therapy (OR = 0.66; 95% CI, 0.46–0.93) were associated with nonadherence, whereas having a comorbidity (OR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.01–1.57) was associated with treatment abandonment. The difference in PDC between ADA and ETA was no longer statistically significant after excluding the treatment abandonment group. A higher proportion of ADA users abandoned treatment than ETA users (42.9% vs 32.2%). Implications Taking into account treatment abandonment when measuring medication adherence in ADA and ETA use in RA patients can provide a fair and clinically meaningful view of patients’ medication-taking behavior.
Gastrointestinal Neuroendocrine Tumors: Optimal Outcomes and Surgical Management

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are a specific type of neoplasm arising in tissues of neural crest origin. They commonly arise in the gastrointestinal tract because of the high density of neuroendocrine cells, and are found in the foregut (stomach, duodenum, pancreas), midgut (jejunum, ileum, appendix, proximal colon), and hindgut (distal colon, rectum). NETs are commonly termed “carcinoid” tumors if they are found to be of low grade on histology. The prognosis for NETs is variable, dependent upon tumor biology and origin. This chapter reviews specific features of NETs in each GI segment, with particular focus on factors predicting prognosis and surgical decision-making.
E-061 Onyx Embolisation Through the Scepter Dual-Lumen System: Mechanisms and Utility

Introduction Ethyl Vinyl Alcohol co-polymer Onyx (ev3 Inc., Irvine, CA) is a non-adhesive but cohesive liquid embolic agent that can be used to occlude vascular lesions. On label indications are for arteriovenous malformations, but the fluid has been useful in a variety of clinical scenarios including dural arteriovenous fistulae (dAVF), aneurysms, tumour embolisation and others. The key drawbacks of these techniques are in the time, material, and radiation needed for the formation of a proximal plug to force the flow of Onyx forward into the vascular territory, as well as the possibility of difficult catheter removal. The usage of Oynx in conjunction with the Scepter C dual lumen coaxial balloon system (MicroVention, Tustin, CA) can circumvent the need for plug formation and avoid associated drawbacks. Materials and Methods The endovascular database at a single institution was reviewed to assess for cases in which ethyl vinyl alcohol was used in conjunction with a Scepter C balloon. In each case, the Scepter C balloon was navigated to the target artery under fluoroscopic roadmap assistance. The balloon was inflated to occlude the vessel, and the lumen was flushed with DMSO. Onyx 18 embolisation was subsequently performed under continuous fluoroscopy until stasis was observed. The cases are reviewed and summarised with attention to fluoroscopy time between the initiation of ethyl vinyl alcohol embolisation and the cessation of ethyl vinyl alcohol embolisation. Results Five consecutive patients were treated with a combination of ethyl vinyl alcohol and the Scepter C balloon. In the three tumour cases, a total of six pedicles were embolised; in the dural fistulae cases, two pedicles were embolised. No immediate per-procedural complications occurred. Total fluoroscopy time, average fluoroscopy time per injection, and total time between initial injection and cessation of embolisation are accessed and compared to historical data on Onyx-only embolisation procedures. In a single case, reflux occurred secondary to a loose valve that led to an unplanned balloon deflation. Conclusion The Scepter C balloon may be used off-label to deliver ethyl vinyl alcohol for the treatment of dAVF and tumour embolisation. Diminished fluoroscopy times and embolysate injection times may be achieved using an in-line balloon that results in an immediate block to retrograde flow, obviating the need to form a proximal “plug”. Further research is necessary to confirm safety and radiation exposure benefits, especially in arteriovenous malformations. Disclosures C. Chung: None. T. Osanai: None. F. Hui: 3; C; MicroVention, Penumbra.
Fast sensitivities for 2D marine CSEM inversion

A critical, and time demanding, part of an inversion process is the calculation of sensitivities of the data to the model parameters. In this paper we show the results of applying the Adjoint State method to build sensitivity matrices for 2D marine CSEM inversion problems. The method generates the derivatives of the data with respect to the model parameters in a considerably shorter time than the traditional numerical calculations of the derivatives. We also apply the Approximate Adjoint State method to generate approximate sensitivities in an even faster way, although not as accurately. We compare results for a model of a resistive target on a conductive environment, a typical goal for marine CSEM inversion. Our results show that the adjoint state approach is very well suited for the inversion of marine CSEM data.
Evaluation of a Commercial Exoantigen Test System for the Rapid Identification of Systemic Fungal Pathogens

Seventy-nine mycelial-form stock cultures of Blastomyces dermatitidis, Coccidioides immitis, Histoplasma capsulatum , and morphologically similar fungi were extracted and tested by using commercial macroimmunodiffusion exoantigen test kits and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reference system for identifying fungal isolates. Results showed 100% correlation between the two systems. Specific exoantigens of C. immitis and H. capsulatum extracted from agar slant cultures (slant extraction method) readily were identified. In eight of 26 cultures of B. dermatitidis , broth culture filtrates (brothshake-flask method) were required to demonstrate the specific bands of identity. No false-negative reactions or cross-reactivity among the pathogens and other fungi were observed. The commercial test kits provided a rapid and specific method for identifying or confirming suspected fungal pathogens.
Modeling the age-hardening behavior of Al-Si-Cu alloys

We describe a new approach for modeling the age-hardening behavior of Al-Si-Cu cast alloys, that utilizes recently proposed micromechanical models of precipitation strengthening which connect key microstructural parameters for realistic precipitate morphologies (e.g., {100} plates) with the age-hardening response. This approach is illustrated and tested for a series of 319-type Al alloys (which we refer to as W319), where the microstructural parameters of ϑ′ plates measured by transmission electron microscopy and a first-principles/computational-thermodynamics model of ϑ′ volume fraction are used in the micromechanical model to predict precipitation strengthening. Thus, the precipitation-strengthening contribution contains no free parameters in our approach. An aging temperature- and time-dependent component that describes the strengthening of the Guinier-Preston (GP) zones and solid-solution copper, as well as a constant intrinsic strength, is combined with the calculated precipitation strength to predict the yield strength with a minimum of fitting parameters. This yield-strength model provides a good predictor of the yield strength of W319, and the methodology should be more generally applicable to all industrial cast alloys strengthened primarily by ϑ′. We also discuss limitations of the present approach and point to areas for improvement in future studies.
Synergism in binary mixtures of surfactants

Abstract Negative synergism in surface tension reduction effectiveness occurs when interaction between the surfactants in the mixed monolayer at the aqueous solution/air interface is less attractive or more repulsive than interaction in the mixed micelle in the solution phase. Two classes are distinguished: Class I, where interaction in the mixed monolayer is repulsive; and Class II, where interaction in the mixed monolayer is attractive. Class I negative synergism of this type between hydrocarbon and chain surfactants has, to date, been found only in long-chain soap-dodecylbenzene sulfonate mixtures; Class II is shown by anionic-anionic and anionic-polyoxyethylenated nonionic mixtures with the proper surfactant structures. Repulsive interaction between different types of anionic surfactants at the aqueous solution/ air interface is believed to result in demixing in the monolayer.
Family and Friend Influence on Urban-Dwelling American Indian Adolescent Girl’s Sexual Risk Behavior

Previous research with American Indian (AI) adolescent sexual risk behavior primarily focused on reservation-dwelling youth despite 70% of AIs living off Native lands. Using grounded theory methodology, I sampled 20 adolescent AI girls via talking circles and interviews to explore the perceptions of AI adolescent girls living in an urban, Midwest area about the influence of family and friends on their sexual behavior. Similar to research with other racial groups, participants cited their family and friends as a major influence. Five unique themes emerged related to family and friend influence. Urban-dwelling AI girls rely on their female family members and peers for information related to sex and receive varying messages from their networks of family and friends, which often overlap. AI youth have unique family groups yet have some similarities to other ethnic groups with regard to family and friend relationships that may allow for enhanced intervention development.
Application of carbapenem antibiotics in Nanjing area from 2009—2011

AIM To evaluate the clinical utilization of carbapenem antibiotics in Nanjing area from 2009 to 2011.METHODS The consumption sum and frequency of drug use(DDDs) of carbapenem antibiotics in Nanjing area was sorted and analyzed from 2009 to 2011.RESULTS The consumption sum and DDDs of carbapenem antibiotics in Nanjing area both increased from 2009 to 2011,with average annual growth rate 25.53% and 32.39% respectively.The top two carbapenem antibiotics in consumption sum and DDDs were meropenem and imipenem.The top three manufacturers in sales amount were Hangzhou MSD Pharmaceutical Company Limited,Japan Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals Company Limited and Shenzhen Haibin Pharmaceutical Factory.The market share of domestic drugs increased year by year,while the market share of joint drugs and imported drugs reduced year by year.The top three products in sales amount were Tienam,Mepem and Beineng.CONCLUSION The application of carbapenem antibiotics in Nanjing area has increased year by year from 2009 to 2011,and the management of carbapenem antibiotics should be strengthened in order to reduce the generation rate of bacterial drug resistance.
Orexin in Rostral Hotspot of Nucleus Accumbens Enhances Sucrose 'Liking' and Intake but Scopolamine in Caudal Shell Shifts 'Liking' Toward 'Disgust' and 'Fear'

The nucleus accumbens (NAc) contains a hedonic hotspot in the rostral half of medial shell, where opioid agonist microinjections are known to enhance positive hedonic orofacial reactions to the taste of sucrose ('liking' reactions). Within NAc shell, orexin/hypocretin also has been reported to stimulate food intake and is implicated in reward, whereas blockade of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors by scopolamine suppresses intake and may have anti-reward effects. Here, we show that NAc microinjection of orexin-A in medial shell amplifies the hedonic impact of sucrose taste, but only within the same anatomically rostral site, identical to the opioid hotspot. By comparison, at all sites throughout medial shell, orexin microinjections stimulated 'wanting' to eat, as reflected by increases in intake of palatable sweet chocolates. At NAc shell sites outside the hotspot, orexin selectively enhanced 'wanting' to eat without enhancing sweetness 'liking' reactions. In contrast, microinjections of the antagonist scopolamine at all sites in NAc shell suppressed sucrose 'liking' reactions as well as suppressing intake of palatable food. Conversely, scopolamine increased aversive 'disgust' reactions elicited by bitter quinine at all NAc shell sites. Finally, scopolamine microinjections localized to the caudal half of medial shell additionally generated a fear-related anti-predator reaction of defensive treading and burying directed toward the corners of the transparent chamber. Together, these results confirm a rostral hotspot in NAc medial shell as a unique site for orexin induction of hedonic 'liking' enhancement, similar to opioid enhancement. They also reveal distinct roles for orexin and acetylcholine signals in NAc shell for hedonic reactions and motivated behaviors.
The effects of dietary crude protein level on rate, efficiency and composition of gain of growing beef bulls.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary CP level on rate, efficiency and composition of gain of growing beef bulls. In Exp. 1, 59 bulls (333 +/- 15.8 kg) were used. Eleven bulls were slaughtered on d 0 to provide an estimate of initial carcass composition (9-10-11 rib section chemical analyses), and remaining bulls were assigned to treatment diets containing 10, 12 or 14% dietary CP. Bulls fed the 10% CP diet grew slower (P less than .05) than bulls fed the 12 or 14% CP diets, although dry matter intake and feed-to-gain ratio did not differ. Bulls fed the 12% CP diet had fatter carcasses (P less than .05) than bulls fed the 10 or 14% CP diets and had greater daily fat accretion than bulls fed the 10% CP diet. In Exp. 2, 60 bulls (318 +/- 9.0 kg) were used. Bulls were assigned to initial slaughter (n = 6) or to one of three dietary treatments, 10, 12 or 14% CP, and were slaughtered after feeding for 66, 136 or 202 d (n = 6 . treatment -1 . slaughter time -1). Bulls fed 10% CP diets had lower (P less than .05) rates of carcass protein accretion during d 0 to 136 and d 0 to 202. Carcass fat gain was similar among treatments over the entire experiment, although bulls fed the 14% CP diet gained more fat during d 0 to 136 than bulls fed the other treatments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Reality and danger in psychoanalytic treatment

In recent papers there has been considerable interest in the disclosure of the analyst's erotic countertransference. In our view this discussion touches a more fundamental issue: must something "real" take place between analyst and patient in order for real change to occur? And if what takes place is "real," will it not be dangerous and potentially destructive? Tracing the history of psychoanalytic understandings of what is "real" in the patient's life and what is "real" in the transference, we explore these questions in a clinical vignette and discuss the implications of this issue for our understanding of the process of psychoanalytic treatment.
The disturbance decoupling problems for nonlinear control systems with symmetries

A concept of symmetry is defined for nonlinear control systems with outputs. It is shown, under some technical conditions, that nonlinear control systems with symmetries admit local and/or global disturbance decoupling. Sufficient conditions are given for the solvability of global and/or local disturbance decoupling problems for nonlinear control systems with symmetries. >
MiR-150 Suppresses MLL-AF9 Associated Leukemia Through Simultaneously Targeting Multiple Oncogenes,

Abstract 3461 The mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene codes for an evolutionarily conserved histone methyltransferase that is crucial for early hematopoiesis. As a result of a chromosomal translocation involving locus 11q23 results in formation of chimeras composed of the 59 part of the MLL gene fused with more than 60 partner genes lead to disruption of normal function of MLL as a histone methytransferase and acquisition of transcriptional properties conferred by the partner genes. MLL fusion genes (MLL-FG) are often the causal mutations for aggressive acute myeloid and lymphoid leukemias (AML and ALL) that correlated with poor prognosis. In order to treat or even eliminate MLL-associated leukemias, extensive studies on the regulatory mechanism underlying MLL associated transformation and progression have been carried out. Leukemic stem cells (LSC) can derive from either hematopoietic stem or progenitor cells with the recruitment of MLL-fusion genes (MLL-FG) and wild type MLL protein. We report that miR-150, a key hematopoietic regulatory microRNA (miRNA) and one of the most downregulated miRNAs in MLL-associated leukemias, acts as a tumor suppressor to block the leukemogenic potency of leukemic stem cells. When expression of miR-150 was restored, a significantly suppressed leukemic stem cell potency of MLL-AF9 cells was observed both in vivo and in vitro . Gene profiling analysis demonstrated that elevated miR-150 altered various aspects of gene expression patterns in MLL-AF9 cells, including stem cell signatures, cancer pathways, and cell survival. By screening more than 30 predicted target genes, we identified multiple leukemia-associated oncogenes as bona fide miR-150 targets, and knockdown of these genes by shRNAs recapitulated the tumor suppressive effects observed after ectopically expression of miR-150 in MLL-AF9 cells. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Bridging the Gaps: Evolution and Pre-service Science Teachers

Evolution education faces as great a challenge in the modern age as it did when Darwin first put forth his theory of natural selection more than 150 years ago. Even today, when scientists are in broad agreement with evolution as the unifying theory not only in biology but also across scientific disciplines, the public view is that evolution is controversial and divisive. The research surrounding evolution teaching and learning shows us that teachers play a key role in division, specifically when their acceptance or rejection impacts how they teach evolution, if at all. For this reason, pre-service teachers, in the position between student and teacher, give us a focus for our attention and energies for conceptual change. This chapter details where we have been and what is yet needed to impact evolution education via teacher preparation, support, and outreach.
Iodinated Meroditerpenes from a Red Alga Callophycus sp.

Unique iodine-containing meroditerpenes iodocallophycoic acid A (1) and iodocallophycols A–D (2–5) were discovered from the Fijian red alga Callophycus sp. Because flexibility of the molecular skeleton impaired full characterization of relative stereochemistries by NMR spectroscopy, a DFT-based theoretical model was developed to derive relevant interproton distances which were compared to those calculated from NOE measurements, yielding the relative stereochemistries. The correct 2S,6S,7S,10S,14S enantiomers were then identified by comparison of theoretical and experimental ECD spectra. Biological activities of these iodinated and brominated meroditerpenes and additional new, related bromophycoic acid F (6) and bromophycoic acid A methyl ester (7), were evaluated for relevant human disease targets. Iodocallophycoic acid A (1) showed moderate antibiotic activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF) with MIC values of 1.4 and 2.2 μg ...
Hypervalent Iodine Reagents in High Valent Transition Metal Chemistry

Over the last 20 years, high valent metal complexes have evolved from mere curiosities to being at the forefront of modern catalytic method development. This approach has enabled transformations complimentary to those possible via traditional manifolds, most prominently carbon-heteroatom bond formation. Key to the advancement of this chemistry has been the identification of oxidants that are capable of accessing these high oxidation state complexes. The oxidant has to be both powerful enough to achieve the desired oxidation as well as provide heteroatom ligands for transfer to the metal center; these heteroatoms are often subsequently transferred to the substrate via reductive elimination. Herein we will review the central role that hypervalent iodine reagents have played in this aspect, providing an ideal balance of versatile reactivity, heteroatom ligands, and mild reaction conditions. Furthermore, these reagents are environmentally benign, non-toxic, and relatively inexpensive compared to other inorganic oxidants. We will cover advancements in both catalysis and high valent complex isolation with a key focus on the subtle effects that oxidant choice can have on reaction outcome, as well as limitations of current reagents.
Analyzing dynamic data: A tutorial☆

Abstract Modern data collection techniques allow for intensive measurement within subjects. Analyzing this type of data requires analyzing data at the within subject as well as between subject level. Although sometimes conclusions will be the same at both levels, it is frequently the case that examining within subject data will show much more complex patterns of results than when they are simply aggregated. This tutorial is a simple introduction to the kind of data analytic strategies that are possible using the open source statistical language, R .
A Meta-Analysis of Age of Onset and Disease Course in Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer's Disease Mutations (PD5.002)

OBJECTIVE: To develop evidence-based criteria for early prediction of disease onset in autosomal dominant Alzheimer9s disease (ADAD). BACKGROUND: ADAD genetics has been highly beneficial to understanding AD pathogenesis, with investigators discovering over 180 different mutations in three genes (APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2) which are now known to be directly involved in production of the amyloid-beta peptide implicated as a primary cause of AD pathology. While these mutations all cause early onset AD with virtually complete penetrance, they demonstrate significant heterogeneity in age of onset and disease course, which has not yet been analyzed in a comprehensive way. Several clinical trials are now preparing to evaluate candidate treatments for presymptomatic AD in ADAD patient populations. If evidence-based criteria can be developed for prospectively estimating disease onset, clinical research in ADAD can provide unique benefits by enrolling patient cohorts at well-defined time points in early disease. DESIGN/METHODS: We have compiled individual-level data on age of symptom onset from three independent projects studying ADAD extended families, and combined this with data extracted from 108 peer-reviewed publications of ADAD pedigrees. Our combined dataset contains 337 families including 3011 individuals, of whom 1170 were affected by ADAD with known age of symptom onset. After adjusting for ascertainment bias, we used linear regression in R to assess several measures derived from family history as potential predictors of disease onset in individual patients. RESULTS: We report summary statistics describing disease onset and course for 163 pathogenic mutations in our meta-analysis dataset, and discover highly significant correlations between age of onset of individual patients and adjusted mean onset values for mutation type and family. CONCLUSIONS: A significant proportion of variance in symptom onset in ADAD is explained by statistical measures derived from family history and mutation type, providing empirical support for use of these data to estimate onset in clinical research. Supported by: The Dominant Inherited Alzheimer9s Network (DIAN) Consortium. Disclosure: Dr. Ryman has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bateman has received personal compensation for activities with Link Medicine, JAI, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Pfizer Inc, Merck, SPRI, Elan Corporation, Eisai Inc., and Medtronic, Inc. Dr. Bateman has received royalty payments from Washington University. Dr. Bateman has received research support from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals and Merck & Co., Inc.
God, Party, and the Poor: How Politics and Religion Interact to Affect Economic Justice Attitudes

Moral attitudes justifying economic inequality are often embedded within conservative religion and politics in the United States, even as traditional Christian values assert the need for compassion toward the poor. Using the Baylor Religion Survey, we assessed the role of religion in influencing partisan attitudes about poverty, finding that Republicans not only oppose federal policy aimed toward redistribution of wealth but also articulate less of a personal moral obligation to help the poor. However, Republicans who believe in a highly engaged God are strikingly similar to Democrats on these economic justice issues, suggesting that some types of religion do make conservatives more “compassionate.”
Chord and Third Chain Classes

This section contains the list of all isomorphism classes of zero-addressed chords in PiMod12. The meanings of the column items are explained in Section 11.3.7.
Superheater Tube Corrosion in Wood Gasifier Ash Deposits

The upper operating temperature of tubes in heat exchangers/steam generators is strongly influenced by the degradation that can occur because of the reaction of the exchanger/generator tubing with the deposits that accumulate on the surface of the tubes. In fact, severe corrosion has been observed in some biomass fired systems, particularly with elevated potassium and chlorine concentrations in the deposits. Wood gasifiers have recently been and are currently being constructed at several sites in North America. In these systems, the syngas is burned to produce steam and the performance of the heat exchanger tubes under ash deposits is of great concern. As temperatures of the heat exchangers are increased in an effort to increase their operating efficiency, the performance of the tubes is of greater interest. The corrosion behavior of alloy steel tubes as a function of temperature has been investigated by exposing samples of selected alloys to ash collected from the steam generator fired by syngas produced in wood gasifiers. This study compares corrosion rates from laboratory exposures of synthesis gas and ash at 500°C and 600°C.
Mary Griffin at Derby Foods

Mary Griffin, Vice President of Consumer Products, must provide feedback to one of her direct reports, Simon York. York is a strong performer, but he has displayed some poor interpersonal skills in the manner in which he interacts with his team and the production staff. Griffin needs to provide feedback to help prevent York from derailing in his career at Derby Foods.Learning Objective:To explore the process of providing feedback and coaching for a direct report. Provides opportunity for role-playing and experimentation.
Osteoporosis: radiologic and nuclear medicine procedures.

A number of radiographic and nuclear medicine techniques are available for the assessment of patients suspected of having osteoporosis or at risk for the development of osteoporosis. Spinal radiographs are insensitive indicators of osteoporosis. They can document the presence of metastatic tumors or other lesions that may produce compression fracture. The Singh index assesses the trabecular pattern of the proximal femur. As bone loss occurs, the trabeculae disappear in a definite sequence. Radiogrammetry refers to the measurement of bone and cortical widths in the peripheral skeleton, usually the second metacarpal. The method is low cost and most useful for population studies. It does not reflect early osteoporosis. Photodensitometry entails radiography of a part of a bone with inclusion of a standard reference wedge on the radiograph. The density of the bone is compared with the wedge. In some laboratories, precision is good (1.5 percent) and the radiation dose is low. Peripheral cortical bone is measured primarily, which is a disadvantage. Single photon absorptiometry uses the transmission of 27.5 keV photons emitted from an iodine-125 source to assess bone density. In most instances, measurements of the radial shaft are made, which reflect primarily cortical bone rather than the more reactive trabecular bone. The distal end of the radius and the calcaneus may also be measured; these areas contain primarily trabecular bone. Radiation dose is low (less than 10 mrad), but when cortical bone is evaluated, the results correlate poorly with spinal bone mineral. Thus, the test is an insensitive indicator of spinal osteoporosis. Dual energy photon absorptiometry uses a gadolinium-153 isotope source to emit photons of two different energies. The spine, hip, or total bone mineral can be evaluated. The radiation dose is low(<20 mrem). Although the axial skeleton can be assessed, the scan reflects the density of both the cortical and the trabecular bone and any adjacent calcification.Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) uses a reference phantom that is scanned adjacent to the patient to correct for scanner variations. The study allows the trabecular bone of the spine to be evaluated separately from the cortical bone. Precision is 1-3 percent. Accuracy is decreased by the presence (in older individuals) of vertebral marrow fat that makes the measured values of bone mineral spuriously low.CT scanning, using two X-ray energies, can improve accuracy, but decreases precision.
Pharmacokinetics of actinomycin 0 in patients with malignant melanoma

The distribution and excretion of tritiated actinomycin D have been determined in 3 adult patients with disseminated malignant melanoma. In the blood, the drug was preferentially taken up into nucleated cells. The urinary and fecal excretion was prolonged and only about 30 per cent of the dose of actinomycin was recovered in 9 days. There was evidence that the drug was concentrated in bone marrow and tumor cells, but did not readily cross the blood-brain barrier. The long tissue half-lige of actinomycin D suggeststhat an intermittenr schedule of administration would be the most effective.
Dispositional and organizational sources of job satisfaction: a cross-national study

Job satisfaction has proven to be a resilient contributor to employee motivation, productivity, organizational commitment, absenteeism, and turnover. Utilizing cross-national data from five Asian c...
Clinical workup of fatty liver for the primary care provider

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is quickly emerging as a global epidemic in parallel with the rise in obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome. NAFLD, once seen simply as a passive consequence of the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), has been found to interact with other features of MetS to exacerbate insulin resistance, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. NAFLD is also becoming the top indication for liver transplant and an important risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma. Treatment of this disorder is limited mainly to lifestyle modifications to promote weight loss along with consideration for off-label use of certain medications, but recent progression in clinical trials means more effective treatments are on the horizon. Therefore, the primary care provider must be prepared to recognize and determine the severity of this disorder in order to optimize management. In this review, we will discuss risk factors for NAFLD, workup and differential, and finally, offer recommendations on screening.
Interdisciplinary Teams and Home-Based Medical Care: Secondary Analysis of a National Survey.

Abstract Objectives The objective of this study was to describe the use of interdisciplinary teams (IDTs) in home-based medical care practices. Design We performed a secondary data analysis using results from the 2013 National Home-Based Primary Care and Palliative Care Network survey of home-based medical care (HBMC) practices. Setting and Participants Two hundred forty-six unique HBMC practices were included in this study. Methods Descriptive statistics and frequency distributions were generated on the sample characteristics, practice IDT configurations, and routine use of IDT meetings. Associations between practice characteristics, IDT configuration, and routine use of IDT meetings were analyzed using bivariate analyses and logistic regression. Results Sixty percent of practices held routinely scheduled IDT meetings. Most practices that used IDTs reported meeting weekly (42.2%) or monthly (26.5%). The most common practice team configurations included billing providers without teams (45.9%), billing providers with both a care coordinator and nurse (23.7%), then practices with either a billing provider and nurse (14.9%) or a billing provider with a care coordinator (14.2%). Practices that conducted regular IDT meetings were more likely to be a group practice rather than solo practice (59% vs 45%, P = .03), be owned or sponsored by a primary hospital or health system rather than an independent practice (23% vs 12%, P = .03), be financially subsidized by a hospital or health system rather than be independently financed (17% vs 6%, P = .01), be affiliated with an academic institution rather than not (30% vs 16%, P = .01), and be a not-for-profit vs for-profit entity (30% vs 17% P = .03). Conclusions and Implications There is substantial diversity in IDT integration in HBMC practices. Routine IDT care in HBMC will improve care quality but will require clear standards and accountability for it to be fully integrated into HBMC practice.
Leading-edge vortex dynamics and impulse-based lift force analysis of oscillating airfoils

The vortex dynamics and lift force generated by a sinusoidally heaving and pitching airfoil during dynamic stall are experimentally investigated for reduced frequencies of $$k = fc/U_{\infty } = 0.06{-}0.16$$, pitching amplitude of $$\theta _0 = 75^\circ$$ and heaving amplitude of $$h_0/c = 0.6$$. The lift force is calculated from the velocity fields using the finite-domain impulse theory. The concept of moment-arm dilemma associated with the impulse equation is revisited to shed light on its physical impact on the calculated forces. It is shown that by selecting an objectively defined origin of the moment-arm, the impulse force equation can be greatly simplified to two terms that have a clear physical meaning: (1) the time rate of change of impulse of vortical structures within the control volume and (2) Lamb vector that indirectly captures the contribution of vortical structures outside of the control volume. The results show that the trend of the lift force is dependent on the formation of the leading-edge vortex, as well as its time rate of change of circulation and chord-wise advection relative to the airfoil. Additionally, the trailing-edge vortex, which is observed to only form for $$k \le 0.10$$, is shown to have lift-diminishing effects that intensify with increasing reduced frequency. Lastly, the concept of optimal vortex formation is investigated. The leading-edge vortex is shown to attain the optimal formation number of approximately 4 for $$k \le 0.1$$, when the scaling is based on the leading-edge shear velocity. For larger values of k the vortex growth is delayed to later in the cycle and does not reach its optimal value. The result is that the peak lift force occurs later in the cycle. This has consequences on power production which relies on correlation of the relative timing of lift force and heaving velocity.
The EFI Web Resource for Genomic Enzymology Tools: Leveraging Protein, Genome, and Metagenome Databases to Discover Novel Enzymes and Metabolic Pathways.

The assignment of functions to uncharacterized proteins discovered in genome projects requires easily accessible tools and computational resources for large-scale, user-friendly leveraging of the protein, genome, and metagenome databases by experimentalists. This article describes the web resource developed by the Enzyme Function Initiative (EFI; accessed at https://efi.igb.illinois.edu/) that provides “genomic enzymology” tools (“web tools”) for (1) generating sequence similarity networks (SSNs) for protein families (EFI-EST); (2) analyzing and visualizing genome context of the proteins in clusters in SSNs (in genome neighborhood networks, GNNs, and genome neighborhood diagrams, GNDs) (EFI-GNT); and (3) prioritizing uncharacterized SSN clusters for functional assignment based on metagenome abundance (chemically guided functional profiling, CGFP) (EFI-CGFP). The SSNs generated by EFI-EST are used as the input for EFI-GNT and EFI-CGFP, enabling easy transfer of information among the tools. The networks are...
Variety Selection and Management

Selecting a potato variety to grow and successfully market has become more complex in recent years, as the number and range of market types and acceptable attributes has greatly increased. Changing consumer preferences have also been a significant driving force behind this change, resulting in a much more colorful market produce section than in the past. Descriptions are provided for some of the major varieties grown in North America, along with their morphological and agronomic characteristics, incentives for production, strengths and weaknesses, and key management considerations. Although variety acceptance in the marketplace is a dynamic process, many of these varieties have remained and will likely remain in commerce for years to come.
Altering Planting Date to Manage Melanaphis sacchari (Hemiptera: Aphididae) Populations in Sweet Sorghum

Melanaphis sacchari Zehntner is a new pest of sweet sorghum in the United States, with the potential to cause complete crop failure. In Kentucky, sweet sorghum is normally planted in early May and harvested in late August or September. Planting sweet sorghum earlier in the season may avoid damaging levels of M. sacchari that develop in late summer. In a 2-yr field study, three different planting dates separated by a month (April, May, and June) were tested for their effect on M. sacchari densities and sweet sorghum yield. April (early) planted sweet sorghum was grown in greenhouses and transplanted to the field. May (mid) and June (late) planted sweet sorghum were direct seeded in the field. Melanaphis sacchari population densities were evaluated weekly starting in June. Sweet sorghum was harvested at the onset of the hard dough stage. Plots were split into two subplots, insecticide or noninsecticide, in the second year to control for planting date effect on yield. Early-planted sweet sorghum had lower aphid densities, but had lower yield relative to mid-planting date, which had the highest yield. Insecticide drenches in 2019 reduced cumulative aphid days in mid-plantings and late plantings, but did not significantly affect yield within planting dates. Seeding sweet sorghum earlier can reduce M. sacchari densities; however, this method alone may not provide the highest yields. We documented that the recommended planting date (May) for Kentucky produced the highest yield.
Learning Delegation Through Role-Play: A Problem-Based Learning Activity for Nursing Students.

ABSTRACT According to the American Nurses Association and National Council of State Boards of Nursing 2019 guidelines, teaching strategies are needed to engage students in the application of delegation knowledge and skills. Students need opportunities to gain experience with delegation decision-making in a safe, risk-free environment. This article describes the instructional design and evaluation of an innovative role-play activity to engage senior-level nursing students in delegation decision-making.
Path Integral Quantization

This is a self-contained and compact introduction to the derivation and methods of path integral approaches to quantum mechanics and quantum field theory. The necessary background mathematics as well as illustrative examples are included.
Photoelectron angular distributions in photodetachment from polarised d-like states: the case of HO2 −

We present a photoelectron imaging study of the angular distributions in HO2 − photodetachment. The transitions studied correspond to electron detachment from the a ″ HOMO and a′ HOMO−1 of HO2 −, y...
Enabling High Efficiency in Low-Voltage Soft-Switching Current Source Converters

While conventional reverse blocking (RB) switch structures consisting of an active switch (MOSFET or IGBT) and a series diode can enable high efficiency operation in high-voltage (>600 VAC and >1000 VDC), high-power (25-50 kVA) current source converters (CSCs), the high conduction losses associated with conventional RB structures have prevented widescale adoption of CSCs in low-voltage applications. This work presents the design and experimental validation of the patent-pending Synchronous Reverse Blocking Switch, a method of integrating a bidirectional dual-active-switch structure into the Soft-Switching Solid-State Transformer (S4T) topology to unlock high efficiency operation in low-voltage, high-current applications. By leveraging the operating principles of the S4T, whose control eliminates the possibility of shoot-through and provides zero-voltage switching (ZVS) conditions for all power devices across the entire load range, the Synchronous Reverse Blocking Switch has been demonstrated to offer significant conduction loss reductions while also mitigating the reverse recovery of the PN-junction MOSFET body diode which replaces the series diode of the conventional RB switch. Key contributions of this work include device-level validation of the reverse recovery mitigation mechanism of the Synchronous RB Switch, and system level validation through the design and performance measurement of a 48 VDC S4T bridge, which achieved 97.8% efficiency at a power delivery level of 750W and evidenced the strategy’s benign reverse recovery properties.
Analysis of Atomistic Potentials for Poly(ethylene glycol) Ethers.

Two different potentials, the modified TraPPE-UA model of Fischer, J. [ J. Phys. Chem. B 2008, 112, 2388–2398] and the modified general AMBER force-field (GAFF) model of Barbosa, N. S. V. [ J. Mol....
ECG-gated MR angiography provides better reproducibility for standard aortic measurements

Cardiac motion and aortic pulsatility can affect the image quality of 3D contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA). The addition of ECG gating improves image quality; however, no studies have directly linked image quality improvements to clinically used measures. In this study, we directly compared diameter measurements in the same patient from ECG-gated to non-gated CE-MRA to evaluate the impact of ECG gating upon measurement reproducibility. Fifty-three patients, referred for thoracic aortic angiography, were enrolled and underwent both non-gated and ECG-gated CE-MRA. Two readers independently measured vessel diameter, image quality, and vessel sharpness at the sinus of Valsalva (SOV), sinotubular junction (STJX), ascending aorta (AAO), distal aortic arch (DLSA), and descending aorta (DAO). Measurement reliability and reproducibility were compared between methods. Image quality with ECG gating was rated significantly higher at the SOV (3.2 ± 0.9 vs 1.2 ± 1.0, p < 0.0001), STJX (3.4 ± 0.7 vs 1.8 ± 1.0, p < 0.0001), AAO (3.5 ± 0.6 vs 1.7 ± 1.1 p < 0.0001), DLSA (4.0 ± 0.1 vs 3.6 ± 0.7, p = 0.006), and DAO (4.0 ± 0.1 vs 3.4 ± 0.9 p < 0.0001) than for non-gated studies. Bland-Altman analyses demonstrated that inter- and intra-observer variability was significantly smaller for ECG-gated MRA at the SOV and AAO. For the non-gated images at the SOV, the 95% limits of agreement for both inter- and intra-observer variability exceeded the growth-rate cutoff for surgical repair (0.5 cm). At the DAO, variability was similar between the two techniques. ECG-gated CE-MRA resulted in improved reproducibility in aortic root and ascending aortic measurements. These data suggest that ECG-gated CE-MRA should be used for the serial assessment of the ascending thoracic aorta. • ECG-gated CE-MRA improves the reproducibility and repeatability of measurements of the ascending aorta. • With non-gated CE-MRA, pulsatile motion in the proximal aorta results in significant variability in measurement reproducibility.
From “Inherently Safe” to “Proliferation Resistant”: New Perspectives on Reactor Designs

A recent American “mini-series” on Chernobyl, widely watched across the world, presented viewers with the concluding finding that this massive accident had occurred because the reactor design had i...
Matrix Metalloproteinase MMP-12 Promotes Macrophage Transmigration Across Intestinal Epithelial Tight Junctions and Increases Severity of Experimental Colitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Matrix metalloproteinases [MMPs] play an important role in extracellular matrix regulation during cell growth and wound healing. Increased expression of MMP-12 [human macrophage elastase] has been reported in inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] which is characterised by the loss of epithelial tight junction [TJ] barrier function and an excessive inflammatory response. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of MMP-12 in intestinal TJ barrier function and inflammation. METHODS Wild type [WT] and MMP-12-/- mice were subjected to experimental acute or chronic dextran sodium sulphate [DSS] colitis. The mouse colonic permeability was measured in vivo by recycling perfusion of the entire colon and ex vivo by Ussing chamber studies. RESULTS DSS administration increased colonic permeability through modulation of TJ proteins and also increased MMP-12 expression in the colonic mucosa of WT mice. The acute as well as chronic DSS-induced increase in colonic TJ permeability and the severity of DSS colitis was found to be markedly attenuated in MMP-12-/- mice. The resistance of MMP-12-/- mice to DSS colitis was characterised by reduced macrophage infiltration and transmigration, and reduced basement membrane laminin degradation. Further in vitro and in vivo studies show that macrophage transmigration across the epithelial layer is MMP-12 dependent and the epithelial TJ barrier is compromised during macrophage transmigration. Conclusions: Together, these data demonstrate that MMP-12 mediated degradation of basement membrane laminin, macrophage transmigration, and associated loss of intestinal TJ barrier are key pathogenic factors for intestinal inflammation.