cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A cognitive approach to international organization: Perspective and application

Some social psychology literature has suggested that social organization exists in time, not in space. Organization as a living system would not evolve over time, however, unless a meaningful identity had been given to it by interacting members. This view of social organization can be applied to organizations at all levels. This article deals with the search for identity at the individual and the international levels. International organization can be seen as processes of seeking common cause-maps by interacting national leaders. The function of organization is to develop a consistent, self-binding, and shared interpretation of world events by the interacting national representatives serving as information ingestors, distributors, and receivers. This organizational process would congeal the evolution of a supranational living system if congruence among various national role conceptions were to be greatly enhanced through negotiation. The paper discusses the implications of two kinds of national role conceptions to conflict resolution. At the end, the cognitive approach is applied to East Asia to illustrate its analytical utility.
Computerized image recognition for morphometry of nerve attribute of shape of sampled transverse sections of myelinated fibers which best estimates their average diameter

Abstract A computerized image recognition method was used to measure various attributes of shape of cross-sections of myelinated nerve fibers. Measurements were made at intervals over 12 internode of each fiber on 20 fibers from each of 4 sural nerves from rats. Diameters were computed in 6 different ways from the computer measurements and compared for bias, precision, and accuracy between sections and to the diameter of an idealized cylinder reconstructed for each fiber from multiple actual cross sections. The diameter computed from cross-sectional areas of transversely sectioned myelinated fibers, converted into a circle, showed the highest precision, greatest accuracy and least bias. Fibers were classified by shape and the frequency was determined in defined regions (I 1 = paranodal, I 3 = nuclear and I 2 = region between I 1 and I 3 ) of the 12 internode. A crenated shape is highly characteristic of the I 1 region. The boomerang shape was found most frequently in I 3 whereas the circular shape was found most frequently in I 2 . Epileptical and boomerang shapes of myelinated fibers within fascicles which have been orientated carefully to obtain transverse sections, are not due to obliquity of section. Therefore, using the minor axis to determine the diameter of such profiles, as we had done previously in our laboratory, is in error. We conclude from these studies, that in carefully orientated transverse sections of nerve trunks, the diameter calculated from measurement of area converted to a circular shape is the best among the various estimates of myelinated fiber diameter and is the most suitable one for use in computerized image recognition systems for nerve morphometry. It seems reasonable to extrapolate this general conclusion to myelinated fibers of man.
Changes at the 3′-untranslated region stabilize Rubisco activase transcript levels during heat stress in Arabidopsis

Inhibition of photosynthesis by heat stress is accompanied by functional impairment of Rubisco’s chaperone, activase (RCA), resulting in deactivation of Rubisco. Since activase is extremely sensitive to thermal denaturation, changes in expression of RCA at the transcript or protein level could provide a mechanism for acclimation of photosynthesis to prolonged heat stress. Using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) we show steady-state RCA transcript levels in Arabidopsis thaliana are stabilized during prolonged exposure to moderate heat (35 °C). A survey of RCA transcripts indicates heat stress did not alter the relative abundance of transcripts encoding α and β-isoforms of activase that are produced by alternative splicing of the pre-mRNA. Instead, mRNA stabilization in heat-stressed plants coincided with a significant reduction in the average length of activase 3′-untranslated regions, and was associated with enrichment of an uncharacterized activase mRNA splice variant, AtRCAβ2. Transcript-specific qPCR revealed AtRCAβ2 mRNA was more stable than AtRCAα and AtRCAβ mRNA in heat-stressed plants. Using an inducible transgenic system, we found that RCA transcripts lacking their native 3′-untranslated region were significantly more stable than their full-length counterparts in vivo. Using this system, stability of the RCA protein was examined over 24 h in vivo, in the absence of RCA transcription. At both optimal and elevated temperatures, RCA protein levels remained stable in plants lacking RCA mRNA, but increased when RCA mRNA was present, particularly in heat-stressed plants. This study reveals a possible mechanism, involving post-transcriptional regulation of an important photosynthesis regulatory gene, for acclimation of photosynthesis to heat stress.
Ground state structures in ordered B.C.C. ternary alloys with second-neighbor interactions

Abstract Ground state structures in b.c.c. and f.c.c. ordered binary alloys have been investigated using a model which assumes pairwise interactions of an atom with its first and second neighbors. Because of the constraints of composition and crystal structure, it is not always possible to surround each atom with only favorable bond types. This paper presents a rigorous mathematical technique that uses linear programming to determine the arrangements of atoms in binary alloys that will have the minimum energy given by the optimum trade-off between the number of unfavorable first and second neighbor bonds for any basic crystal structure. This technique is applied to b.c.c. and f.c.c. ordered alloys. The results constitute a proof that the previously proposed ground state structures were correct for those b.c.c. and f.c.c. alloys in which there is a tendency to minimize the number of first neighbor bonds between like atoms; in addition, new results are given for those b.c.c. and f.c.c. alloys in which there is a tendency to minimize the number of first neighbor bonds between unlike atoms.
Toward Image Guided Robotic Surgery: System Validation

Purpose: Navigation for current robotic assisted surgical techniques is primarily accomplished through a stereo pair of laparoscopic camera images. These images provide standard optical visualization of the surface but provide no subsurface information. Image guidance methods allow the visualization of subsurface information to determine the current position in relationship to that of tracked tools.Materials and Methods: A robotic image guided surgical system was designed and implemented based on our previous laboratory studies. A series of experiments using tissue mimicking phantoms with injected target lesions was performed. The surgeon was asked to resect “tumor” tissue with and without the augmentation of image guidance using the da Vinci® robotic surgical system. Resections were performed and compared to an ideal resection based on the radius of the tumor measured from preoperative computerized tomography. A quantity called the resection ratio, that is the ratio of resected tissue compared to the ide...
A Study of Microscale Gas Trapping Using Etched Silicon Micromodels

Immobilization and trapping of carbon dioxide (CO2) enhances the security of geological storage. Trapping mechanisms have been characterized in four groups: structural, residual, dissolution, and mineralization. While structural trapping acts immediately when injection starts and is well investigated, the contribution of residual and dissolution trapping increases over storage time and these contributions need to be better understood for better predictions. This paper focuses on an experimental pore-scale investigation of residual and capillary trapping. CO2–water imbibition experiments were conducted in micromodels whose homogenous pore space is geometrically and topologically similar to Berea sandstone. Microvisual data, photographs and video footage, describes the trapping mechanism and, especially, the disconnection and shrinkage of the CO2 phase. Results show that depending on the flow rate of the imbibing water different trapping mechanisms are observed. Lower flow rates, comparable to the trailing edge of a CO2 plume, lead to more snap-off events and greater trapped residual saturation, whereas rates comparable to the near wellbore area during enhanced sequestration showed displacement of gas bubbles and greater dissolution that ultimately leads to very low or zero gas saturations. Furthermore, complete dissolution events showed that homogenous as well as heterogeneous dissolution occurs. Whereas the latter is subdivided into microbubble formation and dissolution on crevices or pore roughness, the former occurs without the influence of pore walls. Based on the observations we suggest that the type of rock and its roughness as well as the fines present at the CO2 brine interface are important factors determining the dissolution mechanism.
A standard conical point drill grinding machine

This paper describes a drill grinding machine that can produce conical twist drill points with very accurately specified point shapes. The machine is adjusted by precise orthogonal movements using shims and gages to make sure that the drill parameters are set precisely. The confidence in the point shape produced is high enough that inspection of the points produced is not necessary.
Volcanology of Arnus Vallis, Mars

Abstract Arnus Vallis (AV) is a >300-km-long sinuous, rille located on the northeastern flank of the Syrtis Major volcano on Mars. Observational evidence presented here suggests that AV formed as an open lava channel that was at least partly incised into the pre-existing terrain. The lava source area consists of a sub-circular pit at the southwestern end of a 7-km-long straight section of channel. AV trends down slope from this source with an average bottom slope of 0.26% or 0.14°. Width varies from ∼1 km at the source to ∼0.6 km near the distal end, with a mean of 0.76 km. Depth decreases from ∼180 m at the source to ∼25 m near the distal end. The AV terminus is obscured by a large impact crater. We suggest that the material that flowed in AV must have been a relatively high temperature, low viscosity lava dynamically and perhaps compositionally similar to terrestrial komatiite or some lunar basalt lavas. If correct, this finding has implications for the mode of construction of Syrtis Major.
Postoperative enteral hyperalimentation results in earlier elevation of serum branched-chain amino acid levels

To objectively document the immediate maintenance and successful exploitation of postoperative gastrointestinal (GI) function, elemental diet was infused into the more distal duodenum of 30 cholecystectomy patients at 300 kcal per hour, beginning on arrival at the recovery room. Approximately 4,600 kcal and 190 grams of amino acids were absorbed during the initial 16 hours. Serum branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) had risen above basal levels at 4 hours, statistically significant only for leucine (+64%). The higher concentrations had reached statistical significance for all BCAAs by 6 hours, when leucine had risen by 83%, isoleucine by 54%, and valine by 47%. The elevated BCAA and glucose levels sustained throughout the hyperalimentation period objectively verify that postoperative GI function can be safely exploited, and may contribute to improved wound healing and sepsis resistance.
Respiratory characteristics of the hemoglobin-free fish Chaenocephalus aceratus

Abstract 1. 1. Studies on the Antarctic hemoglobin-free fish Chaenocephalus aceratus showed that the oxygen consumption was unusually low; the resting rate at 1°C averaged 0·020 ml O 2 /g per hr. 2. 2. The rate was little affected by the oxygen content of the water at oxygen tensions above 40–50 mm Hg, indicating a high respiratory efficiency. 3. 3. Low blood lactic acid levels at rest (2–6 mg LA/100 ml) and after anoxic stress (24–36 mg LA/100 ml) indicate no unusually high anaerobic metabolism. 4. 4. The main respiratory compensation to the absence of hemoglobin appears to be an increase of blood volume (6·1–9·3 per cent w/w) and a high cutaneous respiration.
Using a Targeted Rubric to Deepen Direct Assessment of College Students’ Abilities to Evaluate the Credibility of Sources

At the Sonoma State University Library, a rubric was designed specifically for deepening the assessment of freshmen students’ ability to evaluate the credibility of sources. The course-level rubric was developed after program-level assessments proved too broad to uncover specific challenges in this particular skill. As a direct assessment tool, the rubric allows teaching faculty and librarians to more clearly identify and address the smaller steps required for a student to successfully learn to evaluate a source. The rubric and the results of using it as an assessment tool with a freshmen-level, general education oral communication/critical thinking course are discussed.
Exact and Approximate Distributions for the Wilcoxon Statistic with Ties

Abstract The exact distribution of the Wilcoxon statistic was calculated for five specific cases where both samples contained five observations, some of which were tied. The five specific cases were obtained from an actual experiment. The exact distributions for each of these five cases are compared with some approximations at points near 1, 5, and 10 per cent. Critical values and associated probabilities have been calculated for the exact and approximate distributions.
Increased Expression of LDL Receptor-Related Protein 1 during Human Cytomegalovirus Infection Reduces Virion Cholesterol and Infectivity

Summary In response to virus infection, cells can alter protein expression to modify cellular functions and limit viral replication. To examine host protein expression during infection with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), an enveloped DNA virus, we performed a semiquantitative, temporal analysis of the cell surface proteome in infected fibroblasts. We determined that resident low density lipoprotein related receptor 1 (LRP1), a plasma membrane receptor that regulates lipid metabolism, is elevated early after HCMV infection, resulting in decreased intracellular cholesterol. siRNA knockdown or antibody-mediated inhibition of LRP1 increased intracellular cholesterol and concomitantly increased the infectious virus yield. Virions produced under these conditions contained elevated cholesterol, resulting in increased infectivity. Depleting cholesterol from virions reduced their infectivity by blocking fusion of the virion envelope with the cell membrane. Thus, LRP1 restricts HCMV infectivity by controlling the availability of cholesterol for the virion envelope, and increased LRP1 expression is likely a defense response to infection.
Obesity and the kidney: Why is the kidney at risk?

Two recent studies may help to account for the increase in risk of renal injury associated with obesity. One study pointed to a role for renin-system activation. In the other study, the pattern of renal hemodynamics was compatible with a renin mechanism.
Military nurses' experiences returning from war

Aim This paper is a report of a study conducted to describe the military nurses' post-deployment experiences and their meaning. Background Today, similar to past conflicts, military nurses are faced with many different stressors, moral dilemmas and loss in a compressed amount of time while deployed. These exposures place both military nurses and their families at risk for difficulty adjusting when deployment ends. This study addresses military nurses' experiences returning to personal and professional roles post-deployment. Design Qualitative, narrative inquiry. Method Thematic analysis of data collected in 2012 from in-depth semi-structured interviews with ten military nurses. Findings Description of the experience had five themes: ‘learning to manage changes in the environment’; ‘facing the reality of multiple losses’; ‘feeling like it's all so trivial now’; ‘figuring out where I ‘fit’ in all the chaos'; and ‘working through the guilt to move forward’. Description of the meaning of the experience had two themes: ‘serving a greater purpose’ and ‘looking at life through a new lens’. Conclusion It is critical for military nurses and leaders, healthcare providers, nursing administration/educators, as well as nurses who work alongside military nurses, both in the USA and in other countries, to have a better understanding of the meaning of the deployment experience so they may provide support to these nurses during the post-deployment phase. Lessons learned may benefit future military nurses and may also be transferable to nurses who support humanitarian and disaster missions.
Low-dose steroids for septic shock and severe sepsis: the use of Bayesian statistics to resolve clinical trial controversies

Purpose Low-dose steroids have shown contradictory results in trials and three recent meta-analyses. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of low-dose steroids for severe sepsis and septic shock by Bayesian methodology.
Building an Open Cloud

The Internet is entering an exciting, third phase, as important as its second phase, the World Wide Web. Thanks to paradigms for distributed computing such as Web 2.0, Web Services, and Software as a Service, the Internet is becoming a platform for computing as well as communications. This new platform, the Cloud ( 1 ), is a many-to-many medium that can link millions of users to thousands of computers simultaneously (see the figure). It represents a fundamental shift in how computing is done. To quote Eric Schmidt, the CEO of Google, “We're moving into the era of ‘cloud’ computing, with information and applications hosted in the diffuse atmosphere of cyberspace rather than on specific processors and silicon racks. The network will truly be the computer” ( 2 ).
Subxyphoid 2-dimensional echocardiographic identification of left ventricular papillary muscle anomalies in complete common atrioventricular canal

Abstract Mitral valve dysfunction is probably the major cause of operative mortality from total repair of complete common atrioventricular (AV) canal in infancy. The presence of a solitary left ventricular (LV) papillary muscle appears to be 1 anatomic factor influencing the success of mitral reconstruction because suturing of the cleft between the superior and inferior components of the anterior mitral leaflet creates a parachute mitral valve deformity, which may result in stenosis or in unduly high tension on the components of the repair. This study reports on (1) the 2-dimensional (2-D) echocardiographic appearance of the LV papillary muscle architecture in patients with complete common AV canal compared with that in normal subjects, and (2) the incidence of solitary LV papillary muscle in patients with complete common AV canal. Two-dimensional echocardiography was performed in 31 infants with complete common AV canal, 14 normal infants, and 9 infants with a large ventricular septal defect not involving the AV canal region. Of 31 infants with complete common AV canal, 26 (80%) had 2 LV papillary muscles on 2-D echocardiography, 3 (10%) had 3 LV papillary muscles, and 3 (10%) had 1 LV papillary muscle. In patients with 2 LV papillary muscles, the anterolateral papillary muscle was displaced posteriorly compared with that in normal subjects and in patients with ventricular septal defect, whereas the posteromedial papillary muscle was in its normal location. Among the 25 patients with complete common AV canal with 2 LV papillary muscles, there was 1 operative death. Among the 6 infants with complete common AV canal with LV papillary muscle anomalies, 5 underwent surgical repair with 4 early deaths. Subxyphoid 2-D echocardiography is a useful technique for evaluating LV papillary muscle architecture in complete common AV canal and permits identification of patients who may be at higher risk for unsuccessful mitral reconstruction.
Effect of a stimulus paired with reinforcement as a function of reinforcement magnitude

A leverpressing response of rats conditioned with one food pellet in the presence of a light was disrupted when an auditory stimulus was presented that had been previously paired with eight pellets. The results were discussed in terms of a model stressing stimulus properties of anticipatory states.
Developmentally appropriate public school preschool: A study of implementation of the high/scope curriculum and its effects on disadvantaged children's skills at first grade

Although preschool for disadvantaged children is strongly supported nationally as a beneficial endeavor, the research that underlies this support has mostly been limited to small-scale, high-quality programs. Some have questioned the ability of public schools to provide similar experiences and outcomes for young children. This study finds that large-scale public school programs can provide developmentally appropriate experiences for disadvantaged young children that contribute to increased skills in first grade. Based on a measure of fidelity of implementation of the High/Scope curriculum, it appears that programs implementing the curriculum moderately to very well contribute more to school success than programs with low levels of implementation. It is recommended that policy makers consider the use of a system combining ongoing evaluation of practices with staff training as a way of maintaining high levels of program implementation and effectiveness.
Magnetic excitations in the kondo liquid: superconductivity and hidden magnetic quantum critical fluctuations.

We report Knight-shift experiments on the superconducting heavy-electron material ${\mathrm{CeCoIn}}_{5}$ that allow one to track with some precision the behavior of the heavy-electron Kondo liquid in the superconducting state with results in agreement with BCS theory. An analysis of the $^{115}\mathrm{In}$ nuclear quadrupole resonance spin-lattice relaxation rate ${T}_{1}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ measurements under pressure reveals the presence of $2d$ magnetic quantum critical fluctuations in the heavy-electron component that are a promising candidate for the pairing mechanism in this material. Our results are consistent with an antiferromagnetic quantum critical point located at slightly negative pressure in ${\mathrm{CeCoIn}}_{5}$ and provide additional evidence for significant similarities between the heavy-electron materials and the high-${T}_{c}$ cuprates.
Feedback-A Key to Effective Writing

Techniques (what to avoid and what to use) when responding to writing efforts of LD students
Two supplemental scoring procedures for diagnostic evaluations with the speech situations checklist

Abstract Over the years the Speech Situations Checklist (SSC; Brutten, 1973) has been used to systematically explore stutterers' self-reports of speech-related concerns and dysfluencies across a variety of speaking situations. The present review, based on findings of three previous investigations, suggests two supplemental procedures for analyzing the responses to the SSC to (1) confirm diagnostic decisions regarding stuttering and (2) improve the assessment of speech-related concern. Discriminant coefficients (Bakker and Brutten, 1982, 1984) of 31 items of the SSC were employed to construct a Discriminant Form that supports differential diagnostic decisions among those who do or do not stutter. Moreover, the results of two independent factor-analytic studies (Brutten and Janssen, 1980; Bakker, 1982) were integrated in a way that individual responses to the emotional reaction section of the SSC can be analyzed with regard to nine types of situationally cued speech-related concern.
The clinical features of pneumocephalus based upon a survey of 284 cases with report of 11 additional cases.

A review of 284 eases of pneumocephalus collected from the literature with 11 additional cases reported by the author, making a total of 295 reported cases, is presented. Of the 295 cases, trauma was the etiological factor in 218 cases (73.9%). Neoplasm was the pathological basis in 38 cases (12.9%). In 26 cases (8.8%) pneumocephalus was secondary to infection. In 11 cases (3.7%) it was secondary to some type of surgical intervention. There were 2 cases in which no apparent etiology was found (0.6%). The occurrence of pneumocephalus depends upon two basic factors which must be present in all cases: (1) a difference between extracranial and intracranial pressure, the former being greater, and (2) a defect in the bony coverings of the brain. In those cases of subdural, subarachnoid, or intracerebral pneumocephalus there must also be a defect in the dura. Headache was the most common symptom and occurred in 113 cases. Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea occurred in 91 cases. The only symptom and physical finding that was pathognomonic of pneumocephalus was the “bruit hydro-aerique,” and this occurred in 21 of the cases. Meningitis occurred in 68 cases. The most frequent time of onset of symptoms of pneumocephalus was from 1 to 3 months from beginning of symptoms (28.4%).
Return on investment of a pharmacy residency training program.

Purpose The return on investment of pharmacy residency training at a Veterans Affairs hospital was estimated. Methods The financial costs and benefits associated with one year’s training of eight residents were estimated retrospectively. The costs were compared with estimated costs for training newly hired pharmacists without institutional experience. The residents’ work output as measured by notations in progress notes was compared with that of their pharmacist preceptors, and this ratio was used in establishing an amount the institution would be willing to pay for a resident’s output. Results The estimated benefit-to-cost ratio for the residency program was favorable. Hiring its residents rather than new, untrained pharmacists for full-time positions was estimated to benefit the hospital. Conclusion The benefit-to-cost ratio of the residency training program was estimated to be 1.5:1. Resident productivity was estimated to save the institution $563,936 annually.
Solution of Burner-Stabilized Premixed Laminar Flames by Boundary Value Methods

A numerical technique has been developed for integrating the one-dimensional steady state premixed laminar flame equations. A global finite difference approach is used in which the nonlinear difference equations are solved by a damped-modified Newton method. An assumed temperature profile helps to generate a converged numerical solution on an initial coarse grid. Mesh points are inserted in regions where the solution profiles exhibit high gradient and high curvature activity. These features are discussed and illustrated in the paper, and the method is used to calculate the temperature and species profiles of several laboratory flames.
Rapid Quantitative Method for the Determination of Dextrose, Mannitol, and Sorbitol in Meat Products by Liquid Chromatography

Abstract A liquid chromatographic (LC) method for the determination of dextrose, mannitol, and sorbitol in meat products was developed. Dextrose, mannitol, and sorbitol were extracted from comminuted meat products with 52% ethanol. After filtration, the extracts were purified by passing through a C18 Sep-Pak cartridge and two ion exchange resin Econo-Columns in series. After concentration and filtration, extracts were analyzed by liquid chromatography using a cation exchange analytical column and a differential refractometer detector. Homogeneously ground samples of cooked and fresh sausages and ground beef were fortified with dextrose, mannitol, and sorbitol at four different concentrations. Average overall recovery for all three compounds at all four levels of fortification was greater than 80% with coefficients of variation less than 10%.
Direct, Controlled Synthesis of the Nonimmunogenic, Hydrophilic Polymer, Poly(N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide) via RAFT in Aqueous Media†

Poly(N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide) (PHPMA) is a nonimmunogenic, neutral-hydrophilic polymer currently employed in the delivery of anticancer drugs. Herein, we report conditions that facilitate the direct, controlled RAFT polymerization of HPMA in aqueous media. We demonstrate that the use of 4-cyanopentanoic acid dithiobenzoate and 4,4‘-azobis(4-cyanopentanoic acid) as the chain transfer agent (CTA) and initiating species, respectively, in the presence of an acetic acid buffer solution at 70 °C is a suitable condition leading to controlled polymerization. The “living” nature of these polymerizations is demonstrated via chain-extension of an HPMA macroCTA to yield the corresponding poly(HPMA-b-HPMA) “homopolymer”.
“A Geography of the Mind”: Black Canadian Women Writers as Cartographers of the Canadian Geographic Imagination

A selection of fictional narratives written by Black Canadian women writers, who are themselves immigrants to Canada, speaks to some “unease” in the central characters' understanding of self, as well as their relation to the environments or places they occupy. The characters' concern about self in relation to place, Canada, both in terms of its physical and imaginative geographies, is depicted through their physical and psychical journeys. The literature reveals several psychological, sociological, and historical implications of migration and its effect on the Black female character's process of self-understanding. By employing the landscape as a metaphor of psychological reflection and/or self-awareness, these writers demonstrate the ways in which the Black female characters negotiate and articulate their understanding of self in relation to their environment and, in turn, the ways in which that engagement shapes their understanding of Canada and being Canadian.
In-vivo activity of antivirals against exotic RNA viral infections

Infection of humans by viruses belonging to the families of Toga-, Bunya-, and Arenaviridae constitutes a major health problem worldwide and certain of the viruses have the potential to cause widespread epidemics. In the search for effective chemotherapy against these viruses several hundred nucleoside and nucleotide analogues have been screened for antiviral activity. Of the compounds tested, ribavirin, has been shown in laboratory animal models to have significant inhibitory effects against Rift Valley Fever virus, the bunyavirus Punta Toro, Hantaan virus and arenaviruses such as Pichinde, Junin, Machupo and Lassa Fever. Clinical studies with ribavirin in persons infected with Lassa Fever virus are in progress. Ribavirin or certain analogues have no detectable in vivo activity against arboviral encephalitic infections caused by Venezuelan or Western Equine Encephalitis or Semliki Forest Viruses. Other compounds including a series of triazolo derivatives, and the thiazole carboxamide nucleoside Tiazofurin appear to have in- vivo activity against certain of these exotic RNA viruses.
Screening Mammography in Older Women: A Review

Importance Guidelines recommend individualizing screening mammography decisions for women aged 75 years and older. However, little pragmatic guidance is available to help counsel patients. Objective To provide an evidence-based approach for individualizing decision-making about screening mammography in older women. Evidence Acquisition We searched PubMed for English-language studies in peer-reviewed journals published from January 1, 1990, to February 1, 2014, to identify risk factors for late-life breast cancer in women aged 65 years and older and to quantify the benefits and harms of screening mammography for women aged 75 years and older. Findings Age is the major risk factor for developing and dying from breast cancer. Breast cancer risk factors that reflect hormonal exposures in the distant past, such as age at first birth or age at menarche, are less predictive of late-life breast cancer than factors indicating recent hormonal exposures such as high bone mass or obesity. Randomized trials of the benefits of screening mammography did not include women older than 74 years. Thus it is not known if screening mammography benefits older women. Observational studies favor extending screening mammography to older women who have a life expectancy of more than 10 years. Modeling studies estimate 2 fewer breast cancer deaths/1000 women who in their 70s continue biennial screening for 10 years instead of stopping screening at age 69. Potential harms of continued screening over 10 years include false-positive mammograms in approximately 200/1000 women screened and overdiagnosis (ie, finding breast cancer that would not have clinically surfaced otherwise) in approximately 13/1000 women screened. Providing information about life expectancy along with potential benefits and harms of screening may help older women’s decision-making about screening mammography. Conclusions and Relevance For women with less than a 10-year life expectancy, recommendations to stop screening mammography should emphasize increased potential harms from screening and highlight health promotion measures likely to be beneficial over the short term. For women with a life expectancy of more than 10 years, deciding whether potential benefits of screening outweigh harms becomes a value judgment for patients, requiring a realistic understanding of screening outcomes.
Mo1608 Overt Obscure GI Bleed - Is a Tagged-Red-Blood-Cell Bleeding Scan Helpful?

UGIB with improved iron deficiency anemia after EE were defined as those with good clinical course. Results: [Clinical characteristics] 415 consecutive patients were enrolled. These patients were divided into 2 groups; group A (daytime on weekday admission: 185 patients [44.6%], mean age; 67.3 17.8 years) and group B (night on weekday or weekend admission: 230 patients [55.4%], mean age; 66.6 17.8 years). There was no significantly difference in the frequency of taking antithrombotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, although cerebrovascular diseases were significant more in group B (30.9%, pZ0.001) compare with group A (11.4%). Patients in group A (24.3%, pZ0.003) taking proton pomp inhibitors were significant more than group B (15.7%). Blood transfusion was more frequently observed in group A (53.0%, pZ0.011) compare with group B (40.4%).[Clinical course] The mortality rate was 3.6%. There was no significant difference in GB score (pZ0.17) and AIM65 score (pZ0.99) between the 2 groups and the rate of patients with clinical good course was not significantly different between group A (65.9%) and group B (63.9%, pZ0.67). However, patients in group B (57.8%, pZ0.006) who underwent EH were significantly more compare with group A (46.5%) (Fig). Conclusions: The mortality rate of Japanese patients with UGIB was lower than that of western patients. There were no significantly differences in clinical outcomes between daytime on weekday admission and others partly because patients could undergo enough EH even though on a weekday night or weekend.
Effect of sodium selenite upon bromobenzene toxicity in rats: I. Hepatotoxicity

Abstract The effects of sodium selenite on bromobenzene hepatotoxicity were examined in male rats. Rats pretreated with sodium selenite (12.5 or 30 μmol/kg, ip) 72 hr prior to injection of bromobenzene (7.5 mmol/kg, ip) showed a marked reduction in bromobenzene-induced liver injury as evidenced by decreased plasma alanine and aspartate transaminase values, sorbitol dehydrogenase activity, and reduced histologic damage. Administration of bromobenzene did not affect the selenium content of blood or liver. At 72 hr after treatment with selenite, hepatic reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione values or GSH synthetic and degradation enzyme activities were not altered. However, from 3 to 12 hr following bromobenzene administration, hepatic GSH and cysteine amounts declined less rapidly in selenite-treated rats compared to control. Thus, acute selenite treatment ameliorated bromobenzene hepatotoxicity in a manner suggesting facilitation of hepatic GSH production by selenite for use in bromobenzene detoxication.
Information Technology and the Performance of the Restaurant Firms

Information technology has the potential to provide easier access to penetrate new and/or existing markets, to provide cost-effectiveness, and to present goods and services more ef fectively. The o...
Temporal bone carcinoma : Contemporary perspectives in the skull base surgical era

Historically, malignant tumors that arose within the temporal bone or that intimately juxtaposed the petrous ridge portended an ominous prognosis. Perusal of the surgical literature from 1950 to 1975 strongly supports the impression that despite heroic surgical efforts many of these patients sustained significant morbidity and a high mortality rate. This report reviews data accumulated over a 10-year period study from July 1984 to June 1994 that examines the changing clinical approach to these lesions from both a diagnostic and therapeutic perspective. Analysis of data from 46 patients cared for at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center is presented with a minimum follow-up of 16 months to a long-term follow-up of 11 years. A management algorithm is presented that reflects our contemporary approach to assessment and management of this select patient population.
Phospho-mTOR is not upregulated in metastatic SDHB paragangliomas

Background Pheochromocytomas (PCCs)/paragangliomas (PGLs) are neuroendocrine tumours that may cause arrhythmia and death if untreated. Treatment for patients with metastatic tumours is lacking. As new PCC/PGL susceptibility genes are discovered that are associated with the mTOR pathway, treatment targets focusing on this pathway are being intensively explored. Design Twenty-one human PCC/PGLs were analysed from two tertiary care centres. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis was performed for phospho-mTOR (pmTOR), phospho-S6K (pS6K), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), phospho-4EBP1 (p4EBP1), HIF1α and MIB-1 in 6 metastatic SDHB PCC/PGLs, 15 nonmetastatic PCC/PGLs, (including 1 TMEM127 PCC and 1 nonmetastatic SDHB PGL) and 6 normal adrenal medullas. The product of the intensity of stain and percentage of cells stained was calculated as an H score. Results Using a two-sample t-test and paired t-test, pmTOR and pS6K had significantly higher H scores in nonmetastatic PCC/PGLs than in metastatic SDHB PCC/PGLs. HIF1α had significantly higher H scores in metastatic SDHB PCC/PGLs compared with nonmetastatic PCC/PGLs and normal adrenal medulla. No difference in H scores was seen with p4EBP1, PI3K and MIB-1 when comparing metastatic SDHB PCC/PGLs and nonmetastatic PCC/PGLs. Significantly higher difference in pS6K was seen in normal adrenal medullas compared to nonmetastatic PCC/PGLs and metastatic SDHB PCC/PGLs. Conclusion The present results suggest that the use of mTOR inhibitors alone for metastatic SDHB PCC/PGLs may not achieve good therapeutic efficacy in patients.
Percutaneous Heart Valve Replacement Enthusiasm Tempered

In 1954, Charles Hufnagel, Proctor Harvey, and colleagues1 published their classic description of the first effective surgical treatment of end-stage aortic insufficiency, or indeed of any form of advanced valvular insufficiency. First at the Peter Bent Brigham, they had worked long on the matter, later moving to Georgetown University Medical Center. There they developed a clever and elegantly simple approach to the task of supporting the overloaded left ventricle within the particular anatomic and physiological allowances of valvular aortic insufficiency. The challenge, which was met with gratifying effectiveness, was to interrupt the aortic outflow without the benefit of circulatory support machinery not then available, and to then interpose a prosthetic valve at a point where regurgitant flow could be arrested. The now famous solution was to accept a remedy not entire, interrupting the aorta distal to the left subclavian artery. As the flow to the arch vessels was not interrupted, the simple surgical interposition of the caged ball valve device in the descending aorta was understandably well-tolerated. The relief of regurgitation was thus only partial, but proved to be sufficient to provide meaningful palliation. In fact, the first patient survived for 7 years. Other physiological issues, such as the adequacy of the remaining compliance chamber or the effect on coronary blood flow did not dictate the clinical response to the treatment. Later was to come the development of circulatory support machines and with them techniques for surgery on the arrested heart with full exposure of the valvular anatomy for repair and replacement. The principle of orthotopic implantation of prosthetic valves then became the dominant, if not only, ideal for treatment. There were a number of interesting proposals for circulatory valve devices through the years,2–4 but until the age of interventional cardiology, when “transcatheter” device development exploded, the idea …
The Capacity of Group V sPLA2 to Increase Atherogenicity of ApoE-/- and LDLR-/- Mouse LDL In Vitro Predicts its Atherogenic Role In Vivo

Objective— In vitro data indicate that human LDL modified by Group V secretory phospholipase A2 (GV sPLA2) is proatherogenic. Consistent with this, gain and loss of function studies demonstrated that GV sPLA2 promotes atherosclerosis in LDLR−/− mice. The current study investigates whether GV sPLA2 promotes atherosclerotic processes in apoE−/− mice. Methods and Results— LDL (d=1.019 to 1.063) from apoE−/− and LDLR−/− mice fed chow or Western diet were hydrolyzed by GV sPLA2. Phosphatidylcholine on LDL from LDLR−/− mice fed either a chow or Western diet was hydrolyzed to a greater extent (61.1±0.4% and 45.3±4.6%) than the corresponding fractions from apoE−/− mice (41.7±3.6% and 39.4±1.2%). ApoE−/− LDL induced macrophage foam cell formation in vitro without modification by GV sPLA2, whereas hydrolysis of LDLR−/− LDL was a prerequisite for foam cell formation. In contrast to findings in LDLR−/− mice, GV sPLA2 deficiency did not significantly reduce atherosclerosis in apoE−/− mice, although collagen content wa...
Amygdalar Efferents Initiate Auditory Thalamic Discriminative Training-Induced Neuronal Activity

It is well known that neurons of the medial geniculate (MG) nucleus of the thalamus send axonal projections to the amygdala. It has been proposed that these projections supply information that supports amygdalar associative processes underlying acquisition of acoustically cued conditioning and learning. Here we demonstrate the reverse direction of influence. Temporary inactivation of the amygdala using the GABA(A) receptor agonist muscimol just before the onset of discriminative avoidance conditioning permanently blocked the development of training-induced discriminative neuronal activity in the MG nucleus of rabbits. No discriminative activity developed when the amygdala was inactivated or during later training to criterion without muscimol. Thus, amygdalar processing at the outset of training is necessary for the development of training-induced discriminative activity of neurons in the MG nucleus.
The Effect of Dispersed Alumina Particles on the Electrical Conductivity of Cuprous Chloride

The electrical conductivity of cuprous chloride containing a dispersion of fine alumina particles was studied as a function of volume fraction (0–0.212) and particle size (0.3 and 0.06 μm initial particle size). At low temperatures the ionic conductivity may be increased by as much as two orders of magnitude. The enhanced conductivity, Δσ, was proportional to the surface area of the added alumina. Both these data and the earlier data of Liang (1) were fitted to a relation, where is the radius of the alumina dispersoids and the volume fraction.
Nanoindentation and Microindentation of CuAlNi Shape Memory Alloy

Nanoindentation and microindentation studies were conducted within individual grains of a CuAlNi shape memory alloy. Linear surface features were observed near the indentations after unloading, many of which were responsive to heating. Crystallographic orientation information was obtained from electron backscattering diffraction in order to compare the orientation of observed surface features to predicted austenite–martensite interfaces, slip planes, and possible fracture planes in this alloy. Most of the features observed can be attributed to austenite–martensite interfaces, which remain in the material after unloading due to the constraints of the plastic deformation created by indentation. Due to the temperature dependence of the transformation stress in shape memory alloys, these stress-induced martensites are observed to diminish with heating and to reappear with cooling. Plastic deformation is observed in the form of pile-up near the indentation.
Dual substrate removal by an axenic bacterial culture

A pure bacterial culture capable of utilizing either L-lysine or 2-chlorophenol (2-CP) as sole carbon source was isolated and used in continuous culture experiments to determine its response to dual substrate limitation by those two compounds. Dilution rate and feed composition were each set at three levels in a two factorial experimental design. The total chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the feed was fixed at 225 mg/L and its composition was varied by changing the ratio of lysine to 2-CP. The effects of the two independent variables (dilution rate and feed composition) on the concentrations of cells, lysine, COD, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the reactors were systematic whereas the effects on the 2-CP concentration were less predictable. The concentrations of the two substrates responded to the two independent variables in a complex interactive manner which is not explained by existing models for dual, substitutable substrates. Rather, the results suggested that the prediction of the fate of a single organic component in a reactor receiving a multicomponent feed is a very difficult task.
Atypical Hairy Cell Leukemia

Abstract The morphologic differential diagnosis of mature B-cell neoplasms with cytoplasmic projections includes splenic lymphoma with villous lymphocytes and hairy cell leukemia. Although the classification of hairy cell leukemia is not universally recognized, 3 variants have been described, namely, classic, variant, and Japanese variant, each of which has different clinical and immunophenotypic features. Classic hairy cell leukemia is virtually always CD11c+, CD25+, and CD103+. Variant and Japanese variant hairy cell leukemias are usually CD11c+, always CD25−, and occasionally CD103+. Each variant is characteristically CD10−. We present a case of hairy cell leukemia with a unique immunoprofile in that the cells were CD10+, CD25+, and CD103−, and we review the criteria helpful in differentiating “hairy” B-cell neoplasms. This case emphasizes the variability of hairy cell leukemia and the need to correlate all clinical and pathologic data in reaching a diagnosis.